Warrior Dash 2012!

S and I had so much fun doing the Warrior Dash this year. The course was longer and there were more obstacles. I am still sore, though! Not in as good of shape as I was last year. Of course, last year I was training for a half marathon. My friend Bridgette made the outfit for me - it was an old-timey bathing suit.

From mother to daughter

I'm posting this here in case P reads it someday...

Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: "My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionaly lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter. "

Poem from a student

A student wrote this poem to me on my last day of student teaching. I taught a poetry unit about how to write free verse poetry and how to use figurative language to engage your reader. This student was one of the lowest I had, which makes this that much more special. Here is it:

Mrs. Marks is like a smile face
She's happy all the time
Even when something bad happens
She tries to make a happy feeling in the atmosphere
Mrs. Marks is like a smile face
Thing that Mrs. Marks is not
Is mean, cruel
Helpless, and rude
Mrs. Marks brings out the happiness in everyone
When it is raining and there are puddles
Everyone is depressed but not Mrs. Marks
Mrs. Marks would be the first person
To jump into that puddle
Mrs. Marks has given me a gift
A gift that is precious to me and many other people
The gift of writing a poem

Happy 6th Birthday P!

Happy Birthday to my darling P. We had her birthday at a bounce place with all of her little kindergarten and play group friends. What a blast! I love you, my sweet girl.

With your cousie AB

Happy Easter

My little basketball player

P insisted on playing basketball, so I signed her up. She had her first season in the "Junior Hoopsters," which was a kindergarten coed team. She was one of three girls playing, the rest were aggressive sporty boys. Many times on the court when she was supposed to be playing defense, she was pirouetting or cheering for her teammate who just scored a basket. Not sure if being a team player or a cheerleader will be her thing, but for now she loves dribbling and shooting. I was impressed with her outgoing nature and determination to play the game.

E-baby is Four!

My sweet baby boy is officially four years old. Where did two and three go?!

A few things about him:

1. He likes, no loves, to talk about poop, farts, and pee.
2. His favorite color is blue, Thomas blue.
3. He loves short-sleeved orange shirts (even in winter).
4. His fave food is pizza.
5. He loves sweets - pretty much any kind.
6. He loves to play and read about trains and cars.
7. He is recognizing words if you play word games aka reading.
8. He loves music.
9. He loves his sister.
10. He is pretty independent.

Last night he celebrated his birthday eve with growing pains in his legs. It was not fun for him or us. We finally got him to take some Tylenol to help, but he was still up early crying. I don't know what is going on. His sleep cycle is that of a newborn lately.

Student Teaching

Well, I am finally finishing up my education degree. I am on the last leg of it which is student teaching. I was fortunate enough to be placed in the same school district as my girl, which means we have spring break together! I am loving my mentor teachers and the school itself. The students are diverse and amazing - the majority of them are motivated learners and seem interested in school. I feel so comfortable in this school because I share the same philosophies about teaching with my mentor teachers, and that stems from having a life long mentor, my mom. She was an amazing educator. She was one of the best, and I am fortunate to have her as a support system not only emotionally, but professionally.

The teachers in my district don't just teach subject matter, they keep up on current educational philosophies to help them teach subjects effectively. I laugh at some people who comment that teaching is easy. They clearly have no idea what teaching is all about, well, I guess good teaching. I know some people just do their time, and I find that is the way it is in all professions...people are people no matter where you go. What makes the difference in teaching is that good teachers care about getting kids to learn and read, read, read up on how to do it in the best way possible. Teaching isn't about just going in and giving tests, it is about making connections, helping kids feel safe to take risks with their learning, helping kids become good citizens of their community, helping kids become responsible for their own learning, and helping kids be successful in school and take that into their lives beyond school.

Teaching isn't easy. Imagine a group of students who all learn in different ways, are on different levels of learning, some may be on the autism spectrum, some have behavior issues, and some just merely aren't interested in school - they all need to pass the same test. You don't have time to sit with them one on one each day. How do you do it? That is why my education degree, all my observation, and all my hours of field experience and student teaching are important - I am learning how to be an effective teacher. Classroom management, teaching subject matter from an educational text, teaching kids how to read for content, teaching kids how to write, teaching kids how to think creatively and outside of the box, getting kids to pass their tests! That isn't even half of it. I am reflecting on all of this stuff because I am passionate about my career choice. Thanks to my old job for the business counseling that made me realize this was my passion. Going into teaching was not a decision made lightly. I thought for many months and years about it. Now, I am almost finished.

Now, I am crossing my fingers I will get a job during these tough economic times. Plus, my previous mentor teacher said that that there's an average of 300 people applying for any one teaching job. I'll be lucky to get an interview!! ack.

Merry Christmas!!

Deciding on Baby Names for P

When hubby and I were deciding on baby names oh so many years ago...

From: Kristin

Date: April 4, 2006 1:12:05 PM EDT

To:

Subject: baby name

babe - I am still not 100% sold on the baby's name being Skylar. It kind of annoys me when other people say it. I don't know why. She just doesn't feel like a Skylar.

I like the names Rylie, P, Avery and a few others.

Fly little bird, fly...

Today my daughter flitted off like a little bird. On a typical school morning, she wants me to walk her to the playground and then we say our good-byes. Today, she saw a friend and ran off.

My heart was heavy.

Thanksgiving Day

Started the day off with the Turkey Trot. I've been running it for 3 years now. Putting in 5 miles before turkey dinner makes me feel okay about ingesting 5 pounds of food. My friend Shane did the race with me this year.

This is what the kids do while I run.

Dad really enjoys carving the turkey!

We enjoy eating it!

So does Miss P.

I thought this was funny - I have no idea what I am doing in this picture.

Halloween Fun

Straw mazes are the best!!

A little sass with your soccer?

P just finished up her first season of soccer. She played on a 4/5 year old league and loved it! I have a feeling I have Sporty Spice...with a little Posh mixed in. She loved playing goalie and cheering on her team. The little thing scored a goal her first game! Go P! I hope she continues to enjoy it!!

I started school.

After many years of putting the inevitable off...well, trying to figure out if I truly wanted to teach...I am in the classroom. I just started my first field experience with a Columbus Public School. They do things much differently than I am used to, but I am learning and that is what is important.

I can't believe how much work is involved to get my licensure. When I am finished I'll be certified to teach 4 - 9 Social Studies and Language Arts. Of course that is IF I pass all of my tests. I have to take 3 tests : 2 content and 1 educational theory and practice. Getting my certification boils down to passing those tests! Seems crazy that countless hours of content area classes, educational theory and how to teach classes, classroom management papers, and then in school experiences as a student teacher don't outweigh silly tests (this doesn't even count my BA from OSU in history). Oh well, I do need to be accountable for what I have learned, so I guess I understand why they do what they do. Phew...it has been, and will continue to be, a ton of work.

I really missed my kids, but it wasn't as hard as I thought to be away. I think it was because I was surrounded by children and too busy to think about it. When I got home they barely said "hello" to me...:( Either they were mad at me for being gone all day or just having a great time with the nanny. Not sure, yet.

Officially Starting Kindergarten.

P in front of her kindergarten class roster just outside of the school. She didn't want me to take her picture - can you see the annoyed look on her face?

Well, it is official. P is enrolled in half day kindergarten, and I am thrilled about her school and her teacher. I took her over earlier this week to look at her class roster and then into meet her teacher for the KRAL. The KRAL is a literacy test that assesses reading readiness for kindergarten students. It is information that the state uses to create guidelines for preschool curriculum to get students academically ready for kindergarten. Anyhow, P flew through the test and her teacher said she did an amazing job.

I found out that the teacher grew up in our neighborhood and attended P's elementary school! To me, that shows that she loved it enough to come back as an adult, so it has to be a great place to learn. I am excited for P to start class next week, and she is more excited than me. I am feeling a bit sad - that sadness over your child growing up, but I can't hold onto her forever...even though I want to.

Sunday is the ice cream social hosted by the PTA. I am excited to meet some new parents and for P to meet some of her classmates. I am sure she'll make some great new friends!

My daughter - the photographer

This one is of a tiny bug on one of our pepper plants. Picture by P.

Fairy House

Hubby built this fairy house with the kids on our camping weekend to Hocking Hills. I love his creativity, and also how easy and fun he makes these artsy things look.

Such a loving boy.

My bubbies loves his friend Tom. Now, we don't see Tom very often because of varying schedules and Tom is about a year older than bubbies, but when we do see him my boy is smitten.

We took a tumbling class over winter and spring with Tom, but then didn't see him for a few months. Then a visit to COSI brought us together and bubbies was in heaven. The cutest thing happened when we left. bubbies didn't realize Tom was staying, and as we were walking out the door I asked him to say good-bye to his friend. bubbies immediately ran to Tom, grabbed him, hugged him, looked deeply into his eyes, and then gave him a big kiss...on the lips.

It was about the sweetest thing I'd ever seen. Tom, on the other hand, looked a bit surprised. I still laugh thinking about that moment, and I am writing this down because a friend told me I should because it was funny and I'd want to remember it.