Can't Sleep...

The end of the school year is here and what a surprise, I cannot SleEp. There are so many things that run through my MiNd this time of year. There's the normal StUfF that seems to plague me most when things at work get HeCtiC, and there's the EnD of the year StUfF that must be held in a delicate balance...you can't do too much too soon because school isn't over, but you can't wait until the last hour because you want to be OuT the door AsaP. I keep saying I need to make a BiG FaT list and just go at it...if nothing else maybe it will just help to get it all out there...

• Start and finish AvErAginG grades.
• HoUnD those notorious ones who still have MiSsInG WoRk
• Make a LiSt of all of the BrIlLiaNt ideas I've had throughout the course of the year. The conversation in my mind usually sounds like this, "Well that was a BiG, FaT FloP...next year I'll do this instead". I have to write them down to avoid repeating said FloPs.
• Do DiShEs...we have no clean SiLvErwArE...YiKeS!
• Make AwArDs for the FiFth GrAdE Spelling Bee, Track Meet, Brainiacs, and Art Show.
• Write a LeTteR to my kids' parents thanking them for sharing their TeRrIfiC kids with me this year.
• OrGaNiZe my files so teaching the same grade level next year will be to my GreAtEsT benefit.
• Somehow get my kids from the 1920s to the end of WWII in 10.5 days...without them DeSpiSinG me for it!
• Figure out an end of the year GiFt for my kids and MaKe it.
• R.S.V.P. for the EnD of the YeAr PaRtY...do I want ChIcKeN or PorK?
• Sit down with Dan to plan our AnNiVeRsArY.
• Somehow figure out where we can have a GaRdEn without getting EleCtrIcUteD upon digging.
• Write NoTeS to my kids.
• Make those DoCtoR appointments I've been putting off for a few years now...Seriously another summer cannot pass without me taking care of some silly things.
• Make a SliDeShOw so all of the pictures I take throughout the year can be put to good use.
• EnJoY my last few days with them in the midst of the ChAoS...SaVoR how truly DeLiGhtfuL my group of 27 is this year.
• Try to SlEeP so I can end the year a KiNd and PaTieNt teacher, wife, friend, and person.

With that, I'm done for now...Just thinking about all of it is making me TiReD :) Who knows maybe I should have been doing the above mentioned things instead of just writing about them, but it's too LaTe for that...I'm off to BeD!

Celebratin' a Sister

SiStEr Katie, ToDaY is your Birthday, and to honor you on this GloRioUs day of your birth (not too many years ago), I would like to tell the WorLd how superfabulous, beautirific, and awesomazing you are my dear sister.....just in case they don't already know!

So without further ado, here's a ToP TeN for you!

1. About four years ago, I not only married a terrific man, I gained an AmAziNg sister. Even though you already have two of the BeSt sisters around, you opened your arms to invite yet another. Thank you for always including me as a SiSteR. Being your sister is a beautiful GiFt to me.

*See what I mean?! You're so thoughtful to reach your arm over to assure me that I'm a sista'.

*Exhibit B: Sister dresses.

2. Speaking of GiFtS...I used to dread shopping for them until I got to shop for YoU! Seriously, you're one of the only people I can shop for without having doubts about my purchase...most likely it's just because you just look so darn CuTe in EvErYthInG! At any rate, you bring great JoY to my Christmas shopping experiences, and I LoVe you for it!

*Marines tee, Mayan Princess Earrings, and Beauty in Brown

3. We have a mutual ObsEssIoN/AdOrAtioN for each other. I love being StaLkeD by you, and I love StaLkInG you. On more than one occasion I've opened my facebook to find 30 something notifications...I always smile because before I even click to see who it is, I know it must be YoU. It is such a relief to me that I can comment on ToNs of your pictures and not feel like a WeIrdO because you do the same to me! Thanks for letting me StaLk you...thanks for being my StaLkeR!

4. I AdMirE you for many things, but on the top of my list is definitely ThiS...

You LoVe and AdOrE your family. You take such good care of your HuSbAnD and DaUgHtEr. Your DeDiCaTioN, ReSpEcT, and PrIoRiTiZaTioN of your FaMilY is BeAuTiFuL.

5. QuEeNs for LiFe...need I say more? I look forward to our upcoming KHS CoMeBacK.

Here we are before we even imagined we'd be sisters...you're a returning Queen, and I'm a sophomore who thinks you're really cool...and I need a scanner because taking pictures of pictures = blurry! BUT my point is...next time we'll be ridin' in the same car!! :) AND you will be QuEeN Katie Anne Bailey Londono, and I will be QuEeN Katie Ann Eades Bailey! It's an honor to share a NaMe and a CrOwN with you!

6. Even before your brother was my love, YoU were preparing him for me. For example checking his PoStUrE and WaRdRoBe. I give a great deal of credit to you, his beloved sister, for the way he takes care of me. Thank you for being a LoVinG sister to DaN. It benefits me more than I'm sure I realize...

Here's a BeFoRe shot of Daniel looking a bit IntErEstInG...

and AfTeR...He looks much CoOleR with the addition of his stylin' scarf from none other than his dear sister...

And here you go again loving your BrOtHeR and thereby loving me...

...and finally, you help me keep him in line with a DiRtY LoOk from time to time...

8. You are ThOuGhTfuL and SwEeT. I remember getting birthday calls and cards from you even before I was married to Dan...now that's thoughtful. I will never forget coming to Barstow to be your assistant for a week. There was a refrigerator full of CoKe and ingredients to make my favorite dessert in the world...CheEsEcaKe. Thank you for taking the time and interest to get to know my little quirks and blessing me with your thoughtfulness.

9. You are SiLLy, FuNnY, and FuN! I think pictures will do this one more justice than my words:

10. And finally...with all of these things in mind and MaNy, MaNy more, I honor you on your birthday because even if you weren't my SiSteR, I would most definitely want to be your FriEnD.

Thank you Katie for being WoNdErFuL, LoVeLy, InCreDibLe YoU. You are truly a BleSsiNg to me, and I wish you the HapPiEsT of BiRtHdaYs and many more to come.

Love your sister and friend,

Katie

Perfect Timing

It's that time of year...

warm weather + one more month of school + a full year of learning/creating curriculum for a new grade level + 27 kids who know summer is near = Though I AdOrE my little darlings, I'm ready for a change of pace...Bring on the gardening, sleeping-in, and good books!

It's that time of year...

The PeRfEcT time of year to find this in my school mailbox on MoNdaY morning:


It's the time of year when SwEeT fifth grade darlings, OvErCoMe by warm weather and the prospect of summer, seem at times to be more interested in AnYtHiNg but their teacher and her CrEaTiVe lessons. It's the PeRfEcT time to know they were thinking of their teacher on the way to school...at least long enough to stop and pick these...

It's the PeRfEcT TiMe to have SwEeT DaIsIes beside the stacks of homework waiting to be graded...

I LoVe my JoB. The InCrEdIBle KiDs I teach are more than enough to give me JoY in what I do, but it never hurts to have lovely FloWeRs on your desk...KuDoS to the SpRiNg TrAiL PTO, my students and their wonderful parents...PeRfEcT timing.