M to the A double T

Dear Ratty Tatt-Tat MatT,


I'm a bit behind in posting this, but I wanted to give you a ShOuT-OuT on (or rather, in close proximity) to your BiRthdaY...So without further ado, here's a list of some of the things I love so dearly about YoU...

#1 One of my earliest memories of you is making forts on your bunk bed in the LitTle house...SoMeOnE else (I won't mention any names) wouldn't let me on his bunk, but you were so kind to humor me...Thank you for allowing me this privilege...I'm so glad to have some memories with you in this place to overshadow the TrAuMa I often endured having WaLtnEr the crazy cat walk all over my face in the middle of the night!

#2 How could I not have the highest admiration for one who produced this BuNdlE of crazy, cute ridiculousness...

...and this one...

...not to mention this one...

I'm so grateful to have such darling nieces :)

#3 I love that there are very few people in the world that can ApPrEciAte the hilarity found in the following sequence of pictures as much as you will...

#4 You look really FlY when you ice skate...

... I'm just waiting for you to bust out with a triple axle, sow-cow, double toe loop with a twist ;)

#5 It's quite possible you have no recollection of this, but when I was in eighth grade, you gave me a heart to heart about BoYs. We were sitting on the steps of our PiNk house in Florida. What you said stuck with me. Thank you for speaking so HoNeStLy to me that night. I truly believe your words helped protect me from a lot of potential heart ache. I really appreciate that.

#6 You help make my DrEaMs a ReAliTy. Case in point: The ShiGgY ShuFfLe...

This moment of FaMiLy FuN would not have been possible without your MiX. I look forward to the Re-MiX when we meet again.

#7 Thank you for bringing the secret to a natural, brilliant smile in every photograph to our family....Inhale....Aaaaaand, SmILe...

Works every time!

#8 When I'm with you, I feel free to be me...sounds CheEsY but it's true. Believe me, not everyone would allow me to perform my BrItTnEy routine in the middle of a car wash parking lot with no shame! It's so good to be loved even when I'm actin' the fool...

#9 To this day, I still remember with great fondness sitting at home watching PoIsOn music videos with you and a plate of CheEsE, ChErRiEs and BrAuNsChweigEr while Chris was at the real concert. You will never know how unbelievably cool I thought you were for this moment, and I'm still trying to figure out how in the world you ever got me to enjoy braunschweiger?!

And finally #10: I love ya just for being my brother...I'm so grateful that you have added these memories and many more to my life. There's not a single person that could take your place. Happy Birthday...a bit late, but as Grandma J says, "Better late than never." Love you Matthew!

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!