Well, this week felt like spring which I think helped it be a good week overall. Something about the sun shining really helped my mood. haha
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
…to share my…
In January, I started this monthly post, capturing the moments from the month, both big and small.
Here’s a look at what we were up to in February.
1. Snow Days:
Well, the snow days continued in February, but the weather wasn’t as bad as it was in January.
We had three NTI days this month, two of which were last week.
While we’ve had quite the winter, and I do love the snow, this week, especially has made me excited for spring.
2. Valentine’s Day
While we don’t go all out for Valentine’s Day, I still send family a card from the kids.
It was nice that Valentine’s Day was on a Friday as we just had some time at home. I picked up a few things for the kids, and Travis and I exchanged cards.
3. Kids’ Activities
The kids’ activities kicked into full gear in February. We started the month in Gatlinburg, TN for Hadley’s volleyballl tournament, and then her team also played in a tournament in Louisville last weekend.
The kids each had a track meet in February as well. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the high school track season, but the couple of indoor meets we’ve been to have been fun. Just like when the kids were 6th graders, being a freshman is a bit of an adjustment.
I remember going to track meets when the kids were in 6th grade and thinking the 8th graders look so old. Well, now I’m comparing them as ninth graders to junior/senior runners. Wow! That being said, I know we’ll blink and they’ll be the senior runners.
Screenshot
4. Chiefs
Well, our KC Chiefs didn’t come out on top during the Super Bowl game, but I love getting together with my brother’s family. The cookie cake was delish, win or lose!
5. Fun with Friends
The kids have had fun with friends this month.
Hadley likes to get together with friends to do their school work on NTI days. One day, after I picked them up, Hadley needed to do a few strides at the track to break in her new spikes. The girls cheered her on.
Hadley went to a Galentines party that one of her friends hosted. She had a great time.
A couple of weeks ago, we got together with friends to hang out at a pizza place and watch the Kentucky basketball game. It was so nice hanging out for a bit.
And…
February did have some lows. Mid-month, I had a sinus infection, and then last week Hayden had the flu. Thankfully, we’re both feeling much better.
Well, it’s the last week of month which means it’s time for all the end of the month link ups.
I’m linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings.
This month’s topic is how we show love.
1. What’s your love language?
My love language is definitely acts of service. I appreciate it so much when Travis does things for me…anything from making the bed if I don’t have time to running an errand for me or even doing bigger things like planning vacations.
I truly do appreciate it when he helps out in those ways and takes things off my plate. Just yesterday, he came home during lunch to help start dinner in the slow cooker.
2. Favorite love songs?
I like music, but I’m the worst with song titles. I still love the classic Someone Like You as it was our first dance at our wedding. I mostly listen to country music and love Chris Stapleton’s Joy of My Life.
3. Flowers, chocolate or something else?
I love (and appreciate!) flowers and a card….which is what I got for my birthday (along with a nice dinner out and cake, of course!)
4. Favorite romantic movie/rom com?
Oh…there are too many to count. My faves are While You Were Sleeping, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and Sweet Home Alabama.
In the past year, I’ve watched all of these with Hadley to show her some of my favorite movies. Just a couple of weekends ago, we watched Sweet Home Alabama. I’d forgotten how much I love that movie.
5. Favorite childhood Valentine’s Day memory?
Oh…I fondly remember class parties for Valetine’s Day, making our Valentine’s Day boxes and giving and receiving Valetines.
The kids had quite a few fun class parties, and I was glad to help out a time or two.
6. How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Our Valentine’s Day is typically pretty low-key. We give each other cards, and then I pick up a few things for the kids.
When the kids were younger, we always made a point to get a sitter to watch them and then we’d go out to eat the weekend before or after Valentine’s Day.
We still try to go out to dinner, but obviously we don’t need a sitter now.
7. Any love or romance traditions?
I truly love the tradition of receiving a card…and Trav writing bubble letters for my name is icing on the cake. haha
8. When do you feel most loved?
I’m sure I feel loved every day, but especially on my birthday and Mother’s Day. Facebook messages, texts, phone calls, and cards are always nice on my birthday. Mother’s Day means a lot to me too, and it’s nice that the kids take some time to show me some love. I really appreciate it.
9. Big night out or chill at home?
At this stage in life, if chilling at home is an option, that’s probably my choice. That being said, I like an early dinner or happy hour and then hanging out at home watching a game or movie.
10. Do you wear red/pink on Valentine’s Day?
I’m not big on either of those colors, but I love a seasonal/holiday sweatshirt. This one from Target was a fun find this Valentine’s Day season.
Wow! It’s already the last Wednesday of the month! February sure has flown by!
It’s been a minute since I’ve linked up with Sheaffer and Shay, but that’s what I’m doing today for…
What We’re Eating This Week:
Here’s what we’re eating this week:
Sunday: We had frozen pizza and leftover Fazolis from the night before. We got home late from Louisville after Hadley’s volleyball tournament, so we just worked with what we had at home.
Monday: I made theBubble Up Pizzaagain. This time, I added sausage to the pepperoni. This was a hit when I made it last week, and I just needed another quick meal on Monday. We had bagged salad and Cuties along with our pizza.
Tuesday: I tried this new Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe, and it was delish. The kids gave it two thumbs up. I served it over rice.
Wednesday:A tried and true fave is thisSausage Tortellini soup.
Thursday: We’ll see what we have leftover. If I need to make something, we’ll have a quick breakfast for dinner.
Friday and Saturday: We’ll probably eat out or order out.
And , apparently, lots of bananas this week…long story short is that I placed a delivery order for Sunday, so we’d have a few things to start the week. We were in Louisville for volleyball, so Hayden put the groceries away. When we got back, he said, “Mom, why did you buy so many bananas?” I turned around to see quite the banana haul!
When Hadley added bananas to the order, she didn’t choose six single bananas…Instead, we got six bundles of bananas! Of course, we’ll use some breakfast, snacks and smoothies, but this is still quite a lot of bananas.
So, I took some to school and shared the wealth! Maybe someone will be banana bread and share a slice with me?!
Tuesday night dinner:
What I’m Reminiscing About:
Well, I’m not reminiscing too far back, but my kids are already choosing their classes for their sophomore year. I feel like they were just picking their freshman, and now they only have three months left of their freshman year!
They’ve really thrived this year, and it’s been so fun to watch.
What I’m Loving:
I always snag the body butter at Trader Joe’s in the summer, and then the candy cane one during the holiday months. When I was at TJ last week, I saw this one, and picked it up. It’s so good! I guess I’ll use body butter year round now.
What We’ve Been Up To:
Well, we had more snow, but not as much as in January!
I was fighting a sinus infection over Valentine’s Day, but the night before we had heart shaped chicken nuggets for dinner, and then we gave the kids a few things for Valentine’s Day.
Unfortunately, Hayden had the flu last week, but we had a couple of NTI days due to snow. So, while I hated that he was sick, he missed two online days and one day of school rather than three full days of school.
Last weekend, Hadley was a busy girl. Friday night, she ran her first race of the track season. Due to volleyball obligations, she missed the first couple of indoor meets, but she ran the 400m Friday night. She was so nervous leading up to the race….so nervous! This was her first 400m race of her high school career, and she won her heat!!…and came in 4th overall. When she was finished, she was so happy!
Saturday and Sunday we were in Louisville for her volleyball tournament. On Saturday, the girls played ok, but they did awesome on Sunday. They are a fun team to watch, and I’m glad they ended the tournament on a high note.
I’ve had “closet purge” on my to do list since after Christmas…and on a whim last week when I had a little bit of time at home, I purged enough to donate five bags of clothes! It was such a good feeling to get rid of what I haven’t been wearing and have a bit more space and organization in my closet.
What I’m Dreading:
Honestly, nothing comes to mind as something I dread. I guess that’s a good thing!
Actually, I take that back….I have an Old Navy return…and that place makes my blood boil. I swear it doesn’t matter if there are ten people in line or two, I’m always in line for twenty minutes.
What I’m Excited About:
Spring! This week, the sun has been shining, and we’ve had temps in the upper 50’s. I think today’s high is close to 70! It’s been so nice!
What I’m Watching/Reading:
Thanks to Amy‘s recommendation, I started watching Younger on Netflix. I’d heard of the show when it was originally on, but never watched it. I’m on season 3, and I really like it! The episodes are short, and it’s an easy show to binge.
I’m late sharing about the books I read in February, and I hope to share them next week. I’m currently reading The Underground Library, and I’m really enjoying it!
What I’m Listening To:
Three of the books I read in February were actually audio books. Again, I will share more next week.
This week, I did start listening to Brooke Shields’ latest book…and I’m not sure if I will continue. I guess I knew the book was about aging, but I don’t know…she’s already thrown a lot of stats my way, and I’m just not into math at the moment. haha
What I’m Wearing:
My favorite place to get my clothes continues to be SSYS. Amazon typically rounds out my closet these days.
The SSYS “shacket” is a popular piece that is an SSYS label piece and it’s been sold on and off the past couple of years. I purchased one, and when it first arrived, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. Well, I wore it once, and now it’s a “go to” item for me. I’ve worn it plenty with leggings, but I’ve also worn it to school with a black pants and a cute blouse.
Last week, I wore it with my favorite over-sized Amazon shirt…I have it in gray and blue!
What I’m Doing This Weekend:
This weekend, Hadley has another volleyball tournament, so that will take up most of our weekend.
I do hope to finish out my clothing purge as I need to go through my dresser drawers and make one more donate pile.
What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month:
It’s March which means spring break is right around the corner which leads to the downhill slide to summer!! Also, I’m looking forward to the outdoor track season for the kids. It will be fun to see what they accomplish!
How was your weekend? Ours was busy…with a capital B! Hayden is on the upswing after having the flu, so he’s laid low while Hadley had a track meet on Friday night, followed by a volleyball tournament Saturday and Sunday in Louisville.
I know we all joked that January was the longest month ever, but I think February flew by! Since it’s the last Monday of the month, I’m sharing some memes that made me laugh this month.
Around Groundhog’s Day, my friend shared this meme on Instagram, and I literally laughed out loud. What an odd little holiday. lol
These two words work great as a mom and as a teacher!
All the snow and cold temps also make me just want to put my pajamas on and be cozy!
I get sidetracked easily when I should be going to bed or getting ready for school!
A weekend of sitting on bleachers has this one being very relatable…
Oh my gosh….this one is so true! Why do I have to start an order to look at the dang menu?! I was just struggling with this Saturday night at 8PM as I was trying to place a Fazolis pick up when we got back to Lex.
The snow has been nice, but this time next week, I will be all in on spring! We actually have some warm temps this week. I think we’re supposed to hit 60 degrees on Wednesday.
One final thought for February…haha!
I hope these memes provided a laugh or two.
After a busy weekend, I know Monday is going to feel like a long one. I’m grateful that the weather looks great this week, and hopefully we’ll get back into a full week of school routine.
Well, after a somewhat consistent couple of weeks, this week was an odd one. We had no school Monday for Presidents’ Day, went to school on Tuesday, and then we had NTI days due to snow and cold temps Wednesday and Thursday. As I type this, my district said they’d make the call for today this morning. Besides the wacky school week, Hayden has had the flu! He’s doing better now, but he was pretty sick.
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Last Friday was Valentine’s Day.
The kids had practice after school, but when they got home, I had a couple of gifts for them. They both got a few odds and ends, but I bought Hayden a quarter zip from Good Good Golf, and Hadley’s main gift was one of these wristlets from Lululemon. They are all the rage with teen girls right now.
I got Trav a card and chocolates, and he gave me a card and some chocolate covered strawberries.
I had to go to Kroger for my prescription, so while I was there I got the kids some candy, their favorite drinks, and a couple of smaller items like Chapstick. I picked up some cupcakes for dessert.
Anyway, it was a low-key evening, but fun to celebrate a bit.
We really didn’t have much going on last weekend which was perfect timing because I was getting over a sinus infection.
A couple of months ago, we were out with friends at a new pizza place in town. We spotted the private room they had and asked about it. We looked ahead at the UK basketball schedule, and booked the room for last Saturday. The fire was going, there were a few TV’s, serve yourself soft drinks, and we had our own waitress. So, we ordered apps, pizza, and drinks throughout the night. For the room, you had to spend $500. We spent a bit more than that, but we divided it among eight families. So, it was just a fun way to get together and watch a basketball game.
On Monday, since we were off of school, and everyone was still healthy, the kids and I ran some errands and then stopped for lunch at Shake Shack. We were only out and about for a couple of hours, but it was nice doing something with them on a day off. As you know, we’ve had a ton of snow days, but we’re usually at home or Hadley will go to a friend’s house to do her school work. Anyway, it was just a nice afternoon.
I know it’s crazy the amount of snow days and NTI days we’ve had, but our winters aren’t usually this active. While I’m ready for spring, the snowfalls have been pretty and you never know what the next year might bring. We’ve had winters with only a couple inches of snow in the past.
Not a favorite but the NTI days saved me from using sick days to take care of Hayden. Also, the pediatrician’s office feels so odd at this age. Seeing the little kids compared to my teenage boy is bittersweet. We’ve gone to the same pediatrician the kids’ whole lives, and when he walked in to see Hayden, he said, “Well, who is this guy?” haha…I don’t think Hayden’s been there since last spring, so I’m sure he’s grown a bit.
Wednesday night Travis and Hadley went to the UK basketball game and had some great seats. I was receiving lots of texts and messages with people spotting them behind UK’s bench. haha
Last weekend, Hadley and I watched Sweet Home Alabama. That’s one of my favorite movies that I hadn’t seen in years, and it was on Hulu. Hadley really liked it.
Speaking of Reese Witherspoon, I also watched her new movie with Will Farrell, You’re Cordially Invited. One of my favorite comedians, Leanne Morgan is also in it. It’s a quirky and funny movie…but I’m glad it was included in my Prime membership, and I didn’t have to pay extra to watch it.
Favorite Meals:
I kept our dinners pretty simple including sheet pan nachos…
…and a new recipe I tried: Bubble Up Pizza Bake…I didn’t get a picture of it as I assembled it and Hadley baked it…but we all loved it. Per Hadley’s request, I actually might make it again next week and add sausage to the pepperoni.
Favorite Mom Meme:
Man, this is so true, but I also know that in less than two years, they can take themselves wherever they need to go!
I guess February is the month for love with Valentine’s Day last week.
That being said, the past couple of days, I’ve made note of a few things that come to mind that I love.
Now, of course, I love my family, my friends, and Homer; things like “health,” “travel,” and “traditions” would be on the list of things I love, but today’s list is a look at some of the “littler” things I love
For starters, I love a Thursday. It’s my favorite day of the week. It’s a great day to be productive, and the weekend is right around the corner.
Here are some other things I love…in no particular order…
A cup of warm coffee to start my day.
A good book.
A rainy day.
A good snow fall. (And a snow day!…We have another one today.)
A “crispy” Diet Coke…McDonald’s does it best, followed by Chick-fil-A. There’s nothing better than that fizz.
The glow of a Christmas tree.
All my family being at home at the same time.
*This pic –we aren’t at home, but I like the pic. haha
The school copier not jamming when I have copies to make. Literally…I say a little prayer every time I make copies.
A new set of pens.
When a lesson in class goes well.
Clean sheets!
A beach sunset.
Turning the page on my desk calendar. The fresh start of a new month is always something I look forward to.
(Old calendar, but you get what I mean…)
When someone gives me a compliment about my kids.
*The same goes for a good sub note and compliments on my students.
A word search.
A three day weekend with no “Sunday Scaries.” (Although, I must admit that I’ve had a great year with very few Sundays dreading Monday!)
A bowl of cereal. I’m on a Cap’n Crunch kick right now.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream. It’s the superior flavor.
Being tan.
Funny memes.
Appointments like getting my nails or my hair done. I also love my monthly facials.
A good nap.
A card.
A snack plate.
A cookie cake.
A show to binge watch. Currently, Travis and I are making our way through the second season of The Night Agent. I also love most of Bravo’s “Housewives” franchise.
Emojis. If you get a text from me, you know that it will almost always include an emoji….
Some of my faves: 🎉🙃🤣👀☠️😬😭🙋♀️👸
Unfortunately, I’ve had to use this one the past couple of days 🤒…because Hayden has the flu.
…and we have yet another NTI day thanks for snow and cold temps so…🥶
What about you? What’s something simple that you love?
Well, I didn’t mean to take yesterday off from blogging, but the three day weekend got away from me. Actually, we hardly did anything this past weekend which was just what we needed.
Today’s Tuesday Talk is all about skincare.
I was chatting with another blogger (hi, Mandy!) about skincare, and I always think it’s interesting to see what other people use for skincare and how they use it as well.
…but thought it was time for a little update. While some products change (as I like it try new things), Dime Beauty continues to be my “go to” for serums and moisturizers. I’ve been using Dime for at least four years.
I bought this organizer about a year ago, and it’s still working perfectly to house my skincare. I keep my makeup in this toiletry bag, and I also use it for travel.
I always start my skin care, day and night, by washing my face. I use CeraVe (I always get it at Target), and one of these facial sponges.
Then, I use a cotton round to apply Thayer’s facial toner. Target has the “rose petal,” scent toner, and that’s also where I get my cotton rounds.
I’ve always heard to apply skin care products thinnest to thickest, so here we go…
This “honey milk” by Farmacy is a new part of my skin care routine. Thanks to the cold weather, my skin has felt extra dry, so I’ve started to use a few drops of this product.
Then, I use my Dime serum. In the morning, I use Hyper Glow, and at night, I use Super Firm Serum.
After that, I use this Retinol eye stick. I’ve been using this for about a year, and while I’m not necessarily turning back the hands of time, I do feel like I’m doing something for my under eyes!
One of my friends is a Mary Kay consultant, and she recently sent me this “wrinkle limiter.” It’s pretty thick cream that you use for fine lines and wrinkles. So, this is a new part of my skin care routine, but I actually do feel my skin tightening a bit after using it on my forehead, between my eyes (my 11’s), and upper lip.
I don’t always use this Gold Bond neck cream, but I try to remember to do so. It’s such a great price, and I usually find it at Target. I figure why not use it when I can.
This “facial milk” is another Mary Kay product, and it’s a leftover as a duo with a retinol product that I used previously. It’s a very thin cream, so sometimes I apply it before using my thicker moisturizers.
Then, it’s moisturizer time. I use Dime’s Dewy Day Cream in the morning, and then Restorative Night Cream at night.
I still love my eye patches in the mornings (these or these) and my once a month facial/dermaplane/chemical peel.
So, that’s a(nother) look at my skin care routine. Truly, I don’t think I started washing my face and taking my makeup off before bed until about ten years ago. Now, I can’t imagine not doing my skincare routine. I know it may look like a lot, but it doesn’t take longer than two minutes!
How was your week? Ours was odd with a snow day on Tuesday. That meant that Wednesday felt like a Monday again! And, I’m still battling my cold which I think is now officially a sinus infection. I’m hoping this is the end of the sickness at my house!
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week.
On Saturday, Hayden had his second indoor mile race of the season, and he ran a PR of 4:47.
While Hayden was running, Hadley was playing in a sand volleyball tournament with her friends.
Last Thursday, I (finally) put out a few Valentine’s Day decorations. My Valentine’s Day decor doesn’t really change from year to year, but this little heart vase and flowers were a cute addition to my kitchen island tray. The Hershey Kisses don’t last very long!
On Sunday, Hadley and about ten friends had a Galentine’s Day party. One of her friends hosted and was sweet to ask her to come.
They had lots of fun hanging out, having a few snacks and making their own floral bouquets.
Sunday evening, we went to my brother’s house for the Super Bowl. Obviously, the outcome wasn’t a favorite, but we’re lucky to say it’s a tradition to watch the Chiefs in the Super Bowl these past few years.
Win or lose, getting a cookie cake is a favorite tradition too.
All smiles…before the game! haha
My mom gave me this belated birthday card. My favorite ladies!
…and a belated birthday gift. She has this butter dish from Crate and Barrel. I thought it was neat and pretty, so she gave me one too!
Valentine’s Day Card:
The Valentine’s Day card for family continues. This is a fun tradition through the years.
Favorite Mom Meme:
This…#accurate
Favorite Teacher Memes:
As a teacher, I thought these next two graphics are very relatable for me.
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
I will always share these pics of my little Valentines…
How is your week going? We’ve had one day of school, a snow day, and then I’m not feeling well. I feel like I have a cold, but I’m hoping it’s nothing more.
I’m linking up with Joyce for her weekly Hodgepodge post.
This week’s questions are Super Bowl/Valentine’s Day themed which is fun.
1. Did you watch the Super Bowl? Did your team win? What’s your favorite game day snack for whatever sport is happening?
Well, we were cheering for our Chiefs, so of course we watched the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, that means we were disappointed in the outcome. While I wasn’t expecting the Chiefs to win…it was just one of those seasons where they scraped by, I didn’t think it would be such a blow out. It felt like everyone wanted us to lose, so I hate that that was the outcome.
We went to my brother’s house, per tradition. Our Super Bowl menu is always pizza, wings, and cookie cake. The cookie cake was still delish, even with the loss.
We really have been spoiled being able to watch so many Super Bowls with the Chiefs playing, win or lose. Hopefully, they’ll be back some time soon.
2. What’s your “superpower”?
I think multi-tasking is my superpower. Not sure you can be a teacher and a mom without being a good multi-tasker.
3. Will you do anything special on Valentine’s Day? If so, do share. Any thoughts on/about this particular holiday? Share a favorite verse or quote relating to love.
Trav and I will typically go out to dinner at some point. I always try to do some type of Valentine’s Day themed family dinner at home on the 14th if our schedules allow. Through the years, I’ve made heart shaped pizza, let everyone choose their favorite dinner item and had a hodgepodge dinner, and we’ve also had heart shaped nuggets and some sides.
Chicken nuggets are on the menu for Thursday or Friday this week.
I think it’s a fun holiday to celebrate, but also not one that should carry too much weight. Travis and I only exchange cards, and I buy the kids a thing or two for Valentine’s Day. I’ve tried to make it special for them through the years.
I also like putting out a few Valentine’s Day touches. I don’t put out a lot, but I only just decorated last weekend. The decorations mainly stay the same from year to year.
Hadley and friends had a Galentine’s Day party last weekend. They made bouquets….and this heart shaped pic of their creations is cute!
My Bible plan for this month has been this one…all about love.
4. Are you a fan of the rom-com genre? If so, what’s one of your favorites? If you’re not a movie go-er, then what about a book you love that features a great love story? How about a favorite love song?
I love a rom-com movie. You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and While You Were Sleeping are always my “go to” rom-com movies.
I don’t read as many love/chick lit books as I used to. I read The Match last month and thought it was cute.
5. Let’s get creative…write an acrostic using the word L-O-V-E.
My answer to #5 is both fun and also give me a moment to stand on my soap box. From an education standpoint, AI is a problem. AI can also be used for good. At the start of this school year, it was the first time we, as teachers, had professional development on how to use AI. Honestly, it is pretty amazing. I can make a twenty question multiple choice quiz over Romeo and Juliet in about thirty seconds.
Of course, it’s also a curse while trying to get students to write. Just like with plagiarism, I can typically “catch” students who’ve used AI. I’m not perfect as I’m sure some kids have gotten away with it, but for me, I always ask students to cite our textbook with page numbers, so that helps.
So, in our Google waffle, we have “Gemini.” Starting Tuesday, our students will have “Gemini” in their Google waffle too. So, I guess we’re telling the kids it’s ok to use these resources. Of course, just like for teachers, students could benefit from these AI resources…but call me old school…I think they should have to learn to write a paper, provide text evidence, support a claim, cite the text, and write a concluding paragraph.
Hopping off my soap box to share my AI Gemini generated acrostic LOVE poem.
Luminous and bright, a guiding star,
Outpouring of warmth, near and far,
Valuable and precious, a treasure to hold,
Eternal and boundless, a story untold.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I hadn’t really thought about it, but the current unit for my students is Crazy, Stupid Love with Romeo and Juliet as the main text. The essential question for this unit is “What is true love?” Perfect for February.
It’s been a minute since I’ve had to struggle through Shakespeare with some freshman, but it’s been fun to do so far. Obviously, Shakespeare isn’t everyone’s “cup of tea,” but we have lots of resources.
For Act 1, I read the “bridge text” with my general English 1 students. This is a shorted version with summaries of each scene before a bit of the Shakespeare text. The textbook provides this resource online, so I just print a class set of the act.
Another English teacher shared the PDFs of the graphic novel for Act 2, so we’re reading that this week.
My Advanced students are reading the No Fear version which has the original text on the left and then a modern English version on the right. As we read the No Fear text, we listen from the online textbook. I think this is a great way to tackle the text as we can hear the various characters’ voices…and we can listen on 1.25x speed! It’s worked out nicely so far.
Lastly, another colleague shared the link to the Orlando Bloom on Broadway Romeo and Juliet play. Again, if I had the students watch the play from beginning to end, I wouldn’t be able to hold their attention. So, I’ve used it sporadically. On Monday, we read Act 2 scenes 1 and 2, and then watched the play…Act 2, scene 2 which is the famous balcony scene…”O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” and…”Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
It’s always interesting to see what students think of Romeo and his impulsiveness with love…Juliet too! I always here, “Ms. White! He just thought he loved Rosaline,” and “Ugh! They’re only 14!” haha!
Hayden and Hadley are reading the play in their Adv. English 1 class too. It’s fun to see the play through their eyes too.
We were all the struggle bus yesterday …so tired and disappointed from that Super Bowl loss. While I didn’t have high hopes they’d win, I did hope it was respectable! haha.
Hopefully, we don’t have to wait too long for another Chiefs Super Bowl appearance.
Today, we have an NTI day thanks to snow that should be on the ground as of this morning. While I’d be surprised if this turns into more than one day off, I will take what I can get with sleeping in a bit before online school at home.
I’m linking up with Erika and Shay for Let’s Look.
I believe Shay said they were changing the day to the second Tuesday of the month?? If not, I’m a day early!
This month’s topic is…let’s look at how you work on your marriage.
It’s hard to believe, but Travis and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in June.
Truly, it is crazy how quickly these past twenty years have flown by. We’re not perfect, but I still feel like we are perfect for each other.
I actually feel like we used to do a better job at making intentional time for each other…then, insert two kids with very busy schedules on top of both of us in the thick of our careers, and we’re busy and tired!
That being said, I still love when we go out to dinner, watch a show together, or sit on the back patio in the summer.
We both go for walks occasionally, and maybe we should do that together…but right now, when I walk, I just want silence after a long, over-stimulating day. haha!
Even better, is when we can find a short weekend to get away, but that doesn’t happen as often as I’d like.
While the kids and their activities shouldn’t completely overtake our lives, we both are in agreement that we aren’t going to miss their games, meets, and activities unless we absolutely need to. We’re going to blink, and the fast-paced high school years will be over.
We’ve had some glimpses of what “the next chapter” will look like when both kids are out of the house. While they might just be at a friend’s house and not at college yet, we end up having a spontaneous chunk of time to go out to eat or watch a movie.
So, while we might be as planned as we once were, now it just sometimes happens that we have some time to hang out together.
Communication is, and always will be, key. Travis hears it all from me…when I’m sad, happy, grumpy, tired or need to vent. There’s not another person in this world that I will turn to for all the things I turn to him for…and he’s always there for me. He’s never once let me down or disappointed me, and I hope he can say the same thing about me!
Our first dance at our wedding he picked out the song…and it was a surprise…just something he said he’d handle. He chose “Someone like You,” and it’s a sweet song, but I laughed because we’d seen the movie “Someone like You” that starred Ashley Judd. All men, of a certain age in Kentucky, have had a crush on Ashley Judd at some point in the 90’s! She’s a huge Kentucky fan. Anyway, it’s a sweet song that makes me smile with that memory as we took the dance floor.
We do have traditions like going out somewhere nice around Valentine’s Day and for our anniversary. I always look forward to the fall and spring when we go to Keeneland, and we usually go to Oaks as well in May.
I’m lucky that finding “my person” didn’t take too long, and I’m grateful for the years we’ve had together and all that we’ve celebrated and all that we’ve been through together.
And…he writes my name in bubble letters…what more can a girl ask for?
Marriage is hard work…but it’s worth it. My daily prayers include growing “old, old” with him.
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