FIVE FOR FRIDAY....EVERYBODY CUT FOOTLOOSE!

 

DOODLEBUGS FIVE FOR FRIDAY

Welcome Friends!

It's been one of those weeks where some of my school and home-life days have been awesome, and some have not.  The following word, and the list of multiple meanings, pretty much sums up how life can often be a roller coaster ride.  Luckily, plenty of Carmel Marvels kept me caffeinated as I just hung on, kept calm, and carried on......

1. marathon

   n. noun
   • 1. A cross-country footrace of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 kilometers).
        
        
     2. A long-distance race other than a footrace.
        a swimming marathon.
        
        
     3. A contest of endurance.
        a dance marathon.
        
        
     4. An event or activity that requires prolonged effort or endurance.
        
        

Now mind you, I am not a runner.  I am a walker.  Actually, I am a "stroller."  When friends ask me to hike the trails at the local metropark, I am often three steps behind them, stopping to greet each small child or drooling dog along the way.  I also do not own any real athletic shoes.  I used to.  I played tennis for years and years.  But now I just have cute pink sneakers that I found on sale at T.J. Maxx.

So you see, I am the tortoise in the "race of life," not the hare, and this week I just really feel like I got left "in the dust" instead of  crossing the finish line.  I am very glad it is Friday, and that I have the weekend to recuperate and rejuvenate.  Part of my exhaustion is because an EXTRA HOUR was added to four of our five class days this week to make up for the time we missed this winter during the Snow Apocalypse.  

Let me tell you, trying to keep young children engaged and on-target from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. was not an easy or successful task.  What was supposed to be a "power hour" of quality instructional time was really not productive because I was tired and a teeny bit crabby.....and so were my students.  We have seven more days to go--three before the Easter weekend, and then four after.  May I be blessed with extra patience and perseverance.  My plan for Monday is to try and use that time for some valuable partner or group work.  Fingers are crossed!

 

In keeping with the "footwear" theme of this post, I must share that my daughter is performing in her final college musical, FOOTLOOSE, this weekend.  Her character, Wendy Jo, is a naive southern girl with a heart-of-gold and some of the funniest lines in the show!  As I watched Hayley sing, dance, and hula hoop on stage last night, I laughed and cried.  

Gone were the days when her legs were wrapped in plaster casts to try and reduce the swelling caused by the infant lymphadema she was born with.  Gone were the days when we would shop for wide-width, velcro shoes because they were adjustable and the most comfortable for her.   Instead, she jumped, twirled, kicked, and two-stepped happily through some very intricate choreography, and made me so grateful and so proud.  After graduation in May, she aspires to continue auditioning in hopes of landing a performance gig in summerstock theater.  May she hear "the beat of those dancing feet......calling from 42nd Street!"

Maintaining my composure at school these days has been very difficult, but luckily my students seemed to understand my sadness at the passing of my father. Some of them really rallied around me to help as needed.  Dad's only been gone a week now, so the grief is fresh and my memories often well up unexpectedly at odd moments.  In an effort to make me feel better, one of my little fellows left this card and a Rainbow Loom bracelet he had made me on my desk Tuesday morning.  It made my heart swell....

Progress reports for our third quarter were also due this week, and I finished writing my last narrative about an hour before the deadline.  Composing comments that praise the positive and outline what skills still need development is always a painstaking and time-consuming process for me.  Receiving this post-it from my principal made the effort invested worth it though, and made me feel appreciated!

On April 17th, my son will turn 24.  This weekend we will celebrate with cookie cake before his sister's show.  Last week, Eamonn made sure that I was not alone at difficult times and took care of my dogs (and me) when I was just too overwhelmed to do so.  The responsible, generous, considerate young man he has grown up to be mirrors the spirit of his Papa Boney, and his legacy will live on because of it.

Be sure you stop back bright and early tomorrow morning for THE BIG REVEAL!  If you have been following the trail of clues here and on my Facebook page this week, you know that the teacher whose blog I admire most teaches second grade, is very athletic, sells Jamberry nail products, and.......

Until then, be sure to check out the great products of 

Krista Wallden over at Creative Clips! 

The coffee cups featured in this post are just a few of the FREEBIES in her TpT store this week!  I was the LUCKY DUCK WINNER of a $20 gift certificate yesterday in her 10,000 Follower Giveaway, and I was so HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!  Click {HERE} to check out her fabulous graphics, frames, borders, and backgrounds!  Be sure to visit her Facebook page as well!

As always, thanks for sharing my story!  Keep a song in your heart and a smile on your face!