A Poetic Look Back on the Last Week of School

Yesterday marked the end of the most exhausting week of an unusually exhausting year. Even the DQ employees noted that my mid-honors-field-trip-whimpering was more pathetic this year than in the past. And they would know, because a few of them have made the yearly trek with me as students.

But now the year is over and, after a few days of meetings and one quick trip to collect ideas from a tech-savy district in Oregon, summer vacation will begin.

When I left the school yesterday, the whole "summer break" think hadn't sunk in. This morning, I decided to write a poem about the last week in an attempt to get some sort of feeling of closure.

Why write a poem, you may ask? Well, I am a teacher of literature and writing... and therefore I cannot afford the actual therapy of which I am in desperate need.

The Last Week of School: A Poem by Miss H

The sun shone down,

The flowers bloomed.

The kids were thrilled,

But we were doomed

“Oh no!”we cried

“It’s far too soon,

The warm weather

Should wait till June!”

And why, you ask,

Did we lament

The nice weather

That we were sent?

Some disbelieve

Others may scoff

But sunshine makes

Young brains turn off!

Smart kids forget

All they have learned

All they want

Is class adjourned

Some squirm and shout

Some kiss and hug

Some limply sit

Like lifeless slugs

I prayed for rain

Pleaded for cold

So fewer kids

I’d have to scold

Some wind came

Temperatures dropped

But that squirreliness

It didn’t stop

The only cure

For year-end-pains

Is dampened sprits

From May rains

But while bad choices

Did abound

Not one raincloud
Could scarce be found

When finals were done

Grades all turned in

And students gone

Did the rain begin.

“Traitorous Storm!”
I shouted to

“Where were you when

We needed you?”

The pouring rain

Seemed to reply

“It’s for the best

That late, came I”

“Had the kids not

Turned into loons,

You would have missed

Them all by June”

“Think of all

The heartache saved

Because the kids

Have misbehaved”

So “think”, I did

And it was true

I won’t miss them

Till summer’s through

It was nature’s way

to prepare my heart

to say goodbye

to the little farts.

When fall begins

And school resumes

My love for them

Again will bloom

But for right now

As the rain drops fall

I’m thankful not

To miss them at all

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

The second to last week of school has, for me, historically been a mixed bag of highs and lows and ups and downs.

For example, on my very first second to last week of school as a teacher, I was celebrating surviving that hardest of all years (up/high), found out I had a chance to make some extra money teaching summer school(up-high), and then promptly crashed my car (down/low) right in front of the school (waaaaay down/super low).

All of my other second to last weeks have followed the same pattern, and last week was no exception.

2011-2012 Second to Last Week of School

Ups and Downs

High: The weather has been strangely wonderful, allowing me to walk to and from school and visit with parents and students who live along the way.

Low: On Tuesday, I walked along this street, visited with parents, students, siblings, etc...

...and then sat at this desk visiting with students and staff members for a significant amount of time before one of my first hour kidlets finally pointed out that my shirt was on inside-out.

And the rest of the ups and downs of the week went on from there.

Valley: The kidlets have hit their pre-vacation, school-rule-amnesia, full-scale-Tasmanian-devilish, freak-out level.

Peak: Part way through the week I discovered that, if I walk around with a pen and a stack of referrals in hand, the order is restored without having to utter a single cranky or crabby syllable. Just wave those discipline forms in the air and WHAM! Instant angel children.

Base: After nine consecutive beautiful-weather days, we ended up with cooler temps and a pretty impressive wind for our annual honor's kidlet trek to Dairy Queen.

Pinnacle: Despite the less-than-perfect weather, this group of persipicacious was perfectly behaved. They looked both ways before crossing the street, didn't run off to chase rabbits or squirrels, ordered promptly, ate politely, thanked the DQ staffers, and didn't spill a blessed thing on me as we were walking back to school. I think I might have to flunk them all so that I can have them in class again next year.

Nadir: Attending a very boring, slightly soul-crushing all day district meeting on Wednesday.
Zenith: Attending a very awesome, belly-laugh-inducing silly string war between the staff and the kidlets. The next time I have to attend one of those meetings, I am soooooo bringing silly string with me. Watch out snarky administrators from outlying schools!

Posterior: Getting another (really promising) yearbook staff application from the intermediate school two weeks after I submitted the 20 "finalized" staffers for next year to the office.

Anterior: Getting the application delivered via intra-district mail from the intermediate school assistant principal who, five years after working at my school, still addresses me as "Her Royal Highness."

Socks: Hauling a four-inch stack of creative writing final projects home to read and grade on Saturday.

Crown: Spending Friday night with Valerie (while her menfolk were at the Priesthood commemoration camp out) having dinner at Stevo's, watching the season finale of NCIS, and exploring the first season of Downton Abby.

All things considered, I think the week was a success.

Now I just have to make it though finals week... and two days of Common Core training the week after... and then summer vacation can begin!

Lap swimming, Harry Potter re-reading, niblet-visiting, and the freedom to use the bathroom whenever the heck I want await!

A Sweetheart of a Mom...

A few weeks ago, my mom's sisters sent her this clipping from their hometown paper. Although my dear, sweet mother was a bit annoyed at the thought of qualifying for the "Yesteryear"  segment, I think she still enjoyed the reminder of her cute and distinguished past.

I wonder if this adorable high school cheer mascot had any idea how many years she would be spending in bleachers cheering for her assorted baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, football, and basketball playing sons and daughters. And that isn't even factoring in the time spent on those bleachers supporting her marching/pep band boys.

I'm willing to bet that teenage Joyce was oblivious to the idea that all of her silly songs, cheers, and skits performed in the school gym were preparing her for all of the silly songs, cheers, and skits she would later perform as a cub scout den mother  for 20 plus years, or as a girls camp leader the last few years.

Those pep squad skills have really come in handy over the years.

And now that she has three cute little, princess-loving granddaughters, even her tiara-wearing, parade-waving, beauty queen skills are going to be put to use once again.

A sweetheart then, still a sweetheart today. Happy Mothers Day, Mom!

Arizona Report

I am ashamed to admit that I didn't take a lot of photos during our four-day trip to Arizona for Mikey and New Jenny's wedding. Here are a few that I did take, and I promise to post links to Jenny, Becky, and Brianna's posts as soon as they are uploaded.

Here is what you need to know right now...

The entire family was there. Spencer and Brianna won the prize for traveling the farthest.


And Warren and Spencer deserve some sort of recognition for planning an awesome "Avenger's" bachelor party.


All of the Utah niblets were present.

As were the Idaho niblets.

Including Bubba, and Bubba-licious was a hungry, hungry baby,

There was a bad motel (if you ever need to know where NOT to stay in Flagstaff, let me know).

And there was a very nice hotel.

There was late night pizza, candy, soda, and non-mamma-approved movies (Ironman!) with Grandma, Pa, Mindy, and Brianna.

There was a wonderful "rehearsal" dinner/pool party, attended by both families and a few goats.

And then there was a 98 degree afternoon at the Mesa Temple.

Which was followed by a quick dinner at an air conditioned stake center. The dinner was followed by a beautifully decorated outdoor reception... at which I didn't get any great photos because I was busy feeding Bubba cheesecake and Italian soda.

And there was also a pretty wonderful marriage/sealing.

But the best part of the trip came after that.

As the newest Mr. and Mrs. H exited the temple, Milo ran up the steps and into his beloved uncle's arms.
It was so cute and sweet... until Milo turned around and waved to the rest of the wedding guests... waved with one finger.

His middle finger.

Yep. That one.

On the steps of the temple.

The sweet "ooohhhhs" and "ahhhhhs" quickly turned to gasps of shock and awe... and lots of laughter.

The newly minted three-year-old, Milo, didn't quite understand what the fuss was all about. He figures any finger is as good as another. Luckily, the newest member of our family is a really good sport.

Welcome to the family, Jenny!

Wedding in Mesa, Honeymoon in...Scranton?

My tallest, snarkiest, second-most baby-est of brothers is getting married this weekend in the Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple.

My newest sister-in-law's name is Jennifer, but she goes by Jenny. That posed a bit of a problem when she and Mikey started "getting serious", because we already have a Jenny in the family. At first, we tried to distinguish between the two using the titles "Young Jenny" and "Old Jenny". Then we decided that system might annoy "Old Jenny" so, because we are so compassionate, we switched to "New Jenny" and "Old Jenny".

It's better because this distinction focuses on order of introduction into the family instead of on age. 

Have I mentioned that Old Jenny is a really good sport?

So is New Jenny. She would have to be in order to be excited about spending her first weeks of married life in Scranton, PA.

New Jenny is also a good sport about marrying Mikey, and not just because he is snarky. As you may recall from the very first sentence of this post, Mikey is also tall.

Very tall.

Freakishly tall.

Bless New Jenny's petite heart.

But even with the height difference, I think they make a pretty cute couple.

Congrats, Mikey and New Jenny!

And thanks for giving me a reason to visit Arizona for the first time.

I'll look forward to visiting you guys again... when you get back from Scranton.