Back to Work Again!

Wednesday night I got the call that the next day would be my first day.  The teacher I am subbing for was put on bedrest and then induced the next day.  (baby and mama are doing fine!)

Its been an ok transition back to work- I am working with the same 3rd grade team I worked with last year plus my old teacher friend (the teacher I subbed for last year.)  So in that sense, its been great.  The hardest teaching part is getting adjusted to a whole new set of kids in such a short amount of time.  When you are teaching full time, you have 9ish months with them and are ready to let them go on to the next grade level.  But 3 months at a time is really hard.  I was getting to the point last semester in 2nd grade where I knew each student really well and could truly help them learn and grow.  And now that I am in a brand new class I am starting back at zero.  Learning a whole new set of names and a new schedule and switching gears to a new curriculum (not to mention worrying about the durn STAAR test!) is much harder than I remembered.  Its going to take me quite a while to get to that point with these 3rd graders where I can truly help them learn and grow.  I feel like it is a disservice to them.  They will survive of course, as will I, its just frustrating sometimes.

That, and its been really hard leaving the girls.  We had such a wonderful time with me being back at home for those 5 weeks.  They have been adjusting ok.  They both love their preschool and are super excited on the days they have it.  The daycare I am using is in home, and it is a 1/2 mile from our house.  The woman who runs it has a son at their preschool, so that has been great for them.  So honestly I think its just me missing them and they are really fine. 

I try to make the most of our precious time together.  Even if it is super cold I try and get them outside each day.

Going to Costco to shop and eat is one of our fave Friday nights!

Elia pushing the baby while G gets on her bike with her sweet new basket.

 

Obsessed with putting stuff in the basket- especially dandelions.

Running at the field by the park.

I already have a mental countdown- 11 weeks to go!

Locked Out

Friday was our bi-monthly trip to costco. Gianna loves to go to costco to get the free samples. I love that Costco's carts have 2 children sized seats at the front. Anyway, we got through the store without any problems and both girls were in exceptional moods. Elia sat quietly, flirting with other customers as they walked by. As I was checking out, I noticed that my keys were not in my purse! Sure enough, when I pulled the cart up to our car, I saw that the keys were in my ignition. This is the only key we own for this car, and a new key costs $200, so I am usually very er, uptight, about making sure the key stays with me. So after calling Chris and freaking out a bit, a very nice Costco employee tried to help me. But her very measly piece of twine did not help. Meanwhile, Gianna keeps asking if she can get out of the cart, and Elia is starting to fuss because she hasn't eaten anything for 4 hours- a long time for her! I bribed Gianna with Gogurt and fruit snacks, but I was not about to go lug both girls back into Costco to find a private spot to nurse. So I did the only thing I could- I fed her a gogurt, and she loved it, thank goodness! Then, a man walking by noticed we were trying to get in the locked car and offered to help. He went back to his car and brought back the perfect tool for getting into our Honda, (hmmmmm, I wonder what he does for a living??) and the crisis was averted. Whew!