The Good Life

Deciding to quit teaching after Will graduated was a no brainer…so I thought.  When the day came I did not realize it would come with such mixed emotions.  My passion for teaching is strong and I LOVE what I do!  The challenge is exhilerating.  Each year I thought I could never love the new class as much as I had the class the year before, but my heart always made room.

I had been a working mom for what I felt like was so long that I didn’t know if I could handle a three and one year old all by myself.  Some people laugh telling me that if I can handle 20 seven year olds or 28 twelve year olds I should be able to manage Hudson and Annie.  Ha!  If only it were that easy.

Since then I have a new found respect for those moms who care so well for their children and make it look so easy.  In my quest to effectively grow Hudson and Annie where they were planted I looked for inspiration and guidance.  What can I say, Elder Ballard and Sister Hinckley had good things to say.

In May of this year Elder Ballard wrote,

“First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.”

In the few months I have been home I find this statement true everyday!

Sister Hinckley has commented the following:

“It is the mothers of young children I would like to address first. These are golden years for you. These are years when you will probably do the most important work of your lives. Don’t wish away your years of caring for small children. Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans. This is a time of great opportunity for you to build the kingdom. When you teach children to love their Heavenly Father, you have done one of the greatest things you will ever do. If you can be a full-time homemaker, be grateful. If not, you must do what is best for you. I for one have never felt a need to apologize for my role as a full-time homemaker.”

It is with a grateful heart that I step out of the classroom and into my home to try and be a better mother today than I was yesterday.

Attack of the Killer Seaweed!

My parents, Casey and Brian drove down to see us for a few days.  We played at the beach and enjoyed Sea World and The Wild Animal Park.

For better or worse, my Mom and I left the kids with the boys the day we went to the beach so we could go explore the beach.  We had a great time.

Brian took off boarding…trying to impress the ladies.

Hudson followed Casey around for awhile and then…

It finally happened.  Both children are now scared by things at the beach.  Thanks grandpa.  Annie continued her fear of the water.  My dad then so graciously instilled the fear of seaweed in Hudson.  He used to think it was great to drag around and squish.  Obviously, there is now a slight problem.

Either way, we loved having my family here.   Overall it was a positive experience.  I can assure you that the above photo was an isolated incident.

Gluestick Withdrawls

I was thinking that I might suffer teaching withdrawls come mid-August.  I no longer think this, I know it!  It all started when I saw the doorbuster adds for Office Depot and Staples…Glue 1 cent…rulers 5 cents… colored pencils 49 cents…notebooks…33 cents.  Of course I drove around and tried to pickup on some of the sales and of course they all have limits.  Tiny writing at the bottom of the page Limit 3 or limit 2.  Naturally, I only spent a few cents over a buck.

Unfortunately, that trip did not keep me content.  Off I head to Target.  I couldn’t help but get a little giddy seeing the bins full of gluesticks…11 cents (I’m used to buying around 80+at the beginning of each year), they had pencils, paper, rulers, folders, erasers.  I am such a sucker for a good deal too.  I had to restrain myself from emptying the entire bin of gluesticks into my cart.

Coming home Will sees the bag and is naturally curious, “Jessica, why do you need gluesticks and rulers?”  My weak little response, “For school?”  Rolling his eyes he just shakes his head at me (he is such a patient husband).  Needless to say, the school kit humanitarian project inherited several packages of spiral notebooks I had been hoarding; “just in case, ” along with all the spoils from the trip, except for the gluesticks.  Those stayed with me…art projects for Hudson.