NOW WHAT?

The play is over, report cards are delivered, and students are gone for the summer.

The classroom is all packed up.

Or pushed up against one wall in anticipation for August.

{source}

On my way home that last day, I used a Christmas gift card for a massage. 

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I think I'd be willing to trade my first born child for another one. Maybe. 

I arrived home to where organization, dish washing, laundry, and grocery shopping of any kind has been neglected for some weeks now. 

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I felt it was wiser to spare you the devastation.

I also noticed that I still have my Easter decorations on display through the house. 

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I mean, that holiday was only a month ago, right?

You'd think I'd be immediately off to conquer long lists of things I can never accomplish while working full-time. But I have no motivation. 

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And anyway, my list board seems to have been overtaken by Andrew's artistic fancies. 

Besides, as if on cue, as always happens the day after school gets out, I am sick. My body seems to wait for me to have time for illness in my life. 

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Very courteous, don't you think? 

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So, if you need me, I'll be here on my bed in a flu/mental anxiety-induced catatonic state. I'll probably be here for a few days...

THE LAST DAYS

Four days and counting. 

All I have left to accomplish:

1. Put Together 22 Portfolio Binders
2. Enter Grades and Print Report Cards
3. Clean and Pack for Summer Vacation
4. Make Costumes
5. Finish Building Set
6. Get a Bunch of 9-year-olds to Memorize Scripts and Follow my Choreography 
7. Impress Parents with My Amazing Directing Skills

I'm just a little bit stressed out. 

The kids have done most of the painting of the set. 

(I just added faces)

I built the tree. 




And Andrew built the framework of the little Japanese hut. 




After adding the kids' thatched roof and a donated props, it's looking more like a Hawaiian tiki hut with a Mexican blanket. 
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I'm trying not to let it stress me out. I simply don't have the time to let my perfectionism take control right now. I'll just add some Japanese art to the inside walls and call it good.

I have a bag of about 15 donated stuffed monkeys of varying species and colors to be hang in the jungle...that still needs to be built. 

And I need to find an alternative to these sad, little guys in the chicken coop. They look slightly pathetic. 

But the costumes are almost put together. Just need a tiger's tail and a pair of wolf's ears. 

I soon discovered that sewing costumes without a sewing machine is completely unreasonable. So I turned to the next best thing: a hot glue gun. 
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It works surprisingly well. 



Well, I probably won't see you again until I get to the other side of all this mess...assuming I survive the anxiety. Send a prayer my way, won't you?
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Sayonara.
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SUNDAY

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A week and a half. 

A week and a half. 

A week and a half. 

A week and a half. 

A week and a half. 

A week and a half. 

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Until then, Sunday afternoon was a welcome break. Springtime walk, my love, and dessert. 

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I don't think kids look forward to summer vacation nearly as much as the teachers do. Just sayin'.

THE STORY OF MY LIFE

I saw a tractor. Then, I took fifty-million pictures.

The end.

MOTHER's DAY

Each of my students made one of these in class for their mother. 

I woke up Sunday to Andrew busy in the kitchen.  

I received something fun in the mail from mom-in-law.

And this is my mom. 

She happens to be here visiting for the week. 
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Too bad she's feeling anti-social. 

B-day

Well, life is going to be insanely busy for the next couple of weeks as we wrap up the school year, host family, and enjoy spring.

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Lots has happened that I'm excited to share, but some pics of my birthday last week will have to do for now. The big 'ol twenty-six. Andrew surprised me with a home-made double layer cake.
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LOVE that guy.

Happy weekend, all.

ANDREW'S UNDERSTUDY

Andrew really appreciates the fact that Becca has moved in here. 

You see, usually, he's the only one around to bare the brunt of my photo taking fanaticism. He's my only model. 

Now he has a buffer, or as he calls her: his understudy. 

I like it too. Andrew's a great-looking guy and all--but I can't imagine him ever looking this pretty standing at the kitchen window. 

I just happened to walk by, as Becca sat staring at the yard. Something about the soft lighting, the feminine, flowered shirt, and her posture in the country kitchen left only one thought resonating in my mind: 

MUST. TAKE. PICTURES.

I snapped three frames before Becca realized I was yet again, photographing her. She dryly stated a snide something that isn't worth repeating. 

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To which, I proceeded to threaten her physical safety if she moved a muscle. 

She was kind enough to remain in place for a few more frames before rolling her eyes and walking away. Apparently, she doesn't fear me. 

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Punk.

PERSONIFICATION

I'm sure I looked like the paparazzi to my Easter tulips--the way I followed them around with a camera all week. 

Here are my Easter tulips {thanks Mom} watching the sunrise. 

And helping me enjoy an afternoon snack. 

And hangin' with Andrew while he watched a baseball game on-line. 

That is until  I stole them back they soon got bored and chose to help me proofread my cousin's book instead. 

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Heather's book is so fun, and when it's published you'll all want to be the first ones in line to buy it. You won't be sorry.

This is Andrew informing me that allowing the tulips to accompany us on our Friday night date is "out of the question."

I guess he just wanted some alone time without the little ones. But I shared my ice-cream when we returned. 

Sweet dreams.