I have a blog? Right. #fail
So it’s been a while since I’ve written anything on here. So
let’s recap what has happened within the last year.
August
Began my third year of teaching. Brian began his first. And
so began a whirlwind school year consisting of busy, busy schedules, theatre,
teens, and less sleep than desired.
September-October
Getting into the hang of a new year. Nothing too exciting
happened here. Brian and I attended a leadership conference for his Thespian troupe. Lots of ideas were gathered to make a rocking school year.
The biggest pumpkin ever. This is what fall is about, people.
November
This can be known henceforth as musical month, or mayhem
month. During November, Brian and I
collectively put up 2 musicals. It was Brian’s very first musical to ever
direct. It was a smashing success. I, too, was dealing with a first. Not my
first musical to direct or produce, but my school’s first musical. I dealt with ridiculous children (and by
ridiculous I mean energy-filled, “I needed a place to focus my energy”
children) who created a world of Seuss and brought musical theatre to
Eastgate. Much joy and growth came from
both of our musicals this year.
A shot from Legally Blonde.
December
Winding down to winter break. Ah the glorious winter break.
A much needed breather to mark the halfway point of the school year.
Also, I dressed my dog up in a costume.
January
School’s back in session. And so are snow days. Ugh. Snow
Days. Glorious in January, not so much when you have to make them up in May.
January also marked Brian’s second mainstage performance of
the year. I was fortunate enough to get to watch some rehearsals while Brian
was at meetings. The kids were extremely productive. I mean, singing High School Musical totally
counts as rehearsing, right?
I also chopped over 8 inches of my hair off in January and
sent it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, who creates wigs for the American Cancer
Society.
All my lovely locks!
February
More snow days. By the end of the month I was ready to move
to a remote island where I would never see snow again.
That is not beautiful. That is horrible, horrible cold.
Brian took me rock climbing at Ibex for the first time.
Surely my stumpy legs would not get me far up the wall, but I proved myself
wrong. It was fun, I climbed many a wall, and by the end I was incredibly sore.
March
My dear friend, Pickles came to stay with me a few times in
March. I’m not sure he was very thrilled
about being my guest.
March also means Spring Break! With Spring Break came my
second guest: my best friend, Jentry, from Oklahoma City. Her visit led to
meeting Mildred, our friend Katherine’s chicken at the time and many laughs.
At the end of March, I accompanied Brian and his current
cast of kids to Independence, Kansas. There, I showed them the ropes of
southeast Kansas and watched as their eyes were opened to the life of a
playwright, whose play they were rehearsing at the time. It was wonderful to
watch them and see the “aha” moment happen in a real-life setting.
April
I love April. April signifies spring, Easter, and my
birthday. Things I don’t like about April: MAP Testing. Enough said there.
Brian bought me a pair of running shoes (I’ve never owned
real running shoes before) after I proved to him I could run a 5K. Never
underestimate the power of shopping. This led to the purchase of my first, very
own gym membership. I think I might be an adult now.
We celebrated Easter in Kansas City with our church. We gathered as one large church family (4
services combined) at the KC Convention Center Ballroom. Brian and I volunteered to help greet and
direct people, so we attended an earlier service for volunteers and hung around
the entrance during the actual service.
May
The end is in sight. A few weeks lie between the teacher and
summer. Everything school related comes
to a close. I ran our school talent show (always entertaining). Brian closed
out his year with an end of the year banquet and a lock-in. Guess who was lucky
enough to chaperone with him? Oh, right, me. Longest night of my life. I have
not pulled an all-nighter since probably my junior year of college. After
dancing, water balloon fights, and all around craziness, I was pooped. I have
never felt more old in my life.
This was about 4:30am
Oh so tired.
Oh yes, May also marked one of the craziest days of my
teaching career so far. Let me sum it up for you: crazy, high man on school
roof – lockdown – evacuate school to nearby high school – assist parents in
getting their kids all afternoon – no lunch – tired feet – exhausted teacher.
The end.
I also put on my final play of the year, 15 Reasons Not to be in a Play. Ironic,
no? It was actually a great show. The group of kids worked harder than any
other I’ve had at Eastgate. They showed me that when I set the bar high, they
can achieve and exceed my expectations. I bought them donuts as a reward. Who doesn’t
love donuts?
Don't play with other peoples' props, Mrs. G!
School ended. I rejoiced.
June
Mexico 2014!
Brian and I traveled to Cancun with friends for a week to an
all-inclusive resort to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. It
was heavenly. Gourmet food, sandy beaches, sunshine, and time with my love.
What more could a girl ask for? Take me back!
Returning home was a whole other story. Airlines can be so
frustrating. Sleeping on a cot in the middle of O’Hare is not my idea of
luxury. However, we made it home safely, and I can laugh about the whole
experience now.
My bed for the night.
Toby learned to swim in June! We attended a corgi meet up for
Kansas City at the Shawnee Mission Park Dog Beach. I think my heart overflowed
with joy at the number of corgis surrounding me.
Afraid of the water at first, but we conquered that fear eventually.
So many corgis!
If that doesn’t make up for almost a years worth of posts,
then I just can’t please you. So long for now, and maybe if you’re lucky I’ll
be a bit more diligent about updating my blog.
