Jack Bauer

When my husband and I were dating (circa 12-ish years ago), we lived about 3 hours apart. We spent the weekends together, but long distance can be hard. I remember wishing we could do normal "couple things" during the week, like have dinner and watch TV together...on a weeknight.

At some point, he was watching TV one night at his house and happened upon the show 24 with Keifer Sutherland. He was hooked. And pretty soon, he got me hooked, too. He would record the show and one weekend when I was visiting, he convinced me to watch it. Well, of course there was a big cliffhanger, so I had to watch it the next week to see what happened. And, of course, I called him right afterwards to talk to him about it. We now had a tradition. We would each watch the show and then talk to each right afterwards about what happened. All of a sudden we had a weeknight "couple thing" to look forward to each week.

When we started watching this show, it had already been on for a few years, so we were a few seasons behind. At some point, we started watching the earlier seasons together when the regular season wasn't on.

We got married. We continued to watch 24 together. We had babies. I remember watching 24 together when I was newly pregnant with our first child. I remember being VERY pregnant while watching this show. I remember watching this show with a newborn on my chest. I remember when the babies grew and HAD to be in bed before we watched it. I remember being so unsettled and sometimes angry at the endings of seasons right along with my husband. There is something very validating about your significant other feeling just as shocked as you by the cliffhanger that will leave you waiting for MONTHS for a resolution.

Needless to say, we were both pretty disappointed when 24 went off the air. It ended too soon. :-) Anyway, you can imagine our excitement when a 24: Legacy began (no Jack Bauer, though). AND then Designated Survivor with KEIFER SUTHERLAND began...we could now get our Jack Bauer fix!!! And just like that, my husband and I have another show to watch together and bond over together.

Tonight is Wednesday, which means that as soon as the kids go to bed, we will watch our show together...and anxiously await to see how tonight's cliffhanger is resolved next week...together.

A Day In Reverse

9:30--Watching TV with my husband and planning on curling up into bed as soon as this post is complete.
8:30--Tucked in our three children after story time. Kisses and hugs all around (no kisses for the 6 year old; he doesn't like kisses anymore; sigh).
7:30--Dinner is done and we are teaching my husband a new card game.
6:00--I am late starting dinner tonight.
5:10--I am late picking up the kids from their grandma's house. My meeting went late.
4:30--I text my mother-in-law from above-mentioned meeting. The meeting is still going on and I am going to be late.
2:45--Reading about George Washington with a student. I am learning so much more about Washington by listening to Alexander Hamilton.
1:00--Fractions, fractions, fractions.
12:00--School lunch chili and cornbread is much tastier than I imagined it would be.
10:00--School starts!!
8:30--The world is white and the air feels fresh. I love how the air feels right after it snows.
6:00--In comes our four year old.
5:45--I turn off our oldest son's alarm.
5:30--Phone buzzes. Two hour delay!!

Things You Don't Expect to Say to Your Children

When you are a parent or teacher, you are bound to say things you never thought you would have to say...like, "Please don't eat plastic," and, "Socks don't go in milk!"

I have been a parent for eight and a half years, and I said something tonight that I have never said to children and didn't think I ever would have to say to children.

"Stop smelling each other's armpits!!!"

I will just leave this one right here. Really, there's nothing more to say...

P.S. When do boys start wearing deodorant???

My Current Reads

What I have recently finished:

• Mindsets and Moves by Gravity Goldberg: This is a fantastic professional text all about teaching readers strategies and helping guide them all while building independence and ownership. There are QR codes scattered through the book that lead to video clips of instruction and conferring. 
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez: I JUST finished this book (seriously, like 5 minutes ago). Maria Luisa (her friends call her Malu) has just moved to Chicago with her mother. She misses her dad and feels totally disappointing to her mother, who wants Malu to embrace her culture and be more of a senorita. Malu wants to wear her punk band t-shirts and Doc Martens and create her zines. She is figuring out who she wants to be...and realizes that sometimes, being who we are isn't just one thing. I absolutely LOVED this book and can't wait to get it in the hands of my students. 

What I am about to begin:

• A Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: I thought All American Boys was incredibly thought-provoking. A few months ago I watched a lecture Jason Reynolds gave, and he talked about the importance of finding our own voices and reflections within the books we read. This reminds me so much of what Donalyn Miller says about books being windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors. We need to see our reflections in books and learn about others in the books we read. See We Need Diverse Books. 

What I am currently listening to:

• Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow: I am going to see Hamilton this spring (!!!!) so I am bound and determined to finish listening to this before I go. I have 30 hours to go. 

What I am reading with my kids:

• The Swiss Family Robinson: I am reading this aloud each night and it is great! My kids enjoy listening to this adventure and all of the animals they find (and usually eat) and how this family survives and thrives. It makes being shipwrecked on an island sound kind of magical. 

Gratitude Today

Recently at work, I started keeping a gratitude journal. I write down three things I am thankful for each day at work. Let's be honest...I TRY to remember to write down three things I am thankful for each day at work. I do not remember every day.

In the spirit of this, I plan to periodically include what I am thankful for on this blog. Some are small and of minor importance while some will never be able to fully express in words...but I will try.

Today, I am thankful for date night with my husband last night. We left our children with friends and headed out to a fish fry, just the two of us. In Wisconsin, fish fries are a big deal. We ate cheese curds, I had a grasshopper, the fish was delicious, and as we sat in the booth, next to each other, we talked and laughed...and no one interrupted us...except the waiter. It was great to hang out with my husband.

I am also thankful for a sunny day here in Wisconsin. My kids rode bikes today and no one had to wear a winter coat. It was lovely.

I am thankful for good friends who enjoy bargain-shopping at resale shops. Shopping and lunch with dear friends is good for the soul.

Finally, I am thankful we now have a working fireplace. Reading and enjoying my coffee in front of the fireplace is my favorite way to start the day on the weekends.

There you have it...a few things I am feeling especially thankful for today. Here's hoping you are finding the things that make you thankful, too.

My Life is a Post-It Note

I make a lot of lists. I make lists at home and at school and in my head and on my Google Keep. At school, I have a small spiral notebook for my daily to-do list. I add to it as needed and start a fresh one when the paper is full, carrying over the unchecked items to the next list. At home, my to-do list sits on the counter on whatever piece of paper I could find. In Google Keep, I keep lists for home and for school. I keep track of my grocery lists, a long-term to-do list, projects I want to do, books I have read, books I want to read, etc. etc. etc. I also keep a list of ideas I have for next year at school--ideas I am not ready to implement but don't want to forget.

It seems like life just gets more and more hectic...and I embrace that...because my life is full of goodness and love and dance and piano and kids and friends and family. But, sometimes it seems a little overwhelming to coordinate it all! We have a wall calendar that we actually write things on AND a Google calendar so that my husband and I can both access it when we are not at home. Each Sunday night, we look at the week's events and make sure to coordinate who is taking our kids to their events and who has what meetings when. Our first grader also picks which days he will take school lunch based on the menu. Our second grader doesn't do hot lunch...but that is a different blog post.

For the most part, the items on my to-do lists and the events on the calendars get done. There aren't too many unfortunate situations where my stomach drops because I have forgotten something. Inevitably, it happens, though. And you know...it's usually not the end of the world.

The most important to-do list I keep, though, is the one below that guides my entire life...this list here--this is the list that matters. As long as these items are checked, I'm good.

The rest of it can get put on a post-it for tomorrow.

1. Be grateful. Be kind.
2. Forgive myself and others.
3. Keep trying. Do my best.
4. Be present.
5. Play with my kids, listen when they talk to me, and make sure there is no doubt in their minds they are loved.
6. Hang out with my husband. Laugh with him.  Remember always what a blessing he is.
7. Remember I have the best job in the world.
8. Call my parents.
9. Be a good friend.
10. Go to bed on time. Enough rest makes everything better.

Short on Time

It is 10:45...I am running short on time...

It's been a busy day. A full day of work. Picked up the kiddos at the library after Lego Club. Set up for Family Mindset Night at school. I felt nervous about my presentation. All went well. It was a great night. Sent the kids home with my husband. Stopped at my around-the-corner-friend's house for wine.

It's 10:48...I better write...I am bound and determined to WRITE. EVERY. DAY. DURING. MARCH. I want to complete this writing challenge. This is my fourth attempt. And while I have loved this opportunity to write...I haven't completed the challenge yet. This is the year.

So here I am...10:50...getting in my writing. It'll be better tomorrow. :-)