Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Best PTA Gig EVER
Today finished out a fabulous Teacher Appreciation Week at our junior high school. Our faculty and staff have been celebrated all week long with a) lunch brought in after a tremendous local restaurant donated it, b) another restaurant donated brownies and tartlets for desserts another day, and c) yet another donated fabulously tasty rolls an honey butter for part of a lunch treat on another day.
Today's pièce de résistance was the delivery of gift baskets created and donated for each teacher by parents of students who signed up to help. With all the imagination and support the PTA families could provide, there were some terrific basket brought in. And I was part of the little group that got to deliver them to the teachers in their classrooms.
Best. PTA job. Ever.
I have always imagined that the best job in America would be the florist's delivery guy. He is there to make some one's day, or surprise them, or tell them someone loves them, or that they are really, really wonderful. Delivering the teacher's baskets was a little like being the florist's delivery guy for a day.
One teacher said, with tears in her eyes, "Oh, this is too much! Thank you!"
Another said, and this is a direct quote: "Dynamite!!"
Yet from others I heard, "Holy cow!!" or "Terrific!" or "You just made my day!"
It was so fun to respond with, "Well, it is teacher appreciation week and you are certainly appreciated at our school!"
Of course, I can't take credit for the baskets themselves--well, I did put together one. But I saw each of them as we sorted them for "delivery routes" and they indeed were terrific and dynamite!
How nice that we can celebrate the great teachers (who do so much for our kids every day) one week in the Spring when the promise of Spring Break is now over, the state core and end of year testing looms in the near future, and springtime hormones are kicking into high gear for the perpetually pubescent students in 7th, 8th and 9th grades. We probably should at least feed these good teachers once a week or so until school's out!
Today's pièce de résistance was the delivery of gift baskets created and donated for each teacher by parents of students who signed up to help. With all the imagination and support the PTA families could provide, there were some terrific basket brought in. And I was part of the little group that got to deliver them to the teachers in their classrooms.
Best. PTA job. Ever.
I have always imagined that the best job in America would be the florist's delivery guy. He is there to make some one's day, or surprise them, or tell them someone loves them, or that they are really, really wonderful. Delivering the teacher's baskets was a little like being the florist's delivery guy for a day.
One teacher said, with tears in her eyes, "Oh, this is too much! Thank you!"
Another said, and this is a direct quote: "Dynamite!!"
Yet from others I heard, "Holy cow!!" or "Terrific!" or "You just made my day!"
It was so fun to respond with, "Well, it is teacher appreciation week and you are certainly appreciated at our school!"
Of course, I can't take credit for the baskets themselves--well, I did put together one. But I saw each of them as we sorted them for "delivery routes" and they indeed were terrific and dynamite!
How nice that we can celebrate the great teachers (who do so much for our kids every day) one week in the Spring when the promise of Spring Break is now over, the state core and end of year testing looms in the near future, and springtime hormones are kicking into high gear for the perpetually pubescent students in 7th, 8th and 9th grades. We probably should at least feed these good teachers once a week or so until school's out!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
No Excuses...Anymore!
You can't begin to tell me "I can't" after watching this piece. It is testament to the power of inspired teachers and kids with determination.
Festival Time
This is your personal invitation: Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival is going on now! It opened last weekend, but Mother Nature hasn't quite cooperated this year, so it is running a little late. So the management has extended the official festival dates until May 7th.
Each year for the past, well, at least six years I have gone out to see the wave of tulips in bloom. Some are early bloomers and some are late, but there is always a ton to see, and photograph. This is my favorite spot to shoot flowers that I use for note cards throughout the year.
Tulips are my favorite flower, and while I try to grow them in my yard to enjoy, I just can't hold a candle to the tulip beds at Thanksgiving Point. Gorgeous, I tell you.
It is a little pricey to get in and tour around the acres of gardens, but once a year, think of it as a spurge! $10 for several hours--if you tiptoe slowly enough--is money well spent. Weekends are VERY busy, and even weekdays are more crowded than non-festival times of year. But these little stalks of beauty are fabulous and to see millions, or so it seems like, at a time--it is a wonder to behold.
For more info, check out this link: http://thanksgivingpoint.com/calendar/events/tulipfestival/index.html
See you out and among the tulips sometime in the next week or so. Enjoy!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
End of Days Leads to Other Beginnings
Today was my last Council PTA meeting that I was in charge of holding. The end is really coming, at least fro this gig. I'll have at least two more years of PTA-ing before I am through. And a couple after that just helping out, until The Boy is done with public school.
The thought was given today by dear friend, Lisa, that each of us are a link and we are only as strong as our weakest link. That is true of our PTAs, of our communities, of our families. The more I have thought of that today, the more I am determined to be a stronger link.
So, if that means I will serve as the PTA president at the junior high next year, I will do it because I can and I can help link this year to two years from now. If I serve as a PTA leader at the high school after that I am another link in the chain of good people who serve the community's children by working with the faculty and administration to do my part to make school a more successful experience for these kids.
I am feeling pretty good about the shift in my responsibilities. I can tell my mind and body are ready for a change. And like they say, "A change is as good as a rest." I've served at the council level for 4 years. I am ready to narrow my scope and focus on the junior high for a year.
But I have to survive until my council terms ends on June 30th. After seeing my summer calendar today, that will be here before I know it. Then it will August 23rd and back to school, all over again.
Don't they also say "No rest for the wicked"?
The thought was given today by dear friend, Lisa, that each of us are a link and we are only as strong as our weakest link. That is true of our PTAs, of our communities, of our families. The more I have thought of that today, the more I am determined to be a stronger link.
So, if that means I will serve as the PTA president at the junior high next year, I will do it because I can and I can help link this year to two years from now. If I serve as a PTA leader at the high school after that I am another link in the chain of good people who serve the community's children by working with the faculty and administration to do my part to make school a more successful experience for these kids.
I am feeling pretty good about the shift in my responsibilities. I can tell my mind and body are ready for a change. And like they say, "A change is as good as a rest." I've served at the council level for 4 years. I am ready to narrow my scope and focus on the junior high for a year.
But I have to survive until my council terms ends on June 30th. After seeing my summer calendar today, that will be here before I know it. Then it will August 23rd and back to school, all over again.
Don't they also say "No rest for the wicked"?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
TAG--You're It!
The Crew BEFORE
(Back row: Ty and The Boy; Front row: Dalton, Spencer, Christine, The Girl)
Half the Crew AFTER
(Comparing the percentages...hits, kills, shots taken....)
The Younger Half AFTER
(Just messing around..must have been fun.)
Over Spring Break, I caught a Screaming Deal online and bought 6 admissions to a local Laser Tag place for half off. (I love a good deal!) And according to the local TV meteorologists, we were due to have snow for about half the week we were off school, so I scheduled a Laser Tag "party of 6" to go on one the alleged snow days.
Our admission included a round of glow-in-the-dark mini golf as well, so I figured we could blow a couple hours at least . The Kids each invited a couple of friends and I packed the coupons, a cooler of sodas and granola bars. (Plus, for myself, I grabbed a book and a mental note to stop at a downtown store near the laser tag joint that I had wanted to check out.)
While the mini golf was not as difficult as the participants would have wished, they had a good time hanging out together. The laser tag option got them grouped with family of four--the kids were younger that our group, but very enthusiastic to play. To make even teams, good friend Spencer volunteered to be on the "strangers' team".
[Have I mentioned what a good kid our friend Spencer is? Not only does he put up with The Girl in an online game they both like and play together, he is just an all round nice kid who loves his mom and even likes his siblings. He is bright, clever, and funny. What is not to like about this kid?!]
So the Stangers' team got beat up pretty well. [Sorry, Spencer.] But when the groups emerged, they were all smiling and enjoying each other's company still. I figure any time they come out from a war-like game and are still friends, it is all good. Plus the ride home was filled with laughing and talking...much more so than the ride down.
And as my luck would have it, the day we went Laser-tagging, the weather was just fine, and the yucky stuff came the next day. Of course. But oh well. Fun seemed to be had by all, and the deal was so great I didn't even mind driving a car load of kids to Provo and back.
Monday, April 18, 2011
19 Years
Happy Anniversary to Genius Golfer! I love you, and I sincerely thank you for the best 19 years of my life. You have given me two beautiful children, and one terrific life, and a family worth working for every day.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
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