Life on the Runn...

It was exam week last week, and that meant it was time to wrap up the first half of the 2019-2020 school year, my 13th year doing this whole eduction thing. I’ve always been the coolest type of nerd, the one who loves a new set of pens and notebooks [and still uses the subject-specific notebook and folder color scheme I was introduced to in 7th grade}, who maps out - in a as many colors as my newest set of pens allow - the plan for the next chapter of my next adventure.  And this year I’m really excited for the plans I have made...nope...am making...and for the opportunity to take a few risks and tackle a few new strategies and texts. I like words... ... a lot! It's almost Black History Month Doin' work on our PD Day :) A teacher nerd's work is never done, and neither is a toddler-mom's, so I made it a point to make sure to make for some fun this ‘halfway point in the school year’ weekend, and loads of fun it was. From Friday night’s West vs. Mukw...

One of my birthday gifts was tickets to see Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Chicago Theater; this is their fifth residency, our third time in attendance, and our ninth (?!!) time to see the amazingly soulful crew! We boarded a very crowded train Saturday and made our way to the Windy City. It was a lovely ride watching the snow-sprinkled trees and landscape of southeastern Wisconsin. Since we had to find seats in separate cars, Brian didn’t get to enjoy my wonderful storytelling - how he passed the time, then, is beyond me. I used the time to finish a book and get a jump on another (they’re piling up on my reading table). We arrived in Chicago early in the afternoon, so we had some time to enjoy lunch and drinks - bubble water - and one of us even got in a mid afternoon nap (I am not that person).  Then it was off to dinner before the show; this time we enjoyed some real drinks and some really great food. The city was certainly living up to its name - gosh, it was windy - so it was...

It’s true - there’s no place like home for the holidays! Despite our need to go-go-go, to explore and adventure [afar and often with insanely early wake-up calls], we created a most wonderful stay-cation this winter break. We squeezed in multiple Christmas celebrations. We read, had family play dates, and made time for extra gym visits. And we got in lots and lots of ‘chasing our tiny human all about’ time. We squared away the purchase of my new Mom Ride; we went on a Movie Date; we watched HQ master the alphabet and begin to work on her driving skills (Thanks, Nonno and Baba!), her culinary skills (Thanks, Grandma Sue, Papa, and Aunt Beck!) and her vet skills (Thanks, Unc!); we survived the newly-two-week-break absent of any injury - from gift assembly and rambunctious two-year-old life. We gave and received numerous hugs, thoughtful gifts, and lots of holiday love. It was a beautiful way to end the year and begin the next decade. Set to be built just for me 1/16/20 ...