The Spooks Come Out!

As I struggled to think of a costume this year, my thoughts went to my first Halloween

as a teacher. More than 25 years in the classroom have resulted in an abundance of Halloween party memories. But as with most memories, the first one will always stand out. My first year was spent teaching a group of ten 4^th-8^th graders who became family. As Halloween approached, they convinced me a spook house would be a great idea. (OK, to be honest, it didn't take much convincing—I was a young newbie excited to try anything!) They planned for weeks, decorated for days, 

and finally the day arrived. The old one-room school house was decked out to scare. 

Parents and kids alike donned costumes

and played games while they waited their turn in the spook house. Each student

 played a part as tour guide, 

fortune teller,

vampire,

and more. 

Since there was only one door, the obvious escape route was to slide out 

a window. I can still see the principal, Mr. Burke, making his exit! I’m not sure it would be possible to recreate that fun, but maybe it would be worth a try. 

Happy Halloween to all! BOO!

Snow Day, Snow Day!

 Teachers and students alike shout for joy when a snow day is called. Who doesn't love an unexpected day off? A completely unplanned day spread out before you. Typically at our house it means fresh bread and cinnamon rolls with some kind of soup for supper—YUM! However, two snow days this early in October is a first in my life. Feet of heavy, wet snow fell on trees that were not yet ready for winter. 

The weight was too much, and many came crashing down.

 We weren't long into Friday before the wind and snow brought power lines down too. Snow days aren't nearly as fun when you can't watch TV and keep up with friends on Facebook! Worst of all for the many ranchers, cattle were not ready. Calves were not weaned, winter coats were not grown, and many were still far away at summer pasture. The next few weeks will bring the extra work of finding, gathering, and sorting the cattle that weathered the storm. Death loss will be huge, but neighbors will come together to help each other. And years from now, we will still be talking about the October Blizzard of 2013.

9/11

Every generation has that one event that makes people stop and take note of their surroundings and etch them in memory forever. For my mom and her generation, it was November 22, 1963. For her parents it was December 7, 1941. For this generation, it is September 11, 2001. Like other tragic events, it seems so long and such a short time ago all at the same time. Today as we remembered the day at school, I realized that after several moves, I teach in the same classroom as twelve years ago. I remember answering the phone that morning to hear my friend and fellow teacher ask if I had heard the news. By the time my students arrived, all four planes had gone down and both towers had fallen. We spent some time watching the news in shock and knew that our lives would be forever changed. Now here I am twelve years later in the same classroom teaching students who were either very young or not even born at the time. Despite this, they know the story, thanks to parents and others who take time to share the tragedy and teach them how our country stood together in adversity. The days and weeks that followed brought us together with more patriotism and faith than I had ever witnessed before. It is sad that it takes an event such as this, but also wonderful to know that we are one nation, under God. In the words of Alan Jackson, "Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?"

Smile...It's Picture Day!

Once again, School Picture Day is upon us. Memories flood through my mind as I think of all the picture days I have experienced. There are always those accidents like chocolate pudding on a crisp white dress shirt or a fall at recess that causes a nice fat lip. One memory that will always make me cringe is the 5th grade girl with her hair stuck in a brush curling iron. What would be worse--a picture WITH the dangling curling iron, or a bald spot where we cut it out? Luckily, we finally got it untangled and didn't have to decide. When it comes to picture days, though, my most memorable is not as a teacher, but as a student. When I was in 5th grade, my mom lovingly sewed me a red plaid jumper to wear on picture day. The day came and she worked to fix my hair just so and made me wear the jumper and lacy white shirt. I'm sure it looked exactly like she pictured it. I, on the other hand, was far from thrilled to be wearing this outfit--and it showed when we got the pictures back a few weeks later. My "smile" (more of a smirk) was the reason Mom opted for retakes. Lucky for me, it was not nearly as publicized and somehow I forgot to mention it to Mom. The day arrived, and I happened to be wearing my favorite clothes-- a purple sweatshirt with bright green bell-bottoms (of course the pants would never show, but I remember them to this day!). My hair was definitely not curled--it may not have even been combed! This is one of those cases where I got my own way but have lived to regret it. Sorry, Mom!