seven years old...

May 24, 2020 - Marley is 7!

How in the world did this happen?  Time flies by so fast and I can only hope that Adam and I are doing everything we can to prepare her to be a respectful, responsible, God-loving person.  This year's birthday did not go quite as planned.  We had hoped to have a birthday party with all her school friends, but thanks to COVID 19 that isn't happening...right now.  Hopefully we can eventually.  For today Marley and I woke up and I made her requested cinnamon rolls with a candle.  She opened presents with daddy on Facetime from work and then she played, played, played!  She got lunch of her choice, McDonald's, and an afternoon playing with Ranger.  She even had a few friends and family surprise her for a visit! Then for dinner we had pizza and family.

Marley girl, we love you to the moon and back!  Stay sweet and never lose that quirky sense of humor!

 

Last night as a 6 year old.

Rocket Charm!

and that's a wrap...

Well, today was the last day of perhaps that weirdest school year yet.  We've spend the last 9 months in quarantine teaching and learning from home.  For my own child, I am so sad that the last part of 1st grade was taken from her, but together we conquered a time like no other.  She jumped right into the unknown and ROCKED it!  Because of this she has grown, matured and become so much more resilient. 

I am so proud of how she persevered, even though missing her friends and teachers immensely.  She is oh so ready for 2nd grade and we hope and pray that it is a normal year! 

Mrs. Cox

Ms. Freedman

 

 

For my own students, I feel like I was robbed of my time with them.  I hope that I was able to not only teach them math and social studies, but helped them to learn what is most important right now, that they are loved.  Obviously my goal is to educate every student that walks into my classroom to the best of my ability, but it is also to teach them that they have one more person in their corner for life.  I hope they leave my classroom knowing, without a doubt, that I will forever be here for them no matter what.  Even though I wasn’t able to give them the full 5th grade experience as I had planned, maybe this was the way it was meant to be.  Maybe we were supposed to navigate this together.  Maybe the lesson I was really supposed to teach them was perseverance and grace.  Yes, I taught them math and social studies, but maybe the most important lessons were life lessons that will make him/her ready for life outside of my classroom.  So thank you for allowing me to be a part of that.  

Ms. Hunt and I had decided that we could not let the year end without one last hug, so out we set on a road trip! 5 hours, many miles and lots of laughs later we had seen many of our students. The looks on their faces when they opened their doors was priceless. To be honest, I'm not sure who need it more, them or us. To those we missed today, we love you and wish you all the best!

terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day...

Well, the day has come.  We knew it was coming, but to actually hear it as an "executive order", makes it real.  We will not be returning to school this year...the school building that is.  School is still happening in this new way of "normal", but we won't be returning to a brick and mortar school building.  We have been out now for 5 weeks beyond Spring Break.

I feel like I've been robbed.  Robbed of my opportunity to love on and educate my kiddos in person.  Robbed of a safe, stable environment for my students.  Robbed of my own personal need for adult interaction with the most amazing coworkers.  People don't realize the bond between a teacher and their students.  They become a part of our hearts and soul for life.  We forever remember their little quirks and their crocked smiles and unique laughs.  We worry about their well-being outside of our classroom and whether they are emotional, mentally, and physically taken care of.  There are so many things left that I wanted to teach them, to show them, for us to do together.  All the fun end of year activities.  In a way I feel like I've failed this group of students, I wasn't able to give them the full 5th grade experience and to teach them all they need to know.  But, then I stop and think, maybe I was meant to have these students this year as this happens.  Maybe we're supposed to navigate this together.  Maybe they are what I need right now.  I love seeing their sweet faces on our weekly Google Meets and hearing their voices.  I love that they've taken on the challenge of complete online school, literally overnight, and they are rocking it.  Maybe the lesson I was supposed to teach them was perseverance and grace.  Just maybe, I will be able to teach them more than math, perhaps more importantly, life lessons that will make them ready for life outside of my classroom.

I'm heartbroken for my own child.  She sobbed when I told her that we would not be going back to school.  She misses her teachers and friends and with her birthday being the end of May she is terrified that she won't have a party and won't see her friends.  She has made such amazing bonds with the staff at the primary school and she will not be returning...ever.  Next year she will be moving on to the elementary school and I am happy that we made this move to Robinson, because I know that staff is just as amazing and we have already made such great relationships there as well.  This is when I feel super guilty for only having 1 child.  She has no playmate other than Adam and I and we can't even invite a friend over.  I just pray that through this she learns patience, resilience, and grace for all.

I know that we will all be better off as a human race after this.  We will all come closer to our families and learn how to live more peacefully.  I just pray that this is over soon!

To my students...know I love you, I'm here for you, and we will be together again somehow when this is over.  I have to have one last hug!

easter...

Last weekend we celebrated Easter, and for the first time in my life we did not celebrate in the church.  We're still under shelter in place orders, that's a whole other blog for later.  Luckily, Adam was home and we "attending" church via our couch and jammies.  Through all of this we've learned that the church is not a building, yet the people are the church.  Our pastor, JP, has said this all along, and now we are actually living that truth.  

I put on full makeup and "real" clothes for the first time in about a month and we went to mom's house to celebrate.  It was the first time we were all together as a family in over a month, and although technically against the "rules", we just couldn't help it.  We have all been "quarantined" in our own homes and figured just a little bit of time together was okay and much needed.  Ranger, Brice and Marley were beyond excited to be reunited!  We ate, visited and even hunted eggs.  

It was so nice to be back together as a family!