Teachers

Photos by The Langs

I've been hugging June a little more lately. My heart has been heavy since Friday.

I'm not one to speak out much about events or issues, especially on this blog, my happy place. But I guess I need to heal a little bit.

My thoughts this last weekend was on being a teacher.

Since becoming a mom, this is my 2nd school year not working in an elementary school. I taught 5th grade for three years. I subbed before that. I was a student teacher before that. I volunteered in several classrooms (for college courses) before that. Teaching in elementary school has been a huge part of my life thus far.

Usually when someone asks me if I loved teaching school, I say "Yes... well, most days I loved it." 

It's true. I did love it. I feel like I was born to do it. I loved interacting with kids. I loved making them laugh. I loved teaching them a new concept, then watching them apply it. I loved telling stories, reading books, nourishing their creativity, celebrating the successes, learning their likes/dislikes, playing kickball, watching them make new friends, singing with them, discovering with them, etc. Teaching is so rewarding in these aspects. My hands are shaking even as I type this because I miss these aspects so so so very much.

But there were days when it was physically and emotionally so difficult to exert every portion of my energy, thought, effort, strength and soul towards 30 (or so) 5th graders. Thirty individuals I was trying to reach out to. Thirty individuals I was trying to help realize their potential. Thirty individuals I was trying to make their days better. Thirty individuals I was trying to help them feel worth, feel empowered, feel great. 

I couldn't do it some days. I'm human. Their failures became my failures, every one of them. I cried those days that I felt like I couldn't do it. I may have cried quite a bit. (My eternal thanks to those who listened to me on those days I cried.)

No matter how hard those days were, they still needed me. They needed me to listen to their story of what happened at recess. They needed me to laugh at their silly jokes. They needed me to teach them fractions (sometimes over and over and over again) so they could feel confident for the quiz. They needed me to come to school an hour earlier so I could educate them on sea stars in Oceanography Club. They needed me to get them a bandaid, give them a snack, call their mom, take them on field trips etc. etc. etc. So on those hard days, I put on a face, and did the best I could. I just had to hope it mattered.

But, boy, did I love those kids. Every. Single. One. Including the ones that I wished would be kinder, or the ones I wished would try harder... I still think about those kids so much. And I hope they are doing okay.

Whether or not you like school, it's an important aspect of every person's life. It is incredibly difficult for me to watch a place of refuge, learning, and innocence, become a place of unimaginable horror. On top of everything that teachers have to do and worry about, to think what they had to do in Sandy Hook at that moment of terror, is just monumental. 

And of course, those tiny students... I'm absolutely numb.

I guess after everything that has happened this weekend, what I'm trying to say is this: Please don't underestimate what a teacher does. Even the ones who seem to be quietly doing their job. And make sure to say "Thank You" to a teacher as often as you can.

You better believe I thought about my own students this weekend... and of course I hope they are doing okay. Every single one. 

And thank you again, teachers. I hope you feel appreciated.

Thankful Day 1... on Day 11.

Last year, I did a "Grateful" blog post everyday in November.

This year, I'm lacking in those posts. I'm not sure if it's because I haven't picked up my camera in a month, or if it's because we're painting our house, or if it's because June needs a little more attention lately. 

But I'm still very grateful....I just needed everyone to know that.

Being There

It's been that kind of week... the kind when you don't feel like you are doing the best that you can.

I think June can sense I'm having that kind of week too... she wants to be held more, wants to snack on things she's not supposed to snack on, wants to watch another Elmo episode, wants to push the grocery cart (not sit in it), wants to take everything off the shelves, wants to climb the stairs, wants to get out of her car seat, wants to play with our toilet paper, etc.

I can't stay frustrated at a face like that.

Even though it's been that kind of week, I'm still grateful for people who help in the most thoughtful ways:

- The kind that come home after a long day working, and don't care that we're eating macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza, and frozen corn for dinner.

- The kind that share pizzas and salads, play 'VidRhythm', make me laugh, and gush about June even though she's got boogers in her nose.

- The kind that listen to my 'I'm an awful parent!' story and then tells a more revolting (and incredibly funny) story to make me feel less guilty about my parenting experience.

- The kind that help me with unexpected expense, and still buy me a coke every time I come around.

Thanks family and friends.

Handmade Heaven

June is incredibly lucky to be surrounded by talented, generous people. In the last few weeks, she's received handmade gifts that would take me a lifetime to make.

A costume basket from Grandma Martha, including a few handmade aprons:

Hand-embroidered pillowcases from Martha, one for each month:

A handmade quilt from Holly:

The famous crocheted blanket from Tauna... this one goes everywhere with June.

I know there are more, but June wouldn't let me take any more photos today. Thank you to everyone!!

Thankful Day 20-27

My goal to do a "Thankful" post everyday in the month of November was just a little too much for the week of Thanksgiving. You'll understand why as you read on.

I call this photo "RED HAIR."

I'm sad because not everyone we spent the fun week with is in the above photo. (We'll try again next time.)

The following is a list of things I am thankful for during my week spent in Utah with my in-laws (in no particular order):

Michael's Talk

Pandemic

Andrew's Blessing

Bradford Time Zone

DP Cheesesteaks (with Jalepeno cream cheese)

Shopping

Biscuits and Gravy

Minor Sheep Threat Shirt (see above photo)

Thanksgiving Dinner

Breath

Leather Jacket

Daniel's Red Scarf

Cafe Rio

Pumpkin Gas

Baby Kensley's arrival

Tetris

Ripped Diamondback Shirt

Double Features

80's Bully David

Vitamix Smoothies

Ikea

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Surprising Big David and breaking his bed

Denting Big David's car with basketball hoop

Kitchen Cooking arguments

Bonanza

Dirt Tooth Construction Projects

Dirt Tooth arguments about job title positions

Sleepless Nights

Back Seat Drivers

Everyone yelling that the rolls were burning and they weren't

Chapstick Smoothie

Nelli's (Martinelli's)

Tates (Potatoes)

Walk through Bethlehem

Old Man Angel sitting on high perch hidden in the corner

22 people sleeping in one house

Jam Sessions

Purchasing one refillable beverage but sharing it

Robs mad

Five Guys

Sonic tots in freezing cold weather

Old Navy Quick Change

Walmart Trips

Triple Double Oreos

Leather Jacket Draw the Line Dance

Tight gas

Spent $20 beating the Terminator Salvation Arcade game in a leather jacket

Uncle David dancing to Atlanta Rhythm Section

Vernors and Egg Nog

Everyone getting tough in car rides

Doesn't this list sound like the greatest week ever? I'll elaborate on a few of those later.

Also, it might sound like I'm complaining on a few things listed, but I promise I'm not. It was all good times.

Thankful Day 19

This picture was taken a few weeks ago in our alley after a particularly stormy night:

When it's Saturday, and William is wearing his sweats and a t-shirt, he calls himself "King Saturday", whatever that means.

Today I am thankful that our tree is fixed and that we are flying up to Utah to spend an entire week of eating food, watching movies, playing music, and making jokes. And I'm also thankful that William and I can give ourselves nicknames and nobody judges.

Sincerely,

Possum Jenkins

Thankful Day 18

Today I took pictures, but I left my camera at my mom's.

So here's one from about a month ago:

I don't know why I love this picture so much. I think it's because they both look so serious? Or bored? Thoughtful? Anyway...

Today I packed, cleaned, ran errands, did the laundry and cooked. I hate packing... but unpacking is even worse.

It was pretty much another boring day, that is, until dinnertime. Thanks Debbie and Russ for letting us invade your house for a few hours. I think my favorite part of the evening was hearing your William cheering for Harry Potter in the next room. That was the best. I also forgot to ask where you purchased that Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Today I'm thankful for funny friends and Pumpkin Cheesecake. And I'm thankful that we are finally taking our trip to Utah for Thanksgiving week. I can already hear William and his brothers wrestling...

Thankful Day 17

Today June and I tried on a lot of hats.

I came very close to buying this one:

but then I realized that June looked too much like...

DANG. Why didn't I get that hat?!!

Today I'm grateful that June looks as awesome as the blonde guy from the band, Nitro. I love dressing up my girl.

P.S. I just wikipedia'd Nitro. The blonde is named Jim Gellete. YOU'RE WELCOME.

Thankful Day 16

(This was supposed to be posted yesterday, November 16th... I'm getting pretty lazy with my own deadlines.)

Today seemed really really long. There isn't anything to report.

So I'll tell you a story instead.

A couple weeks ago, William and I were making our favorite snack: cheese quesadillas. June was playing in her bumbo on the counter. As I was eating my quesadilla, I looked over at June, who decided to try a sample of El Pato Sauce. It seriously looked as though she was ready to chug it down.

Luckily, William swept down and saved the day... but not before spilling it all over June's pants. Better her pants than her mouth, I guess.

That is some awesome sauce.

I am thankful that I have a husband who is quick on his feet, who probably saved our daughter from being scarred for life by our favorite hot sauce. Also, I am forever thankful for El Pato.

Thankful Day 15

(This should have been posted yesterday, November 15th.)

Today I caved and made caramels.

Making caramels is like camping. You have to prepare yourself very thoroughly if you are going to do it alone. There will likely be injuries. No matter how hard you try not to, you end up spending money on it. Then afterwards, you regret doing it.

Here's what happened:

-I PLANNED on making them while June and William took a nap. I got everything out, opened the butter, milk, and cream, pre-measured the vanilla, pans cleaned... I was ready.

-As it was boiling it occurred to me that it was going to overflow. I quickly poured some boiling buttered sugar into the sink, spilling it all over the stove and the kitchen floor along the way. I called William's name. He flew down the stairs thinking I had burned myself or caught the kitchen on fire.

- As William cleaned up my mess, I realized yet again, that it would boil over. We quickly got a larger pot. Unfortunately, the candy thermometer does not reach the caramel in the large pot, so William had to stand there over the steamy pot, holding the thermometer for 20 minutes while we waited for it to reach the right temperature.

- Just as it was about to reach the right temperature, William dropped the thermometer in the boiling caramel.

Uhhhhh.

Despite the failures, the caramel does taste pretty good.

Today I am thankful for a husband that woke up at 2:00am, came home late in the afternoon to take a nap, only to stay up another 45 minutes to help me with my annoying (but delicious) hobby.

Thankful Day 14

I wanted to spread the love...

so I put the flowers from one bouquet into three jars, covered and tied with burlap.

Today I am thankful for Fresh & Easy. Their flowers are so cheap.

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Listening to: The Avett Brothers. Thank you, Carli.

Reading: Hunger Games. After watching the new trailer today (three or four times?), I decided it was time to read the book again.

Eating: Snyder's of Hanover Peanut Butter Pretzel Sandwiches dipped in Hershey's Milk Chocolate. 'Nuff said.

Finished Watching: Storage Wars... in like 3 days. Not a proud moment for me, but boy was I hooked.

Thinking about: making caramels tomorrow. I need to stop.

Thankful Day 13

Today was splendid.

We had our Primary Program today, and while I sat with June in the audience, William sat with our Sunbeams on stage. He did a great job keeping things in control, although next year I'm going to suggest they give William a microphone during the singing parts.

Then we came home, ate lunch, napped, played, ate pizza for dinner, and drank hot chocolate for dessert (Hot chocolate + 1/2 Fun size Hershey Bar + Whipped cream = Comfort Drink). We always get really tired after drinking hot chocolate, so William went to bed early, while I spent some time catching up on my posts.

Again, June was a champ today. She slept in late enough for me to get ready in time. And getting her ready for church is becoming one of my new favorite things. (I decided I need to take more pictures of her in her Sunday outfits, I am loving dressing her up.)

One more thing about June that I absolutely love: when you know she's tired, all you have to do is give her a pacifier and blankie, place her in her crib, turn on her fan, turn off the light, and shut the door. That's it. She just goes to sleep, it's amazing.

Oh and she's into snuggling lately:

I hope this phase doesn't end soon.

Today I am thankful for our Sunbeams, snuggling babies, and hot chocolate.

Thankful Day 12

(Again, busy weekend... this should have been posted Saturday, November 12th.)

Today was a little chaotic.

We had a community yard sale this morning. The Daniels came to keep us company and bring breakfast. We made 50 bucks, 20 more than we thought we would make.

While William went to the Primary Program Practice, I stayed home with June and got our house ready for tonight, our monthly Suppa' Club meeting. June was a champ today. She napped during times that I needed to do some serious work.

After that, William filmed a video. (More details about that later.)

Then it was Suppa' Club time. It was one of my favorite meals we've ever done. I'll post more on that later... but here's a sneak peek:

Today, I am grateful for good friends (the kind that bring breakfast to your yard sale and also the kind that dress up like Native Americans for good times).

Thankful Day 11

(The last couple days have been extremely busy. This should have been posted on Friday, November 11.)

Today, I spent the day with mom organizing and cleaning my downstairs. I have some big plans for my house in the next couple months (and by 'big plans', I simply mean painting, organizing, rearranging, decorating, etc.) This was a good head start.

Here's a picture of June seeing our clean house for the first time in a long time:

Today I am thankful for a clean downstairs (I don't even want to talk about my upstairs), time spent with my mom (who brings a fresh perspective when it comes to organizing my house), and an understanding husband (he understands that I need Coke Zero at 7pm, so I can stay up until 1am getting ready for our yard sale on Saturday).

Thankful Day 10

Today I worked.

For a few months now, I've been employed at The Law Office of Scott H. Coombs. It's good for me to spend a few hours there a week, because it reminds me how hard my dad works. It's not the most exciting job, but my dad is REALLY good at it.

Look at him, all business and talkin' bankruptcies:

But the best thing about my dad are his Grandpa skills:

Today I am thankful that my dad works incredibly hard, but he still has the energy to be a fun grandpa.

P.S. I'm also thankful to my mom for watching June while I'm at the office.

Thankful Day 9

I'm too tired to upload new photos these last couple days.

So here's one from a few months ago:

My mom and I have this habit of becoming obsessed with something that is very difficult to find. We think it started when I was in high school and I wanted to find a specific pair of shoes that they apparently didn't make for the gargantuan hooves that are my size 10 feet. We searched store after store after store after store. And finally we found them.

Just last week, I wanted to get June a very specific pair of pants, and my mom and I searched four different Targets until we found them in her size.

And then today, we (yet again) were out to find this very specific holiday decor. We drove all the way to Phoenix to an extremely large store that didn't have exactly what I needed. We're still brainstorming other possible stores. Sometimes this habit is very annoying (but we like to call it 'adventurous').

I probably sound like a spoiled child, but that's beside the point. The point is, I have a selfless mom.

Today I am thankful for my mom, who would probably climb Mount Everest to get me these shoes in a size 10.

Thank you, mom, for going on adventures with me.

Here's a gift for you: It's a two minute and forty-seven second video of your two youngest grandchildren. The adorable-ness of this clip will make you want to squeeze them again. Enjoy.

Thankful Day 8

I forgot to take a picture today, so here's one I took at our neighborhood Fall Festival a few weeks ago:

Isn't that piglet the cutest thing you've ever seen?! William and I kept saying he kinda looked like June, and then we would turn to June and say, "Aww!! Our little piggie!! Who's our little piggie?!", and then we'd hug her and squish her and kiss her and make pig noises.

Today I'm grateful that June is still very little and doesn't retaliate when William and I say offensive things to her.

Thankful Day 7

I got so much done today:

1. Shredded documents for my dad

2. Ikea run with the Holly & C

3. Finished sewing some fall decorations

4. Made amazing pasta sauce (will share tomorrow)

5. Cleaned out car (It was disgusting)

6. I'm not sure if this counts, but after a few weeks of harassment, William finally got his haircut. He looks adorable.

And to top it all off, the sky looked like this ALL DAY:

Today I am grateful for old friends (with cute kids), Happy Hour at Sonic, fresh basil, and COLD weather.

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Listening to: Cassadaga by Bright Eyes. It's dreamy.

Eating: a banana. I actually shared it with June, her first time eating it. She liked it until she bit off a chunk, then she gagged.

Anticipating: Thanksgiving. You are not coming soon enough.

A little annoyed: at drivers lately. A lady honked at me today for something that was not my fault, and it woke up June. You think just because you drive a BMW, you can go around honkin' at everyone that gets in your way and wake up all the babies around you?! June will have her revenge.

Searching for: the perfect winter hat for June. So far, I've only found this one. $58? C'mon really?

Thankful Day 6

Today in sacrament meeting, William shared his testimony on missionary work. It was really sweet. He talked about his experience in Utah this last week.

Here was the highlight:

This is a picture of Michael, just a few hours after he got home from his mission in Indianapolis (still in his missionary attire). He's hugging Daniel, who just opened his mission call and will be serving in Russia beginning in March.

This photo makes me so happy.

Today I am grateful for missionaries. You're the best people on the planet.