Family

Yesterday, we got to spend some time with both our families...which also meant more subjects to experiment my new camera with.

Dad intently watching the competition at our Church's Sports Day

Mom pretending to watch the games intently but really just shielding her face away from the hot hot sun! What a scorcher it was!

A Walk at Sunset with The Husband's family

The Husband, Mom in law, and Leila's Uncle Pete (Our dog just adores Peter and he adores her just the same)

Brothers


I love color...this caught my eye while we were walking.

Pike Place Market

As soon as school finished on Thursday and we were officially on summer vacation, we headed down to Seattle to visit my BF and pick up my camera. Here are some experiments from Pike Place Market on Saturday.

Heartbreak

This has been a crazy week so far, to say the least. Just as I was finishing up the last of the my report cards, I got the tragic news that the sibling of a student in my class was in critical condition in ICU. A couple of us teachers went to see the family at Children's Hospital yesterday. Absolutely heartbreaking and horrifying. .

I'm just so SAD and I can't stop thinking about the family, the little boy and re-playing in my head what it must have been like for the student in my class. Please send out a prayer for them.

The Story from Our Local Paper

Friday Five

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...the teachers are dancing, the parents are crying...the students are done....It's the Most Wonderful Time of the YEAR!
[sung to the tune of the said song]

Today was the student's last day!
Many brought parting gifts.
I categorized them into 5 groups...


1. Themey Teacher STUFF


2. Flowers and Potted Plants

3. Chocolate

4. Smelley STUFF...hand cream, soap, bath stuff, candles

5. My personal favorite....gift cards!
One very brilliant parent gave me a Michael's gift card. I LOVE IT!


...Oh and there probably could be a sixth category, Obvious Re-Gifts....you know, the stuff the children (or parents) find around the house. Those are the funniest...hotel sized shampoos, a Happy Meal toy, coins...

Friday Five

5 Things That I Want to Become Better At:


1. Photography. My #1 Summer Goal.

2. Scrapbooking...My far-off crafty dream is to someday be published.

3. Sewing...All through high school, I made little fabric creations, mostly purses and accessories for myself. Love it but have so much more to learn.

4. My teacher printing is fine but...

5. Cooking...I am a dilligent and often neurotic cleaner, but cooking...totally different story. I am not real motivated but am also tired of cooking/eating the same things for dinner. Blah!

Camp Continues!

Today at Critter Camp, we painted and decorated our t-shirts...

Learned about our bug of the day: Ants
...and made ants out of marshmallows and pretzel sticks...

And after the children left, I went to the pet store with the other Gr. 2 teacher to buy tomorrow's bug of the day: CRICKETS.

Then, we had to figure out how to get the little critters from the plastic bag into the students' bug jars. We thought we would try using the bug vacuum..

But cutting a hole in the corner of the bag and funneling them out worked even better. I had a panicky moment when one landed on my lap though!

Oh, the things teachers do!

Critter Camp

There are exactly 8 more days of school left and we are in the midst of Critter Camp. I decorate the classroom to look like a camp, we do all sorts of campy activities while learning about insects and the kids get super excited! It is tonnes of fun and worth the extra load of work before school ends.


Our reading tent and campfire

Our carpet area where we do all our bug learning

Saturday at Steveston

Friday Five #4

5 of Leila's Many Looks

1. Soccer Fan

2. Scarf Chic

3. Cruise Wear
4. Diva Fur-Trimmed Coat

5. Night on the Town Frock

Children's Drawings

Once in awhile at the end of the day, I feel generous (or just plain tired) and my students get to have free choice. The most popular choice to is to play with the toys and games.


However, some choose to read.

Others choose to draw.

Sweet Self Portrait

And one tried to teach his friend about WWII by creating this book. He only got as far as the front cover before I promptly took it away. Yes, it is exactly what you think it is. EVIL!

Clip Clop

We made our usual weekend pilgrimage to English Bay. One of the main attractions at this particular beach is the people watching and the many inferences one can make. Among the many crazy sights/people we saw on Saturday were two RCMP horses riding along the sand.

To my loyal reader...Husband of my BFF: Here's a special gift just for you. No need to buy one of your own anymore.

Seriously, not a classy addition to any living space!