Wednesday, January 28, 2015

winter fun day and a conversation

Last Friday we had the perfect day for our annual
Winter Fun Day
at school.
The kids had a blast. 
They were hot and sweaty and happy.
I spent the day at the "roasting fire"
handing out roasting sticks and marshmallows.
I was especially hot and sweaty, and not terribly happy
with the way I was smelling!
My jacket has been in the garage getting some
air
since then.

Last week I had an interesting conversation
with one of my grade one students:
Cooper: Mrs. Dueck, are you a boy or a girl?
Me: Well, what do you think?
Cooper: I don't know
Me: Well, is your mom a boy or a girl?
Cooper: I don't know
Me: What about your dad. Is he a boy or a girl?
Cooper: A boy
Me: But you don't know what your mom is?
Cooper: No
Me: Well, I'm a girl.
He looked at me, and without missing a beat said:
"Well, how come you have boy hair then?"
With that he zipped back to his spot on the risers
and said to his neighbour, Mikayla:
"She's a girl but she has boy hair!"
At that point I wondered if his mom also has "boy hair"!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

a busy start

January back at school started with a bang!
I have two choir groups on the go
which took a lot to get organized
and means 3 lunch hour practices a week
and one or two recesses.
It's a hectic pace.
Then my drum unit needed organizing and so did the drums!
This week the racks for my ukuleles arrived
(thus the picture)
and so my class set of 30 ukuleles
needed to be ordered.
There have been some student issues as well
and kids getting sick and being unable
to attend the choral group
that I am taking to a choral workshop on Thursday.
So there's always something on the go and
something that requires follow-up.
Plus I've been on staff room kitchen duty this week
and that goes into next week as well, ending with
me bringing snack for the staff the day
I go to the choral workshop.
Wowzers!
But, all in all - it's very good
and I continue to love my job,
the amazing supportive staff I work with
and the kids - (most of the time)!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

one prairie storm

 So the storm did come blasting in last night
with howling wind
and heaps of snow.
The deck was completely bare yesterday afternoon.
 But the lawn is still visible in many spots.
 The grader came through and pushed mounds of snow 
up onto our driveways
but then this lovely little machine came by
and cleaned everything up.
I wish he would have taken a swoop through
our driveway....
 More snowy wind sculptures.
And voila!
After almost an hour of both of us shoveling,
the job is done.
I would have been in full panic mode had this been Monday morning.
But it wasn't, so I wasn't!
Happy day!

Friday, January 2, 2015

christmas eve and a bit more

 The weather was so mild just over a week ago
so on Christmas Eve we packed up
and went to a nearby provincial park
for a weiner roast!
 It was a lovely day.
 Of course the wind was blowing but we were able
to find a fine sheltered spot.
 It was so mild that any ice that had formed on this
small river
had flowed away.
 Now, a week later, it's not quite as balmy.
In fact, there's a storm warning in the forecast
so we will not wander far tonight.
And with the snow, the temps will continue to drop.
Howard spotted the rabbit this morning that has been decorating our
back lawn with his designs.
He looks well-prepared for the weather ahead.