You Say Goodbye & I Say Hello...

So, on Sunday morning, we had to say goodbye to Travis and Jenna. I will admit that while I've been crazy busy with school, another reason I haven't blogged is because I've been in mourning. Sunday morning, when my alarm went off at 5am, I started crying. It pretty much continued throughout the day and even into Monday. Mark had said his goodbyes on Thursday night when we had dinner with Trav and Jenn, so I had decided on Saturday night that I wouldn't wake Ethan unless he woke up on his own. Well, while I was opening the door to bring my purse out to the car, he started stirring and crying. So the two of us headed down to Mom and Dad's to say goodbye and good luck.

We got there and waited for about a half hour. While we did that, we ate muffins, talked, and I cried some more. Then Travis and Jenna came. We chatted for a few minutes, got the lowdown on their plans for the trip (stopping in Montana Sunday night, then Washington Monday night, then flying out to Hawaii on Wednesday morning), and then there was a LOT of hugging before they headed off on their journey. We all struggled with the goodbyes, even Ethan, who knew something weird was going on (he probably forgot a few hours later, but still...). Mom had to work later in the day, and Mark had plans with a friend, so it gave me and Ethan a chance to hang out with my dad. We had talked about going to China Buffet the week before, and Mom and Mark don't exactly LOVE China Buffet, so the 3 of us went. We definitely got our money's worth! It is amazing how much food Ethan can put away! I mean, he didn't eat 3 platefuls or anything, but he ate some chicken, noodles, rice, pudding, bananas, and Jell-o. WOW! And he was really well-mannered, too. Sunday night was spent getting things ready for school-labeling folders, pulling out books to use, and working on lesson plans.

Monday was spent with family. Mark, Ethan, and I went over to Mom and Dad's in the evening for an official End-of-Summer cookout. My mom's parents came down, too. We had a great time just talking about life, school, TV, etc. After they headed home, I took Mark and Ethan home (Ethan was getting really overtired-he had woken up late that morning, so he only took one nap all day) and went back to Mom and Dad's to help bake/watch my gingerbread cookies. See, every year, we do the Gingerbread Man as our first week activity. We decorate him, he runs away, and we find him on Friday in the principal's or Father's office. My coworker always gets all of the rest of the week's activities (art projects, color sheets, mazes) ready, but it's my job (or rather, Mom and Dad's job) to bake the cookies. This year, however, was supposed to be easier because I had bought a new GBM shaped pan...no more free-handing. However, I think we were still a little preoccupied with Travis leaving because it took us a couple of tries to get the cookie right. After they were done (2 of them-1 for each class), I went home, loaded up my car for the next morning, and got ready for bed.

Tuesday morning came and I was excited!!! I was confident that my class would be less "unpredictable" than last year, and I was just so ecstatic that I would be there for them the first month, unlike last year while I was out on maternity leave. I got to school, got my classroom ready, and waited patiently for the 20 little munchkins to arrive. They came and were all so kind. A few were a tiny rambunctious, but overall, very friendly and energetic. I think it's going to be a fantastic year (and not just because I'm being "monitored").

So this week has been filled with lots of comings and goings, ups and downs, but overall, has been good! Now if I could just put a stop to the gossip...but more on that later!