Everything is so different about this school year! It was the smoothest start to a year for me. The kids are so sweet. It was so difficult for them changing classes and getting lockers. They were so afraid of being late for class. I had cross walk duty and it went fine. I am really short. Some of the trucks that the Daddy's have are taller than me. So I really have to hold up my stop sign for them to stop for me to take kids across. We had 11 new faculty members including a new vice principal. He is young, but he is already off to a great start. Some of our teachers wondered how he would do being so young. I told them that I was a baby when I started teaching (21) and that I am so glad someone took a chance on me (32 now). We should give him that same chance. (That shut them up.)
Mary-Kate had a great first week. She was so happy to go to school. She hasn't given me too many problems. (ie. not liking her outfits or not eating breakfast.) She hasn't wanted to come home when I pick her up. She is having too much fun. From her work sheets I can tell they are starting right in with learning.
I have two open houses to attend on Monday and Tuesday nights. One night is for six grade and one night for seventh grade. (Each grade level has over 400 students, so for parking purposes we do this in two nights.)
I am so excited the library was painted a khaki color. (It was stark white. If it had been repainted without my say, it would have been painted industrial gray. No thanks. I asked the principal if I could have the library painted the same color as the office. He agreed. So thankful.) The teacher who taught me to sew a little this summer is making the curtains for the library. I have seven windows to cover. I am thrilled she will do this for me. I think it will be nice and homey in there. It is a huge space and the color really does help make it welcoming.
P.S. I have another MK story. Back in May, my friend Darla and her husband Robert and their daughter Tori, invited us to the circus. I should have looked into this circus. Kids got in free. I didn't know how much it would cost. MK told us on the way to the circus she wanted to ride an elephant. We waited in line for a ticket. I almost feel over when they said $15 a piece to enter the circus. Oh how I wanted to turn around and not go. Well, MK saw our friends in the stands and we paid and climbed the dangerous bleachers to get to them. My friend was 8 months pregnant. I figured if she could climb them so could I. I don't know how she got up there. Mary-Kate thought it was the best thing she ever saw. It was so hot outside. Well at intermission they allowed you to ride an elephant. I want MK to have experiences so, we waited in line to ride the elephant. When we finally got up there, they said her ticket would cost $5 and mine would cost $7 unless she could ride by herself. Well, she wasn't riding by herself. I thought, this is unbelievable. I saw her big brown eyes and how she wanted to ride that elephant so I paid the man. I was a sucker. We climbed onto the elephant. MK had the time of her life. She waved to the crowd and said, "Look at me Mommy." She was so proud of herself. This is the only good picture we have and I am glad Thara got it. Our camera wasn't working very well.
NO MORE SMALL TOWN CIRCUSES FOR US
I hope you all had a great week and will have a wonderful weekend. It is gorgeous here....
1. SANDWICH BOX: Mark a clean 1-gallon milk jug as shown.
2. Cut along the lines with scissors. To make the crease lines, use a thumbtack to pierce a row of dots at 1/4-inch intervals across each side of the jug, 1 3/4 inches up from the bottom.
3. Fold the flaps at these dotted lines, then open them and fold them in the opposite direction along the lines (this will make the flaps easier for your kids to open and close). Fold up the box and add an adhesive-backed Velcro dot closure.
4. SNACK BOX: Use a clean juice or milk carton. Cut off the top, then cut the sides into flaps as shown. Carefully crease the flaps, then fold them down and add an adhesive-backed Velcro dot closure. 
