School Happenings

Jana's dad got a juicer for Christmas, and she's been going over and "juicing" with him. They've been experimenting with these "immunity shots" that have fruits, veggies, ginger, and turmeric. She's been bringing them to lunch, and we've been testing out her concoctions. She's keeping us healthy! 

I love my lunch crew. It's often the best part of my day, getting to have lunch with my friends. The guys sit around the coffee table on the couches and chairs, and us ladies sit at a round table next to them. Jana, Tiffany, and I are there every day, and Amanda and Anita join us when they can. I can't imagine life at Barlow without them. I also really enjoy the people in my department. I'm thankful for great people to work with and share the teacher burdens and frustrations, along with the "wins" and joys. 

I lost my work-life balance a bit at the turn of the semester. I had to rework my plans and switch things around due to state testing changes, and I worked really hard to change things surrounding state testing, and it all made life stressful for a while. I was working long hours and bringing work home, something I hadn't been doing for quite some time. I got sick and missed a couple days, and then was gone two weekends in a row. There were several difficult student situations that were making me lose sleep, too. Greg told me at one point that I need to "care less" and then amended his statement to "care a little less." That became my new mantra, and it became a joke around the lunch table, too, so when it came time to wear our Bruins Care t-shirts at work one week, I added a little piece of blue tape under the hem that said "a little less." That hidden piece of tape brought me so much joy that day. It was a good reminder that work is work, and while important, it's not worth losing sleep over and not worth stressing myself out so much. 

have to sprinkle pepper in it to help with absorption (or something like that)

leadership brought in a llama to spread joy the week before finals

 

Greg's Birthday

I think this Jazzy Bagel lunch was actually for my birthday, but it was closer to Greg's so I put it here. Aubs, Grant, Greg, and I went to Lolo's Pizza in Troutdale on Greg's birthday, and we had wacky cake and ice cream for dessert. We went to Elmer's with Mom and Dad M. the next day while Aubrey was working and Grant was at drivers ed. 

Instagram Post:

Happy birthday to Greg today! We’re finally the same age again! (He really enjoys reminding me that he’s married to an older woman during those 40 days between Jan 25th and Mar 6th). I am married to a funny guy! He happens to be a servant-hearted man, too, devoted to his God and to us, his family. He takes great care of all of us, works hard at his job and at home, and keeps us laughing daily. Happy 47th bday, Greg! I love you! 

Swim Season

First swim team season in the books for Grant, on varsity as a freshman. He did really well! He’s been swimming since he was tiny and diving since he was 4 years old but hadn’t had any experience with the specific strokes since swim lessons when he was little. He swam the 100 butterfly, the 500, and the 200 relay at districts and got to experience the state meet as an alternate. He's a good swimmer, and it was a lot of fun watching him. I learned that swim meets go much quicker and are more exciting if you time for them. It's a bonus that you get to be over with the swimmers and don't have to sit on those un-comfy bleachers. 

Grant was very sick, fever and all, the week before districts and missed three days of school. We were afraid he wasn't going to be well enough to swim, but he rallied. He wasn't 100%, but he made it through!