This past week I’ve been an emotional wreck. Sure, I’ve gotten up every morning (earlier than I’d like), taken a shower, put on makeup and smiled. I made it to about Thursday before I completely melted down and almost lost it on my group of rambunctious 3 and 4-year old’s who were all apparently, dealing with their own “big emotion” stuff. We survived…but that night I cried harder than I have in a long time.

The worst part? I had no idea why. I couldn’t pinpoint what was going on, I couldn’t find the ‘one thought’ that was making this all a gigantic mess. I couldn’t begin to untangle things because I didn’t know what was causing it…and as a result, everything…and I mean everything, was becoming a major deal. Kids not following directions? I wanted to scream. Dinner not working out? I wanted to panic. Change of plans? My mind literally, could not handle it.

I’m mostly a ‘let it roll off my back’ kind of girl, so this was new for me…not the emotional part, the letting of everything build.

Continue reading

The school year is wrapping up for us. One more week and we will officially be done. We had our preschool graduation last Friday…saying good-bye to those kids, who have been a daily part of my life for the past nearly 300 days was difficult.

Back in August when I first took the position, I didn’t realize, completely, what I was getting into. I understood on the only level that I could. Having only worked part-time, not having an entire class to call my own.

The end of the school year has me at a loss for words. It has been an amazing year. Unpredictable and full of uncertainties, sure, but amazing nonetheless. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of energetic, spirited and spunky preschoolers. Getting to hang out with them, teach and learn beside them has been the highlight of each and every day. They will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Continue reading

I mean, 2020 might go down in history as one of the most complex years, and I am not really arguing…it was…complex. And while there were a lot of destroyed and crushed dreams and plans (we won’t talk about the travel plans that have been demolished) …there were some big, BIG moments in 2020 that have changed who I am…and who I forever will be.

2020 started out pretty epic -am I right? Big plans. So many big plans…and then, it all kind of fell. Or at least, plans were. What we THOUGHT 2020 was going to be, wasn’t…but perhaps, just perhaps, it was bigger than we had ever dreamed.

I took a trip to Switzerland in February…not knowing it would be one of the last trips I would take that year…or at least, the last trip without extra red tape. I skied with my sister and brother-in-law, niece and nephew and we were none the wiser to what was going to hit us in just a short month. I visited my then boyfriend in South Dakota, came home and went straight to work.

Continue reading

Categories: Life

Hey look! My thoughts made it onto paper!

My desk is filled with papers of every assorted shape and size. My to-do-list is longer than my arm and my head is twirling with whirly-twirly gumdrop thoughts (hard core elf fans will feel me there) -everything from wedding dresses to flowers, future plans that cause my heart to skip a beat or three and land somewhere in the deep end of panic and everything in between -including but not limited to the letter C, Christmas ornaments and whiny voices. I just called the dog one of my preschooler’s names and have no idea what dinner is going to be. I’m somewhere between wanting to collapse into bed and eat a gallon of ice cream. I can’t decide if I want to be happy or drown in a puddle of tears. Perhaps both?

Continue reading

Earlier in December, our town became “famous” for a whale that was making its presence known by bubble feeding next to the docks. He became so famous, in fact, that people started a “Phoenix Whale Spotting” group on Facebook for those wondering about his current whereabouts. Even a whale can be stalked! I’ve lived here my entire life and have seen a whale bubble feed exactly once. It was an AMAZING experience and one that I hoped to share with Andrew while he was here.

We stopped in at the docks every time we were in town in hopes of seeing him…but the closest we came was seeing him a fare distance out.

One evening when stalking Phoenix’s page, I stumbled upon this gem:

Continue reading