So THIS is what it's like...

...to have productive days...I see.  We got a lot done today, or at least it seemed like a lot.  I don't think we've been this productive in a looooong time.  Here's how the super awesome day went:

1. Emmett goes to daycare (this is not an unusual feat, but a necessary one for the day's tasks; I don't feel too bad about taking him today because honestly I think he was tired of looking at us, and I think he has more fun at daycare anyway with his posse).
2. We continue to clean out the office of CRAP that's just been sitting around collecting dust.  Sarah over at Five Camels (love her!) was getting rid of 111 things in 1/11, and it helped push me to get rid of stuff in my house.  Okay, I'm 4 months late, but I'm doing it.  So far, I have about 10 bags of stuff that I'm taking to a yard sale and then giving what's left to charity.

The office (a.k.a. junk room) before:

I will be very excited when I can post the AFTER pictures!  The desk has been sold, and I'm trying to sell the two other shelves.  I LOVE CRAIGSLIST, by the way.

3. I continued to go through my school stuff in the garage to try to organize it by grade levels I've taught and to get rid of paper I haven't looked at since college.

Before:

 After:

 Purty!!!  I think I am addicted to Rubbermaid tubs.  That one right in front is empty, but I'm sure it won't be for long!

4. Planted new veggies and herbs.  This kit we bought was idiot-proof.  No, really.  Look.

If you can hit the hole, you, too, can have a garden!

5. Got Emmett and went to feed the ducks.  He about had a coronary seeing them.  I heard sounds come out of him that I have never heard before.

They all started running away when he went chasing after them, but it was totally worth it.  Best part of the day, by FAR!

If you've stayed with me this long, you deserve a gold star.  Like a certain southern lady says, this is for keeping track of those memories and those things you just don't want to forget.  I know that the cleaning out of parts of my house is not entertaining to anyone, but it makes me feel productive and that I don't have this stuff looming over me.  We got a lot done today on our to-do list, and I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out.  If only Spring Break were actually for breaking...

Tuckahoe Plantation- Take 2

I tried posting these pictures yesterday, but "it" (meaning the automatic blog world genius) didn't resize the pictures.  They were HUGE and took up the entire page.  I'm going to try again today...wish me luck! :)

Jon Scieszka rocks my world!

I had a great time tonight seeing Jon Scieszka (children's book author) at St. Christopher's School!  He is such an inspiration on how to reach out to boys and how to get them excited to read!  He gave me a lot of things to think about with my own students and how I can motivate those little friends who aren't always the most willing to pick up a book.  I wish my students had a chance to hear him!  I appreciated his witty stories, the insight he had into the minds of boys, and for the good conversation on the way home.  Thanks for going with me, Jessica! :)

Overwhelmed (read: whining)

Every Sunday night I sit down to do my schoolwork that I've put off the entire weekend, and I get about two minutes into and want to cry.  I feel completely overwhelmed most Sunday nights with stuff I should have done, need to do, or realize will never get done.  I make lists during the week of all of my to-dos, and I check them off one by one.  Yet, here I sit at 12:10 Monday morning just finishing up something that I should have done earlier. I realize I can't do it all for work and home, and I don't expect myself to, but I'd settle for HALF.  I guess I have to let some things go, but then I feel like I'm not giving it my all.  And I don't like to do things half-@$$.  The next two days are going to be jam-packed, and I'll be lucky if I have time to go to the bathroom.  I THOROUGHLY enjoyed my weekend and needed the break away from the working world, but I always end up kicking myself on Sunday night.  How do I find the balance I'm looking for?  There are so many things I want to do with my family on the weekend and so many things I NEED to do for my job before Monday.  I am lucky that Greg helps out a lot with my school things when he can (cutting, checking homework, etc.).  Otherwise, I would never have a free moment.  I just struggle to find the right amount of WORK time, FAMILY time, HOME time, and ME time....

Okay, I think I am done whining now.  I am going to get one more thing done before hitting the hay...I think.  I need to check my list.