It's the hardest kids that need the most love

We've all had those difficult kids.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  

These kids take ALL of your energy EVERY day.  

They make it hard for learning to take place uninterrupted in your classroom. 

We've all had kids like this- sometimes more than one in a class.  I've got 3 this year but one is ESPECIALLY hard.

I'm not complaining.  Really, I'm not.

In my classroom we start each day fresh.  I greet each child with a smile and a sunny hello as they walk in my door.

I think that makes a difference.

As draining as those hard kids are, they deserve the very best that I can give them.

They deserve to be loved too.

Did you notice the beautiful picture at the top of this post?

Well, it was painted for me by the very child that is my hardest this year.

He said, and I quote..."It's for you Mrs. Irick!  See all the love in it?!"

As exasperating and exhausting as this kid is, he feels loved by me!

Job well done!

I've got his painting hanging in my house.  

It reminds me every day that the hardest ones need the most love.

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Currently February

Better late than never!

I've been incredibly busy and incredibly exhausted (probably just like you) and this month's Currently by Farley has snuck up on me.  But I figure, better late than never, so here goes...

Listening

I love the quiet of my house in the early morning hours.  It's not like I have a busy, crazy, hectic house on a normal day, but there is something refreshing about the absolute stillness and quiet of the early morning.  Maybe it's the promise of a new day.  Maybe it's just the fact that the neighborhood hasn't woken up yet.  Maybe it's the warm cup of coffee next to me and the dog in my lap that makes the morning so special. 

Loving

I live in sunny So. Cal. so this El Nino winter has been a welcome change from the usual dry mild winter.  I've been lucky that the flooding hasn't affected me.  California needs this rain to get us out of our drought.

Thinking

Blog design is a lot like fashion.  I watch and watch and then just when I'm ready to jump in and try those skinny jean, then flare jeans start making a comeback.  I've only had my new blog for a couple of years and already I'm wanting to go in a new direction.  I'm thinking...is it really necessary? Is anything wrong with my old design? Do I have the money for this?  So here's what's going to happen... just like fashion, I will sit on the fence for a long time and swoon over all the cute new simple designs and then finally make the decision to take the plunge.  It won't be long after I get my new design that everyone else will start redoing their blogs in a completely different design format.   Hmmm... what to do?  Suggestions?

Wanting

My trip to London and Paris this year was absolutely AMAZING!  My sister and I had so much fun traveling together.  My goal is to get back to Europe with my husband (who lived in Italy for 5 years) and to travel with him.  Everything in Europe is so old compared to America and so different.  I guess this brings me to the next topic... winning the lottery.

Needing

Did I say that I needed to win the lottery?  If I want to get travel around the globe then that's the only way my dreams will come true.  Perhaps I need to start buying lottery tickets...

Swooning

Yep, I definitely want a new blog design.  Better buy that lottery ticket.

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Paris and London

Hi Everyone,

Over Thanksgiving break my sister and I took a trip to Europe to meet up with my oldest daughter who is studying abroad this semester.  Lauren is studying in Germany but has been traveling all over Europe on the weekends, so we met her in Paris (a city she hadn't been to yet) for Thanksgiving.

My trip with my sister started in London.  We had a direct flight from San Diego to London on British Airways.  We flew business class so the 11 hour flight was pure joy.  I had a little pod all to myself that aligned with her pod so we could visit.  My seat reclined into a bed and had it's own little TV, blanket and pillow.  Did I say it was pure heaven?

We landed in London and did all the touristy things.  We ate in a pub, shopped on Oxford Street, took a bus tour of the city, saw the Queen, ate fish and chips, had high tea at Fortnum & Masons, visited the Tower of London, and saw the Horse Guard.

The Royal Life Guards

The Life Guards on their way to Buckingham Palace.

The Queen just drove past us!

Cozy afternoon tea.

You can see Big Ben through the London Eye.

Buckingham Palace

Dinner at the Barley Mow Pub.

The Court Building

The Tower Bridge

Fish and Chips

To get to Paris we took the EuroStar through the Chunnel!  This was a first for my sister as she has always been on airplanes when she travels.  It's not easy to do "firsts" with her as she has been all over the world and done so many things so this was a real treat for both of us.

At the train station.

We met my daughter Lauren in Paris and did all the touristy things there.  We ate lunch on the Eiffel Tower, took a bus tour of the city, visited the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, the Musee de l'Orangerie, the Catacombs, Notre Dame, Sacre-Coeur, and ate Nutella/banana crepes.  I was able to check off most of the things on my todo list.  I wish we could have stayed a few more days.

Our hotel was right by the Arc de Triomphe so this is how we started each day in Paris.

It rained off and on so we always carried umbrellas.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Our Thanksgiving Dinner. Croque-Monsieur sandwiches.

Standing under the Arc de Triomphe.  

Our first stop in the Louvre was to see the Mona Lisa.

Musee d'Orsay

Walking along the Seine.

On the Eiffel Tower.

Sitting on the steps on the way up to the Sacre-Coeur.

Montmartre's art square.  We bought a few oil paintings here.

The Eiffel Tower at night.  It actually sparkles for a few minutes each hour!

Nutella and banana crepes from a street vendor.  YUM!

Diving into one of Monet's giant water lily paintings.

All wrapped up and ready for the outdoor christmas markets.

On the Eiffel Tower

Macaroons

Eating macaroons on the Eiffel Tower.

It was all so much fun and such a whirl wind.  I loved both cities and am hard pressed to decide which I liked better.  I would definitely love to go back to both cities- we'll see.  There are so many other places that I would like to visit as well.  Who knows where life will take me next.

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Currently- October 2015

It's a new month so I'm linking up with Farley from Oh Boy Fourth Grade for her fun Currently Linky Party.

So, here's what's currently happening with me...

Yes, it's October and yes, that usually means cooler weather, but not for San Diego.  We have had very hot weather all September and October is usually hot too.  I'm ready to put my flip flops in the closet and get my boots out of their boxes.  I'm wanting cooler weather and the whole state needs the rain to come. 

I'm busy thinking about London and Paris because my sister and I are going there over Thanksgiving break.  I've never been to Europe before so I'm super excited!  We are going because my oldest daughter is doing a semester abroad in Germany and she will be meeting us in Paris for Thanksgiving.  I'm loving reading her travel blog and can't wait to be an entry in it.

I'm in desperate need of a good haircut and will definitely get one before my trip.

Thanks for stopping by!  Click on the link below to go back to the linky party.

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Currently this August

It's a new month and we know that the fabulous Farley hosts her very fun Currently, so here is what's going on CURRENTLY...

Listening

We just got back from a long road trip and each person in my family made a play list of songs.  Unfortunately, no one liked the songs on the other people's playlists so we abandoned the songs and started listening to podcasts.  Two of our favorites are This American Life, and 99% Invisible.  If you haven't listened to these podcasts, you really ought to give them a try.

Loving

 I'm loving the look on my girls faces after they raced down the rapids on kayaks.  They both love adventure- especially my oldest daughter Lauren.

Lauren

Paige

Me, Mike and Juliet (and our river guide)

Thinking

I'm thinking about our great vacation.  It was a family reunion of sorts.  My father in law celebrated a milestone birthday and we converged on the city of Durango for the weekend.  Family came from Seattle, Dallas, Austin and San Diego.  We had so much fun hanging out together.  One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Silverton and riding the train back to Durango.

Wanting

Now that we've returned from a vacation (we haven't taken a vacation for a few years) my husband and I are longing for more.  We used to have a little travel trailer and even those small get-aways helped to rejuvenate our souls.  Now we are both dreaming of getting another camper... alas, it's only a dream, but it's fun to dream- right?

Our little camper- we miss you Kiwi!

Needing

You've heard this before and it remains true.  I NEED new flooring!

It has moved from the wanting category to the needing category. Sadly, this too must remain in the dreaming category for now.  

Maybe someday... {sigh}

B2S RAK

I love the thought of this!  

I will try to do little things through out the year.  We have a small staff so I can personalize each RAK for each person.  (The ideas are already starting to flow).

Thanks for stopping by!  

Click here to head back to the linky party.

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Five for Friday Summertime Fun

I'm linking up with Doodlebugs Teaching again for their fun Five for Friday Linky Party.

I'm wondering what everyone else has been doing with their summer time.

I myself have been INCREDIBLY lazy.  Time to get started on all those projects I was looking forward to tackling during the summer.  Can someone please help get me motivated?

Even though I've been lazy, I've been busy.  Yes, those two can be mutually exclusive.

Since I live just 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean, I make sure to get to the beach at least once a week.  Typically Wednesdays are my beach days, but if my friends can't make Wednesday, then any other day will do.  This week Monday worked out just fine.

I also try to do something around my beautiful city.  When you live somewhere you take it for granted, and I have to remember that people actually pay to vacation here, so I try to use my summer time to get out and see San Diego.

On Tuesdays the museums at Balboa Park are free to residents.  OK, that fits into my summertime budget (since not working equals no paycheck).  Well, as wonderful as free admission sounds, it does come with a price- CROWDS.  I'm not just talking moms in strollers and other city residents, I'm talking KIDS.  I think that every summer camp uses the Free Museum Tuesdays- I'm talking EVERY SUMMER CAMP!  So I tend to breeze through the museums quickly because I'm not a big fan of crowds.

Here is a photo of the outside of the museums.  As soon as I snapped it, a million (I might be exaggerating, but I don't think so) school kids came out of the museums to eat their lunches.  So picture it COMPLETELY full of bodies.    I thought, oh great, now the museum will be empty- WRONG.

Fun with friends.

My neighbor teaches art to children and adults and she hosts a weekly painting class.  I've been to quite a few of them and they are always a lot of fun.  Here I am with 3 of my besties and our finished floral paintings.  

What I love about these classes is that each of our paintings come out looking very different.  They truly reflect each of our personalities and styles.  So much fun!

My girls.

My last random thing for the week is how I spent last weekend.  My daughter plays lacrosse and her team competed in SummerStorm in Oceanside.

Here is a sequence of photos showing her scoring a goal.  Go Paige!

Have a great week.

Thanks for stopping by!

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