Happy 10th work anniversary to Bob!

A special Happy 10th work anniversary to Bob!

We miss Kayla and Marisa!!!!  And we aren’t sure if Tyler lives here anymore?  I haven't seen him for days…

This is Kayla with some of her roommates?

We love when we get to Skype!

Tyler had yet another busy week.  Yesterday was the LM marching band festival where they did the final number but didn’t compete- then boarded a bus to go compete in the Marion Marching Competition where they took 1st place in the 4A division!  He looked so awesome out there!

(He is 2nd from the right)

We are slowly working on our house.  The recent project has been the downstairs bathroom.  I need to find a before picture so you can appreciate how awesome this is- all done by Bob: new wall color, stained wood, and new fixtures. Its gorgeous!

Yesterday, Bob, Alayna, and I had a fun day going to Newbo market (saw some of the Czechtober festival), went our for ice cream, saw Tyler’s performance, looked at homedepot for new flooring options, went to a book sale, did all the grocery shopping, and then watched Gorillas in the Mist (since I am talking about Dian Fossey and her beautiful gorillas in my booktalks.)  It was a great movie, but I cried.  Sometimes its hard to swallow what humans can do to some of Gods creations.

Rosie and Lily wanted to say hi!

(My fav pic of Rosie)

Well, I had an interesting week at work….

At the middle school I had the following happen:

1. Teacher/Dad walks into the library this morning: So, Mrs. Hart….I don’t know what kind of magical book voodoo you use to when you talk to kids. I have tried for years to talk kids into books and they never take it. Then, you bookktalk, and all of the sudden they are all on hold for the book. Last night, my son came home and told me he joined the battle of the books after you talked about it. I dropped my stuff, literally, ran over to check his head. I even went to the ER to have him checked because something must be really wrong. My kid has never wanted to do anything like this and he is reading like he never has before.

2. Teacher walks into the library this morning: Hey, do you know if our district participates in nominating Teachers of the Year?
Me: No clue
Teacher: Well, I was planning to nominate you.
MADE MY DAY

3.  I am up to 40 Battle teams!!!  I can’t even believe it- we only had 2 last year!  Bob helped me find a way to do a computerized bracket so I can organize it.  So exciting!

4.  I finally got my costume for Book Character dress up day.  I hope it will be as Epic as it is in my head!  Lots of kids super excited for it.

At the high school the following happened:

1. I set up my “Murder, mystery, and Mayhem” display.  Some kids came in and asked where the body outline was that I did last year.  I didn’t know anyone noticed I did that.  So some girls came in to help me do it.

2. A teen boy saw me carrying a huge pile of books and raced to help carry them to my car for me.  Then went on to tell me how he just loves what I have done to the library and that it is so inviting and comfortable now.

3. I am working hard to find activities that appeal to difficult HS students.  I decided to try an Edible Book Contest on Teen Reads Week.  I am surprised at the responses: one English teacher is having her class create one on the book they have been studying, the FCS teacher brought her whole class in-they are divided into groups and have to research and make an edible children's book that day.  Then I have had students coming in to show me pictures of what they are going to make.  I am so excited!!!

Bad:

1. Principal decided to move 6 more computers in.  So she brought in 2 mix matched tables and then hideous dirty chairs from Rockwell.  Now it looks crappy.  Not much I could say to protest.

2.  Then Friday she told me she cut all my funding- and it wasn’t done nicely.  I was devastated.  I already had to fight for $5000 for the middle school.  Now I have to go present to the foundation and beg for the high school.  I do, in a way, understand the rationale…

Apparently we are moving to the band room next year.  When I mentioned new carpet, she said, “Who is going to fund that”.  I wanted to say, DUDE YOU!  It’s a 40 year old carpet FULL of 40 year old band spit!!!  Then I asked about new shelving- same response “who is going to fund that”?  I explained that the shelves I have now are part of the original school from 60 years ago and bolted to the wall.  So she cut my entire budget to try and get funding to replace the shelves and carpet.  I get that.  but you NEVER cut the book funding!!!  Word got out to the kids and they are devastated.  “Just when we started getting used to awesome new books”!   So I am going to fight with everything I've got for more funding.  Its exhausting.