special lunch

every morning i get ready for work and i grab a lunch, usually its something simple like cereal (there's milk at school, so this is a nice easy option), or hot dogs or something. well, one morning i forgot to grab something. when i got to school i realized my mistake but didnt have enough time to go back home and get something and i dont have any free time to leave during the day so i thought i was going to be one starving teacher all day! i did find a moment before the kids came in to call home and ask the wife if she would be so kind as to drop off some hot dogs or something for me on her way to work. i told her she could just put it in my car and i would go get it when i had a chance. well, she surprised me because when i went to the car i found a very special treat! some snack bars and a subway sub!!! score! she even put a little note on it- aw! i walked in feeling pretty special! every once in a while moms come in and bring their child a special lunch and that student gets to show off the special meal- well today was my turn to be special! thanks, wife!

to serve

its time once again for our school's annual service day! on service day the kids gather together for an assembly and then spend the rest of the morning, till noon, working somewhere around the community! in years past i have lead groups to clean up local parks, help out at the fire station, help out with meals on wheels, and this year i took a bunch of guys to one of the local churches that doubles as a food pantry. we did a bunch of lawn work and cleaned up around the inside and outside of the church! its always a great time and a chance to see the kids outside of the classroom (and they get to see their teachers outside the classroom too- weird!). its always a fun day and the kids actually like it too- its always good to associate community service and helping others with good things!
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crash the easter bash

diana and i ended up sticking around here for easter this year. knowing we didnt have anything planned, diana's friend julie invited us over to her extended family get together! it was a ton of fun, we got to meet her whole family, had a great meal, and got to see her mom and dad's adorable little puppy! since the weather was starting to warm up, we even got to hang out in the back yard. at one point her grandpa came and sat with us- he is hilarious!
thanks so much, julie, for letting us crash your family easter!
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6th art trip

every once in a while my students get to go on a field trip. recently they went to the art institute in chicago for lit. class and the lit teacher asked me to come along- score! i've been to the art institute quite a few times, back in college i studied art and always loved to go and check out all the famous works by the greats that are on display there. the focus for the students was on vermeer, but since the art institute doesnt actually have any vermeer paintings, the students took a look at other works during that time period, and then were given the rest of the time to check out the rest of the museum! one of the dads and i were in charge of a group of 15 6th graders for the afternoon. we had a great time checking out the different artwork and exhibits. the kids were surprisingly attentive and seemed quite interested in all the different works of art! there was even an area where they were giving out candy at one of the pieces. that was a very popular work among the students...
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