Changing Slices

Time for Tuesday's Slice of Life Sharing at Two Writing Teachers
       Thanks to all of you who gather this community (Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna and Beth) and to you who participate. I love reading what's going on in your lives.
       My life has changed because Saturday my daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters moved in with me while renovations are being done. This also includes a dog and two cats. By now, all are relatively used to their new lives, except one cat. Rose May, a beauty of a black and white cat, but shy, elusive, and now hiding out in the "parents" bedroom. Imogene, the almost three year old granddaughter is having more trouble sleeping. She's at the stage of transitioning out of a crib anyway, so she is lately spending time climbing in and out of the pac 'n play, lying in the bed with her sister, trying out my bed, and so on. If you've raised children, you know this hard, hard stage. How does one keep them down in the bed when in the crib, it was so easy?  And Ingrid is busy with EVERYTHING, painting, making pla-dough, playing in the sprinklers, reading books. Then she collapses in bed at night. Sorry, wish I had a pic of Imogene, too! She walked to get the mail with me today, (a half block), and literally jumped all the way!

         The good part of having company this way is that they really aren't company. We're having fun visiting, cooking and watching the girls. We go away to work, and return mostly at the same time, putting food together for dinner, talking over the day and then bedtime. I don't mind being alone most of the time, have lots to keep me busy, but this is such fun to be together. When one lives in the same town, with our busy lives, we don't really take time to talk about things, except once in a while. It will be a good week.

         I've finished my time with the one class, and spent the day working at school, meeting with a couple of people, but mostly re-organizing my office. Here's one picture of the mess, and now I'm asking for ideas for further organization. I am the worst filer. I struggle with choosing what keywords to use with paper files. Does anyone else have that problem? So I'm working and thinking how to best put the reading materials together, and the writing lessons, mentor texts, and on. I'm also trying hard to throw some old lessons away, ones I haven't used in several years. That's a challenge. 
         The ending of the year festivities begin Wednesday with Continuation, Thursday with goodbyes to students, and Friday with staff.  I know many of you have already done this, some are in your final week, too, and some have more weeks to go. Whew, it's a busy, busy time.