October 2020

October was a flurry of fun events.  It started off with all the teachers getting ready to head into Plan B which meant we were prepping the room for students!  We were heading into hybrid mode which meant half the kids on Monday/Thursday and the other half on Tuesday/Friday.  It was going to make the gradebook very complicated, but we were getting to see the kids!  

I took some time off and went and had my hair done.  My gray hair was out of control and I needed a haircut as well.  It felt good to become human again. 

October 3rd Jen and Brian Isom came to town!  Jen was my college roommate and Brian was a friend from the singles ward back in the day.  They met when Jen came with me to a Valentine's singles ward activity.  I love that two of my most excellent friends found each other and have made an eternity out of it.  Jen had a goal to visit all the capital cities in the USA and she hadn't done the South yet.  They stopped by for a fun evening on their way from Raleigh to Atlanta.  I was showing Jen around the house and we had stopped in Nick's room.  She commented on his car posters and then told him that her dream car was a gun metal gray Dodge Charger.  He looked at me like I had prompted her to say that because that is MY favorite car too.  Jen laughed when she found out the reason for the puzzled look.  We hadn't told each other our favorite cars - we are just kindred spirit friends. We went to Bad Daddy's in Birkdale to have dinner and just hang out for the night.  It was like no time had passed since we saw them last.  I was also excited to have the kids meet them because I have told the kids stories about Jen and Brian.  They especially love the one about how Jen bit Brian the first time they met.  It was so good to catch up and reminisce.   Hopefully soon we will get to go and visit them in Las Vegas.  

Two cameras and I chose the other one (In case you were wondering about the kind of crazy look on my face.)  It was so good to see Jen and Brian!

Not only did I get to see Jen and Brian that first weekend in October, but it was also General Conference!  Best! Weekend! Ever!   The talks were uplifting and inspirational.  I needed to hear a lot of what they said and came out of the weekend feeing more hopeful than I have in months.  

Friday, October 9th we did a practice day for the new schedule.  The kids were still at home, but we switched them to the new bell schedule they would be following when Plan B started on Monday.  It was a hectic day with having to open two folders (two cohorts for the two days they would be in school) for each period and stay on track while Zooming with each class to make sure they understood the new schedule and the new folders and everything.  HUGE learning curve, but WE GET TO SEE THE STUDENTS ON MONDAY!!!!

After school was out for the day I helped fit Julie's dress for her son's wedding.  It was fun to spend some time just talking while we pinned and designed.  I also finally got the books we "weeded" from the school library back in March to Carolyn so she can use them for "her kids" at work.   It was a productive day.   

October 12th was the first day with the kids back in the classroom.  The whole day I felt like I was one step behind.  I loved having the kids in the classroom, but it was an adjustment staying on schedule and making sure we were doing what we were supposed to be doing.  The day ended much better than it started and I truly loved getting to know the kids in person.  They were so much different than during our Zoom classes.  

The 5th grade team on the first day of in-person. 
front row left to right: Costenoble, Bond, A. Oneal, Pirella
second row left to right:  Bish, In, Colberg
back row left to right:  K. Oneil, me, Leach

It was also Naomi's first day of in-person at the high school.  She loved it and her day was much calmer and more relaxing than mine.  

Naomi's shirt she did for her 7th grade science class is in the display case right by the front door to the school.  She has been immortalized.  

Official first day picture.  She helped me carry a bunch of stuff into my classroom and posed right before heading over to the high school.  

October 14th Nick found out that he got the job at Pike's Nursery.  He was really excited to have a job again.  

October 15th and 16th was Parent Teacher Conferences.  Mrs. Oneil and I did them together 1) because I had never done them before and 2) we needed both of us to fill up the time since we didn't have any beginning of year test scores to present and discuss.  I loved having her there for the more difficult parents who wanted to know why their student wasn't doing very well.  I learned a lot of tactful ways to say your child is not very smart and quite lazy.  

October 17th we left bright and early to go to the craft fair in Gatlinburg!  It was a super fun day and a miracle that everyone had the day off.  I loved spending time as a family and getting out of our four walls.  There were so many talented crafts people at the fair.  We all found something that was interesting and fun.  

Driving through the Smokey Mountains.  The low-lying clouds always make it look smokey - thus the name.  

The fall colors were really pretty as well.  

Walking the streets of Gatlinburg. It is a fun little town.  

At the craft show.  

My favorite find of the day.  Jeremy and Nick found a tea vendor and a lady who made yummy-smelling soap.  Naomi found a giant stuffed animal frog.  Steve had the most unique find of the day - a razor with and antler as a handle and another antler for the stand.  

After the fair the kids found an arcade and in this arcade there was a Star Wars game where you felt like you were in the cockpit of an X-wing fighter.  Everyone had to try it out.  

After attending the fair we found a little Southern BBQ place for lunch.  The food was excellent!  We spent some time roaming around Gatlinburg before getting in the truck and heading back home.  We all really needed this day out together.  

October 18th Steve and I voted early.  It was an interesting situation with masks, social distancing and lots of hand sanitizer.  They even gave each voter a pen which had a stylus tip so you wouldn't have to touch the screen with your fingers.  

Naomi's art project for school.  It is all done in pencil.  She is really good.  

Another of Noami's projects for Mrs. Tedder.  

October 19th Dr. Graham called me into her office to ask me if I would be interested in a full-time position starting as soon as Mrs. Joplin returned through the end of the school year tutoring the at-home kids when they didn't have access to their teachers.  I would be available on Zoom for the kids to pop in and ask me question about their science and/or social studies projects.  I would also be put in charge of any kids who were really struggling.  I would meet with them regularly to make sure they were organized and turning in assignments.  I asked for a few days to think about it as it would mean that I wouldn't be able to sub for the rest of the year.  

On the 19th, Steve and I also worked with our financial guy to get Steve's 401K from Premier rolled over into an IRA so we would have better control over how it was invested and we could continue to contribute to it.  

October 20th Naomi taught the young women in the ward how to paint a landscape.  They were in our garage and all wearing masks, but after 6 long months of not being able to meet they were happy with whatever they could get.  There are some budding artists in the group.  

Our garage as an art studio

Steve worked late that night getting the store ready for the big wig visit the next day.  Jeremy voted for the first time and Nick filled out all the paperwork for his new job. 

That is a spider in the middle of the web.  This was the best picture I could get, but the spikes were super cool.  He looked like a little crab. 

October 25th Nick voted for the first time.  

October 27th I made an appointment with Kelsey Kraaima.  Kelsey is really good with pixie cuts which is exactly what Naomi wanted. 

Naomi's new do.  She really likes it.  

SPIRIT WEEK AT SCHOOL!  Tuesday was Tie Dye Tuesday and Meg Bond tie dyed shirts in LNC colors for all of us.  

The 5th grade team in our cool tie-dye shirts.  Meg even tie dyed her shoes and mask.  

I had to take a picture of the sky.  This is without any filters or touch-ups or anything.  It was stunning!

October 29th was an interesting day at school.  The day started off with the door, which I KNOW was shut completely, creaked open in the most eerie way.  The kids were all a little freaked out.  About 20 minutes later there was a creaking in the ceiling just over our heads.  It sounded like someone was walking around above us, but I asked and that was not possible.  Not more than a half an hour later the power went out!  We were plunged into darkness.  The storm had knocked out the power.  I took advantage of the situation and went to the library and got some scary stories books for me and Mrs. Pirella to read to our students.  They had just announced to the parents that school was closing early due to a power outage when the power came back on.  The kids didn't know that the parents had been told to come get them, but the teachers did and we were disappointed when the school notified all the parents that we would not be dismissing early after all.  

October 30th was costume day.  I broke out my Elphaba outfit and had fun at school  

Madison and I were twins.  Great minds think alike.  

That night Nick went to a church single adults party.  He was excited about his French maid costume.  Everyone at the party like it too and voted for him for "Best Costume".  He had a really good time.  

All dressed up for his party.  

Getting into character.  

Steve and I went to a small party at the Arias's house.  We had a great time playing games and socializing for a bit.  It is amazing to me just how much I miss getting together with friends and how much we took it for granted before Covid.  

October 31st Naomi and I went to Mrs. Oneil's house to paint her shutters black to match her new, purple door.  Naomi needed service hours for school so this was a win-win.  Back at home we make preparations for Halloween.  Nick was going to hand out with his friends after work.  Naomi went to Leah's to be with her friends as well.  Jeremy was working so it was just me and Steve.  He was happy and content playing in the garage with his new (off of Facebook market) bandsaw.  Due to Covid, we only had two groups of trick-or-treaters - the Tufts/Warner clans and my seminary kids.  Instead of the usual two or three pieces of candy, everyone got a handful.  

Naomi in her gruesome Halloween makeup.  You can't see it, but on her left cheek it looks like there is a hole in her cheek and her teeth are showing through.  She lives for this time of year and an excuse to due gross makeup stuff.  I think she may have a career here.