nice things

A few years ago when I was teaching in Louisville, I heard or read or saw a story. Obviously the details are a little blurry, but this was the gist:

A business man who had risen through the ranks of his cooperation to become a high powered CEO [or whatever] died [or something like this]. At his funeral his young adult son [or someone like that] walked up to the front of the small-ish group of people in attendance and unfolded a very creased piece of paper. He then shared that he had seen his dad take it out and look at it many times over the course of his life, and it wasn't until his death that he got to see what was on the paper [I think I'm getting this vaguely right]. He then read from the list, stuff like "He has an infectious smile", "He once helped me with my algebra", "He tells good jokes" etc. etc.

By the end of the story we find out that this piece of paper was created by his classmates in 5th or 6th grade; that each classmate had written something nice that they saw in their other classmates, and everyone went home with a list. It was this list that this high powered businessman had held sacred, in a wallet near his chest, all those years. I also believe that at the end of the story another man at the funeral came up to the son at the end of the ceremony and, without saying a word, unfolded a similarly yellowed piece of paper from his wallet.

The details of the story are obviously very, very vague to me.

Who knows if it was a true story.

But I wanted to make it true for my 110 students I had that year.
I wanted them to have a "nice things" list to show their children in 50 years: "Look here, sweetie. One of my classmates said I had a generous spirit!"

So often when I had an idea as a teacher early on, I fretted about how to fit it into the "curriculum" I HAD to teach. I didn't want my kiddos to face the ACT later on and say, "Who knows where that comma goes, but at least my classmates thought I treated everyone fairly!" Or face a job interview later and say, "I can't really read, but I've been told that I always have the right thing to say." But this time, I just didn't care. It would take such little class time on my students' part… and then it clicked:

We were reading "Tuesdays With Morrie" at the time, and one of Morrie's favorite quotes was, "Love always wins." SO… the "nice things lists" became an extension of the theme of the book. Bodda-Boom, Bodda-Bing.

I created class lists with blanks next to each name, and we discussed compliments: that "I like your shirt" isn't nearly as meaningful or lasting as "You always think about others" or "I've noticed the way you treat your sister so kindly: You are a great big brother."

 I wanted students to have the option of being anonymous, and therefore feel like they could speak a little more freely- - to avoid the "but if I say THAT she'll think I like her." etc. So, though it definitely made it more time consuming on my part, I had the students turn their completed lists in to me. They had a week to fill them out. I then went through each student and typed up their "nice things" list. I created a bookmark and laminated them for each student. I gave them to each student as an end of the year present with my letter.

When I see the response of activities like this in my classroom, I worry less and less about teaching what I'm "supposed" to teach. It actually makes me worry more and more about the curriculum: Not that it's bad curriculum, but it leaves such little room for creativity and often times PURPOSE in the classroom that I'm afraid many truly great teachers will find other professions.

Here is an example before I matted it and laminated it

Would you have been a student that would have kept something like a "nice things list" if you had been given one as a student?

CHEVRON!

Okay, is it just me or is anyone else slightly obsessed with the chevron pattern right now? I know it's all over Pinterest [I still hate that word], so it must be a "thing", but since I don't really keep up with most "things" I don't know.

But seriously. I want everything in chevron right now [but haven't bought a single thing in chevron…?].

For example I just told mom yesterday that for the baby quilt she is going to make Blythe I want something like this:

Someone please tell me that those are not awesome? And quilters of the world wide internet, this shouldn't be too difficult a pattern, right?

I also just sent Brent and my parents a link to this bag/diaper bag because I think it would make an awesome Birthday/mother's day present:

I mean, come one?! Adorable. Even when I don't have to carry around diapers anymore, think how many BOOKS this bag could hold?! I could disappear into a coffee shop for DAYS with that loot!! Here is the Etsy Link for this bag if you love it too [or know when my birthday is ;)]-- lots of colors and a few variations.

And if you think I just like the gray and white chevron pattern, you would be wrong. I am thinking that for my next kiddo [patience, grasshoppers, it may be awhile], these nurseries that include chevron are also pretty fantastic!

Okay…so this one is gray and white again but with yellow?! Hello, adorable.

The ruffles? I would sleep in this crib! 

I am planning and plotting and saving and saving pennies to repaint/redo our living room [the guacamole green I chose just three years ago isn't cutting it for me anymore], and I would LOVE to have a little chevron action happen in there. Brent though, always the wise one that likes to hold my trigger finger before I get too crazy, has pointed out that usually my taste in bold patterns change within a year or two…or a month or two…or a week or two…so that I should maybe just stick with something a little more basic this time around. So I've settled for a little less chevron [I guess I won't PAINT A HUGE CHEVRON PATTERN ON THE ACCENT WALL!] but I may not be able to help it…I may have to throw in one of these here and there if I can find some on sale! :)

Have a good day…and may you now dream of chevron as much as I have been ;)

picture update [10 & 11 months of Blythe]

Blythe just turned 11 months old. Holy cow-a-ca-moly as one of my friends from high school used to say. I've done a decent job of getting pictures posted of her every month, but this post is just going to be more of a catch all, I'm afraid. 

In the past two months she has begun crawling and pulling up and cruising and everything short of walking. She has been SO MUCH FUN. She loves to sing songs with me, and tries the actions. She will play peek-a-boo by putting her hands on her forehead and saying "boo!" She loves to look at books, especially with Daddy. She knows what the elephant, lion, and monkey say, though won't always do it when I want her to preform :).  She dances anytime there is anything that sounds remotely like music, and still sleeps like an all-star. 

She is wonderful in every way. Here are some pictures from the last two months. 

She celebrated her first Valentine's day [by making the elephant sound, apparently]

Blythe and I got Brent this special edition Shatto milk for Vday. He LOVED it. [Chocolate Cherry] 

B spent Valentine's day with Nini Joan, and came home with this special handprint cookie she had made Mommy and Daddy :) 

She's figured out that I keep her Puff snacks in her diaper bag. Often her diaper bag is sitting by the door. If I leave the room for a second she beelines for it and finds her snacks. 

We've also gone to a lot of basketball games to watch Torri play

And we got to see Torri win DISTRICTS AND SECTIONALS! She made it all the way to the state quarterfinals. We were so proud of her. 

And on one of our quick trips, Blythe and Naomi finally got to meet when we stopped to visit my friends from college, Eric and Carrie. It's always a treat to see them, and it was even more fun this time to watch B and N crawl all around together. 

She also discovered my gum one day. Luckily she's pretty good about not putting things in her mouth right away. 

Stylin'!

This was one of her favorite faces for awhile 

And in January, Blythe got to welcome her newest cousin, George Auburn! Fun times ahead for these two. 

She's spent lots of good time at Nana and Papa's

And like all kids that have gone before her, has become quite smitten with Papa. And just this past week she has started saying "papapapapapapapa" My dad couldn't be happier. 

She has done a little work, also. Here is being Elementary Principal for the day. 

Now that she is so mobile and active, we never quite know how we'll find her in the crib! 

We have also spent some afternoons visiting Great Nini Pat…and great she is. 

And we've worn lots of cardigans and sweaters

We like to Skype with the cousins every once in awhile too. Caroline loves to see what new tricks baby Blythe has learned. 

Blythe still LOVES her baths. Brent almost always gives her her baths-- they have so much fun together and I love listening to her giggle at him during this time. 

Into everything now. 

Blythe also got to go on a day out with her pal Westen. These two are 2 and half months apart and fun together. We went shopping and...

Out to eat at OLIVE GARDEN, of course! Westen's mom likes Olive Garden as much as I do…which is A LOT A LOT A LOT [if you haven't been recently go now and try their CHICKEN SCAMPI special.] 

It's impossible to eat anything around her anymore…she wants it!! 

She is such a sweet, sweet light in our lives. So happy and content. Can't wait to celebrate her big FIRST BIRTHDAY soon. So thankful for the year the Lord has blessed us with with her.