summer has officially started

Grades are in.  Report card envelopes have been stuffed.  Classroom is clean.  Keys are turned in.  Done.  Done.  Done.

And my summer vacation has officially started.  :)  What a year it has been.  I somehow managed to survive the many setbacks that occurred this year.  From pulling in my teacher desk in the rain at 5:30am the morning that school started, not having heat through most of the winter, to my classroom lights mysteriously not working for a month.  Tell ya what, I've never had a job more challenging than teaching this year.  I had some of the best and some of the most challenging students.  All I know now is that I am so ready and deserving of this summer break.

Here's a peek into my Summer Top 10 To-Do List (in no particular order):

1. Plant flowers in the front and along the side of our house.
2. Sleep in.  Often.
3. Read the rest of The Hunger Games Trilogy... plus a lengthy list of other books.
4. Make more dishes out of my favorite vegan cookbook.
5. The River Bound 15K at the White Water Center.
6. Attend a good friend's wedding.
7. Start and finish a braided winter hat.  Bright red.  I want a bright red one.
8. Visit my family in Georgia.
9. Write a curriculum for an independent study program I created at my school.
10. Go to more concerts.  Next up:  Over The Rhine and David Gray.