Schools back, but summer is here!

Ah yes...this is what summer is supposed to feel like!  Now that we are back at school, the wonderful weather of July has finally arrived.  Hot and muggy days have forced us to enjoy our outside activities in the morning before the day heats up.  Where was this weather when we could enjoy trips to the pool, splash pad, or running through the sprinkler.

I have survived my first "week" back.  Unfortunately, it was not a full week...that will be tackled this coming week.  I saw something on Pinterest this week from a teacher, that said, "We sometimes forget how far we take our students every year.  The first day of school is an exhausting reminder."  My class includes three returning student and four new students.  Many of them are finding it difficult to get into the routine of not only being back at school, but being at the Transition Center, which is entirely different than the "school" they are used to.  This makes for anxious students and overwhelmed teachers.  I keep trying to think back to those friends that I have staffed out...remembering how difficult it was for them in their first few days/weeks, and how far they came by the time they were ready to move onto the adult world.  We will get there.  Until then, its evening runs, early bedtimes, long hours at school, and a glass of wine here and there to get through...

We were blessed this week with the opening of a brand new, beautiful public library in downtown Cedar Rapids.  Having moved to town just shy of a year before the flood, Jon and I never really got to enjoy many of the gems of downtown Cedar Rapids before they were washed away.  The downtown library was one of those gems, from what I hear...beautiful architecture and charm.  On Saturday morning, the doors of the brand new facility opened, and we were amongst the first visitors.  I can see us spending a great deal of time there as Vinnie grows older.  Jon and I even talked about going on Saturday morning next weekend...grabbing a cup of coffee from their cafe, a few of Vinnie's favorite books, and heading up to the rooftop deck.  Thoughts of that may help this week move a little faster.

Vinnie continues to change from baby to little boy.  Just this last week he decided he no longer wanted to use his booster seat on his chair.  So, off it came and a big boy has now joined our meals.  We do spend a great deal of time reminding him to sit down, and this morning his foot got stuck in the spindles of the back side of the chair...  I am amazed by the conviction they have at this age...to be bigger, better, and do things on their own.  Oh my what conviction...

Happy Sunday!  See you next week!