6 more days

'd like to tell you that I am looking like this right now.  Super productive with the few days left of my student teacher getting my work done.

I
But of course, I look more like this.

I am procrastinating the freshman papers that I need to finish grading because they are so terribly written.  Anything sounds better then reading another 30 papers.  Alas, I only have 5 more days of Megan, so I better get to it!

Grab some kleenex

Fair warning, you will get teary-eyed when you watch this clip.

So, I've been trying to help my journalism students become better interviewers (they are kind of terrible right now due to the fact that they are all 1st year students and want to just take in a list of questions and go).  At my journalism conference last weekend, I saw a presentor on sports writing who uses videos from ESPN's E:60 program to help with feature sports stories, and I thought BINGO! I can show good interviewing technique by looking at news-feature segments.  Thus this activity was born.  On Friday, I handed out some kleenex, and showed my students this fantastic story on two brothers who compete together.  I made mom watch it on Saturday, and she thought the rest of you should see it too.  I will say, it is incredible.  I am constantly amazed by kids, but little Connor Long may take the cake.  This kid, no words.  Enjoy.
Brotherly Bond

April Craziness

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me since April popped in.  After making it home from Washington DC, I had a conference in Seattle for journalism.  Mom and Katie joined me on Friday, and Saturday we went to Titanic the Musical at the 5th Ave. Theater.  It was awesome!

This weekend was packed-full too.  On Friday, I joined our Young Eagles (4-6 grade) at Polka Dot Pottery for some sweet painting.  Quite a few of my friends were there with their kids, so it was fun to catch up with everyone.

My bowl, and potentially my new tattoo...

Paul finishing son Owen's dinosaur (he couldn't let it have unpainted toes).

JJ enjoying a post pottery ice cream.

After painting, I hustled up to meet Katie and some friends for a sendoff for our friend Beth.  She's headed cross-country to a new job in Boston.  We enjoyed a little Karaoke during our outing.

Beth and Haley singing Halo complete with dramatic dance moves

Finally, my weekend ended with the Komen Breast Cancer walk this morning with Katie and mom.  We walked the 3 mile loop as part of Katie's team for CCNW.  It was a beautiful day for a walk, and an even better day for an epic post-walk nap (I didn't get much sleep last night).

I'm sure next weekend will fill up quickly if the last few weekends have been any indication.  Oh well, gotta enjoy my last three weeks of freedom before my student teacher ends her stint!

The cousins

Of course we managed to fit in a visit to see Megan and the kids while in town (all 4 of them, as Mads and Allie were over too).  Here's a few shots with the hooligans.  Thanks for having us over Megs and Ryan.  It's never long enough! :)

Carson, go away! 

Maddie and Allie find a treasure to play with.

Hads and Katie build donuts on Ry's phone

It's OK Carson.  You can play with me.

Playing with Auntie Laurie

Hadley and Maddie try to beat me at Go Fish.  Such little scrap noodles

Super cheesy doll modeler

Danger baby indeed.  There was a worse moment,
but I put my camera down to save the boy!

The tattoo

My Facebook friends already saw Katie's new tattoo, but I figured I should post a couple action shots I took.  So without further ado, here's Pete at work on Katie's new ink

I'm ok to go!

Tired and home

We successfully made it through our DC 2012 trip.  I came back with all bodies accounted for, and no one sent home early.  A good trip in my book.  I got to hear grandma tell a lot of stories I didn't know-for example, did you know that her father was once held up in a bank robbery and that her grandfather single-handedly brought the robber in (she has the gun to prove it).  We met up with the East Coasters for a tour of the Pentagon.  We saw all the sights you should see in DC and even got a little downtime.  Overall, it was a great tour!

Grandma, Jan, Maryanna, and me

My future engagement ring- the Hope Diamond

Cheesy DC shirts? Check!

Hanging out with Fala and FDR

Arlington National Cemetery

Playing with my Holga lens that Lis got me :)

Grandma leans back and listens on our ghost tour

Iwo Jima/Marine Corp Memorial

View from the upper terrace at the Kennedy Center

Maryanna and Grandma at the
Washington Monument

Maryanna and some of my students at the
Jefferson Memorial

Hanging out at the National Zoo

The only elephant we got to see because they are STILL working on the
Elephant Habitat

Mall side of the Capital Building