The Day I Touched the Stanley Cup by Patty V

Yesterday was a very exciting day. I got to touch the Stanley Cup AND shake hands with Coach Q. How did that come to be, you ask? I will tell you.

I got home from a continuing education class (Cloud based apps for differentiation- so interesting!!) a little after 2:00. Jack and Sally had spent the day together, doing wedding errands and having a father-daughter lunch. They arrived home around 2:45 and the three of us were talking wedding stuff when we received a group text from Wayne that said, "sounds like the Stanley Cup left the Hyatt just now with Coach Q. Keep your eyes peeled for it at York Tavern". Sally's immediate reaction was, "Let's go!" Jack had things to do, so Sally and I headed over to the York. We figured we had nothing to lose since the York is such a great place to hang, especially on a Friday afternoon, 8 days before the wedding :). We pulled into the parking lot and there were four spaces open.  Highly unusual since the York is small and so is the parking lot. We even got a table. We ordered some drinks and a snack and as we waited for our order, we checked our phones. I answered an email from Teri and mentioned  what Sally and I were doing. Teri called 2 minutes later and asked if she could join us, we said of course and she was there in minutes. ( Teri had been to the parade and rally in Chicago in the morning, btw) Not ten minutes later, in walked Coach Q and his family! Two minutes later, in came the Stanley Cup! Amazing! Such a fun positive energy in the room and it was very intimate since there were only about 75 people there. Everyone was so excited, but orderly. Teri cleared a path to the Cup for Sally, saying "this is the bride! She's getting married next week!" It worked!
After pictures with the Stanley Cup, we went over to meet Coach Q. I cannot begin to tell you how super nice he was. So gracious. I introduced myself, then Sally. I told him that Sally taught at the high school where his kids attend and that she was getting married next week. Here is the conversation, almost word-for-word :)-
Coach Q: "Oh, really you are a teacher at HC? What do you teach?"
Sally: "Spanish"
Coach Q:" Have you ever had any of my kids?" (and named them as if Sally wouldn't know them!)
Sally: "No, but I have heard great things about them"
Coach Q: "When are you getting married?"
Sally: "A week from tomorrow"
Coach Q: "Oh, congratulations, that's great. Where?"
Sally: [gave brief details...should have invited him!]
Coach Q: "Are you going on a honeymoon?"
Sally: "Yes"
Coach Q: "Where?"
Sally: "Spain"
Coach Q: "Well, that is great since you speak Spanish!"

(Coach Q was doing "whole body listening" as we like to say in our Social Skills groups)
Teri, Sally and I were in shock afterwards. It was such a spur of the moment thing that did not require any advance planning. It just sort of happened and that is what made it even more special. We owe Wayne big time for the text tip to go to the York.
It was an excellent way to kick off the wedding week.

We were able to get some pictures and a few short videos. Not my best work, but I was pretty excited!

IPad Class

I loved teaching the iPad class last week! We started with the basics and spent an entire day learning about settings and all the features that are on the iPad before you even download your first app. iTechnology is all about exploration and learning, bit by bit, the tricks and shortcuts and all that you can do. And I really enjoyed the group of people who took the class. Everyone who was there chose to be there, no one was forced to be. And of course last Monday was probably one of the most beautiful days of the summer so far, so that was a good thing.

On the second day of the class, we created activities using two apps. First we made two activities as a group, all doing the same thing, then folks created their own activities. The two apps we used were Choice board Creator (by Techno squirrel) and Book Creator (by Red Jumper Studio).  I included the app developer name in case you want to search it/buy it in the App Store. Choice board Creator is free and Book Creator is $4.99. In the afternoon, each participant presented the activity that she had created. And we were able to do it wirelessly using the Reflector app. Reflector was loaded on to my laptop and my laptop was hard wired to the LCD projector, so that the iPad was reflected on to my laptop which then showed up on the screen. Pretty cool. And each participant was able to hook up her iPad when it was her turn to present, so she could do it from her seat! I will include some pictures. 

We had some good discussions about technology, too. We all agreed that as cool as iPads are, they should not replace pencil and paper, books, playtime, and most importantly, human interaction. They are a wonderful supplement, but in no way adequate to meet educational needs all on their own.

 

I love me some summer

It is finally beginning to feel like summer, both weatherwise and schedule wise. I love the flexibility of summer. Yesterday I did two of my summer transdisciplinary play based assessments in the morning, then met Sally for her trial run for her hair for the wedding day. Once back home, she and I were working on our to-do list when Christy stopped by. We ended up all going out for a quick dinner together! So much fun.
Today, I was able to sleep in a bit later, then had a great therapeutic walk. I have been feeling so anxious lately. Not about wedding details at all, but more about life. This whole "our baby is getting married" thing is far more emotional than I anticipated! I always feel better after my walk with my "therapist", who more than anything, just listens and doesn't judge. Jean gets it. After 17 years of walking together, she has no choice :).
I did private speech at 11, then went to pick up Jack at the airport. He had been in Boston the past few days. We were shocked that he did not get stuck in another city...because he has 4 times already this year, including last week when he was "weathered in" in Columbus OH. It was good timing, because it started storming on the way home from the airport. We had a couple of wedding errands to run, including dropping off the marriage license and $ for the church and finalizing wedding cake plans at the bakery. We got those errands done, then went out for a lunch in a cozy dark restaurant. This afternoon had vacation written all over it. So relaxing.
Two weeks from tomorrow!

Quality family time

It was such a great weekend. Jack and I had tons of worky work (that means things we had to do for work), but we were able to balance that with tons of great family time.
On Saturday, we had a visit from Lauren. She came over after stopping by the cemetery to spend time at Mike's grave. Father's Day takes on a whole new meaning when your dad is gone. Lauren, Sally, Jack and I spent an hour just sitting in our living room, talking and processing life, then went out for a quick lunch. It was a special time. Love her.
We had offered

learning how to give Bella a treat from Auntie Karen

Nina in Susie's living room

to watch Abbie and Nina Saturday late afternoon so that Beth could take Arne out for an early Father's Day dinner. I took the girls out to Susie's for a visit and we had a blast. The girls loved looking for Sue's cat, Joseph, who smart and stayed hidden. Bella, Sue's Newfoundland, was left as the focus of the girls' attention, lucky dog! The girls and I got back to our house around 8 and Arne and Beth came to visit a bit (Arne watched the Blackhawks, too, of course) before taking the girls home. We practiced some flower girl moves and made a book on the iPad and tried on some of Sally's old dresses (because, yes, we still have some of them!) and had a lovely time together.
On Sunday, Jack and I went to 7am mass. If we are up at that time, it is a great mass to go to. Our parish calls it the "golfers mass" because it is short and sweet... no music, a short homily and you are out in 35 minutes or so. We were home before 8, back to work on our worky work stuff (after my walk with Jean, of course). We worked until 3 when we left for Father's Day dinner at Lauren's new condo in the city.
Ok. Wow. What a great time! Lauren's condo is amazing and she did an awesome job hostessing Father's Day for the first time. It was a passing of the torch from one generation to the next, since Downtown Sue usually hosts this event. The younger generation is stepping up. We had so much fun and the food was delicious!
Afterwards, Jack, Wayne, Julie, Sally, Matt and I went to see Book of Mormon. It was a Christmas present from Wayne to all of us. It was so funny! Of course, we cannot stop singing the most inappropriate songs from it!
I loved loved loved my family time this weekend.

check out Lauren's view!

Grandma brought a cool housewarming gift for Laur

we are family

Summer Schedule

How lovely it is to have a job in education this time of year. I just am loving this change of pace. I am still working, but doing my summer work with a much different schedule. June is busy, but then July quiets down, especially after July 6 :). I have two private speech therapy clients this summer and am doing group play-based assessments again this year (but less than 10 this year which is the equivalent of 10 days of work). In addition, I am teaching my iPad class again. Instead of seven 90 minute sessions, it is going to be all day on Monday and Tuesday (June 17 and 18). I had to rework my handouts and update some information because of the different format and there have been a few significant updates/changes since last fall. It has taken more time than I thought it would, but I am excited to facilitate this class next week. There are 20 educators signed up; it will be a combination of general education teachers, special education teachers, OTs, PTs, school psychologists and one SLP, who serve students from 3 to 14 years of age. It's a challenge to make sure I have content that will benefit all of these professionals. I am excited and a little bit nervous.
With my lovely summer schedule, I was able to meet Jenny, Beth, Abbie and Nina at Nordstrom this morning to buy flower girl shoes. Grammy and Pappy (aka Jenny and Jay) were springing for the shoes. It took less than 20 minutes to make the purchase. Abbie was interested in some black shoes with heels (yes, they have some in her size!), but Beth told her Sally really wanted the girls to get Toms. Beth explained that since Sally was the bride, it was Sally's choice and when Abbie was the bride, Abbie could decide.  Sally could not join us due to a dentist appointment, so it was good that we had Beth there representing Sally's wishes. Because I was ready to vote for the mini high heels for the girls! I should point out that there was absolutely no whining or protesting...at least by Abbie or Nina. Good thing I had to scoot out of there to go do some speech therapy :) Just kidding. The sparkly silver Toms are adorable!
Tonight Jack and I went for an early dinner (that is the only kind of dinner out we have any more...kinda like my grandmother and the Windjammer in Sarasota) to a newly opened restaurant in our town. It is a beautiful summer night and it is feeling like vacation.
I will get up early tomorrow and get cracking on the two reports I need to write before Wednesday.

hashtagthrowbackthursday

...or as I like to call it, flashback Thursday.
Facebook has this thing they like to call #tbt (short for throwbackthursday). Folks post pictures from the olden days.
I have just discovered this #tbt.
And I am operating at such an advantage, given the hundreds of pictures that I have taken over the years. Where do I begin?
Are we flashing throwing back 5 years? 10? 30? because I have all of those years covered. Pretty much. I am trying to figure out how I am going to manage all the pictures that I want to scan and post.
It'll become clear.
For now, here is one

and here is another one

Licensed to Wed!

I just received a text and a picture from Sally. She and Matt are officially licensed to wed. 

One more step in the process. Earlier today Sally and I ordered cocktail napkins and place cards for the reception.  

23 more days. 

Transitioning

Transitions are never easy for me, no matter how positive the transition is. I always need to process everything by talking it out and also by napping. Frequent naps help.
There are two major transitions happening right now.
The first one is school year into summer. It should be seamless, but it never is. Most of the time I grind to a halt and get nothing done for a few days. This summer I have been a bit more productive. Today was my first totally official day of summer vacation.  I started it out by driving Jack to the airport, then met Cath and Christy for breakfast. Loved spending time with them. Nothing says vacation day like time with girlfriends. I also did a speech therapy session and worked on plans for the iPad class that I am teaching next Monday and Tuesday. I did manage to fit in two naps today as well. Sally and I went out for some sushi for dinner and are now all settled in, watching The Bachelorette.
The second transition is the ongoing transition of ....our baby getting married! We are down to 25 days til the big day. It helps to process it all with Sally. Lots and lots of details, but it will all be good.
The biggest thing is that in a few weeks I will have to change the name of this blog. I will be back to empty nesting. Waaaaaaaa.

Last lunch of SY 12-13

Today is my last full day of work for this school year. I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to my lunch at work. Pretty much every Monday-Thursday for oh, about 10 years now, I have had my melted cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread,  usually with some cucumber, lettuce and tomato on it, with a little Lawry's seasoned salt sprinkled on for a finishing touch. For the last several years, I have added "broccoli for one", zapped in the microwave. Yummmm. I love my work lunch. I am going to miss it until the fall. It just doesn't taste as good in other settings! 

oh what a night!

Last night was one of those unforgettable evenings with family who are friends and friends who are family. Chuck, Teri, Caylen, Joe, Brittany, Chase, Chas, Julie, Keegan, Hannah, and my sweet goddaughter Grace in absentia hosted the most amazing celebration of Sally and Matt...or Mally and Satt, as they are sometimes known. It is hard to put into words how generous and thoughtful and loving this whole evening was. And may I just say that no one can throw a party like this family.
It was a couple/coed shower with a Spanish theme, since Sally is a Spanish teacher and Matt and Sally love Spain and will be honeymooning there.
Sally really cannot speak of last night without tears of gratitude and awe. I understand that. I feel the same way.
Our sweet Sally is getting married to a guy that we love and adore and then you add on the blessing of so many incredibly wonderful people in their lives...it's all good.
Here are just a few pictures from last night:

love the perspective of this picture taken by Chuck  

another great picture by Chuck

Jack, Wayne, Matt, Bucky, Sally, Brendan, Grandma, Sue

Our friend Mark emailed both Jack and me today and said "I have never seen you two so happy. It makes me happy seeing this in you both. Just an observation from an old friend".
Well said. We are so so so blessed.
And in another hour or so it will be Sally's 25th birthday. My goodness, God is so good.