Kids, Lakes, Loons and Pines

Closer to Home Adventures

Recently, the (older) boys got out on their first island camping trip of the season.   They went up the lake on a chilly weekend, and had fun exploring and fishing.  This trip they made it all the way up to Kettle Falls.

While they were up adventuring on Sand Point Lake, Namikan Lake and Kabetogama Lake, the rest of us were down on Crane Lake, spending time with my parents on their island home.

Back home, we have been getting out daily, enjoying exploring lakes and waterfalls in the Superior National Forest and dipping into the BWCA on day trip paddles.   We live in a beautiful place.  This is likely what the summer will be looking like for us: abundant, closer-to-home adventures.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

 

Take Action

Hello friends,

Join me in continuing to take action to support relief efforts and change in the wake of the unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Please check out this site which has a great list of links and resources compiled by my teacher’s union Education Minnesota.

Take action, give, learn!  Let’s all be part of the change we want to see in the world!

Friday Faves

heading off this post with a little gratitude snapshot - this guy showing off the bass he reeled in at a boat landing yesterday

Happy Friday Friends!

This summer, I am going to try to get back in the habit of posting a "Friday Fave: series, where I will be highlighting books, podcasts, products, experiences and/or ideas,) that I would recommend to others.   

Here we go!

This week I am...

Listening to...

How to Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

 

 

 

With all that is going on as a result of George Floyd's death, I felt compelled to do something.

My heart is heavy.  There is continued injustice in our world in the form of systematic racism and police brutality. 

I have much respect for those who are called to service in law enforcement.  The actions of the officers that overstepped in such a tragic way have cased a negative shadow on the profession and have undermined the service of  so many that risk their lives to protect and serve us every day.

I do not condone violence, riots, or looting.  These are acts of domestic terrorism that cannot be tolerated.

We must do better.

What is certain is that we live in a world where individuals experience oppression, fear, and are approached and treated differently just because of the color of their skin.

Yesterday, I took action in one small way, by taking one of the book recommendations from Brene Brown.  I purchased and downloaded this book from Audible.   I started it, and plan to continue to listen to this audiobook to inspire self-reflection to promote peace and equity as an individual, parent, and teacher.   Our collective efforts for social justice through our daily actions and interactions have the greatest potential for positive change.

Reading...

The fiction title I am currently reading is A Spool of Blue Thread that has been on my booklist for a while.  I am a couple of chapters in and I am enjoying it so far.

Recommending...

In my bio, I mention I am fueled by strong cups of coffee.  Even before stay at home orders and the closure of restaurants I have been satifying my coffee habit at home with a daily homemade mocha using this stovetop espresso maker.   I purchase a good espresso coffee blend and make my own specialty coffee drinks at home at a fraction of the price.   

That's it for now - Happy Weekending!

I am part of Amazon’s affiliate program in order to offset some of the costs that are associated with running a blog. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the affiliate links of my tried and true, honest recommendations, I get a very small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support in this area!

 

Around Here...

Inside:
I am wrapping up 3 more instructional days of kindergarten distance learning.  I am trying to facilitate some fun and closure to the school year the best I can, given the circumstances.   I am looking forward to the change of pace that the end of the school year will bring.  I know there will be work over the summer, unpacking, cleaning and reorganizing all of the stuff that will be dropped off at the school from my students later this week and doing some preparing for the year ahead (which involves so many unknowns).  Getting through this week, however, will mark a concrete milestone and will be a celebratory mark for the start of summer break.

Outside:

We are finding moments each day to get out, explore, and to enjoy our beautiful surroundings here in the Northwoods of Minnesota.  Extra time and flexibility have been a gift. We feel fortunate and blessed to live where we live, where we can escape for an hour or two and bring back a lake harvest for supper, jog out some stress on a secluded trail and cool off the crabbies with a quick dip in the water.  These have been our survival strategies in the thick of this all.  

.....taking things day by day.....

Stay well friends!

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

 

Minnesota Parent - May/June 2020

The May/June issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month are all about me insights about reaching the big four-o.

With my accompanying School Days Stuff sidebar feature, I highlighted Nuun Immunity tablets.  Which I use and recommend.

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Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking -->HERE.

Find the online link to my School Days column---> HERE.

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If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

 

The May/June issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month are all about me insights about reaching the big four-o.

With my accompanying School Days Stuff sidebar feature, I highlighted Nuun Immunity tablets.  Which I use and recommend.

--------------------

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking -->HERE.

Find the online link to my School Days column---> HERE.

---------------------

If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking -->HERE.

Find the online link to my School Days column---> HERE.

---------------------

If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

Around Here....

Around Here....

It is Spring!   The sun has been shining and we all have been getting outside.   Our crazy kids already jumped in the lake for a swim, and I got my garden in.   I have been busy with my distance learning teaching responsibilities and helping my own kids with their learning during the day, but since the track season got cancelled there is more afternoon time available for work around the home, which I would typically be reserved for the weekends.  

Around Here....

We are all persevering through our responsibilities with distance learning.  We're taking it day by day, finding spaces to do our work, juggling a full schedule of video conference meetings and, like everyone, doing our best given the circumstances. I miss the kids and I am doing my best to support them (and their parents) virtually, but it is not the same.

As I have been working through this experience, I have found that I have needed to shift my expectations from what was, to the reality of what is, and just take things day by day. It has become a daily practice to shift my attention and energy from accomplishing everything I WANT to do to doing my best given the situation and to being gentle on myself and all of the children in my life.   In our district we have seven more instructional days.  

Oh, and of course there is stovetop popcorn!  Everyday around 3:00.  This is our budget friendly, go-to mid-day snack that has become a staple in our household, filling the bellies of our active growing kids without breaking the bank.

Around Here....

We are still navigating the grief associated with my brother's passing.  Yes, those are tears.  True heart ache was expressed this weekend when we planted a tree at my parents' island home in honor of Ben.   It has not been easy and never will be to lose him.  As a small family we are learning into each other in the wake of his passing.   I found this poem that articulates the sentiment of the occasion of planting the tree for my brother, and also how I want to keep his memory alive in my heart:

A Fallen Limb

A limb has fallen from the family tree.
I keep hearing a voice that says,
“Grieve not for me.
Remember the best times,
the laughter, the song.
The good life I lived
while I was strong.
Continue my heritage,
I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely
the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease,
my soul is at rest.
Remembering all,
how I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions,
no matter how small.
Go on with your life,
don’t worry about falls.
I miss you all dearly,
so keep up your chin.
Until the day comes
we’re together again.”

– Author Unknown

Around Here....

It's been a while friends... I hope this finds you well.

I'm still here, in my little corner of the world navigating each day in a new reality, as we all in this new reality with COVID 19 and two navigating all that goes along with losing someone unexpectedly.

I have needed to direct much of the creative energy that I typically would give to this space to my new form of work, in my role as a distance learning teacher and a distance learning facilitator with the learning of my own four kids.  

Our family has also spent a significant amount of time helping with my brothers estate.   We're a different kind of busy, and it has not been easy.  But we're making it through.

With this shift from working outside of our home to working based out of our home there have been challenges....everyday.    

Over a year ago I wrote an article for Minnesota Parent Magazine about Finding Resilience.   In this article I shared strategies that I use and recommend to navigate stress.  They include:

Take care of yourself. 

Stay grounded. 

Control what you can. 

Have fun as a family. 

I am finding I am leaning into these strategies daily.   (Check out the full article here).   Know that these strategies can help, but they are not a prescription for perfection.   We all need to be gentle and kind with ourselves and our children in this particularly challenging time.

I hope to be back in this space more.  It is good for me.   

Stay well friends!

Minnesota Parent - April 2020

The April issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month share my perspective on my first years of parenting.

Recently, I took on the responsibility of writing the accompanying "School Days Stuff" sidebar to my column, where I get to share a recommendation for a product, resource, or just something fun.  

This month I had the opportunity to highlight the inspirational and motivational cozy knit tops created by Southeastern Minnesota mama, Katie Jeseritz who is also a school counselor.  Find her creative wares at her Etsy Shop Counselor Mom Designs.

--------------------

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking -->HERE.

Find the online link to my School Days column---> HERE.

---------------------

If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

 

The April issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month share my perspective on my first years of parenting.

Recently, I took on the responsibility of writing the accompanying "School Days Stuff" sidebar to my column, where I get to share a recommendation for a product, resource, or just something fun.  

This month I had the opportunity to highlight the inspirational and motivational cozy knit tops created by Southeastern Minnesota mama, Katie Jeseritz who is also a school counselor.  Find her creative wares at her Etsy Shop Counselor Mom Designs.

--------------------

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking -->HERE.

Find the online link to my School Days column---> HERE.

---------------------

If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking -->HERE.

Find the online link to my School Days column---> HERE.

---------------------

If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As, always - thanks for reading!

Around Here...

Around Here...

We are continuing to mourn the loss of my brother, Ben.   His obituary was published today.  Our family is working together to work through all that comes with losing someone, which has its own set of challenges given stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures.  We are doing our best and taking it day by day.   We are grateful for all of the support we have been given from friends and family from both near and far.  Your continued thoughts and prayers for our family, my parents, and Ben's children are appreciated.

Around Here...

We are all doing our best with distance learning.  This has been a whirlwind of work from my teacher perspective.  In Minnesota, teachers were given 8 days to develop a distance learning curriculum for the period of five weeks.  Our school was also directed to develop a plan for providing childcare for families with health care providers and essential workers and lunches, which was tasked to our elementary principal, which kept her very busy.

When we first got the order, the directive was that we were expected to work from the school during our contract hours.  So we took time to put much thought and conversation in developing an equitable plan with consistency among grade-levels for our students and families.  In our elementary school, we outreached to families over the phone, assessed family limitations with technology, and determined the childcare needs,  which families wanted/needed school lunches during the period of distance learning.  We decided that in the elementary it was important to give our students and families print materials and to not rely solely on digital materials.  

We had our distance learning plan submitted and the packets for week 1 ready on day 5.  That afternoon, we learned of the executive stay-home order for our state (which included teachers).   All of our elementary school teachers and support staff went into supercharge mode to type up, print, copy, collate and package 4 more weeks of distance learning materials.  We got it all done with a LOT of work now and families have the materials at home.  Now my job is to facilitate the instruction of the materials from home (through email conversations, recorded videos or phone or video chat), I am also expected to interact with my students/families daily and take attendance.  We all made it through week 1.  So between teaching, supporting my own four kids in their learning and all that has come with my brothers passing, it has been quite a week.

Our first week of distance learning curriculum for kindergarten focused on setting up a block of academic time, working on communication routines and at home and exploring supplemental online resources (in my teaching I am using Class Dojo, Epic, Lalilo and Raz Kids).   I made these videos and posted them on my ClassDojo site to share with my students when I boiled down sap from our schoolyard maples at home:

https://tinyurl.com/sapbucket1

https://tinyurl.com/sapbucket2

https://tinyurl.com/sapboiling1

https://tinyurl.com/sapboiling2

https://tinyurl.com/sapboiling3

https://tinyurl.com/sapboiling4

https://tinyurl.com/sapboiling5

Around Here...

I have been thinking about the blessings of my mom and dad, who recently turned 70 (my mom March 13 and my dad March 31).  I want to recognize their milestone birthdays even will all that is going on with our world and our family. Both my parents are active and healthy and they are both sharing their presence and love with our family.   I am so grateful to have them both to share with my children.

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This is turning into an epic post, so I am going to sign off now.  Thank you again for your kind words and support during this challenging time.  

Stay well!

Goodbye Brother...

This past Monday, my brother, Ben Kaiser, died in a utility side-by-side vehicle accident near his home.   Our family is at loss with his unexpected death and we are navigating our grief along with all that comes with losing someone. 

Please keep our family, especially his three children and my parents in your thoughts and prayers.