A TootyTa, A TootyTa, A TootyTaTa...

Oh, how 6 years and 3 months really does go so fast. I mean, the weeks sometimes go by so slow, and you wonder if Friday will EVER get here. I mean, can treasure day just get here so I can go home and relax for two whole days???? Or, will treasure day get here so I can go off galavanting with friends and/or family???? And now, I don't WANT Friday to ever get here.

There. I said it. For once in my life, I don't want a Friday. This Friday means saying goodbye. Goodbye to a classroom. Classroom D. Yes, it's exciting. But how do you bottle up these feelings? And I'm talking about the good moments. Which are in these pictures. I'm talking about the moments of TootyTa with CaitieLou. My nearest and dearest. She's since gone and she'll be starting 2nd(?) grade this year. Maybe 3rd, I don't know. All I know is that I've been at CFO long enough to not remember what grade my old kids are going into.

I'm talking about those moments when you have twinnies in your classroom, and you think 'Oh dear Lord, have mercy on my soul'...but then, they turn out to be two of the most wonderful kids on the planet. What about when you come to work and you can make an absolute fool out of yourself and no one notices. And when someone does notice, they only laugh at you (or with you) and expect you to act like this.
What about when you GRIPE about winter, and the snowpants, coats, hats, mittens, scarves, wet and snowy boots...WILL IT EVER END?!?!?! How could it possibly be snowing again??? How did I even MAKE it to work in this wretched snowstorm??? How will I POSSIBLY make it HOME IN THIS!?!??! And then, when you're actually at work, you have a blast sledding with the kids, and laugh at them when they bail out of their sleds, or when they ignore the fire alarm that's going off and you have to trudge to the bottom of the hill in your winter gear and haul them up and out, only for Larry to say 'All set!'...NO WE ARE NOT ALL SET LARRY!!!!!!! Of course, I didn't laugh about this right away. But I can laugh about it now. Thank you Thomas Hilton the 31st.
And when you think winter will indeed never end, there's that first awesome 'spring' day. You know the one. Oh, the snow is melting. The sun is out! I can wear my snowpants but NOT my coat. But let's make sure the kids still wear their hats. It's not THAT warm yet. And then, the mud comes. Hey there, mud. The kids love you. And okay, I'll jump in, too.
What about the friends you make while you're at work? Especially the ones you knew in high school, but you were never close with. Until now. What about when you wear the same shirts? You just feel that much more connected to them. I made some great friends at CFO. Most of them have left me, but I still stay connected, and feel that we'll always be there for each other. The people that you can dance with, laugh with, throw birthday parties with. And going away parties. And baby showers. And any other kind of party just because.

As I think back on my time in Classroom D, I am now focusing only on the good times. Of course, there were bad times. Like when the bead got stuck in the water table and we couldn't empty it anymore except by bailing out the water. Or the time that we had to throw away the Theraputty. Of course, there were sad times when I cried. Like when CaitieLou left for kindergarten. And when Judith left me for kindergarten. Or that time that I was just overwhelmed.

But what about the happy times? The times we laughed so hard we cried. These are the days that I try to focus on as I say goodbye. The time of the mistaken fire drill. The time Judith flashed her skivvies at dancing circle. When Kate got into the tunnel and stood up. My kitchen chats with Kathy. The kids singing pop songs. Christmas parties. Pat's pizza dates. Jessicaaaaaaaaa. Jecissa. Jessa.
And as much as I am absolutely terrified to leave my classroom. Yes, my classroom. I claim it as mine. I was there when it first opened, and I'll be there when it's closed. I feel some relief knowing that I've been there for both ends. Opening it was fun. And it will be at the new school. I'm excited to organize and decorate and have people there that I love working with. I just need to take a deep breath and it will be fine. Hello, Knowlton School. I'm Jessica. I miss Room D, but will you be my friend? There's just one more thing to say. Bottoms out. Tongue out. Eyes shut. A Tooty Ta.