We've nearly made it

The Elementary3 pose for a quick photo-op

So the last time I wrote, we were in the midst the Langlands Family Medical Meltdown. 3 of 4 were not at the top of our game as we went to sleep before our school's Halloween celebration day kicked-off. So was it any surprise that only two of us legitimately made it to school that Friday? Anouk tried, bless her little heart. She was bound and determined to show off her paper doll costume so we conjured up a plan with our Nanny, Yanti. Anouk and Yanti were to arrive at  school just as the bell rang, so she could participate in the Halloween parade, and then return home right after.

  

...the best laid plans.

There I am as a "hotter-than-hell H".

By the time l'artiste (Xavier) arrived at school, his moustache was dripping off of his face and since the airconditioner in my classroom wasn't working, sweat was dripping from mine as well. As soon as the bell rang, Anouk showed up and the elementary parade started without a hitch. At the parade's conclusion, a smattering of elementary teachers and assistants kept the kids entertained with a H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N jumble.

After jumbling ourselves around for awhile, my class was called for our photo-op by the great pumpkin. Looking at my students I realized how exhausted they were already (and it was only 8:30 am). They were so ready to get back to class and get the Halloween party started. But just as we arrived back at our classroom the fire alarm blasted through the school and pandamonium ensued.

Note: Teachers and students are amazingly skilled in emergency situations. We train for these sorts of events: walk quietly, get to your safe spot, and listen for directions are kind of our mantra. But if you add a whole  lot of photo-happy parents to the mix, you get a snafu of massive proportions.

I guess our parents thought that the fire drill was a hoax or an opporunity to show off our organizational skills because they were running around like headless chickens. Some were yelling for their kids and trying to take them off campus while others were trying to get a few extra snapshots of their costumed-kid. When I turned around to look at Anouk's class, I saw a paper-doll in chaos. Her fever was definitely back and the stress of her illness, the parade, and the fire drill had done her in--tears were streaming down her face.

Our dia de los muertos celebration to honor Larry, Mr. Boyle, and the grandfather of one of my students. It is awesome to have a Mexican family in our class because mom came in and taught us about this important celebration while sharing her special Mexican sweet bread with the class.

By the time Xavier and I got home Friday afternoon, our family was spent. Tummies were unsettled, fevers hadn't regulated, and the airconditioning was still not working!

Next week has got to be better!