Family Bonding and Best Summer Ever #1

I don't think I brag about my family enough.

So this post is dedicated to them.

This weekend I had the pleasure to serve as

Camp Director of the Friedrich Family "Camping Trip."

Though long ago it did begin as a true camping trip.

We rented 3 awesome houses in South Lake Tahoe,

with enough room to sleep all 32 of us,

in addition to the 5 that came just for the day.

Complete with a softball game, volleyball game,

amazing food, Encore, betting on the Belmont,

pouting after a Celtics loss and beer pong, 

this trip was more than I could have ever hoped for.

However, the part that made the weekend was

Minute to Win It!

Yes, that's right.  My family played some games

inspired by the TV show, including ones called 

"Junk in the Trunk" and "Penny Hose."

Do you have members of your family that 

will willingly place their hands in a pair of panty hose

digging to grab two pennies?

Well I do!

Or family members that will race to unwind an entire roll of toilet paper?

Or attempt to inch a cookie from their forehead to their mouth?

I do!

Here's a sneak peek of my photos below:

My two cousins, Mary Kate and Maddy, competing during

"Face the Cookie." 

And let me tell you, my family is amazing!

For the most part I'd say we all get along,

 though we will take witty jabs at one another from time to time.

But if there weren't any jokes or one-liners

it wouldn't be a true Friedrich event.

We love impromptu games of Bridge and Apples to Apples.

We love to cheer for anything, even when it's just someone walking in the door.

We're loud, but we're lovable.

I feel lucky to call myself a Friedrich

and love sharing every minute with them!

I feel like the pictures can tell a better story of our weekend

than I can put into words.

A view from the lake looking up at one of the amazing

houses we rented.

Our own personal dock came with the house!

 Just a few of the players.

Spontaneous volleyball game at Raegen Beach.

 "Penny Hose" - My aunt Mary is a great sport!

"Bucket Head" - Toss 3 ping pong balls into the bucket...

On top of another players head!

 "Junk in the Trunk" - Shake 4 ping pong balls out.

 "Face the Cookie!"

 Another amazing view from our house.

My family rocks.  Just thought you should know!

*Side note: This counts as putting a checkmark by #1

on my summer bucket list; this being my first road trip of summer.

ode to my father

To celebrate my father's latest birthday,

I thought I'd have a little fun.

Enjoy my little toast and celebration 

to my dear old,

Dad.

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

This Daddy's girl

writes an ode to her father.

To the man who tied my soccer cleats

tight, tight, tighter.

And never let the bed bugs bite her.

My Daddy-O,

my number one fan.

He's the one I look up to

in all the lan'.

The guy who cheers louder than anyone I know,

and if you quiz him on sports trivia he'll put on a show.

Quick with his wit to throw out a one-liner;

laughing with my dad, there is nothing finer!

Advice from my father I'll use as my light

With a positive attitude, the future is always bright.

His advice is smart, his perspective wise.

This gems of wisdom are no surprise.

Sometimes I don't like to admit he's usually right,

But he's the one I cheer to on this night.

I love you Daddy!  Happy birthday!

so much to capture

So we made it!  We took the kids to the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco and it was a complete and utter success!


I remember the day I announced the surprise location of our field trip.  "We're going to San Francisco," I said.  A hush fell over my students and instant smiles appeared. 


I lay in my bed last night wondering what this day would be like.  My mind raced in anticipation, half excited, half nervous!  Field trips are fun, but there are always hiccups.  I racked my brain hoping I didn't forget anything, and praying it'd be a safe and stress-free trip.


And, my, it was!


The memories from this trip are priceless.  From one student shouting to me across the bus, "Miss Friedrich, this is AWESOME!" before we'd even gotten through Fairfield, to another pointing out cows on the hillside, this trip was simply magical.  


The moment I anticipated most was the travel across the Bay Bridge because I figured most of these kids had never seen the Golden Gate Bridge from afar.   Little did I know, on the way back, we'd actually get to travel across the bridge!  I got goosebumps as they pulled out their cameras to capture every last picture they could before we departed into the tunnel.  In addition, to the Golden Gate, they were mesmerized by Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the cargo loading docks.  "Do they still have sharks surrounding Alcatraz?"  "Why do they call it Treasure Island?"


The day was spent "exploring" the Exploratorium.  The first half hour felt like a blur of jumping to one exhibit to the next, but as we got settled the kids started to really explore and enjoy the science behind each exhibit.  I cannot rightfully describe to you the kids faces and joy as they bounced around the museum.  Truly, this day was all kinds of "AWESOME" as my student had declared hours ago on the bus.

 (I wish I could put more photos!  Legally I can't put close ups publicly.  Since these are far away or don't show faces, I can post them.)

I was lucky to share this day with two other special people besides my 30 students.  My parents.  Since I my graduation from the credential program, my parents have made it clear that they wanted to be a part of any special trips with my class.  When they heard of this planned adventure, they generously donated to our trip AND volunteered to be chaperones!  I spent most of the day with their group of kiddos, and relished in watching my students share this day with them.  "Mrs. Friedrich, I know how this works!  I know how this works!"  As I reflected on the bus ride back, I was reminded of how lucky I was/am to have such great parents and how some of my students aren't as lucky.  It gave me comfort that they were able to share this day with Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich, chaperones who willingly followed them from place to place and listened to every revelation with a kind and genuine smile.  My proudest moment from the day was when a girl on the bus to me said, "Ms. Friedrich, your dad is SMART!" after hearing him rattle off facts and dates about Alcatraz.


Again I sit here reminding myself how much I love teaching.  It's days like these that trump all the 10 hour days, long hours grading, or even the grumpy parent here and there.  I am so lucky to share these impressionable years with my students and be there for all the "ah-ha moments" they are experiencing.  

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I never thought I'd be able to provide my students a field trip like today.  Thanks to the generosity of so many people, we were able to raise over $3,000 to make this day a reality.  I know, without a doubt in my mind, that this will be the highlight of the school year, and perhaps for some "The Best Field Trip Ever!"

Week 1 - Done and Done!

I made it! I am officially done with week 1 of my 2nd year of teaching!  Though my class is not yet complete, it was a pretty darn good week!  I have room for 30 students, but so far, 23 is the magic number.  Let me tell you something.  Whoever those 7 kids are, they are going to be the luckiest kiddos! :) But for now, they're missing out on all the fun of 5th grade with this rockin' teacher.

Being a teacher, you plan and you plan and you plan.  And sometimes you overplan.  But sometimes you can't plan for everything.

I found out 6 days before the first day of school that my grandpap passed away.

So, this past Wednesday was a tough day for two reasons: 1) my kids were left with a sub on just their second day of school and 2) it was the day of Grandpap's funeral.  They say "God doesn't give us anything we can't handle."  Well, apparently I can handle saying goodbye to my favorite man on earth and running a classroom of 5th graders. 

On a lighter note,

Meet the Friedrichs...

We seem normal, right??

We're actually a crazy group of people who actually get along!  We hang out on a regular basis.  We play soccer together.  We host family talent shows.  We tell bad jokes.  Even better, we all laugh at those bad jokes. 

And the man who started this amazing family is my Grandpap Friedrich.

He will definitely be missed, but I thank him more than anything for teaching me a few things:

-The Sunday Crossword in the Sacramento Bee.  I can still hear him now, "Did you do the puzzle yet?  Timed myself this morning.  Took me an hour and eight minutes."

-Heart means more than talent.  He came to almost every soccer game that he could fit into his schedule, and each time reminded me that I play "just like my dad!" In other words, SCRAPPY!  Other than my dad, he was my number one fan.  Every Saturday night he'd call and leave a message, "What time's the game tomorrow?"  He'll still be at every game.  In my heart.

-At the end of the day, your family is still your family.  There aren't really re-dos in that department. So appreciate your family for who they are and love 'em anyway.