Sending off my kindergartners...

I had a difficult time returning to work this year.  Leaving behind your first born (or any child, I'm sure) is not only a heart-wrenching journey but also one that forces you to relinquish control.  If you know me, control is not something I give away easily, and change is not something I readily accept.  However this process is made much easier if have you a meaningful reason for beginning another journey outside of the home.  I am, and will always be a mommy first and teacher second, but I do love my job.  If I have to leave my little boy to pursue a second income, I am happy to say I love being a teacher.

Like I said, this was a difficult beginning to the school year.  I was transitioning into the role of being a working mommy, and my class was adjusting to being in kindergarten.  I got what the school calls "returning children", meaning that they attended the school as pre-kindergartners.  I will be the first to say this wasn't your average kindergarten class.  These were the brightest group of 5 year olds I have ever met... not only could most of them add and subtract, but could do so mentally and without any type of manipulative!  Their questions during science astounded me and I spent half my time trying to bulk up my  lessons to appease their inquisitive natures.  They noticed everything and caught on quickly.  They taught me that no matter your age, you are never to young to be exposed to higher level thinking and reasoning.  They also reminded me what I missed about being a teacher; the hugs throughout the day, accidentally getting called "mommy", the smiles I see after the "lightbulb" goes off in their little heads, seeing them apply a concept that you just taught, and most importantly, the realization that you have made a difference (no matter how small) in the life of a child.

I spoke at my first kindergarten graduation today and I surprised myself by getting choked up and nostalgic.  I wish this group the best for their coming years and I am proud to have taught them!

    

Mount St. Helens

(*I apologize in advance... this was a fascinating trip and I wanted you to feel like you experienced it with us!  Also, don't be surprised if I decide to become a volcanologist in the near future.)

One of the things that we have enjoyed most about living in Washington is the scenery... from the lush, green foliage (it better be green with all the rain we get), to the snow capped mountains lining the landscape, we can't seem to get enough of it.  One of my personal favorites (Brian will probably agree) are the mountains... and not just the plain ol' mountains that do nothing... but the mountains with molten rock bubbling beneath the surface:  Volcanoes!  Pardon the dramatics... we happen to be studying volcanoes in kindergarten right now.

We live within driving distance of all Washington's major volcanoes. 

 

 We have visited Mount Baker (top), Mount Rainier (middle), and most recently, Mount St. Helens (bottom).

I have been anxiously awaiting our trip to Mount St. Helens, especially since its eruption anniversary date came and went last spring.  The biggest difference between all of the mountains is the presence of life around them.  Baker and Rainier's last significant eruptions were in the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively.  Therefore trees, grass and foliage have recovered and now paint the landscape.

Mount St. Helen's base is desolate due to its most recent eruption on May 18th, 1980.  A magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered the collapse of the northern side of the mountain creating the largest debris avalanche in history.  Soon after, the pressure build-up of magma produced a catastrophic, explosive pyroclastic flow (super hot gas and rock moving at 300 miles per hour) that destroyed almost everything in its path for 230 square miles.  This collapse of the mountain, mixed with the ice and snow created a lahars (volcanic mudflow), devastating homes, bridges and roads, and killed 57 people.

Now, Mount St. Helens is a national volcanic monument for the purpose of research and recreation.  We were 5 miles away at Johnson Ridge Obsevatory.

 This tree stump is a result of the pyroclastic flow produced when the mountain erupted.

 This photo was taken before Mount St. Helens eruption,

 during...

 

and after.