Our Open House was last night.  This is not to be confused with Back to School Night (the one where you meet your new crew/parents).  I know that some of you call this beginning of the year event Open House.  Our spring night is an event where the current families come in to check out the room and see projects that their babes have completed.  It’s a time for your sweet little cuties to show off at the end of the year.

With this said . . . when the parents are coming in to check things out, you all know that your workload triples.  I have been laboring around the clock to get things ready for our night — we ran with a BIG habitat theme (more on this later). We’re talking late night classroom work all this week.  The stress level was through the roof and I was draggin’ pretty good by the time Thursday rolled around {stage set}.

THE INCIDENT

So, during class we made our invite and put the finishing touches on our final projects.  We watched the End of the Year video that I made {multiple kids actually cried this year . . . I couldn’t believe it}.  Then, we cleaned desks and went outside for an extra recess during the last 20 minutes of the day.

Well, during this bonus recess I felt a little weight lifted.  Sure, I had an entire ocean habitat to still create on my white board and the desks weren’t set.  However, the kids finished strong {their work was amazing} and my mom was coming to help me set up.  Things were in check . . . or so it seemed . . .

Bonus recess was off to a great start.  The kids were loving the extra time outside.  Well, with the stress level reduced a bit, the “Crazy Mrs. D” came out and decided that she wanted to swing with the kids. ((SIGH))  I set my “brace” and took off running full-bore with a little kid at my side.  I was eyeing another student who was bolting to join me and didn’t notice that the little babe by my side was now IN FRONT OF ME.  Yup.  The little darlin’ cut me off and I plowed into her.  I lost my footing and the girl and I were going to go down hardcore {probably with me on top of her}.  I instinctively grabbed on to help keep her upright and I let go of my “brace” as I caught myself from falling into the gravel.  Then . . . it happened.  I full on wet my pants.  Yup {tail between my legs}.  And, I’m not talking about a little leakage here 🙁  For someone who has had 5 major abdominal surgeries in that lower area . . . setting your “brace” when you run is absolutely critical.

SHEER PANIC

Needless to say, sheer panic immediately set in.  I quickly diverted from my swing plan and tried to assess the damage. It was easy to tell that the underwear were a total loss, but at least the HUGE wet spot on my pants was hidden from view.  I stood and uncomfortably watched recess for another 4 minutes {the longest 4 minutes of my teaching career, mind you} and walked bow-legged back to the classroom and then out to the busses.  Now, the ticker here is that I work 20+ minutes from my house and the nearest store that would have what I need.  In addition, I had a dress to change into for Open House, but commando ain’t something that you do on a parent night.  Oh, and the icing on the cake . . . I knew that I needed every second leading up to the event to finish setting up my room.  What in the H-E-Double Hockey is a girl to do????

If you know anything about me, you know that I am an open book. (Obviously . . . if I am actually writing this stuff in such a public forum.) With this said, it took about two minutes for my entire wing to hear what had happened.  After giving me total crud and giggling their bums off, they seriously came to my rescue.  One teacher actually had a spare pair of unmentionables {brand new briefs} and the other devised a plan to help me wash and dry my thong at school {my dress called for no rear panties}.

DRYING RACK FOR THE WIN

What saved the day you ask?  An art project drying rack.  Yup, we slipped papers in the top and bottom and hung my undies in the middle.  My neighbor across the hall has a secluded back space out of her door.  So, we slapped this puppy in the sun and crossed our fingers.  Sure, the MALE superintendent just so happened to walk into the wing while we were riggin’ the whole cockamamie contraption . . . but we told him to just walk the other way!  He sure wondered what we were up to {we were in stitches and hollerin’ the whole time}, but he just grinned and took our advice . . . PTL!

All in all, it ended up being a truly magical evening in Room 13 . . . and definitely one that I will NEVER EVER forget 🙂 Well, I must have done something right in this life as someone was looking out for me yesterday.  I managed to get my whole classroom perfectly set up by 5:00, the panties dried, and I was able to slip into that little black dress as if nothing had happened by the time I opened my door at 5:30 🙂  CRISIS AVERTED!!!!!  Thank you Pat and Erin – you two saved me!

OPEN HOUSE IN ACTION

Here are a few pictures from the night. Engaging Teaching (Traci Clausen) was absolutely instrumental in this classroom set up.  Her many habitat flavored packets are absolutely amazing – links are with the photos below.  The behind the scenes stuff {day to day student habitat learning} was fueled by Fluttering Through First’s Habitat Bundle – it’s mind blowing.  I will be putting out my own packet next spring with all of my items 🙂

Freshwater Facts – coming next spring

Frog + Toad Craft – from Brooke Hildebrand

Desk Set Up Habitat Word Problem Book – coming next spring Habitat Folders – filled with habitat and animal research Rainforest Layers – from Kerri B

Ocean Habitat Display Jellyfish – freebie from Dragonflies in First Whale of a Tale – from Dragonflies in First Starfish – from Dragonflies in First {See . . . I told you she rocked!!}

Verdi Retell + Craft – coming next spring

Looking Ahead Giraffe Craft – coming next spring **They write about what they are looking forward to in the next grade**

Inspired by Amy Lemon’s amazing Munsch Packet

Elephant Craft + Poem – coming next spring

Habitat Mobiles – coming next spring

Another sensational habitat craft from Dragonflies A Look in the Desert

My Perfect Habitat Write – coming next spring

Thanks so much for visiting me today – I figured we could all use a little laugh during the EOY chaos.  Big hugs you guys.