Rest and Relaxation

This is mid-winter break.
This lovely week off 6 weeks after we return from the holidays we all get a break from each other.

This is important.

It's important because those 6 weeks include finals, 1st semester grades, progress reports for around 30-40 students (special education thing), TPEP (evaluation thing), and start of 2nd semester. It's a lot and we teachers need a break.

in case you didn't think that was enough of a reason to need a break, THIS is what my life is like everyday...

Mid-winter break has been an important aspect of most of by teaching career. While not common in the mid-west, it is part of both NY and WA school calendars.

Sunset: Guanacaste, Costa Rica

1st year teaching: Costa Rica with Mom - warm and wonderful



2nd year teaching: Washington D.C. in a snow storm- the whole city was empty it was so peaceful

Washington D.C. Feb 2015

3rd and 4th years no break


 5th year: Hawaiian Honeymoon--sunburn excluded it was perfect  

Photo Credit to my Husband @jonexplores

 6th year: Oregon wine and beer tour--when you're the only person on the pass and the snow is higher than your head, you've got a lot of time to think, also I was walking distance from the Deschutes taproom...which was heavenly.

Deschutes Brewery logo

7th year: LA for Disney and Universal fun- roller coasters relax me and sunny with a high of 75 is perfection.

It's important to step away from your "normal" give your brain a rest, disconnect from the stress and responsibilities.   While I've enjoyed some snow storms over the last few years, I think I'll stick to warm locations, especially now that I live somewhere with so much rain.