It was the Summer of '22

It's been a minute.

Well, it's been a (school) year, if I'm being honest. When veteran principals say that it was their hardest year ever, I realized I am very fortunate to feel like I do after 2021-2022. I truly am grateful to be where I'm at... and I was even more grateful for the summer break, as it was very much needed.

To say the Summer of 2022 will likely go down in (my) history as one of the best I've had (aside from the whole trying to hire during a teacher shortage, you know) is an accurate statement. I've traveled to places that have long been on my bucket list, listened to plenty of live music, caught up with friends, and got to spend time with my family. Each activity or trip could easily have its own post, but I'll keep it short, maybe expanding later on... (I wasn't on my game this summer - everything passed too fast!)

HERE. WE. GO - A WHIRLWIND RECAP:

1. Spain/France Trip Chaperone with Middle School Students: (As a highlight, I was so proud of how they behaved overall. What troopers!)

How it started (flight into Madrid)

Holy Toledo!

Montmartre (France)

Paris sights!

Normandy = incredible

Yes, we kayaked. The kids didn't enjoy working that hard :)

How it ended - south of France in Nice!

2. Live Music & Cultural Experiences...Including Ravinia Concerts and Elton John!

Always a pleasant place to hear music :)

I could have danced all night...

Cezanne exhibit at the Art Institute

What's the buzz? Tell me what's a happening...

The man himself - what a performer!

3. Annual National Parks Road Trip - Acadia (ME) and Shenandoah (VA) with many a stop in between...

First pit stop = Niagara Falls

Only took 3 years to actually get here ;)

They called it Maine Survivor. I called it delicious!

No filter (sunset coming down from Cadillac Mountain)

LobsTAH

Sunrise - Cadillac Mountain

ACE roomies reunited

Chicago friend

Shenandoah sunset

Loved seeing familiar faces across the USA :)

4. Family and Friend Visits

Memorial Day Weekend / Tricia's Retirement Party

Visiting long-time family friends in MI

Meeting ACE housemate's new baby girl

Baby shower celebration for ACE classmate

Reunited and it feels so good!

5. ACE Principal Academy @ Notre Dame

The Grotto = my favorite place to pray and be

Bl Basil Moreau <3

Some of my fellow cohort members - we braved the rain!

Show me your joy!

Fr. Hesburgh's office

No trip to ND complete without Ritters!

Have courage - go towards the storm!

And now summer is quickly coming to a close. (Actually, it's been closed for me since I got back from Notre Dame.) Teachers come back on Friday (for an outside PD), and then we are hitting the ground running. Please keep us in your prayers. 

Cheers to 2022-2023!!

When spring break LITERALLY is "Singing in the Rain.

When we booked tickets to see the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra play along to one of our all-time favorite classical movies, "Singing in the Rain," we didn't realize it would actually be the theme of the entire weekend...and week of spring break.

Still, as the song says, Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face.

And that, my friends, is a true story. All smiles, even in the rain.

And what, you may ask, did we do to bring about those smiles? 

I'm so glad you asked...

*Took a short drive over to the Domes (Milwaukee Conservatory) and saw the seasonal train exhibit (and the plants, of course):

*Made sure our hotel was literally right next door to the symphony center where the concert was happening:

*Enjoyed an indoor market (and caught the end of the UNC-Baylor game, which I actually picked the correct upset for in my bracket):

*Dined at a wonderful Italian restaurant recommended (and frequently visited) by friends who are Milwaukee locals:

*And, when the sun came peeking out, strolled down the Riverwalk:

*We were also sure to check out the local church...next time we just need to be sure it's not the church of the same name in the same city whose website you visited for the morning Mass times (oops):

And, apparently, you can't visit Milwaukee without going to Kopp's...so we did just that on our way out of town - delicious! It did not disappoint with food (burgers and custard) or company (grad school friend from PLC 1):

While it was a soggy start to spring break, it certainly was a memorable one. And this week, the overcast, rainy weather has stayed put over Chicago. So, naturally it's been a good excuse to curl up with some books (Rhapsody, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, & The Assignment) and TV shows. (Why aren't they streaming the whole season of Sanditon to PBS Passport subscribers?!?) I also managed to do some spring cleaning and organizing of my closet, laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking. Plus, I even worked ahead on some PD classwork.

Only a few more days left till we return to school - can you believe it's already the end of March??? What a year it's been and my, oh my, how it's flown by.