How Life Got in the Way This Summer

I have been woefully neglectful on blogging this summer (really this year so far). I thought for sure with ending the school year, I would get back to blogging, but that hasn’t happened…because life got in the way.

First there was this…

My 8th grade class, who I will never forget because they were my first ever class I’ve gotten to teach for two years in a row, graduated, and I got some very sweet messages and notes from some of them. It was busy and emotional.

and I still had one more week with this group…

Those are my 7th graders celebrating the end of their school reading year.

then I went to this…

The All Write conference is always a highlight of my summer for learning, decompressing from the school year, prepping for the next, and spending time with my PLN.

during which I was able to get my hands on an ARC of this, which I spent every spare moment reading…

Without a doubt, on my list of best books of all time. You need to get your hands on this autobiographical memoir written in stunningly gorgeous verse by Jacqueline Woodson in August.

and then I was off to ALA in Vegas where I had this view from my room at the Bellagio…

Conferences are always amazing, but ALA has its own uniqueness. I was so grateful for the generosity of the kidlit publishers in talking books, handing out books, offering steep discounts on books, and inviting me to some really cool events where I got to talk with authors and learn more about their books.

and after three busy, fun, exciting days, arranged for shipping of this…

It’s always exciting to get bookmail – even if you know what’s in it! I had more picture books I bought on the last day, but in my hurry to get to the airport, never took a bookstack picture. If you want to know all the books I got, you can see them on my goodreads shelf.

and I attended my first one of these…

The Newbery Caldecott Awards Banquet is inspiring. There is an energy in that room unlike any other.

and then I flew to Newport Beach, CA for some R&R and this…

I met my mom and dad’s new puppy! I got to help train her a bit

in between eating good meals, relaxing, and hanging out with my Mom

while I also spent some time in SoCal on this…

I was lucky to have that view as I worked on revising and writing and trying to find my professional writerly voice.

then more family arrived and this happened…

I love that my nieces and nephews are turning into happy readers!

and then finally this…

Disneyland is so much fun, but exhausting!, especially with four kids aged 1 1/2-10.

and then, when connecting back through Vegas on my way home to Milwaukee, this…

I was so ready to be out of there when I left ALA, and I ended up delayed and was stuck there for six hours – luckily I had plenty with me to read!

…all within the last month and a half.

Life got in the way of blogging. I didn’t mean for it to, but it did. It’s been a busy summer of learning and traveling for me. I’ve had ideas floating in my head about what I want to share, and I’ve been reading loads of books (especially with year three of #summerthrowdown this month), and I’ve been briefly blurbing them on goodreads and tweeting about them often, but haven’t carved out the time to sit down and blog about them.

I’m hoping to remedy that. I’m hoping to rededicate myself to writing a blog post at least once a week. I’m remembering that I feel better when I write and share. I’m remembering that this blog was supposed to be a fun way for me to process what I’ve read, and not a hassle or obligation. I’m getting back to it. I hope. I’ll see you along the way. Happy reading!

How Life Got in the Way This Summer

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