Author Archives: Ellie

About Ellie

Wife, Mom, Adventurer...

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Posted on June 12, 2013 by Ellie

It’s been a week since Henrie and I left Colorado, and we’re missing Joshua like crazy. He’s been working so hard on the house, and while this apartment is going to be great for our finances, we’re feeling a little heartsick at this time apart – especially as Henrie leaves crawling behind and starts her life as an upright little lady. Thank you Joshua; we love you!

On the bright (and if not bright, at least green) side of things, being home in Minnesota has been wonderful. Henrie has gotten some quality time with her grandparents and Auntie Hannah, and it’s a blast to watch her toddle about, grinning at so many of the people I love. She really is a little ray of sunshine.

As I’ve alluded, the weather in Minnesota has been wet, and while this hasn’t been great for spending a ton of time outside, it has been great for the plants. Everywhere I look, it’s fairly exploding GREEN. I’m loving all the trees and I can’t help but compare Colorado’s relatively brown landscape (Love you Colorado!)

It’s also been nice meeting up with old friends. On the Tuesday that we got here, I spent the evening with Ashlee, my best friend from high school, and we went out for appetizers, a couple of drinks, and a reggae band with dancing. Fun On Monday, Henrie and I met up with Brittaney and Harry at the Wild Rumpus bookstore for storytelling, and then we walked around Lake Harriet and had coffee at Dunn Bros. On Tuesday, Henrie got in the ergo again, and we walked around Lake Como a couple of times and caught up with JJ, another close friend from my Cross Country days.

Otherwise, we’ve seen some family, gone to the farmers’ market, cooked, and ran. Lots of running with family (and I lurves it!). Henrie really has been a cheerful little girl through all of it, and it’s so fun to introduce her to this part of our lives.

On a somewhat more somber note, we attended my uncle Ernie’s funeral last Friday night. It was actually a wonderful ceremony, and I came away appreciating just how special this man was and how well he lived his life. Like David, Ernie had lymphoma in his 20s, and he came away from the experience with a sense of purpose. He worked as an Engineer for 20 years, and then he retired early to enjoy his time with friends and family, pursue another degree in a Masters of Social Work, and just all around cultivate his interests. In the words of the famous Minnesotan litote, not bad. Ernie and my mom were very close, and he’s going to be missed a lot, but I’m glad that his funeral was a celebration of a life well lived. And that’s where Henrie did her first real walking! She was meeting all of my extended family on my mom’s side for the first time, and they’re asking, oh, how long has she been walking? and I’m like, now-ish.

Ok. That’s all for now. Last night, we drove out to Yvonne and Dave’s place, and it’s totally gorgeous. Henrie is thrilled with all of the animals and fun stuff to do. So thrilled, in fact, that she slept for 12 hours last night, woke up for 3 hours, and then went back to bed for a nap. She’s exhausted!

Lots of love,

Categories: Family, Far | 1 Comment

Summer

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Ellie

Categories: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Walking Girl

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Ellie

It’s official: Henriette is walking. Although she took her first step on May 10, it wasn’t until June 7 that she really started walking all over the place. She’s having so much fun, and she wants to practice all the time. It’s pretty exciting to watch!

Categories: Family | Tags: baby, milestones | 6 Comments

Summer in San Francisco

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Ellie

Categories: Family, Far | 1 Comment

Phase 4

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Ellie

I’ve spent the past couple of days/years trying to figure out how I can become a licensed teacher. This process has been long and tiresome with many phases.

Phase 1: Teach For America

Teacher License through Alternative Pathway: New Teacher Project, New Orleans, Louisiana
Art License (K-12)
Middle School Science License (6-8)
Community Expert Spanish License (K-12) (ha!)
Two years of teaching experience

Phase 2: Despair

Minnesota Board of Education does not accept reciprocity
Minnesota Board of Education does not accept non-accredited teach preparation programs
No dice

Phase 3: Denver

Highly Qualified
PLACE test: LDE
PLACE test: Secondary Science
Two years of teaching experience

Phase 4: ?

MSU of Denver: Postbaccalaureate in Secondary English Teaching Licensure (upwards of 60 credits and $15,000+ for undergrad degree)

CU Denver: Initial Licensure Graduate Program with MA option and content area endorsement (54 credits and $15,000+ for grad degree)

Phase 5: Teacher with Options

Can teach in any state in the USA (even Minnesota, the fanciest – err, snottiest – state in the union)
Has skillz (i.e. valued for my specialization as opposed to my ability to fulfill a job description – a.k.a. irreplaceable vs. replaceable)
Can teach in any school (international, independent, private, public, charter)
Can teach English (and maybe eventually Art) instead of Science

Ok, ya’ll. This is big. I am about to commence Phase 4. It is giving me a bit of a headache (understatement), but I am committed. This will happen. I will enter Phase 5.

Love and kisses,

Categories: Family | Tags: licensure, teaching | 1 Comment

Minnesota, Hats Off to Thee

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Ellie

Categories: Family, Far, Near | Tags: baby, Minnesota, Pictures | Leave a comment

Part 2: A Request

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Ellie

I used to be quite the religious gal. In fact, one of Joshua’s first memories of me illustrates this religiosity quite well. In high school, the two of us rode the same school bus (awwwww…), and one day, a man came to the school parking lot and handed out a ton of small, orange Gideon bibles and psalms. The students took the bibles, and as they walked onto the bus, they threw the books in the trash.

I had one of the first bus stops, so when it was my turn to get off, the bus was still almost full. When I bent over and retrieved every last orange book from the trash, there were more than a few jeers from the crowd.

Actually, as I retell that story, I’m not sure that it illustrates my religiosity so much as my desire to prove a point. But anyway. You get the idea. I had faith.

That was a long time ago, and it’s been almost 10 years since I could have told you exactly what I believe. Joshua and I briefly contemplated going to church when we discovered a dearth of young families with children, but we can’t make our way around the apostle’s creed. (Which, it seems, almost every church professes to believe.) Besides, both of us would prefer to spend Sunday morning in the mountains with Henrie, rather than in church. Plus, I’m completely put off by the suggestion that I should put Henrie in child care so that she doesn’t make noise during the service.

Anyway, the point is that “A Request” – as this post is entitled – feels a bit like a religious endeavor, and maybe it is. Let’s call it a prayer without an address. My mom would be very comfortable addressing it to “The Universe,” so I guess that will work for me, too.

Dear Universe,

I have a few requests. After this post, I will do my best to count my blessings rather than my wishes, but I feel like I just have to get this out of the way first. Please bear with me.

1. I request a friend. And I’m sorry to be picky here, but not just any friend will do. More specifically, I request a friend with a baby and a family. I would like very much to spend time with a young family. I’d love play dates and conversation. I’d love to talk about being a mom with someone who is a mom. I’d like to go for walks and up to the mountains and have dinner.

2. I request another job. As with my last request, I do have some specifications. I request a job that I am good at and I like. And, while I’m shooting for the moon here, I request a job that is enriching to both myself and others.

3. I request my period and a viable ovary. ’Nuff said.

4. I request longer hair. Please disregard my last haircut. I’d like it back now.

Ok, Universe. Those are my requests. I think I can take care of the rest. I can even meet you half way, if you would so kindly let me know how I can move things along.

Love,

Ellie

P.S. These are in the order of most importance. Feel free to disregard #4 if it seems to be asking too much.

Alright, kids. Pity party complete. Be good!

Categories: Family | Tags: prayer | 3 Comments

Part 1: Fragile

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Ellie

Yesterday, I attempted this post and I got about as far as the title. Which is probably a good thing. Instead of having myself a proper pity party (which I had been planning since 8 AM when my eyes first got a bit moist), I decided to grab the handle of tequila from Cinco de Mayo. After a couple of drinks, I was in a much better frame of mind. I spiffed up my resume, cranked out a melodramatic cover letter, and applied to a new job. You might be saying, “who? Ellison? Melodramatic? Never.” I imagine it coming out with conviction and sincere perplexity. So I’ll give you a sample. Just to prove that I’m not a liar:

…however, I also believe that the crux of education requires both science and heart. During the past four years, my practice has been missing that involuntary but essential beat, beat, beat.

I am goal-oriented, driven, and intense. I am an artist. I am an educator, and I believe in the students’ innate capacity for boundless creativity. I think listening is more important than talking, learning is more important than teaching, and creating is better than repeating. I believe that art is an access point. It is a gateway to critical thinking, unique problem-solving, and reflective self-expression. It is the foundation of an authentic academy journey.

In [the school for which I am applying], I see education with heart. In every word, there is the beat, beat, beat of education that assumes tabula possible instead of tabula rasa…

That’s right. Tabula possible instead of tabula rasa. Where do I come up with this stuff? Must have been the tequila talking. Beat, beat, beat. Anywho, suffice it to say that were I more impulsive soul, I’d be having a mid-life crisis right about now. As it is, I’m not quitting my job. We’re not selling our house and all of our earthly possessions. We’re not packing our backpacks for an international sojourn. Nope. I’m going to wear my pearls and nude hush puppie pumps. I’m going to go to the advisory board meetings for Henrie’s school. I’m going to finish out the school year with a grimace-smile, and next fall, I’ll probably go back.

But there is a cost. I’m either too fragile for these knocks or too wild for this box. (See?! They just come to me!) Last night, I was fragile. Over the past couple of months, negative interactions with students has snowballed into this feeling of dread and inadequacy. I am not patient enough, compassionate enough, empathetic enough to do this with grace and dignity. I keep trying to be thankful, but in teaching, I feel outnumbered by the things for which I cannot be thankful. I have failed to create a culture of kindness and perseverance, and now I am paying the consequence. My students are unkind and give up easily. They need so much, and yet we are doing so little.

Even as I write, I go there again, but I prefer the restless chaffing feeling that I woke up with this morning. I guess they are two sides of the same coin. One side leaves me feeling inert, while the other gives me an itch for change. Yes. I prefer the latter.

Categories: Family, Uncategorized | Tags: midlife crisis, teaching | 3 Comments

Pink

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Ellie

Categories: Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Saturday Afternoon

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Ellie

It’s been a while since we had a post all about Henrie. In fact, we didn’t take her 12 month and 13 month block photos! Oh no! Anyway, the two of us were playing outside, drawing on the sidewalk and playing with dandelions. She was just cute as a button in her shorts and tights, so I took out the Canon (for the first time in ages – that iPhone is just too easy). Ever the photogenic lady, she gave a few good mugs.