I kind of have a love affair with laminating things. I might even hum my own parody version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song while I do it… It may or may not sound like, “Super Duper Hot Laminator… LAMINATION POWER!”
So it should be no surprise that I found immense joy in heading here last night:
*angels sing* I picked up the last of the bulletin board trim I needed, and then I laminated it. All of it. Several pieces of trim across, it still ended up being 55 (FIFTY-FIVE!!!!!) linear feet long. Thank goodness for $0.29/foot laminating!
Let the record show that after “rough” cutting all of it last night and cutting out all of the green trim you see there… I’ve learned my lesson. I’m never ever ever buying scalloped trim again. It’s awful. Not even mindless television could take my mind off of how awful it was to try and cut.
But before we came home and I tackled that behemoth, Mr. Plum, little guy and I took an impromptu “adventure” to our nation’s capital. After the teacher store. At 10pm.
It was so so so so so worth it.
I feel so privileged to live so close to our capital that, on a whim, my family and I (or my students and I), can see sights like this. That we can experience history and feel the magnitude of our collective journey as a country right there in the flesh.
Let me tell you, there’s nothing like seeing a child experience the awe of seeing President Lincoln, larger-than-life, for the first time. Or a child asking you with wonder, “who is that man coming out of that rock?” It was well worth keeping little dude up WAY past his bedtime:
I hope all of you have the opportunity to travel — more than once — to Washington, D.C. When you do, please please please make a trip to the memorials at night; it is so vastly different than the daytime experience and it is moving beyond belief. As a native to the area, even I still get teary-eyed walking up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at night, the Washington Monument and Capitol at my back.
I’ll be back tomorrow with a peek at some projects I’m working on, I’ll finally post that freebie, and I’ll finally (apologies to those of you that kindly thought of me!) round up the amazing awards I’ve been given over the past two weeks.
Ginger Snaps says
July 14, 2012 at 10:48 pmI have been to DC twice but never seen the memorials at night! Might have to do that! DC is like the one place my boyfriend hasn't been that I have so we may have to do that!
Mrs. Plum says
July 14, 2012 at 11:09 pmYou absolutely have to go at night! There aren't large crowds, it's quiet, and most importantly — many of the memorials are really designed to be seen at night (the Korean War Veterans Memorial, in particular)!
A Teacher Without a Class says
July 15, 2012 at 1:57 amI so want to go to Lakeshore Learning store. I am glad you had a great time in DC.
Mrs. Plum says
July 15, 2012 at 4:00 pmIt is AMAZING — it's like teacher paradise, honestly. I wanted to take pictures of my favorite things but they have a pretty strict "no photography" policy.
Sandy says
July 15, 2012 at 2:43 amWhat great pictures!!! That's so cool! I love laminating too- I just bought my OWN laminator and I'm loving it!!! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Plum says
July 15, 2012 at 4:03 pmI've had my own laminator for just over two years, and I really don't think I could live without it! I just made the plunge and bought a second one to keep in my classroom for "emergencies."
The Meek Moose says
July 15, 2012 at 3:34 pmI had no idea we lived close. That store is only 40 minutes from my school! I think I'll have to visit it now with my teammies.
~Heather
http://themeekmoose.blogspot.com
Mrs. Plum says
July 15, 2012 at 4:02 pmWe must be really close to one another!
Anonymous says
August 2, 2012 at 4:22 pmI have been teaching for 24 years. I almost never laminate anything. The secret to keeoing the border in good shape year after year is to NEVER let the kids help you put it up or pull it down. They always rip it. I have found that even centers last for years if I print them on cardstock and I save money and most importantly…time.