I'm losing my mind.

The week before TCAP is about to start.

I keep getting warned that it's going to be insane. Everyone will be stressed. The kids will be nuts. Nothing will be normal.

But, I need to tell you guys, last week was already abnormal. I'm not sure what happened. It was like somebody switched out my coffee with alcohol and gave all the kids Red Bulls before they got into my room.

It all started with a meeting on Monday. Nobody loves meetings--especially on Mondays--but some combination of my cinnamon dolce latte and a very sudden sense of confidence led to not one, not two, but FOUR compliments on how professionally I handled myself during said meeting. Four compliments in one day is UNHEARD OF, and it set the tone for the rest of the UNHEARD OF week.

Here's a list of other things that happened, in no particular order.

1. I tried to help my kids remember "thesaurus" by making them pretend to be dinosaurs.

We all made tiny t-rex arms and chirped "synonym" and "antonym" in unison while waving our talons. I also used a meme to teach them about semicolons.

2. I used a Batman voice more than once. 

Mostly when I needed particular kids' attention. I also made the kids use it to remember "entrepreneur" for Social Studies vocabulary.

3. I spoke in a Chinglish accent.

I also let my homeroom, who finished early on Friday, watch the short video I made about mooncakes while I was in China.

4. The kids came up with awesome logos for class t-shirts.

Mrs. Mays' class (my switch class) came up with the "Mockingmays" (so I had to play the Mockingjay soundtrack while they designed the shirts) and my AMAZING homeroom came up with "Love's Lil' Gremlins" (tagline: Don't feed us after midnight).

5. I made the kids close their eyes while I gave a very animated rendition of "The Three Little Pigs".

In which the wolf, in his valley-girl voice, said that he could "totally blow down that pig's house."

I promise we were using this to talk about plot sequence.

6. Even my good kids were not physically able to stay in their seats.

"Miss Love, can I PLEASE stand up??" was asked more than once.

7. A fire drill and a soft lockdown happened in the same day.

After which no more learning took place. However, I completely terrified my homeroom for the very first time--and I mean, COMPLETELY TERRIFIED them--and they worked silently at their desks until the end of the day. An entire 45 minutes. I was so empowered.

8. Sweets were everywhere.

Between my teammates buying Gigi's for everyone (but mostly for Mrs. Mays and me, as a prize for getting through our meeting), my making cookies, and the eighth grade teachers having cupcakes on Friday, it was a good time.

9. "Miss Love, is it ok to swallow plastic?"

Not the weirdest thing that was said to me the entire week.

10. Good relational moments with my kids.

I'm trying very hard to inject as much love and encouragement into them as I can, because we only have 25-or-so days left together. And, while I'm more ready to be finished with the school year than they are, I know how badly I'll miss them when it's all over.

On top of these things was another meeting on Wednesday afternoon, an inservice on Thursday afternoon, and complete inability to function on Friday afternoon.

I am SO not ready for the tornado this week will be.

My children are fabulous.