first day reflection

I wanted to reflect on our first day...before it was over.  Reflection is part of our daily lesson plan requirements at school.  I am coming to realize the importance of reflection, and how important it is to reflect on your subject while you still remember what to reflect back on.  

The beginning of any school year is stressful, but starting the beginning of a new school year, in a brand new building is even MORE stressful!  There is just so much of the unknown that you can't actually figure out until you're there!  

I was anxious about today--but not so much my mind, but my body.  It was weird.  I think I was anxious about what I was going to do in my room, and how I was going to occupy all of my time with my students--but it turned out to not even be a problem at all!  I had more than enough stuff to talk to them about and "do", and I actually didn't even complete everything I had planned on completing--& that was perfectly okay!

Multiple people told me on Sunday "You got this!"  So I felt like this was very appropriate for my morning this morning!  

I got him that bright orange backpack so I could always find him!  Haha!  

I dropped him off at KeeKee and Poppy's so KeeKee could take him to meet his dad so they could both walk him in together.

I wasn't upset about missing this.  In fact, I probably could have squeezed it in, but I knew that he could handle it! ;)

I had the opportunity to pray with my administration and some other teachers in our court yard at 6:50 before the kids were let inside the gates at 7:10...my principal shared that while we seem to get so caught up and "busy" doing our job, not to forget to just stop and look around to ENJOY what we are doing and who we are doing it with.  Life goes by way to quickly, and to not let it fly by without taking note of all of the opportunities we are given as teachers in these students' lives.  

I'll be honest.  I was so worried about MY kids, and getting them taken care of--I didn't even have time to think/worry about R.  I think that was actually a blessing.  I knew he liked his teacher, I knew KeeKee and his dad had it under control...and that he was going to do great!  I had no reason to worry about him!

It wasn't until I got a 5 minute break and was able to look at my phone and see the picutres KeeKee had sent me...I was like, "Oh yeah...Ryder!!  Awww...he looks so happy!"  

Selfie time with KeeKee!!  Her first official day of retirement!!  Doesn't she look so happy & refreshed?!?  Ms. Pruett already asked her to be PTO room mom!!! I love it!!  THAT is why KeeKee retired!  So thankful for her!  

Ryder with his dad--so glad they got to do this together!  

The little eaglet has landed!!  

I also found out I was in the paper today...haha!  This is a picture from LAST week.  I am talking of course...and that arm and pink purse on the left IS NOT MINE.  It looks like I'm talking on the phone, but I'm not!  But...I am talking...imagine that! ;)

At the end of the day, I felt accomplished and happy.  My feet hurt, even in my most expensive shoes.  No price tag on a pair of shoes can prepare a teacher's feet for the first day of school.  True story. 

I think I'm ready to do it all over again tomorrow...but make it even better!  =)

R finally made it over to my school on the bus...he was on there a LONG time, but I was so proud of him for making it--& with a SMILE on his face!!  He looked happy and had on his backpack and was carrying his lunch box and Camelbak...I told him he could put those things in his backpack! ;)  He will learn soon!

He said he had a great first day.  They talked about vowels, circled them in their "Our Class Rules" book, learned how to walk down the hall, with a bubble in their mouth and a fish tail behind their back, they learned how to hang their backpacks on their chair every day, and a bunch of other things I can't recall at the moment!

They had pepperoni pizza in the CAFE and he said he wishes he wouldn't have brought his lunch!  Ha!  Who knew?!?

He told me he was ready to go back...but "not today!"  

I asked him if they took a nap and he said, "No...I must have left before nap time."  I told him that no, he didn't leave "early"...when he left school was over!  

The precious mind of a child!  

jingle jam, star week, and school

Now...to catch up on some Christmas posts!

Waiting on Jingle Jam to start at church...selfie time!  DUH!

The week before Christmas Break was Ryder's Star Week at school.  I went to read The Pioneer Woman's Charlie and the Christmas Kitty to his class.  Ryder wanted me to make "dog treats" for his friends to have after snack...and I settled on making Puppy Chow!  They all LOVED it! 

This is what my classroom looked like on the Friday before Christmas Break!  It was pretty nice, but I never said that! ;)  I actually spent the WHOLE day addressing Christmas cards!  

We had a Christmas party at lunch and we got these from our administrators!  We were all so surprised and thought they were just fabulous!  I think we were all expecting just a screen print or something!  This goes above and beyond!   I love being an Eagle!  

last weekend in september

Last weekend in September--how can that be?!  & now we've had our first weekend in October?!  It just doesn't seem right!

I was CRAVIN' a dirty pumpkin chai after school and had to drive thru to get one on our way home--R was needing a drink too, so I handed him the left overs of my Sonic drink from the am!  So...no, I don't really get my kid size large drinks from Sonic! ;)

I needed a night at home catching up on the season premiers of Grey's, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder!!!  Fabulous as always!!  R was busy creating wonderful Lego structures.  I feel so bad for keep Legos from him for so long, but he truly is talented at it!! :0

Saturday...I spent my day at UCA learning from Core Connection Instructions class.  I really did enjoy it, but it was a long day!  I look forward to learning more in the coming months!  

I was happy to get back home to my baby boy...and off to Chick and the bike trail we went!!  

Sunday selfie! ;)  jk...I'm finally getting used to my short hair!  YAY!

I try to make my Sundays pretty chill.  It's hard with everything I have to get done...but going to the coffee shop requires me to not do laundry, not lay on the couch and fall asleep, etc. etc. and actually stop, sit down and get stuff done!!  Whether it be reading, doing my Bible Study, or getting papers graded.  So, I am very thankful for a few hours at Blue Sail with some of my favorites! =)

So tuned for what we did on our FIRST weekend of October tomorrow! 

first day of pre k 4 [2014]

Only a week and a half behind...but here is R's first day of school and last first day as a preschooler!

I can't believe this is his third year at Snuggle Bug!  We have been SO blessed by that place and I will cry the day we have to say good bye.

Poppy took R to school for me...he has always done this and I am so thankful since me and KeeKee have always had to be some where else!  They went to Chick to grab some of their favorite breakfast together!

Here is a comparison from 2013-2014

And 2011-2012!

Man how things change, but we are having so much fun on this ride!

mid week randoms

Welcome to another week of Midweek randoms!  I started my in service for my semester of student teaching this week!  I am loving it so much and can't wait to meet some of my kiddos tomorrow night at Open House!  It's going to be a great semester and I seriously can't believe that I graduate in December!  It's been a long road to get here...but I am so glad I am so close to making it!

• I'm linking up with Megan from It's a Wonderful Life...go check out all the other MWR link ups!  =)

•  My view driving to school on Monday!

•  My mentor teacher already has her room all cute and put together!  She has so many cute things that I can't wait to recreate one day in my classroom!  

•  This child is loving being back at school on a regular schedule!  He also thinks he needs to put all his tools in his "tool belt"!  Ha!  

•  ...and this is what happens when you go through all the stuff in R's closet that Mimi has gotten him from garage sales over the last year...and realize that those shoes that looked HUGE a year ago...FIT my baby!  :(  & the baseball pants...they're actually almost too small.  Where is the time going?  Any other Mamas out there feel this way!?

•  On a super salad kick right now!  The store was out of chicken so I went with salmon and it's been really good!  Avo, toms, cucs, carrots with some Italian dressing!  YUMM!

•  Driving home after getting R from school I noticed that driving down the same road the clouds looked COMPLETELY different on each side of the road!  Pretty interesting huh!?

•  I have been trying to get R to try new things and it's been a hit and miss lately....but that's better than all misses!  He liked adding a lil almond butter to his bananas last night!

•  We played a number puzzle game before taking a bath last night.  He is doing great counting, I just want him to start recognizing numbers in number form...so we're working on that!  

• and just for kicks....R loves this commercial and watches it on YouTube!  He says it all and it's REALLY funny...maybe I can try and record him soon!

Not a lot else going on around here!  Just trying to get back into our normal "school" routine and I think we are both really excited! 

Happy Hump Day Friends!  =)

Half Way Haul Brain Dump

• Tomorrow I'll start my last full semester of class (besides student teaching in the fall) in college!  I am so ready for this next step and to put all these classes behind me!  When I went back to school after having Ryder in January of 2010, the list of classes that I had to take to graduate seemed like so many!!  Yet, here I am only lacking 18 hours of class!  I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and when people ask "When do you graduate?!"  I can finally say, "In less than a year!"  WAHOO!!  
• R went back to school on Monday and is seriously loving it...I know he missed it and he was so bored with me at home!  ;)
• This week was also his "Star Week" where he gets to be the "leader", call on call on kids to go wash their hands, go outside, etc. etc.  He has been waiting to be Star Kid since he started in August and his week is FINALLY here, and it's ALL I've heard about! ;)  They also take in some pictures of themselves to hang up for the week, which he really got into.  We went through the blog and I let him pick out which pictures he wanted to print to take in.  I also got to go in today and read a book to him and his friends and give them rice-crispy treats for a snack!  I think he liked having me there, and I enjoyed it just as much!
• I am also about to start subbing here in town!  I can seriously NOT wait!  I only have class 2 days a week, so I'll be doing this the other 3...hopefully, as much as I can!  
• Oh yeah...have you gone to look at my Valentine's Wreath tutorial over at Charmed Bliss?!
• I never thought I would actually be ready to go back to school...but I am in much need of a routine in my life!  I find myself taking random naps during the day--when I'm not tired, just because I can...BLAH!  I would rather be busy than and stuck at home!  {I know I may regret saying this in 2 weeks!  ;)}
• I am taking all education classes this semester except for one...World Literature.  {ENTER-cry fest here}  This will be my second time to take this...well, let's just say...it's not my thing!  ;P  It's my only gen. ed. left...ahhh!  I can do this!!
• So...I watched The Bachelor on Monday night...I just LOVE Sean!  I wish he lived closer honestly!  HUGE fan of his, but those girls--I just wasn't all the impressed!  Yes, I'll still watch, but I honestly kinda hope his wife isn't in that room...not for my own sake, but I just wasn't impressed by any of them.  We will see though!  =)  What did y'all think?
• PS.  Have you heard about #shereadstruth?  I know I've mentioned it before, but it just keeps getting better!  Hop on over to the You Version website and search for "she reads truth" and get started on the Fresh Start daily devotional today!  You won't regret it, I promise!  and all of their other plans are just as fantastic!  What a difference it makes in my days reading His truth.  

Mama's Randoms...

Just a few things you do as a student going into Middle Level Education Math and Science!  ;)

Build & shoot rockets with different amounts of water in them to see how high they will go...

Examine sheeps' brains and hearts...I love the one of the heart cut in half!  SOOO interesting!  If that doesn't make someone believe in God, I don't know what would!  Only HE could have come up with such an interesting, and in-depth organ that gives us LIFE!

Take life-size blue whales to elementary schools to let kids walk in and explore!  This whale even has a tickle spot by her fin, and when you tickle her she flaps her fin & spouts out of her blow hole!  :P

This is the view from inside of the whale...it really is cool!  It was built by one of my professors and a class of his a few years ago!

Instead of taking a final...the same professor let us help him build a heart big enough for students to walk-through, just like the whale.  It will have the left and right chambers on the inside, as well as all the veins and arteries.  Eventually, it will connect to a set of walk-through lungs that we are going to build as well!

We laid out the tarp, cut it in the shape we wanted and then taped the two pieces together on the outside...

...then we made a tunnel to connect to a box fan, and then blew it up!  Then we went on the inside and taped it in there just to make sure it would hold.

Pretty cool if you ask me!  We aren't done yet, but it will be really neat when we are!

I love being an Education major & seriously cannot WAIT to have my own classroom and kiddos one day!  =)