So...a week has gone by since we started Insanity and HOLY CRAP!! Insanity is no joke!! It is killer...many days I find myself asking "really?!?" while doing the most insane (hence the name) movements that I have ever attempted. It's been interesting, but I am definitely sleeping better but am always hungry it seems like.
We have also decided to run the Everest Challenge Disney 5K at Animal Kingdom next May. My mom is even going to try to do it with us! We attempted C25K last summer, but it kinda fizzled out. To motivate us more, we decided to "monetarily commit" to running. So, we both bought Nike Free Runs and Nike + sensors. Granted I am a novice when it comes to running, but I LOVE my Free Runs!! They are so incredibly light and comfy. The sensor has me addicted to running - like seriously addicted. I am competitive with myself - I keep trying to be my distance and the amount of time I run vs. walking. I am only three days into seriously running and am already seeing changes.
Last summer we really kept up with P90X, but fell off of the wagon once school/football season started. It is my goal to NOT do that again this year, but I guess we will have to stay tuned to see what happens...
xoxo
A glimpse into my world and its going ons...proceed with caution :)
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Insanity Day 1
So....
While in Jupiter for Memorial Day weekend (and PJ's Baby shower) a challenge was hatched..
I dunno if it was the total zen we were feeling after the fantastic massages we got or the relaxing day on Peanut Island,but we (including Jay,my SIL, MIL, FIL) all decided to essentially do a two month version of Biggest Loser.
We weighed in with our partner, wrote down our weights, and sealed them in an envelope to be opened the end of July. When we get to Steinhatchee for scalloping the end of July we will reweigh - on the same scale - and see who lost the largest percentage.
Enter INSANITY!!
We did P90X last summer, and boy was it an experience. Although I did see results, I wanted to try something different and that is a little shorter in time...so we started Insanity today.
Today we did the Plyometric Cardio Circuit. Yeah, the series is named appropriately. Half way through I was grunting and crying out right along with the people on TV. Like Plyo in P90x, I had to modify many of the excercises because of my knee, but I tried my best to keep my heart rate up. Jay and I were both sweating like pigs and ready to fall over by the end of it, but we finished it and that was truly the goal for the day...
While in Jupiter for Memorial Day weekend (and PJ's Baby shower) a challenge was hatched..
I dunno if it was the total zen we were feeling after the fantastic massages we got or the relaxing day on Peanut Island,but we (including Jay,my SIL, MIL, FIL) all decided to essentially do a two month version of Biggest Loser.
We weighed in with our partner, wrote down our weights, and sealed them in an envelope to be opened the end of July. When we get to Steinhatchee for scalloping the end of July we will reweigh - on the same scale - and see who lost the largest percentage.
Enter INSANITY!!
We did P90X last summer, and boy was it an experience. Although I did see results, I wanted to try something different and that is a little shorter in time...so we started Insanity today.
Today we did the Plyometric Cardio Circuit. Yeah, the series is named appropriately. Half way through I was grunting and crying out right along with the people on TV. Like Plyo in P90x, I had to modify many of the excercises because of my knee, but I tried my best to keep my heart rate up. Jay and I were both sweating like pigs and ready to fall over by the end of it, but we finished it and that was truly the goal for the day...
2010 - 2011 School Year Part II
So...I got the holy grail of positions (in my opinion) at my school - a full time gifted classroom. It was 3rd, which kinda scared me as I am used to the big kids, but was excited nonetheless...
I had less than two weeks to get moved and organized and cleaned...all while having EVERYONE under the sun come in and comment on how they just didn't know where I was going to put everything, or just down right laughing as they wished me luck. Yeah, felt great. Thank goodness I had my Guardian Angel and Sanity, Maxwell, by my side. Whether she was in my room diving right in (even against my reprimands of her pregnant self being on a chair) or just texting/calling to remind me that I COULD in fact find a place for all of the stuff and get it looking cute. I also found support in the rest of "my team" (my old 5th grade team, that yes, I still refer to as my team) - Jessica by text and rest by random stop ins with ind words. I just closed the door and kept on plugging away. By Thursday night, everything was up and running - AND CUTE!!
I had a ton of anxiety about stepping into the Magnet program, and many anxieties cropped up as the year went on and I encountered more "firsts' of the year. With each new step I just kept plugging along, and it was easy because I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY CLASS AND TEACHING!!
Who knew teaching could be so awesome?! Who knew you could come home happy (and not just on Fridays) Don't get me wrong - I did enjoy my past classes and did love my children, but it was HARD most days. I didn't know just quite how hard until I was on the other side this year. It shouldn't have to be that difficult, and it saddens me that it is.
To sum it up - I had a wonderful school year. We had great fun, tons of laughs, and my kids ROCKED the FCAT. Almost all 4s and 5s!! Six students got perfect scores on the Math and Two got perfect scores on the Reading...and they deserved it - they worked their butts off all year.
I was sad to see the school year end, but it was comforting to know that I will see them in the halls for the next two years. I am also looking forward to tweaking things and having an even better year next year!
XOXO
I had less than two weeks to get moved and organized and cleaned...all while having EVERYONE under the sun come in and comment on how they just didn't know where I was going to put everything, or just down right laughing as they wished me luck. Yeah, felt great. Thank goodness I had my Guardian Angel and Sanity, Maxwell, by my side. Whether she was in my room diving right in (even against my reprimands of her pregnant self being on a chair) or just texting/calling to remind me that I COULD in fact find a place for all of the stuff and get it looking cute. I also found support in the rest of "my team" (my old 5th grade team, that yes, I still refer to as my team) - Jessica by text and rest by random stop ins with ind words. I just closed the door and kept on plugging away. By Thursday night, everything was up and running - AND CUTE!!
I had a ton of anxiety about stepping into the Magnet program, and many anxieties cropped up as the year went on and I encountered more "firsts' of the year. With each new step I just kept plugging along, and it was easy because I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY CLASS AND TEACHING!!
Who knew teaching could be so awesome?! Who knew you could come home happy (and not just on Fridays) Don't get me wrong - I did enjoy my past classes and did love my children, but it was HARD most days. I didn't know just quite how hard until I was on the other side this year. It shouldn't have to be that difficult, and it saddens me that it is.
To sum it up - I had a wonderful school year. We had great fun, tons of laughs, and my kids ROCKED the FCAT. Almost all 4s and 5s!! Six students got perfect scores on the Math and Two got perfect scores on the Reading...and they deserved it - they worked their butts off all year.
I was sad to see the school year end, but it was comforting to know that I will see them in the halls for the next two years. I am also looking forward to tweaking things and having an even better year next year!
XOXO
Saturday, June 11, 2011
2010 - 2011 School Year Part I
So...lemme catch you up on the past year and some change of my life -- it's been a CRAZY one.
Last time I actually blogged, it was the beginning of LAST school year, and I was in the Media Center. It was not the worst year of my life, but definitely not my best (not even close). It was a year of "ho-hum" for lack of better description. I felt wasted - like I wasn't really getting to touch lives of children or being able to make a difference. Sure it was nice not to have papers to grade or report cards to input, but it just wasn't me. Even when I had classes I still felt out of sorts - while I LOVE books and reading, I am by no means excited by the Dewey Decimal system or teaching research components. When I didn't have classes I was busy trying to survive the mountains of excess responsibilities thrown my way. My fav - teaching PE for two weeks...yes you read that correctly. Bottom line - I wasn't in love with my job.
So, the year ended and summer began...fast forward to the beginning of August...I'm flying home from a wonderful visit to CT and in between flights, I turn my phone on to check messages, and see I have one from my boss. Immediately I decide to SKIP that one, as I am sure it has to do with checking out a laptop or some other mundane task that I refuse to discuss, since I was ON VACATION! Soon I have another one from her, and a text from my CRT. I told the CRT that I was on vacation, and there for, was not going to call my principal back. I get on the flight and shut off my phone. I land...and turn on my phone again - email, message, and texts. Something about a position..my interest is piqued and I call back.
At this point, my boss offers me a classroom position in a GIFTED 3rd Grade class!! I accept, in the car, while on the way to Steinhatchee to go scalloping with Jay's family. I should be over the moon excited at this point, right?! Well, something in the pit of my stomach tells me "Not so fast" so I only tell a select few people. The next day we are out on the boat and I check my phone to see the time, notice my boss called and left a cryptic message. I immediately tell my MIL that I am pretty sure I just lost the job I got the day before - I was correct. At this point, I had been so excited about going back in the classroom, that thinking about going back into the library - even for a year as she said - HURT. I ask if there is any classroom I can take, while I work toward Gifted endorsement, and she says regular 3rd - I say I'll take it. Fast forward a day and I get a cryptic email from her that sounds like I got the gifted job back. At this point I am SO over the back and forth. Try to call her, no answer, so I email her back asking. All weekend goes by...
Monday morning I pull up to school to pack and move my stuff to a classroom - just not knowing which one - and as I get out of the car I get an email saying that I got the GIFTED job! Whew - rollercoaster ride over...except for the fact that I have a week and a half to get my stuff moved, some semblance of a class set up, and some planning to get done before the school year begins....
Last time I actually blogged, it was the beginning of LAST school year, and I was in the Media Center. It was not the worst year of my life, but definitely not my best (not even close). It was a year of "ho-hum" for lack of better description. I felt wasted - like I wasn't really getting to touch lives of children or being able to make a difference. Sure it was nice not to have papers to grade or report cards to input, but it just wasn't me. Even when I had classes I still felt out of sorts - while I LOVE books and reading, I am by no means excited by the Dewey Decimal system or teaching research components. When I didn't have classes I was busy trying to survive the mountains of excess responsibilities thrown my way. My fav - teaching PE for two weeks...yes you read that correctly. Bottom line - I wasn't in love with my job.
So, the year ended and summer began...fast forward to the beginning of August...I'm flying home from a wonderful visit to CT and in between flights, I turn my phone on to check messages, and see I have one from my boss. Immediately I decide to SKIP that one, as I am sure it has to do with checking out a laptop or some other mundane task that I refuse to discuss, since I was ON VACATION! Soon I have another one from her, and a text from my CRT. I told the CRT that I was on vacation, and there for, was not going to call my principal back. I get on the flight and shut off my phone. I land...and turn on my phone again - email, message, and texts. Something about a position..my interest is piqued and I call back.
At this point, my boss offers me a classroom position in a GIFTED 3rd Grade class!! I accept, in the car, while on the way to Steinhatchee to go scalloping with Jay's family. I should be over the moon excited at this point, right?! Well, something in the pit of my stomach tells me "Not so fast" so I only tell a select few people. The next day we are out on the boat and I check my phone to see the time, notice my boss called and left a cryptic message. I immediately tell my MIL that I am pretty sure I just lost the job I got the day before - I was correct. At this point, I had been so excited about going back in the classroom, that thinking about going back into the library - even for a year as she said - HURT. I ask if there is any classroom I can take, while I work toward Gifted endorsement, and she says regular 3rd - I say I'll take it. Fast forward a day and I get a cryptic email from her that sounds like I got the gifted job back. At this point I am SO over the back and forth. Try to call her, no answer, so I email her back asking. All weekend goes by...
Monday morning I pull up to school to pack and move my stuff to a classroom - just not knowing which one - and as I get out of the car I get an email saying that I got the GIFTED job! Whew - rollercoaster ride over...except for the fact that I have a week and a half to get my stuff moved, some semblance of a class set up, and some planning to get done before the school year begins....
Monday, August 24, 2009
Welcome to the Media Center...now here's your zoo pass!
Today was the 1st day of school for the 2009-2010 school year. My fourth year in education, and my first year as a Media Specialist. And WOW what a day!!
Let me in on some of the highlights from my first day:
7:15 - Patrols come in to get their post assignments and reminders for the day...nothing too exciting here.
7:30 - A bunch of my students from last year stop in to say Hi. One of Laura's students from last year comes in to give me a hug and the conversation happens like this:
T: "Mrs. Brockman, what are you doing in here?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
T: "Why won't they let you back in 5th grade?! What did you do that they put you in here?!"
Me: "I want to be in here, it's my new job."
T: "Ooohhh.....I thought you were in time out in here."
Nice...
10:15 - Time for my 3rd grade class of the day. One teacher (who is not scheduled) shows up claiming it is here media time. I tell her it isn't and she insists that it is. I give her the benefit of the doubt and run down to the real scheduled teachers class and she is not in her room. So..I decided that this is a good sign that maybe the schedule was wrong and go back and start class with the new class. Well...10 minutes later the REAL class shows up (FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE MIND YOU!) looking at me like I'm nuts because I am having class with a class that isnt hers. I explain the situation and she is off to get the other teacher -- leaving me with both classes, equaling over 40 kids! That's okay, I'm flexible, so we begin to play a game of stand up sit down. Finally the wrong teacher shows up, gets her class, and I continue on with my class. Yeah, all of this happened in 45 minutes!!
1:00 - Time for my 1st grade class of the day. First off, holy leprechauns! Half of these kids backpacks are bigger than they are!! Like a good media specialist, I meet them at the door, have them line up their backpacks, and start leading them to the tables. Well...somehow three boys shoot off like lightning around a bookcase and in 30 second have a whole half a shelf on the floor! And they are so stinking short you can't see them behind the shelves! I get them settled down and my aide starts reshelving and I begin my story. Two word in and I'm interrupted by "I gotta go wee wee!" Um excuse me?! Come again?! I translate to I have to go to the restroom and send her on her way with a pass. Two more words in.."I need to pee pee too!!" Great..it's contagious! I am twelve words in, meaning a good 1/3 of the class now has to relieve themselves, and we have a line waiting for the pass when I feel my pocket moving. One lil boy is tugging my pocket, holding himself, one leg crossed, the other hopping up and down..all while whimpering and crying out "my wee hurts" At this point I have an out of body experience and am now pointing and laughing at myself, because yeah..its funny. I snap back into myself and realize I do not want this child to "wee wee" on my foot and send him ahead of his buddies to the "potty." We get through our book, and start to corral them into their section of the library. Wow was that fun! I need a herding dog, a cattle prod, and a gate! We get them over there, talk about shelf markers, and check some books out...then time to go!!
It was a crazy day, but actually and enjoyable one. The great thing about being a resource teacher?! Each class is only 45 min long, so translated that means its so doable. I have a high tolerance for nonsense and bull$*!t due to my 3 years in 5th grade, so 45 min is cake. I just have to get used to the wee ones of the world.
Until next time...
Let me in on some of the highlights from my first day:
7:15 - Patrols come in to get their post assignments and reminders for the day...nothing too exciting here.
7:30 - A bunch of my students from last year stop in to say Hi. One of Laura's students from last year comes in to give me a hug and the conversation happens like this:
T: "Mrs. Brockman, what are you doing in here?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
T: "Why won't they let you back in 5th grade?! What did you do that they put you in here?!"
Me: "I want to be in here, it's my new job."
T: "Ooohhh.....I thought you were in time out in here."
Nice...
10:15 - Time for my 3rd grade class of the day. One teacher (who is not scheduled) shows up claiming it is here media time. I tell her it isn't and she insists that it is. I give her the benefit of the doubt and run down to the real scheduled teachers class and she is not in her room. So..I decided that this is a good sign that maybe the schedule was wrong and go back and start class with the new class. Well...10 minutes later the REAL class shows up (FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE MIND YOU!) looking at me like I'm nuts because I am having class with a class that isnt hers. I explain the situation and she is off to get the other teacher -- leaving me with both classes, equaling over 40 kids! That's okay, I'm flexible, so we begin to play a game of stand up sit down. Finally the wrong teacher shows up, gets her class, and I continue on with my class. Yeah, all of this happened in 45 minutes!!
1:00 - Time for my 1st grade class of the day. First off, holy leprechauns! Half of these kids backpacks are bigger than they are!! Like a good media specialist, I meet them at the door, have them line up their backpacks, and start leading them to the tables. Well...somehow three boys shoot off like lightning around a bookcase and in 30 second have a whole half a shelf on the floor! And they are so stinking short you can't see them behind the shelves! I get them settled down and my aide starts reshelving and I begin my story. Two word in and I'm interrupted by "I gotta go wee wee!" Um excuse me?! Come again?! I translate to I have to go to the restroom and send her on her way with a pass. Two more words in.."I need to pee pee too!!" Great..it's contagious! I am twelve words in, meaning a good 1/3 of the class now has to relieve themselves, and we have a line waiting for the pass when I feel my pocket moving. One lil boy is tugging my pocket, holding himself, one leg crossed, the other hopping up and down..all while whimpering and crying out "my wee hurts" At this point I have an out of body experience and am now pointing and laughing at myself, because yeah..its funny. I snap back into myself and realize I do not want this child to "wee wee" on my foot and send him ahead of his buddies to the "potty." We get through our book, and start to corral them into their section of the library. Wow was that fun! I need a herding dog, a cattle prod, and a gate! We get them over there, talk about shelf markers, and check some books out...then time to go!!
It was a crazy day, but actually and enjoyable one. The great thing about being a resource teacher?! Each class is only 45 min long, so translated that means its so doable. I have a high tolerance for nonsense and bull$*!t due to my 3 years in 5th grade, so 45 min is cake. I just have to get used to the wee ones of the world.
Until next time...
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The quilt of life..
Most days I cruise life, taking care of business while enjoying myself (most days) not really thinking about the big picture that is my life. Recently I have thought of my life as a quilt and my day-to-day memories as being the squares in my life. Take this past week for example:
Last weekend Jay and I drove to Crystal River to visit Jessica and Michael. It was such a great day! We really miss them. In the year and a half that they lived in Gville we grew close. We haven't seen each other in like a month, but we easily fell into conversations and Xbox games as if we just saw them yesterday. The day completely got away from us and before we knew it, the clock read 8 pm and we still had an hour drive home. As we back down their 45 degree driveway we were sad but already planning our next trip to CR to see them. Good friends do not grow on trees, but we have been blessed to have a handful of them come into our lives in the past year and are so thankful.
Thursday night we had our second meeting of our book club. Just like the first one we had a BLAST. We had four absent members, but we made do. The meeting was 5 hours long, involved 4 bottles of wine and some daiquaris, and even what seemed like thearpy. We talked about the book a lot and about our families and lives even more. Its those moments in your life when you kinda step out of the frame and go - wow, I am so lucky to have my life!
Last night Laura's family came into town - even Tommi!! It was super exciting to see Tommi outside of a computer screen. Last July Tommi left to serve his required duty in the Finnish Military. There have been hard times for him and for Laura, and it is so nice to be able to see him, hug him, and also see how happy their family is to have him back. I could not imagine having my brother that far away and not being able to talk to him all the time. Makes you realize that family extends outside of bloodlines. I consider Laura extended family, so of course if she is missing a piece of hers, I feel for her.
Also last night Deb's son, Danny, also known as D.P. had a CD release party for his new rap albulm and she invited us. So at midnight (yes midnight!!) we found ourselves in this bar, 1982, not knowing what to expect from the show. Deb was SUPER excited to see us and have us on the dance floor with her. The show was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Brandy and I had so many laughs at the expense of some of the Rhytmless Nation jammin' out in front of us, we all wondered how he could rap some of those lyrics in front of his mom, and I stood there in awe of how great he was and that, in a way, I knew him! At the end of the night Deb kept saying over and over again how much it meant for us to be there. It made me think about how important it really is to support the people you love in the things that they love. To celebrate with others is so exciting, and you really hope when you have something to celebrate they are there for you as well.
All in all, it has been a kinda eventful week! Let's see what else is coming my way! :)
Hugs and Lipgloss kisses!
xoxoxo
Last weekend Jay and I drove to Crystal River to visit Jessica and Michael. It was such a great day! We really miss them. In the year and a half that they lived in Gville we grew close. We haven't seen each other in like a month, but we easily fell into conversations and Xbox games as if we just saw them yesterday. The day completely got away from us and before we knew it, the clock read 8 pm and we still had an hour drive home. As we back down their 45 degree driveway we were sad but already planning our next trip to CR to see them. Good friends do not grow on trees, but we have been blessed to have a handful of them come into our lives in the past year and are so thankful.
Thursday night we had our second meeting of our book club. Just like the first one we had a BLAST. We had four absent members, but we made do. The meeting was 5 hours long, involved 4 bottles of wine and some daiquaris, and even what seemed like thearpy. We talked about the book a lot and about our families and lives even more. Its those moments in your life when you kinda step out of the frame and go - wow, I am so lucky to have my life!
Last night Laura's family came into town - even Tommi!! It was super exciting to see Tommi outside of a computer screen. Last July Tommi left to serve his required duty in the Finnish Military. There have been hard times for him and for Laura, and it is so nice to be able to see him, hug him, and also see how happy their family is to have him back. I could not imagine having my brother that far away and not being able to talk to him all the time. Makes you realize that family extends outside of bloodlines. I consider Laura extended family, so of course if she is missing a piece of hers, I feel for her.
Also last night Deb's son, Danny, also known as D.P. had a CD release party for his new rap albulm and she invited us. So at midnight (yes midnight!!) we found ourselves in this bar, 1982, not knowing what to expect from the show. Deb was SUPER excited to see us and have us on the dance floor with her. The show was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Brandy and I had so many laughs at the expense of some of the Rhytmless Nation jammin' out in front of us, we all wondered how he could rap some of those lyrics in front of his mom, and I stood there in awe of how great he was and that, in a way, I knew him! At the end of the night Deb kept saying over and over again how much it meant for us to be there. It made me think about how important it really is to support the people you love in the things that they love. To celebrate with others is so exciting, and you really hope when you have something to celebrate they are there for you as well.
All in all, it has been a kinda eventful week! Let's see what else is coming my way! :)
Hugs and Lipgloss kisses!
xoxoxo
Saturday, March 14, 2009
How do you handle being a spectator and not a super hero?
In the past week I have had some major difficulties - among the biggest is the multiple times where I was not able to swoop in and save the day for two of my loved ones. One being my uncle and the other my lil brother. Both had devastating situations this week and it was miserable for me to sit idly by and not have a way to fix it. Especially concerning my brother - when he hurts I hurt. I always want to fix things for him. And I could not this time. It's a horrible feeling. I take solace in the fact that when he needed someone to talk to I was there for him. I love my family so much, and some times I wonder if I love them too much...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
"I think you guys just make up excuses to get together"
I have not really written about work a whole lot, and I have my reasons..it has been a KARAAZY year! This bunch has been/still is..I don't even know what adjective to use. I guess it just depends on the day, the weather, and who shows up. We have had two kids sent to A. Quinn from my room and another very close. Jessica left in December and the team dynamic changed, which was hard. And there are a whole slew of other issues across the grade as well. BUT, believe it or not the intention of this post is not to talk about how horrible it is, but to highlight the good stuff. (It has been my goal to dwell more on that then be a negative nelly)
With that being said...I do want to talk about my team! They are awesome and silly as hell! I would be absolutely lost without them. It is a given that day to day at work is going to be hard, some times pretty near impossible, but it is never completely horrible, because I have my team. They are the BEST people in the world, and I think we all balance each other out so well. I have never met a bunch of people (especially women) that are so truly helpful and supportive of one another. And we have F-U-N doing it!!
The title of this post was a quote from a comment made about our book club pictures, and well..maybe we do make up any excuse, but can you blame us?! We have had multiple people tell us they want to be on our team (but not teach our kids. ha!), which we find flattering. We stick together and have fun doing it! We now kinda have a nickname - "Fab Five" which was created for our kick ass shirts that we made and wore for the school bowling Happy How, and now look for any excuse to wear again:) My team makes me laugh, and that's great, because if we didn't laugh I think we'd cry...and now for some of our highlights:
Begining of the Year Party:
Christmas Party:
National Championship:
Bowling Happy Hour:
Math Boot Camp:
I realize I have been REALLY lucky for the past two years because I get to work with some of my greatest friends, and know its not going to be this way forever. But I will enjoy it while it lasts :)
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!
XOXO
With that being said...I do want to talk about my team! They are awesome and silly as hell! I would be absolutely lost without them. It is a given that day to day at work is going to be hard, some times pretty near impossible, but it is never completely horrible, because I have my team. They are the BEST people in the world, and I think we all balance each other out so well. I have never met a bunch of people (especially women) that are so truly helpful and supportive of one another. And we have F-U-N doing it!!
The title of this post was a quote from a comment made about our book club pictures, and well..maybe we do make up any excuse, but can you blame us?! We have had multiple people tell us they want to be on our team (but not teach our kids. ha!), which we find flattering. We stick together and have fun doing it! We now kinda have a nickname - "Fab Five" which was created for our kick ass shirts that we made and wore for the school bowling Happy How, and now look for any excuse to wear again:) My team makes me laugh, and that's great, because if we didn't laugh I think we'd cry...and now for some of our highlights:
Begining of the Year Party:
Christmas Party:
National Championship:
Bowling Happy Hour:
Math Boot Camp:
I realize I have been REALLY lucky for the past two years because I get to work with some of my greatest friends, and know its not going to be this way forever. But I will enjoy it while it lasts :)
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!
XOXO
Hi my name is Kristin and I am a part of a book club...
....and I like it! (Weird I know!) So, for about a year now mommy has been telling me how I should start/join a book club. She has been in one for over a year and LOVE it. As usual it was one of those "sure mom" things...don't get me wrong I love my mother and we do a lot of things alike, but I was not thinking a book club would be one of them. She kept raving about hers and how she enjoys it because she gets to read different books she would never pick up. I was happy for her and for the good books she recommended through her club, but still...in one ear and out the other... Skip ahead a year to about a month ago...I was taking Brandy home and we stopped by Target (shocking I know!) and she picked up Revolutionary Road. I told she would have to let me know how it was because it was not on my to read list (or to pick up actually) and then I heard mommy in my head raving about the diverse collection of books she had read because of book club, and without realizing it I opened my mouth and exclaimed "We should start a book club!" Brandy agreed and the plan was hatched. While on our regularly scheduled walk I mentioned it casually to Laura and she agreed. Then we invited the rest of our team, Jessica, and Courtnay and we began reading. None of us had ever been in or to a book club and did not know what to do or expect, but we decided to feel it out. We set a date, decided on what to read, and to bring a 1950s inspired dish since the book takes place in the 50s. Our first meeting was last night and.... Omigosh was it F-U-N!! I knew I would enjoy myself because everyone coming was on my team at work, and let's face it..Fifth grade rocks. I did NOT know, however, how much fun I would have. We talked a lot about the book and it was interesting to hear how we can have such different takes on the same character or small detail of a book. Then there is the fact that we are a group of 7 very different women. I think this last detail was the one that really made my night so amazing. At one point I looked around the table and was a little amazed that I never realized how awesome we really are. I found myself feeling so lucky that I get to be surrounded with such unique, intelligent, beautiful, and strong women everyday. I also found myself a little upset at myself that it took me so long to realize this. I LOVE my team and get along with them so well, but wow! Including our interns our ages range from early twenties to mid-fifties. All of us have come from different walks of life, have had different experiences, and in many cases the only thing we may all have in common is being a woman and an educator. There were stories shared, lessons, learned, laughs had, and memories made. I was almost a scene out of a chick flick where all of the random women come together for a loving and memorable, quote-worthy moment, and it was REAL! So moral of the story...okay, maybe there are a couple..1)Always listen to your mom..sooner or later you will end up doing it, so why waste the time dragging your heels...2)Book clubs ROCK..and 3)Schedule the next meeting ASAP!!Hugs and Lip Gloss Kisses XOXO
Monday, August 4, 2008
Insomnia Strikes....AGAIN!!
So, its that time of year when I really need to whip my sleeping patterns into shape, as it never fails.....my sleep becomes all of kilter. I know the cause -- my head -- I cannot shut it off. No matter how tired I am, how hard I try....it is listing, and analyzing, and plotting...AHHH!!
Tommorrow (Well actually in about 6 hours) I am going into work for a lil bit. Crazy, I know...I have ONE WEEK left of summer and I choose to use a portion of that to go to work?! WTF?! Well, yeah, its a funny thing...preplanning is a joke. It is a week of meetings and whatnot and not enough time is allowed to actually be in your room. So..for my sanity I am spending some time tommorrow arranging ang organizing. I will thank myself later for it I am sure.
Its a new year coming, and with it the new year jitters. Stupid really, but I get them every year. I am a creature of habit and a worshipper or routine. I HATE the beggining of the year -- when all of the routines and proceedures are established. If I could fast forward two months in to where the training is really kicking in I would. I was spoiled last year -- my kids picked up quickly on routines and ran like hell with them. They could almost....almost....run class without me. That is a beautiful thing. But, like all good things, that had to come to an end. Blah. And...to top it off...I NEVER remember what in the world I do for the first couple of days. FANTASTIC!! Need to figure that out....and fast!
Maybe if I jot down some things I need to do I can clear my head and get to sleep (Feel free to skip this paragraph:)) Mail Kody's Jersey, pick up pictures, finish movies, burn cds/dvds, finish sewing bedskirt, wrap bracelets, email Gma, buy remaining class stuff(sanitizer, material, markers, colored pen, paper, broom) type up welcome letter and jobs.........
GNite...Hopefully!
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!!
Tommorrow (Well actually in about 6 hours) I am going into work for a lil bit. Crazy, I know...I have ONE WEEK left of summer and I choose to use a portion of that to go to work?! WTF?! Well, yeah, its a funny thing...preplanning is a joke. It is a week of meetings and whatnot and not enough time is allowed to actually be in your room. So..for my sanity I am spending some time tommorrow arranging ang organizing. I will thank myself later for it I am sure.
Its a new year coming, and with it the new year jitters. Stupid really, but I get them every year. I am a creature of habit and a worshipper or routine. I HATE the beggining of the year -- when all of the routines and proceedures are established. If I could fast forward two months in to where the training is really kicking in I would. I was spoiled last year -- my kids picked up quickly on routines and ran like hell with them. They could almost....almost....run class without me. That is a beautiful thing. But, like all good things, that had to come to an end. Blah. And...to top it off...I NEVER remember what in the world I do for the first couple of days. FANTASTIC!! Need to figure that out....and fast!
Maybe if I jot down some things I need to do I can clear my head and get to sleep (Feel free to skip this paragraph:)) Mail Kody's Jersey, pick up pictures, finish movies, burn cds/dvds, finish sewing bedskirt, wrap bracelets, email Gma, buy remaining class stuff(sanitizer, material, markers, colored pen, paper, broom) type up welcome letter and jobs.........
GNite...Hopefully!
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Time Marches On
Life Moves Quickly....Sometimes too quickly as I have found out recently.
Where has the time gone? Seriously?!? Today, at 11:15, Ops, my family dog of thirteen years had to be put to sleep. Two weeks ago we found out that he had Luekemia, and has been deteriorating since. It has been a hard day for all of us. He has been a loving and loyal dog for half of my life. We got him when I was thirteen! He has been there for so many of our major life milestones. But, as sad as it is, he is in a better place. We will love him always and forever.
This weekend I attended the wedding of a young lady I babysat!! Wow did I feel old. She had her reception at the same place Jay and I did, but it could not have looked any different from ours. It was more formal than ours, but still beautiful. She was a amazingly beautiful bride and was so happy.
Yet another marker of time zooming past me - the "babies" making college decisions!! Kody and Kaitlyn both have been making college decisions lately and its scary for us older siblings! While I was home, Kody finished up his UF and Auburn applications - fingers crossed for UF :) Kaitlyn has been looking at schools and making decisions on trying out for different softball teams. It is just so weird that in a year they are moving into adulthood...Wow!
It is just so scary how fast time flies....I need to really focus on making the most of it!
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!!
xoxo
Where has the time gone? Seriously?!? Today, at 11:15, Ops, my family dog of thirteen years had to be put to sleep. Two weeks ago we found out that he had Luekemia, and has been deteriorating since. It has been a hard day for all of us. He has been a loving and loyal dog for half of my life. We got him when I was thirteen! He has been there for so many of our major life milestones. But, as sad as it is, he is in a better place. We will love him always and forever.
This weekend I attended the wedding of a young lady I babysat!! Wow did I feel old. She had her reception at the same place Jay and I did, but it could not have looked any different from ours. It was more formal than ours, but still beautiful. She was a amazingly beautiful bride and was so happy.
Yet another marker of time zooming past me - the "babies" making college decisions!! Kody and Kaitlyn both have been making college decisions lately and its scary for us older siblings! While I was home, Kody finished up his UF and Auburn applications - fingers crossed for UF :) Kaitlyn has been looking at schools and making decisions on trying out for different softball teams. It is just so weird that in a year they are moving into adulthood...Wow!
It is just so scary how fast time flies....I need to really focus on making the most of it!
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!!
xoxo
Sunday, July 13, 2008
And a year has zoomed by....
Well, it has been almost a COMPLETE YEAR since I actually blogged...somewhere along the way I forgot I had this....surprise surprise. :) It is kinda sad that I forgot, because it has been one hell of a ride this past year! When I left off last year, it was prior to the school year starting and I was stressed and anxious, so let me get you up to speed on how should was last year....
- Overall FANTASTIC!!
- Started out the year with two teachers and large classes, then soon turned into three teachers and small classes
- Fell in love with Laura and Jessica, the two new teachers on my team and found two wonderful friends in them
- Had a wonderful class who I miss daily now
- Technology ROCKED - we were on the news and in the paper!!
- Finally felt like people were noticing my hard work
- Had lost of fun learning and laughing all year
It was hard to say goodbye to this school year. I had a great year. I enjoyed going to work. I loved my kids, I loved my neighboring teachers. I was happy to get up and go to work and happy when I got home most days. It was a year that reminds you why you teach.
Personally, this past year has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I have learned a lot about myself and others. I found out what and who makes me really happy. I have realized what is worth fighting and what is not. I have found out what is important and what is not. I have lost friends and gained friends, and although there were bumpy times, I came out the other end happy and okay. I never had a problem with who I was, and now more than ever I know who I am and like that person. I am 26, married to one of my best friends, a fantastic mom to my puppies,the best big sister and daughter ever, spend my days with kids who I love and love me back, am goofy as shit, a loyal friend, and some days a ocd crazed woman on the lose....but you know what?! I am okay with all of it :)
I am making a promise to write more often, so enjoy the craziness :)
Hugs and Lipgloss Kisses!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
And...its starts...AGAIN
Well, school starts on Monday and how do I feel? I am not really sure. Prior to this past week I had told myself (numerous times) that I was going to be positive this year, no matter what. Of course, that was until preplanning rolled around. I am currently sitting a 26 students on my roster (when I was promised no more that 22, and with the knowledge that I had 7 just show up the first week last year), which is a lot of students to have in one room. I am stressing about how to successfully implementing my two tech grants with that many students and limited support. Our schedule is crazy and insane...but whatever, I have accepted the fact that I will teach what I want, when I want. And I need to figure out PE activities to do with my kids on a daily basis -- bleh.
I'm not all doom and gloom though. I DID, in fact, get my own SMARTboard and am throughly excited to really start creating activities to use with it. I am super excited to have my class all day long - this allows for more community building and integration. And, it is my second year, so I kinda know what I am doing/getting into.
Next week should be telling of what I am TRULY getting into, so until then......
I'm not all doom and gloom though. I DID, in fact, get my own SMARTboard and am throughly excited to really start creating activities to use with it. I am super excited to have my class all day long - this allows for more community building and integration. And, it is my second year, so I kinda know what I am doing/getting into.
Next week should be telling of what I am TRULY getting into, so until then......
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Just a FEW pics from CT
Kody and I on the farm
Dad & I at "breakfast with a view"
Kody & I at the Breakers
Relaxing in the yard
Back from the Motherland
I'm back from CT!! It was a very nice two weeks at home with my family. It is always bittersweet to leave CT - on one hand I am SO excited to come home to be with Jay and our girls, but then the other side is that I really love being with my family. If I could have them all closer in distance I think I would be a much happier girl. :)
I spent a lot of time just relaxing while I was home. Stayed up late, slept in late, ate wonderful grilled food everynight outside, and read a lot. I spent a lot of time teaching my brother to drive, which was kinda scary the first day but quickly got to be quite relaxing.
We visited Newport, RI and perused the gorgeous mansions, shopped a ton, and enjoyed all that there was to do in Newport. We went to the farm for breakfast and picked blueberries after. In usual fashion - Kody somehow managed to piss off some insane blueberry picker and got accosted - all of us started laughing hysterically. We went to this CRAZY grocery store that was the spawn of Publix and Its a Small World. You think I am kidding, but I'm not.
It was a lot of fun, but now it's back to the real world.......
Welcome to My World
I have decided to start a blog (once again) for many reasons....
- Somedays I just need to get the MANY thoughts rolling around OUT of my head
- There is never enough time to really let some people know what I am up to
- I have always loved being able to look back on thoughts/ideas/etc and wonder what the hell I
was thinking
- Finally, why the hell not?!
In other words, ENJOY!
- Somedays I just need to get the MANY thoughts rolling around OUT of my head
- There is never enough time to really let some people know what I am up to
- I have always loved being able to look back on thoughts/ideas/etc and wonder what the hell I
was thinking
- Finally, why the hell not?!
In other words, ENJOY!
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