Gulash

I have been told that gulash is a Hungarian stew that has a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  Just a big mix I guess.  For some reason that's how I feel right now.  I don't feel like stew, I just feel like a little bit of this and that...

I have been super busy with school recently.  I always heard that the first year of teaching was "SO MUCH WORK!" but for some reason thought that that wasn't going to apply to me...  Haha!!  Yes.  Teaching IS a lot of work.  SO much work.  But I am loving it and learning SO MUCH!  Those little second graders take a lot of energy, but they are also so full of love.

Yesterday as the last day of school this year.  We had a little holiday party and made 'gingerbread houses' out of graham crackers.  It was a ton of fun that every single students thoroughly enjoyed it.  It is always fun to see my kids enjoy something so much :o)

My favorite holiday is coming up!  I simply love this time of the year!!!  I am trying to enjoy every bit of Christmas I can.  It's probably weird, but I also don't like when Christmas gets so close, because I know that soon it'll be gone and I'll have to wait 10 months until the NEXT holiday season.  Silly, right?  I have yo remind myself to enjoy what's here while it's here.

Last night I was SO TIRED!  I went to sleep to take a little nap at 6:30 and just slept all night.  Well, until 4:30 this morning that is...  And here I am, WIDE awake at 5:20 typing a blog.  :o)

I always look forward to my breaks from school, but once they're here I don't know what to do with my time...  I need to start some projects.  Or buckle down and do my report cards... 

The day after Christmas I am going up to my parents' cabin for 5 days.  I love it up there in the mountains.  Except when I get cold.  I hate being cold.

I'm off to clean my house.  

Enjoy your holiday season!!!

My voice....

...is gone.

I guess it got jealous of my hair...

Yesterday at 10:00 am my voice started going.  Here I am the following night totally voiceless.  If I talk normally just air comes out.  If I scream it comes out just below my normal voice level, but all crackly and scratchy.  If I whisper it sounds like a whisper.  The strangest part is that I feel fine--there's no pain.  not yet at least...

Today at school I had to whisper directions to one student and have that student loudly tell the rest of the class.  I am taking tomorrow off to rest my poor larynx.  (The first time I've called for a sub.  I'm slightly nervous seeing that I'm quite attached to my class.  The good news is the sub is my mother-in-law, so they're in good hands).

My hair...

...is gone.  

I cut it short this morning.  I cut about 7 inches off.

Here, I'll show you:

Before.

 

After!

I'm still getting used to it, but I think I'm really going to like it!

Phone photos

I recently transfered the pictures from my phone onto Gregron.  I went through them on my phone.  Here are a few gems I found:

This was on the door of the laundry room at an apartment complex.  so.so.funny!

This is Mark Twain, the rabbit who lived in our yard for a week.

  

 

Homemade cream puffs!  Sooo good!

 

 Paxy and Alberta.  Loved these couches.  Anyone who knew 5 East hillside knew how great these couches

were.

 

My and my grandmas :o

They CHANGED the sign.  They changed it to make it incorrect.  Silly.

The most AMAZING chocolate-and-peanut-butter-covered rice crispy treat.  It came from a cute little fudge shop in Maryland.

Great deal!

Hey everyone just wanted to let you know that my brother Brad who is a photographer is available to do family pictures. Now is the perfect time to update your family picture. Not only is the weather great, you can use the your new picture for your Christmas card. For $100 you get a photo-shoot up to an hour and a CD with the full resolution images that you can take anywhere to be printed or post online. Here are some samples of his work. Brad also does weddings, so if you or anyone you know is getting married let him know. You can see more on his website at www.bradburnhamphotography.com. You can contact him at burnhambrad@gmail.com or give him a call at (480) 241-9409.

Second Graders

I've learned a LOT about second graders these past four weeks. For example:

* The make a whole lot of pee. Honestly. They have to go every hour. And they don't even drink that much... I just don't get it.

* The world is their playground. ANYTHING can be a toy or distraction. This includes (but is not limited to) their feet while they are walking, the pencil they are using, or the person sitting beside them.

* It's extremely difficult to walk in a straight line.

* They can be so silly! They say the most unexpected things (good or bad).

* They have an amazing capacity to love.

Good news!

Nothing says "new school year" like a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.

I got a job!!! After a lot of stress, time, worrying, and interviews, I got a job!!! Yes, I'm starting a month into the school year, but better late than never, right?

I am going to be a 2nd grade teacher down at Emerson Elementary; the very school I attended years ago. It's going to be an adventure and I know I'm going to learn a WHOLE LOT!