Busy

I can't believe that it has been so long since the last time I blogged. Time has just flown by! I thought I was busy when I was in school, I am swamped now. Other than working we really haven't been up to much. Let me see if I can think of a few things...

• We celebrated our 5 year anniversary in September.
• We went camping that same weekend (Labor Day) with some friends of ours.
  
• We both had lots of trainings for work to go towards the end of September and the beginning of October.
  
• We had an unexpected trip to Iowa to attend my Uncle Jim's funeral. (It is still hard to believe)
• Other than those few things we have been doing the day to day stuff..

Teaching has been great! I do however wish they would have had a class of some sorts of working with paraprofessionals when I was working on my degree. That has been one of my biggest if not THE biggest stress of the school year so far. I had an assistant resign this week and I know it is for the better. I thought it would be at least two weeks before they could get a replacement, but it just so happens that my new assistant will start tomorrow. He was actually hired for an assistant position in pre-k inclusion, but really wanted a life skills type setting. I was able to meet with him and I think he will be great addition to the classroom.

Today the PPCD through High School Life Skill teachers went and toured motor labs and sensory rooms to get some ideas of what we might want in ours and some more ideas on design options. When we got back in to town we stopped by the school to see if we could talk our principal into letting us tour the PPCD teacher's and my classroom. Turns out he was just about to call us to come see. It was sooo awesome and I can't wait to move in!!! The supervisor over construction said they may even be done by the end of November instead of the middle of December. That would be nice :)

So I know it isn't much, but hey at I finally blogged. Hopefully it will not be 2 months again. I should have quite a bit to blog about after this weekend!

Fabulous Weekend and First Day!

Shawn finally had a weekend that was not interrupted by being called in to work! Saturday morning, we got up early and had the house cleaned by 9:30, then we went grocery shopping, and then followed by working a few hours in my classroom. Saturday night we had over some friends along with, Mom, Dad, Ryan, Megs, and LaDez. We celebrated Meg's upcoming 20th b-day (it's tomorrow) and Shawn receiving his associates degree. I thought it was a funny that my degree finally arrived in the mail on Saturday. It is sooo pretty! I was so busy hosting and socializing that I didn't even think about the camera. Mom snapped a few photos maybe I can get them and post them later. Yesterday I worked in my classroom finishing up schedule boards and a few other odds and ends.

Speaking of today, it went great!!! I wasn't sure how the kiddos would do with schedule boards because it was something completely new, but by the third task they knew where to go and what to do. Their behavior was awesome!!! I was praying for a good day, but today went better than I ever imagined. There was a little bit of a bus issue this afternoon, but that was it! I wasn't sure how I would feel working in scrubs all day, but they were comfy and made it a lot easier to work with kids. I have slowly started receiving the items that I ordered. Last week the kitchen came in and today the grocery store shelf that I ordered along with it came in. Maybe by the end of this week the rest of the stuff that was ordered will be in!

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

Not quite a month yet :)

since the last time I have blogged! That has to count for something right? I have just been super busy with training, setting up my room, getting things ready for the school year, spending time with my hubby (when he is off), and trying to put together my thoughts on all the other stuff that has and has not been going on. Monday, I think my brain had finally had enough and it just shut down on me. I walked in to my room to add a couple of things to the list for my paras to do on Tuesday while I was in training and I couldn't remember a thing. My mind was more than blank... I was looking at the list I had already typed up and it was scary, because I was just looking at words on the paper and no comprehension was happening. I have never had that happen before. Don't get me wrong I have gone blank a few times and not remembered what I was going to do or what I was talking about, but to look at words on a paper and not recognize and get meaning from them was a totally different thing. Shawn was with me and I just put the list down, locked up my classroom, Shawn drove home, and I sat in the passenger seat crying. By the time we got home I was able to put my thoughts back together and remember some of the things I needed them to do. I also grabbed a United ad to make sure I could read. May sound silly, but I was able to breathe and relax once I knew that I could still read. Yesterday and Today were great days. I was in Quantum Learning Training and even though some of the stuff I won't be able to use with the kiddos, I got a lot out of it. I am hoping that once school starts I will be able to relax a little bit more!

Shawn had been working at least one if not all of his days off since this month began. I was so glad that he had Monday and Tuesday off to really rest.

So that's basically it for now.... Tomorrow night is PPCD, Life Skills 1, and Kindergarten' Preview and Family cook out. It ought to be lots of fun! I am excited and ready to meet some parents!!!

Hope you all are having a great week/month/day!!!

Until Next Time.....

I'm Back!

The AT conference was great! I learned a lot and also realized that I have a lot to do before school starts! There were six of us that went, teacher for the Visually Impaired, PPCD teacher, Life Skills-2 teacher, Junior High Life Skills teacher, and the Highschool Life Skills teacher. Not sure if I had blogged about it, but last week at my meeting, I asked about my title because certain things weren't sounding right. I am the Life Skills 1 teacher (k-2). They had one before and then some things happened so the PPCD teacher(s) taught both. Lets just say it was a confusing situation. Anyway, It was nice to get to know the junior high and high school life skills teachers better. I think we all formed a bond and I hope it stays. The high school teacher has a family member that works for the Texas Rangers and got us free tickets sitting behind home plate for Wednesday night's game. Even though the Rangers lost, I still had a fabulous time! I was exhausted by the time I got home last night.

We got word from a friend yesterday that once again our landlord is wanting to put up 4 of her rent houses for sale. After hearing that Shawn went to see her and find out what was going on. She told Shawn she wasn't sure about ours but if they offered her the right price then she would sell it. I am hoping that if she decides to sell that it will be after my first paycheck in September. I think we will start looking then anyway for another place because I don't want to go through this again when she decides to sell other rent houses. It is just a little frustrating, but I am not panicking. Like I said before, I just hope if anything happens it is after September.

I have used today to catch up on my sleep! Tonight is laundry and cleaning and tomorrow I will be doing what ever doesn't get done tonight and probably spend the day making a list of stuff that I need to get done next week. I hope that the list will help make things not seem so over whelming. Well laundry is calling my name!

Have a great weekend!

I'm alive, he's alive, and so are the dogs :)

Summer is passing by quickly! It really doesn't bother me for now...but I have a feeling after the school year starts, it might! As far as things go on the house...my kitchen is finished. Now I am slowly working on the Back Bedroom/Laundry room. Shawn and I got a small storage unit because our garage is pretty much useless to store stuff in. The roof leaks really bad and it is just run down. Our landlord, just wants to tear it down and plans to once we move out. The Back Bedroom became the catch all plus storage for all the seasonal stuff, so having the storage unit helped that out a lot!!!!

This week I have been working in my classroom a lot and doing some "research" type stuff so I can be prepared when school starts. I completely rearranged the classroom from what it was when we first moved over to that school. My only big problem is finding a place(s) for storage. I have 3 small bookcases with 3 shelves on each that I am using in the reading area, center/jobs, and the kitchen area. Then I have one big white one with 5 shelves that I am using in my area. I have part of the bathroom to use, but that is pretty much it. There is no closet. So if you have any ideas or neat tricks let me know! Hopefully we will be moving in to our new classroom around Christmas Break. While working in my classroom, I have been writing down all of my questions, thoughts, and other ideas. My question list was getting a little long so I emailed the school's Special Ed Director and set up a meeting. I met with her this morning and got all of my questions answered! :) I also found out two additional things... I will be making even more than I thought and that I can begin ordering all of the stuff on my big list!

Friday, Shawn and I leave to go camping. M'Kambrie is going with us and we will meet Meghan and LaDez there. Their camping starts tomorrow! I hope it is a fun and relaxing weekend for all. Shawn just worked 8 nights straight. Yesterday was his day off and he is back to work tonight.

Monday morning, I leave for an Assistive Technology Conference in the Dallas area. I will be gone until Thursday evening. As soon as Shawn finishes his summer class (two weeks to go) he will have his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice! I am so proud of him! :) I was thinking about doing a small little dinner for him or something to celebrate!

Still on day one...

I made an outline of the order of rooms in the house that I am going to do some deep cleaning in. Some how I am still stuck on Monday's, the kitchen. I did get started on Monday, the fridge is completely cleaned out. But while cleaning a fridge, a child that I watch, started spewing. By the time she left, I had enough time to change clothes, and head to help with swim practice with special olympics. Tuesday, I really can't remember what I did during the day, that night I went to see Lacy's new house and had dinner with her. So obviously no cleaning in the kitchen. Yesterday, I watched a total of 4 kids, 3 being 2 and under. I was just on my toes most of the day making sure the pincher didn't pinch and the biter didn't bite. The afternoon was nice because we just played outside in the water and they all got along. Today, my goal is to finish the kitchen and get it like I want it. Don't get me wrong, it has the appearance that it is clean, but my cupboards are unorganized (they tend to do that over time), my counter tops really need an extra scrubbing, along with the cupboard doors.

Anyway that is my plan for today... I will update later on whether or not I finished the kitchen.

Summer Lovin...

• Vacation in Red River - relaxing, fun, an awesome and memorable time!
• Summer School- over, made an A :)
• Family- time, laughter, hugs, and all that other good stuff
• Friends- catching up, dinners, and laughter!
• Sun- love the hot sunny days, but thankful for air conditioning as well :)
  
• Ice cream and pickles- not together silly, but those are my two favorite summer snack foods!
  
• Swimming
  
• Camping- haven't gone yet, but will in a few weeks :)
• Summer nights

Counting down the days...

till Thursday when we leave for a family vacation in Red River. I want the time to fly by so that Thursday is here and then I want the time to slow down while we are there!

There isn't any news I am just bursting with.

My class is keeping me busy, but I am liking it, probably would love it if it weren't for the short answer quizzes we have! We got our test kits on Thursday. For the "normal" every day person that probably does not sound exciting, but for me the not so normal person it was super exciting! I couldn't wait to get it home to look at it all the materials and start administering it. I think the class was half and half as far as excitement goes.

I have received my acceptance letter in to the Master's Program, now I just have to take the GRE in a few weeks.

Besides school, I have been spending lots of time with family and friends. I am loving all the catching up, smiling until my cheeks hurt, hugs, old inside jokes coming up, and laughing until my stomach hurts. It has been nice staying in Amarillo. I came back on Friday to watch the girls and then spent all of yesterday in Amarillo. Shawn is working so there isn't or wasn't much time with him.

Well I am off to watch Army Wives! Yay for summer shows!
A few of my fav shows to watch in the summer are...

Army Wives
The Next Food Network Star
HGTV Design Star
Big Brother

A relaxing and fun weekend

Is just what I needed! We didn't really do a whole lot. Friday night was M'Kambrie's pre-k graduation. Afterward M'Kambrie and Brycelyn came and stayed the night. They were here until about 3 on Saturday. We played barbies, watched cartoons, took a nap, sang Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus songs, and played with the puppies. Saturday evening Shawn and I went out to dinner with some friends of ours and had a great time! Somehow we ended up at their house for Frito pie last night. Megs came up yesterday and is staying tonight also! I have been working on getting my graduation pictures downloaded, but for whatever reason it keeps giving me an error. This week will be a short, but busy week. Next Monday I start my summer class and two weeks from Thursday is the Red River Trip.... Shawn and I are counting down the days!!!

There isn't much else to blog about. I have a lot on my mind right now and have blogged a few posts, but in the end have decided not to share. But they did help me get my thoughts in order. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!! Hopefully, I will have some pictures up soon.

going, going, going

I have been on the go for a while now and I am ready for a day to veg in front of the tv. I am hoping that I will be able to this weekend. Shawn works so it will be me and the dogs during the day. I am going to try and get caught up on house work every day after school this week so I can enjoy the weekend. Other than being on the go, there isn't much else going on. Well Shawn did apply to go to the DPS Academy. If he is accepted he will be gone for about 7 months starting in September. I will post more when I know more...

The kids at school are having a great week, even with the move. I wasn't sure how they would do with a different environment.

Well I am off to sweep and mop, unless someone wants to volunteer to do it for me??? Any takers....ya I didn't think so!

Maybe I will win the lottery this week and have something blogworthy to blog about.....

What's new...

I graduated on Saturday! My party was fabulous and lots of fun!!! I will upload pictures later!

This has been such an exciting week for me, lets just say as a first year teacher for next year I feel like I hit the jackpot!!! Even though I will be in a portable for the first half of the year... I will have a brand new classroom with furniture and other things I have picked out. Then yesterday the other PPCD teacher and I were told we could order almost $60,000.00 worth of stuff and we aren't done ordering yet. While exciting, this week has also been very crazy! They are moving us to a different school Friday. We have been teaching out of boxes this week and probably will continue the first half of next week.

Well I am off to meet a friend at the track!

Hope you all are having a great week!

Art Final...

I just checked my grades and I made a 100 on it!!! I wish I could say that is my last final ever to take, but I am sure the classes you take for a masters degree will have finals. Oh well, it is my last final for this degree :)

ugh

So I had a whole post typed up, my computer decided to give me an error, and blogger did not save it in the drafts. I was looking forward to this week and now I really just want it all to be over with. I am exhausted, a cry baby, and an emotional wreck. I thought I was doing a good job remaining strong...but tonight I really broke down over something that shouldn't even really be a big deal or a big surprise. Oh well... I wish I could share more... but I can't. Maybe in a few days.

Subbing went great today. I sub tomorrow and then on Friday, Shawn and I are going on a field trip to help the teacher I was with my first 6 weeks of student teaching. It should be lots of fun... my only concern with that is ending up with a farmer's tan lol.

It's only Tuesday

And I am wore out. I have so much to get done and in a little amount of time. Tonight I have my art final (woohoo!). Yesterday, I got a call to see if I wanted to sub for an inclusion pre-k class in the morning and PPCD in the afternoon starting tomorrow until the end of the year. Of course I said yes! It made my week a little bit more busier, but it will be worth it in the end.

I was going to write something else...but it has slipped my mind. I need to study a little bit more for my art final anyways.

Oh...I wish the weather would make up its mind. First it said Saturday would be in the 80's, then 70's, and yesterday it was 90 and now it is back in the low 70's. I would like a warm pretty day or at least evening.

Working out

At first I wasn't so sure about getting up at 4:45 in the morning to be at the gym by 5, but I am beginning to like it. I love having my work out done. It is one less thing to try and squeeze in the later in the day. Plus, I like the attitudes of those around me in the morning. Sometimes the people in the evening aren't as friendly.

Have a good day!

Weekend Recap...

This wasn't the greatest weekend, but it wasn't the worst either. It is just hard to have a great time when there is other stuff on our minds. Friday, Shawn and I spent the afternoon looking for a dress. Surprisingly it wasn't hard to find one that I liked, the hard part was deciding on which one I wanted. Around 3:30 he took me to my hair appointment. I got a trim and highlights. Megs and LaDez showed up and she ended up getting a trim also. My mom stopped by after work for a few minutes. Afterwards we headed back to the mall only this time, Megs, LaDez, Mom, Dad, and Lacy joined us. I decided on a dress. I love it!!! Afterwards we ate dinner at Applebee's and headed home.

Saturday, I met a few girls from school for lunch. Then we went and got our toes done. After our toes were done, I headed to the mall with two of them, to find shoes for my dress, and accessories for a friend. I found shoes! Lacy met me there and then Shawn called and said he was at the mall. So we ended up finding a shirt, pants, and shoes for him. Then he headed back to my parents house, while Lacy and I went food shopping at Walmart before going to my parents house. Shawn and Dad watched movies & Lacy, Mom, and I chatted until after midnight.

Today has been a pretty lazy day. We got up, went to church, came home, did some laundry, and took very long naps. M'Kambrie came and played with the puppies for about an hour this evening. They are week old today.

I still have no clue where my camera cord is at. I don't have big plans for tomorrow... just getting my bathroom cleaned, study for my art final, and finishing laundry.

Hope you all have a great week!

Today is Tuesday...

What a title! lol So what's new.... Minnie had 11 puppies on Sunday. I thought she had another month or so to go! Sadly, we lost a male puppy yesterday. We have five males and five females, 2 chocolate, 2 yellow, and 6 black. I snapped a few pictures, but I have no idea where I moved my camera cord to?

Tonight is the last time I will go to art and listen to a lecture. Next time is the final! Woohoo! I can't wait. Thursday is my last day of student teaching, but I will be in and out through out the rest of the year. I am helping pack up and move 2 classrooms to another school. We will be there for the last two weeks of school and the first half of next year, while they are building us a couple of new classrooms. :) Friday, I have to go to WT for a student teacher meeting. Shawn is suppose to have court that morning... I am hoping that it gets cancelled so we can spend the day in Amarillo after my meeting. Saturday, I have a hair appointment and plan to spend sometime with my mom and sister shopping.

I think over all it should be a pretty laid back weekend, which will be nice because I will be super busy for the next three weeks.

Well I have to leave for Art!

The One Word

that describes my life right now is BUSY or we could make it two words SUPER BUSY! At the beginning of this month I was looking forward to student teaching being over with, graduation, and a 4 week break before summer school. However, my calendar is filling up and I will not have much of break except a day or two here and there. But I can't and won't complain!

It is so nice to know that I have a job this fall and I am getting a head start in planning! So now the month of May is filled with graduation, meetings, trainings, Special Olympics, and a couple of field trips I volunteered for. It is all so exciting and a best of all a new chapter in my life!

So there isn't much other than school and work that we have been up to, but here is a short run down...

• Shawn has applied for a sergeant position at work
• Last Saturday we had lunch with Cynthia and went to Sams
• Cynthia and I scored big at Sams on party stuff, Shawn did really good pushing the basket and getting dog food lol
• We spent the evening at mom and dad's house along with Megs and LaDez
• They saw Shawn for more than an hour lol (he is usually working when I see them)
• This weekend Shawn works
• I have a Special Olympic Track Meet tomorrow
• OH something I almost forgot or at least I don't think I have mentioned it yet... Minnie is pregnant and I wish I could say I know for sure they are Coppers.... ya lovely I know!
• Graduation is 2 weeks away! :)

Hope you all (if I have any readers left) have a lovely weekend!!

What's Happening My Way....

• I have a job!!!! I was offered a job for next school year bright and early Tuesday morning and signed a contract on Thursday!!! I will be teaching PPCD ages 6-8.
• Courtney organized a surprise dinner Thursday night for me. It was so awesome and sweet! I am so blessed with awesome, caring, and loving friends!
  
• My graduation invitations will go out Monday.
• We found Courtney's light bulb! LOL I have enjoyed spending the last few days with Court!
  
• I was able to spend some time with Ryan and Cynthia. (I hope he marries her)
  
• My mom and I went to lunch and spent the rainy afternoon together. (I had a great time!)
  
• My mom and I ordered my cake (It is going to be awesome) and found super cute decor for my party today!!!
  
• I am loving the rain outside!
• Shawn and I made nachos for dinner and watched Pay it Forward... (I forgot about the ending) It made me cry!
• Speaking of Shawn, Thursday was Shawn's third year here... I think it cool that I signed on that day.
  

So those are the highlights of my wonderful week! Less than month till graduation! Maybe I can get on and update before then...

So....

Long time no post right? Sorry about that, I have just been really busy with my second placement for student teaching. I didn't know for sure if I would like working in PPCD, but I love it! Only a month left! There really hasn't been much happening around here. The last part of Spring Break we took a spur of the moment road trip to go see Shawn's family. My sister came along and we stayed at a wonderful hotel. It was a nice way to end spring break. Friday was the blizzard and school was cancelled, so I stayed at home and got all caught up on laundry and watched two kids, while Shawn worked out in the cold. Saturday I stayed at home, and Shawn worked (mainly getting cars unstuck). Sunday, was an awesome day. I saw several of my friends and ended up at Starbucks for a couple of hours talking to a few of them. I thought it would be a great week with that kind of start, but this week has been kind of rough.

So really there is nothing super exciting going on... although yesterday I did get to pick up my invitations for graduation! (O' the little things that make me smile)

Well I am off to take a nap. I have had a horrible headache all day.

A little bit of this, that, and the other

I have become a reader of this blog and she created a couple of babies with her and her husband's pics so I thought why not...

However when I was waiting for the first one to create I was like what am I going to do if they turn out ugly... I know that is awful right? Anyway I don't think either of them did! THANK GOODNESS! LOL

The first one was a girl

The second one was a boy. We can look back in a few years and see if makemebabies.com comes close. :)

So Friday was my last day in my first placement. I was leading our group time when this basket full of goodies (cell phone pic) was placed in front of me.

I told myself Friday morning when I got up that there would be no tears.... hahaha yea right... I tried not too, but the tears started falling, and not just from me. I had such a wonderful experience and I hope my second placement allows me to gain even more experience and let my talents and abilities shine.

Saturday... was Brycelyn's 2nd Birthday Party. I went with her mom to pick up her cake and as we were walking out we noticed that it said Happy 2th Birthday. We showed the lady at the door and she said sorry you have to excuse the spanish speaking people back there. We were running a late and didn't have time for them to fix it. It was a fun little Tinkerbell Party and she didn't notice the 2th! My camera died right after this picture was taken...

Last night both Brycelyn and MKambrie stayed the night with me. MKambrie came in and went straight to bed because she wanted to get up before Brycelyn so she could play with the toys by herself. That is exactly what she did this morning. I spent most of the day doing laundry, trying to get rid of this nasty cold, and redoing the blog. When Shawn got home we went and helped Kristen take down and put up the big bouncer thing she rented for the party. While we were waiting for all the air to get out of it, Kristen and I went and walked 2 miles. It felt great to be out, but now I can quit coughing.

This week I will have 4 kiddos to watch. I am excited not to have to get up so early or have any lessons to plan. The weather is suppose to be nice too!

Hope you all have a great week!

Makeover time...

A new look coming soon!

Learning...

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete…” James 1:2-4


So far, 2009 has been a learning experience for me. I have learned so much about myself in the last 2 1/2-3 months and I have a feeling I will continue to learn more. I have so much more self confidence in myself. I think student teaching, a phone call from my Aunt, calls from friends, and my growing relationship with the Lord, has helped me so much with believing and trusting in myself. I don't catch myself doubting decisions I make as often as I use to. Last semester was so tough on me and the thoughts of, "is this really what you want to do?" would creep into my head making me sometimes unsure of myself. But now I know that this field is my calling. It is so exciting to be planning out the next couple of years that isn't so focused on getting through school even though I will be going for my masters degree.

I kind of had a rough start to this year and then I found out that the number one cause of it all was stress or the effect(s) of not being stressed after being stressed out for so long. Although this week was some what sad for me, I can honestly say that I am truly HAPPY! I haven't been this Happy in such a long time. Don't get me wrong I had awesome days, great days, and good days...but not with out worry or something going on in the background.

It is just a great feeling to have right now and I enjoy it! I hope I continue to keep my focus on HIM and take the steps that he has already mapped out for me (and Shawn).

I better get to bed. Brycelyn and M'Kambrie are staying the night tonight and we have to be up early in the morning. It is 1:07 am (sorry if there are typos or if it doesn't make sense.... I just felt like sharing a piece of me)

I will try and update tomorrow!

Where to begin...

Let’s see…
I have now passed all of my tests needed in order to graduate. I am proud of the scores I received. This is my last week in my first placement of student teaching. An opportunity has come up and it looks like I will move to the PPCD (Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities) unit instead of moving over to the Junior High for the second half. I have only observed a PPCD room. I am nervous, but ready for the challenge and the experience it will bring. While I am on the school subject I have decided to continue on in school and get a Master’s Degree in Special Education/Educational Diagnostician.

We had a very busy weekend. Friday I had a hair appointment at 5 and while I was getting my hair done, Shawn went and picked up his niece Kailey and nephew Andrew. We had a fun evening with the two of them. We ate at Mr. Gattis, played a few games, and then I needed a new pair of jeans and had a gift card so we went to the mall. Shawn watched them play in the play area and surprisingly I found two pair of jeans in less than 20 minutes. Saturday morning we spent getting ready for my jewelry party. I woke up feeling crummy, but slowly started feeling better as the day went on. I had a great party. After the party Shawn and I went to Amarillo to eat dinner with Shane and Courtney and her parents joined us. Then we dropped Shane and Shawn off at a pool hall, while we went and got coffee, and ran to Wal-Mart and Walgreens. Sunday we finally became members of our church (Shawn’s work schedule was getting in the way lol) and then we spent the rest of the day napping.
So that is pretty much it, there isn’t anything super big going on in our lives right now…just the usual school and work. I am ready for Spring Break next week. I will be watching 4 kids and I hope the weather is nice!
Hope you all are having a great week!

It's Monday!

Monday's for me are usually good days, but I have a few that are hectic, and that was definitely today! I don't know if it is something in the air, just getting back from a great weekend away, or just me, but today was crazy!

So I haven't blogged in a while. Last Tuesday I took the Special Ed Content test. Shawn drove to Amarillo with me. Usually with tests I do not let myself second guess and I am usually done with in 2 hours. Tuesday it was 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I thought I would love taking the test on the computer, but I love my test taking strategies. You know mark out the answer choices, underline key words, and all that junk... Anyways, I went to find Shawn after the test and when I saw him he asked like anyone else, "How was the test?" Down came my tears lots of them. I was sick to my stomach. I knew I did the best I could, but the questions on there were tough. The practice test I had taken and the ones we did in my special education classes were mainly scenarios and over laws, the major disabilities, and assessment stuff. So that is what I was prepared for and my test was not like that at all. I maybe had a handful of scenarios and a few laws everything else was stuff I may have heard about or thought I could figure the answer out by common sense, but every answer looked right and their was just a difference in a word in the answers.

So I basically have been planning on retaking the test, but on paper. I had a date picked out and money set aside. Friday on the way to the airport I was checking my email on my phone and it said my results came in, but I couldn't look at them on my phone. So I told Courtney that the first thing we were going to do when we got to Houston was check my scores. We get to Houston and go straight to their apartment. We couldn't get my scores to come up fast enough, I really set myself up for failure. They finally come up (it is a pdf file) and I see PASS! I screamed and just started crying. I couldn't believe it. Then I looked at my actual score... I didn't just barely pass.... I really passed by a lot!! I think Shawn, Shane, and Courtney thought I was nuts for a few minutes. I think I may have even jumped up a couple of times. I called my mom with tears still in my eyes and told her the good news. It made the weekend even better to be there with such awesome friends to celebrate with! Even last night on the flight home, I was like Shawn I passed it, I can really be a teacher now. I know it may sound silly to some, but it is such an awesome feeling to have and know. I looked today and there is a job opening or two for a special ed in this district.

Tomorrow morning is my last scheduled test. It is the EC-4 generalist content test. I am pretty confident about it and think I will do just fine on it.

Well Shawn is home and we have to make a trip to Walmart. I will try and update sometime this week about our weekend in Houston.

I passed!

I passed the PPR. I did better than I thought. I only missed one question!
Only 2 more hours until I go see the doctor. Test 2 is tomorrow!

I survived!

Today the classroom teacher was gone so I was in charge and had to make all of the decisions. I wasn't too worried last night when I went to bed, but this morning I was hit with a load of anxiety. The anxiety quickly went away when I walked to into the cafeteria this morning and was greeted with smiles! I had one student that gave me some behavioral problems but before I left for lunch I sat down and talked with the student. Things were so much better after lunch. I also experienced my first staff meeting. It was over the upcoming TAKS test. Speaking of tests I have my PPR (Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12) tomorrow at 1. I am a little nervous, but I am feeling pretty confident about it.

So you are probably wondering why I am private for now... well really I just decided it is what I want to do right now. I only have a handful of readers I have invited to read my thoughts. So here is the thing... I feel happy, things are going good financially we are finally on a budget that is working for us, and I really am not all that stressed out...but something is wrong and I just can't pinpoint it. I have a doctors appointment on Monday and I am really hoping that it isn't just me or in my head... if that makes any type of sense. I was able to put on my rings today for the first time since Friday. So some of the things bugging me are that I am so exhausted all the time. I have been watching my dieting and have upped my exercising, but I am not dropping any weight. It is just like I know something is not right.

What a weekend...

Warning: I took Benadryl about an hour ago so please over look any typos!

Friday morning, a little while after I put on my rings, my left arm from my elbow to my wrist became itchy and covered with little red bumps. So I went to the bathroom and washed off that area and took the last of the Benadryl we had at the house. The redness and itchiness went away but my fingers remained very swollen. I got home a little after 4 and was probably asleep by 8. I was able to get one of my rings off before going to bed, but that was it.

Saturday morning, my whole body ached and every thing was swollen. Shawn noticed my feet and my lips in fact one of the first things he said to me was that my lips looked like Angelina Jolie. He went to the store, talked to the pharmacist, and picked me up some more Benadryl. The swelling went down a little bit but I was still unable to get the ring off. I also took a nap before we headed to Atown. At 2 I met up with some girls from school to talk about our first week of student teaching. I felt so bad because I was so groggy. Afterwards Shawn and I met my parents to see my mom's very cute, hip, and new hair style. I went to a few stores with my mom. While out, Courtney called to see if we wanted to go to dinner with her, Shane, and her parents. I wasn't too sure about it at that time, but after about an hour or so the groggy cloud had lifted from my head and other than the swelling and a little itching I felt fine. So we met them at Johnny Corinos for dinner (see her future blog update for pictures ). Afterwards the four of us went to visit Tifanie and Fabian's house for a couple of hours. When we got home I took some more Benadryl and crashed.

This morning I once again woke up very sore with huge lips, feet, and hands. So I have been taking it easy all day. I did finally and painfully got the other ring off this afternoon. I am going to call the doctor first thing in the morning to make an appointment.

I have never ever that I can recall had an allergic reaction like this before in my life. I don't know what I could have touched while getting ready on Friday that I wouldn't have touched any other time or ate. Things with my body have just been very weird lately and it just seems out of whack. It is a very weird and puzzling feeling and I am hoping the doctor can give me some answers. Anyway it hasn't been a horrible weekend, but it could have been a much better one with out all of this going on!

Hope you all have a terrific week!

Blah

 I am so irritated with a couple of people. I am trying to figure out if it is just my attitude or if they are really doing what I think they are doing…. Ugh I don’t know. This has just been a weird week for me, I am fine in the mornings, happy during the day, and then I come home and I am just blah. Monday I was in bed before the Bachelor even started. Last night I was a sleep by 8 and it is already looking like I will be there around that time tonight. I guess I should add that I have also had a horrible headache both nights and the one from last night has carried on over to today. Anyway, I need to get back to my unpaid work. The kids are keeping me on my toes today!

First Day, tests, something new, and whatever else

Okay, this semester is already 10 times better than last!!! I love my cooperating teacher and I feel like I am already learning a ton from her! There are 7 students in life skills, but boy do they keep you busy!

I have signed up and paid to take my three "real" tests. I will take the PPR on Feb 12, Special Ed Content on Feb 17, and the EC-4 Generalist content on Feb 24. I will take the ELL and possibly the 4-8 content in May.

On to the something new...

It was time for me to get a new phone so I picked out the Blackberry Curve 8330. It is so pretty! I love it and I am having fun figuring out all of its features! My upgrade was effective Feb 1st but I wasn't feeling very good yesterday to make the drive to go get it, so Shawn went for me today!

We really didn't do much this weekend. Shawn worked and I was not feeling good so I stayed in bed most of it. Friday night, Meghan and LaDez came up to eat dinner and play her new Harry Potter Clue game. Can you believe it I actually thought to take a picture. I would have taken more but my camera needed to be charged.

Ignore the Scattagories (sp?) things, we needed something to hide our answers so I got those out.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a great start to an awesome week!

Picture Tag

The rules are:
1. Go to the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in the folder
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun!

Minnie and Miss B. This was taken over the break while I was watching the girls. B loves to sit and tell Minnie all about her problems. If she was ever upset and Minnie was inside B would go find her and cry to her. Minnie is patient and lets B sit and lay on her, put her babies on her, play with her ears, and hug all over her.

I tag who ever wants to play along!

More Birthday Fun

Yesterday afternoon, Lacy and I went and saw Bride Wars. It was a great movie! I definitely want to own it! I was all teary eyed at the end. Maybe it is because I was sitting next to my best friend watching a movie about two best friends. And then some of the last lines of the movie if not the last lines of the movie were,

“Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you'll find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding, but theres also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along.”

We walked out and both of us saying at the same time that is you! hahaha. I truly cannot remember a year or time in my life that Lacy was not a part of it. We really have been friends forever. I am so blessed to have her in my life!


After the movie we went to Logans and both ordered a bowl of their Loaded Bake Potato Soup and talked nonstop until it was time for me to leave and head for Canyon for class.

Class went okay last night. I was a helper last night! Hahaha!

The good news is that is 3 weeks less of Art I have!

Hope you all have a great day!

I passed!!!

oh what a weekend

What a weekend…

 

Friday evening around 5 I started freaking out about the test I had to take Saturday morning. After talking to a few people and realizing it is only a practice test it went away. It slowly found its way back when it was 12:57 AM and I was staring at the clock, somehow I managed to fall asleep.

 

Saturday morning… I arrive to take my test, get seated, listen to the rules, and begin my test. I get to question 6 where I notice a couple of answer choices marked out and I was trying to remember if I had done that because I had scanned the questions on the page before I started answering them. Then I turned the page and saw several questions answered so I put my pencil down and raise my hand. They leave to go get me another test booklet and bring me back 2002 and I was taking a test from 2003. Finally, they came back, but by that time my mind was such a mess that I became unsure of myself. I got to the math portion and finally thought okay I do know this stuff and the test went easier from there, but the beginning is still a blur. After my test I made the final decision that I was going to leave town for the night and who better to go with than my little sister.

 

See on the 45 minute drive to Canyon is when it started brewing, well we had actually planned to go like a week or two ago but things just didn’t work out. Anyway after my test I called Meghan and asked if she was up for it. I went to her house she packed some stuff and we headed towards Lubbock…nowhere fancy but it was 2 hours away that I could clear my head. We stopped in Plainview at the Wal-Mart to buy a few things like  a toothbrush and a few other necessities (I seriously was just  going with the clothes on my back). We made it to Lubbock got a hotel room and headed for the mall. We shopped for a few hours, went to dinner (yuck), and headed back to the hotel just to have girl time. We left about 11 this morning. It was short and sweet but just what I needed. I got home around 3:00. Shawn and I have been hanging out all evening. He was so sweet and made the best grilled cheeses and tomato soup for dinner!

 

So that sums up my weekend.

 

BTW I will find out my dreadful score tomorrow afternoon.

The picture...

Remember the great laugh I mentioned, well here is the picture. It isn't the greatest, but my mom pressed on the gas a little too soon, and then she wouldn't circle the parking lot. That just made me laugh harder.


The Hood was covered with flags and you see that weird looking thing on the left side just under the window, the driver side of the vehicle has tons of it up there. In the basket was a bike tube, a gas can, and some other thing. Anyway I just thought it was bazaar!

Randomness

1. My blog remains unfinished. (Maybe that will change over the next couple of days, for now ignore it :) )
2. I have been on a cleaning spree for most of the day.
3. Up next is my closet and dresser drawers. I have been avoiding that for way to long now.
4. I started reading The Power of a Praying Wife and I am also doing the study guide.
5. I am almost finished with laundry.
6. There is really nothing exciting going on in my life right now.
7. The weather has been beautiful out...but that is all about to change.
8. My art teacher is using helper chore charts and an attendance chart with stickers along with "snack time"... I feel like I am in a preschool classroom.
9. There is someone in my art class that I didn't care for in high school, but I was never hateful towards her, but that was years ago. I am trying to get her with kindness. It just so happens she sits under the clock in there so every once in a while we make eye contact where I smile and she rolls her eyes and gives me this dirty look. (I am not the only one that has noticed it) What is so weird about the whole thing, is she requested me on Facebook a couple of months ago and I accepted. We will see where this goes... (I am not asking to be friends...just to be civil or friendlier)
10. Shawn is in FTO (Field Training Officer) school all week and Saturday I take my Special Ed practice content test. February is the month I will take all of the "real" tests.

So that is all I can come up with now... if you have any ideas for topics to blog about feel free to comment!

BTW it still feels great being 25!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yep there is actually something besides the inauguration going on today (not that it is not important).  Today I am 25 and it feels great!!! Oh how I love birthdays! I wish I could say I am doing something exciting tonight for it, but I don’t consider a 4 hour Art class exciting. However, I did celebrate with my parents on Saturday. I got a jewelry box from them. I absolutely love it!! They took me to Napolis for dinner. It was yummy! Afterwards we stopped by my brother’s new house and then went back to my parents house for a couple hours of Singstar on the ps2. Two weeks until I start student teaching. I hope by Friday I will have my teacher information.  Last night Shawn and I went to dinner at Applebee’s since we both have class tonight. Then we went and played Apples to Apples with Cynthia (Ryan’s girlfriend) and her friend. It was tons of fun so much I was thinking it was like 11 and it was 2 minutes after 1! Lucky for me the kids I am watching today didn’t come until about 9:30. I took my camera with me on Saturday but the only picture I got had nothing to do with my birthday…just a great laugh for my mom and I. I will post it later and if you live in the area I am sure you can guess which family it belongs to! Hope you all have a fantastic day! Eat something yummy or do something fun tonight and think of me…that way one of us is enjoying our evening!

Friday Fill-ins

I haven’t done one of these in a few months…

1. Enough with the drama.

2. Not enough time causes me to be conflicted.

3. I've been craving ice cream.

4. Shawn makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to Nygard Cay in the Bahamas next week.

6. The future has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to surprising my sister with a visit, tomorrow my plans include working the concession stand at the WT basketball game and Sunday, I want to go to Church and clean out my dresser drawers!

Go here to participate or read more of this week’s Friday Fill-ins.

You know the drill...

Once again I am changing things, but I don't have the time to sit down and do it all at once...so don't pay attention to the mix matching or weird things happening!

Hopefully I can finish tonight or tomorrow!

Hope your week is getting off to a great start!

Exciting News...

This news may not be exciting news to you, but it is for me! I got my placement for student teaching and both are resource. Also my elementary school placement is not the same one from last semester. (Cheers!)

This week hasn’t been the most exciting week ever, but it has been somewhat productive. We got the back bedroom aka laundry room cleaned out. My house is clean and laundry for the most part is done. I have been researching all kinds of stuff that will help us be successful with our resolution for the year. Yes I said us and our! The other night I couldn’t sleep and I watched the clock roll on to 3 AM. Shawn had a super busy night and made it home in time to grab a sandwich and walk right back out the door. (I hate those nights!) Anyway, I had so many thoughts and things I wanted to mention to him and I was afraid I would forget so I wrote him this super long letter. At the end I wrote a proposal sounding thing and taped it to the laundry room door. He woke me up with a yes. I know it may sound silly…but to me it is silly, cute, meaningful, and besides it made my heart smile!

I just do better when I have an outline or a plan and that is what I am working on. Shawn is also in on this…. I can’t just make a plan that will just work for me and not for him.

I have also talked to a couple of friends that are also going to help me stay on track with the different areas of my goal. By doing that, it helped me reexamine things and see where certain things started to go wrong, my weaknesses, and the areas I have always remained strong in.

That pretty much sums up the latest happenings!

A New Year

Wow, it is just the beginning of 2009, but I know there is so much to come this year! I am not sure I have ever been this excited to begin a new year knowing so many things are going to happen. This is such a big year for us. I am not one usually for a New Year’s resolution, but this year I have on that covers all areas of my life. You might laugh when you read it, but that is totally okay. It does sound a little cliché, but know there is several meanings behind it. So are you ready for it???

It is to get HEALTHIER in every way possible… financially, physically, mentally, ect.. Oh and my tiny one is to be a better blogger. I am going to try and post 2-3 times a week! Maybe in the future I will blog about everything behind my resolution…but right now I don’t feel like sharing. Hmmm maybe you can help me out by leaving a suggestion in the comments! :)

The last few months have reminded me of when Shawn was going through the academy. It was a hard time, but I was constantly reminding myself that it would fly by and it did. There are big changes and unknowns ahead for us…but I know it is ultimately all in HIS hands.

The other day I was on the phone with Courtney and we were discussing how our calendars were already filling up with events. Somewhere in that I said that I wanted the next few months to fly by, but then I took it back…because I want to enjoy it… I want to remember it as something else other than a super stressful time. Sure Shawn and I have memories of that time..but it seemed like we were constantly looking ahead instead of enjoying the day(s). I know that it will fly by…but I don’t wish for it to fly by anymore… I hope that makes some kind of sense!

Here is to all that is to come in 2009!