Teacher Gifts

I enjoy teaching so much. It is especially fun around the holidays. The kids are always so excited, and for the whole month of December, we get to participate in Christmas related activities. However, I, personally, await the day before Christmas vacation. It is on this day that students shower their teachers with their gifts: homemade, store bought, re-gifts. I LOVE IT. Not the fact that I am getting things, but for the fact of what it is, and seeing the look of joy on their little faces as they are giving it. It is SOOOO sweet.

Here is the assortment this year. One gift that stood out:

Yup, the top of a Dr. Pepper bottle. Well, that's what it looks like. It is actually a candy holder.

The worlds smallest gift bag. It is so tiny and oh, so adorable. Inside was the cutest ornament.

Do you see the upper left hand side of this chocolate box? 2.5 POUNDS OF CHOCOLATE. Oh my goodness. For real. I am still in shock. I immediately emptied half the box as soon as I got home, and took it to my in-laws before I could eat it. I'm sure they appreciated that... haha

In case you didn't know, my class is full of the most amazing kids.

Christmas Card

Amy did a great job! Go check her out.

http://www.amylowephotography.com/

Busyness

I had the most crazy day yesterday. At school, I met my new student. He will be starting on Monday. He has only been in the United States for 5 days now, and cannot speak any English. This could get interesting! Thankfully, I have another little boy in my class that can translate for us.

I left school with my students: 3:30 on the dot. I rushed home and threw my hair up in some rollers. I reapplied some makeup. All of this just so I could look decent in our Christmas card picture. My friend, Amy, took them. I hope she got at least one good shot! Mason was being completely ridiculous! And he got his hair ALL over my nice peacoat..... :( I need a major lint roller.

After our picture taking, we took Mase back home. I jumped in the car and headed to Wal-Mart to get some groceries. Amber, Alicia, and Dara came over later. I made potato soup and cornbread. Bran was so sweet and went to his parents so we could have some "girl time". It was nice to catch up with them.

To complete my day, Bran and I went to see The Blind Side with another couple. It was the most amazing movie. It made me want to adopt. Again, I was humbled and I became very aware of how blessed my life is.

I didn't get up until after 10:00 this morning. After I ate breakfast, I took a nap until 1:00pm. I am well rested now and ready to go again!

Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone. The food was amazing as always. I have spent the past week dwelling on how God has truly blessed my life. There is so much to be thankful for. Such as (in no particular order):

• my Christian husband who would do anything for me
• a Christian family
• good relationships with my in-laws
• my wonderful job
• my friends
• caramel apple spice drinks from Starbucks
• my awesome church
• a warm house
• money in our bank account
• plenty of food in our fridge
• cars that run
• all the great deals I found on Black Friday

I could go on and on. I watched True Life: I'm Homeless yesterday on MTV. It really was humbling. I watched people my age living on the streets. Lord, please forgive me for all of the times I have complained for not having a bigger TV or the latest clothes. How shallow I can be.... Mold my heart to be more like yours. Make it more sensitive to others' needs and not just my own.

Oh Christmas Tree!

I spent a great weekend with my family. I was able to hold my precious nephew, Drew, for hours and hours! He was such a good baby, except all the times when he spit up on me or started crying. haha Hopefully one day, I will have a little bundle of joy just like him!

This weekend, I also found a great deal on a Christmas tree at Target. So of course once I got home, I HAD to set it up and start decorating! Bran and I don't have a lot of Christmas decorations, but we are slowly buying them little by little. I guess that is all part of being newlyweds. So, here is our simple, yet beautiful (in my opinion) tree:

Another great deal I found: an end table. I have been looking for one forever! I found this one at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. The model is being discontinued so I picked it up for only $50! woohoo! It was a cinch to put together as well, and it is extremely sturdy. I'm a happy girl!

Nerves

**Update: New student just stayed for about 2 hours. He's at a different school now.Poor guy.... **


I just checked my school email. I am getting a new student tomorrow, and it makes me very nervous/excited. I wonder what he will be like... nice? a "good" kid or a "bad" kid? will he have ADHD? G.T? resource? speech? can he read? will he like me? what if he doesn't get along with anyone? what if he is a clown? what if he throws up?

ahhhh.....

But then I think about what he must be thinking.... I wonder if my teacher will be mean? or nice? old? grumpy? will she get mad at me if I mess up? what if nobody likes me? what if my teacher doesn't like me? what if she doesn't think I am smart enough? what if I throw up??

Poor guy. My mission tomorrow is to try my best to make his first day the best day! I already love him.... just because he is going to be my student.



I found something I want for my birthday/Christmas. (hint, hint)

It's a flip camera/camcorder, and it's awesome! http://www.theflip.com/

Bad Dog

Bran and I chose to have our puppy Mason as an inside dog a few months ago. He is such a good dog and so loveable. However, he is only 8 months old; still a puppy. He is pinned up in our hallway while we are out of the house. This is what I came home to today.

Mason is now an outside dog once again.

In other news, our broom stands up.... on its own.

Halloween Party

lights off

lights on

witches brew

pumpkin spice skeletons

bran's pumpkin

costumes

thats all.

Flu Shot

So, I got my very first flu shot today. It hurts.

Awesome Kids

I love my job. This is an example of what I get to enjoy on a daily basis. I had my students analyze the questions they missed on their last module test. This is the explaination I received: "the raisen that we missed this qestin because we didn't think!" That is hysterical! No matter who you are!

In honor of Red Ribbion Week, we are dressing up every day. I have been in head to toe camo, had crazy hair, wore red, and tomorrow, I am wearing my husbands old football jersey. It is "Team up Against Drugs" day. My students will think I am the coolest wearing a real Cyclone jersey. However Friday is fifties day, and that is my favorite. Another tradition is the pumpkin decorating contest. We replicated Melissa Hermann from rotten teeth. Here is the book:

Here is our pumpkin:

And here are our rotten teeth:

I am anxious to see who wins. There is some stiff competition this year...

In other news, our puppy, Mason, lost his manhood yesterday. However, he is back to his old, rowdy self tonight...

Parent/Teacher conferences are this upcoming Monday. The first ones are always interesting. So much to prepare for!

State Fair

I was so excited to come home from a hard day of teaching yesterday. I had visions of a nice dinner with my husband followed up by cuddling on the couch with a movie. However, we ended up going to the Arkansas State Fair with two of our good friends, Brad and Katie. It was.... well... fun, yet scary.

First, the fairgrounds are located in a frightening part of town. We passed up the dark alley parking spots, and opted to park in someones yard with a porch light. At the fair, there was an interesting mix of cowboys, gangsters, teeny boppers, carnies, and families. I even saw a cowboy, complete with boots and a pig, with two lip piercings! What did they all have in common?? They all spent waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much money to enjoy a fun night at the fair.  However, I must say the corndogs, funnel cake, and fried oreoes were worth every penny!

Bran and I didn't ride any rides. Armbands were $22! Crazy! We walked around, me clutching his arm tighting. We visited the enormous pigs and all the cattle barns. My favorite part was watching all of the characters around me. I couldn't help but wonder what their stories were. We found out that most of the employees were from South Africa. I loved listening to their accents as they tried to persaude us to pay $10 to play an impossible game. How does someone come from South Africa to Little Rock, AR to work at a fair?? I wish I could've sat down and talked to one of them.

I became very aware last night of my extremely sheltered life. I have been so blessed to grow up in a loving home with God-fearing parents. Last night, I witnessed an extremely drunk father, embarrassing his two children, while the drunk mother laughed at his "witty" jokes. He could barely keep his beer in his cup. I have never even been around people who act like that. Some may call me a prude, I prefer to look at it like God has had his hand over me. I would not change any of my upbringing if I could. So, mom, dad, if you are reading this, THANK YOU!

Look Mom!

So I have caved to the world of blogging. This could get interesting... Hopefully I will look back on these entries and remember "the good ol' days". I am sure they will be comical in a few years from now.