School's out for Summer...

...School's out forever!

I am so excited! I am done! Today has been a weird day, but mostly I am excited to take a much needed break, and I am proud of what I have accomplished! It has been a sad day as well because I have spent this afternoon saying goodbye to a lot of my friends. I think that it is no surprise that the budget situation in California is horrible, and because of that, public education has been abused. I will really miss my friends, especially Carly and Nevis! It is hard for me to imagine what this campus is going to be like next year! I am not sure I want to think about that right now.

Presently I am sitting in my classroom (I am done but I still have to stay for graduation) thinking about this past year. I accomplished so much and I am really proud of myslef. This was my forth year teaching and in one school year I:

*Ran the AVID Program
*Taught 130 Students
*Organized Prom
*Organized Senior Picnic
*Was Advisor to three different clubs
*Organized the MECha Talent Show
*Planned and went on 3 different fieldtrips
*Went to workshops, meetings, and various other school events
*Graded about 1,500 essays (that is not counting all of the homework, group presentations, etc)

AND

Acted as counselor, teacher, and parent to quite a few kids.

Not to mention, I did this while moving into our first house, and dealing with all of the medical issues I have had this year. I guess it might be in poor taste to go on about what I have done, but I am really truly amazed by all of the teachers that do their job well, because I know so many of them work as hard as me, or harder.

Congratulations fellow teachers, and have a great summer!!!!

Need a laugh

Every generation is influenced by pop culture. I like to think that if you asked my generation what the go to show was on Saturday mornings they would say the one and only "Saved by the Bell." If you agree, you have to watch this video of Mark Paul on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon". I could not stop LAUGHING!

People amaze me

It always amazes me when I find out new and exciting things about people. You just really never know all of the things people have done, and places they have been, and really getting to hear those stories from people is exciting. For example a few of my students have lived in places I could only dream of going. I just found out that one of my students moved here form Indonesia! Indonesia! Another lived in Japan, and another was born in Germany. I am also always amazed by the careers some of my teacher friends have had before they started this profession. One of the science teachers at our school used to be a sniper!! I didn't even realize that people actually did that! Also, another lady that I teach English with was a dancer in the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video. I mean how cool is that?

I guess the reason I bring this up is because I was talking to a lady in the science department today that I never have really got to know and I asked her what she was doing this summer. After a few minutes of speaking I found out that she has her own Baby clothing business! Where do these people find the time? I really found it amazing because I could only wish to be so creative and talented. I checked out her etsy store and there was come cute things but this was by far my favorite:


I could just see little Zach rockin' this one! Check out her website at kamikat.com if you get a chance.

I love weddings!

It is so much fun to attend the wedding of someone you truly care about! I have been to some great weddings and the one this weekend was just perfect! It is just such a happy occasion, and every wedding I attend makes me feel so much closer to my husband. It brings back the memories of our special day and gives me little firework feelings inside :) My friend Becca got married this weekend and I have known her family for quite awhile. We went to high school together, worked at Dominicks together, and her father was the man that married Chris and I. At the beigining of the ceremony after she walked down the isle, her dad, cousin, and uncles had a suprise. They sang "My girl" and appropriately changed some of the words to be specific to Becca. It was so amazing and we affectionately referred to it as her "Love Actually" moment. If you have seen the wedding scene in that movie you know what I am talking about. It was such a lovely, funny, heartfelt ceremony. Then at the reception, it would not have been Becca and Scott if they did not do a silly first dance. They started very serious and then the music changed and they went nuts. They are a beautiful, silly, affectionate couple and I know they will have a wonderful life together. I am just so thankful I could take part in their wonderful day. Ok, who's next ? :)With the Beyer Girls right before the ceremony

Gettin' down to their first dance. It was so cute!

Party Animals!

Better with age

I just finished this really big portfolio that is due tomorrow and I can not sleep so I thought I would share some hilariousness. Chris and I chaperoned Prom a couple of weeks ago and all of the teachers are allowed to take a picture and get a copy for free. Now being at prom with Chris at our age is pretty funny because I actually took him to my high school prom when I was a senior. So I decided to do a little picture comparison. Oh my goodness!


HOW FUNNY IS THAT! I must say that the saying is true. We have only gotten better with age :) Click on it to see it large, in all it's glory :)

Another Year!

I can't believe that I am about to finish my forth year of teaching! It is really crazy to think about. I am really lucky to love my job so much. It is never ending, and tiring, and I complain all of the time, but I do love it. I get excited about so many aspects of my job, and I still get so inspired. I think about how I can do things better, and just the other night I had to get out of bed and jot down ideas for next year. Chris thought I was crazy and lets face it, I thought I was a little crazy too, but so many times I get ideas and I don't write them down. If I don't they are gone. I really am consumed by my job for 10 months out of the year. I think about it all of the time, and for example, I spent today, my lovely memorial day, locked in my house grading and getting ready for the end of the year. Most of all, the reason I love it so much is because of the students. I really believe that no teacher has better students than me. They are amazing and they are the reason that I continue to work my butt off. Most of the time they take me for granted, and it is rare that I get a thank you, but when it happens, it is amazing. On Friday I got a letter from one of my former students and one paragraph stated:

" Everyday last year you offered your classroom for us at lunch. With open arms you offered extra help and always hoped for the best out of your students. In your class you always encouraged us to help one another. Because of your class I realized how much I love debating. I have always hated the idea of public speaking but your class offered me a comfort zone in which I could easily get up in front of the class and speak without feeling uncomfortable. For you great teaching efforts and positive attitude, I want to thank you."

That makes all the work worth while!

Photo shoot in the back of the car

Don't they look like they're posing? This picture makes me smile :)

My old man :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY!

You are my world and I am so happy you were born :)

Love,

me :)

Still Searching for a win

I started my second season of indoor soccer and I am loving it! We are not doing the best record wise and continue to search for our first win :( I did forgot how much I love this sport though, and I continue to impress myself with how well I am getting my big but around the field :) I guess I have been doing well because another team noticed and approached me last night about playing on their team as well. I was so flattered! I took the team name and proceeded to the office to sign up but there are a ton of different leagues that play on that feild so I went back to the lady to ask which league she is in. What she said next should not offend me so much but she said "Oh, we're in the over 30 league." The over 30 league! I told her I was 27 and could not play and she slightly apologized for the mistake. Ok, so I know I am not that far away, and I know that it is not the end of the world to be 30, but I want to hang on to my 20's as long as I can. Over 3o league!

Lockdown

Today my school had another lockdown because there was a bear roaming near campus! A bear! As I have said before, "Never boring."