It MUST be a dream!

So, because three flawlessly wonderful days is just unheard of...I must tell my tale of day 3. It's funny how when big events come up you dream about them. I remember the month before my wedding. I kept having these ridiculous re-occuring dreams that I would be up at the alter and some guy (not Tim) would come down and I HAD to marry him...I had no choice. I also remember dreaming about sleeping through my finals the night before finals. Well, in my dream last night, I was awaken by a doorbell ringing. I had no idea why someone would be ringing the doorbell before 6 am. Then, Tim jumps out of bed and says, "Jenni, it's 7:05!" I jumped out of bed to see my phone ringing because my ride is waiting for me outside.

Then, I realized...this was not a dream at all. It was the reality of my morning. So, I washed my face and put on some makeup, grabbed the first pair of clothes I could find and left...10 minutes flat. (My ride had left at 7:05 because I would not make them late because of my stupidity.) In the midst of my getting ready frenzy, my hunk of a husband was being the saintly wonderful man that I love so dearly. He went out to start the car, put in the address in the GPS, made my lunch for me, and was waiting at the door to kiss me goodbye. With the help of him and my GPS, I arrived at the school at 7:59 and the students were not in the room yet. My teacher had been notified thanks to my friend, Andrea, whose mom works at the school. My teacher was absolutely understanding and wonderful about the situation. It was a bad morning. (I never turned the sound on my phone back on last night after church, so while my alarm was going off, there was no sound.)

Because of the kink of the morning, I felt out of it during the day and tired. So, because there cannot be three perfect days in a row...this one came about.

I have decided to be a better blogger and try to humor you readers with my fun student teaching stories. Hopefully you enjoyed my drama of the morning. What a nightmare!

Student Teaching

The past two days have been the most wonderful days of my education career! I began my student teaching at Spring Hill Intermediate School Tuesday. I was nervous because it was a new district so far away and I had no idea what my teacher would be like....not to mention I had no desire to teach fourth grade! Well, my teacher is absolutely AMAZING! She is so sweet and loving and SUCH a great teacher! Spring Hill is a wonderful district from what I can tell. I walked in and felt welcomed automatically. The kids are angels and my teacher picks what she gets to teach. I love it! I could so be a fourth grade teacher! It reminds me a lot of my elementary school. These two days are the first time in the past four years that I have felt completely confident in wanting to teach! Hallelujah! Spring Hill is much different than Marshall...but a good different! I have a feeling these first 8 weeks are going to fly by much faster than I would like them to. I emailed my professor begging him to let me stay for the second half, too since fourth grade is considered a lower and an upper grade. Anyways...just a quick update before I hit the hay! I am loving student teaching!

Just some thoughts

Tomorrow is the official first day of getting back into my workout routine. This break has been glorious not thinking or worrying about working out seeing that it is not a favorite of mine. My little belly can vouch for that! But, it must be done. My goal is to lose at least six pounds in the next four months. I think it is doable, but it will be a challenge. I have been the same weight since high school...but maybe I can break that! I can see myself now moaning in anguish and hating myself for not running for two weeks....humorous for others I can imagine. Luckily for me, most people don't get back for another week so I will have the gym basically to myself....so maybe I won't make a fool of myself after all...at least not in front of many people.

The last step of my education begins Tuesday. I will be student teaching in Spring Hill in a 4th grade reading class. I think I'm ready...well, maybe I will be ready if I can remember the teacher I am supposed to be with. Ha! I don't know that I ever got official documentation of my mentor teacher's name. Hm..I should look for that. But, it should be a great semester! It just doesn't feel real...I will definitely keep updating how that goes.

Have you seen the movie Julie and Julia?? It made me want to be a blogger for one and two I am hoping to be like Julia when I am old...without the annoying voice. Just saying.

To my family- Thank you for a wonderful holiday season of joy, relaxation, and full bellies!

For Today

FOR TODAY Monday, December 21, 2009

Outside my window...is a view of the president's house!

I am thinking...that my feet are dying! Eight tours in admissions today! Whew!

I am thankful for...my break starting in 2 days!!!

From the learning rooms...NO LEARNING ROOMS RIGHT NOW.

From the kitchen...I think we're doing subway tonight...SO good!

I am wearing...tennis shoes, jeans, and an ETBU polo.

I am creating...well, I've been wrapping presents the past few weeks...I guess that's creating?

I am going...to Arlington Wednesday!!

I am reading...nothing at the moment...BUT I hopefully be reading Harry Potter after Christmas?

I am hoping...that I don't gain any weight over the holidays, haha!

I am hearing...Forest Gump on TV...Jenn-ay!

Around the house...I have kept our bedroom clean for two whole weeks! That is the one room I suck at keeping clean! I've done well with most of the rest of the house, too! I have still been washing dishes after every meal. I guess not being stressed out about anything right now is being reflected by my apartment!

One of my favorite things...Dallas Stars and Subway!

A few plans for the rest of the week...Going to Arlington Wed. evening, Christmas with my family, last Certification exam on Monday then headed to Ennis for a few days!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...This was one of Jeff's Pictures that he took of us! It was going to be on a Christmas card, but we don't have time to make them or a program to do it on...so here's a cute picture! Jeff did such a great job! Check out his website and give him a call if you need pics done for anything! www.stapletonphotography.net

A little somethin' somethin'

Unit owned. We had a huge education project of planning a two week unit about Austin, TX for all subjects including ELA, math, social studies, science, health, PE, and art along with a technology center, culminating activity, field trip, diversity center, and bulletin board. Each lesson plan was in the Five E Model format. We worked in groups of four and it was A LOT of time and work put into it....I wanted to share a few pics of the final product.


This was a big somethin' to be proud of! My group was FABULOUS and we did a great job!
I'm off to my last undergraduate class of my life...and it is in the form of a pizza party! yessss

Dishmonster Beware

I feel a little disappointed today. I learned last week that for student teaching instead of being put into a Kindergarten class, my professor accidentally overlooked my preference and put me into a third grade class. As stated in previous posts, I love third grade...but I have been there two semesters now and I really wanted to see reading being taught and the first foundations being built...it is what was going to help me decide if I wanted to teach the little ones. But, I have come to peace with it even though I am a bit disappointed. Well, today my professor called and the school I am going to somehow decided to put me into a 4th grade class instead of a sixth or seventh. My professor is trying everything he can to get me into a higher grade class. I know that I will make the best of whatever situation I will be placed in...but it was just disheartening that it happened to me twice. My professor was laughing because for some reason I just got the bad luck this year. I am reminded that God speaks in unusual ways...and perhaps he wants me in third grade...hopefully not fourth, haha. I have no desire to teach fourth grade. Anyways...keep that situation in your prayers.

On a more positive note...I feel accomplished today! I wrapped all of our gifts, made cookies for our education gift exchange, and cleaned up the living room and kitchen! I was planning on napping today...but I got on a roll!

I have outsmarted the dishes! As much as I hate doing dishes...especially big piles...the past month Tim and I have washed everything we used right after meals....so in your face dishes...you will not become a huge overwhelming monster of a pile!

I have only three days of undergraduate classes left! AHH! I will never take an undergraduate class again!!! I also only have 2 finals...both on Wednesday next week. I am almost FREE! I also take my LAST certification exam on Dec. 28 in Arlington and then I just have to walk across that stage!! I'm pretty positive that I am going to graduate with a 4.0 too! Exciting :0) Then...getting my masters in a few years....maybe?

Dear....

Dear weight,
We need to talk. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that you haven't gone up for the past four or more years...however, you haven't gone down either. Now I think you and I both know that I work a little too hard for you not to have budged a bit...I mean running Thanksgiving afternoon?? Come on, cut me some slack! All of this to say...help me out...I get frustrated sometimes.
Sincerely,
Jenni