Tagged Five Simple Pleasures

My Five Simple Pleasures
I should not have read Steph's Page.

1. Being able to stay up late and sleep as long as I want to. When I was little I always heard, "Get up you are sleeping the whole day away!"

2. Not having any plans. As much as I love having plans, it has been nice to wake up and not really have anything to do for the day. Like today.

3. Being able to accomplish my list of things to do.

4. Being able to laugh everyday at something or someone.

5. Being able to have friends that are willing to help me out and just talk to me about everything to make me see the end. It has been great to have friends to talk to about life. They help me realize what I can't see.

Now if you are reading this it is your turn.

First Few Days of Summer Break

So I have been kind of bored while on break, but it has also given me a chance to do what I want. I kind of want to go off and travel for a bit. However I need some money for that and I am a little short right now. So soon I will be going. But today I went and got the hair cut and colored. I went to Rena at Valley Curls and she was so nice and so sweet. I really have to say I will be going back to her again. I just had to do something different. I guess I want to catch someone's eye too (which I kind of did).

Last night I went to Lewis Peterson's last baseball game. It was fun to hang out with the Peterson's. They are really super sweet to me and they are kind of like a family to me. They have helped me loads this year at school and just made me feel like I fit there. Stephanie is great too. She gives me my help or at least leads me in the right direction. Well I hope everyone else is having a good break.

Here are some pictures of the new hair! Tell me what you think. I am not to sure I like it straight, so we will try curly tomorrow.

Last Week of School Top 5

5. Last day of doing work!!!! I made Monday our last day of doing work. These kids worked so hard all day and did the same the week before, that I decided we would work, but not as hard. We took it easy and enjoyed writing thngs about second grade and even reading stories. We also did some fun things in Math such as multiplication. These kids were so ready for summer time that I had to give in.

4. Watching a Play! On Monday we were lucky to have the other second grade class come in and do a play for us. I was so happy to see them perform and hear how much they have grown. Some of the students that were performing in the play have been a part of my class for reading and they have had difficulties sharing in front of everyone, but not now. They did wonderfully. Plus it helped me because I had a student that left on Tuesday and I needed to get so much done for this child that I needed every minute Monday could give me. Thank goodness for plays and children who behave so well.

3. WATER DAY!!!!!!! I have to say I was looking forward to this day for awhile. It had been super hot and every day I wanted to squirt these kids down to cool them off. So finally Tuesday came and we got to have our water party. It actually was a lot of fun. I came to school on Tuesday in my sweat capris and a t-shirt so if I got wet I would not ruin anything, but I ended up going home to get my swimsuit at lunch time. It is a good thing I live closer to the school now. Miss O'Brien wore her suit and wanted me to wear mine too, so I did. The kids got quite the kick out of it. I enjoyed watching them have fun and even the one child who got sunscreen in her mouth and then in her eyes. As she said to me," Miss Stauber, can you see the sunscreen in my eyes? That is why there are tears." She is quite the child. I went on the slip and slide with kids. We raced each time and of course they all won. I went down the water slide, even though I am to big, but hey I am still a kid at heart. We had fun and man if you could have seen how dirty that water was. I also had a child who thought it was so cold out that he had to wrap him self up each time he finished going down. I have to say it was a fun, fun day!

2. Spending the whole year with these wonderful children! This has been a very wonderful, fun filled year. There has been so many changes and so many things have happened. But I think that God had it all planned out for me this way. Many thing have happened this year, but these kids have been there for me all year. They have kept the smile on my face and made me realize that I can do this and will do it. I know that each one of them at least had me in their life for 6 hours of the day and that is what they needed. Some of these kids make like children to me and I am going to miss them so much.

1.Saying Goodbye!:( This picture just says it al. Even thought I am smiling inside I am crying. These two girls will be missed greatly. So for a new year that will be happening in August. I am sad to see these children go. I don't know what my little one with the curious face is doing or thinking about.

Missing the Family

So as the holiday weekend starts and school just finished I am missing my family big time! This picture is from when I graduated college in May of 2007. I just am starting to realize that I don't know if I can live this far away without having them here all the day. I mean I am use to being away from them because I went to school in Alaska, but for some reason I just miss them. Maybe it is because I am usually home with them during the whole summer. I just love my family and I want to be there with them. I know I have a family out here with all of the people I work with but school is out. So I don't get to see them and I don't get to see my family.

On top of that I went shopping today and got depressed about stuff. I just need to get away!

Honesty, Does it really work?

So I kind of have this problem. I don't know if anyone out there can help me, but I am hoping so. How do you honestly tell someone how you feel? I mean I guess I want to tell this person how I truthfully feel. I want them to know how special they make me feel and how when the walk into a room or acknowledge me, everything changes. I have other people in my life that do this for me and it is so easy to tell them, but this person it seems so hard. I don't know what to do. I guess I fear that our friendship may change or that they make think I am a crazy person.

Well that is all I have for today. I just had to get this off my chest and see if anyone out there helps me. So have a great week and look forward for pictures once I figure it all out.

Manic Monday

So today started like any other Monday. It was going really well until I got to school.... I did not realize all the work I have to do this week.
* Inventory
*Clean
*Awards
*Water Day
*Writing Folders
*A Book
*Grades................. The list goes on and on and on and on. Those are just what I can remember. So I started by working on the writing folders and it took me all morning. Then I had to do school square with my class and it is so hot out. But at least my buddy Thomas came in and set up my printer for me, so that has made it a bit better. And right now Miss O'Brien's class is in doing a play, which gives me a chance to fill out my awards for this year. I just can't believe I have to have a good portion of my neverending list done by Tuesday since one of my students is leaving that early. What am I going to do?? I guess no dates or social life this week.

This Week's Top 5

Well this week has had some interesting highlights to it. All in all it was a good week, but for the Top 5.
5. Finally selling my jeep. When I first moved out here in July of 2007, I bought a jeep so I had a way of getting around plus I always wanted one. Well since gas is going up and my wage is not, I decided to purchase something newer and better on gas. So a few weeks ago I bought a Kia Spectra5 and put the jeep up for sale Everyone wanted it and soon it found a home to a cute couple here.

4. Going to the movies. The weeks started off rough and I knew it was going to be a long one. So on Monday I stopped to see a friend of mine at State Farm and to give him something for my insurance. I mentioned if he had seen What Happens in Vegas. He said no and we talked some more and made plans to see it on Wednesday and then I could meet some of his friends too. Well just the two of us went and I didn't get to meet any of his friends, but it was nice and a good movie too. I like being in his company because he always listens and makes me laugh a lot.

3. Helping Steph out. I love being able to help my friends whenever they need it. This past week was the last week for kindergarten and since I started out teaching kindergarten, I wanted to help them as much as possible. On Friday morning I just could not sleep so when I headed to school, I stopped in to help my friend Steph out with kindergarten graduation. I just love being able to help her and being in her company. She makes me laugh and just gives me some great ideas for my students.

2. Challenging my students. On every friday we have professional developments and this friday was no different, except for the principal announcing in front of all the teachers how the superindent was happy I was still challenging his daughter. She is in my class and they are so ready for summer break, but I have still been sending home homework and actually having them write in class. We are trying to do as much as work as I can get out of them. It is hard but I am doing my best. I guess it was nice to finally be acknowledged for my work and effort.

1. You are our number one star. Last week was teacher appreciation week, so this past week we did principal appreciation week. One of the teachers came up with the idea of having every student fill out a star telling our principal how much we appreciate him and then we took them all and put them up in his office Wednesday night after he left. He was so surprised on Thursday morning and I guess he loved it a lot. He is a great guy and has helped me out so much this year. I don't know if I could have worked with anyone else if it was not for him.

Well one more week to go and then vacation for me!!!!!!

First Year of Teaching

This has been one of the most interesting first year's of teaching. I would not have thought it would be anything like this. I thought it would be full of second guessing, asking for help, and having my hand held the whole time. I also thought I would be there everyday and night until the wee wee hours. I thought I would have no life at all. But somehow I have managed to have a life and do it all on my own. I don't have anyone holding my hand or telling me what to do, well besides the principal, but I can't believe it.

I have worked along side some wonderful people this year and made great great friends. I have had loads of drama thrown my way, but somehow made it through. It has been a learning experience, but as one professor once said," You learn so much more in your first year of teaching than you ever learned in four years of college." So I guess I have learned enough now and I can't believe that year two will start on August 13th.

I signed a contract to come back for my next year and I just can't believe it all is happening. I love these kids so much and I don't want to send them on to third grade. I want to keep them forever and ever. They are so important to me and they love me so much. My little gangster or troublemaker is giving me hugs all the time now, but does it real quick so no one can see it. It is so cute. And then my cutest little girl loves to hug me constantly and wants me to hold her. When I pick her up or hug her, she has to have me on her level so she can place her cheek on mine. I am going to miss them. Today when we were doing a principal appreciation thing, I wanted to cry because I love these kids. I don't know if I could leave anytime soon. It just makes me wonder what I have gotten myself into here. Oh well I love it.

Then lastnight I went to a movie with a friend. He is great. I really am glad that I was introduced to him. He makes me laugh at life and at myself. I like it alot.

So I guess I under estimated myself. I can do it. I can teach all by myself and I can have a life outside of school, even though I didn't leave until 6 tonight, but hey I can do it. But wow what a first year.

Oh and today we watched the kindergarteners do their dress rehearsal and it made me cry. I can't believe that they were the students I had when school started. I wish I was still there with them, but I love the group I have now.