Another post... are we getting close to my return??

YES -- YES WE ARE!!

I have less than 3 weeks until my assessment center test.  And less than 4 weeks till our last day of school (actually ... 4 weeks from today is the teacher last day).  I'm hoping to be up and running in 4 weeks  With that being said...

I have had my mind flowing  on a new name for my new blog ... yes a new blog.  I'm thinking that this blog was created for my move to TX --- but now here I am (haven't seen a rattlesnake yet... although we were warned and got Mia vaccinated for them and have been to our fair share of rodeos but it's time to drop the 'rattlesnakes and rodeos') --- it's time for a change. 

I'm doing a complete change -- meaning this blog will soon be completely out of commission.  I'll let y'all know the new one and how to follow:):)

Wish me luck --- 19 days and counting!!!!!!!!!!

Not until I can commit

Well.... it's clearly past the 1st day of school when I made my last post.  My life has taken on a high speed chase of writing my National Boards papers (so far I've averaged 5 hours for the past 20 oir so weeks... that's over 100 hours... yep), adjusting my daily teaching to frequent modifications for my students, continuously building my relationship with Derrick and letting him know how important he is to me when at times it seems as though he serves as only my cook, experiencing Austin as much as possible, training for a half marathon (and completing it in under my goal time!), traveling, and trying to find time for myself.

So... the title of my blog is 'not until I can commit' --- and by commit I mean 100%.  I plan to come back in FULL FORCE -- daily themed topics, product reviews, weekly menus, our adventure searching for a new house (yep it's starting again in late summer early fall), training programs, eating green and going 'granola-y', NOT hosting summer camp this year and enjoying a summer off, and so much more.  When I return ---- definitely by June but hopefully sooner (my boards are submitted in late March and then I will study for my test which I hope to take by May to be done with it until scores release in November 2013), this blog will be completely different.  I'm going to use it as a way to communicate and meet new people, inspire others through health, fitness, saving money, and so much more!!!  Can't wait --- until then -- hang tight --- I'm looking forward to blogging again soon!

and so it begins....

Our first day has come and gone - the anticipation was built up, the fear of what the year would bring, my overwhelmed feelings, my stressed out feelings, my denial feelings, yep - come and gone.  It's official - the year has kicked off to a great start!  But, I must admit, it came with much trepidation, support, and searching.

I'm not going to say that I have become over night religious that's for sure.  I've always had a soft spot for going to church and walking out feeling like a new person - ready to smile, take on the world, and 'give it to God and stop stressing about it' as one of my old friends used to say.  But, I never understood that last quote until this past weekend.

I've known since last year that I would have a class that would require more than academics, but I don't think it was what I had anticipated.  I thought it would be like my kids I've had in the past - but my thoughts were wrong.  Too many kids, not enough support - ain't that the truth?

But, after a few meltdowns, a few 'I can't do this', a few 'I'm not going to be able to do my best' I was snapped back into the reality.  Derrick really took charge and reminded me of some important things.  Like that whatever I set out to do, I always accomplish it 125%.  He also treated me to a special surprise - Vera Bradley lunch box of course! - a special dinner, and constant support.  Other friends reminded me that not all kids are ready for academic learning, they may need to just start with routines and social skills.

And then my epiphany came on Saturday night.  As I was lying in bed, trying to figure out how to take this off my mind I remembered what an old friends said, 'give it to God, he'll take care of it'.  And that I did.  Why should I stress out - it was out of my control.  God, or whoever you want to think, put these children in my classroom for a reason.  A reason that I may not know why yet, but they were put in there knowing I could handle it, I could support them, I could love them, and I could teach them... something.  Maybe not what I'm used to teaching them, but something.  And I 'gave it to God' to handle.  And wow could I feel the weight lifted off my shoulders.  It felt amazing.  I was no longer stressed - I was feeling at ease. 

I went to church on Sunday and they said a special prayer for educators, it spoke to me.  I came home, relaxed, and enjoyed my last night off. 

Today, I entered the classroom ready to face this battle.  And I came out winning:) It was  tiresome, tedious, exhausting, but what 1st day isn't?  It felt great to be back!  I end with a quote a friend had posted, or I should say a prayer, which also made me feel better and reminded me of the other reasons I am doing this profession - it's not to make genius's, it to make children feel proud of themselves.

Lord, let me be just what they need. If they need someone to trust, let me be trustworthy. If they need sympathy, let me sympathize. If they need love, (and they do need love), let me love in full measure. Let me not anger easily, Lord, but let me be just. Let my justice to be tempered in your mercy. When I stand before them, Lord, let me look strong & good & honest & loving and let me be as stron

g & good & honest & loving as I look to them. Help me to counsel the anxious, crack the covering of the shy and temper the rambunctious with a gentle attitude. Permit me to teach only the truth. Help me to inspire them so that learning will not cease at the classroom door. Let the lessons they learn make their lives fruitful and happy. And, Lord, let me bring them to You. Teach them through me to love You. Finally, permit me to learn the lessons they teach. 

 

So, remember educators and all of you out there - if you feel the burden, just know, someone -whether it be God or someone else - believed you could handle what you were given...

Summer in Austin part 3

• Finished up my final week of camp - Girls Only - full of girly things - papier mache princess heads, dress up, cupcake decorating, painting nails, a lemonade stand with all proceeds going to the local animal shelter, and a special spa day for them - complete with Carley Rae 'Call me Maybe' blasting the WHOLE 2 HOURS! 

 

Princess dress up plus cake decorating - yes please!

how cute are they!?! no wonder they raised $32 in 45 minutes!

• Squeezing in our last few 'summer moments' like out to lunch, ice cream evenings, and fancy drinks. 

My prickly pear margarita in San Antonio for the night visiting Derrick while he was working:)

never a bad idea for The Yogurt Spot

Love going out to lunch with mid afternoon drinks:)

cannot complain about this lunch view

Holy yum - no lie - be jealous if you have never had it

Summer has officially come to an end for me.  School starts with kids on Monday.  I do not know where my summer went but it was again another fabulous summer and I am soaking up every last second I have as I prepare for my 6th (yes... as in sixth) year teaching.

Summer in Austin - part 2

• We were able to complete our redecorating and finishing up everything in the apartment we wanted to finish:)

Bedroom completed with curtains and newly covered pillow - don't mind the clothes

the old curtains were moved upstairs... and downstairs was transformed...

...into these:) they brighten it up a ton!

our new bathroom - with the storage cabinet which saved us a ton of space!

our shelving unit finally organized:)

picture wall from 1 view

other view - still more to add

• My mom came to visit and we enjoyed an evening hike up Mt Bonnell, good eats, an afternoon drink at the Oasis on Lake Travis, hiking, and relaxation.

can't go wrong with TX BBQ

Oasis view of the Lake

hike view

Went water biking

holding my hat and trying to steer

on top of Mt Bonnell

Austin lovers

Summer in Austin - part 1

Summer in Austin was everything it should've been - hot, busy, relaxing, fun, enjoyable... my list could go on.

I'm going to sum it over a few posts to squeeze it all in and bring me up to date!!

June was crazy but once July arrived we were around the rest of the summer.  Summer breakdown:

• Every Monday was spent getting together with my girlfriends, watching the Bachelorette and seeing who would win our money pot from our bets - we all did love Jef the best (or as we called him, Jefe). On my night to host it was a GA theme (based off of the guy I picked you had to theme the food around their state) and I made a peach sangria.  Um... fabulous.

The fruit - grapes and nectarines

The mix ins - white whine, peach schnaaps, and frozen lemonade

All mixed together - pretty and toxic!!!

• This turned into even trashier Mondays when we decided to also watch the Bachelor Pad to continue our get togethers.
• Derrick and I spent 2 weekend in an indoor pool/classroom/and then the lake getting our scuba certification.  It was a fun time - I was very apprehensive at first but we went to Tom's Dive Shop and had a blast and I'm eager to get out into blue water... not murkey lake water:)

Practicing my snorkeling in the pool before our first class

Huge bottle of champagne to celebrate finishing:)

• My birthday came and went with lots of friends, birthday wishes, and some 2 step dance lessons that Derrick and I will enjoy sooner rather than later I hope!  Derrick also took me to a wonderful restaurant where they gave me a special menu and an autographed one by the head chef:) 

My special menu - it was amazing

out with friends downtown for my birthday - city view

Surprise birthday flowers... he gets me:)

• I hosted our Pirate themed summer camp for week #2.  It was a huge hit - mainly because of the truly life size cardboard box built pirate ship my co-camp-head-lady made during her spare time the weekend before!  Awesome!  We had a blast playing in that, making pirate costumes and painting beards on our faces, learning how to fence, and in the end going bowling to get out of the heat!

Yes... that is for real with a working drawbridge!

Matteo's Baptism

Matteo was baptized on July 1 - a special and memorable day for all of us.  9 years ago - this was the day my dad suddenly passed away from a massive heartache rocking all of our worlds and turning everything upside down.  But, as they say and you never believe, people heal over time.  And with that came finding comfort in July 1... a day that came full circle for us with Matteo's baptism:)

I was lucky to have been asked to be godmother :)  What a special blessing that is for me and ... for him - c'mon best godmother E-V-E-R!

I requested to buy his baptism outfit - a vision I've had in my mind since he was born.  A white bubble romper monogrammed with his initials of course.  And... after countless hours of searching and dollar signs later I found it and must say it was worth every penny.  It was beautiful.  Just like a christening outfit should be:)  Below are some pics from his special day in the Catholic church.