First Real Week at Hinkle Creek

Today marks the end of my first full week of student teaching at Hinle Creek. It definitely wasn't the easiest week I've ever endured. My cooperating teacher was gone for two days and so we had a sub in the room. This woman was very nice and clearly love teaching, but she was alos very much a typical sub who had no clue about the classroom. What's worse is I don't know enough about the class I'm in to correct her. All day long kiddos were coming up to me asking to do thing I know for a fact Mrs. Harger would not do. They were all totally trying to put one over one me, the rascals.
Then yesterday, two of my boys got into a fight. We were all getting packed up and ready to leave for the day when I looked over to see two boys pushing and shoving each other pretty violently. Obviously, I went straight over an dpulled them apart. Then they both wanted to tell me what happened and I couldn't understand anyone. It was ridiculous.
Today two kids were yelling at each other about cutting each other in line. We were in the hallway using the restroom and all of a sudden two boys are yelling super loud and pushing. I had to go over and break them up and try to calm them down and ask what happened. But of course, while one is talking, the other is screaming "NO! NU-UH! THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED!!" All the while my cooperating teaher isn't around and all the other students have gone silent because of all the noise. Did I mention one of the boys who was fighting yesterday was also involved in this fight? He's kind of a little bully. But one you typically wouldn't suspect. He's like an incognito bully. You almost never see him in the act. Seriously though, these kids are completely different from Carmel kids...not for the better

Seriously??

This just might be the most disgusting wedding dress I've ever seen...

She Works Hard for the Money

I finally got a job for the summer. It's only part time, but it's still money in the bank right? I'm working as the secretary in my church. It's pretty cool but I get bored sometimes. Because it's only part time, I need to get another job. I figure I could also work part time waitressing at at restaurant and make some real good tips. Unfortunately, I REALLY don't want to work in the food industry again. I worked at a pizza place all through High School and it wasn't the best job ever. People get super angry when something comes between them and their food. Oh well...I may have to just suck it up. I want to work through student teaching, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to pull that off. I guess I'll figure it out.
Jeff and I have decided to use my paychecks to pay for some of our wedding items. We've bought quite a bit so far. Last week we were able to get the flower girl baskets and some decorative flowers from Goodwill, bells, tulle, and tulle circles from Wal-Mart, and vases, beads, and decorations from our friend Brittany. She has lots of things left over from her wedding and she was generous enough to let Jeff and I borrow some things. Yesterday we bought the ring pillow, guest book, silk flowers for my bouquet, ribbon, little drawstring bags for rice, and flower petals for the flower girls from Hobby Lobby. Seriously, Hobby Lobby is an AMAZING place for anyone who is getting married. Their selection of wedding stuff is intense. Hobby Lobby is a little pricey so it's best to wait for a sale. For instance, they have 50% off all wedding items so I bought up the place, lol. I'm so happy we started buying thing for our wedding. I know we're still 11 months off, but it's nice to have something concrete to hang onto; to actually see physical wedding progressions. I get paid again next week. Shopping again? Yesplease.

Memories From Summers Past

It's official...we bought a boat. My mom and dad went to look at boats yesterday and they found one they liked. Today me, mom, and all the kids went down to the boat store to place a down payment on the boat. We should have the boat at our house by the middle of next week. I'm very excited for all this. Growing up in California, we had a boat and we were out on it every weekend. Sometimes we would sleep out on the boat. Of course, this was back when it was only me and my parents. Four more small children might make this a little more difficult. We are still getting the boat though. Mom said that Jeff and I could even take the boat out by ourselves sometimes if we want...uhm, yesplease!!!! AND I will most definitely be learning how to drive this thing and then taking some of the girls from Taylor out on the lake. Wing retreat anyone??? :]]]

Today was Sarah's last day of Kindergarten. She definitely went out with a bang. Today all the Kindergarteners in the school participated in the Kindy 500. Basically, all the kids made personal racecars out of boxes so they could race around the gym. When it was Sarah's race, she was leading the pack...right up until the time she fell. And she biffed it HARD. She fell over flat on her face with her legs flailing in the air. The poor thing started crying because she skinned her knee too. Mom noticed that she was in different shorts than she went to school in. As it turns out, Sarah had an accident at school. We're not sure why, but poor Sarah peed in her pants. What a way to end the year huh? Oh well, Sarah is still young and I'm sure she'll forget about it by the end of the summer. The boat will help her forget :]

Summer is Finally Here

"Nothin on Earth that'll get me hummin like a heat wave commin and I'll come runnin. With me makin that tan in the broad daylight, every night is a saturday night. Everything's right when the summer's commin, I'm the first one standing in line. For my day in the sun I've been working til the sun don't shine." I'm officially a senior in college! Woo! Now summer is finally here and I need a friggin job, lol. I've been searching for a nanny position since March and nothing has worked out yet. I'm really hoping I don't have to go work some high school retail job, but it may come down to that. I don't know, I guess we'll see what happens. Jeff and I got our engagement pictures taken last week and we got a few teaser pictures back and they look fantastic!! I can't wait to see the rest of them. Amy said she'd have them done by tomorrow at the latest. AND I'm planning on buying a wedding dress this summer. My goal is to have it ordered before I start student teaching. I've heard it can take up to six months to get a dress in. Plus I want to allow time to get it adjusted if need be. I'd rather have it early than be rushing last minute to have it ready. Only 382 days until the wedding!!!!!

gaaaaah

This has been a very VERY long school year and I am more that ready to be done with it. I only have 22 days left at Taylor before I leave for the summer and student teaching in the fall. I did find out today that both of my placements have been finalized. I'm at Carmel Elementary in a 5th grade class and another school in Nobelsville in a 2nd grade class. I'm SUPER excited to get started in student teaching. I'm just tired of being at Taylor. I'm so far away from Jeff all the time and I'm just sick of it. I miss being around him and seeing him. I went home this past weekend, but that was defnitely NOT enouh time with him. But lets be serious, a lifetime isn't enough time with him. At this point, the only reason we're not getting married now is simply because of school. I refuse to live apart from my husband, thats just stupid to me. So Jeff and I just have to push through until we can get married next June. I'll tell you what though...it can't come soon enough.

I'M ENGAGED!!!!

My impatience has finally, uhm, paid off? Lol. I don't know what you wanna call it, but it doesn't matter much to me because I'M ENGAGED!!!! I woke up on saturday morning and Jeff had already been to my house and left little love post-its all over my house along with an empty photo album, a camera, and instructions to take pictures of everything. I called Jeff when i found all the notes at about 2:00PM. Jeff came over to my house and told me that he was taking me to Red Lobster (my favorite place)for dinner. He insisted on going at 7:00PM. I didn't understand and pressed him for an answer. Jeff finally told me it's because I had another gift at the resaurant. Obviously I complied and we went to eat. After we had our meal and got the bill, I asked about the gift. Jeff told me that he lied, the gift was really back at my house. We went back home and we walked into a dark house with a faint candlelight glow coming from the living room. I thought maybe we had walked in on my parents...celebrating Valentine's Day, lol. As it turns out, Jeff had gotten my parents to set the room up for me. All the furniture was pushed to the walls, a fire was going, and a bunch of tea light candles were all over. Jeff put on our song and asked me to dance with him (a request of mine from earlier this week). While we were dancing, Jeff was saying a bunch of romantic things and I wondered what was happening. I told Jeff that he had gone above and beyond for Valentine's Day and that I didn't know how he was going to top it for the proposal, to which he replied "Let me show you." Jeff sat me down and launched into his speech, which I don't even remember because I was in such shock, lol. I was able to sqweak out a "yes" and then it was official...Jeff and I are geting married!!!!! We chose June 11, 2011 so we have lots of time to plan financially. 16 months to go :]]]]]

My Immune System Sucks

I've been sick since Tuesday of last week and it's been horrible. Last week wasn't so bad, but Friday was the start of the downfall. Saturday I didn't even leave the dorm! My nose is sooooo congested and I've got crazy bad sinus pressure. I can handle almost anything a sickness dishes out, except for a stuffy/runny nose. I can't stand not being able to breathe!! Jeff says it's a defense mechanism of my body. It realizes that there is something bad inside and my body has "secured the perimeter." My body is closing off all the exits to make sure nothing else gets it. But that doesn't make any sense...My body doesn't want anything else coming into it, so it closes of everything, even my air passage??? Stupid. And, I lost my voice on Sunday and it's just gotten worse since then. I woke up today with body aches...good grief. Luckily, I didn't have any classes today, so I was able to take a sick day. I'm feeling a little better, but I'm not a fan of not having my voice. I love singing in the shower, and with my voice gone, that's not an option :[ I'm really hoping I'm over my sickness by this weekend. I don't wanna be sick when Jeff and I celebrate valentine's day...

patience is a...pain in my butt

Okay, have you ever been soooo excited for something that time just inches by? Yeah, that's where I am right now. Jeff and I are supposed to get engaged sometime this spring and time is simply not my friend these days. I know I'm not supposed to wish time away, but I can't help it. I'm SUPER excited to be Jeff's finace and I'm just so ready. I've reached that point where I feel like I'm just standing still and waiting for the next step, but that can't happen yet. I'm trying so hard to not be pushy and relax, but it's proving to be more difficult that I thought. I've been doing some pre-engagement wedding planning, but you can only do so much before you really need to be engaged to move forward (i.e putting a down payment on a reception place, talking to your pastor, ect.)School has been pretty low-key this semester so I haven't been as busy as I've been before. Basically, I'm not as pre-occupied as I used to be. Whew! It's gonna be a LONG couple of months