Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful..

I can't believe today is December 1st. The year is almost over, 2010 has flown by and 2011 is staring at us right in the face. I absolutely can not believe how fast the year has gone by and how much everything has changed.

I went from a student to an adult.
Moved twice.
Got my first big girl job.
Learned how to stay a float in my big girl job, even though some days I feel like Im sinking.
Tried to find myself in a new city.
Got a new fur child.

I remember this time last year and thinking graduation would never come and I would never have a job, oh how wrong I was.

I love my job but I have never worked so hard for something in my life, but I love every second of it. I love the school God has put me at and the team I work with. I have such supportive parents (for the most part) and my students are a trip. They keep me on my toes and definitely challenge me every day.

For the last three years, I look back and think, God has blessed me with not only challenges but the grace to overcome them and see why He has done everything that He has. I feel very humbled to be where I am at this point in my life and definitely don't feel as if I deserve it.

The One Where I Tooted..

Here is a teaching story that I will never forget, I lost all self-respect but at the same time gained some, too.

As I'm lecturing my students on hallway manners for the umpteenth time and swear that if they don't learn it, Im going to take them to the Pre-k hallway and have them learn from the 'little people', I have them lined up in a strait line against the book shelf and am lecturing, lecturing, lecturing. You know, how the good teachers do it.

I should have pre-tensed this story that this is also the day before I was going to run my first 1/2 marathon. I was drowning my insides with more than usual water and a ton of fiber, because you know, that's what runners do.

Back to my story. So as I'm lecturing, you all of a sudden hear a long 'pooooo'. Not a subtle fluff, but a toot that comes out of a babies bottom when they get excited scooting across the floor reaching for that shiny toy that they have never seen before. I tried to recover but it was obvious, that not so silent toot came from me. My students all had a grin on their faces and without moving their heads were trying to look at each other with their eyes and doing everything they can to control their laughter.

I tried to recover but even I couldn't hold in my laughter. I kept talking but I just couldn't go on with my serious lecture. I looked at them and just said, 'next time you toot, you remember that your teacher did one day and there is no reason to be embarrassed.' The classroom erupted in laughter. Nobody had a strait face and I can't blame them, I wouldn't have been able to either. I told them it's ok, President Obama toots, I toot, everyone toots, so there is no reason to have shame. One of my precious students raised their hands and asked if I'd stop saying toot because it weirds them out. I then politely asked if they wouldn't go home and tell their parents.

So, that is the day I tooted. Never a dull moment in 5th grade.

Uhm... Is This Thing On???

Hi, my name is Taylor and I have a blog... that I completely neglected. The whole point of starting this blog was to follow my first year of teaching, so I could look back, in months, years, whenever and reflect, laugh, cry or even cringe about what I went through as a newbie. Then I dove right in.. let me tell you, some days I can barely keep my head above water, others I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world to get to have a job where I get PAID to do something so fun.. then my bubble gets popped and I leave work and come home and cry.

There have been so many things that I have experienced the last month 15 weeks that I have thought Im going through menopause ( ;) ). I have so many fun stories to share, some heartbreaking ones, and some down right ridiculous.

I ran my first half marathon, moved into a new house, and so far, survived 15 weeks (which have flown by so freaking. fast. ).

Did I mention I have gained 8lbs? I'm working on that..

I have so much to catch on. I am so glad the holidays are here. I am like Buddy the Elf. Im ready for lights, garland, cooler weather, Christmas spirit, and of course tis the reason for the season.

Changes (hopefully) Coming Our Way

One season is ending and another is beginning (shortly) and with that comes beautiful colors, cooler weather, football season, hoodies, Fall scents and flowers, I seriously can't wait. I love opening the windows when it is cool outside and having my scentsy warmer on and watching 'Fall movies'. Yes I watch 'Fall movies'. I one of those crazies. I would love to move somewhere with four actual seasons but Texas Fall will have to do.

Mr. G has also decided to take a new career route and we are in the midst of looking into where it could take us and when. I hope with everything that it works out for him. Im trying not to get my hopes up though for fear of disappointment.

Favorite 5th grade quote of the week:

Student: You must not get a lot of sleep at night..
Me: Why do you say that?
Student: Your eyes are purple and veiny under them..

I have a slight, very faint purple coloring under my eyes that gets really dark when Im sick and I have been fighting off a cold lately but seriously? This particular student is slightly strange, but still. I love them all and they all make me smile but sometimes I wonder, really?

Im finally getting into the swing of things and I can't believe this is week FOUR. I have survived four whole weeks. I have conferences next week, wow. I feel so lucky to wake up and go to a job that I love and it not feel like 'work'. I enjoy being where I am and doing what I do.

Another plus right now, Mister and I have found an amazing church. We are in a bible study group that consists of 5 other couples studying 'The 5 Love Languages' and Mr. G is really liking it. He wants to go to bible study and is really enjoying where we are. I am so glad God put us where we are and has surrounded me with the people he has.

It's almost hump day, the week is almost over! Have a great day!

Vitamin C Pleasseee

My throat hurts so bad right now that when I swallow, I feel as if my ears are going to bust. It took 2 full school weeks for my sweet angels to infest my immune system. Im trying to fight it but I feel horrible. I came strait home today and put sweats on before I even kissed the mister and he walked in and asked if I wore my sweats to work today. I. WISH.

I do have some slippers I change into when I moving around the classroom. Its for background noise. :)

It's been nothing but rainy today and it's going to continue all week. I hope that it brings cool Fall temperatures because Im ready to bust out the decor and let the cool air into my house.

Happy Tuesday!

2 Weeks Down.. How Many 'Til Christmas Break?

I have made it 2 weeks. 2 whole weeks. I am actually proud of myself. No meltdowns (myself or the chillens), no angry parents (yet), and I haven't lost anyone (so far). I am enjoying myself and slowly getting the hang of everything. I am getting to know people and making more friends every day. I am learning to love the town I live in and that is surprising.

I have some students with horrible home dynamics and it makes me just want to take them home with me, cook for them and buy them lots of toys and clothes because they don't get a lot of attention. It breaks my heart and I think about so many of my students when i am at home and pray for them at night. I am very lucky that I have some very supportive parents, some even greet me with a hug. It makes me so happy. I have gotten the sweetest gifts, just for no reason and it makes me feel so important. I am an important person, little ole me. Now I hope I make a difference in these kids lives.

It is weird to have an adult job and adult things to do. Yes I have been an adult but now I have a real job, not a waiting tables (not that this isn't a real job because it brings in the money) in college job. I feel so validated in life. Amazing.

It's a 3 day weekend y'all followed by a 4 day week. So. Happy.

So. Tired.

I have never experienced what such extreme exhaustion has felt like until recently. Im am so tired. Thankfully when I get to work though, I'm able to push past it and do my thing. Work doesn't feel like 'work' like it did in college. I don't dread it nor do I hate going there. I love my job and I love what I do, now if I could just get the hang of it. Im not going to lie, Im not used to not being good at something.

Im so thankful God has blessed me with such a great class. Are they perfect? No. They have their behavior issues and I have some that drive me nuts but they all mesh so well. I feel so lucky. They have great parents who are involved and care about what they are doing and to be honest, I feel spoiled.

I am finally making friends. I went to church on Sunday and feel like it could be my church home. I enjoy the people I work with and know that if I ever needed anything, they would drop anything to help me.

I feel like I'm waiting for the ball to drop and I shouldn't be this lucky. Anyone ever feel that way? Like when something good happens to you, it has to be followed by something bad?

Maybe Im just crazy.

Baby fever is slowly starting to set in. I've been saying I don't want babies for years and now I feel like I want one. Its a little baby bug but I hope it goes away because I'm not sure I'm ready. Are you ever really ready?