So...today went so much better...

...but that is because I had my tough kids in the morning, and they are still waking up and aren't too quick with comments AND my one student who talks non-stop (and I'm not kidding) was out sick today. So, we shall see how tomorrow goes...let's keep our fingers crossed. I am going to work on a rewards program, so I'm hoping that will help!

But, I wanted to share one thing that broke my heart today.
I stayed really late today, left at about 5pm (teachers usually run for the doors at 2:30) and the custodians were there cleaning the building and they are all very friendly. Well, one gentleman (from South America) started talking to me, asking me where I was from and telling me that I"m at a great school. He mentioned his family and his son and that he fought to defend our country. And I told him that he should be proud of him and he proceeded to tell me that he was killed on 9/11 at the Pentagon, 4 days before his 24th birthday. Broke my heart...it is closer to home now. And another teacher told me that there are students in our building that have lost parents or loved ones on 9/11. I live so close to DC and so many commute in, I guess I shouldn't be shocked, but I am. So anyway, my story of the day!

Hope to get pictures up tomorrow!

Bad day...

...and is it bad that I already want to quit! Yes, the kids were really rough today and I have learned that I have no support whatsoever from my principal or vice principal. I won't go into detail and I know that this is the first of many bad days, so I should look for the positive...
I did get a hug from one of my students and I did get paid. :)
OK. Please keep me in your prayers...b/c I need them!

So far...so good!

Well, I have just completed day four of teaching and all is well!

I am teaching an 8th grade reading program called "Meeting the Middle" at Mattawoman Middle School. They have what is called a block schedule, where classes are 90 minutes long, they alternate which classes they go to, but attend Math and English everyday. School starts at 7:30 and ends at 2pm. I love it! Still adapting to the early early morning, but since school is only 20 minutes up the road, it isn't too bad.
And I love being home by 3pm, 4pm at the latest!

I was very excited when I met another teacher from Ann Arbor and heard that a couple other teachers were from MI! I'm going to go to a new teacher reception, so I hope to met some more teachers and maybe make some friends!

I will have to take some pictures of my classroom once I have it put together. It is very small, but I am fortunate that the most I can have in my room is 12!

So, I wanted to give a little update on how things were going!

One last thing:
I want to send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to my dearest friend from college, Kelly, on the birth of their 4th child, Ashley Claire. Born September 21. Ashely joins big sisters Hailey, Shelby and brother Dylan. God's blessings Kel!

Home...

Well, I thought I'd post some pictures of our home. Hopefully enticing some of you to come down for a visit...we have more than enough room!

Let me take you on a tour...
Here is Matt's office



Living room/dining room/library (what you see when you first come up the stairs).





Here is our family room/kitchen. The place where we spend the majority of our time!







And this is our deck. We used to have patio furniture, but brought it back to MI and we can't have our grill up here b/c it is a fire hazard and our neighbor below us was going to turn us in...yet the neighbors around us have grills!



Let's go upstairs...
Here is our bedroom



My dresser and my walk in closet (Matt has the bigger walk in!)



And here is our bathroom, with a nice big tub and shower!



Let's go down the hall...
Here is the laundry room. I love having it upstairs!



Guest "duckie" bathroom!:)



Guest room (1)



And the other guest room/my office...(my favorite room)

Teaching Here I COME!

Well, it looks like I will be teaching sooner than later!

Last Tuesday I gave my two weeks notice and yesterday afternoon at 5:30, my boss came in and told me to pack up my stuff and basically said don't come back! I was shocked, but now I'm relieved. The people (some of) were great to work with, but the line of work was not for me. Too much math! yuck!

So, I enjoyed sleeping in this morning. I'm going to run over to HR at the school and turn in all my paperwork and hopefully I can start tomorrow or Thursday! Am I ready? No. But, the first couple of weeks, I'm going to just observe how the program I'm teaching works. It is a reading program for students who read below their grade level. So, I'm kinda fortunate b/c I won't have all the lesson planning I would have with a normal classroom b/c I have to follow a certain format.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how things go!

Go IRISH!

Well, Notre Dame game opener is today against San Diego State. And if you know my husband to be...he is a HUGE Notre Dame fan! Not only is it the ND game opener, but it is also my b'day!:) Matt did very good on the b'day gift front...I got a new digital camera, a gift card to New York and Co. and a 1 year subscription to "Real Simple". Here are some of the first pictures with my new camera!:) (You would have never thought that 48 hour before this was taken that I spent the night in ER):(



Attempting to use the timer...



Matt and I in our ND gear...need a flash though...


Take 2

Not quite.

Take 3


GO IRISH! Matt in all his glory!


Tropical Storm Hanna, go away!

CONGRATULATIONS!

To my brother!
He popped the question this weekend to his girlfriend, Stacy, and she said yes! I'm so happy for them! They make a great couple and Stacy is the sweetest person and I look forward to calling her my sister-in-law!:)
Congrats Jim and Stacy!:)