finished her school year

Yesterday was the last day of school. It was kind of filled with mixed emotions for me, and I still don't think that it has sunk in that it is over. It always takes me at least two weeks to adjust to not having a "job" to go to every morning.
I know you are thinking I am crazy to not just count my lucky stars that I am done.

So, this morning I was on a nice long run and as I ran I kept thinking about all the kids that I have taught over the past 9 years. All the teachers that I have worked with and the innumerable things that I have learned. I didn't cry when I was running I was using every ounce of energy I had to just pick my feet up off the ground and keep running my meager little 6 miles.



My basement looks like a hurricane hit it and I think I have more stuff down there than possibly necessary. I guess I have the makings of a really great preschool someday, but right now I don't really want to clean it out, sort it or do a whole lot with it. I need to just let it sit for a little while in its neatly organized buckets.





I was going to go to school today to get the remainder of my stuff (yes, there is more), but decided against it with the premise that I can't fit the mini picnic table or child size rocking chair into my car anyway, so I am going to have to wait for a truck. I'm okay to wait. I don't think I want to see it end just yet.

I'm not quite ready.

Not quite ready to face the reality that the little faces (usually dirtied with lunch from that day) aren't going to be telling me that my hair looks like a lion, or asking me why I am not married, or poking me in places that nobody really should be touching, or smiling at me hoping for mercy when they have done something wrong. Not quite ready to give up leaping down the hallway to make the other teachers laugh. Not quite ready to say goodbye to teachers who I have grown accustomed to seeing every morning greeting me with a smile. Not quite ready and already missing it.

Now, I have to remind myself that

* I have a name -- aside from Teacher.
*I don't have a class pet (that one I am not to torn up about at all)
* I can still buy sticky notes even if I don't teach school
* children's books are worth the money I have invested even if I don't have anyone presently to read them to
*that putting magnetic letters on my fridge for letter fun time might come across a little bit weird
* I probably won't have anyone calling me mom for quite a while.
(seriously, if I don't have 6 year olds around who is going to make that mistake -- nobody)
* there are snacks other than goldfish crackers and fruit snacks
* I look great even if I don't have a child telling me that I am the "prettiest girl they know"
* I can't clap my hands or snap my fingers to get someone's attention.
* The teacher look doesn't go over well at home.

* I have somehow, made a difference over 9 years in the life of a child and it has been worth every hard day, tear and ounce of energy.

It has been worth it and it is okay to cry.

Wants to know who reads her ramblings!

Over the past few weeks I have had a few experiences that have led me to wonder who actually reads this blog. I didn't realize that you could find it through my facebook account -- you can. Originally, this wonderful site was set up to give my mom a look into my life while she was gallivanting across the Judean Wilderness. Now, she is back in lush, beautiful Pleasant Grove and I am pretty sure she doesn't even read my blog anymore.

I will be the first to admit that I totally look at other people's blogs who probably have no idea that I am finding out fascinating facts about their lives through the just a little bit of internet stalking. I look at it as complimentary to them that I would want to know what they are up to. . . right?

So. . . .leave me a comment just telling me that you actually read what I write (or look at the somewhat sporadic pictures).
I don't even care if I don't know who you are -- well I might care, but leave a comment anyway.

Note: Grandma -- I know you read this, and I am totally impressed that you stay up to date on what is going on through looking at your grandkids blogs -- even the ones like me who don't have any posterity to build your great-grandkid numbers!

Has a NEW job

So, I have known for awhile about this new job of mine, but have been procrastinating blogging about it for a few reasons:

#1 -- It seems kind of show-offish to be blogging about something like this
#2 -- I have still been getting used to the idea
#3 -- Those of you who know me well know that a "new" job is not such a novelty for me. In the 9 years since I graduated from BYU I have had 4 different jobs. I guess 2.3 years at each job isn't so bad, but really it isn't that great either.
#4 -- I am not sure exactly what this new job will entail so I am not sure how to even describe it.
#5 -- New jobs are something you tell people about in person (or on the phone). . . not on a blog. (at least that is my opinion)

Regardless of those reasons here it is:

Yes, I will be working at BYU. I am technically still employed by Nebo School District to work for BYU. The reverse of that is true too. . . I am employed by BYU to work for Nebo School District. I will be working in the Early Childhood Department both on campus and out in "the field" (meaning the elementary schools). The technical term for my new job is CFA which roughly translates to Clinical Faculty Associate. Big name. Who knows what it really means. My duties will include working with the pre-service teachers who are in training to be teachers. I will be in the schools coaching/mentoring students at BYU while they work with classrooms within the Nebo School District. That is the rough definition. I will teach some classes and hopefully train up some great teachers for the little ones in our schools. Like I mentioned earlier it is in the Early Childhood Department so I will be working primarily with k-3 classrooms.

Now to answer all the questions I have been asked:

Will you miss the kids?
Yes, but I am ready for a change.

Will you have a parking pass on campus?
I don't know.

Do you have to keep the BYU Honor Code as an employee?
Yes, it might be a stretch. . . but I don't have to live in BYU approved housing! :)

Did you get the job because you dad works at BYU?
No, although I will enjoy seeing him. (technically probably, because I wouldn't be a teacher if it weren't for his example)

Do you get a salary increase?
Sadly, no.

When does your new job start?
In the fall, when school starts.

Do you have an office on campus?
Yes, probably more like a cubby-hole.

Will you have friends or feel like you are in Jr. High again? (that is my own personal question)
undecided. . . . I know that the teachers at Art City will always be my friends right Robin?

How long will you do this?
3 years

What will you do after?
Hopefully quit and raise a few kids of my own.....and if not, go back to a classroom I guess.

What are you doing with all of your things?
Presently, I am cleaning my basement and have bought numerous storage bins. 1,000's of books don't just put themselves in storage, this is going to take some serious organization. Those of you who have seen my classroom know that in 9+ years I have accumulated quite the collection of "stuff"

Are you excited?
Yes

Nervous?
Yes

Sad ?
Yes

Happy?
Yes

Crazy?
Probably.


9 1/2 more days of school to wrap up my 9 years in the classroom. Don't think to hard about it you might cry like I am.

The End.

Did NOT get in to the St. George Marathon

Sad, I know! There has got to be a way around this. I have been racking my brain to figure out how to get in. Seriously, it seems like everyone but me got in to the race. 2 of the girls I work with, who I convinced to sign up both got in. Not me. Every name I typed in, but mine showed up as being accepted into the race. (and yes I typed my name like 3 times just to make sure)

Pretty sure that the one year I don't get in and run it will be the year when the shirt looks the coolest. What can I do? Nothing. Really, I need to wait and see if anyone I know and love who is a runner decides that they can't run it. I don't want to wish injury on anyone so I won't go that far, but if you know anyone who got in and isn't sure they want to run it. . . . let me take their place. I will run fast and get them a good time. Promise. I need to start telling everyone I know who is running it that 26.2 miles is a long way to run, and that there is that nasty hill in Veyo, and maybe that it poured rain all last year, and that sometimes it is really hot and you think you will have heat stroke. Yes, I will just convince someone that St. George is a bad idea and I will save them from the misery by taking their spot.

Either that, or I will find another really great race to run. Hawaii?

says Thank You for the sunshine

Today I woke up singing this song to myself in my head:

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If you don't know the tune -- sad for you -- I can play it for you on the piano if you beg.

This was a staple growing up with my dad. Seriously, we didn't go anywhere without John Denver in the tape deck-- yes, you heard me right -- tape deck. That was before the tape deck in the Suburban broke and we resorted to road trips with good old fashioned conversation. My mom loved it. Not so much us.

I love sunshine.
Thank You for clouds that depart.
Thank you for extra long recess breaks.
Thank you for only 18 more days of being stuck inside.
Thank you for rain that cleared the air.
Thank you for blue skies.
Thank you for sunshine on my shoulders.
I love sunshine!
Case Closed.