Finger_____

I KNOW what you are thinking "why, oh why, are we looking at a picture of your hands?" Strange way to start a blog post, I get it. But did you notice?

I have NAILS!!!! 

I don't like spending money on "frivolous" things.  Okay, okay, that would be a lie. I LOVE spending money on frivolous things ... but only on frivolous things that have a point. HA! I like to buy flowers to freshen up my pots (something I really need to do by the way...). That's frivolous-ish. Not completely necessary, but it makes our house look nice. I like to buy people gifts. That's frivolous - except for the fact that it shows how much I care! I like to spend money. BUT  I try not to spend money on "frivolous things" for myself .... 

So, when my momma said I should get my nails done, I was like "ehh...". Getting one's nails done is largely frivolous. Getting one's nails done takes a lot of time - like an hour and a half every other week (I'm not just getting painted - we're talking fake, fake, fake, because I chew my nails off - one of the only bad things I "got" from my wonderful momma). Getting one's nails done takes $$$$$ 35 for the first set. 25 for upkeep. Some places might be cheaper (?) but my girl does an absolutely fantabulous job. However, with the whole "you are going to be a teacher..." thing, I figured mom was right. And I got my nails done. Not just once, but like every other week for a couple of months. eek!

Here is what I decided ... having nails is GREAT. Shannon (my nail lady who ALSO happens to be my hair lady...) is helping me on my "12 step program" (ha! Nail biting is *seriously* like kicking an addiction!). We did fake nails. For a long time. I broke them, she fixed them. And my nails did something awesome -- they GREW. Who knew?! Then my nails got long enough we did "less fake" nails - just a thin layer of the acrylic. And they are awesome. And now, those nails you see in the picture, are (mostly) MINE. All mine. No fakeyness! I say "mostly" because a few of them still have the thin layer of acrylic on them because my appointment with Shannon when she will take off the acrylic and give me a nice "real nail" manicure isn't till Thursday ... I am just really good at breaking fake nails and popping them off (oops...). 

Having my own nails is awesome. Not biting them (hopefully) lets me look more confident ... which turns out is IMPORTANT when you are a nervous first year teacher! Not biting them (hopefully) will help me stay healthier - germs are icky. Think of all the germs on those fingers I was sticking in my mouth! bleh! Not biting my nails makes my hands look prettier. Not biting my nails is great. Shoulda done that a long time ago. ha!

Now, my nails are still super flimsy - these things don't get fixed over night! So we are doing lots of nail straightener and *hoping* they don't break! I file them a lot - make sure they stay painted - because I am worried that if they chip or break I will start picking at them and slip back into my nail biting ways ... so if you see me filing away, try not to laugh! Remember, it's just a part of my 12 step program... ;).

first

Day 1 was a success! Exhausting, perhaps, but a success none-the-less. =) It is amazing to me how quickly you can bond with 22 kids. I already feel so attached to each of them. Some of them are going to drive me crazy - I know that. Some of them can't stand still in line and don't know how to be quiet. They will learn. They will get better. They are all so eager - eager to be liked, eager to be praised, eager to be "good". And they ARE good. They are, in fact, fantastic! And they will get better -- we will get better.

There was absolutely no point in the day that I felt clueless or stressed. Which was AWESOME. Everything ran smoothly, and while we may have been 2 minutes late for recess, that was okay because it was just an extra recess and the kids don't know the schedule well enough to call me on it anyway =).

Tomorrow we switch classes for the first time and I'll get to meet 25 more kiddos that will come to me for comm arts. That means I'll have 47 kids that rely on me to help them with reading and writing. Most of whom don't really like reading and writing. And that is scary! But it's also exciting, and thrilling, and brings me sooo much joy that I can't imagine doing anything else.

Sooo, day one down, only ? more to go. A lot. too many. But we'll have fun filling them up =).

Next up: Day 2. Then baby shower. Then the first full week. And *hopefully* lots and lots of sleep. It'ts 8:50 -- I'm going to bed. That's what a first day does to a first year teacher. But that's okay, because it's awesome. =).

Becka

I am *slightly* opinionated about education. (Those of you who only know me as a "first year teacher" don't be fooled -- I'll get warmed up soon ;) Seriously. I know what I think, feel, believe, and I am not afraid to tell you about it. Therefore, there are a lot of people I don't quite agree with. (I know, I know, you're shocked!). In college this fact was definitely confirmed. Put me in a room with a bunch of other "teacher-to-be's" and we can sure have some good *ahem* discussions.

Enter Becka Braker. We met in a math class when we partnered up for a project (random side note, I only asked Becka to be my partner because I was pretty sure she lived in my dorm and I was tooo lazy to want to be partners with someone I'd have to drive or walk to meet up with! Turns out she didn't live in my dorm, but did visit her best friend there a lot ....). Best. Decision. Ever. We ended up being partners for lots of things. And (thankfully for me!) becoming friends!

Becka and I agree on ... I'm just gonna go with everything. We have a lot of the same ideas about education. We share a lot of the same beliefs. We even have a lot of the same ideas (although hers usually come out with a bit more *bam! I'm awesome!* than mine!). And I adore her. I love her because we agree (ha!) - but mostly I love her because she is seriously out to change the world. I mean, come on. How can you not love someone who answers the question "why did you want to be a teacher?" with "Because being a Ninja Turtle just didn't work out and this is the next best thing". Seriously. She said that. Awesome.

ANYWHO, Becka is one of a kind - a ball of energy. She is so eager to help every kid and she has a special place in her heart for what I would call "hard cases". And that's why I want you to take a look at this: Her Project.

Becka and I are going to have very different experiences as 1st year teachers even though we are both teaching 4th grade ... because while I am blessed to teach in a school district with tons of books, lots of resources (I mean, really - I got my own ipad!), Becka got brave and dove into being an educator in a district where she is hunting up her own books and trying to teach kids to like reading. And if anybody can do it, she can. But she needs a hand. Maybe your hand.

I *know* Becka's life hasn't always gone exactly according to plan - but she is doing amazing things along her new path. A path that took her away from Springfield to New Orleans of all places!  I can't wait to hear her stories (and there WILL BE some awesome one!). Most of all, I am so excited for all the kids who get to have her as a teacher, mentor, and friend. Because if she can influence me as much as she did, how awesome is she going to be for 4th graders?!

BUT she can't do it alone! Even Ninja Turtles need help sometimes =).

Crazytown

It has begun! Thursday and Friday I spent my days in meetings - and Monday and Tuesday will be more of the same! My new teacher brain is suffering from a *bit* of overload -- but I'm sure it could be worse....

I am, of course, loving every minute of it. Even the crazy "oh my goodness I don't know what I'm doing" moments like yesterday when I was meeting with a few other teachers and I said "Okay, someone please tell me you feel as lost as I do right now. Even if you have to lie to me ... seriously". Sometimes you just need to hear that you aren't crazy, that other people are still figuring things out too! I am soo blessed to have two other ladies teaching 4th grade comm arts with me that  have tons of knowledge experience! annnndd it helps that they are super sweet and awesome and willing to help me :).

Tuesday night is open house, and that is *honestly* the only part I'm really "nervous" about. I can handle kids - they don't scare me. But parents? eek! Just a bit intimidating! Poor Robbie has only witnessed one or two "freak out" moments when things weren't working right. Thankfully he is a technology genius and has been able to work through all my technology bobbles and get everything running smoothly for me. Love him.

Today we did things like wal*mart (blech!) and Aldies (which was insanely busy...). I knew today (Saturday AND tax holiday) would not be a fun time to be in Rolla (and it definitely wasn't), BUT it is so nice to have our shopping done for a while! And when we got home I cleaned house (as soon as I get the sheets out of the dryer and back on the bed I'll be DONE). NOW I can focus on school and just "keep up" at home till I get in the school routine - and THAT is a very good feeling.

So, this post was incredibly random and rambley (my bad) ... So, I'll end it random too:

Look who has been hanging out in the "house" the last couple of days ... uh, anybody want a java finch if we end up with babies?! (that would be my luck....) ha!

Call me crazy...

...because I probably am. But I am so. in. love.

Meet my 3 new babies. They are Java Finches (also known as Java Rice Finches and Java Sparrows). And they are AWESOME. They make the coolest little noises (clicking, whirring, singing) and are so fun to watch! I *think* we have one male and two females -- but it is really hard to tell the gender, so I'm not positive. Regardless, these guys are fun ... and so, they are going in to school with me.

That's right people, we are going to have a class pet. 3 of them. And they are birds. Like I said, feel free to call me crazy.

I was never, ever a bird lover. I actually thought they were icky (all that poop!) and I was kind of scared of them. And then I got married to a cockatiel lover and this happened:

It didn't take long for Lulu to become my baby. She rides on my shoulder, my hand, chases our toes and sings to them (she's a little weird...), talks to us (she says actual words!), and is actually a lot of company. I adore her. She does poop a lot. And everywhere. But the poop doesn't stink and it wipes up easy. She does screech sometimes which gets annoying (especially when she gets excited because we have people over), but she usually just needs a little attention and she's good to go.

Now good things about the finches:
                  They will stay in their cage. Unlike Lulu, they are not "finger tamed" birds, so the kids won't handle them. Since they are for "watching only", their poop will be contained to their cage. Which is excellent.
                   Lulu throws her seed when she eats (she breaks seed with her beak and one half usually ends up on my floor. She also throws seed at you to get your attention. Seriously. My Javas? nooo seed throwing = less of a mess for me to sweep up constantly!
                   Java's are quiet. Their noises are adorable, but quiet. Nooo screeching. So, they shouldn't be *too* distracting once the kids get used to them being around.
                   They don't stink! Bird poop may be gross, but it doesn't stink. I will clean it frequently, but in between cleanings there won't be a smell which is a huge plus!
                    These particular birds are hardy. Not all birds are. But these guys can handle fairly warm and fairly cold temperatures, so they will be okay at school (even if the heat or air goes off for a few hours!) They, of course, will come home with me over long breaks, but not weekends!


DISCLAIMER:
    I know, know, know pets are a lot of work. I *tried and tried* to talk myself out of getting a class pet. Or at least waiting. But, these guys were such a good deal (50 for the three birds and their cage!). And they are so neat and unusual. And most of all, I firmly believe pets are essential for kids. I blame my mother for this part - she has always had a class pet (her current pets are fish and a chinchilla!). Kids need to interact with animals and learn how to respect them. It will give us a science lesson or 20, lots of things to write about, a geography lesson, the list goes on and on. AND (with guidance) the kids will learn responsibility when they help feed and water and even clean! Plus, class pets are just plain awesome - and I'm not the only person that thinks so! Read about them here!

Progress

My momma had the brilliant idea to turn this awkward space taking beam into my word wall :)

Remember these cute crate seats? They look even better in my room! ;)

I LOVE writers workshop. It is like my favorite thing EVER - so a writer's workstation is a must have.

Ignore the messy pile at bottom left - I still haven't gotten rid of all my extra books yet! But, thanks to my seester, my library looks AWESOME. And since our reading theme is "Shoot for the stars ... read!" I made a poster and hung the planets up (which are hard to see in the picture).

I love my desk ($50 yard sale find because there wasnt one in my room before), but I HAVE to find a way to make all the nasty cords look at least a little bit nicer...

Student computers - 10 in all.

cubbys and my lovely shelves (that empty space will soon be taken up, don't worry).

AAAAANNNNDDD since mom and I both needed a break from school, THIS is how we spent our evening:

Church Giggles

Sometimes I giggle in church. Oops. I sit there, all intent on listening to the sermon, and then the preacher-man says something that may or may not really be that funny, but it just catches me off guard and have to *try* to control my outburst. Horrible, I know. ;)

One of the things I love the very most about services at Oak Grove is that because we have no full time preacher I (we) get to hear a large variety of men speak. Some (like my daddy) have been preaching for years, and others (like my hubby) are just starting out. It is a wonderful opportunity and experience to listen to different men preach. It allows me to hear many different sermons, follow many different thought processes, and witness a lot of growth! I can't even tell you how much I absolutely love it! This past Sunday we heard two outstanding sermons: Josh's was titled "Bonfire in Ephesus" and Dustin's was titled "Run like a Kenyon". If those titles don't peak your interest, nothing will ... so go listen to them both here. Now either I was just doing an extra good job of paying attention, or these men were doing an extra good job of preaching, because I sure got a lot of good thoughts from their sermons! Annndd there were *giggle* moments for me in each sermon - that's part of what I love about hearing different people's perspectives! They probably each deserve their own blog post ... and they just might get it sometime...

Now, what made me giggle this Sunday? Josh was preaching Sunday morning - he is a really excellent speaker. Easy to listen to, lots of great ideas (and I'm not just saying that because he's my brother-in-law). Sometimes what I like to call his "coaching side" kicks in and he says thing in a very matter-of-fact way that I love. Towards the end of his sermon, he was recapping, and he said (and I quote) "If we have sin in our lives, we need to just quit-it". He said this like he might say to his basketball team, or I might say to my 4th graders who were doing something they shouldn't "you need to quit-it!". It was great! He went on to say "Seriously. If we have continuous sin in our lives, we need to make a decision to stop. We need to quit it". I KNOW that is not a funny statement - its actually very serious! But sometimes we forget to be so matter-of-fact with sin. Sometimes we try to make things more complicated than they are  -- because I think the phrase "it's complicated" makes us feel better. It's not complicated. We need to quit it. Quit sinning. And being that matter-of-fact made me giggle (in all fairness, he chuckled as he said it too. He knew it sounded awesome).

Now, obviously, I know we will never just *quit* altogether. We are human. We are surrounded by temptations. We will fall. We will mess up. We will sin. Probably again and again and again. But, each and every time we catch ourselves, we have to make a decision: continue in this sin, or quit it? And hopefully we will grow stronger and stronger as we keep making the decision to quit it. Just quit it.