Goodbye Whiny Kinders!

9.20.10

Yep, I got a new job! I interviewed last Wednesday for a 4th and 5th Math Coach and accepted the job on Friday. Today was my first day of work and it was great! I had to force myself to leave at noon because it's only half day...ok, I didn't have to force myself that hard. But it was weird leaving so early! I'm going to be observing the 4th and 5th grade teachers during math this week and pulling students for one on one teaching next Monday.  This school is still on base at Liberty Intermediate. So far everyone there seems friendly and helpful. I already feel like it's a better school for me because it's a smaller more cohesive group. 12 classroom teachers, all female in the building, except for Alan the counselor and David the supply guy. Crazy! Only 300 students at this school vs. 700.  I can learn names at least! Ms. Scotece is a teacher who sat in on my interview and at the end when I said, " I hope to see you again soon." She replied, "Oh, I'm sure you will." Today she came up to me and hugged me she was so glad I got the job. She just said, "You were #1 girl!". I have a feeling she had a lot of say in me getting the job, nevertheless she made me feel so proud of myself. Everyone says I am really lucky to have gotten a job in DoDDs so fast, but I think I'm blessed. I had a positive attitude and pictured myself getting the job. I really had the best interview of my teaching career and God  answered my prayers. Maybe Grandma asked him to relieve my pain and suffering I was experiencing with the kinders. :)

There is a possibility my position will be full time plus there is a teacher leaving in December, so fingers crossed one of the two happen. For now I will enjoy my afternoons off!! Maybe I can make recess with the kinders, haha!  I will miss recess with Tyler. He is the cutest!

Happy Birthday to Darren tomorrow!

Nottingham -To be continued...

9.12.10

I say to be continued because I will be going back to see Nottingham Castle! We have been there twice now and both times the castle was closed. Darren wanted to go there to play poker and all I wanted to do was find Robin Hood, which I did, but it was on our way back to the train station. We had time for a quick photo op outside of the castle and only distant pictures of the castle itself. It has been rebuilt many times and looks more like a mansion. 

 

 

Nottingham is only a two hour drive or train trip away and since we always go to places on a whim, next time we will have to plan ahead! This is hands down the best looking train station I have been to in England. 

There are a lot of interesting buildings and shops with a carnival in the city center.

 

Happy Birthday to David today!

9.11.10

Many of you remember where you were on this day nine years ago, and I remember exactly where I was. I was in the middle of my student teaching experience at Pope AFB Elementary, North Carolina. Parents were frantically picking up their first graders from lunch when I heard the horrifying news from a co-worker.  "There was a terrorist attack in New York City". We watched as the twin towers stood smoking, it still gives me chills today. Needless to say, military life for us changed dramatically. Darren deployed at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the spring of 2003 and was part of the first air force group to set foot in Iraq when the war started. I just looked through the scrapbook I put together during that time and found this picture. It makes me very proud to know he is still one of many enlisted men and women serving our country.  When he's home I try not to take our time together for granted because I know there are many wives out there who aren't so lucky!
  God Bless the USA!

Happy birthday to Evan today!

Snails or Slugs?

8.24.10

I never knew the difference, but according to Wikipedia, snail-like creatures that lack a shell (or have only a very small one) are called slugs. These little guys are all over our back yard. One night we had two of them outside our kitchen window. To me this was pretty cool and I had to share!