There are only 5 and a half weeks until the end of the school year.  The end of the year/last day of school is a bittersweet time.  It is when sweet summertime is literally right around the corner.  It is the time when my sweet angels leave me to enjoy their summer, only to return to school again as 3rd graders.  It is when I try to organize a few things to get them in order for next year.  And it is the time when I try to squeeze any and all focus that is left of my little ones out of them.

I have throughly enjoyed this year.  I have learned so much this year - especially from my kids.  I have learned that they grow up a lot in 2nd grade.  They have started to be more perceptive of things, which has been very fun to be a part of.

When I am feeling down, they notice.  Not only do they notice, but they hug me.  And not only hugs, but they ask how they can help.  Maturity has been starting to creep in.  I love when they make choices and say things in this new, mature way.

I am excited to see them continue to grow, and I am excited to (fingers crossed, I find out Friday!) stay in the same grade level.  I can't wait to hone in on things that I want to do better next year in the 2nd grade.  I can't wait to see my former students when they come visit me as they spend their days in their new 3rd grade setting.  I can't wait for my former students to tell me that they remember what an alliteration is and that Betty Botter simply can't escape their minds for the life of them :)  I also can't wait to have a precious new group of kiddos.

I adore my job.  I love the bond I get to make with my kids.  I love the impact I have on them, the notes that they write to me to show me of this friendship we have formed, and the promises of visiting me next year.  I can't wait to have a whole new group to begin a new year of adventures with.

This year has FLOWN by.  It's incredible, really.  Boy, I've had some long days, but I cannot believe the year is almost over.  It's been a good one.  I'll certainly cherish these 23 blessings I've had this year.  The memories will be with me forever - and if not, I have pictures to remind myself :)

Enjoying the rest of the year at His feet,
Amanda/Ms. B  

EASTER

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He has risen! Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Then they remembered his words." 


Remember and rejoice!! Oh glorious day!


Rejoicing at the feet of a RISEN Father, 
Amanda

I truly adore my kids.  There's honestly nothing they could do that would make me love them less.  Trust me, there isn't.  I love my career choice, I love my school, my coworkers, and my kids.  But I also love days off.

My mom is in town this weekend and I am taking Friday off to spend some much needed time with her.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I'm from, is 7ish hours away from Dallas.  Needless to say, I don't get together with my family very often - at most, about 4 times a year these days (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, some Summer).  Yes, the times are for spans of about a week or more, but taking into account that I am from Baton Rouge, went to college in Baton Rouge, and MOST of my friends stayed in Baton Rouge, a week is not too long.

So, this weekend, my mom and some of her friends are visiting another Yakkity Yak member (see earlier post about the YY group) who moved to Dallas and I happen to live here, too!!  I'm getting some much needed mom time and some rejuvenation just when I need it.  Plus, I plan on grading papers tomorrow to get ahead of the game.  That's good, too :)

I truly couldn't love or care about my kids anymore.  The Lord has certainly allotted quite a bit of love and care - that's why I don't believe it could be anymore.  I'll think about them tomorrow, that's for sure.  Even if I tried not to, I still would.  But I know they are great, well behaved, self-sufficient kids.  They know their routines - even if sometimes they act like they don't :)  But thank goodness we have days that we can take off.  I really NEED some mother/daughter time.  I can't wait!!!

Thankful at the Feet of the Father,
Amanda/Ms. B

Grading

Tomorrow morning grades are due.  I must say that this is the thing I struggle with the MOST.  I grade papers and then put off entering them into the system.  Then, on top of that, I have some papers that have yet to be graded and I put it off until the night before (aka tonight).

On to another subject, can you believe that there are only 8 weeks left to this school year?  This year has flown by with my precious, sweet angels.  AND my goodness, how they've grown - academically and in height, may I add.  WOW.  They look like 3rd graders :(  I just want them to stay little 2nd graders for life.  The end of the year is bittersweet and I am certainly trying to enjoy the last 8 weeks that I am blessed with.  I'm not quite ready for the tears that will arrive as my students are about to leave me for summer break.  I've had 6 of these students for 2 years.  It will be so odd for me to see them with a new teacher because I truly only picture them in my class.  My goodness, I hope they come visit me next year or I will have withdrawals :)

Welp, off to grade.  I pray that this night will not be a SUPER late night.  Rather than updating this blog, I should be grading and entering.  But, I guess that's why I consider myself a master procrastinator.  Its good to be a master at something, right?

Learning to change my procrastination habits...tomorrow,
Amanda

Spring Break

It has been AGES since I've last updated.  I'd like to say that I've been filling my life with extraordinary adventures and such, which would be the reason I have not been posting.  However, the truth is more fitting - I have simply been either too busy, too lazy, or too forgetful (oops...).

At this very moment it is Spring Break.  I'm sitting in the living room of my parents house posting - which is such a simple blessing.  I had not been "home" since Christmas break and being back in my parents' house has been wonderful.

The break has been very relaxing - which is much needed in order to tackle the remaining 11 weeks of the year with the excitement and energy it (and all of my little ones) deserve. 

My family, along with many others, are throwing an engagement party for an elementary school friend of mine.

Well, a little backstory on these many families:

In the first grade I moved to a school called Westminster Elementary.  Best and most precious school ever.  I am sure many of you are biased toward your elementary school and perhaps think it was the best; however, you did not go to Westminster, so you are mistaken (this is the point in my story telling where almost all of my students would shout out "opinion," and I applaud them for this - but this is indeed a fact). 

There are many reasons why it was precious: 1) the teachers were incredible; 2) my friends were unbelievable; 3) there was much responsibility put onto us at such a young age and it made us feel SO valued and grown up; and 4) it was where I was inspired to become a teacher (since the 1st grade, but in actuality I give most of the credit to my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Thompson, who was by far the biggest inspiration in my life of becoming a teacher).

I made life long friends there, which I can say with much certainty since many of my friends today I met at Westminster.  And here is where the "many families" come into play.  Through the numerous school events, functions, Brownie meetings, sporting events, you name it, all of our parents got to know eachother.  My parents became friends with my friends' parents, and the group started growing from there.  Families with children a year or two above us became friends of my family, and most of us went to school together.  All together, it's 8 families: 19 children and 16 parents.  We're quite a bunch when you put us all together.  All of our parents live in the same neighborhood, go to church together, and get together often.  We're all bound together in a group called the Yakkity Yaks with the mascot of a dragon fly - I know, it's ridiculous.

Through the years we have all stayed very close.  Though mulitple vacations to the beach; kids' bridge lessons in '97; Calloway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA, in 2000; swim team; lake trips; etc; we have managed to form a lifelong bond.  My family and another built a beach house not too long ago in Fort Morgan, AL, and soon after, another family in the group built one 4 houses down.  Needless to say, it'll be hard to separate everyone.  I've been in two weddings of my 1st grade friends, and at some point they'll be in mine.  I think this is why I look at my students differently.  The friendships they're making are possibily the same that I made and I realize how truly blessed I am.  I can't imagine having grown up any other way, without these 7 sets of extra parents and all of these pseudo brothers and sisters.  I only hope I am as blessed to have the same type of group when I start a family.

Well my goodness, since you've now read about my childhood, on to the engagement party. 

In August, another one of the Yakkity Yak kids is getting married and my parents, along with 7 other couples, are hosting the engagement party.  The parties rotate around the group, they have thrown them for every one of the YY kids who've been engaged.  The difference in hosting this time is that my parents are actually having the party at our house.  So, yes, I've been relaxing while my parents have been working like mad to make our already beautiful house even more beautiful.  They've redone the bathrooms (granite, granite, granite), bought new outdoor furniture, powerwashed, painted, weeded, edged,  mowed, and anything else you can think of.  I'd like to say I helped, but alas, my mom truly wanted me to rest - so I heeded her wish and I have been.

I'm excited to see all of my childhood friends on Friday.  When someone gets engaged it's one of those times - like the anual Christmas Eve Eve party - that I know everyone will be together again.  I'm excited to see their spouses, hear about their children, and celebrate the news of a new pregnancy!  It's crazy how life changes, but when I see these friends it all feels exactly the same.  We reminisce, catch up, and look to the future.  I am beyond blessed with family friends like these.  I have grown up within such an amazing circle of people. 

I have learned a lot from my parents about friendship.  These are obviously not their only friends - believe it or not, there's another group.  The group from which my godparents were chosen.  My parents make and keep friends easily.  They are loyal, trustworthy, fun, and spontaneous (when need be) friends.  I pray I am at least some of these things.  Thanks, Mama and Daddy, for showing me what I aspire to be as a friend. 

So bring it on, future Yakkity Yak group of my life (whatever we may be called)...I'm ready :)

Learning at the feet of the Father,
Amanda

5th Snow Day.

I woke up this morning at 5:00 and immediately got online to see if school had been cancelled.  It is, I found out at 5:54.  I am wired, unfortunately, and cannot go back to sleep.

Last night the 2nd grade performed at the PTA meeting.  I may be a bit biased, but my kids were quite possibly the cutest things in the world.  I felt like a proud parent watching them sing the songs, play the instruments, and act out their parts.  I filmed the entire program and probably took about 25 pictures of their short performance.  It's all about capturing memories, right?  These kids bring me a lot of joy.

Speaking of joy, yesterday afternoon I noticed that a couple of my kids were pouting.  So, what did I do?  In the middle of our daily UPSL (Understand, Plan, Solve, Look Back: our problem solving strategy) I played the song "My Favorite Things" and sang it.  Not quietly, I may add.  A large part of me wishes I were Julie Andrews - I adore her.  And though I cannot say that I did her justice in singing the song, it certainly worked for my kids.  My pouters started laughing!  Probably at my expense, seeing as I was dancing around the room and truly convincing all of my students that "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" are absolutely my favorite things.  Sometimes it takes that little something extra to motivate some kids, and I'm not above singing, changing accents, or becoming a different character (fairy godmother, Mrs. Spork, etc.); just ask my students :)

A list of some of my actual favorite things (raindrops and whiskers aside):

- my family

- my friends

- Christmas

- the Fall
- owls

- Louisiana

- Diet Coke

- music

- my faith in Christ

- my job

- my church

- and obviously, it goes without saying, my kids :)

Now, on to attempt to go back to sleep.  I love these surprise days off; they make me miss my kids, and my job, and my routine.  We wouldn't know the feeling of "missing" something if it were never taken away.  And I think if we say we "miss" something, it just shows how much we love and care about it.  So, I'll be ready to go back come Thursday or Friday.  Plus, the stories of how people, especially 2nd graders, kept themselves entertained are priceless :)

Teaching at the feet of the Father,

Amanda/Ms. B

Cabin Fever.

The weather here in the DFW area has been cold.  I just wanted to mention it for anyone who quite possibly didn't know.

I am blessed to have a roommate for so many reasons, but in times like these - times when leaving your abode is not an option - it has been wonderful.  Cabin fever set in quickly and I felt that everyone I was talking to was feeling a bit stir crazy.  Since leaving home was nothing more than a flitting wish, my roommate and I kept ourselves busy playing board games (well, the Game of Life, really) and laughing.  The most laughter ensued over the multiple blackouts we had on Wednesday morning.  Honestly, we laughed a ton during those moments because what else is there to do but laugh.

But then, the glorious day of Thursday arrived and we had had enough.  We ventured out to Northpark to shop.  It was wonderful.  We were actually seeing other people - and the friendliest people at that!  I think that human interaction had been so low over the past few days that people were sparking up conversations left and right with us just to hear the sound of people's voices.  It was wonderful, and a bit odd.  However, I am not one to shy away from a stranger's conversation, and they were all welcomed!  I met an Ann Taylor Loft store employee from Louisiana - from the Monroe area who is studying to become a nurse; a Nordstrom's employee who could not have been more excited to be out of school for the week; a lady who was very concerned about this weather for the Super Bowl - she truly felt for all of the hard working people who put forth so much effort to make this a great location for the game (loved her heart in this); and lastly, a Nordstrom's employee studying to be a teacher - which, in my opinion IS the best profession available; though I may be biased. 

Throughout my trip to the mall there were a few times I wanted to make small talk with families and their children just so that I could ask, "and are you in the 2nd grade?  I teach 2nd grade, isn't it the best?!"  Even though I don't think families would have minded at this moment - remember, human contact had been limited to that of your immediate family at best - I didn't want to be the weird person who brings up school to these children on their amazing surprise week off.  But, the looks on some of these parent's faces made me think they would welcome school back with open arms ANY day now.  Kids were jumping on everything at the mall.  They were sliding down ramps, running up stairs, and racing up escalators.  They were waving at any and every person who walked past them.  They were being kids - kids who, after a week, finally escaped into the outside world, and what a world it was!  I can only assume these were the actions of nearly every kid throughout the DFW metroplex.  And even after observing all of this craziness, it made me miss my kids so much.

I can't wait to see their faces again, hear about how they entertained themselves over the week (some of those stories should be funny!), and simply get back to seeing my 23 blessings again!  I can't lie and say that I have not enjoyed myself over these past days or that I have not enjoyed sleeping in.  I have.  I've enjoyed relaxing, watching movies all day, and having quiet times late into the night knowing that I don't have to wake up at 5:15.  But it is a great feeling knowing that after all of these days, I have 23 smiling faces to return to.  Students who welcome me back with smiles, and hugs, and stories, and laughter.  And I welcome them back with the same.  I've missed them and it will be great to get back!

Teaching/Getting through the Icepocolypse at the feet of the Father, 

Amanda/Ms. B