I love personal days!

Yes, that’s right, personal days are my favorite!!  I always try to save them every year because I am always afraid there will be times later in the year that I’ll want or need them, so I don’t want to waste them early in the year.  Well this year I ended up having both of mine left, so now I get to take a few days off.   I took off Friday, and then I also have off Monday.  That makes for a long, four-day weekend for me!  It feels fantastic!  With only two weeks of school left, it has actually been really nice to have the break now.  This time of the year can sometimes drag (then the last week absolutely flies), so I was ready for a break.  The kids are antsy to get out of school, and so am I! 

Thursday night we headed out of town to attend the reception of the teacher that mentored me during my student teaching.  She is retiring this year, so we went to congratulate her.  She was so shocked that we had driven there for the evening,  but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.  She has been an incredible friend, and I thoroughly loved working with her my final semester of college.  We got along so great, and we still are in contact.  She has battled and beaten breast cancer this past school year, which makes her all the more inspiring to me.  It was so great to see her.  There is no way that I will ever be able to repay her for the things she taught me and the positive attitude she has had toward everything.  She has taught me so much about making the most out of every day of teaching as well as choosing how great your year is going to be.  It was just wonderful to be there with her!  We stopped to see my Mom and Dad on the way home, which was nice.  I always love to be there when I am not on a timeframe and don’t really have things waiting for me at home.  It was very relaxing.

Friday morning I slept in while Trent went to work for a little while (he’s actually done teaching classes for now).  Then we ventured to where Trent’s parents live and where my mom works, and we took our moms out to lunch.  That was kind of nice to visit with them and get to each lunch with them.  After that, we came home and I got some snacks and drinks ready for a few teachers that came over after school.  They all decided since I had the day off and didn’t really have anything planned, then the least I could do was have them over for drinks…so I did.  It was fun to sit and visit with them outside of school!  I really am starting to enjoy those I work with more and more, and that is really making my job even better.  It takes a while to get to know people and for me to really let people in to my personal life, but the ladies have been wonderful and have really been fun to get to know better this year!

Today was a day of just catching up on some things around the house.  I have worked on my final assignments for my grad class this semester and am almost ready to hand that all in.  Then that will mean that I have year #1 done for my Master’s program and only have one more year to go!  I don’t have to take any classes this summer, but then will just have 6 hours next fall and then the same in the spring.  It has been very trying and challenging at times, but it has been worth it.  I feel a huge sense of accomplishment with what I’ve done this year for my students as a result of my classes. 

I’m not sure what we’ll end up doing for Mother’s Day.  My parents are headed out of town, and they invited us to go with them.  I had considered and then my brother called and said he and his family will be heading through town about 3 tomorrow and would like us to watch Ryan (the little one) while they do some shopping.  I can’t tell him no, so I guess that means we won’t head out of town with my parents.   They definitely understand, though.  They were at my brother’s last weekend and got some baby time, so they’re excited that we’ll get to spend some time with our nephew.  Trent’s parents also invited us over to eat, so we’ll have to see if that’ll fit in the schedule of when my brother will be through town or not.  We typically all get together on Mother’s Day, but I think this year will be a little different.  I guess that’s what happens as we all grow up. 

Monday will just be another day of relaxing.  I don’t really have any plans.  I just would like a day to sit around, watch shows on TV that I rarely get to see, and just have some "me" time.  That is really my goal!  I know that once I head back to school Tuesday, things will be hectic until the school year is done.  So I might as well get energized next Monday so that I am ready to charge on for the rest of the year! 

When I get back to work Tuesday, I have a lot to get done:

• Inventory on my current room as well as add my things to the inventory on the new room I am moving into for next year.  That means I have to figure out what the other teacher is leaving behind and what I need to take with me.
• Figure out gifts to give my students the last day of school.
• Start cleaning out things and packing up to move my room.
• Fill out all the end-of-the-year paperwork that has to be turned in to the office.
• Write individual letters to all of my students.
• Get all grades recorded and put onto the computer.
• Get letters ready to be sent home about all of the upcoming events (field trip the dairy, picnic in the park, AR swimming party, field day) for the next two weeks.

It doesn’t seem like as much when I list it out like that.  I just hope inventory goes better this year.  Last year it took me about 5 hours to get through things. I am really dreading it just because I do have to indicate on there what I’m taking with them to the new room and all of that stuff.  I’ve never done that before,  so I guess I’ll learn as I go! 

I can’t believe that the school countdown is already to TEN days!  This year has been rough at times and more times challenging than not; however, I do love my students.  I am going to miss them when they’re gone, and they have learned a lot with me this year.  They have taught me a great deal, and they have helped to see me through my first year of graduate work and everything.  No matter how rough the year has gone, I always get sad this time of the year to say good-bye to some of the greatest students out there.  When you spend every day with the same group of students, you can’t help but get attached to them.  I always hate to see them go, but I know they are ready to move on and that there is another bunch of kids awaiting me!