Summer, How Happy I Am That You Are Here!

As I packed up my final box and turned off the lights in my classroom on Friday, I shed a few tears (ok, more than a few) as I bid adieu one more school year.  I also shed many tears when I learned that my dear friend and co-teacher will be moving to 4th grade math and science, leaving me in our classroom alone...  I am so proud of her and know that she will do great things with the big kids, she is spreading her wings and moving on, which is what we all do when we grow up.  You see, when we started teaching together this year, she was very quiet and watched everything I did with love, I have never had anyone watch me teach and I didn't know how I was going to handle it.  We ended up never wanting to teach without each other and thought this would last forever, she taught her loves (math and science) and I taught mine (reading and social studies).  We were like an old married couple and our kids learned so much.  Denise would always compliment me and tell me that I was so smart and she could never believe how I knew so much about, well, so much.  I never realized that I knew what I did, but when someone tells you these things, you take notice.  I became a better teacher because of this and I will miss Denise so much.  What we thought would last forever, only lasted 10 months and we must shake off the dirt, pick ourselves up and move on.


So, back to summer and how wonderful it is that tomorrow I don't have to wake up to an alarm or even get out of my pj's!  This summer will be filled with college road trips (once again I find myself in this predicament, how quickly time flies), vacations that include hubby (he never gets time off to go with us), dance intensives, beach days, nothing to do days, and maybe some getting ready for school days (we will see..).  I love summer and I love it even more when I get to spend lazy days with my girls.  So, even though Big Miss is staying in Orlando because of her internship and summer classes, we will spend time together next week.  Little Miss and I will end our college road trip in Orlando and the three of us will soak up the Orlando sun and just have some mommy/daughter time.


Yes, summer, I am so happy that you are here!

Today, We Remember...

Happy Mother's Day

Summer Bucket List Linky Party

I love when Little Wonders' Days starts up our summer with the Summer Bucket List Linky Party.  This is my 2nd year taking the challenge and it is so heart warming to make these plans (some as a family, some with the kids, some with hubby, and some all by myself) with something for everyone!  So here is our 2012 happenings for this summer:

Our Family Summer Bucket List For 2012

1.  College Tour Week with Little Miss in June.
2.  Spend a week at a hotel in Orlando with ALL of us!
3.  Have fun purchasing things for Big Miss’ new apartment at UCF.
4.  Clean the house, really clean the house.
5.  Bikini Boot Camp for 6 HARSH weeks
6.  Register for my Specialist in Leadership.
7.  Soak in the tub with lots of bubbles.
8.  Teach Julianne to drive.
9.  Read books, books, and more books.
10.Go to the beach.
11.Create some teaching units.
12.Spend as much time with Julianne, since this is the summer before her senior year.
13.Walk on the beach and sink my toes in the sand, in the moonlight!
14.I promise not to go nuts spending money, I will find cheap ways to have fun.
15.Reconnect as a family, any way we can.

Click the Linky Button so you can link up with us!  What does your Summer Bucket List have to offer?

What I Know to Be True

CAUTION:  This is a long read, but you will enjoy the pics at the end, so bear with the rant.




I haven't had a good meaty post in a while, I just hate when life gets in the way of the things that I really enjoy doing.  School has been crazier than any other year and even though teaching is like breathing, I am looking forward to this year coming to an end.  I don't know if the timing of FCAT has had a negative impact for the rest of Florida, but at our school the late date has pretty much made the kids think that school was over the week after that dreaded test.


Anyway,  can you believe that my big college miss has finished her first year of college?  I feel as if we just moved her in and here we are, over, finiti, finished, done.  Big college miss has decided not to come home this summer, as she is working hard at her internship and will be sub leasing her friend's apartment for the summer.  You would think that I would be hysterical and numbingly sad, if so, you are thinking correctly.  When did she become an adult at the next level and start leasing apartments, applying for credit, cooking in her own kitchen, and NOT COME HOME????  WHEN???  I blinked and she continued to grow up more than she ever has.  (insert deep sigh and lots of tears, here)


Luckily, I get to see her lots and lots over the summer (she doesn't know this yet, but that would be the advantage to going to college in the same state where your parents live, LOL).  I also am working on a contract with the state for some common core stuff and we meet in, yes you guessed it, in ORLANDO.  I must let you know that she is coming home for Mother's Day and for Memorial Day weekend, so I think she secretly enjoys the comfort of her first home mommy.  


Little Miss is busy taking SAT's, ACT's, AP exams, being accepted into NHS, becoming captain of the dance team and writing college entrance essays.  Do I dare say it?  Here we go again...  Our first college tour is set for June and then who knows where we will go from there (probably to visit big college miss).  So, get ready my faithful followers for another summer of college trips, a crying mommy, money woes, galactic changes, and all the other things that this blog has to offer.  Counting down to another baby leaving the nest, who thought it would come so soon?  Definitely, not I, that is for sure.


Here is big college miss in her new apartment:

And here is little high school miss before she was inducted into NHS this past week:

I am blessed,
this is what I know to be true.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

What a relaxing week I had this week!  I am so embarrassed to say this and I give all of you permission to laugh snicker, a little bit.  I traveled by myself, for the first time in 22 years!  I actually drove myself to Orlando for a week of nothing but work all day, but ME TIME every night!!!  (except for 2 nights when my big college miss came to the hotel)...
I have to say I was scared at first, but I kinda sorta liked LOVED it.  The best part is that it was in Orlando, so I got to have a beautiful pre-birthday dinner with my girl last night and then drove home today to this:




Little miss high schooler made this for me and it made me smile.  I may keep it up for a while, so I can remember that even though it is nice to get away from the daily grind, coming home is even better.  Hubby surprised me with 2 new Pandora charms, pics will be up later.  I am too tired to move and I have to get back to my little firsties tomorrow.  So I am off to bed.  I have so much to post, but that will wait until the weekend.  I had a great birthday homecoming and I am looking forward to what 44 will bring my way!

End of Semester Break Down #2

College girl called today and broke my heart.  She has always been so hard on herself regarding everything and the pressure of her second semester at college has caused that little girl to resurface.  The voice on the other end of the phone sounded like my little 10 year old crying because she had a fight with her best friend.
She has had a month of success beyond compare and one little grade on one test, has wiped the feeling of success and turned it into negative self talk.  She talked herself into a full blown panic attack during class, heart pounding, face numbing panic.  Her friend had to come get her from class.
All I could do was listen and try not to cry, this was not easy.  I wanted to hold her so badly so she would know the love behind my words.  I wanted to get in the car and drive to her.  I finally broke through the negativity and low self esteem for now.  I pray that she follows my advice, because I don't know if I can handle this every time a semester comes an end.
We hung up and I cried, a lot...  I thought of my OLW:  Release.  I don't know that I am ready to release her to the world.  I know that she is not ready to be released, I could clearly hear that in her words. The crying words of my oldest child called me mommy has left me broken today... the same day that our Lord and Savior left His mommy broken at the foot of the cross.  So yes, I am releasing this, I am leaving this at the foot of the cross because He will calm her during this storm.
This I know to be true... always.