In the meantime....

Returning from a week long Thanksgiving Break was tough but, I was happy to get back in the normal routine. Things were a little bit more fun that Monday I went back because we had a field trip to go see the play for Cinderella at Davis Theater. I must say I enjoyed it as much as the kids:)

I also added a few things to the room which the kids noticed right away & we have decorated our Christmas tree! It is such a fun time of the year!

Last but certainly not least - Meet the sweet new puppy I got my grandmother for Christmas. It was difficult to give her up after she only stayed here one night. Stephen seemed to think I might fall for her and keep her but I know my grandmother could not be happier! She was so surprised and I have never seen her so excited to get rid of us so she could play with the baby girl. I think we decided she likes the name Sophie Maree!

My grandmother took on the role of my mother and is to this day my very best friend. She is always doing for others so the look on her face was priceless to me. I may be broke but she really is the best gift I have ever gotten. She will bring so much happiness to her that this little girl was well worth every penny!

Thanks for reading and hope you have a great week! :)

class connection...

We have been talking about Thanksgiving traditions this week & had our "Thanksgiving Feast" on Wednesday. It was a lot of work but, really entertaining at the same time. I have some very outgoing children & the pictures are too funny. I had to share.

   

"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater."  ~Gail Godwin

He really is the best :)

I found my card in the refrigerator-- He thought it would be funny because I always come right in to get a diet coke!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week :)

movin on up....

I found out yesterday that I am no longer simply a highly qualified, certified, long-term substitute... But, I am now an official Kindergarten Teacher employed by Autauga County Board of Education!! After working my way up with jobs for almost a year, I am thrilled to finally have a classroom to call my very own! I am so blessed to work in a truly AWESOME school & am so thankful every single day to work under wonderful administrators & alongside amazing co-workers. As soon as I got the GREAT news & accepted the position, I had some adorable presents made & wrapped up cute for me to open :)
This is what was given to me to put outside my door

 

along with a huge matching hand sanitizer bottle for my desk & clipboard! -- all labeled Ms. Petty & painted in Auburn colors.. which of course, was perfect! 

Could not ask to work with better people =)

baby steps...

A few weekends ago, Stephen and I were so lucky to have a close friend offer to take our engagement pictures. She was very enthusiastic about it & was of course very easy to work with! She spent all day Saturday & Sunday in Auburn with us so we are SO thankful. We are also glad she did because they turned out perfect! Brittany has always been artistic and is very talented behind the camera! The weather was perfect that weekend (aside the wind blowing my hair all over the place) Here are only a few of many favorites:

Check out her website!

http://brittanywillisphotography.blogspot.com/

Excited about our NEW & SPACIOUS room! :)

Word Wall & Reading Small Group

Computer Center! Board is a little off because they made us line #s up a certain way but, happy we got it up quickly during the transition :)

Calendar/Large Group/Math

Seperate Writing Center over tile for blocks & home living!

Still need to move our alphabet over the board but it has been wonderful!

Playing catch up...

First off, let me just say- WAR EAGLE! We are recently No. 4 in the polls & we have really enjoyed every game this year. I catch myself wishing I was still an undergrad sometimes, mainly only because I miss football season so much. Needless to say, my senior year was not our best season!

On to everyday life.... Last week, I was a busy bee finishing up grades, which took a lot of my spare time outside our normal hectic everyday schedule! I was so glad that was over with & the Kindergarten classes got to go on a Field trip to the Pumpkin Patch Thursday! It was a great way to finish our week. We went to Clanton, Alabama, which was not very far from the school & the weather could not have been better! I also felt so lucky to have 8 chaperones. It is great to see such wonderful parent involvement this year!

Another plus at the time- when I got to school that morning they informed me that they would be moving EVERYTHING to a larger classroom. I got a new student about a week ago & I think a few of the faculty members saw that we were having a hard time in a room 1/3 of the size of the others! It was a breath of fresh air when we got back. The faculty was so helpful & I was so impressed with the hard work they put in getting everything moved for me! Although I had lots to get put up & get in order, it is going to be well worth it. The kids really need the extra space to keep centers separated & stay away from being on top of each other. We are able to have an extra table & I can actually reach my word wall now, which makes me so happy! I can't wait to see how this week goes & I will be posting pics from the field trips & our new room soon!

We have Parent/Teacher/Report card conferences all day tomorrow so, wish me luck! This is the first one I will be doing all on my own! I hope everyone has a wonderful week:)

A sweet definition...

I happened to come across this at school and thought it was such a great definition of Kindergarten teachers so I wanted to share.

I hope everyone has a fantastic week!!

WDE

 

We decided last minute to go to Auburn this past weekend for the Clemson game! Not only was it a great game, it was wonderful seeing some really good friends in Auburn whom we have missed terribly! We were also able to reminisce on the good old college days we had as students there :)

Pretty gross but I had to post.....

So I came home one day & Stephen told me to go look at something he had to save because apparently it was very unusual. Long story short, we had not hung something holding a few pictures so it was left on the floor. Well Lucy had been sick all day while I was at work. This seemed to represent how much my dog loves me.

Do you think she is trying to tell us something?

One of the reasons I love my job.....

This week one of my students said he made this for me. I was a little confused because his name is not Rory, I am not 'daddy' & being in Kindergarten well, the cursive & handwriting in general? Haha- He did mention "his mom helped him with the drawing." I know he knew, I had to be impressed! It was such a sweet thought & I hope poor Rory is not too upset I have his dad's picture!

Good things come to those who wait...

I got a very unexpected call tonight & was offered a Kindergarten teaching position!!! It is at a great school that is pretty close to home! This is an immediate change of events but, I am ecstatic about going to see where I will be working this weekend! I start Monday morning & am so lucky to be able to do what I love most. I can't wait to meet the new kiddos! :)

Kicking off...

I am happy to say that all of my best girlfriends are going to be a part of our wedding day! My bridesmaids will be: Carley Hubbard, Brittany Willis, Christen Lavecchia, Amanda Jones, Ashton Perry, Torrie Mcanally, Jessica Evans & Lindsay Herring. I will also be including honorary's in all of the festivities & the ceremony. These are: Whitney Hicks, Natalie Tomberlin, Whitney McLelland, Emily-Anne Williams, Laura Alexander, Mally Hopson & Amiee George. It may sound like a HUGE pack of girls but, I am so thrilled that they will all be a special part of our big day!

Fast Forward...

Thanks to my close friends Brittany & Christen, I decided it was time to give blogging a try. I am new to the whole idea so bear with me! After graduation in December, I was more than thrilled to move home to be close to my family & closest friends. Shortly after we both got jobs back at home, Christen and I decided to get an apartment of our very own! We were thrilled & had some great things come about during our six months together. Christen & Mitch found out they were going to have a baby! Stephen and I were so happy to hear we would have a little one to play with & buy cute gifts for :)

Before we knew it, Mitch proposed!! They had a small, beautiful wedding given by their pastor. Sadly Christen moved out but, was able to begin the married life while she and Mitch prepared for their little girl! I had been teaching at Sylvan while on the hunt for a teaching position within a school. Unfortunately teachers were being layed off so getting my foot in the door somewhere close by was very difficult. I had to learn to have a lot of patience & did start to get very discouraged at times. It was hard knowing I went to school to obtain two degrees yet, could not get the job I had hoped for. Following all of these transitions, I finally got a better full time job! I left Sylvan & came to work for a fine jewelry store. It is very close to home & I have been so happy getting to work with some of my best friends in such a great environment! I have really enjoyed the business & am learning quite a lot. I think this will be great experience to have outside of teaching for me. Here are some pictures from after moving back until now:

Baby Monitoring

Gatlinburg