catch up!

I cannot believe it has been so long since I have posted!  Sorry to my faithful followers!  The last couple of weeks have gone by so fast, and I just keep putting blogging on my to do list for the next day, and now it is two weeks later.  

I will try to catch you up a little bit on life!

The last week of school was a little sad for me (and my students).  I was just sad because the year was coming to an end, and it seemed like it happened too fast.  I was also happy because I finished my first year of teaching!!!!  I can't believe how fast it went.  I feel like the year had just started.  As I write and I think about the past school year, it is crazy to think about all that was accomplished during the year. 

I loved my 23 students so much and it was just hard to let them go!  Maybe this will get easier each year I teach!  I keep reminding myself that the group of Kindergartners I will have next year will be special, and I will love them just as much.  I do think that this class will always have such a special place in my heart because they were my first class.  I love thinking about how these little children impacted my life so tremendously, and the great memories that were made!   

I got so many sweet cards, pictures, and gifts during the last week of school.  The compliments that some parents gave me were the best and highest compliments I have ever received in my life!  I received an awesome photo scrapbook with pictures from the school year.  I had already been planning on making one myself this summer, but it was already done for me, and I will treasure it so much more because it came from two students and their mothers who helped in my classroom so much!  I have spent some time looking at each sweet picture and just reflecting on the year and the growth that each child made.  I know that my mind will forget some names as I continue to teach so I went ahead and wrote names by each picture so in 20 years I will remember their names! 

I didn't realize how much work went into wrapping up a school year for teachers.  So many little things that have to be done!  There are so many things that you do NOT learn in college...this is one of the many!

Two days after the last day of school we started Ready, Set, Grow.  In our county we have a program for incoming Kindergartners who need a little prep for the school year.  It lasts only 12 days (excited that I still have a long summer).  I am teaching this so I have had to quickly wrap up the school year, and I have now jumped into Ready, Set, Grow.  I have 15 pre Kindergartners who will come to our school next year.  We help them with colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc.  It is very basic but a great preparation for these students. 

On the first day of Ready, Set, Grow, I got the nasty stomach bug!  I had not been sick all school year (thank you, Lord), but the night before it hit me!  I hated to miss the first day, but my principal is great and worked every thing out for me!!!!!

I just can't believe it is already summer!  I am so proud to have this year behind me, but I still miss those students!  I am now praying for next year's class to be as successful and awesome!

A little example of how great these kinders were to me!

new york, new york!

Last weekend I went to New York with my sisters.  We had this trip planned since last November.  I have been looking forward to it for a long time!  Appalachian State University, where I went to college, has a loft in NY.  Students and Alumni can stay for CHEAP while visiting the city.  It was so much fun.  I had never been to New York.  We had so many things we wanted to do and see.  We flew in Friday night, got settled in, and then got up early Saturday to get tickets for Jersey Boys.  It is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

 

 After getting our tickets we walked around Times Square.

Visited Toys R Us and rode the Ferris Wheel!

Did a LOT of walking around the city from Ground Zero, Chinatown, Little Italy, SOHO, NOHO, and 5th Ave. 

Saturday night we saw Jersey Boys and walked around Times Square.  It was so neat to see how alive Times Square is late at night.  I had never seen any thing like it!

Sunday we spent the morning at the Statue of Liberty.  I loved walking around the museum and learning about how Lady Liberty was built and other interesting facts about her. 

We spent the afternoon walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and shopping on 5th Ave.  I loved shopping at H&M!!! 

One of my favorite stores we went in was Dylan's Candy Bar. 

The store was so fun.  My favorite things were the cupcake booth seats in the cafe and of course all the candy!!! 

That night we ate dinner at the Shake Shack.  It was a little restaurant in a park near the loft.  We noticed the day before how crazy long the line was.  We knew it must be good so we had to try it out.  We were starving and waited in line for an hour, but it was very good!  Loved experiencing eating hot dogs in the park!  Felt like it was a New York thing to do!

Monday we walked MORE!  We went to the piers because it was Fleet Week and we wanted to see the boats from the Navy.  It was neat to be there on Memorial Day.

We walked to Central Park and then visited a couple more stores on 5th Ave. that we had not had time for on Sunday.

Tuesday back at school, I told my students all about my trip.  I showed them on the map where North Carolina is and where New York was.  I showed some pictures that were on my phone and also shared some candy with them from Dylan's Candy Bar. 

Video highlights by my sister!!!

It was a great trip with my sisters.  We made so many great memories that will last the rest of my life!  I am so lucky to have such fun sisters to go on trips and spend time with.  I am so glad that we were able to experience the big city together. 

I am already planning my next trip!  Who is in????