08/31/10

Oh kindergarten... I spend the day saying "hips and lips," asking kids to take markers out of their mouths, singing "Here we are together, sitting criss-cross applesauce," talking about the weather, reading stories about foxes and raccoons, and so many other crazy things. I truly think herding cats would be easier. Today, however, was a special day. The kids did better and are beginning to act like a class, rather than 20 crazy people. As I was checking homework folders I found this picture with a note from a mom saying she was so happy that I was her daughter's teacher. I am so blessed with these lives. I just need to remind myself that, and that things will get better!

08/30/10

The Glamorous Life of a Teacher...
I feel like it's my first year all over again... planning right up until it's time for bed! But, that means I will be back to normal in a few weeks! :)

08/29/10

Trying to be productive... Kindergarten sure uses a lot of paper!

08/28/10 My nephew is here!

Welcome to the world, Asher Benjamin! I am so happy you were born!

What a lovely day... I slept in, read for fun, took a nap, got the oil changed in my car, renewed my car registration, went shopping without incident (HUGE, I know), and had yummy homemade ice cream with friends... Now I just need to find my bed so I can go to sleep :)

08/27/10

I survived three days of kindergarten... so many stories...

"I have my lunch Miss Mattei"- Kindergartener

"That's a box of sandwich bags"- Me

"My mom said this is my lunch"- Kindergartener

"No she didn't. This isn't food."- Me

***

On a scavenger hunt around the school looking for Chester the Raccoon, we made a stop at the nurses office. This is how that went:

"Boys and girls I am Nurse Julie. I am so happy to meet you today and that you are all feeling well."- Nurse Julie

"I just remembered, I think I'm hurt..."- Kindergartener

***

Today we all took a bathroom break. Trust me, it's better if we all go... Anyway, we had been standing there for about five minutes and kids had been going to the bathroom. I was about to take them to recess...

"Ok, has everyone got to the potty?"- Me

"I need to go!"- students who have been standing with the finished students the whole time... What did they think we were there for??

***

I got called "Mr. Mattei" today.

***

While packing-up on the first day one of my girls tried to stuff her tissue boxes back in her back pack. When I talked to her she started crying, saying, "I just really wanted to have these with me at home!"

***

More to come...

08/26/10

Exhaustion... I don't think fifth graders ever made me this tired...

08/25/10

Flowers for Miss Mattei from the cutest little boy in the world... shame the day was horrible. Fifth grade, I miss you. See you next year...

08/24/10

Where the Magic Happens...

Here goes nothing...

08/23/10

Note the time... I got out of bed to take this picture :)

08/22/10

College roomies :)

08/21/10

I dedicate this post to Kris and Paul Erickson. I just want to prove (after The Great Cookie Disaster of 2010) that I can make yummy cookies! :)

08/20/10

Kindergarten exploded

08/19/10

Time to make a word wall...

08/18/10

I had a great day at work today. Today one of my future students "helped" me in my classroom. It was so fun to be called "Miss Mattei" by a little voice :) Here is the wall behind my desk. I have covered it with pictures of my friends and family. I love everyone's smiling faces when I walk into my classroom each day! More pictures of my classroom to come... :)

08/17/10

My blog today is inspired by my sweet rommate, Marybeth. When I got home from work today Marybeth had made this wonderful meal for us. That got me to thinking... When I moved to Idaho in 1997, my aunt said to me, "Amy I know a girl named Marybeth. You are going to love her!" We got to know each other at family camp that year and we have been good friends ever since. 13 years and still going strong... :) Thanks auntie Joy... you were right!

Here are just a few memories of our friendship :)

(Sorry, they're not in order :( )Europe Trip 2009

Girls Camp Counselors 2002

Nazarene Youth Conference 2003Pumpkin Patch 2009

Karcher Nazarene Youth Group :)

So many birthdays... this is my 13th. We're so little!

Family Easters 1998- present :)

L.A. mission trip 2002

Marybeth and me after she did my hair for the Nampa Christian Banquet 2003

I really do thank my God for you, Marybeth. I couldn't imagine a better friend and roommate. I have so many wonderful memories with you in them from babysitting the five Mylander cousins to our day trip to SLC just to go to IKEA to making that scrapbook for Ryan when he moved. Those memories bring a smile to my face and I am so thankful God has allowed me to know you.

Thank you for hanging out with me when my dad left. Thank you for being my friend through middle school and high school. That was such an ugly time. Thank you for helping me set-up two classrooms! Thank you for pulling all-nighters with me to watch stupid t.v. shows. Thank you for late night talks and hours of laughter. I can't wait to see what other trouble we get in in the future... :)

08/16/10

Today was my kindergarten reading training day. As it happens, no one realized I would be the ONLY kindergarten teacher at this training. So, I spent the morning reading my teacher's edition, trying to catch up on my phonemic blending... waiting for someone to notice that my new students don't recognize their own names. Finally, the presenter took pity on me and asked the district k/1 reading coach to give me a one-to-one training session. It was such a blessing. I Think am just going to need to put on my big girl pants and push through these next few weeks. I did learn today that I am a natural when it comes to teaching blending, with a puppet no less! As far as fifth grade teacher turned kindergarten teacher goes, I'm a rock star!

Anyway, when I was driving home this verse came to mind. My God, the one I call to for help, made the UNIVERSE and is willing to help me :). How do I forget, so often, what a blessed girl I am!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber..." -Psalm 121:1-3

08/15/10

When I was in high school I went through that phase that many girls go through... You know the one. I never felt like I looked good in any clothes. My senior year of high school I was certain that this one pair of Gap jeans would change my life. They were very expensive and my mom made me promise I would wear them if she bought them for me. Well, the have been my favorite jeans ever since. I wore them ALL THE TIME. My sophomore of college I would sit during chapel and pick at the knees... you now see what happened. Now I find these jeans my favorite pair of "lazy day, it's time for an art project" jeans... :) See mom?!? I wore them!

08/14/10

Poor Fred... he has been feeling left out since Lisa and I have ended our road trip. Poor little guy... :(

08/13/10

Movie in the park
Ice Age 3 :)

08/12/10

Alex and a little boy Andrea watched for the morning. Alex LOVED him and was so sad to see him go back with his dad... I can't wait to see Alex as a big brother!!

08/11/10

Miss Kris praying with Alex in his tent (or the "guest room" as Andrea calls it).

08/10/10

Crazy kid!

08/09/10

"Auntie, look at this face!"

08/08/10

Sailing! Cutest boy I know!

08/07/10

Alex playing the piano :)

08/06/10

Thanks for clearing that up for me...

08/05/10

Heading to Spokane! This was quite the day of the road trip... especially when Lisa left her purse in Northern Idaho and we didn't realize it until we had been in Spokane for 3 hours. That was quite the experience! No pictures of that, though... we were pretty tired!

08/04/10

Calgary! What a beautiful city!

08/03/10

My poor arm... this is what happens when you get caught in a hail storm :(

08/02/10

Way to go, God! You did good work on this place... :)

08/01/10

Good friends, a bear... what a great day!