A wee update...

I decided that I might try blogging again. Maybe it'll be more exciting this time. NOT that anything has changed recently... okay... EVERYTHING has changed.

So now, a year and a half later - I am married and have a 7 year old... oh wait, she just had a birthday, so that makes her 8.

So, let's recap the last 18 months or so.

We left off where I was headed to Michigan for the summer, and was taking a trip to Europe in July. The trip was busy and wonderful. I went to London, Belgium, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Florence & Tuscany, Munich and back to London. It was 3 weeks, and it was wonderful! I have a ton of pictures!

Sometime during the summer, I got an email saying they were abating my classroom - and in that process some of my decorations were lost. That meant a new idea! So, I used several of my Europe pictures. They have made great conversations over the past year. I can teach history and culture along with math.

In December, I met this boy... and well... the rest is history. We were married on June 26th. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding on my cousin's horse farm. Though, there were ups and down, it was the perfect un-perfect wedding. That day, I also got a 7 year old. She is sweet and wonderful. We have a good time together... all 3 of us. I am sure there is more to come about her and him later. Hopefully, this will also give me a chance to write down my wedding story - it is some story.

School wise - things are good. Every year has it's ups and downs. Last year as a Junior sponsor - my class won homecoming - it was pretty cool and never done by juniors. My calculus class competed in Canstruction and WON! We made this cool crayon box... It was 7 feet tall. My AP kids did AMAZING! I was so proud of them. I also went to the AP reading and scored exams... it was a nerdy but cool experience.

This year, I am teaching precalc along with algebra 2 and calculus... While adding a husband and daughter into the mix makes things a little crazy sometimes, I love getting to teach precalc. Silly, but this is the class I have wanted to teach since I decided I wanted to teach math. Not to say I don't like teaching other things... but this was my dream. And it has been tons of fun. I know... I'm a bit of a math nerdy. The husband reminds me often... or at least occasionally.

I currently live in Noah's Ark... well, minus the boat and the rain. But the animals 2 by 2, we've got! Robert has 2 dogs... a husky (Desna) and a basset hound (Ozzie)...I had 1 cat, Junior, who was vacationing in Michigan before and after the wedding. In August, we were at a pet store... and they had kittens, and one was speckley and sweet... and the girl and I fell in love. Though, I tried and tried not to get her, the husband said to. And so, Izzy was added to the family. She's a sweet energetic, wiggly kitten. She's quite cuddly and playful. Junior came home during fall break - he is getting used to Izzy. Both cats got collars with bells after Izzy went on an adventure - I found her in the garage -but don't know if she had been outside before. I don't think junior likes his collar, but he likes being able to hear Izzy coming. Junior can walk without making his bell ring - Izzy can't. Robert also has 2 lizards - they are actually bearded dragons (i believe) - 1 boy and 1 girl - No names though. And we have 2 birds - they are parakeets - The girl is Popcorn, and the boy is Highlighter. We also have 2 fish tanks ... they were Roberts, but after the salt water one started leaking and we had to replace it with a great hurry - I've taken a liking to it too. In our salt water tank, I've named all the fish... Robert laughs at me about this... but well. I like it. We have 2 clown fish (PS- don't call them Nemo fish around robert)... They are Slice and Crush (think Orange... Orange slice & Orange crush...hehehe)... and a Sailfin (he's black and yellow stripes) His name is Mr. Stripes.... and we have a 'Coral Beauty' Angelfish named Sherbert. We also had (they went to fish heaven) a bi-color angel named Mich (for Michigan) and a Mandarin Goby named to-go-be... They were cool. We have crabs and snails too, but only the halloween crab that the girl picked out got a name - his name is BooWho... That is my ark. It's a well loved and enjoyable one. Come visit us at Morgan's Ark any time you'd like.

I think that's all for now. Hopefully I've hit a few highlights. It's been an eventful year and a half... and I'm loving it.

Firsts of the Summer...

My summer has started, though I still find it hard sometimes to believe that it's summer.  Did I really teach my kids everything? Surely, I missed something - shouldn't I be talking about math?  Those moments come and go frequently - but they are just brief - I shrug and move on - it's SUMMER!  

This post is title the firsts of the summer... first Road Trip... first book read... first packing and unpacking...  Since summer has started - it has brought the first of my summer travels - to Oklahoma.   In a couple of days, I will drive to Michigan to spend some time there before traveling to Europe in July.  I am ecstatic about my summer travels - where all they will lead, I do not know yet... but here are some of the firsts! 

I am back to Memphis after my first 'Road Trip' of the summer.   One of my friends from work invited me to go with her to the "Women's College World Series" in Oklahoma City.  Me, being the huge softball fan that I am (just a little sarcasm here) said yes.  It's not that I'm not a fan of softball - I enjoy it, as I enjoy most sports - but it's just not one I get on my non-cable-tv very often.  So, I figured it sounded fun, and decided to go.  I'm not sure if I knew what I was getting into - but it was fun.  In all, I saw 10 softball games at the field and then 3 others on TV.   It was a good time.  The seats were right at first base - the back row of the front section - it was a clear view of the everything (that is until the fan section stood up - then you had to peer around them).   Yesterday, it was an exciting game in which the University of Washington ended up winning, and winning the National Championship.  It was definitely a fun experience. 

While we were in Oklahoma City - we also went to the OKC Memorial.  It was a solemn experience - I remember being in Searcy visiting my sister on spring break.  I was in 8th grade.  To see history, and relive those moments - solemn is the best way I can describe it.   It was one of those moments that the best thing I could thing of was to pray.  To pray for the people who were affected - to pray for the families - to pray for the people who were there.  I am glad we were able to see it. 

On another note - I also finished my first book of the summer, The Shack.   I started to read this back in March/April... I got 60 pages in and realized I wanted something light-that I didn't have to think about-something I already knew.  But, wow.  It was a great book.  There were some things that I had heard, some things that took me by surprise, it was great.  I'm sure that I could've read it in a day if I had needed to - but it was great to read some, and walk away and think and process it.   

Camera...

This weekend, I finally bought myself a new camera - it's my new 'toy'.  I also told some that 

it was a present from my new car - which is true.  When I bought my car, I used a "Sam's Club Discount" which also got me a gift card to Sam's.  With that - and other birthday/broken-camera-replacement money.  I finally bought myself a new camera.  I'm thrilled!  Super Excited!   

My new camera is a Nikon D60.  It's a D-SLR. (it's a big camera) But i'm so excited to finally have it!  It is the camera I've been wanting for a while. Here are some of my first pictures - I was trying to find things to take pictures of... and was limited - these are some of my favorites. 

Enjoy! 

This is my cat, Junior. 

Recap...

Well, it has been a while since I've been here... I've started another school year, and now have almost finished another school year.  I'm not quite sure how it's gone by so quickly... but it has been good. 

This has been a year of changes.... some planned... some unplanned... some wanted... some - well not so wanted.  But here I am, and I am better for these changes - at least most of them. 

Since the last time I have written, I have finished my 4th and now almost my 5th year of teaching.  I saw my first group of students graduate - and finish their freshman year of college.  I have packed up all of my belongs, and moved out of the apartment I have had for 4 years.  My stuff went into a storage unit - it's still there.  I was a bridesmaid in my friends wedding.  I finally went to Mackinac Island.  I came back to Memphis (after the summer) and moved in with one of my coworkers - her son went to college, and I moved in.  It has been a great experience.  I waited for my sister to leave for Australia - but along the way, I enjoyed some 'extra' moments with her and the fam.  I finally 'toured' Memphis.  I got to see the inside of a Nascar shop - JBR actually.  Reconnected with my cousin.  I bought a brand new car all by myself. Reconnected with other 'old' friends.  Learned that I have a great group of friends in Memphis.  Eventually did say 'goodbye' to my sister, niece, nephew and brother-in-law - as they headed to Australia.  Learned that I'll live without them - but still miss them.  Finished my 5th year of teaching - saw my 5th group of seniors graduate.  Learned that people enjoy my baking - which is relaxing to me.  Was named a Star Teacher for the 2nd & 3rd time in my MHA teaching career (yes, I cried... it was sweet - and unexpected).  And now have bought a ticket to London - I'll spend a couple weeks in Europe this summer - I'm super excited!

That is the recap of my last year or so....  it's had its ups and down... but the ups have out numbered downs (song of Robin Hood is popping into my head hear...) It has been good.  I have grown, and learned more about myself - and hopefully became a better me.  

Pen Pals

I do not have a pen pal.

However, one day back in the fall, I got a letter in my mailbox. Now, since I do not have a roommate, usually mail in my mailbox is for me. Not this time. This time, it was for Junior. Junior is my cat. Yes, I have a cat (he's orange and white), and my cat has a pen pal. Don't all cats have pen pals?

Well, since Junior recieved a letter in the mail, it would be rude if he didn't write back....wouldn't it? So, Junior sent a letter back - he even signed it with a paw print. Isn't that how all cats sign there name? Well, so this correspondence started with a boy in Michigan (my cousin's son). And they talk about tree forts, and remote control cars, and cat toys. Junior even got a Christmas present in the mail!! It was a cat toy made of strings and ribbons.... Junior really likes chasing it.

After Junior sent his Christmas letter, he hadn't heard from his penpal in a while, until last week, when received a letter about Valentine's day and it had another present - this time it had a plastic, pull back car.

However, the reason I write about Junior's penpal, is not because of the toy, but because of the letter. Although all of the letters brigten my day (and Junior's of course), this one topped it all off!

And the rest of the story will come at a later date... I want to have the letter to quote it correctly, because it is too good to mess up! So, no I don't usually write about my cat, but in this case... it was just too good to pass up. Come on now, do you know many cats who have penpals?

Checking in

I thought that since I checked out so long ago... that maybe I should check back in.

So, this is me checking in... and maybe I'll actually add something exciting later.

Actually, I've had some interesting realizations lately... and it has really made me think.

Well... so long.

checking out...

I have just done the end of the year checkouts for school. My grades are done, my things are packed, and I am free to go. But at the same time, I look around me and wonder... where did this year go? I have had a great year. I have enjoyed my classes, we covered more than I thought we would and the students were great. But I am at a point that I can hardly believe it is May... well practically June. Where did this year go? I feel like it was just August and I was looking at the year to come. Now, it has come and gone.

It is kind of nice to have new beginnings... in August, I will start this all over again. I will have new students, and we will start this educational-process-thing all over again. Even now, I look forward to next year. I look forward to the group of seniors I will have, and the junior class that I will work with, and I wonder what my 7th graders will be like. I only teach one group of 7th graders, and each year they are a very neat group.

But, for now... I am on summer vacation... this does sound really nice, but teachers have to work really hard to get a summer vacation. I look forward to going home and seeing my friends and family. I think it is time for a break! For now, I'm checking out! See ya soon!