Running Up Hill

So I have been a little MIA lately and have been neglecting my blog...(I do apologize to the few people that actually read this thing) The past few weeks have been a little crazy with work and just life. We had conferences at school which was a tornado in itself and then finally our first full week of school in I don't know how long. Let me tell you...that full week of school made me exhausted! All these snow days and inservices have spoiled me and I am not used to this whole going to school 5 days in a row. Anyways, I'm back!!!

One of my friends Melisa had a sweet baby girl in December! I have been blessed with all of my friends having these beautiful girls that I get to snuggle and play with all the time! So Melisa and I decided that when she got cleared from the doctor to start working out we were going for it....and we have! We wake up 3 days a week at the butt crack of dawn and run. No way in my life would I be doing this if she didn't meet me every morning, because me and morning don't really have the best relationship. It has worked beautifully though and we are going over a month strong on waking up and actually going. I can't tell you how much of a motivator it is having a workout buddy, she has truly been a blessing. I have wanted to consistently workout for awhile but something always gets in the way, and going after work for me just doesn't work. I am ready to get in my sweats and watch something on the tube or just hang out. It's been really nice just getting done and out of the way in the morning. Were going to do a 5k sometime this spring. (I'm a little nervous because I haven't gotten over that hump of wanting to die in the beginning) I'm crossing my fingers that within the next couple weeks I'll be able to increase my distance and not want to collapse or feel like I need to walk a bit to survive. Right now I feel like I'm running up hill and my chest is on fire.....which is always a pleasant feeling right?! haha


Friday....Friday's are my favorite for many reasons. Were going to have some bullet action here for a second.
Reasons I  LOVE Friday's:
1. Duh...it's Friday
2. It's always my good run days
3. Show and Tell at School
4. I can stay up late and not pay for it the next day
5. Weekend is here!!
6. We usually have pretty solid snacks


This particular Friday started off fabulous, I ran the furthest I have without stopping to take a little walk. So I was thinking this is great my day is going to be Fabulous! The kids were awesome on Thursday so surely they'll be great again today. That  of course didn't happen!! I got to work and was working on getting my materials out for the day when in walks my principal. Which is kind of out of the ordinary....she's a busy woman and goes between 2 schools, so she doesn't frequent my room all too much. (love the lady, but she is rather intimidating) Back to the story, Dr. K comes in and has me choose a time slot and then informs me that they are doing Principal Walk Through Training and that she and 5 other principals are going to watch me teach for around 20 minutes TODAY. ( Let's take a little time out for just a second.....TODAY really??? No notice nothing) I was a little unprepared so I was thankful that I have first plan period. So I pulled out all the stops and got my room ready for this lesson 6 principals are going to be watching. (I was sweating bullets) The day went downhill from there...It's not that the observation went bad at all, it's actually went really good I feel like. The kids were on task and they seemed to like what they saw. I just am not all about something like that being sprung on my 2 hours before it's going to happen, I was a little flustered. 

So after the parade of principals came through Room 107...it was like some type of switch that turns kids into little monsters got turned on. (Just to my boys) I have 2 friends that fight/argue ALL the time and it drives me nuts. The both are currently sitting next to me on opposite sides of my desks....oh the special friends!


 One little boy decided he didn't want another little boy standing by him...so naturally you should punch that kid in the stomach right?? I mean WHAT in the world really? I think someone has been watching too much WWE. So I sent him off to the principals office to have a little chat, and called his mother. She was not please to say the least. She called back a little later though and was mad (I mean real hot) at me and the school. She was very vocal with me about something that had absolutely nothing to do with the current situation and I was real confused and taken aback by it all. So while I'm on the phone with her, boyfriend is in the hallway talking to me about the actual situation and the principal in teaching my class. I mean talk about a Tornado! It was craziness! This was the first time I've had a parent be mad or loud with me...I know it's not going to be my last. But I felt bad because the last thing I want to do it make another person upset or angry with me. It all got worked out though in the end and I think everything is going to be okay with the family. As the afternoon went on I had to make 4 phone calls to different parents....4!!! I mean goodness that is just ridiculous! Needless to say we had a lot of tears flowing in Room 107 and I was about to join them. I am praying that Monday brings peace and some better behavior. I felt so emotionally exhausted and defeated on my way home. 


Thank goodness it's the weekend. I'm having a Silpada Jewelry party today and am excited to see good friends and family today!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Latest Happenings...

Parent- Teacher Conferences are currently happening...got a good chunk of them done tonight, so thats a plus! My schedule is way spread out tomorrow so I will have lots of time to clean and organize! I am very excited about that!!! I kind of want to buy a label machine or gun thing (you know what I'm saying) and go crazy labeling my room. I think I'm going to chill out though and focus on actually cleaning my classroom, labeling will come later. It's been a short week with kids but we had a great time celebrating the 100th day of school. I will post pictures and more about that later! I have finished my Valentines for the little critters and need to set up some more Vday themed activities. 


I get Friday off!! SO EXCITED! And I'm going to K.C. on Saturday with a big group of friends to celebrate the Birthdays of some fabulous ladies!! Can't Wait!


More to come later when all the craziness is over!

the good, the bad & the ugly

I decided to stop on by analyze this and join in on her The Good, the bad, THE UGLY! Thought it would be a fun post today!


The Good: We've had 2 Snow Days this week!
The Bad: Parent-Teacher Conferences are next week and I have nothing done....Awesome :(
The Ugly: I've been finding great ideas for next year and can't stop looking at stuff to buy.....(How about I focus on the fact that I don't know what I'm talking about with my parents come Wednesday!) Focus Ashley!


The Good: I am currently obsessed with Glee.
The Bad: I get hooked on shows way to easily....I need a Tv intervention!
The Ugly: I keep saying to myself..."Just one more episode!". Staying up past midnight is a horrible thing when 5:00 am comes to go running. I need to reevaluate this Tv situation!


The Good: Groupon is one of my new favorite things.
The Bad: I keep finding reasons to buy the deal of the day on things I DO NOT need!
The Ugly: Trying to buy house at some point in my life....not gonna happen if I continue spending money on crap (really good crap though)!
http://www.alyblogs.com/2011/02/good-bad-ugly.html

Meet The Teacher

 

I stumbled upon this super cute and fun teacher blog the first grade parade...and decided to participate in her "Meet The Teacher" link party! I'm all about Q &A's and anything teacher related. So here it goes.....

Studying abroad in Italy.

(I'm in the middle...enjoying a KU football game with my sisters! Rock Chalk!)

This is me...I am 24 years old and it is my first year teaching! I couldn't be more excited to finally be done with school and have some little critters of my own. I went to the University of Kansas (Go Hawks!!) and got my degree in Early Childhood Education. I landed my first teaching job this year 2 days before school started....it was a whirlwind of emotional highs/ lows the beginning of the school year. I finally feel like my feet are on the ground and I know what I'm doing (most days). I am new to the blogging world and am loving all things blogs right now! It's been great reading peoples stories and getting great craft/ teacher ideas for my classroom! Oh yeah....I teach Kindergarten and have 16 little critters in my class this year and am loving it! 

I am single and kid-less....I have an amazing group of friends that have a whole slew of little girls running around and I have a great time being Aunt Ashley to all of them!  I am currently loving learning to cook, Wednesday's & Sundays cause that means church, friends, family, crafts, reading, Esty, knitting, and Christ! I have a huge heart for people with disabilities and have had the amazing opportunity to work/volunteer at Camp Barnabas for the past 5 years. (It's a little slice of heaven in Missouri)

My Class this year...we made pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving!

At Camp with my camper Michael.

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?  A:  I would love to be an event planner or photographer.

       Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                   

 A:  Real Housewives, Jersey Shore, Glee, Smoothies, Thai food, Forever 21, H&M, getting my hair, nails, or toes done. (Ooh what I wouldn't do for a pedicure right now!) ......just to name a few.   Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                              
 A: Snakes and all the creepy crawly things, being alone and drowning.
Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                           
 A: New York City! Love love love that place!! Or Italy (anywhere in Europe really) but I have some special people in Italy that I miss very much!                                                          
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                            
A:  Be yourself….stand up for what you believe.  Pray about everything, worry about nothing;  Don’t worry about what other people think about you…life is TOO short!
Q: What do you value most in others?     A:  Honesty….whether it’s being honest about something or being true to yourself!  Kindness and loyalty are right up there, too!!
Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                           
A: My sense of humor/ being laid back....I think I do a pretty good job laughing at myself and things that are funny. haha I also think letting things role off your back is a great trait to have! (Not sweating the small stuff)  Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                      
A: That's a hard one...I think right now I would say one of my besties Lynsay. She lives in New York and I miss her so so much! Having lunch together isn't an option for us very often. 

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

 When I student taught the teacher I worked with had a therapy dog....I would LOVE LOVE to have a therapy dog of my own in my classroom some day. (Not too exciting I know)   Now it’s time for YOU to join the party!!!! Here’s what you need to do: Write a post titled “Meet The Teacher”. Start with a brief “biography” and then copy & paste the Q&A {using your answers, of course!} Don't forget to grab a button when you link up (you can get it at First Grade Parade)!!

Sisterly Love

My sisters are now 22 years old and it feels crazy that we can possibly this old already. Not that I remember these pictures being taken at all, but when I look at them and then look at them today I feel like they should still be these little babies.

I was a fan of being the big sister back then and from what my Mom says I smothered them with love....maybe squeezing them a little too tight sometimes. Always wanting to hold them or as home movies show... it looked like I wanted to be in the spot light as well sometimes.  (It's apparent I didn't want to be the overlooked child....dancing in front of the camera when they were clearing wanting to videotape the girls...I liked attention apparently.) Everyone always asked me growing up what it's like to have "Twin Sisters". Well I haven't known anything different, sometimes I forgot that they were actually twins. They look different for one and have completely different personalities. Any of you that know the girls would agree with me that they are their own person. Each ever so beautiful and funny in their own way!

Our facial expressions in the photo crack me up! Welcome to our life!

Growing up it was great being so close in age with the girls. I mean we definitely went through our moments/ phases where I think we wanted to knock each others heads off. (Sometimes we still have those moments) It has been so fun getting older and having our own unique relationship with each other. Some would call it rude and mean the way we talk to each other sometimes. But we feel like insults and sarcasm are hilarious...and spend a good amount of time laughing together. When new people come into the mix they don't really know how to take us three when were together. Usually it consists of a lot of awkward looks and hesitation on whether to laugh or back away from what looks like an argument. haha It drives our parents crazy when we get on a role....usually end with our Mom yelling at us and then us laughing when she walks out of the room. Hard to explain but we do actually love each other! Laughing together is good for the soul!

That sister bond is something that can never be broken and it's hard to put into words how much a love and adore my sisters. They have turned into a pair of beautiful young women and it's been wonderful watching them blossom over the last 22 years! We have been able to rejoice in our successes together and cry together in times of sadness. So now they are 22 and every year when they blow out the candles this is the image I see.

 How cute are they...I mean really!!

I think I'll forever picture them as those sweet, beautiful little girls and it's nice to remember those moments when we were little. But they are still sweet, beautiful and now all grown up women...that may act like those goofy little girls occasionally!

These are from a couple birthdays ago....but I just love the pictures so I had to share!

Happy Birthday Allison and Melissa (a few days late) I love you girls more then words can say and I am so proud to be your sister!