25 Days of BlogMas | Day 9

Heyyyyyyy,

(Totally failed to get this out to you guys yesterday. Sorry!)

Today was the first day my classroom teacher was able to come into work. Something a lot of people don't realize about pneumonia is, the actual flu-like symptoms are gone within about a week, but the toll it takes on your body is so bad that it takes a couple more weeks to fully recover.

(Time out: Can you believe that the first week of December has already passed?!)

I was so happy my classroom teacher was able to come in, we all missed her, but she left at 1:30. She just couldn't do it one more hour. Her lungs were starting to burn and she just felt totally wiped out.

It was nice not having to do everything myself that day. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, but in the future when I have my own classroom, I won't have to go to work, then class then do homework.

2:30 came quickly and all the students were out of the school within five minutes.

...that left me with about 15 minutes to kill, so I worked on my portfolio (I had to present it later in class).

Well around 3 I grabbed all my stuff and headed to my car. It was torrentially (is that a word?) down-pouring so I guess you could say I was also trying to wait out the rain.

As I was walking to my car, I noticed a large Ford SUV parked next to it, with someone in the drivers seat...

It was Brendan!!

He had surprised me with a bouquet of roses because it was my last undergraduate class EVER! 

I've never had a bigger smile on my face. It was just what I needed!

Sadly I couldn't stay with him for long because I had to go to class...

When I got to campus, I parked my car at a meter for the last time and walked to my very last undergrad class. 

I got there and guess what? My professor gave each of us a long stem rose and poured some sparkling cider into champagne flutes.

Today was a day full of celebration. Even though I still have to finish up assignments and drop them off in my professors mailboxes by Sunday, I never had to attend a class again! YEEEESS!!

After class, I headed home. I took a shower and washed my hair (WOW did that feel good). This whole semester I have been totally neglectful of myself. Of course I shower and brush my teeth every morning, but because I have to. Tuesday night was the first time in a while that I pampered myself with 'the good body scrub' or the expensive conditioner... because I was in the mood too.

Brendan picked me up and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. I got the Chinese Chicken Salad, which is to die for! And, of course, a slice of Tuxedo Cheesecake to go :-)

We spent the remainder of the night watching the season finale of Sons of Anarchy.

I never thought I'd see the day where I'd actually finish my undergrad career. Looking back on the day, I remember sitting in class and thinking back to my freshman year. Different college, different peers, different me. I was in a totally different place. A down in the dumps, depressive, dark place. I always dwell on the past and so I've never given my chance to realize that I was getting closer to the end. I remember exactly how I felt 5.5 years ago, sitting along in my dorm room, under the blankets. I'm so proud of where I am now, how much I've learned, how strong I've become and the people who I have in my life now that just make it all worth while.

Until next time,

XOXO Ines

25 Days of BlogMas | Day 2

Hi there world! 

I woke up again this morning as sick as a dog. My body is finally catching up with all the stress I've been putting it under;  I'm just glad my soar throat is gone. Now I have a stuffy nose and headache to deal with all day. I might not look sick, but I definitely am! 

Something is floating around amongst the first grade....

Day 2 of my takeover week went really well. My classroom teacher was out again so, although I love having her there and she is the best support system, it was definitely more relaxing to know that I didn't have her eyes on me the whole day as I taught. 

With the first day of December comes celebrating and learning about December holidays. 

Yesterday I introduced The Nutcracker advent calendar to the whole class. We opened window one and today we got to open window two. It took them until today to really understand how an advent calendar worked. 

I really love the one my classroom teacher has because it tells the story of the nutcracker over the 24 days of the advent calendar. Each window has a miniature book; so every day you find out more to the story. I love the concept!

After dismissal, instead of heading to work, I went home for a few minutes then drove to class. Class was the LAST thing I wanted to do today. I actually ended up leaving because I had a pounding headache and by this point, I was also much sicker!

As soon as I got back home, dinner was ready. My mom made steaks and I couldn't help myself; I had to dog in. At least I still have my appetite! 

Sadly, because tomorrow is my observation day, I had to write up my lesson plan and email it to my professor. Homework, or really any work, was the last thing on my mind. I wanted to be a couch potatoe until I was too sleepy to sit up straight 

It took me a couple of hours to write up my lesson plan. Between typing, watching Elf and procrastinating, it took way longer than it should have. But atleast I did it, right?!

Well I'm off to put pjs on and get in bed. I just took a big dose of night time cold medicine so I'm hoping it kicks in soon!

Try not to get sick!!

Until next time, 

Xoxo Ines 

25 Days of BlogMas | Day 1

Hello world! 

Not only did today mark the first day of December but it also marked the first day of my take over a week. Besides waking up with the worst soar throat ever, I was anxiously excited to start the day. For the most part, because I've had other teaching jobs while completing my undergrad, I'm pretty comfortable being in a classroom. But, because this is the first time I've had one whole full week of full responsibility, I was a little nervous. 

I've been fortunate enough this semester to not only have a wonderful group of students but also have a wonderful group of support staff. This placement is by far my favorite and definitely solidifies that I should be a teacher; i'm in the right career field. Its going to be sad once December break comes and I have to say goodbye. 

All in all, I had a great first day of my take over a week. It was more that I could've asked for. Everything went smoothly, I didn't lose anyone, and all of the children seem to just really enjoy themselves; it was like any other day of the week in the classroom. 

Of course as soon as 2:30 hit and all the kids were dismissed I had to rush over to my real paying job at an after school program a few towns over, until 6 o'clock. Of course as soon as I got there my soar throat grew more painful. 

I genuinely enjoy my job and because of how my schedule worked out this semester, I could only be there three times a week. So, I'm actually looking forward to coming back in January full-time (Monday through Friday). It's a different set of staff, it's a different set of students, it's a completely different population but I love it just as much. 

We picked secrets today so there was a lot of excitement floating around amongst my coworkers.

You wouldn't believe how well we all get along. It's more like a family than it is a group of casual acquaintances that you work with. 

6 o'clock finally hit and we were free to go. I hopped on the highway and headed home. Then, I ate dinner with my parents and sat in my living room for about an hour and watched elf. That's when I noticed my stuffy nose and my headache; it was time to make some tea and take some Tylenol. 

Finally, around 9 o'clock, I couldn't take being downstairs anymore so I headed upstairs to my room, where I put on my pajamas and got into bed. Maybe some extra rest will help me fight this cold (hopefully that's all it is). 

All in all I think I had a pretty sweet first day of BlogMas. 

Now I just hope that I wake up tomorrow morning feeling a whole lot better! 

Until next time,

XOXO ines