I'm still alive!!!

Don't know (or expect) anyone to respond but I'm still alive! I don't want to be that girl that lists the 10 million reasons why she hasn't posted...blah, blah, blah. Instead I will tell you that I'm in graduate school (with a 3.8 gpa!!!) and close to completing my second (successful) year of teaching at urban middle school. I heart my 7th graders and feel so blessed being a teacher.

Don't have much more to report... just teaching, class, and trying to be the best wife/dog mom. I'm on the hunt for preppy wellies (considering all the freakin' rain we've had up here in New England the past two months) and thinking Target might be the place for them (Liberty of London, anyone!?!?!). I'll keep you posted on what I decide on.

Hope all is well with everyone and look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

I'm leaving on a jet plane....

Well, not really... Instead I'm driving across Massachusetts for a week long teacher workshop tomorrow. I'll be reconnecting with co-workers, learning more about urban students, and earning my first 3 graduate credits towards my MAT. Hope everyone has a great week and I'll be back Friday with what I learned (for those preppy teachers out there).

P.S.- Was able to pick up the L.L. Bean argyle tote in a medium (no larges in store) but I think its the perfect size for my petite frame. I'm bringing it with me so I have a place for my binder, pens, and whichever book I decide to bring :-)

My latest craving....

So I start grad school in the fall at local state college for my Masters so obviously I'll need a new school bag. Here is what I'm jonesing for:

L.L.Bean Argyle Tote

Ah.... a quick break in the craziness. How is everyone doing? I'm great. I'm working hard teaching summer school (MCAS testing prep) and getting this house in shape (only 10 more boxes to go until we are unpacked) and I just finished getting my office/study organized and set up. Once the house is complete (curtains and all) I'll give you a virtual tour of the house :-)

So yeah, this summer is very different from last! Last summer I was a bump on a log stressing about finding a job and spent more time in my pj's then in real clothing. This summer I'm getting ready for year 2 at awesome middle school, making mad money teaching this summer, and getting ready to start grad classes in the fall. That's right.... I'm making the jump and starting grad school. I plan on taking one class this fall while I apply and hopefully I'll be accepted for the spring term.

Honestly, that's about it for me. It's been work, work, work this summer and gearing up for school. I was so depressed when school ended but I quickly realized that I needed the break as much as my kids did. And now I'm recharged and eager to try new lessons, rework my unit plans, and get ready for another successful MCAS session!

Hope all is well with all of you and you are enjoying the summer!

Pics of the house!

Whew, just finished the last weekend (fingers crossed) of painting the interior of the house :-)

Here are a few exterior pictures to tide you over until next weekend when the hubby, the bulldog, and I move into the homestead.

This is the far right side near the mailbox. That's my new car (2009 Ford Focus). You can see the double garage stall, cozy and cute breezeway, and white entry door that will lead you into the kitchen. Green bush jumping into the picture on the right is no longer there (thanks Mommy!)

The front of the house... beautiful Japanese Maple tree, a lovely picture window in the living room, and I adore the black shutters (Can't have a cottage/ranch without them).The far left side of lot. That's a Rose of Sharon bush blocking the master bedroom (far left of house) and the guest room/nursery (when the time comes) is the middle room on the left side of front door. Wonderful sunlight during the day!

And just to be goofy, here is a picture of hubby and I next to our Sold sign that we made the seller's agent put up the day we closed (I look extremely tired in this pic for some reason).

Interior pictures will be up next weekend once we have moved everything in and are more settled. I will say that the interior colors came out great and I can't wait to show you all!

Quick Update

• Bought a house!!!! A cute ranch with three bedrooms, a screened-in porch/breezeway, beautiful yard with peonies, roses, burning bushes, rose of sharon, and much more. We've been working on the trim the past two weeks (it was a hideous dark wood color... its now a cottage white color) and we will be starting the walls tomorrow. I have pictures in my dig cam I need to download.
• Golfing today with my husband and a couple we adore. So pumped
• My first year of teaching is almost at a end...can't believe it! Lots to talk, I'll probably create an individual post/reflection.
• Kappa Prep!!!! My husband did something to the computer and now I can't read your blog. Can you re-invite me? I don't think I can have a very preppy day without reading your blog!

Quick update

Hi everyone~

Very quick update since I need to go to bed so I can fight this cold/sore throat/sinus thingy I have currently. All I can say is thank goodness April vacation is on the way. I already have plans to visit the Cape to visit my favorite aunt and our favorite tea room, while also finding time to relax and correct any pending material.

On the school front, we are in the midst of MCAS, which seems to be going well. After the session today, I asked my students for their honest feedback on how they were doing, how prepared they felt (we did so many practice session and dissecting of open response writing I think they were ready), and what they could do better the next day. Keep your fingers crossed the next two days go smoothly.

Remember how I was saying I couldn't wait to be done with this year so I could go back to teaching at the high school level.... well, I'm ready to eat those words. I am having such a blast this year with my students, the staff, and the material. As each unit progresses, I find more exciting and challenging things to do and find myself looking forward to Monday mornings (go figure). I can't wait for next year so I can build on what I did this year and make it so much better. I think its official... I'm a proud middle school teacher (I never thought I would say that!!!!).

The next two months will be crazy. Lots of church stuff going on which Holy Week and then Easter, plus teaching, plus other personal stuff going on at home (nothing horrible, just interesting), and looking forward to end of June/early July since I'll be teaching the 6th grade session of Vacation Bible School at St. Anne's Parish (Doug's aunt helps run the program and asked me if I could volunteer!!!!).

I think that is pretty much it. I've been slacking again on my Thumbs Thursday but I promise to make an effort to get those started again. I'm even going to remind myself in my email calendar.

Hope all is well with everyone and wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter season~