I Heart Summer!

So I have decided that unless I become a stay at home mom I will always be a teacher because I LOVE SUMMER!!! I have done absolutely nothing productive today (unless you count catching up on some of my shows that were recorded or watching clips from Kidd Kraddick in the Morning on my newly downloaded app) and I don't even feel bad about it. We got a new puppy yesterday. Well, it is Laura's puppy but since we live together for the time being I can say we. He is so cute. He is a dorkie... Half miniature daschund and half yorkie. Laura decided to name him Ranger. I'll put pics up later because I don't know how to on my iPad yet. I also don't know how to change the dang font. Logan is more than thrilled to have the new addition but we have to be careful since she weighs 70 pounds and he is only 2.5! He is so adorable though! I wonder how many times my oldest sister is going to be asked for a small dog by my niece because of this! Speaking of family, mine is coming over for dinner tonight. My WHOLE family. Mom, Dad, Mel JD Madi & Braylon, Kim & Brett, and of course me Chris & Laura will be here. I'm super excited though, we always have a good time together! Just wanted to give a quick update... Time to watch more of my crime shows!

June Review

I can't believe that June is basically already over!  I love summer, but it goes by WAY too quickly.  I've had a lot of time to relax and spend time with my friends and family.  I know I still have July and part of August, but I know it will be over before I know it.  


I actually had to go to a training this past week in Dallas.  There is a program called AVID (advancement via individual determination).  It is designed to promote college readiness.  It allows students to be put into higher level classes and shows them how to study and gives them tips to succeed in life.  It is a great program that Irving is a part of.  I'm not an AVID teacher or anything, but we do have what is called a site team at each school.  The site team is a group of teachers who promote AVID strategies and help encourage students to go to college.  It is a really inspiring training.  You learn a ton of teaching strategies that you can use in your classroom, and it actually made the idea of going back to school not so terrifying.  I still don't want summer to end :)


I'm really looking forward to this weekend!  I have never been to Canton (a HUGE outside flea market type place), and I am going for the first time ever! I'm hoping to find some things that I can use for my wedding.  I had a color scheme in mind that I really liked, but in the back of my mind I kept thinking that it might clash a little with the decor of the venue I chose. So, I have been browsing wedding pics and decided exactly what I want. I'm still getting to use the main color I wanted, yellow, but I wanted to do something a little different.  Not so different that people will wonder what I was thinking... just different like you don't see the decor at every wedding you go to.  I really need to start doing a bit more planning so I won't be too overwhelmed during the school year.  I've been getting really excited about getting married lately. Not just the wedding, but I want to buy a house (and decorate it), I want to have babies... and I want to do these things with my best friend!  I am also going to a friend's baby shower this weekend.  I went and got a gift today at Buy Buy Baby.  After I bought the gift, the lady told me about their complementary gift wrapping.. that you wrap yourself!  I love wrapping presents, and for someone to give me all the wrapping paper and ribbons I need for free was GREAT!  Chris and I are also planning on seeing a movie this weekend and getting our passport pictures taken!  


I'm also excited about a new venture I'm getting into.  I've always wanted to find something that I can do on the side to make money.  I want to be able to make enough money that I don't have to go back to teaching right away once I have babies.  I tried selling jewelry a while back, but I'm really not a great sales person... and not everyone wants to spend their extra money on jewelry.  But you know what most people are willing to spend money on?  Health products!  Especially if they are weight loss type products!  I have a friend who currently sells these types of products for a company called itWorks!  She talked to me about the opportunity, and I was sold right away.  They have a supplement line and a skin care line, but their best seller is an at-home body wrap.  I have tried it, and it is amazing!  It helps you firm, tighten and tone wherever you put it, and most people see a reduction in inches!  I'm just now getting into this company, but I can't wait to see where it takes me.  I have a website: http://jennawinter.myitworks.com  I chose to use my married name (which won't be legally my name for a year) because my exciting!  I'm hoping this works out because my long-term goal is to be a stay-at-home-mom for a while after my kids are born. I guess that's part of the reason why I LOVE summer so much! I get to pretend to be a SAHM... just without the kids!


Hope everyone has a weekend as great as the one I'm looking forward to!

My First Week of Summer!

I made it through my first year of teaching 6th grade science, and I loved it! I'm so excited to be going back to the same school in the fall in the same position... but at the same time, I NEED A BREAK!


My first week was great!  I actually had to go to the school on Monday. Since Friday was our last day of school, our teacher work day ended up being on the following Monday. So, I was able to relax over the weekend, and knowing no kids going to be there it was easy getting up for school on Monday.  It started out with a quick end-of-the-year faculty meeting.  After that, I had like 3 more things to get signed off on my end of year check list, then I was planning on heading out the door by 9!  My plans changed.  One of the things I had to do was get my CT (computer tech) to sign my paper saying I would be responsible for my laptop during the summer.  Since I came from a different school, I have a different laptop than the other teachers.  Apparently, my CT didn't know that and needed to reimage mine.  No big deal... he said it would be 45 minutes.  I went and hung out with some of my teacher friends who had to be there for a while and went back 45 minutes later.  I thought it would be ready, but he said it would take another HOUR!  So, I got to hang out a little longer and then it was finally ready.  I ended up leaving around 11 or so.  I was able to go home and take a MUCH needed nap.  Good thing I got that nap... I went to an end of the year party at Patty's house.  Patty is a special ed teacher at my school and one of my favorite people I have met at my new school.  Chris went with me, and we had a blast!  We met and hung out with Patty and another teacher Tiffany's husbands.  It was really fun.


Tuesday and Wednesday consisted of baby sitting.  My oldest sis Melanie has two beautiful kids.  Madilyn is 9.  She is a "tomboy" (she wants to be but really isn't), she is hilarious, and she is very sweet.  Braylon is 7 months.  He is 90% of the time the happiest baby ever!  His smile melts my heart.  I had a good two days with them.  And Melanie is even paying me!  She had asked me a couple months ago if I was interested.  She was taking Braylon to a babysitter anyway and thought she could give that lady a break and pay me the same amount to help me save for my wedding.  Honestly, I probably would have done it for free because I love my niece and nephew... but having money for the wedding will be really nice!


Thursday was technically my first day off to myself, so I decided to do something that I would enjoy.  I couponed!  I woke up and sat on the couch for a little bit playing with my dog Logan, then decided to get started around 9.  It's not like I was straight couponing all day long... I did some laundry and watched tv also... but I wasn't done with my coupons until 6 pm!  I don't care though, it was well worth it.


On Friday I went back to the school to watch cheer camp.  I found out at the end of the school year that I get to be one of the cheerleading sponsors next year!  I AM SO EXCITED!  I think it will be so much fun to live vicariously through these girls! Well, they had camp all week. I didn't go because the girl who I am replacing wanted to be there for one last hoorah.  But, I was able to go up on Friday when they showcase everything they learned that week. It was cute... made me want to cheer again!  After that, I went home and met Laura.  She has summer hours over the summer and is off every other Friday.  So, we decided we would grocery shop!  We went to Tom Thumb and got some good deals.  We were able to save 49%.  I try not to save less than half, but that was so close, I was pleased!  After that, we went and got a much deserved hour-long massage.  I really needed it after sitting at my kitchen table couponing for that long!  Then, we finished our grocery shopping at Kroger and Albertson's.  Kroger's savings (25%) wasn't that great since they don't double coupons anymore.  But we got some things we really needed.  Then, Albertson's was amazing!  I saved 70%... spent about $50, saved about $115!  It feels good to get deals like that... especially since a lot of the shopping we did was for another family in need.  We found out this week that a family friend of one of our friends died.  He was 33 years old, married with two kids and one on the way.  And one thing that was so sad was that his wife actually had the 3rd baby the day after he passed away.  It was a heart attack and it was really unexpected.  One way I felt able to help was to give them some groceries so they would have to worry about it.  I took a quick pic of what we bought.

Mainly we wanted to give them some things that everybody uses. I know this won't make up for losing someone, but hopefully it will show how them that people care and are here if they need help.


Well, I'm off to blowdry my hair and then relax until it's time for church.  I think Chris and I might do dinner and a movie tonight! Looking SO forward to summer!

I Can't Believe It's Almost Over

Tomorrow starts the first day of the last week of this school year.  I say this every year, but this year it seems like more than ever it just FLEW BY!!!  This time last year was very hard for me.  Like so many people have experienced over the last 10 years or so our school district was experiencing some budget cuts and therefore had to lay off a ton of jobs.  Basically any teacher that was in their first year did not get their contract renewed.  Then, there were other teachers who signed a contract, but were not sure where they would end up... like myself.  Our math department (which is what I taught) had to be cut in half.  We were going from math being double blocked to being single blocked, so you only need half the teachers.  I was devastated... The year before I had taught 6th grade math.  Last year I taught 7th grade math.  So, I wasn't going to be able to see my kids in their last year of middle school.  I had made so many teacher friends that I wouldn't see on a daily basis.  And, I worked with my mom... I wouldn't be able to see her every day!  I figured it would all work out for the best, but at the same time... it was just hard.  Well guess what?  It all worked out.  I ended up at a great school.  I have made many new friends.  The kids are awesome (except for a couple toots who haven't matured as much as they should).  And, the best part is that I was able to switch subjects.  I am now teaching the subject I originally wanted to... SCIENCE!  I was always better at math in school, but I wasn't too shabby in science.  And I really just thought that teaching science would be fun.  And it is!  It turns out that the kids enjoy science so much more, and it really helps out with behavior issues.  I mean, I have plenty of discipline issues, but they seem to be not as major or many.  


So, in all honesty, I can't believe this is the last week of school.  Having had such a great year makes me really look forward to next year!

And We've Reached the Single Digits!

We officially have 7 days left of school!  So exciting!!!!  Just wanted to share that :)

My Three Favorite Things About Teaching...

1.  June

2.  July

3.  August

We have 11 more school days until summer... AND I CANNOT WAIT!  I started my countdown over 2 weeks ago!  I think I am more ready for this break than the kids are.  Then again, with the way they are acting... maybe not.

I don't like having to have a substitute, but sometimes you have to.  I am going to be part of our AVID site team next year at my school.  AVID is a program that is supposed to get kids ready for college even at a middle school level.  Well, the site team had to meet yesterday to plan for next year.  (I am in charge of the ice cream social, by the way.)  Our meeting was on campus, but it was an all day thing, so I was required to get a substitute to cover my classes. The last time I had a sub, two of the three classes that she covered were A-W-F-U-L!  Like, she was crying at the end of the day.  Poor lady... Anyway, I had made my kids feel pretty bad the last time they acted up, so I warned them that if they did not behave I would not be happy.  GUESS WHAT?  Not only did my kids not behave, but my sub didn't behave!  I mean, I know that subbing is a hard job.  The kids don't always respect substitutes, and I know that they give them a hard time.  But, the answer is not to try and become their friend. 

My first instruction that I left said to make sure the kids were sitting in their correct assignments.  He told the kids to sit anywhere they wanted.  My second instruction was for them to watch a Bill Nye video and answer questions.  Someone in my 6th period broke my VCR.  (Yes, I said VCR.)  They ran behind my desk, where they are not allowed, and got caught on the cords.  Two of the three prongs are stuck in the back of it now.  My 3rd instruction was to complete a worksheet that had two sides.  The front was a word search.  The back was a drawing.  I said they could talk quietly, but if it got too loud they would lose their talking privileges.  I had 2 teachers complain about the noise level coming from my room through their closed doors.  He told them they could get out their iPods and listen to music.  He cussed at 2 of my classes.  AND HERE'S THE KICKER..... Someone in my 6th period dialed 911 and left the phone off the hook!  The most insulting part is that he left me a note and told me all of my classes were good!  He even said he would be happy to come back and cover my classes again!  He said, and I quote, "They were good.  Most of the kids didn't try the work.  They be talking, but it was under control."  WHAT?!?!

Needless to say, I asked that he not sub for me again.  I even gave all the info to our administration and ask that he not be allowed to come back to our school.  Keep your fingers crossed.  

The rest of the year should be easy-breezy as long as the behavior issues stay at a minimum.  I mean, out of the 11 days I have left, 2 are used for semester exams, 1 is the awards assembly, 1 is the 6th grade field trip, and 4 are going to be movie days.  Educational of course!  Finding Nemo is ALL about ecosystems!

I hope everyone has a great week!  

Looking forward to the weekend!

T.G.I.F.

It was such a long week at school!  After testing Tuesday and Wednesday, I really felt like yesterday should have been Friday, but it wasn't!  I'm just so tired... So I'm glad it's the weekend.

And I feel good about this weekend... even with my dentist appointment tomorrow :)  I am going to see the Rangers this Saturday kick some booty!  They are giving away bobble heads!  I don't remember who it is of (maybe Beltre?), but it will look good in my Rangers memorabilia collection (which has a Nelson Cruz? bobblehead, a Elvis Andrus? figurine, a good-looking Texas Rangers hat that I will never wear, the replica ring from when they went to the World Series the first time, the replica trophy from when they went to the World Series the second time, an autographed miniature bat signed by Derek Holland, and a couple of t-shirts... not to mention my Derek Holland jersey!)!  

Laura is out of town, which makes Chris nervous about where we will get our food... but I reminded him that we used to take care of ourselves when we didn't live with her, so I think we should be able to get along fine for 3 days!  I even cooked dinner last night!  Well, kind of.  I made some taco soup that we ate with the leftovers from the night before.

But, I plan on surprising her  by doing a couple of things around the house!  I would spell out my plan, but I think it would be better to blog about what I actually end up doing, not EVERYTHING I would like to do!  I'll get back on Sunday to mention everything I did!  Hope she doesn't read my blog before then. :)  

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!