the princess talks...

Yep yep, as soon as I get settled in, it's back to crazy freezing MN. It was 60 here today - I'm too scared to look at weather.com to see what it's like in MN. But oh well - at least this time it's back to the real life of classes and fun weekends and the like. I'm really looking forward to real classes - I feel like I have so much left to learn. And I still have some major thinking to do - as in do I really want to be a teacher? Who knows. Comments as to this subject would be appreciated.

I guess it's been a pretty good break. I always feel like I spend too much time at church - don't get me wrong - I love church, but when you're there from 2-9 pm on Christmas Eve and then right back again at 9 am the next day, that's overkill. It's also what you get when you can sing and play the organ (or at least the people in charge think you can - after the Christmas disaster, I am seriously doubting my organing abilities).

Yeah... so I should pack. And email some friends.

Oh - the one person who reads this will be interested in some of the things I got for christmas - an HP PhotoSmart 7660 printer (aren't you proud of me for knowing the model?), a UPS, and TrillianPro. Exciting, isn't it?

Ah yes, I am in beautiful Colorado, no longer freezing to death, and no longer dealing with frizzy hair caused by humidity. (yes, MN is humid, even in the winter, and yes, I can tell the difference) It was a busy last couple of days at school (both MLC and St. John's). It was good times, but very tiring. I was sad to leave my kids on Friday. Many of them felt that I should stay and that their other teacher should go back to school and learn more. I'll keep my comments on that to myself. I had girls crying on Friday and 5th grade boys giving me hugs - something I did not expect, but completely enjoyed. They turned out to be super awesome kids, and I can't wait to go back and visit.

So now I'm at home, (watching the Packers lose, but we're not going to think about that) for another church-filled vacation. I think I'll be home for 11 days total before going back to MN to my grandma's. In those 11 days, I will go to 6 church services, not including the time I need to spend there to practice organ. I am once again thankful that I live 3 minutes from church. Speaking of which (typing of which?) I need to get ready to go there again...

So I don't really have the time to post, but I feel the need to do so anyways. (did you know that anyways isn't really a word? My english teacher aunt told me that over Thanksgiving - however, I will keep using it.) I decided I need to write to record this eventful day - I had my first puker today. One of my sweet little third graders let the chunks fly all over the floor. And of course this had to happen on the day that my supervising teacher had a dentist appointment, leaving me pretty much alone. However, I did what I thought was rational - sent her to the bathroom to wash her hands and got the kindergarten teacher. I didn't feel as though cleaning up puke was quite up there in my list of responsibilities yet, as I'm not getting paid. (yes, I would have cleaned it up had she asked me to, or had there been no one else to do it... but why clean it when someone else will?)

So yeah, just had to share that with the millions (or tens, or one) people/person that reads this silly thing. It shall be a day to remember.

Oh my... it's been a rough one. I'm not entirely sure where to start. Thanksgiving break was fun and productive. I got lots of planning done, so my lesson plans should be fairly simple from here on out. A friend of mine from both Prep and MLC died over break - that was a shock. After lots of calling around to various people, I decided that a quick trip to WI for the funeral was what I needed to do. And it was a quick trip - but I am super glad that I went. There is definitely something to be said for having the comfort of God's Word in a funeral. That was the toughest funeral I've been to - I can't imagine having to go through that without the promise of heaven. I've also learned that there is something to be said for compassionate people, or at least people who act like they are. I thought that the faculty at my student teaching school would be understanding - and they were - and not that I was searching for sympathy, but it really stuck out to me those who asked how I was doing or how the funeral was, and those who were simply worried about my lesson plans. Life is about priorities, and I firmly believe that sometimes important things just simply need to be ignored for more important ones. Apparently not everyone feels this way.

Anyways... after going to bed at 3:30 on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, having a rather difficult Wednesday, being observed on Thursday, and having art project craziness on Friday, I am more than happy that the week is over. I had really hoped this student teaching experience would cement my feelings and thoughts about being a teacher, not give me more doubts. But this is my experience, like it or not, and I have learned many things... I just have to remember that bad stuff can be a teaching tool too.

Big news of the weekend - The Singers had their first concert this evening. Even with getting lost, I managed to get there on time and had a most enjoyable experience. There is definitely something to be said for amazing harmonies combined with the Christmas message. A few good friends thrown in the mix doesn't hurt either. I would definitely recommend looking into The Singers - high quality stuff.

So yes... two weeks left... boy does that make me happy. I'm going to miss my kids like crazy. I'm not going to miss having someone looking over my shoulder at everything I do. I think being watched has the opposite effect on me as opposed to most people... I think usually being watched makes people do their job better, but I think that I do worse because I get so annoyed with not being trusted that I just don't care. I should work on that. Goals for the week: keep the room clean, get more sleep, find time to practice organ. It doesn't really sound that tough... but it is.