from jessie...with love: September 2009

Monday, September 14

so much to do...

...SO LITTLE TIME! I feel this statement has never been more applicable to my life than right now. I feel like reinacting that scene from Saved By the Bell where Jessie OD's on caffeine pills and states, "THERE'S NO TIME, THERE'S NEVER ANY TIME!" (minus the caffeine pills).

Dramatics aside, Labor Day marked the beginning of a whirl wind of plans (also known as the next two months of my life). In between work, and weekend plans, keeping a house, maintaining a loving marriage, and squeezing in the gym I'm attempting to prepare for a craft show. Crafting is probably one of the highlights of my day, which is why I'm sad I don't get to it more.

After a much needed afternoon nap today, I began work on the "jessiemint" banner that will flank my craft table at the show. I used this tutorial as inspiration and am almost certain I'll use it to make some shirts or something in the future.

In addition to the banner, I've been cutting and pressing a plethora of headbands. I've even created a newer, slimmer version of my original headband called the "skinny" ( definitely my new FAVORITE item). Unfortunately, there is still MUCH to be done.

from jessie (what did I getting myself into?!)... with love

Thursday, September 10

blank...

No real inspiration today. Sorry all. Feeling mentally drained (and I think I've shared enough "teacher related" stories for the week). Enjoy this pugly puppy though (and please feel inspired to purchase one for us when we move out of this apartment.... we will name him Squish-ums)!

from jessie (sooooooooo sleepy)... with love

Wednesday, September 9

Homework on the Big Day

I do honestly find immense joy in teaching. It CERTAINLY has it's rough times, but inevitably some wonderful student will come along and brighten the day in an unexpected way.

Today was one of those days! With a class of 30 students (down from 31) bearing down on me, I'm easily "blinded" by the task ahead. However, 30 kids also means 30 wonderfully creative (and kinda funny) answers to questions on homework asking about "The Big Day" (i.e. the first day of school)

In response to the question, "What was the biggest surprise?"

new teacher
we're going to learn new things every day
it was raining
I made friends all ready (written as is.... so precious!)

In response to the prompts "Describe your teacher" and "Name one thing you learned about your new teacher"

that she was nice (OVERWHELMING answer on the majority of the papers)
my new teacher is taller
nice funloving cool awesome
clap clap yes yes clap yes teach okay hands and eyes
she is nice and pleasant
she organize
she likes to be happy
I learned nothing new (this one made me laugh)
she is nice beautiful not like the other teachers (burn!)
she is a fun teacher to learn with (warmed my soul)

In response to the prompt "Describe your new classroom"

like any other classroom
new, cold, decorative
small and cramped
cold, funny looking
big and long (possibly inappropriate when used in other contexts)
neato (this kid rocks!)
it has alot of learning stuff in it (why YES it does!)
big
small

... and too many other wonderful answers that would just require ALOT of explanation and background in knowing how my classroom functions. These moments make it ALL GOOD!

from jessie (and the mouths of babes)... with love

Tuesday, September 8

First Day Memories...

Today marked the first day of school for myself, many fellow teachers, and LOTS of students. Although there are many topics that could be discussed on this notorious day, I'm sticking with "first day memories". What do YOU remember about the first day of school? Do you remember something good? something bad? Here's my most VIVID first day memory...

It was my first day of kindergarten at Oakland Elementary in South Carolina. Since school had started a week or two before, my mom and I got a personal tour of the school with the Vice Principal as our guide. She showed us the class I'd be in, various "resource" classrooms, and the cafeteria. The tour ended here because my new class was already in the lunch line. Up to this point in my schooling career, mom had packed my lunch EVERYDAY; unfortunately, in the excitement of the day, mom forgot to pack my homemade lunch and gave me a dollar bill instead. I didn't enjoy the idea of cafeteria lunches: the lunch line was intimidating, choices had to be made quickly (apple or orange?!), and lunch ladies were mean. I hesitantly walked through the line and received my rationed grilled cheese sandwich, corn, apple sauce, and milk. I paid for my food and sat down at the cafeteria table. Upon opening my carton, a "rowdier" student jostled me causing my 2% milk to go splashing all over my tray. The milk was all over my food: the grilled cheese was now soggy, the corn now creamy, and the apple sauce now swirly. Devistated, I hesitantly raised my hand for the cafeteria monitor. She took one look at my tray and told me... "That's what you get for playing around with your food! Now go ahead and eat it!". She WATCHED ME in spiteful glee as she FORCEFULLY REQUESTED that I take a bite of each of the "tainted" items on my tray. I haven't bought school lunch since.

from jessie (cafeteria-phobic)... with love

Thursday, September 3

let me explain

I've been kind of MIA lately when it comes to this blog. Sorry. Maybe this brain dump will clarify why...

A wonderful person FOUND me on Etsy and invited me to be part of a craft show she's organizing locally. Scott and I talked about it, and I'm going to do it! I'm so excited and dumbfounded at all the preparation that is going to come along with getting ready for this. There are products to be made, a set up to think about, and all the other fun stuff that comes along with "putting your craft out there" for everyone to see and enjoy.
Scott and I have taken over "hosting" our Community Group. This is exciting and sad at the same time. Our previous "hosts", Jake and Kristi, felt God leading their life in another direction and had to leave fairly quickly for Georgia. We miss them already, but are pleased that our group has the opportunity to remain together.
This week I move to the "production" team at Water's Edge for Kid Kraze and Wee World (our two children's programs). For those of you who don't attend our church, this basically entails acting out and storytelling the lesson for the week (along with some AWESOME sing-along, dance-along praise music time). I'm excited about it, but admittedly nervous about the challenges that come along with the opportunity. Here's hoping the "memorization" part of my brain still works!
School is getting ready to start back up. My classroom is in order (and lookin' GOOD might I say). Open House night is behind me. The first day of school lies ahead. And ladies and gentlemen, I am officially up to 31 students in my class! Just to let you know, that's ALOT of kids in a 4th grade classroom (last year I maxed out at 21). Mentally and physically preparing/organizing for this year's bunch of students has been taxing and I'm looking forward to a LONNNGGG weekend of resting up for the CHALLENGE that lies ahead.
Scott has started back to school, which means our "face to face time" has diminished by more than half. It's gunna be tricky working in time for us when there is so much to juggle... but if anyone can do it, I know we can!
The next two months (namely the weekends since that's "non-working" time) are PACKED SOLID! There is so much to look forward to in the weeks ahead, but so much to prepare for at the same time. It's crazy thinking that all of September and October are already booked solid.
THE GYM BECONS ME... but I've successfully ignored it's calls. I have to rework my gym schedule since our school hours changed (we are MUCH earlier now) and so far I haven't motivated myself to step over to the Y. Once school starts, and I'm back in a routine, I commit to making the Y my second (or maybe it's third?!) home again.

from jessie (full plate)... with love