Easter Week

Life has been busy! I started my long-term substitute position and am really enjoying it so far. The kids (for the most part) are good and there is a student teacher for a few weeks so that is really helping the transition. I don't have to learn all the kids' names, policies/procedures of the school, do lesson plans all at the same time. It's a nice slow transition, I like it:)

This week, we had school on Monday (snow day make-up); we also had a two-hour delay so it was an even quicker day! Tuesday-Thursday I worked at Full Day Care at Thelma Lovette. It was exhausting!!!! I was alone with between 12-14 kids for the majority of the day. Did I mention that two of those 14 kids need constant supervision due to their behavior? Yeah.... So, Friday was a glorious day off!!

Last night Matthew and I went to Lot 17 in Bloomfield for dinner. It was delicious!! I like going to new restaurants and getting delicious food:) We also watched Ray last night, which Matthew hadn't seen before. I haven't seen it in several years and had forgotten how great it was!!

This morning I took Matthew to the airport. His flight left at 7am so we left our house at 5:15am. I drove home and went back to sleep! What a glorious morning it has been! Sunny and warm! I'm going to eat my lunch leftovers and go for a walk:)

Easter is tomorrow and I'm having lunch with John and Jessi:)

A Visit Home

We are halfway through March (eek!) and it's time for a little update. This past weekend I went home to see my family and friends in WI/MN. It was a wonderful few days and I'm so thankful I was able to spend them with so many wonderful people.

Friday morning Matthew drove me to the airport. My flight left at 7am so I figured if I got there by 6, I would be okay (I'd already checked in). How wrong I was....apparently every college student (and I do mean everyone) was flying out somewhere for spring break. The line for security was insane!! Thankfully I chose the alternate checkpoint which, even though the line was out the door, was moving quickly. I did have to run to catch my flight but it was a small plane and I made it! One teeny, tiny plane flight later, I landed in Minneapolis. Got myself a coffee from Caribou and made my way to the shuttle pick up spot. The driver was someone I knew from EC! I almost didn't believe it! Took the shuttle home to EC where Mom was waiting for me. We stopped up at the hospital to see my dad very briefly then headed home. We made some lunch, took naps and went for a walk. That night I went out to Hobbsy's with my awesome friends from high school. I had never been to that bar before and was pleasantly surprised!

Me and my girls <3 br="">

 

Saturday morning Mom, Dad and I headed down to Madison to see Jake, Kayla and Rowan!! We hung out at their apartment and attempted to take a walk around the capital and State Street. Unfortunately it was raining by the time we got their so we didn't stay out very long because of Rowan (he's been sick and that would have made it worse). Mom and Dad went back to the hotel and I went with Jake and Kayla. We chilled, watched a little TV and played with Rowan.  Poor guy was so tired but wouldn't fall asleep. For dinner we went to Rocky Rococo's which was awesome!!! I haven't had their pizza since like 2004 and it did NOT disappoint!! After dinner, we walked over the hotel and took Rowan swimming for the first time! I wish I could have captured his face because it was so cute. He didn't cry or freak out, just looked like "what is this?! I'm not sure how I feel about this" After his lips started to turn a little blue, he got all swaddled up, changed and Jake and Kayla went home. Mom, Dad and I watched some TV, set our clocks ahead and called it a night:)

Rowan smiling

Rowan chewing on his moustache pacifier:)

Sunday morning we got up and had brunch at the wonderful Club Tavern where Jake works on the weekend. Their brunch was very tasty and the atomosphere was very family friendly. I can see why Jake likes working there:) After brunch, Mom, Dad and I hit the road back to EC. I took the shuttle back to the Cities and Clarissa picked me up! We went to Cowboy Jacks and hung out with Christina. What a wonderful way to end the weekend--hanging out with two of my favorites! Spent the night at Rissa's place and in the morning she took me over to Kirsten's house, where I hung out until my flight left Monday afternoon. Kirsten and I chatted and went to lunch at Potbelly (they seriously need to get one in the Pittsburgh area) and she drove me to the airport. 

What a wonderful weekend! I'm so lucky to have amazing friends and family!! Thank you to everyone who let me crash at their place, who drove me around and who just spent time with me:) I can't wait to move back to Minnesota and be able to see all of you more often!

Rest of February

The rest of the month of February flew right past! We went to Chicago a few weekends ago and had an absolute BLAST with our friends Robin and Eric. They have a super cute apartment and an even cuter dog, Bowie:) They're getting married in October and we are so happy to be part of their special (and memorable) day! Highlights of the trip: the Bean, Field Museum, eating DELICIOUS food, riding the "L" and seeing Lake Michigan on a daily basis. I love Chicago and am so thankful that we have friends who live there so we have an excuse to visit.

Chicago Buildings and Lake Michigan

All of us at the Bean

The following weekend, we went to the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh for our final ECE Winter Party! It was a blast! Great food, great entertainment, free drinks:) All in all, an excellent night

 Me and Jessi

Me and Matthew

I can't believe that it's March 4th already!! 2013 is just flying right on by:) I'm going home to Wisconsin this weekend to see friends and family (most importantly, my adorable nephew Rowan!!) I can't wait!

Room

I finished reading Room on Friday! I couldn't put it down! It's about a five year old boy, Jack, and his mother, Ma, and their life in an 11x11 foot Room. It's told from Jack's perspective which I found very interesting. The world is a very different place in a child's eyes, especially a child who has only ever known life in Room. It was an excellent book! I give it five out of five stars. Matthew read it in about a day--he just couldn't stop!

Excitement!

On Monday, I accepted a long-term sub position teaching 8th grade English! I start April 1 and go until June 7; it's not the end of the school year (school ends June 13) but I need to be at summer camp on day one (June 10) but everyone said it was acceptable. I'm pretty excited AND super nervous to take this teaching position. Student Teaching was not the best time in my life and I'm very worried that I'm going to be overly stressed and a generally unpleasant person to be around. I'm going to try very very very hard to not get super cranky with Matthew or my family and friends. All in all, I'm really excited about the job and glad that my years of subbing are paying off in form of a teaching position!