NEW YORK!

I'm back!!! I had a blast in New York! We left on the red eye flight last Friday morning and got home at about 4 in the morning today... so five whole days in New York! Here are some pictures and what we did every day! Enjoy!

We saw a lot of all the good sights like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and the World Trade Center sight all on the first day we got there because we couldn't check into our hotel (the Marriott at Times Square!) until 4 and we got there at 6 in the morning! That was a VERY long day because of not much sleep, but it was worth every minute of it! We bought a ticket to ride these double-decker tour buses around town that you could see all of the sights on and took a "water taxi" to the Statue of Liberty and all around the island. We also walked to the Brooklyn Bridge and Ground Zero. You couldn't see much of Ground Zero, because of all of the construction still going on, but you could go into a visitor's center and check out some really neat things there. That was a very humbling experience.



We also went to the Empire State Building, Central Park, and did a LOT of shopping on Canaal Street, Soho, and Times Square. It was a beautiful day when we went to Central Park, but VERY cold when we went on the Empire State Building. There wasn't much visibility, but we had fun anyway! You can see in the picture that it was WAY windy. I felt like I was going to be blown right off the deck! We didn't see all of Central Park, because it was so big, but it was gorgeous! We got a lot of pretty pictures there. We mostly walked everywhere, so our feet were very tired after every day was over, but we did ride the subway once, and a took a taxi back to the airport.

We also got up VERY early on Monday and went to stand in the crowd on the TODAY Show! We all got to be on TV a couple of times and I got to shake Matt and Meridith's hands! It was way fun to be famous for a day! This is Sally and I waiting by the fence!

Over the course of our trip, we also went to see 3 broadway plays! We saw Wicked, Mary Poppins, and The Phantom of the Opera! They were all way awesome! We had tickets to Wicked before we left, but bought the other ones for half off at a ticket office in Times Square. These are all of the theaters we went to.

That pretty much sums it all up except for the fact that on the way home our flight was a little DELAYED to say the least..... First of all, it wasn't good weather, so they only had one runway open for all of the flights to take off and we had to wait for that, then right as we were first in line, the maintenance light came on and we had to go back to the gate to get the fuel burner checked or something. Then, we were all ready to take off again and the light came on AGAIN and we had to go back to the gate! Well, 4 HOURS after we were supposed to take off, we FINALLY got in the air! Let's just say, we were all very tired after we were on an airplane for 8 or more hours! And all they gave us was water and free headphones to watch a movie! :( Oh well, I guess we made it home okay.... and that is what counts... right? :) There's no place like home!

3 Week Break!

It's official...I am off for 3 1/2 weeks! I can't believe I made it this far! I have to say that this break came at a time that I needed it. I need to change a few things that I am doing in my classroom to see if it will go smoother. I have been wanting to for a while, but haven't had time, so I am glad I have the time now (although it is hard to motivate myself to do so!). I could tell the last 2 1/2 days before we were off track, the kids were getting excited to go off too, so lets just say, we didn't get much done! :) We had a little "Ticket Day" Activity on Tuesday, where they got to "spend" their tickets on games, prizes, and treats. They LOVED it! I have awesome parents that came up with some fun games to play and then the kids wanted to do some show-n-teach where they chose something to "teach" to everyone else in the class. One girl did "how to make flubber" (don't ask...). It was something made out of water, glue and borax. Another kid did "how to make paper frogs". They both did a very good job and we all had a blast!

On Wednesday, it was short day since it was UEA weekend this weekend. It was also track change day, so I had to move out of my classroom and another 4th grade teacher moved into mine. All of my things went into storage in a 2nd grade classroom. Yes, everything but my desk is on wheels! It is crazy, I know, but I wouldn't trade it for the world because we get paid to move around and we get breaks in the middle of the year! It is really nice too, when a lot of people, including the principal, come and move all of your things for you! I bet I only moved 2 pieces of furniture from my room (and they weren't even heavy either). Anyway, I am happy to be on break, even if I am going to be working on things instead of relaxing! It is sick, I know, but what else have I got to do! :) Oh, and I am going to New York too, so I really won't be working then... Hopefully next time I will have some fun pictures to show of New York!

Mountain Men, Pioneers, and New York, Oh My!

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while! It seems like I barely have room to breathe lately! Sometimes I wonder what in the world I am doing being a teacher.... It seems like a 24/7 job! I guess for a first year teacher, it is because of all of the planning. Maybe next year will be better! I still love being with the kids though. I think they keep me entertained and learning new things every day. I love the challenge that it is too, trying to get them to understand a concept. Then when they get it, it is so neat to see that light in their eyes! I just have to keep reminding myself of that everyday...

These last couple of weeks have been okay. We finished up talking about indians with our tribe habitats. We also did a short unit on mountain men. I had a mini mountain man rendezvous for them on Monday. I purchased some tan-colored felt, beads, and feathers at the local JoAnns and made them all "possibles sacks" (mountain man bags). I sewed them together and then they decorated them on Monday. They had a blast! Some of the girls still bring theirs to school! They brought little things from home to trade and we did some arm and leg wrestling. We also happened to have a real Mountain Man come talk to us the same day too! They REALLY liked that! I am starting a pioneer unit now. They are going to do a simulation of a wagon train traveling across the plains to Utah. We started this week by splitting into "wagon trains" and packing our "wagons". It is fun to listen to them argue about what to pack and not!
I also had my first experience with doing sub plans and having a sub yesterday. I had to get a sub so I could go to a funeral for my friend Candyce's mom. She died of cancer on Sunday. It came as kind of a shock, even though we knew it was going to happen. It was a beautiful funeral though, so it was worth getting the sub for. I worried a lot about how they would be with a sub, but they did just fine. Today, they said she was kind of mean! That just made me laugh because I am probably too nice to them!

Anyway, I am just anxiously awaiting next Wednesday when I get to go off track until November 10! YAHOOO! I need the break so bad! Also, I am going to New York with my friends Sally, Candyce, and Candyce's sister, Melissa on the 24th of October. I am so excited to do that. I think it will be good for Candyce and her sister to get away, especially after all that has happened in their lives lately. My heart aches for them, but it is comforting to know that they will get to see her again someday. It is just hard going on without a mom.

Well, that is all until next time I guess!