The First Week of School!

It is the first week of school around here! 

I LOVE the first day of school. Much more than I did when I was a student. The best part about teaching Kindergarten is they are VERY excited about the first day of school. Here is a small tour around my class this year. 

I have always LOVED Eric Carle's book Brown Bear, Brown Bear; so when I found the wall clings at Target I was so excited and knew they had to go up in my classroom. I don't think the kids appreciate them nearly as much as I do! 

After Brown Bear, Brown Bear my next favorite was The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
These are up on my cabinets. 

Most of my room is decorated with polkadots but I tried to incorprate a few owls here and there. Such as with my cubby numbers, and my cool jog chart! My desk is already a mess but other than that my room is perfect! I really like the layout and think it will flow very well. 

Here is the first cup of coffee being made in my Kurig that Andrew got me. For snack on the first day we had fruit loops in precious Owl Dixi cups! They made my day!! 

Here is another apperance by my friend Jamie! She ROCKS. She made me these curtains!! I KNOW!! Aren't they fabulous!? I didn't get a picture from the other side but it has ABC's on it. I just love love love love them!! She also made some to cover my personal books. However, I haven't managed to get those pictured yet! 

Here is Jamie's son Luke! He has made my summer so fun. There have been times that I have BEGGED his mom to let me watch him for her. I always have a BLAST when we are hanging out! Here he is climbing around in our courtyard area! The middle picture is my favorite... it might get a frame at my house if I can figure out a way to print pictures off my phone! 

pictures might be disturbing...

Hi.
This post has been a long time coming. I haven't written anything because I was waiting on the end ... I was too overwhelmed during the event.

Shortly after returning from my 200 mile bike trip, I came down with another lovely infection. This time on my belly. About an inch up form my belly button. It was miserable. When this one showed up, my awesome husband researched doctors in Tulsa. We are DONE being sent away with little or no answers.
I got into an internal disease doctor and LOVED her. She was kind, understanding and concerned. She was WORRIED about me. Which is something I haven't felt from the doctors here. Due to the state of the infection she got me into a surgeon to have it lanced and drained. EWWWW... She also prescribed me some lovely lovely little pills... you might know them as Valum (spelling)... I know them as blue happy pills. :) OH were they fun. I was also on Hydrocordone (spelling) also known as white happy pills! Needless to say... the day I went to the surgeon I was a ball of happiness. In fact my fabulous friend JAMIE who took me.. she said I was great. I remember NONE of it, so I'm glad I had her take pictures to prove it happened!

Here are some facts ... if you haven't heard yet.

• They took a culture from my noes and my infection to check for MRSA. They did find it in my belly button but only a 1+ on a scale of 1-4+. And they did NOT find it in my noes which is GREAT!! That means that when I get these little infections it might not have MRSA in it. Everyone has staph in their noes... but not everyone has MRSA. I have just gotten lucky with my infections and picked it up! 
• I might or might not get another infection. 
• If I do get another infection... I have to call the tulsa Dr PRONTO and then they will get me into the awesome surgeon! 

Here is a picture collage... because thats what I do... I take pictures and cram them all together. BE WARNED... its not pretty! A couple pictures are UGLY!!

I KNOW... NASTY!! But people want to see so... here!
Notice ... they misspelled my last night... lol! Remember... I was DRUGGED! 

The first picture is with the AWESOME ladies that took care of me each time I visited. They were so nice and kind to me. The nurse on my right is Alexis. She is so sweet and kind. The Doctor on my left is Lori Ormsby, she was so amazing and patient with me. The next picture is me with the receptionist Tammy. She was amazing. Every time I signed in, she asked how I was doing and referenced something specific such as my trip to Branson, getting my job, getting my class ready. She was so encouraging. When I left for the last time, they even had a shirt for me!! I LOVE it!  

After all the Surgeon fun ... We went to Qudoba! AMAZING!! I am so truly blessed with this sweet friend!! Thanks Jamie!! 

Alright ... thats all for tonight. Time to get some sleep... tomorrow is the second day of kindergarten!! 

Back where it all started...

When I started teaching it was with some hesitancy that I took a job at my very first elementary school, teaching kindergarten. I student taught in first and third grade and loved the older of the two. It was fun to interact with 'big kids'! However, I was highly encouraged to apply and interview for every January opening that came up. (I think this was the only one.) I took the job and jumped in feet first and managed to survive that first semester.
I stayed in Midland and taught there for 4 years before getting married and moving to Bartlesville with my love. My second year hear I was offered a job teaching PreK! Again I jumped in and bobbed with my head barely above water. I had a blast in PreK but because I was the last teacher hired... if we didn't have enough kids to fill 4 classes, my job was on the line. I spent most of my summer putting this idea behind me... but towards the end it started getting a bit stressful!
July 26 I received a call from the new principle at my school asking me if I would be interested in interviewing for a Kindergarten position at my school. I worked some stuff around so I could make it happen.
And...
It all worked out. Later that day I was offered the job. This changed some of my plans for the end of summer but it all has worked out beautifully.
My mom came up here and has worked the past 3 days to help me get settled and moved into my classroom. We worked hard, but had fun working together again. It was hard to get ready last year with out here there to help.
Because we were so busy I didn't stop long enough to take pictures but here is a collage of the things I have been working on at home and one of me and mom.

I'll post pictures of my class this weekend after I get it all done! :)

We watched the Olympics, made several Starbucks runs for some "Nectar of Life"
and I got my crafting on and covered this cute "K" and mod podged some ugly plastic drawers. 

I also couldn't have done this with out the love, support and help of my friends here in Bartlesville (you girls know who you are) and the patience of my husband. Thank you all for everything from the encouraging words to the Sonic "Happy Hour" runs! 

The fun had to end eventually...

Emma and Ben were here for almost a week. What a great week it was. Full of fun and memories!! Just how I like things! 

While we didn't get to do EVERYTHING I wanted to do... We did get to do a few fun things. Unfortunately I didn't feel great all week... I have not been sleeping well for over a month and this heat has been giving me horrible headaches. Anyways... We did get to do some crafting. Even Ben was excited about this!! And well since my recent craft room clean-up I LOVE all things crafty...!! 

After all the crafting was done it was time to work laundry, pack their bags and head home. It was a sad but exciting day... the plan was for me to take the kids to Dallas and us to stay the night there. Then get up Friday morning and drive to Midland with my mom. We would stay there until Wednesday August 1 and then Mom and I would drive the kids back to Dallas, drop them off... and then head up to Bartlesville to work on my house or classroom.

That was the plan on Wednesday night at 6:00... at 6:30 I got an unknown call that left a message. At 8:30 (on our way to get ICE CREAM) I checked the message... this call changed ALL our plans. But I'll update you on that in the next blog ... bahahahahaha!! 

Ben with the "B" he decorated for his bedroom. We made a few mistakes so we had to add the polka dots on one side. but I LOVE it! 

 Benny- You are the sweetest, cuddliest, silliest boy I know! I never got tired of your hugs, kisses, high fives and constant noises. Ok maybe I got a little tired of the noises... but I miss them now! You made my heart grow with so much love when you offered to pray for me the night before we left. You prayed the simplest but most sincere prayer. I love seeing you as a big kid... you are not a baby anymore! Thank you for sharing your special personality with us.
I love you so much!!

Emma with her awesome clipboard for her to do homework on. It even coordinates with her big girl bedroom that her mommy and my mama decorated while she was with me. 

 Emma Jane-
For years I watched your mom get ready in the bathroom. On Sunday morning I was overwhelmed with emotion as you sat in my bathroom and watched me get ready. Then we talked while I fixed your hair.
I loved hearing your silly girly giggles and all the funny things you say. You are turning into quite the funny young lady. It is fun to be able to be a little sarcastic and you get it!
When you prayed for me, the night before we left, it left me in tears. Sweet girl you spoke to Jesus from your heart. It was more passionate than I have ever heard an 11 year old speak. You are very wise and knowledgeable about the Bible and how we are called to act as Christians. Thank you for your reminders.
Speaking of those reminders ... I'll end with a story about Coffee... one that involves you and Ben and will not quickly leave my memory.

I love you and can't wait to see the teenager you are going to become. Please keep pursuing the Lord and let Him guide your steps. You will take many BIG steps in the next few years! !


A good story!!
While we were on the way to Dallas... we were all exhausted, ready to be there and the Tom Tom had sent me 90 miles OUT OF THE WAY!! While I was trying to get out of Oklahoma City.. (Yes.. Oklahoma City.... Thank you GPS... I think I'll stick to a real map next time!) Anyways... I get a call that gave me some GOOD NEWS! This good news was cause to celebrate. Ben suggested that we get some "Nectar of the Gods!" which is what I have referred to coffee as for a long time and Ben thought it was hilarious ... so it had a special meaning this week. After Ben and I finished whooping and hollering in the car, Emma politely says "Ummmm I don't feel comfortable with that saying. There is only ONE God." I agreed with her but told her that I was being sarcastic. (We had talked about this early when she was helping me blog about my craft room.) I told her that people knew that I exaggerate things, and sarcasm is a way to communicate that helps make your story funny or more interesting, and that if you do it right people know you are being silly. She then said "But Heather, if a non Christian hears you, they won't know you are being sarcastic. They might think you really think there is more than one real God." Ben and I calmed down and agreed with her. After all she was right... if a non christian heard me ... it would be miss-leading. Ben then suggested it be called "Nectar of Life!!" so it has become just that. "Sweet sweet Nectar of LIFE!!"
I'm so grateful for a little cousin who isn't scared to call our her overly sarcastic and obnoxious big cousin!

Nectar of ... LIFE!