Games

Here is a fun little game...Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you....

Justin's 5th B-day party.

Well, Justin is now 5!! I can't believe how tall he has gotten too. What a stud!


The gift opening:



Justin and Brandon (his cousin from Louisiana that he hasn't seen since he was 2 weeks old, literally):



















The cake (I LOVE Costco cakes!):







Aunt Julie and Ginny are being funny and posing as the "black Spiderman":

I got the job!!

So...last week I was asked to come in for an interview with the principal of the school where I am doing my student teaching. My interview was Tuesday morning at 8a.m. (it's a good thing it was first thing in the morning or I would have been a nervous wreck the whole day) and I was asked several different questions by the principal and assistant principal. I thought I did okay and was probably showing my nervousness. Wednesday the assistant principal stuck her head in the classroom and asked me to stop by her office on my prep...so I did nervously again! Her and the principal wanted to officially offer me the job for the 4th and 5th grade resource position! I took it, of course, and I am so excited to have a teaching job.
I have a really good job starting end of August but things aren't as busy at my husbands job. He has had some offers for different jobs in other states and has thought about taking them but I don't want to go yet. I would like to eventually move away from Vegas but not now...I just got a great job and want to stay. I am hoping and praying that God will keep us here at least until I can get the hang of teaching my own class!

Graduation!

Here are some pictures from Graduation in May. UNLV gave us the option of walking in the May commencement or waiting until December so we opted for May. We will not officially be done with our program and "graduated" until August but it was such a big step to be able to walk during graduation!


My kids with their "big hands" to cheer me on during the graduation!


The fabulous four waiting to walk through the tunnel for our big day!


Me and Lorena waiting for our turn to "walk"!


Sashel, Candace, and myself bored on the floor during the graduation.



My wonderful, supportive family after graduation! Don't they all look so spiffy! =)

I'm almost there!!

I can't believe that it is almost the end of my program. I just came back from my initial interview with the school district. I still don't know how it went but I believe that I will be able to start interviewing with principals soon. It seems like I would never get to this point and I don't know what to think. I have worked really hard and I have a family that has gone through every single bit of it with me. I love my husband and kids for their support and love! They have been through a lot during this program as well, not being able to see mom very much, not getting a lot of "lovin" due to late nights typing papers, and just the overall stress of mom going to school full time!

I've definitely been busy!!

As you can tell by the gap in blogs, I have been quite busy with school!!! I have finished one semester and am currently in the process of completing another. I am currently doing my pre-student teaching at a local high school and I am actually enjoying it. I'm still not sure if I want to teach in high school but I am enjoying the time I am there so far! I still have the remainder of the Spring semester but after this semester I will be walking at the UNLV May commencement and I can't wait!!!!!!!! After we walk in May we have to complete our student teaching during the summer and then we will have officially graduated in August. It seems like forever away but I'm sure it will be here sooner than I think!

Until I can find time to write again...

Cohort 11

I have started school and I am loving it. This is my classes bulletin that we get to look at for the next 12 months or so. In the cohort program we complete a 16-week course in one week. That's right...we do the same amount of work that regular 16-week classes do but we complete it all in one week!!!!! I am at UNLV from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday for the next year. The positive side of that is I will have my bachelor's degree in one year!! Seeing how we can finish a 16-week class in one week, I find it hard to believe that professors can stretch the material out into 16 weeks. Why not allow all students the opportunity to fininsh a class like this one and get their degree in a years time?

The first week was rough...only 3 to 4 hours of sleep each night with the exception of Thursday night, which I only got 2 hours of sleep. The work is intense and the "no sleep" this is rough but I've gotten through four weeks so far and I've survived so I think I'll be fine for the duration of the program. (To be honest, the sleep thing has gotten surprisingly better...plus I have the whole weekend to recover!) Keep in mind, I am getting paid to go to school full time so there is no slacking off here either...either I do the work and pass or I look for a new job in the school district. After school I will have my special education degree and be able to work as a full time special education teacher! I am so excited to finish FINALLY!!!!! I am extremely nervous to finish as well, that means I will be out in the world teaching my own students.