It's About That Time

This time of the year is always one with a lot of mixed emotion for me. I'm a teacher, so naturally I L O V E summer. But as the last few weeks of summer wind down, I always seem to be cramming in those last few days of summer sun and relaxation at the pool - and - I start to get that itch. I want to be in my classroom. I want to organize, reorganize, create and plan for the new school year. I'm getting excited. I love teaching, sure there are days I don't want to go to work (even teachers are human), but generally I love my job. Kids make me laugh and smile on a daily basis. I check my class list twice a day to see if I have any new additions and I look forward to the day I get to meet my kids. It's hard to stay away from my classroom this time of year...even as a teacher, back to school shopping is still fun. I love stocking the room with new pencils, crayons, and glue. I love hanging new bulletin boards and adding new touches to my room. But, as much as I want to be there, I'm forcing myself not to go in everyday next week. This week I found my way into my little space 4 out of the 5 days. I just couldn't help it. Every year there is something new I want to do or something I want to do even better. This year (my *years* go from August to July not January to December) is going to be a great one, I can feel it. I have this great excitement for this year. It's going to be not only an amazing year at work, but in life too. My best friend is having a baby. I get to be in another best friend's wedding on New Years Eve (how fun is a New Years Eve wedding?). Will and I will have been married 2 years this March and I love him more now than ever. I just have a great feeling about this school year and I very excited for what it holds!

New York City Trip...Day Two

Ah, our second day of our teacher trip to New York...it was another busy one. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't really on our side. It hadn't rained for like 14 days in New York, and it was sprinkling from the moment we stepped out of our hotel. Our first stop was Ellis Island. This is the view I got from the ferry headed toward the island. What an amazing place. You should really read the history of how this island changed and grew as more and more immigrants came to our country. It is amazing. I learned so much and I can't wait to share with my kids!

I have to tell you, I look really great in all the pictures from day two...that is what rain, humidity and lack of sleep do for you. This is me outside Ellis Island's main entrance (to the main building). Of course the metal and glass awning was added when they opened the museum.

As you enter the museum there are suitcases and trunks that immigrants carried as they came into our country. Imagine trying to put all the important things in your life in one trunk...how did they do it?

This is a shot of the Great Hall...this is where all of the inspections were done. It is a beautiful place...and that chandelier, it's an antique from Tiffany's.

While we were doing our workshop and tour in Ellis Island, it decided to STORM, I mean bad storm. So my friend Angie and I invested in 8 dollar ponchos. Yeah they were really cool - they had a huge Ellis Island emblem on the back...tourist...who me? It was worth the 8 bucks...trust me.

After we left Ellis Island, we got on the ferry to go to Liberty Island. She is amazing! She really is beautiful.

We were not allowed to go up in the torch while we were there. It was closed for some reason.

Isn't she so pretty? It is amazing to imagine what the immigrants felt as they pulled up to our country and saw her in the distance. It was so cool!

This is a view from the ferry heading back to Manhattan...this is the skyline where the Twin Towers once stood.

Here is Ground Zero. It was weird seeing it. It wasn't what I thought it would be...I'm not sure why. As I stood their I imagined what it would have been like on that day...I remember watching the TV footage in my fourth hour class in highschool and then again in sixth hour and what seemed like all night when I got home from school that day. It was one of those things that was so sad, but you couldn't help but watch. I can't even imagine what New York was like that day. They are in the process of building the memorial. We were there the day the discovered the ship from the 1400's during the excavation. Cool!

After Ground Zero, we rode the subway one last time and headed to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. After that we walked around Central Park and Uptown.

I didn't see anybody famous on my trip, but it was still cool. I'm really excited to share all the cool things I learned about immigration and immigrants with my kiddos this year. This was the ultimate field trip.

New York City Trip...Day One

A few weeks ago I got to go to New York City on a grant trip with about 35 other teachers in Rockwood, Parkway and Union School Districts. It was pretty cool to see all the sites of New York, but it is definitely not a place I would want to live. I'll keep my .20 acre of land in my little box subdivision. It was a jam packed two days, starting early early in the morning and going late into the evening.

When we first arrived in New York we stopped at Katz's Deli for lunch. Luckily, most of my meals were paid for by the grant - I couldn't believe my lunch there would have cost $15.90 before tax! How do these New Yorkers do it?
Our first big stop was the Tenement House. We got to see an old tenement house during the thriving years of the garment district. It was amazing how some people lived. I just couldn't believe it. So many people living in such a small, dangerous place. Many tenements didn't even have water or restrooms. After we saw the tenement house, we went on a walking tour of the Lower East Side and China Town. It was interesting to see that part of New York!

From there I got to ride the subway for the first time. We got off in Midtown and walked to see where the Today show was filmed.

Then I got to see Times Square!

We saw many other sites as we walked the streets, including the Radio City Music Hall. I love the Rockette's and they have always been a favorite of mine during the Macy's Day Parade. So I decided to snap a shot.

We ended the first day with a visit to Havana, a Cuban restaurant and then we went up in the Empire State Building. I wish my camera would have gotten a better shot at the top!

Oh, and I forgot to add, while in the Lower East Side we saw Zarin Fabrics - for all you Real Housewives of New York City fans!

Fourth of July

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Logan from the Fourth of July. He is just so precious! He loved playing in my neighbors baby pool. He LOVES water!