Hello May!

I've officially survived my second year of teaching. This month has been a whirlwind! In this month (in no particular order), I have booked a venue (for real this time), gone to a family reunion, completed a 5K (which will have its own post) and Stocked Meredith's bar/fridge at her housewarming party. I've celebrated Serena's Bachelorette Party, Brooke's wedding shower, and Claire and Prairie's baby showers and some of my favorite people's birthdays! We've had field day, enjoyed a popsicle party from Mrs. Fournier for turning in all of our books and two Multiplication Bees! I planned an eventful last 10 days of school which included but wasn't limited to Pop a Surprise Balloon a Day for 10 days, 3rd Grade Candy Award Ceremony, Minute to Win It Activities, and the organizing, packing and moving of my entire classroom.

Here's a look at some of the fun!

Russell and I decided on a Friday wedding at Ma Maison! 

 Russ and I at the family reunion.

 Maddie LOVES her daddy!

 Maddie really enjoyed her first boat ride! 

 Two of my favorite men!

Russell said that I wasn't strong enough to push him in. Challenge accepted. :)

 RUN OR DYE 5K in Beaumont with these pretty ladies!

 Celebrating my sweet high school friend Serena's bachelorette party! She and Luke are getting married TODAY! I'm so sad I can't be there, but am incredibly happy for the two them!

3-5 Multiplication Bee

Field Day with these pretty ladies!

Brooke's Wedding Shower at FNE

I have never in my life had so much fun shopping for a baby shower. :) 

This bag was 6 feet tall. Clearly, I needed to get inside of it. 

Claire and Prairie's baby shower

Popsicle Partyyyy!

Meredith's House Warming Party :))....

...which turned into a sleepover because I put my keys in Brooke's purse and she went out of town! lol :) Typical Amanda predicament! Thanks Mere for being so hospitable! 

(Candy Awards created by Reagan Tunstall)

(Minute to Win It Activities created by Reagan Tunstall) 

 Our last day started off with me telling my kiddos about the move in Class Meeting. That was tough. I expected it be, but when six kids cried, four of whom I've never seen cry-imagine who hard that was. I love them so much. Then, we enjoyed crafts, recess, Minute to Win It, End of the Year StuCo Dance and finished it off with frisbees, beach balls and ice cream sundaes. Did I mention that I wore my TOMS wedges today?? What was I thinking??? In my defense, I did make it to 2:17 before I had to take them off! I wish I could post pictures of my sweet kids' faces, I have so many sweet pictures from today!

Imagine my surprise, after a roller coaster of emotions last day of school, when Janet calls me to the office to pick up this beautiful bouquet from my sweet Russell. Love you so much!

 Being that Russell is going out of town next week and I needed his help getting everything out of my classroom, we did it tonight. Naturally, while we were there we moved all of the furniture and and organized what was left. :)

From classroom to sidewalk....

...up two flights of stairs...

...and now strategically placed and taking up about a third of our living room. :)

What a month! I have so so many emotions right now and there's still a day left. Russell and I will be driving to SE Texas tomorrow to attend my precious niece Makayla's high school graduation party. I cannot believe she's graduating next Friday. I am so so so proud of the amazing woman she has grown into. :) 

Again, I would like to thank all of my FNE family, expect tears lots of tears next week. I'm going to miss all of you so much. Thank you for being supportive of my personal and professional adventures. :) 

Now, to enjoy my first real summer as a teacher. Last year, I was finishing up my master's all summer long. I will be plenty busy with professional development, opening a new school and moving, but on all other days-I will enjoy my well deserved break. 

Thanks for stopping by!

-Amanda

Closed Toe Shoes and New Adventures

It's so good to be back on here! I haven't posted in about a month! There have been very little wedding decisions being made with the busy-ness of a testing grade teacher and LIFE happening.

While there has been, little to no wedding planning, there has been some life planning going on.
At the end of March, I learned of a new elementary school opening in Lake Travis ISD from my friend Becca (Teacher Fellows-Cohort 19). I talked to my friend Monica (Teacher Fellows Cohort 19) who already works in LTISD and she told me she and a lot of other teachers were transferring there from her current school. Two of the other transfers were also Teacher Fellows! She told me about how the new principal really believed in cooperative learning and how we could teach others how to do Kagan CL (Kagan Cooperative Learning is an amazing research-based publication that focuses on engagement in the classroom) AND we could be on the same team! So, I thought about it for a bit because well, it's a big decision. Russell and I discussed how this could potentially put him closer to San Marcos and New Braunfels and his band, which would be amazing. He has been a TROOPER over the last year, but the driving was starting to get to him! I love my coworkers at my current school, yet the opportunity of opening a NEW school and being able to work with people who are passionate about cooperative learning seemed like a dream come true. So, Becca and I both applied!

Over the next few weeks, things started happening quickly. I had a screening interview, then a team interview, both of which went really well. Naturally, I was a nervous wreck for a few days. My current teammates, Jenni and Meredith, could not have been more supportive. We kept saying we were sad, but excited which was a perfect way to put it! :) They are a true blessing to me and I know that they want what's best for ME. True friends, for sure.

A few days after my team interview and references were checked...I received a call. It was the principal. I. GOT. THE. JOB! I was/am still very excited! I wanted to wait until STAAR testing was over to tell the world! Also, there were a few people that I wanted to tell before they could hear it from someone else...which in a career full of women, can be difficult.

Yesterday, after my disaster of a day (separate blogpost to follow), I was able to go tour my new school! Here are some pictures!

 3/4 of our third grade team: Monica, Stacy and Me

Here we go!

 This is our amazing new library! :) I love the library! 

 Music Room:)

So beautiful! 

 How fun is Kinder/1st grades' color :)

 Cafeteria :)

Work Room 

 We had to wear closed toe shoes, so I thought this was fun! :) Stacy and I both wore TOMS. :)

Here we are with Principal Julie Richards! :)

 Dream. Come. True. From Hernandez Heroes to Teacher Fellows to TEAMMATES!

 This is one of the MOST exciting parts! These ladies: Carolyn Monica, and Becca were in Teachers Fellows (Cohort 19) with me! This is almost 1/3 of our cohort! I am so excited to be able collaborate and work with these beautiful ladies every day! There is another former fellow on Becca's team! Look out Central Texas, we're taking over!

That will be last time I see WCHES before we're allowed to move in! :) I am so excited for this new adventure. Expect lots of tears sad and happy ones from me over the next five weeks as I prepare to say goodbye to my team, friends, coworkers and home of the last two years.

After touring the school, we had a little get-together at Shannon's house! Such a sweet group of ladies!

Shannon was the sweetest hostess ever. 

Disclaimer: I will tell my current students on the last day of school. I don't want them to feel in any way that I am leaving them. They are my world right now (just ask Russell) and I am theirs' for the next five weeks. I would appreciate it if they do not find out until I (ONLY I) am able to tell them. Thank you so much!

I am so blessed for the relationships that I will always hold dear at Forest North Elementary. I know that life changes happen, and true friends will be there when they do. Thank you to my sweet friends at FNE for supporting me and my decisions. I love you all dearly. Expect tears. Lots. of. Tears. :)

-Amanda