I did it!

Okay, it has been over a month since I have written a post and about a million things have happened since then. Our summer started out pretty busy with a lot of fun things to do, and I haven't really had much spare time to write a post. But, there are a lot of things that have happened since my last post, so I'll just start with the first big thing:

I finished my first year of teaching!

I FINISHED MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING!!

I feel very accomplished, and like I did something that was really hard. It WAS really hard. In fact, I remember my first day very vividly. I was so nervous I could hardly stand it, and so were my students. One of them was so nervous, that as she came up to tell me she thought she was going to throw up - she did. All over me. I was covered in barf, and all the other students were screaming about how disgusting it was. I didn't know how to use my phone to call down to the office to send our custodian to come and clean it up, and I knew I couldn't send one of my kids down there - they hardly knew where to hang up their backpacks. Luckily, one of the Kindergarten aides came in at that moment, and asked what she could do to help. The rest of the day was pretty much just organized chaos, and I came home from school to crumple on the couch and unleash the tears. I told Dave I didn't think I could do it, and that I didn't want to go back the next day (He was as sweet as ever of course. He totally validated me, but then told me he knew I could do it, and that I was the best teacher in the whole entire world. He told me how much confidence he had in me, and that I was going to survive. Of course I knew this, but I think I just needed reminding from my cutie husband).

Looking back now, I can't believe that I ever felt that way. I actually only felt that way the first day - after that, I looked forward to going to work EVERY DAY. Don't get me wrong, I loved my weekends (and I am currently loving every minute of my summer), but I just loved my kids and was always so excited to see them. It was a LOT of work. It was exhausting. I put a lot of time and effort into planning lessons and I stayed at the school late lots of days to get everything done, but it was totally worth it to see those smiling faces every day. I just adored them, and I miss them so much. All 21 of them had a very special place in my heart. I heard so many teachers say that the first year is the hardest, but mine really wasn't that hard. I had a GREAT class, and we just had so much fun together. I'm so sad that the school year is over, but one thing that is giving me great consolation is....

I AM TEACHING FIRST GRADE NEXT YEAR! That means I'll get to have some of my same kids again! I couldn't be more excited!! They brought so much happiness into my life, and I'm so excited I get to work with them for another year. Our school didn't have enough Kindergarteners enrolled next year for me to stay in Kindergarten, so, because I'm the newest teacher, I get to move around the most. That is totally fine with me, if it lets me work with my cuties again. Another great thing is that at my school we do rotations every week, meaning every teacher is in charge of teaching one subject (music, art, P.E. and computers) to every class of 1st graders throughout the week. So, even though I won't have all of the same kids in my class, I'll at least get to teach them all once a week because of rotations. I couldn't be more excited about that.

And one thing that may have me even more excited than teaching the same little cuties again, is working with the 1st grade team. The 1st grade team is INCREDIBLE at my school, and I can hardly wait to get started with them. They are all so dedicated to teaching, and are always thinking about what would be best for the students, instead of what would be best and easiest for the teacher. I love that! They are all hard workers, and are all so friendly. They took me in like I'd been part of the team forever. I was so grateful for that, and am so excited to be part of the team.

Emily even drew me a picture of me with everyone else on the team. I am on the far left, if you were wondering, and she is on the far right. Like I said, so friendly and so welcoming.

I just know I was supposed to be a teacher - it's something I can't really even describe, but it has brought me so much joy and fulfillment, and I'll tell you what, it makes me REALLY excited to be a Mom! Little kids are so innocent and so loving and so forgiving. They taught me so many lessons, and gave me so many laughs in between. Now I know even more why Heavenly Father has asked us to become as little children - they are so pure and sweet.

Next year is going to be fabulous, and I can hardly wait to start! :)