Do these look like slippers to you???

My dad must care a lot about the shoes that people wear -or at least shoes that he deems "not real shoes" and therefore are not appropriate to wear out of the house.  For years now, I have consistently heard comments and questions about the shoes I choose to wear.  A long time ago it used to always be about my flip-flops -because through high school and most of college those were literally all I ever wore.  Now I have upgraded to what I consider "adult" sandals with little straps and things and flats.  I feel like I've way improved my shoe selection and can now present my feet in a more adult and professional manner.

The silver flats I was
wearing at lunch today.

 I get the feeling though that my dad disagrees.  Today Cody and I met my parents and Aaron for lunch in honor of my parents' 28th anniversary.  (Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!!! I love you both a lot!)  On our way out of the restaurant, my dad made some typical comment about the slippers I was wearing out in public.  I tell you whole heartedly -I was NOT wearing slippers!  And I do not ever wear slippers out of the house.  He tells my mom the same thing often.  (Although to be fair, there was a period of time I do think she wore legit slippers to HEB consistently lol!)  I was wearing my silver flats that I even wear to work occasionally -and have gotten compliments on.  They are far from slippers.  I also have a pair of winter flats that are SO comfy and closed toe and cute that my dad always insists are slippers.  Today after lunch when a discussion ensued about shoes compared to slippers, my dad even specifically referred to my winter flats that I love and wear all the time once it gets cooler and I had to defend them yet again.  My brother, Aaron, who bought them for me for Christmas, also stood up for them as definitely not being slippers.  I think the pair of shoes I wear that my dad could make the best argument for would be my winter boots.  I guess they're a knock off type of Uggs.  However, they are such a common type of winter boot that I have trouble believing my dad doesn't know what they are and realize that so many women wear them during winter.


I decided to post about my shoes vs. slippers so I could feel like I have defended them publicly. Lastly to prove I am not wearing slippers out of the house, I took a picture of all the shoes in question and then also a pair of slippers that I have.  Feel free to comment and let me know if you agree that some of my shoes seem to be slippers!  My dad would love someone to back his side of the argument lol.

Cute comfy winter flats

Silver flats

"Uggs" (cough*)

Do any of those look like slippers to you???

REAL slippers

  

Highlights

I feel so blessed this year.  Even with the last two weeks probably being the most stressful and busy feeling weeks of the year so far (seriously, something just kicks in during the month of October... it's apparently a weird but fairly universal happening in the realm of teaching), I still am loving how this school year is going.

My class for the most part is really just a bunch of sweet, funny, and helpful kiddos.  I mean, they're not perfect... we have some "whoa" moments -but they have been few and far between... and even the worst of those yet this year, is not even a fraction of things from last school year.  They love earning tickets... I pull those out, and almost everyone is as close to perfect as they can get.  They're like tiny (dirty lol) magic cards.  I haven't even needed to bust out my "Super Tickets" yet, while last year, even a super ticket would only half do the trick.

Here are a few new things that I am really enjoying this year:

• VIP Folders -thanks to my suitemate for the idea! -I 'steal' a lot from her : )  They seriously have kept me up-to-date with grading each week and getting work corrected and returned.  SO much better than the system I used last year.  

• Friday Journals -this was suggested by our 2nd grade team leader and I'm really enjoying doing them!  Each Friday during our writing time the kids write a letter in a "Friday Journal" to their mom/dad/someone telling all about what we've done and learned this week.  Then over the weekend the parents write a short reply.  The kids really enjoy writing these letters each week.  It's awesome to hear what they remember and to see some things they write about.

• Calendar Time and Number Talks -while this might be boring to others, I absolutely am in love with this short time of the day.  We started both of these on day 1 this year and it is firmly built into our daily routine.  After lunch and recess we come in, sit on the carpet, go over our calendar for the day and then do a number talk.  I guess I don't know if I'm technically doing the number talks 'correctly' or not... but the kids get into it, and it really seems to be extremely beneficial so far.  It is probably one of the most quiet and focused times that I can even ask questions in a whisper and the kids answer with one.

• My team! : )  They are awesome. 

And now some random highlights of kid moments that I just feel like sharing:

• We recently did a short play over Christopher Columbus... and by 'play' I mean two groups took turns standing at the front of the room and reading the script to the rest of the class, definitely not a big ordeal.  But still, the kids had SO much fun and I had fun watching them.  They practiced reading their lines together, helped each other with their lines, and were so excited to 'perform' for the rest of us!  During one of our performances, I had two boys reveal their natural instincts to act.  Well, one more than the other, but they were hilarious to watch!  It was awesome.  Student X would say his lines with dramatic pauses, while everyone else was standing still and shy at the front, he was strutting across the room and would occasionally throw up some hand and arm gestures that matched his voice fluctuations.  Student Y, who had already said his one line, was behind him, and was also moving in smaller ways and attempting to "get into" the play lol.  Seriously... I don't think I can describe what it was like, but I was at the back of the room trying not to just crack up! At one point I literally held up the script I had in front of my face.  There were still other kids though that could see me and some comments I got were "Mrs. Henderson, your face is all red!" Along with, "Why are your eyes so watery?"  I love moments that are so funny I have to try and hold back my own laughter!

• Today I had a girl come up to me and give me a little coupon looking thing that said "You Did an AWESOME Job!"  She said, "Mrs. Henderson, this is for you.  I already have enough compliments for myself, so I thought you should have this one."  It was really sweet.  I hung it on my wall with other pictures and things from kids.

• I have just a few small pictures of me and Cody at my desk area, and once a student came up to me while I was putting our attendance and lunch count in the computer, and he started to ask a question, then stopped mid sentence, reached out and patted my arm and said (in an extremely giddy voice which added to the moment) "Mrs. Henderson, you look beautiful in this picture!"  He seriously melted me in that moment lol.  He was SO genuine and just smiled, and was pointing like he wanted me to see how beautiful I looked in the tiny picture on my filing cabinet. 

• One afternoon when we were going to the library for our turn to check out books, I had a boy holding the door for all of us.  It was his job, he was our door holder for the week, so he was doing his job nicely.  Usually though after the last student I take the door and have the door holder walk in before me to wherever we are going.  But this time, I went to take the door and told him thank you and he could go on in, he didn't move and he said, "No Mrs. Henderson, ladies first.  I'll go after you."  

• At the beginning of the year when I was telling my class all about me, I showed some pictures of Cody and me and said I was married and all of that jazz.  A few weeks after that, I mentioned again at some point that I was married, and half of my class had reactions and comments like they were shocked beyond belief (obviously the info I shared about myself wasn't interesting enough to remember lol) and I had one girl say in a seriously confused voice "When did you have time to get married?  How did that happen?"  The way she asked and her puzzled face was really cute.

• On a similar note to the above, and again with the pictures by my desk, I had a boy again come up to me and stopped to look at the pictures.  He pointed to one of me and Cody and asked "Who is that man with you?"  I replied he was my husband, and then the boy points at a wedding picture and exclaims "Ohh, so you were with the man and got married!"

• And last but not least, farts.  Yup -farts.  They CRACK me up!  Especially when we're on the carpet for a lesson, so we're all fairly close together and it's quiet, and well -there's no denying what we all just heard.  Half of my students are good about acting like it's no big deal and some of them even say things like "We all do it", but the other half are sitting there making ridiculous faces and trying to figure out who it was.  And oh my goodness, I always do my best to just help everyone keep moving on and doing what we're doing... but sometimes I just want to crack up because 1) it was SO loud or 2) just who the kid was that did it or 3) the face of the kid who did it is always priceless with a deer caught in the headlights look and 4) the reactions from other students are always entertaining.

Alright.  Sorry for probably the world's longest post about school... I guess that's it for now.  Yay for the weekend : )
   

A Little Perspective

Right now my mother-in-law, Sue, is on her third mission trip to Uganda.  I always really enjoy reading her blogs while she is on these trips and thought that there might be some other people out there interested as well.

Cody and I went on a mission trip to Zambia together when we were still dating during the summer of 2007, but for two reasons that trip often feels more like a distant dream rather than a real life experience.  Reason one is simple, it was more than five years ago now and some of it is starting to fade when I think about it.  Reason two is not as easy to admit, but honestly I do not think I was fully "there" during my time in Zambia.  I really believe I was called to go, I felt that strongly, and so obviously I did go.  And I loved it and it was absolutely an incredible experience, but it came at a time when there was so much... just life happening back home, that I was never really able to fully leave that behind and immerse myself in the mission trip at hand.  For that I often feel guilty when I think about the trip and truly regret not being able to put more of myself into what we were doing there.  However, part of all of that going on, was a big reason I felt called to go if that can make sense.  I truly believe had God not put that trip in my life that summer... well, I don't know what would have happened, but I think I possibly would have lost myself in way at that time.

What I was trying to get at, was that reading about Sue's experiences for the past two years and right now, always helps me remember my own experience in Zambia.  And more than that, it helps me remember that there is SO much more of the world out there.  It is far too easy to get lost in the daily routine of life with work and schedules and laundry.  I frequently live in a way that I seem to be oblivious to people and life outside of the school I work at, let alone people on another continent.  The pictures that Sue brings back, the stories of the children's faces lighting up, and hearing how such small things like a pair of shoes or medicine can so drastically impact and improve someone's life, all helps me remember there is such a bigger picture going on around us.  This world is so much bigger than me and my life and my problems or accomplishments.  It's good to be reminded of that.

If you would like to read about Sue's current mission trip to Uganda, here is a link to her blog.  She is also going in October on a trip to Ethiopia and will be using the same blog to document her experiences there as well.

http://suehenderson2012.blogspot.com

  

It's Been One Week...

(Before I even start my real post about school... I have to say that I am working hard right now to refrain from posting the lyrics to the Barenaked Ladies song.  Rarely can I think or say the words "one" and "week" together without getting that song stuck in my head!)

So.  It's been one week -since school started!  Week one is officially done with the kiddos... what is it? -35 (ish) weeks to go now??

Actually, so far (I realize since it is only the end of the very first week, this might now mean much, but still...) I am LOVING this year.  Seriously!  I didn't die last year -I think I had a decent first year.  Honestly probably note great, but definitely not awful either.  It was okay.  But even just comparing the start to last year with the start to this year... the difference is amazing!  There are multiple factors that are a part of the difference... but I think a big one is simply the fact that as this is now year 2, I have at least somewhat of an idea about what's going on.  Turns out not being clueless about everything makes a big difference!  I am definitely more confident and I'm doing a million things differently with my classroom management than I did to start the year last go-around, and overall instead of feeling like I'm trying not to drown throughout week one, I actually enjoyed it!

I already love my class of kiddos this year too.  They are sweet, funny, and for the most part a fairly polite group! -At least so far.  Hopefully none of them (or at least not too many) are holding off to reveal their true colors in the weeks to come.

This whole week wasn't just sunshine though.  I am extremely exhausted and did hit a few points of feeling way stressed and overwhelmed already.  But it is so nice to have the actual school day with the kids be mostly enjoyable so far, and for all that extra stress and non-stop busyness to not set in until after dismissal.

Overall I am extremely excited for this year!  I am feeling beyond blessed with how this year is starting and I truly think it has the potential to be amazing.  (-If something changes and it becomes awful I'm definitely setting myself up to regret this post!)  I am loving my group of kids so far and am so excited about some new things I'm doing in my room this year.  Hopefully I'll be able to post every now-and-then throughout the year about how it's going.  I have lots of small goals this year to be able to maintain things in my life outside of school (imagine that!) -like cooking dinners, seeing my husband during the week, blogging, doing things with friends, and just having time to relax after each (or most) school days.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how this year unfolds... but as for right now, I don't think I could have wished for a much better week one.   : )

Visiting Cody in D.C.

Just about two weeks ago I went on my trip to visit Cody up in D.C. While of course I wish it could have been longer, it was otherwise wonderful and nearly perfect. I traveled most of the day Friday which I was semi-nervous about. I had never flown by myself (and I'm not a huge fan of flying), or taken a public bus, or ridden on a metro. But thankfully with no real mishaps, I did make it. I flew to DFW, had a layover and changed planes, then flew to the BWI airport. From there I took a bus to a metro station and then rode the metro (changing trains at one point) to the Crystal City stop. From there it was maybe a two block walk to our hotel. The only semi-problem was that it honestly took me about 30 minutes to figure out the metro station at first. I couldn't get my card to work, wasn't sure which way to go, and seriously walked back and forth looking for I don't even know what, for about 30 minutes. But I finally did figure it out. Cody arrived at the hotel only about 45 minutes after me. 

Together at the hotel about to go out Friday evening.

View of people sitting around the pond of the fountain.

That evening we went out to dinner and ate at Potbelly that I love! Then we went to an event type thing that Cody had gone to once before called 'Jazz in the Garden' -or something like that. It was just a big gathering of people (seriously, a ton, like hundreds probably) all throughout this large park. People had chairs out, blankets out, ...there was almost nowhere with open space. This is obviously a very popular event. They sold delicious sangria and had a live band playing. Cody and I found a spot open around this fountain pond and sat with our feet in the water talking and enjoying the music. It was a completely relaxing and enjoyable evening! Probably my favorite thing from the trip.

Sitting with our feet in the water.

Enjoying the evening together.

Isn't my husband cute?!

Saturday we ate lunch at a Whole Foods store and then headed off to do some kayaking. Cody had also done this before since he's been up there but it sounded so fun that I wanted to do it with him. We did a two person kayak (thank goodness because let's face it... Cody did about 95% of the rowing) for about two hours and had a great time. It was fairly cloudy too so thankfully we didn't get sunburned. At one point we stopped and got off on this little island section and just hung out for a bit. We took lots of pictures there while we were stopped. After we were done with the kayaking, we walked around and got some water and a snack before heading back to the hotel. We enjoyed a little Italian place for dinner that night which was only about a five minute walk from our hotel.

Walking around exploring pre-rain.

Sunday we explored the International Spy Museum together. It was kinda silly but very fun! Some of the stuff in there was really interesting. Afterwards, we just walked around together for a bit and then decided we were hungry. However, we had no idea what we wanted to eat, or where some good options would be. We finally decided to head back on the metro to a stop kind of mid-way back to our hotel and look around there for some good food. Just a few minutes after getting off the metro it started drizzling... and pretty soon turned into full on rain. I don't know how much Cody did, but I loved that evening! (2nd favorite thing after the Jazz in the Garden.) We were literally walking around in the rain with no particular destination looking for somewhere to eat. I thought it was romantic and fun. We stopped and took a few pictures by a fountain when the rain lightened up for a few minutes. Eventually we found a Mexican restaurant that we ate at. It was pretty delicious. By the time we were done the rain had stopped and we just headed back to the hotel to call it a night.

We could only take pictures here at the entry.
At least the "Spy" carpet can show where we were.

Picture at a fountain we passed after the rain lightened up a bit.

At the Mexican place we stumbled upon for dinner.

Monday we got up and went out to Cody's apartment where he's been living all summer for the internship. None of his roommates where there (as it was mid-day on a Monday and they're all there too with internship positions) but it was nice to get to see his temporary home. He hasn't been exaggerating about the place either! It is definitely no amazing home-away-from-home. And his bed might be the most uncomfortable thing on the planet. Fortunately he only has less than two weeks left!! Anyway. So we went back to his apartment so he could pick up some work clothes for the next day and drop off some of his other stuff so he wouldn't have to haul it all to work on Tuesday. Cody made me a nice little lunch while we were there before we headed back. Most of the day we just hung out and relaxed, which definitely did include watching the newest episode of Breaking Bad and also some Parks and Rec together. That night we did go out to dinner to a Chinese place that was another brief five minute walk from our hotel.

On our way back to the hotel after dinner our last night together.

Overall the trip was simply wonderful! We had lots of fun, enjoyed exploring the city some together, had lots of good food, and some much needed time together. I cannot wait for my husband to come home for good on August 11th!! It's getting so close! Until then, he is studying like mad for his comprehensive exams. I am leaving tomorrow morning (!!!) for a trip to New York with Sue and Kari (my mother-in-law and sister-in-law), and during those days that I'll be gone, Cody is flying back to SA to take the two part exam. Cody then will fly back to D.C. for the last few days of his internship and then come home to stay!

f u n n y

I have noted the show Parks and Rec on the sidebar of this blog under the section "Recently Enjoyed" -however, I have been SO enjoying it lately that I felt it deserved a short post.

I was completely against watching this show initially because I couldn't stand Amy Poehler and was decidedly not going to let myself like it.  But it slowly grew on me and I started to like it.  Now after having watched the first 3 seasons (Cody and I are impatiently waiting for season 4 to become available on Netflix), I love it!  While each and every character on the show is utterly ridiculous, the show has me laugh out loud almost every single episode.  My favorite episode thus far is Flu Season (season 3).  I don't know if it would be my favorite if I watched it again... but goodness gracious.  I think I was laughing through the entire episode.  Cody didn't seem to love that particular episode like I did... and I don't know what was so exceptional about it to me. But whatever it was, I found it hilarious.

While visiting Cody in D.C. (or rather on my return trip home) I was in the DFW airport with an hour delay for my flight.  I found an area with a place to charge my phone and just plopped on the floor and leaned against the wall. While my phone charged I watched the episode Ron and Tammy: Part 2 (season 3). This so far is my second favorite episode.  I had an extremely hard time not busting out laughing while dozens of strangers walked past me throughout the show. I was grinning and trying to hold in my laughter and must have looked ridiculous myself to the people around me.  It was worth it.  Hilarious and I loved it.  Cody did find that episode especially funny himself.  At least we agreed on one of the best episodes thus far.

Anyways.  Enough about a random not-at-all-actually-important T.V. show. I just thought I'd throw it out there that if you like to laugh and be entertained by ridiculous characters and you haven't yet watched this show -you really, really should give it a try.

Busy, Busy

With Cody being away this summer, I have definitely been trying to keep myself busy.  Busy weeks and days are much easier to get through than slow ones that allow me much too much time to sit, be sad, and just wish he was back already.  This stretch of summer however, really is keeping me more than just busy.  I feel like I haven't been home for a decent period of time in a while.  I love everything I've been doing though and I cannot wait for my last trip during this mid-summer time!

First I had my family trip to South Padre for about a week (of which I have already posted all about!), then Cody and I met up in Dallas the following weekend for a friend's wedding.  Last weekend I went to Lake LBJ with Cody's parents, sister and her husband, and this weekend I am flying up to D.C. to spend four nights and three whole days plus Friday evening with my Loves! F-i-n-a-l-l-y!!! Even though I technically saw him and spent some time with him in Dallas for the wedding weekend, since Cody was IN the wedding as a groomsman, he was pretty busy and we actually only had (ahem) less than about two hours together of quality/alone time together.  So, it basically felt like yeah I saw him, but didn't really get to spend time with him during that trip. He was handsome in his suit at the wedding though : )

So anyways, what I was initially getting at, was that I haven't been home for about three consecutive weekends and this coming one will be the fourth.  I have enjoyed and loved each trip I've been on... but I sort of feel like lately I haven't fully been able to live either out of a suitcase or just at home.  After my D.C. trip I'll definitely be ready to enjoy a solid few weeks at home without needing to pack, unpack, and repack constantly.

The wedding we went to was beautiful and it was really nice to see friends that we haven't gotten to see in quite a while.  On Saturday I enjoyed a nice lunch at Potbelly with a couple of the other wives while Cody and the other guys played some disc golf before going to do pictures at the church.  Here are some pictures from the wedding.

(Note:  We seem to have lost our camera charger and haven't replaced it yet... so my camera quickly died -and also decided to take some awfully blurry pictures before it powered off for good. So sorry for the very limited number of (some very blurry) pictures to account for the weekend.)

Enjoying dinner at the reception.

The Barbers

The Nichols Family
--I sooo enjoyed their adorable son, Easton!

The Sorensens

The Groom and Bride!
Jim & Brooke Koss

Thank you Stephanie for taking our picture
with the happy newlyweds after our camera died! 

Lounging on some comfy chairs above the reception for a short bit.

I love him.
And he sure was handsome in that suit!

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This past weekend I went to Lake LBJ with Sue, Steve, Kari and John.  I really wish Cody could have joined us -but I'm sure saying that is beyond obvious.  Cody wished he could have been there too.  We sure managed to have tons of fun and relaxation without him though!  We stayed at a condo that was literally just about on the lake and had a nice little pool.  It was extremely beautiful and enjoyable.  We basically lounged at the pool all day and enjoyed the view of the lake.  Kari and John did venture out on a kayak once though. (Cody and I will be kayaking this weekend together in D.C.!)  Here are some pics of our weekend at the lake!

We literally walked about fifteen steps to the pool which was right next to part of the lake -and a golf course!
It was gorgeous.

Me standing on a small pier.

My sister-in-law, Kari, and her husband, John.
They seriously always manage to take adorable pictures!

Enjoyed some laying out in an attempt to gain even a slightly more noticeable tan.

Kari enjoying a float that a sweet neighbor we met let us borrow for an afternoon.

Of course I couldn't let only Kari enjoy it.

Me, Sue, and Kari

I really can't help myself. 

Me, Steve, and Kari.

The last afternoon and evening a storm slowly rolled in and I seriously thought the dark clouds made the lake look amazing!  This photo did not capture the beauty I saw in this scene.


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Soon I will be off for my next adventure! I am beyond excited that my weekend to go visit Cody in D.C. is finally about here!  I leave bright and early Friday morning on a 6:30 a.m. flight!  (I am NOT a morning person, yet I couldn't be happier for this flight!)  After a layover in Dallas I will arrive in D.C. around 1:00 in the afternoon and then take a bus to the metro which should take me just a couple of blocks away from the hotel we will be staying at.  I have never flown by myself (and am not a huge fan of flying) or taken a bus -let alone a completely unfamiliar metro- by myself.  So needless to say, I am somewhat (*okay, a lot) nervous about the actual travel part of this trip.  But I'm a big girl -right?  I'm 25. I've been married for four years now... I can figure this out and it'll be a good independent experience.  Assuming I do make it to the hotel just fine and dandy.  I'll tell all about our D.C. weekend sometime after I get back!