Cougar Tails

I am officially closer to the weekend than the beginning of the week, and oh boy, do I need a drink! (A quick side note - to all the teachers I had growing up and to all my teacher friends - WOW. I do not know how you did/do it so gracefully.) I am already ready for a stiff drink! However, finding a routine, getting to know my kids better will make all the difference.

This is the first week of school. I love my campus, I love both my Assistant Principal and Principal. Both truly are PrinciPALS. I have a total of 2 children on my roster. However, I share a set of classrooms with another teacher in the CASD (Classroom for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders) program. Her and I have a total of 9 kids. Although 9 children seem manageable.... think again my friend!

Often, I rate my days by answering this question: Do I want to wake up and do it all over again?

• Monday night's answer: This is in the bag. I can do this. No injuries, no curse words, done. I can do this.
• Tuesday night's answer: Yeah right. I might as well tell the Principal to start finding a replacement. (Let me insert: Two physical outbursts, of which I was bit and punched square in the face.)
• Wednesday's answer (starting weary from Tuesday): while I did get kicked in the shoulder, and took a foot to the abs (my fault), I want to come back tomorrow. I want to do it all again. I know I am making a difference in these children's life; and they are FOR SURE making a difference in mine.

I love my job. While it is difficult at times, and I know I am only on day three, God put me here for a reason. He knows where I need to be, why I need to be here, and how I can make a difference. I love this gift He gave me, and I will use it to my every ability.

Let's see if me, the eternal optimist can stay optimistic. For now, I say, Yes, I want to wake up and do it all again!

It's Wicked.

This weekend was amazing - In fact, one of my favorite in quite some time. It started with dinner and a movie. We saw Inglorious Basterds. (a side note: If you like bloody, violence filled Quentin Tarantino films, JACKPOT. If you HATE violence, are lightheaded at the first sight of blood...choose something else. The movie itself was great. The dialogue was superb. However - wow.)

Saturday, I attended the JSL Grand Opening of the Long Branch Spray Park in Killeen, shopped till I dropped, napped (from all the shopping), then went to a unbelievable dinner at Flemings (side note #2: If you remember, I gave Flemings TWO HUGE THUMBS UP the last time I went for dinner.) followed by an excellent show of Wicked. Today, Cullen and I spent the whole day cleaning and really moving into our house. Finally. Phew.

Tomorrow, school starts. Just like riding a bike, I feel right back into the "night before school" routine. My lunch is packed, bags are packed, took a shower tonight instead of in the morning...and I am one alarm clock and a bowl of cereal away from my first day of school...again.

An Apple A Day...

It's official!! I am sitting in my new decorated classroom (which has colors on the wall, posters up, calendars together, a circle time, a kitchen) WITH NO KIDS.


Tonight is Meet the Teacher night. Tonight is the night I YEARNED for as a child. I vividly remember riding my bicycle up to school once a week (if not more often as we got closer to school) just waiting for the school to post our class rosters on the doors.

Now, the roles have reversed, I am sitting in my classroom, peering out the windows, wondering where my students are. Gee, it seems as though I am in 20 year predicament.


I am so excited for school to start. This week has been so long. We have had all day in-services, followed by countless hours in our classroom, followed by going home to start your personal life - which in my case means cook dinner and love on my family. So, not a tough night life.


I hope those of you that have children, had a great "Meet the Teacher night".

The Hottest Coolest Time In Texas...

... Schlitterbahn, bahn, bahn. So, today, my entire family, (mom, dad, Hamners, TJ, Cullen and I) went to Schlitterbahn for a family fun day. The day couldn't have been better - we arrived early, parked close, brought in our own food and were on our first ride within 10 minutes of arrival! It was PERFECT!!

And, it was the best way to end summer. Tomorrow officially starts Teacher Professional Development. Yahoo!

Un Beso...

Gosh, it has been a while since I last blogged. My apologies. August 1st was a celebratory day in my life. It was the first day in YEARS that I didn't have homework, or projects on the horizon. It was m 25th bday, and my dear friends Terra and Tyler were the guests of honor at their wedding shower. Below are some pictures from the blessed event!

During the shower, the hostesses asked Terra and Tyler to play a "how well do you know your finance/fiancee" game. If the couple could correctly get answers, KISSES; but, if they answered questions wrong...they had to eat limes! It was great. FUNNY....unless you were them.

A picture of the birthday girl and her date:

...and one more of the happy couple! Congratulations you two! I can not wait to be a part of your big day!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug!

It has been an eventful couple of weeks for the Mills' family!! We are officially in Killeen, moving in to our new house (slllooooowly), and just enjoying each other again. I didn't realize how much I missed Cullen until I got back here - together again!

I have been working on getting my classroom stuff together. I met my coworker; she is great. Although, it will be hard not to compare her to my coworkers at STARRY - who are irreplaceable.

Other than that, I am just trying to find the groove here - it certainly doesn't hurt that I have played housewife for the last couple of days!