Only 3 days?...yeah right!

So due to Monday being a record keeping day for teachers and my usual Fridays off for now, I was with the kids three days this week.  Two of which I was only there for after school.  How much could really happen in those few days?  Well let me attempt to share them...

1. A child suspended (for reasons I can't even write on here)
2. A girl sent home for fleas
3. Phone lost and then found...in the snowbank 
4. Ring worm...hopefully it will stay with the child it's currently latched on to.
5. Birthday celebration with more cupcakes than I have ever seen
6. The circus coming to our classroom

I know the last one sounds crazy, but you can't imagine how much our  room actually seemed like a circus this morning.  The good thing about that...a lot of laughs happen at the circus.  For example, laughing because the tiniest girl in our room is jumping up and down after solving a math problem. Laughing because of the sweet little grin that happens after a student moves up a level in their benchmark books.  Clapping at the end of a really good story and then finally leaving the circus at the end of the day with a perfect picture made with love as a reminder of what I'm missing over the weekend.

So three days not that much?  Well they seemed like quite a lot.  Those sweet little monsters keep me busy, but I love them...even if it's hard at times.  A lot of people tell me they could never be a teacher...I can't even imagine NOT being a teacher.  Guess it's my calling. I hope you're out there living yours, or in the process of getting there like myself :)

Some call it climbing a mountain

The past few days have flown right by with a hockey filled weekend.  Friday Matt got out of school early and the whole bunch of us headed to Anoka for a hockey tournament.  The drive up there seemed to set a bad tone.  I think if someone was watching a movie of my family Friday they would have been screaming at the t.v. to just stay home.  We got a start to our drive a little late.  Once we got on the road and mom started plugging in the address to our hotel, it said it could not be found.  After a nice chat with the hotel, the gps finally found where we were headed.  The roads were also not in the best condition, but we just took it slow just plowed ahead. The closer we got, the more traffic there was.  So imagine as I retell the car situation....traffic, more traffic, bad weather, Matt has to pee,  Matt has to be fed so he has time to digest so he has energy to play,  gps keeps saying we will get there later and later, dad is not concerned about the roads,  mom is part crying, part laughing, and part screaming whilst having heart palpitations. 5:15 approx arrival time.  We had exactly a half hour to do the following: get some food in Matt, unload things into hotel, get Matt to the rink which by the way we don't know the location of.  WE MADE IT ON TIME!!!  I couldn't believe it.  The game however was what you would expect after all this.  Horrible.  I'm not sure if we left our team in traffic, but they were so not with it.  It was like they forgot how to play.  I would like to say I was happy to just get into bed that night, but after mom and dad started snoring I realized I shouldn't have been so excited for that either.  

Luckily when you're climbing a mountain it usually only gets better.  Although they didn't win their game Saturday, it was a nail bitter! I really thought they had it, but they lost by one in a shootout. 

So, after a long night we all got up today and to the rink at 7am.  Yes I said 7am.  I guess when you're playing for the last two places in the tournament they don't really care about how early you have to play.  Good news though....the team showed up!!!! They won 5-1!!  They played the best they have played all season.  It was a good ending to a very long climb.  And although Matt didn't get any goals this weekend, he played a game today worthy of being proud of.  So, now you may have fun looking at a few fun pics of the weekend....ENJOY!

After a long drive...but still upbeat! Ready for some hockey!!

Matt is number 7 in the middle of the ice.  Coming on for warm-ups.

Coaches

Team pow-wow before the start of the game...some good pep talking from their head coach.

Saturday dad did a chuck-a-puck.  Those are Matt's numbers.  Dad didn't do so well, but he had some fun.

Boys playing shinny in the hotel, because clearly a hockey tournament is not enough hockey!

Matt at face-off

Right after their first goal was score today.

Matt ready to go!!

Matt is the one up against the boards, just passed the puck.

YAY DODGE!!! Right after they won!!

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  Here we go again.  Hope you're ready for another week!

Snack Time

Girl waiting in line to go to snack time: "Wait guys Ms. Shupert has to get her apple"

Same girl while eating snack: "Guys we don't have too much more time because Ms. Shupert is almost done with her apple."

Too predictable? Well maybe I am a little sometime, but an apple does make for a perfect afternoon snack :)

P.S. The girl that said these things is too sweet and cute for her own good!!

Thank you MLK

Am I thankful for important people in our history that have helped to make the world a better place for people like myself to live in? Yes.  Do I think it's a great excuse for students to have the day off of school? No.  Am I thankful for the extra day off? YES!!!  It made for an extremely wonderful long weekend and what I'm sure will make for a very quick next 3 days until my next long weekend.  


This weekend was filled with very many fun things. Such as another wonderful night of Grey's anatomy, a great dinner with very special family and friends (and probably too many laughs), relaxing mornings with a fresh cup of something from the keurig, time with my man, and a whole bunch of decision making for the family room (carpet, furniture, fireplace mantel, ect.)  I'm so thankful for these weekends, but like always they make it so hard to leave.


This weekend was also 4 less days till I'm Mrs. Amanda Lynn Sullivan.  186 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes, and 41 seconds to be exact.  Leaving my man back in Kasson is harder each time I have to make the drive back up here to the cities.  If I counted right though I only have to make this drive back up 13 more times.  I can't wait till it's over! Although we couldn't have possibly been ready to get married any sooner, I wouldn't advise people to wait almost 6 years...it's hard.  However, I know it will be worth the wait!


Well I hope you have a good 4 or 5 day week, depending on your job.  Remember to lean on God for your support this week as I am having to remember it myself!


p.s. 186 days, 16 hours, 24 mintues, and 13 seconds...but who's really counting anyway ;)

Tomorrow...

"Ms. Shupert," the girl began, "I'm pretty excited that tomorrow is my birthday." (as she told me for the millionth time just today alone). "Because I'm going to be 8.  When I get older I also get taller.  I'm already up to my mom's boob!" (as she motions where that is located on herself).

Yes this really did happen and yes I really did laugh.  Usually I can find it deep inside myself not to laugh, but in this circumstance I just couldn't keep my composure.  You NEVER, I repeat NEVER, know what these little ones will say.  Thank goodness my CT redirected her and suggested she not say that again.

Just so you know tomorrow will be a very big day in this girl's life...she has told the world.  So happy I get to be a part of her getting taller ;)

Umm Mrs. Shupert?.....

OUR ROOM EXPLODED!!!

As I walked into our classroom Monday morning that is exactly what I saw!  I had failed to remember that during break we got our walls that weren't cement blocks (2 of the 4) painted.  Therefore, everything, yes I said everything, was in the middle of the classroom in one extremely large pile.  Exactly a half hour before the students walked in the door, there was no where for the students to stand let alone sit at once they once knew as their own desk.  Believe it or not though, my CT and I worked hard and got the room back into workable order before the first student walked through the door.  Talk about a crazy start!!!

I have not a single thing to complain about though.  I went into the morning expecting the worst from the students and believing that they had probably forgotten all that they had ever been taught and left their brain somewhere in the Christmas tree.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  They were perfect little angels and so much fun to be with.  Not a single student was sent to take a break and they got all 4 dollars at specialist.  My fingers are almost having a hard time typing these words because I'm so shocked.  

Now, just because the students were perfect doesn't mean there wasn't at least a little bit of madness!!  Not only was it the first day of school, but it was also the first day of the new session of the after school program.  I felt like a chicken with my head cut off trying to figure out which kid was going where and did someone at home know where their child was going as well as us!!!  I talked to one parent 3 times before the day was done and of course it's a parent who has a little trouble with English.  

In all that madness though, I was forced to stop for many hugs.  So many little ones telling me that they are happy to see me and missed me a lot makes my heart melt.  Today when I got back to my 1st graders after class not only did I get an applaud as soon as walking in the door, but was also engulfed with hugs around my middle. 

I think I know why God loves children...I kinda love them too ;)  Thanks for the prayers, I felt them surrounding me! Have a great week!

Dragging my feet

Once again, I'm posting this blog from Minneapolis.  No posts = too much fun with family and friends.


Our family has been knee deep in hockey games this last weekend since Matt had a tournament.  The first game of the weekend was pretty rough, but they made a great turnaround the rest of the games and ended up getting second!  Since the tournament was in dodge, they always finish each game with a shootout for fun that doesn't affect the game.  However, they still keep track of points.  1 point for a save made by a goalie and 2 points for a goal made.  The boys also came in second but lost by 1 POINT!!!  So close.  Matthew got an assist in the last game too.  A bunch of fun was had for sure!


But after all that fun, I had to drive back up here practically kicking and screaming.  I'm not sure why, but I really wish I didn't have to do this semester (just like last semester) all over again.  I realize it's my last one, and don't get me wrong I'm very thankful, but it's all the more reason I would just rather not start once again.  There are two things I don't like...1. being alone and 2. change in my routine or what I'm used to.  Since the people I live with are currently gone, both these things are happening at the moment.  I think all that is keeping me from going completely insane is thinking that 4 days exactly I will be back in my house with all that I'm used to once again. 


To lighten the mood before everyone stops reading, Patrick and I celebrated another fun thing over the last few days....under the 200 days mark!!  I'll share a few other fun countdowns I have...

• 4 weeks till my Christmas present from Patrick (Lion King at the Orpheum!)
• 8 weeks till my first bridal shower
• 17 weeks till I graduate
• 22 weeks till KK camp starts again! (I think)
• 195 days till we get married!!!
• Who needs to keep countdowns after that?

There are many exciting things happening soon as you can see. I just hope this week goes fast and I can get into a routine quickly.  Prayers would be appreciated!!