The Happiest Place on Earth

Otherwise known as Disney.  Monday through Friday morning we went on a Disney Cruise and then spent Friday at Magic Kingdom and Saturday at Animal Kingdom.  Other than a lost ID, messed up transportation to our cruise, and some sick bellies here and there...we had a week filled with memories.

I find pictures tell our week so much better!  Hope you're not overloaded!!!

Our ship from afar...can't miss those smoke stacks!

This was in the building before getting on the ship....we let Mickey know it was the baby's first pic with him!

This is the entrance onto the ship

First view when walking onto the boat.

This is where you walk in...your family's name is announced ex "Welcome Sullivan Family" and then the people on the sides clapped and cheered....for EVERY single family. The Disney employees were no joke!

The bathroom was separated into two rooms.  They were tiny but I will miss the clean towels replaced every time I picked one up.

This was our veranda and I spent every moment I could here...

Example A

Disney has their own movie theater on the ship and can play movies as soon as they come out.  So, Friday at 12:01am...we were here watching "Inside Out"

This theatre was where we saw shows each night before our dinner.

These are a few other random boat pictures

There were shuffle boards all over the decks...some pretty intense games were played...oh and see those chairs in the background?...I almost tried to take one off the boat...best things ever!

Ship deck at night all lit up

And now onto the food...I unfortunately do not have pics of everything I ate because once the food got there my mind blanked out and my taste buds took over. But, I have enough so you get the idea.  Each night we went to a different restaurant.  Each had its own theme.  You had two waiters (a drink and meal waiter).  Upon sitting down your "display" plate was taken and your napkin placed on your lap for you! As soon as you took your last bite, that plate and any used or not needed dish was whisked away. You got an appetizer, salad or soup, main entree, and dessert....oh just in case you wish you had more of what you just ate or didn't like it or wanted to try two things they would bring you more.  Prepare yourself....the food was not for the weak in stomach capacity.

My first dessert! It was a chocolate mousse type thing

Prime Rib, the first night at Enchanted Gardens

"Bedtime Kisses" Basically chocolate fudgy amazingness and an apricot jelly square

Since we slept in we went to the buffet for breakfast...I couldn't stop getting food!

My favorite thing...creme brulee at the Royal Palace 

Breakfast buffet again...that bowl is filled with cream of wheat...Oh.My.Goodness. I just about died.

Our third day lunch was on Disney's private island and they set up lunch here.  That whole bar where the lady is standing is filled with every type of fruit you could think of

Every night you also got 1 or 2 different types of breads and some type of special spread to go with it.

This was actually Patricks...a coconut creme thing

A chocolate soaked in goodness cake with raspberry filling inside

One night was pirate night and after the show at 11:30 they had a buffet of desserts....this is ONE case out of probably 20

See that beautiful bowl on the right? It's filled with butter pecan ice cream...I only ended up eating that because it just about did me in...AMAZING 

This was our final night and was probably my favorite!

This is what it looked like when we first walked in...you'll see how it changed.

These screens were everywhere and were all different.  The fish moved all around and even put on a little show.

This was a pastry filled with a truffle flavored cheese and basically melted in your mouth

It looked prettier before I put my spoon in but this was a cheesy potato soup...seriously could not stop eating this.

Crusted pork chop in a crazy good sauce on top of a tomato risotto 

Crush came by and had coversations with different people around the room...I seriously want to know where the secret guy was stashed!

White chocolate fudge cheesecake...yes I just said that

My father-in-law went for the other dessert I was looking at...a cookies and cream sundae...of course with homemade ice cream

Our waiters kept us in the restaurant late into the night with their crazy puzzles usually only using crayons...The last night I finally got one and could not contain my excitement. 

Our drink waiter (Ora) is on the left and our meal waiter (Ean) was on the right.  This was our last dinner and I didn't want it to end.

I'll leave you with just a few more randoms from the cruise

This magician did two small shows and one large show. He was on America's got Talent last year and won the show Phenomenon. During the large show...drum roll please...He levitated me!!!  I'm still working on getting the picture they took during the show

After the show I was levitated in 

Beach day on Disney's private island Castaway Cay

Pirate Night!

Pirate night show at the top deck

This was a very short but hilarious baby crawling race.

Like I said our last two days were spent at the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.  Being pregnant, it was tricky figuring out what was safe and what was not, but one of my favorite things was the Safari at Animal Kingdom.  We had so many animals up close, but my favorite were the giraffes.  They were literally right next to the jeep and we even had to stop for a baby that walked in the road in front of us.

Mama was giving her baby "the look" after getting out of the road

 Did you seriously get to the bottom?  Give yourself a pat on the back and I hope you weren't too bored!  This week was sure filled with memories and I cannot say enough how amazing the cruise was.  Now back to reality...piles of laundry here I come!

The start of "The Last Days"

Today was my first "last day of school" as a teacher.  The day brought many emotions and I was left thinking about the picture of what I imagined it would be like as a teacher.

Last day of school picture: Students arrive happy and bubbly bringing in a card or sometimes even gift for the teacher probably dressed in a fun summer end-of-the-year outfit that their mom no doubt took a million pictures of.  Students and teacher share memories of the school year and play some of their favorite games.  An end of the year party will be thrown with no doubt treats.  As students leave at the end of the day, they hold their teacher in a long hug and say I'll miss you and I'll come back and visit you next year.

The picture of my day:  Student arrive and many are dressed inappropriately and not in uniform because I guess the rules don't apply the last day.  While working on puzzles as morning work instead of the normal morning work, students begin discussing inappropriate behavior that happened on the bus last night.  The day is filled with complaints. Why do we have to listen to you read a story?  Do I have to color this picture? As we celebrate our end of the year party by having sundaes (complete with sprinkles and whipped cream) and watching "Up" no thank you's are said but the room is quiet of complaints for the time being.  After finishing our treats, the movie is quickly forgotten and inappropriate discussions begin again. The end of the day is spent passing out a gift bought for each by myself (a chapter book, crayons, pencils, and erasers).  A student says, "This is it?  A book?  That's the best you could do?"  I told the student I thought this was disrespectful.  "Take it then"  he said and proceeded to give the book back.  As students get on the bus some give a quick hug, some give a high five, and some simply walk by. The day is done.  The year is done.

The picture has changed.  No hand made cards, no grateful hearts, no long felt hugs.   All I pray is that they have learned more than perhaps what was shown today.  I hope they don't hate me as many times as they said.  I hope I made a difference.

I wish people could understand how a teacher can mean so many different things.  This was quite the first year.  I have never heard so many people say they have never seen or heard of a harder school. As hard as it was, I would never take it back because I KNOW I am better for it.  I hope my bunch at my new school next year are ready...this teacher is ready to try it all over again!

I knew I should have stayed home

I got in a fight this morning....with a wall.  You might have seen it on facebook or instagram.  I had this strong feeling while driving to work, not 5 minutes later, that I should have called in.  Then again what does one say to their principal....I uh didn't want to turn on the lights to run upstairs quick because I didn't want to disturb my husband and then I ran straight into a corner.  Also in case you've never heard this one....it's more work for a teacher to call-in than to just be there.  Suck it up girl and just keep driving.  Oh and don't take that ice off...yes I'm vain and was concerned about how large this bruise was going to end up.

If you are thinking to yourself that my decision to not turn that car around was a bad choice...you might have been right.  While I did have what I believe to be a productive meeting this morning...the day was only getting started.

"Dang Mrs. Sullivan"

"No Mrs. Sullivan"

"I don't have to listen to you Mrs. Sullivan"

Long story short the day ended with myself and all the students still alive, and one two three students suspended for tomorrow.  Now, since all three of these students have been suspended 2-3 other times in the past two weeks it got me thinking.  1. Is this working? 2. Do they hate me? 3. Am I teaching them anything? These kids need so much help in so many different ways.  I wish there was 14 of me....wait 15 of me....one for each student and an extra to make copies and file.

Three suspensions was clearly not enough though.  Yesterday we were suppose to have our new printer delivered.  Since no one was home, the delivery man called Patrick and let me know that he was bringing it back to the store that we had ordered it at because no one was home. I get it, no big deal.  So later last night we went to the store...no printer.  We figured he just didn't drop it off and yet and it would be there tomorrow.  So today I got off school and called the store to make sure it was there before I drove there.  No printer.  I get home.  No printer.  I call them back and they tell me that the printer has shown up as being delivered...to our house.  I'm standing in my house right now and there is no printer here.  Uh...don't think so, try again.  We then called the number back of the delivery man who called Patrick yesterday.  Now his story is that he brought it back to his office and someone brought it to office depot in who knows where.  Great news....let me just start calling every office depot.  We found this delivery company and called them.  They eventually figured out that it was currently being shipped to the USA's office depot main warehouse....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? We need to go back to the store and reorder it. Patrick calmly freaked out...he was brilliant.  Obviously we don't want you to deal with our item again because you are a shipping company and have yet to ship it somewhere where we can get it!  She put him on hold....

"Sir, I have suddenly found your box in our warehouse.  

We will send it out with someone and should arrive before 7."

Yup, that's what I thought.  

Needless to say the evening ended with a wonderful trip to WhichWich....if you have not had the opportunity to eat dive into one of these sandwiches, I'm sorry to inform you that you are missing out.  I am opening up our spare room to anyone that needs to drive two minutes down the road from us to experience the goodness....No joke

So there it is.  Props to you if you got to the end....you might now understand why I should have turned the car around.  Oh well, I survived...and maybe just these type of days make us better because of it. 

A Reflection...

So when you get deep into learning in college about what it means to be a teacher you hear this word a lot

Reflection

I feel like I heard this word so much in college that I was reflecting upon my reflections.  While my reflecting looks differently in real teacher life you are required to do a formal reflection with many many questions after an observation.  Well I had my first full observation today done by my principal...before I get to the reflection part, I must "paint you a picture" (as I'm trying to teach my third graders in writing).

The math lesson begins with all students having just had a bathroom break and water break so this does not need to be done during.  We are learning about fractions. "Mrs. Sullivan when is that teacher coming to get me?"  "I already said at the end of math." I made a real world problem using a pillsbury can of biscuits and everything....people we opened the can put the biscuits into groups and everything....amazing stuff here!  They only cared about who could dare who to eat a biscuit.  No one cared about my fraction problem, no one cared that I was trying to make this hands-on, no one cared that I was trying to teach a lesson, no one cared I was in the room and asking them to stop talking.  I try to power through.   "Mrs. Sullivan when is that teacher coming to get me?"  "I already said at the end of math."Cue principal walking into chaos after the lesson has already started for 15 minutes. Cue: 4 students walk to tissue box and drinking fountain so lovely placed inside the classroom (I swear this is a rule I've already set in place and talked about multiple times...I promise).  "Mrs. Sullivan when is that teacher coming to get me?"  "I already said at the end of math."

Umm where am I....am I invisible?  Do they realize I'm here?

Students begin shouting at one another about nothing that has to do with anything I'm talking about....we have moved past the biscuit problem.  "Mrs. Sullivan when is that teacher coming to get me?"  "I already said at the end of math."We are then in the process of moving into our guided math rotations.  These groups have been carefully placed together and have been the same groups ALL WEEK long.  Students now begin shouting at each other about who does or doesn't want to be in each other's group.  "Mrs. Sullivan when is that teacher coming to get me?"  "At the end of math.""Is it the end of math yet?"

Oh my gosh...are my tears visible?  breathe breathe breathe

We continue through groups.  Erasers have been thrown, iPads have been picked up off the table which is the number one rule not to do.  So very many words have been said.  There was blood...oh wait that was yesterday.   "Mrs. Sullivan when is that teacher coming to get me?"  "At the end of math."

I don't know how...not even kidding....but we get to the end and get to gym....well almost all of us get to gym.  And yes that teacher did come at the end of math...I know you were dying to find out!

So reflect right? What could I have done better?  Maybe a lot or maybe I honestly have absolutely no idea because I did everything I could.  What wasn't included in this story is all the times I asked students to take a break and all of them that told me no.  I know I planned an amazing lesson and I know it was pretty hard to tell to the untrained eye during.  But in the end, I'm willing to go back tomorrow and try it all over again.  I was called to teach these kids.  I have never had any doubt in my mind.  But if I was called to it, why does it have to be so dang hard?  How do I figure out if I'm doing my job?  I might say teaching them "how to do school" at the end of the year was our accomplishment this year, but if you have read any articles about MPS teachers lately you would know that's not considered good enough.  It's hard teaching where I do and days like today make it just that much harder.  The day ended with a student throwing a desk across the room.  I still love my job though.  I'm surrounded by amazing teachers that are so supportive and inspire me every day. God said go...so here I am.

Welcome to Our New Home!

It's been a long road getting here, but I am so excited to share our new home!  It's located in Golden Valley, MN which so close to Minneapolis our address sometimes comes up as Minneapolis depending on how you search it.  A quick 15 minutes drive to work for me with no highways, but close enough for every highway Patrick would need to jump on to get to his different schools.  I would love for everyone to visit in person...we even have a room for you now!!  But for now, here are some pictures (please keep in mind we just moved yesterday so there are a few things we're still working on).

The Entrance

The front of our townhouse!  To the right is a little patio area, Mom and I were already coming up ideas for this space in the summer!

Standing at the door.  To the right is our living room, ahead is a wonderful coat closet, and then the stairs to our second level.

Main Level

Living Room

Probably one of my favorite parts of the house.  All this blue makes my kitchen pop!

Off the kitchen.  Closest door on left is a utility closet, farthest on the left is the door to the stairs that lead to the garage, right door is another coat closet and the space left leads to a door which is the downstairs bathroom.

Downstairs Bathroom

Stairs down to the underground garage

Let's Go Upstairs!

Loft area at the top of the stairs

Follow the loft around the corner and you get to the laundry closet on the right, second bedroom straight ahead, and to the right is the master bedroom and upstairs bathroom.

Second Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Walk-in closet

Upstairs Bathroom

I hope you enjoyed your tour!  Can't wait to have to visit! Also a huge shout out to all our family who helped make this fast move possible!

Cute kids, pretty goodies, and how I survived

I won't let the title lie....First some very overdue pictures of two of the cutest kids I know.  I'm so excited to be back in Minnesota for so many reasons, but for sure one of them is so I can soak up precious moments with these little ones.

Putting in donation change for the visit

Staying just close enough

These kids are beautiful!!!!!!!

Checking out the animal prints

Feeding the goats some grass.

Two seconds  before this he was having a melt down...ahh the joys of being 2!

So second on the list was pretty goodies.  Although many people couldn't make it to mom and my's Noonday Collection party, we still decorated and had a whole bunch of fun.  I snapped a few pictures of our special goodies.

Make your own drink station

Gold glitter caramel kettle corn...homemade and very addicting!

Pink raspberry rice krispy treats

Now for number three...how I survived.  I have officially made it through my very first week of teaching.  This school is like nothing I have ever seen before.  I feel blessed to have been considered a teacher that can help this school.  On top of being the very first year it's opened, it is filled with students who's parents moved them because they weren't making it at their old school.  My good days are the terrible days at any other school.  Most of these students are living in shelters or even on the streets.  They have seen, heard, and been a part of way more than any child ever should.  Students tell you "I'm not a good kid" because that's all they've heard.  The students in my grade are one, two, and even three grade levels behind.  I have one student on target, the rest being below.  I had to physically restrain a child two days this week so she didn't beat up another student in our class.  All of this being said, this is EXACTLY where I want to be.  When you can connect with a child that comes from all of this, it is worth so much more than I have ever experienced.  Will this class be able to get caught back up to grade level?  I hope so, but most likely not.  My goal though is for them to grow as a person and get to a point where they can finally believe in themselves.  I have a very long year ahead of me.  But as I spend this year helping these students grow, they are helping me to grow as well.  Thank you Third Grade Cityview Superstars. I can't wait to get to know you even more.