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.