YAY!!!

I now have hot water! I called this morning and set everything up..it's pretty much a God thing that they actually had someone come out today and turn it on! I tried to sound very desperate and pathetic..I guess it worked! ;0)

Some other exciting news is that my friend Courtney that I work with is pregnant, and she just found out this afternoon that they're having a...BOY!!! Yay!! I love boys! I want one very bad..I HAVEto have a boy first..I'll cry if I don't...well ok..maybe not cry..but I'll be a little bit sad! Congrats to Courtney and Stephen and yay for hot water! We don't have school on Monday and I get my new couches tomorrow!! Man it's going to be a great weekend!!

hot shower..oh how I miss you..

girls should never have to take cold showers..period.

So yesterday I was wondering why exactly my water wasn't getting hot..or even warm at all. When I woke up this morning and still had no hot water, I knew something was up. After talking to various people about this problem, I have discovered:

1. it is my water heater

and the big kicker

2. I never got the gas turned on for my GAS(which I thought was electric and nobody ever TOLD ME it wasn't) water heater; therefore, they shut the gas off.

So tonight I had to suffer through a cold shower..I just tried to imagine that I was very hot and it was just a cold pool. Yeah and I definitely didn't stick around in there long enough to shave my legs. Good thing that it's jean day at school tomorrow!

Boy howdy, my landlord it gonna get it tomorrow...I get mighty upset when I can't shave my legs..it's a good thing for him that I'm not married! GGGGrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Hugs

Yes, I know..you're like "hugs"? what? I know..interesting right..

This week I discovered how important hugs are...I know..you're thinking, "Chelsey you didn't know that? You're an idiot!" Anyways, I guess I've never really thought about them. This week however, I realized how much I craved them..but more importantly it was from WHO I received them.

I thought about how often I hug people..or maybe how often I don't. I know we all have people in our life that we hug and how they are ALL different. Uncle hugs are different than how you hug your mom...brother hugs are different then you hug your best friend. I think that's because of the different emotions and reasons that you hug people.

I can think of one of my best friends and when I get to see her, I get so excited because of her hugs..I know you think I'm probably silly, but she honestly gives hugs full of love and they are amazing! I love hugging my dad because I always feel like I'm a little girl again..safe and loved in his arms..no matter how old I am. Receiving a hug from someone you love is amazing because it's nonjudgemental, comforting, and home.

However, so far the best hugs I've ever received in my life are from children...specifically my students. Do you know why? Because they are the most honest and heartfelt. There are no hidden agendas, no formalities, they don't do it out of politeness. They don't give some half hearted, one arm on the side hug. They wrap both arms around you and hug for dear life! They hug you because they honestly are so excited to see you..you have some special place in their life..you make their day..and hugging you is the best way to show it~rather than express it with words like adults do.Sometimes I think as adults, we should use less words, and just REALLY hug a person more. That's better than any words we could say. I love looking down on that little face because every emotion they are feeling and trying to express is written all over their face. It is truly amazing. I know all this, because I've experienced these hugs this week..and I'm so thankful I did.

So go hug someone you love...like a child

My Classroom

Kindergarten Hallway (my room is the first on the left)

You know..the whole fishing theme "Hooked on Learning"
My awesome bulletin board! I'm very proud of it..I thought of and designed it all on my own! Am I a coach's daughter or what? ;0) my door

my desk area
word wall
sink/cabinet/range-stove thing/reading area
my calendar wall..don't even ask how long it took me to do this! looking at the door

cabinets/cubbies
job wheel, more books
front of the room...
awesome alphabet/number/seasons rug!
my welcome for the first day!

Well there they are girls! Hope there's enough pictures for ya'll :0) And I'm still waiting on pics of someone's room..not to name any names.. Amanda..:0)

Well, if you're reading this, please pray for the students that will be entering my room tomorrow! Pray that God will give me the abilities to teach them what they need to know..and model God's goodness in my own life!

And so it begins...again

I forgot..

how much I love this movie! I remember being about 5 when I got this movie for a birthday present. I can remember it exactly. I also became obsessed with this movie from that day on. The reasons why I love this movie have definitely changed throughout the years.

When I first got it, I just loved it because of the action, beauty, and the horses. Later on, I just thought Jim was cute and I wanted to be Jessica;0)

As I got older, I still loved the movie, and then I loved it because of the music. One of the songs from this soundtrack (where you can listen to samples of here) was called "Jessica's Theme". I loved this song so much, I got the music and learned/memorized how to play it. It's still one of my all time favorite songs to play.

Now, as an woman, I love it because in this movie the main character portrays the kind of man that I want my husband to be. In this movie, Jim Craig is a man who is strong and a complete gentleman; however, he is not afraid to fight for what is his. He is a hard worker and passionate about the things that he loves. He believes in duty, love, and respect. He is funny and makes other people laugh and has a beautiful smile. Most of all he is proud of who he is and never tries to be anyone else...he is real. Plus he is an amazing rider and pretty darn cute! ;0) These are only some of the reasons why I am attracted to his character. If you haven't seen this movie, I implore you to watch it. You'll love it (if you like westerns, horses, etc)! If you don't, there is something seriously wrong with you :0) Also check out the sequal, "The Man from Snowy River Returns."Also amazing..you won't be able to watch the first one and not the second!

There is one thing that has not changed through the years though...I would still love to be Jessica Harrison! I am also still searching for my "Jim"...and believe me..one day I will find him~

To all the teachers..new and old

So I was sitting up at school reading my teacher's calendar and saw all these quotes and decided to post them as a little encouragement to all my teachers as we start the new year! Hope you enjoy!

• Enjoy the journey and do not worry so much about the end result of each day, each grading period, or each year. Teach the best you can and love each child the best you can. Ann Einstein

• Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in;forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day;you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. Ralph Waldo Emerson

• According to a worldwide survey of people learning English as a second language, the ten most beautiful English words are:mother, passion, smile, love, eternity, fantastic, destiny, freedom, liberty and tranquility.

• Loving a child doesn't mean giving in to all his whims; to love him is to bring out the best in him, to teach him to love what is difficult. Nadia Boulanger

• It's important that people should know what you stand for. It's equally important that they know what you won't stand for. Mary H. Waldrup

• Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. Margaret Cousins

• On days when I am out of sorts with colleagues and all I've come to, I know that when I enter the classroom, when I close the door and begin to talk and question, I have returned to one of the great solaces of my life. Jay Meek

• Learning is never done without errors and defeat. Vladimir Lenin

• You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. Franklin P. Jones

• Those teachers with the patience to stay true to the task, those teachers with the skill to bring order to the confusion, those teachers with a kind and understanding heart to see all children as capable and worthy, those teachers who teach special education children-these are truly the "saints of education". Harry and Rosemary Wong

I got my class list..

sweet Jesus help me..my administrators think that I'm superwoman...that or the best teacher in the whole wide world..who wants to tell them that I'm not?

BP Baby!

Only in Rockwall, Texas would we have one of our inservice days at Bass Pro and be able to tie in an educational perspective on "fishing". Yes, go ahead..be very jealous :0)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I just wanted to wish my daddy a Happy Birthday today! I won't say exactly how old he is, but I will say that he's my hero and the best dad in the world! I love you!

Aubrey

Today one of my "ex" students came by my room and surprised me today! I really hadn't expected to see her until school starts, but I was pleasantly surprised today when she stopped by! She and her mom were asking about the 1st grade teachers, so I showed her her hall and told her about the teachers. Aubrey and I talked about our new haircuts, what we'd been doing this summer, and she showed me all of her teeth that she lost and the new ones that were coming in! I didn't realize how much I missed her until I saw her today. If I could chose one word and one word only to describe Aubrey it would be....precious

it may not seem like a big deal

but it was very exciting to me when:

It was pouring down rain tonight, and I came home, reached for my garage door opener, and opened my garage. I drove inside, got out, and closed the garage. Not even a drop of rain on me!! SO exciting! I now have a brand new garage :0)

Can you smell it?!

I sure can! It's football season and it's right around the corner!! It's my all time favorite time of year~that probably comes from being a coach's daughter and going to football games for the past 24 + years. I love love love it! So, in honor of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Lorena Leopards, and the Springer Stallions I have changed my profile for the red, black, and white! Get your guns up!

no words needed

this absolutely makes my heart melt...I can only pray that this will be me one day

don't you just hate it when

couples are so stinking cute? I mean come on! Sometimes it just makes me sick! haha..just playing..

anyways, meet Brandon and Jessica, the engaged couple, very much in love, been dating since high school...pretty much two of the most beautiful people I've ever seen.

so STINKIN cute! really..makes me sick ;0)

Home...

Yes..it's true! I'm officially moved into my new house! It was exhausting and HOT and did I say that it was HOT? I'm pretty sure that the heat index while we were moving was about 107, but hey it's cool-I needed to sweat off some pounds anyway! :0)

I will say that I had a very interesting weekend, and it's not stopped getting interesting..but that's life..and God is good! Thank you Jesus for being amazing and all powerful!

I'm exhausted and quite stinky today from cleaning my old apartment today, so I now am off to take my first ever bath in my new jacuzzi tub! :0) I promise I will write more tomorrow!

Buenos noches!

Cass~this one's for you!

So, at this moment, I'm going through my guest bedroom and sorting through all my crap in my desk and closets (aka throwing crap away). Therefore, I was cleaning out my old backpack, and came across my old college planner..which you can notice is from '03-04..anyways, I'm looking through it all when I notice where I've written "call Cassandra". I don't even remember what I called you for, or if I even called you! I just thought it was awesome that I found that! SO I had to take pictures and show you..they are horrible, but hey-it's the thought that counts right?!

Secondly, I did stumble across the 'ole Phi Lamb phone book..those were the good old days! Just thought you'd like to see your beautiful page again!

Needless to say, I am so happy that we were in Phi Lamb together and that God has brought you back into my life!

Blessings sweet girl~
Chelsey

*sigh*

do you know what I don't like? missing someone and not being able to tell them you miss them ..

I HATE it when

a book has a bad/stupid ending!!! It is definitely one of my pet peeves! I guess it's not as bad as if the whole book was horrible..but I just hate it when good books don't have good endings! I just found and bought the book Ten Thousand Charms by Allison Pittman at Mardel's the other day. If you've read Francine Rivers Reedeeming Love you will like this book. It was a good book and I would recommend it..I would just make up a different ending :0)

The New Casa!

They're finally here (for those of you who have been asking for house pictures)! These of course are before I've moved in, but it just helps to show you what my new house looks like on the inside! Bare with me on the descriptions~I'm still learning how to add pictures and captions!

Outside in the front yard

Side view of the house

















backyard! Isn't it so green and beautiful?! Now I have to decide what to do with it!






































Living room with beautiful fireplace!

























Kitchen!





















guest bedroom!

























Office








Master bedroom!
Master bathroom with jacuzzi tub!

giant walk-in closet!




laundry room!

The New Do!

is a little shorter then I thought it would be, but with the rate my hair grows(about an inch a month) it will be longer in no time! P.S. I have no idea why it's doing this gay underline thing up here..anybody know how to get it off?

Here's the before pic:

Here's the after pic (4.5 inches shorter): curly
straight!
Here's the back so you can see what it looks like~

You like? Tell me what you think!

The Cutting Edge

You know, I love my title.

#1-because it's the name of one my favorite movies,
#2 it's the place where I'm going to get my hair cut tomorrow!

I haven't been able to find a place in Rockwall that I really like, so yes, I still use the one back home. My hairdresser is this cute little Hawaiian lady named Lita, and I'm pretty sure that she never EVER stops talking. However, we have lots of fun when I get my hair done, and she does a fabulous job at a fabulous price for all this head of hair! I've been debating on cutting my hair short again..you know girls when you just get that urge? Well, I've been having it..however, I have always liked my hair longer..and I think other people do also. Anyways, I think I found a solution to my debate. Tomorrow I'm going to cut about 3 inches off so it will look shorter, and I'm also going to add short layers! Therefore, resulting in a new look! I'm very excited! Tomorrow I will post the before and after pics so you can tell me what you think (but please, only nice things allowed ;0)

Ok, now I'm off to bake some brownies because Cassandra's were so enticing! :0)