March Madness...

Hello friends!

Yes, I am alive. I am just very busy in the land of working and house hunting.  Seriously teachers out there...what is up with March being soooo busy?!?!? Only eight school days until spring break!

In the last month, we have been hit with Dr. Seuss Day, a field trip, interims, a spring concert, and Friday with St. Patty's day celebrations.

Speaking of St. Patty's day...if you ever want to see something you won't see anywhere else...come to my town tonight.  @ midnight, the SHOPPING CART RACES begin.  That's right.  I said SHOPPING CART RACES.  Over 2,000 people turn out to crowd the streets (they shut down the main street) and watch crazy people push even more crazy people in shopping carts! I'd compare the epicness of this night to the running of the bulls.  Serious comparison.

But through all this craziness, I have still found time to...

 Drink my body weight in Shamrock Shakes....

Rebel against the pricing of PetSmart and groom my dog myself....

AND sign up for a half marathon in October. That's 13.1 miles.  That's a lot.  Training starts tomorrow!

In classroom news, Dr. Seuss Day went off without a hitch.  I loovvvee this man, his books, and the joy I see in my students when they read his work.  I also looovvee celebrating his bday.  We Seuss it up all day long and then the fifth graders come to read to our students.  They pair up, spread out, and read to each other for 40 minutes.  I love watching my kiddos look up at the fifth graders like they are super heroes.

  

St. Patty's Day was celebrated in grandeur in the Irish land of Ms. Spurry's room.  Minus the Irish accent.  I tried for two straight days....I suck.  I go to be Irish and I come out all  Eliza Doolittle EVERY TIME. But, even with no awesome accent we rocked it out!

                

As you can see from the smiles from Shafer and Femi above, they LOVED putting green footprints on everything in my classroom and sprinkling gold glitter EVERYWHERE.  My OCD has mellowed now that I'm nearing the end of my second year of teaching...but still only slightly.
                     

Spring has sprung in Maryland, although much slower than last year.  The daffodils are out, and the sun shines through most days, but it is still a little cold for my liking.  No lie, I was in flip flops this time last year.  Where is this global warming they keep speaking of?

If you have ever taught first grade you will understand what I mean when I say spring is when you see your students jump out of the nest and soar on their own.  I have only ever taught first grade, but I am not alone in saying the growth you see during the first grade year is mind blowing.  Spring is when you realize "WOW, that kid used to cry daily...I haven't seen him cry in months."  "You can tie your shoe?!?!?"  "You just covered your mouth when you coughed and missed my face?!?!?!"  "Wait, hold the phone, are you all, yes every single one of you, doing exactly what I asked?!?!?!" Ok disclaimer, on the last comment I think I had at least 3 kids out with the flu.  But still...these kids are taking off!

Spring also brings sights that will keep me laughing for days and keep me thanking God for the little joys in life....like growth spurts.

FLOOD WARNING!!!!!!