Welcome Summer!

As I stated in my last post, with only one week left in the school year for Hamilton County, I began subbing. Yep, subbing. For schools I have never seen the outside of let alone ever ventured into. It was nerve-wracking! I began Thursday of last week. I thought I had signed up to sub for an aids (easy choice for my 1st sub job), but once I arrived at the school...I found out that I would be subbing for the computer lab teacher! That meant that I would have students from Kindergarten to 5th grade--WHAT!? Well, the schedule was a bit confusing and I know very little about computers, but it worked out...a bit boring, but it worked out! Friday I subbed for a PreK teacher that had an aide. I LOVED IT! The school was great and the kiddos warmed up to quickly...they reminded me of my PreK kids from student teaching :) Easy Friday. Monday, however, I subbed for a 3rd grade teacher. I don't think I've been in a 3rd grade classroom since I was in 3rd grade! I was terrified! I think I held my own pretty well, but it was HARD! I had a few disrespectful students (some of which improved as the day went on...yay me!), but others I will just attribute to it being a Monday, a few days until the last day of school, and my being a new sub that they have never laid eyes on. I considered that day an accomplishment in my book and always think it would be drastically different in a classroom of my own where I can determine what they do during the day, how the classroom looks, and establish rules and expectations upfront. Well, the best part of my week came during that difficult Monday...my first cooperating teacher texted me to ask if I'd be interested in subbing for her the last two days of the year so that she could get her room cleaned out (she's retiring). My response...WOULD I!?!?! I LOVED student teaching in her first grade classroom and miss those kiddos like crazy! So, naturally, that's what I did on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and loved every minute of it. She decided not to tell them I'd be there and they were SO excited to see me on Tuesday morning :) Warms my heart! Well, if you know me...you know that I couldn't resist not having something to give them (and my retiring cooperating teacher) for the last day of school. Here are pictures of what I came up with:

The soon-to-be 2nd graders got a lei, a packet of Kool Aid and a crazy straw with a note that read, "Have a Kool summer! Love, Mrs. Hansen".

My soon-to-retire cooperating teacher got an over-sized beach towel, a water bottle with palm trees on it, a crazy straw, and a Southern Living magazine.
All were excited...including me!

Well, not only was I able to enjoy the last two days of school with some of my favorite people, but I also walked away with LOTS of teaching "stuff" for my future classroom that I inherited from my amazing cooperating teacher! I think Brent was less than thrilled, but I reminded him that he would ultimately be saving money as I would not have to purchase these items myself in the future! Here are a few pictures of what I was blessed with :) Can't WAIT until I get my own classroom in which to use it all!


In addition to all of this, one of the fabulous moms of my favorite first graders made cupcakes for a pizza party we had the day before the last day of school. She is FABULOUS! Check this out!

No, that's not an actual pizza...those are cupcakes! She gathered them to form a circle, used fruit rollups for pepperonis, white chocolate shavings for cheese, and chocolate sundae toppings for sausage...AWESOME! I can only dream that I will be so lucky to inherit a winning combination of a wonderful class of children and dedicated, talented parents like this group!

SO ready to have my own classroom!

With only a week left in the school year for Hamilton County, I began subbing. I'm hoping to use subbing as an opportunity to get my name out there in schools that I've not yet experienced. It seems that scoring a teaching position really IS all about who you know around here. Not knowing many people that can help me out in that department, I think subbing around the county is my one and only shot to "advertise" my teaching skills. The very first subbing job I took this week ended up being in a computer lab...WhAt?! If you know me, I know the VERY basics about computers. Brent always tells me to "turn it off and turn it back on" whether it be my cell phone, my lap top, or our printer. My computer skills don't go far beyond that. I "google" how-to EVERYTHING! Lucky for me, the day's schedule proved to be fairly simple. I do not, however, intend to become a computer lab teacher any time soon.
Yesterday, I subbed in a PreK classroom. With my last student teaching placement having been in a PreK classroom + my experience working with PreKinders at the children's center, I was excited for this one. I L-O-V-E-D IT! They were SO sweet, the school was awesome, the teachers were nice, and the classroom I subbed in was well organized. I jotted down some great ideas to use in the future. Here are a few pictures I took of the room for future reference:

This chair was THE MOST COMFORTABLE chair I have EVER sat in! I MUST have it for my future classroom!

Students came in and placed their "stick" which had their name on it into their pocket for attendance. LOVE this idea to help with attendance! It teaches responsibility as well. (I've blurred the last names for privacy)

This was on the other side of the attendance board. Students could tell the class how they are feeling for the day. Love that!

I chatted with children while we played with playdough during center time. Here is the house I made...a real conversation starter...HA! (Front of the house)

(Back of the house)
I can't wait to explore more schools and classrooms for ideas! Monday I'll be subbing in a 3rd grade classroom...should be interesting. I don't think I've been in a 3rd grade room since I was in 3rd grade myself! This weekend I'm working to gather things for my "subbing bag". I'll post about that once I've finished it!

Thursday, I received an unexpected package in the mail from some of my favorite Kentuckians :) If you know me, you KNOW I love receiving nearly any kind of mail, so opening the mailbox to find this surprise package was AWESOME! It was a graduation gift...a bunch of stuff for my future classroom! So thoughtful and sweet of them that I nearly cried. If you are a teacher, you understand the power of school supplies on the heart ;) No wonder I always loved shopping for school supplies as a kid...I'm destined for this career! Thanks Lindsay, Jamie, Zella, & Porter for making my week with this amazing package & for believing that I will make a great teacher when I get my own class! PLEASE, come visit me when that day DOES come...OR before ;)
...SO ready for that day!

Showering Ashley

My sister-in-law, Ashley, is expecting her first child August 12th. That means, Brent and I will be welcoming a either our first niece or our second nephew! This past weekend, a baby shower was hosted in her honor by some of our family friends. I assisted them a bit by making a burlap banner, painting onesies and cloth diapers/burp cloths, and creating cupcake toppers. Below are some pictures from the lovely shower that Karen, Carol, and Pam put together. Great job ladies!
[I apologize for fuzzy pictures. I forgot my camera in the car and used my cell phone instead of walking my lazy butt out of the house and down the street to get it...sigh]

Due to the fact that Ashley & Ben are choosing not to find out if baby G is a girl or a boy, it was extremely difficult to come up with a good gift. However, I had seen a "diaper cake" on Pinterest that was designed to look like a golf cart a while back and decided that I would try to create one on my one. Ashley and Ben both play golf, so I thought it would make a great surprise. I created it out of receiving blankets, onesies, socks, and washcloths.

Yes, I know it's blue, but girls can wear blue too (if it even IS a girl)!
Perhaps Uncle Brent and Aunt Katie will be purchasing some real little golf clubs for baby G one day...
Until then, we are anxiously awaiting your arrival, little one! Hope you are prepared to be loved and spoiled like crazy!

We're growing up

I graduated on Saturday with an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education! Whew! It poured down rain, but it was nice to share the day with some of my family.

My brother-in-law, Ben wore his Guadalajara t-shirt in my honor on Saturday...too funny, Ben!

TODAY is Brent and my 2 year anniversary! Cannot believe it has been 2 whole years already! I decided to spend part of my afternoon looking at old pictures to reminisce over the 8+ years we have actually been together. Here are a few of my favorites. I love how comfortable I am around him. He truly is my best friend and I cannot imagine spending the rest of my life with any other man.