Where's your tacky Christmas sweater?

Our family picture!

or should I say Christmas outfit!!! My wonderful friends thought that this year we would celebrate all our December birthdays in style. Poor Alison, Hoobler, and Mike all have December birthdays that rarely get celebrated due to Christmas. Well let me tell you now...they will never forget this years birthday bash!

Alison is the one who made our party a theme "Tacky Christmas Sweaters" Therefore, for the past month we have all be scrounging around to find the "BEST of the BEST" for the party. For a few it was not that hard as they had many hidden deep in their closets. I however had to call in for help. Yes, I am going to thank my mom for never getting rid of our things! Thanks mom for keeping all of clothes! Mom was able to find some of my sister's rocking Christmas things from when she was about 10 or so. You know my sister is really tall so at that age she was about my size now. (wow I am really short...isn't that sad!) After mom brought me the "goods" I was so jazzed.

The Pooler's

Chris with the kiddos...so cute!

The Rowe's

Hoobler

The party began at the house. We had a great time, Abby and the kids were even there to see all the great looks. After a few adult beverages we headed out for our favorite karaoke bar. Well from there you can only imagine how the night went. We were a hit at the bar in our "Tacky Christmas Sweaters" We sang the night away and had a blast celebrating our dear friends birthdays.

Armenta and I

Alison and Chad

The Christmas Cuties singing it up....

Hoobler and I, we rocked the house!

oh and they loved my butt too!

Happy Birthday Hoobler!

Christmas Parties every where

Winston enjoying his Christmas tree!

This weekend I was very busy parting it up. I began my day off by joining my wonderful tennis ladies for some country fun. We had a blast! We met out in Weatherford at one of the ladies AMAZING houses. We had some great food, played a few games, and enjoyed the good times. Then I quickly hurried home to met up with Chris. Next stop the Contreras Christmas party! Here is Chris and I at the party.

I love hanging out with my work friends. We have such a blast. Everyone arrived and we began to mingle. The local high school band even made a stop and played some wonderful Christmas music for us. They did a wonderful job. We had an exciting exchange of "white elephant" gift...as the snuggie became the much wanted item. I walked away away with a lotion and soap set from Bath and Body, by far the best gift there! Needless to say this weekend was just the start to our party season. Next weekend is another busy one with Chris' work party. My sister and the kiddos and dog come to town. Then I have my school's tacky Christmas sweater party we are holding on behalf of all our December birthday people. I hope you all are enjoying the festive times as much as Chris, Winston, Bob and I are. Best of all....ONE WEEK OF SCHOOL LEFT!!!

My favorite girls...

Rocking Out 220 Style

220 Girls!

I know I have said this a million times before but I should say it one more time at least. I LOVE MY SCHOOL!! Okay so I love all the wonderful people I work with whether it be at work or out just chilling. Last night all my sweet friends had planned a 220 Crawl.... Okay you may not know what that is; basically we hit up a few bars around our school.

The place we began at was OUI...a few of our friends had been there "years ago" so we wanted to check it out. This bar is right on the Bluebonnet Circle. You know it is Sunday night after all but us teachers...NO WORK on Monday!!! We rolled in and there were a few locals, but I guess our group was a little rowdy so soon it was just us. The bar tender was a sweet older lady who seemed to just hang out. We had a blast just catching up on the summer fun. The guys were sitting at the bar enjoying beer and the Rangers game. It wasn't long before our night got INTERESTING....

The bar tender Kathy....just fell, hit her head HARD, and began seizing...Lucky for us we had MR. FIREFIGHTER POOLER!!! He was quick to the scene, okay just ran behind the bar. In the craziness of it all we tried to get 911 there. Amazingly enough this bar is not on their map or something...so lucky for us there was a cop who had pulled a guy over right out front. Chad took care of that...he had her call in the problem and soon we had firefighters.

STATION 21!!! (These are the really hot firefighters that come to our school on career day...mmmmm All the teachers manage to walk by them. Lucky for me I teach little ones and we go to them anyways, upper grades don't.) Quickly they had Miss Kathy awake and talking. As they were taking her out on the back board we all realized one PROBLEM...Who was going to take over the bar? Kathy yelled out a number and I called up a new bar tender. All that commotion was enough for us and the 1 other patron....We had to wait for the new bar tender to arrive so we could tab out...then we were off to POOP DECK!!

Armenta and Wilson

Julie and I

The boys just before the craziness

Poop Deck is a great little bar just around the corner from our school. It is stuck between a gas station and some wanna be restaurant thing. By the looks of the outside you may not want to go in...but they are so AMAZING! The real reason we went was Sunday is Karaoke night!! WATCH OUT HERE WE COME!!! I guess we rolled in around 10ish, and joined the "locals". We had such a blast at the Poop Deck. The people were outstanding....the bar tenders amazing...and well the entertainment (that was us) ROCKING!!! We ended up rocking the night away there at the Poop Deck. All I know is that we can freaking sing people....okay well you may want ear plugs but we thought it was American Idol worthy!

Apparently the karaoke was to end at 1, but since we were having such a great time they kept it going. We ended up leaving the joint at about 1:30ish....Then Julie, Kyle, and I began our battle of "the drive-thru's". Don't go to Bueno...they shut down at 1:45 even though the sign says 2! No Taco Bell either....they shut the lights off as we pulled in at 1:50. THANK YOU WENDY'S who really does stay open til 2; as advertised!!! Hamburgers not as good as cheap Mexican food but it worked.

M.J. you rock my world baby...

I am pretty sure we sang this better than Brittney...Hit Me Baby One More Time!

and with better moves too.

Alison and Chad doing it right. He laughed most of the way through.

oh how sweet

He was just amazing...

Alison, Julie, and I are ready to pick our next song!

Julie showing Mike how it's done...

That's right back at it again.

You should just be thankful they are pictures and not a video!

Slap that...get on the floor, slap that....

Getting down on the dance floor too!

Sweet Kyle and Julie

Teaching Alison to 2step

THANK YOU Polly for helping take the amazing pictures!

Answers....

I tend to feel as though I am a pretty patience person. I mean I have to have some to work with 6 and 7 year olds all day long. However, this year I have grown in a few areas on this....The first would be that I got shipped back to First Grade. This sent me to another new classroom and a new team at school. Although I had taught First Grade my first year of teaching (4 years ago)...it was with a different team and different curriculum.

The second area I have been working on....and believe me I am still every day, is with my actual JOB! What do I mean by this....well did you read my post What will happen next? (if not you may want to...it has more background info) I started early this year, knowing that last year I was VERY LUCKY to keep my position at Contreras, and put my resume out there ASAP. I knew that finding a new teaching job would not be easy, nor would actually having to leave my school. In no way do I want to leave my school, it is just a matter of our Dual Language program that I am being FORCED OUT!

Therefore, I knew that this year I really needed to be more serious about the job search. Last year I felt a pretty good vibe from the my principal at school. This year it was not the case, I honestly don't think she knew who would go this year or how many teacher she could keep. Since February I have been filling out applications and such. Sadly in the DFW area most schools are on a "hiring freeze" or only needing SPANISH! Finally earlier last week I got a lead....thanks to our sweet Librarian worker.

Totally jazzed about this, and a bit bummed that I still didn't know about my position at Contreras....I made the call to set up the interview. However, this districts HR people leave at 4...needless to say we played phone tag for a couple of days. (It is funny how things will work out....) Here is where again my patience was being tested!

Finally I got some ANSWERS!!! Answers to all the things I have been literally waiting on since February. On Friday, our principal was able to give me the news about my life at Contreras! You would think after 4 years of teaching I would be use to this "News". Every year that I have been at Contreras I have not truly known my fate for the following year...I blamed that on being one of the last hired on (but I think this has to end, RIGHT).

Here I go at 1:10....to find the fate of my job for next year. I have been preparing my self for the news for some time now. Thankfully my principal knew I was literally going crazy and called me in as soon as she could! This is how it went......(or from what I can remember, it is kind of a blur!)

Me: Hey, how's it going today?

Principal: Fine, I know you have been wondering about next year.

Me: Yes.... (in my head, holly crap if she tells me I am being surplused how
will I finish the day happy.)

Principal: Our school did really well this year on the TAKS.

(in my head.....okay and, and, and,)

Principal: I know we can do just as good next year, but would
like us to be Exemplary. In order for our school to be Exemplary we need
strong lower grade teachers.

(in my head....okay is this pumping me up or trying to let me down
easily? I am confused what, where is she going with this....)

Principal: After looking over all the data for First
Grade....I am not going to move you.

(in my head....what what what did she say, all I heard was move! WHAT!!!)

Me: So I am not moving?? You were able to work me into our numbers for
next year?

Principal: You have moved classrooms every year, and even grade
levels. This year I am letting you STAY in your room and First
Grade.

(in my head: stay in my room, did she say stay in my room....STOP WAIT!)

Me: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I am so thankful that you
were able to find a spot for me next year. And did I hear you
right? I get to stay in my room and grade level!!!

Principal: Yes, I thought you had moved enough.

Me: Did Miguel and Juan (our wonderful custodians) pay you to leave
me in my room, so they don't have to move all my stuff for the 5 year in a
row?

(in my head....some one pinch me please this can not be real! What am I
hearing this right I get to HAVE a job and STAY in my room!!! No way)

Principal: (laughing) No...

Me: Thank you again, I don't think you understand how grateful I
am....Thank you

( I topped my happiness off with a huge HUG!!! I could
have just kissed her too, but that may have over stepped things.)

Principal: Now don't leave here too happy!

(in my head: holly cow...not be happy yeah right it will be hard to
keep a normal face til 3.)

You see when she decides to do this...it takes some time to get to all the teachers (we have like 44). We are suppose to not really chat about it till after school! Of course I had to tell just one person before then...okay maybe 2, but that was it! Then as I was leaving another teachers room (of course I told her...we had been worried together all year, she had to know!) I saw all the K teachers huddled up chatting. When I walked up they started telling me all the changes! I figured the cats out of the bag at this point.....Then I shared my great news, I get to stay at Contreras, but best of all I get to stay in my room!

YES!!! I do still have a job at the most AMAZING school ever. I know you may think it is silly I am so overjoyed with all of this. However, they are like my family and I couldn't leave them! Then being overjoyed with staying in my room....Okay you try moving your office every 4 years then we will talk. Finally my patience has payed off! Okay it was a little patience and a lot of PRAYERS! Thanks to all my wonderful friends who have kept me in your thoughts, you don't understand how much it means to me. Thanks

FIELD DAY FUN!!

WOW, wrapping up school is TONS of work. You know I really think that setting up a classroom and taking down a classroom are the hardest part of the whole year. The daily teaching is a blast. This week has been super busy at school. We are down to our last couple of days, thank heavens.


Thursday was our FIELD DAY!!!! Field day Rocks. My kiddos have been chatting it up for about the last month now. When we had our impromptu Swine Cation, they were worried we may miss Field day. Thankfully it was not cancelled, just moved back a week. Having Field day the last week of May is a bit scary....you never know how HOT it will be. What a beautiful day for May 28th it was, I think the high was 84!

This years Field day went just as smooth as ever. Our PE teacher is AMAZING, Mrs. Gilbert....she has it planned down to the minute, it is crazy. We have many events, and since I am grade level chair (not by choice, I don't like being in charge really) we were the leaders of First grade. We walk as a grade level (like a parade line) from event to event to keep things in order.

Our events went as planned:

• 50 yard dash
• Sit on a Balloon
• 3 Legged Race
• Jump Rope Run
• Sack Race
• Water Balloon Toss
• Shuttle Baton Race

Each kiddo gets to chose 3 events to participate in. Of course, a few events are partner ones so they may get an extra event here and there. My kids did AMAZING! I can't believe how well they all did in each event. We took a ribbon from almost each one (being the competitive person I am that totally ROCKS). It is funny, because a few of my "slowest workers" ended up being our fastest runners. All in all each kid walked away with a wonderful ribbon, some with many! The weather was beautiful....and it was just a super fun day at Contreras! Now lets make it through the next 4 days and I will be jazzed. (sorry no pics here guys...its just too hard to only get pics of kids "with photo releases" and not get any of the "non photo release" kiddos....you know we have to be careful these days)

What will happen next?

Currently I am on my 4th year in FWISD, as well as at Contreras Elm! I love my school....for many reasons. I love the faculty, the kids, the distance from home, and the environment. I work with so many amazing teachers and mentors. I can remember back to the day I got hired.

I was hired 2 days before school started, it was major stress. Thanks to a great family and good friends we pulled off what should look like a classroom! From that day on I have had the opportunity to grow so much. My school has wonderful resources and allows each teacher the opportunity to use these. Why am I looking back??

Sadly my time at Contreras may be over....or may not! Right now my life should be joyful; ready to plan the summer! However, that is not the case this year. Due to the fact that FWIS has gone to Dual Language in schools that are majority Hispanic....I could be surplussd! (Surplused means move from my school to one that I am needed at. You get no say in what or where, you just go) How is this possible? How can a teacher with 4 years at a school be surplus? Well the problem is, I am being replaced by Spanish speaking teachers. Currently the Dual Language is through 1st grade, and will move to 2nd grade next year.

What this means is:

Any child who speaks Spanish at home (or meets the standards made by FWISD) will be taught in Spanish. They receive all lessons in Spanish EXCEPT math. Math is the only thing from Pre-k to 1st that is taught in ENGLISH to the Spanish speaking kids. (yes you can re-read that!)


Therefore, since I am 1 of 3 (English) First grade teachers I am at risk. The reason I am at risk is that at our school we currently only have 2 ENGLISH Kindergarten classes....so that means when they push up to next year we only need 2 ENGLISH 1st grade teachers. Why can't I move up a grade?

First off I can only teach Pre K thru 4th grade! (thank heavens) My school is a wonderful school remember as I stated earlier. That means: NO ONE LEAVES!!! When people love their school, environment, and kiddos they don't leave. The only way really I will get an upper grade position is if an ENGLISH teacher leaves or retires. (more than likely not happening her) I mean we do have a few teachers that are leaving, but they are all SPANISH teachers! SEE THE PROBLEM!

This leaves me here...waiting, waiting, waiting! I am normally a very patience person, but it is growing thin. We currently only have 9 days...9 days of school left and still I know nothing! I hope that some how, some way my wonderful principal can find a place for me at Contreras. If not I am left up to FWISD's placement.

Don't get me wrong....I have, since oh, January been looking for a new position. The problem is most districts are not hiring, or have froze their hiring! Also if you do sign on to a new district. That district then faces budget issues....the new hires are the first to go! At this point in my life I think it is best to wait it out with FWISD...at least there I know I have a job! Let's hope some wonderful miracle allows me to stay at my "home," Contreras!

Margarita Maddness!

The long awaited machine has arrived!!! Oh did I forget to tell you that I ordered the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction machine! Yes, and the best part it was buy one GET ONE FREE.

Here it is.....

Yesterday Chris and I hosted the first, of many Margarita parties! I really felt that since we only have 2 weeks of school left this could help boast all our spirits. The party was amazing...to say the least. We had such a wonderful turn out. Best of all the Margarita Machine was OUTSTANDING! I pretty much had that machine running from oh 5 pm till 11, it never let me down. Everyone enjoyed the margaritas (or so they said to be nice!)....and a few even enjoyed trying it out too. The party was rocking all the way til the end! Thank you to everyone for coming....it was the best "pick me up" party ever! Now lets pound out the last 9 days of school!

Here we go, let's PARTY!!
Winston ready to go too!!!
The Gracia's! How cute are they?

Making up the beverages....

what a cute cook!

Jeremy rocks!!


Pooler and the Rowe's
Amanda and Alison

(Thanks for letting me use your camera Alison, your rock)

ooooohhhhhhh.....

Contreras Girls are AMAZING!


Enjoying the good times with Anita!

The Franklins

Polly, Julie, me, and Alison


Kyle and I making the Ritas...Kyle you are amazing!

That's what Firemen are for!!!
Oh my boys...poor Winston was so tired!
This is when the fun really took off!!!



we were laughing all night long...Need I say more!!!