Career Change

I don't even know how to put my feelings into words right now.

My last day of teaching.

Wow.

I really never thought it would come.

Every time I got pregnant I imagined life as a stay at home, and then obviously that never lasted very long so I would have to go back to thinking that I would be teaching for a long time.

I've wanted to be a stay at home mom ever since I can remember. In elementry when we'd have to do some sort of assignment or project about careers, I always chose MOM.

I really never imagined myself doing anything different.

Amazing how life doesn't go how we planned it would.

My life definitely hasn't.


I have, however, learned a lot about being a mom by teaching Kindergarten. I've been able to watch some great moms and learn a lot from them. 


My own mother has been a great example. She always made sure we made the best of every situation and she was always there. I hope I've taken good mental notes!


It will be weird in July to not be setting up a classroom, receive new class lists, or go to faculty meeting.


But


I'm pretty sure I'm going to love my new job 


as


a


MOM.



My Classroom...

in pictures...

Just in case I forget down the road what my classroom looked like. I want my kids to be able to see what I put together as a working woman.

It looks a lot more fun when there are actual children in it. 



Chuggin along...

I made some delicious bread last night (thank you Jen).

James and I watched Just Go With It. I recommend it.

I'm surviving my end of year testing.

Only 7 today...23 to go.

I can do this.

I am feeling the 3rd trimester.

I was completely exhausted today. Maybe that had something to do with getting up at 5 AM for youth conference on Saturday. Maybe.

But boy am I tired. A lot.

I can't wait for the 'nesting' period that will supposedly come in the end. Please let that happen for me.

And now, the worst weekly picture thus far...

(this is what we call 'lookin rough')

White

Lately...

I have been loving all things w h i t e .

I have always loved white things, but recently I have been a little obsessed and notice every little white thing out there!

Here are a few white things that I love:
(how many times have I used the word white in this post?)

(this screams summer to me)

(I wonder what I could put in all of those drawers...)

(lovely)

(dream collection)

(never with kids in my house)

(gorgeous!)

Today I got an email from the author Josi Kilpack...

(I loved this book!)

Her new book, Pumpkin Roll, is coming out in the fall AND I am so excited! She also talked about her next book that she's working on, Banana Split. Two new culinary mysteries??? I can hardly wait! 

* Today, all 48 of my Kindergarteners are coming for the afternoon session to participate in Leadership Day. Please pray for me.



Farms and Make-Up

(Thanksgiving Point Farm Country)

I came home from the field trip and literally passed out on the couch. Oh. My. Gosh. I was tired. It went well. We did get rained on for awhile, but luckily the sun came out for the last half hour. The kids seemed to enjoy themselves. Especially when they got to ride the ponies. I've never seen some of them so happy. Elated. On the bus, the kids screamed turning every corner and going over every bump. It was like a theme park ride to them. They loved it. Unfortunately we did have one throw up as we pulled into the school parking lot. Darn it.

I woke up to my husband's cute face on a piece of cake. I thought I was dreaming. But really, the people he works with had a cake made for him to celebrate his graduation. Cute huh? And yummy.

I got home from Young Women's earlier than usual and got to see some of my favorite shows that I've missed for the past couple of weeks. However, I couldn't thoroughly enjoy them. I wanted to go make a little trip to my latest obsession lately. ULTA. If you've never been to one (it's like Sephora) and you like make-up/every girly thing you can think of, then you'd like it. Or maybe even become obsessed with it like I have.

(so if you're ever in my neck of the woods, call me, and we'll go!)

I resisted the urge though. I cuddled up with my hubby and we watched Cougar Town. Love it.

What to do...

This weekend was a good one.

Dinner with my parents and sister and bro-in-law, and dessert at a new custard place we discovered. Definitely going back!

A L O N G relaxing Saturday filled with staying in, reading, sleeping, and basically doing nothing else.

Saturday night, dinner with friends, and dessert again afterwards.

Sunday was filled with church, more reading and sleeping, and visiting family.

I {love} these weekends, and I NEED them. They rejuvenate me.

I might be biased toward this weekend due to the fact that I am now off track (WAHOOOOOOOOOO) and will not be going back to work until May 9th. So weekends and Sunday nights rock just a little bit more when I know I have the whole next week to myself.

Wonder what I'll do...

(remember the book I was in a LONG line for...well I got it Saturday, finished it Sunday. Check that off the list of things to do while I'm off track!)

Hiccups

I think my students were fed this for breakfast and lunch before coming to school yesterday...

I wasn't sure what to do...

Luckily, it was warm enough outside that both of my classes were able to have outside recess. Today, we may not be so lucky.

My drive home was nice. I like listening to the news on the way home (i'm so cool) because it helps me unwind. Music at that point in the day is just noise to me.

I came home, opened all my windows to air out the place, and started cleaning (another way I like to unwind).

I started dinner, James came home, and we ate. We chatted, about the near future and decisions we have to make. I'm grateful he has his head on straight and knows what he wants in life. He has Scouts in the early evenings on Wednesdays, and therefore, we always eat dinner earlier on Wednesdays.

Dinner was cleaned up, James was out the door, and I was again alone with my thoughts...

and this sweet baby growing inside me.

She had the hiccups. Now that I know what they feel like, I have noticed she gets them quite often.

I sat in silence, as the wind whistled through my cracked windows, and I just felt completely and utterly happy.

This baby has already changed my life. It scares me that in an instant it could all be taken away from me. I am still the most paranoid woman on the planet. I worry all the time.

All I have to remember is to pray. Even if it's just a silent one in my heart. It makes me feel so much better. This is all in the Lord's hands. I trust Him.

For now, I will enjoy feeling this life inside me. All the little pokes, jabs, and hiccups.



Heaven & Earth

Last week, one of my students wrote something pretty normal in his journal:

(translation - I like my brother. He hugs me.)

His explanation afterward is what made me laugh.

Student - (reading his journal to me) "I like my brother. He hugs me."

Me - "Oh, that's so nice."

Student - "This is me and my brother in heaven. Cause here on earth we don't get a long too well."

Of course I laughed. I couldn't help it.

I told his mom about it after school.

She laughed too.

And then agreed that it was true.

Recap

This weekend was nice, relaxing, and productive.

 Friday = worked until 4, took a nap, James grilled hamburgers, we watched the ohio st/kentucky game (busted my bracket), and made milkshakes (with lots of reeses!).

Saturday = slept in a little, ate breakfast together, then worked our tails off cleaning the house. James made the 'office' a little more 'baby ready' and I got the other things in the house done, including every piece of laundry. He is a great organizer so this was a good job for him. We had all the windows in the house open because we were sweating from so much vigorous cleaning. We took a break for lunch, got back at it until about 2:30, and then watched the B U T L E R game. I just love those guys. Really. We both got showered and cleaned up, James headed to a guys' night out, and I to the General Young Women broadcast. Soo good. I love President Eyring. He is such an inspired leader. Got home, snuggled, and called it a night.

Sunday =  slept in a little (well I did), showered, curled my hair (for James), went to our meetings, ate dinner, made cookies, drove to Coalville, hung out with my dad and bro-in-law, watched Angels and Deamons (lots of guns and shooting), and gorged ourselves on popcorn and chocolate chip walnut cookies. It was a good relaxing night. My dad enjoyed the company, as my mom and sisters are in California until Tuesday, and we loved spending time with him. 

I've now washed my face, brushed my teeth, emailed my brother, and am now definitely ready for bed. Another week ahead. Two more until I am off track. 

I have lots of good things planned.

One of them involves this:

Pretty please...

It almost felt like Spring today. I felt happy. I have missed the sun...a lot! My kindergarteners were much happier little people. They love to go outside for recess and just run their little guts out. It helps them behave better during class. Sunshine makes kids happier (my own philosophy). Sunshine makes ME happier (fact). I've added some springy-bright touches to my home and it's made our home a more happy place.

So please SUN... come out and stay awhile... please.

(21 weeks)

Countdown...

I survived parent teacher conferences (they really aren't that bad, I'm just whiny). I only ended up doing 47 though. So not quite 100% like I was hoping (with 49). So now we're on the countdown to off track time... 3 weeks! 

This weekend we will spend time with my in-laws. The countdown until Gary leaves is getting shorter and shorter. We're getting in every last second we can with him. Our plans are not solid, so I imagine we will DO lots and EAT lots (always good food at the Ruesch's). The boys will get some hoops or football in, we'll have lots of time to chat, probably a little shopping, and we'll just enjoy being together.

Hopefully something really exciting happens this weekend that I can blog about next week because now that parent teacher conferences are over, life's gonna seem pretty dull. However, I am now feeling the baby move a lot, so that provides excitement every day. I get nervous if I don't feel her for a couple of hours. But as soon as I get too worried, she lets me know she's in there. Such a cool feeling. I'm loving it!

H A P P Y    W E E K E N D !

* I've passed the halfway mark (by a couple days)! Yay for 21 weeks next week!

I do not like them Sam I Am

Just finished a progressive dinner for YW's. I was in charge of the appetizers. I served party puffs (is that right Whit?), a veggie tray, and a peachy drink.

The purpose was to help the girls get to know us (leaders) better.

Lots of good food at each house.

Lots of visiting.

So....

I'm tired and retiring early again tonight (it's 10), but it feels late enough.

Lots to look forward to this weekend:

Bobbi Brown make-up consultation (ya it wasn't last weekend)

Going to a movie (i'll post later on that)

And time to relax and get ready for a crazy week at work (preparing for parent/teacher conferences).

I {heart} F R I D A Y S!

p.s. In honor of Dr Seuss' birthday on Wednesday, and celebrating 100 days of school, we will be eating GREEN B R E A D and J A M :)

(last year's POST)

Oh Happy Day!

I am so happy it's Friday!

It has been a tiring week.

It has gone by super fast, but boy has it worn me out.

After being away for so long I easily forget how much energy my job takes.

On Monday, as I was walking out to get my class to bring them in, I could here a commotion. As I got closer I started to make out all the crazy noise...

my kids were chanting, "Mrs. Ruesch, Mrs. Ruesch,"... over and over. It made me smile and literally laugh out loud. It was so funny. I got a kick out of it!

As soon as they saw me, confusion set in...they were looking at me like I was some foreign object.

When we entered the classroom it became almost immediately apparent why they were so confused.

"Where's your baby?"

"What's it's name?"

"Are you a mom now?"

"How does the baby come out?"

Wow...

I'm not showing yet, so in their mind, the baby is not in my stomach, so obviously it's out in the world somewhere.

We had a good little 15 minute conversation about when I'll be having the baby and why you can't tell it's in there right now.

They make me laugh every day.

It's been a good week... BUT

I'm ready for the WEEKEND!

Valentine's date with my hubby and bro and sis-in-law. You can read about that HERE!

Grocery shopping.

Clean my house.

Stake conference.


My in-laws are coming over for dinner on Sunday for FHE.

I also get to sleep in for 2 days! WAHOO!

H A P P Y   F R I D A Y

gOoDbYe, fArEwELL...

today i will say goodbye to 49-5 & 6 year olds.

they have put up with me for 172 days (or maybe it's the other way around).

innocent and cute, they will move onto 1st grade with anxious minds.

i hope their 1st grade teachers love them as much as i do.

so here's to: aj, kaleb, sarah, breanna, hope, boden, noah, ambrosia, cole, avery, hudson, liza, seth, brylie, alivia, holden, david, jamie, parker, tristan, isabelle, damian, mallory, sadie, allison, jory, jacob, zaira, oswaldo, justin, ashley, ashleigh, kaysen, weston, newroz, isabelle, isabella, isabelle, jordyn, max, valerie, paige, karalaine, alex, mathew, carson, andrew, aly, baylee, and max.

thanks for all you've taught me this year!

go get 'em in 1st grade!