Mingos in the Watah! What in the Wuhld?

[vamassey1]

Love the shopping pictures!

Don't think I have ever seen DHS so empty. You must have shopped while the crowds were exiting.

 

[MeMom]

Hey MeMom! I'm all caught up. We did Fantasmic in October on our family trip. It had been awhile since I'd seen it. It was Scott and Katy's first time to see it and they loved it.
The picture of Bella in the highchair is so funny. There hasn't been a highchair invented that Ty can't escape from.
Your Nemo room is great. Maybe it will give you a little joy during those long draining days. I didn't buy anything at the Disney store yesterday but they had some cute stuff. I'm glad you liked the picture text of all our Disney pals I sent you yesterday.
As you know Ty started "school"/daycare Monday. We were very worried about how he would do. He has been with me while his Mom worked since he was born. He turned 2 in April and he needs the structure and routine. And I will be looking for a job soon. I got to pick him up today and I peeked in his room and watched for a bit and they were in their chairs drawing. And they said he did wonderful today. Here is what he was drawing. I said Ty what are you doing and he said "writing orange". I'm sure all of us Disney nuts can clearly tell what he wrote in orange but I asked him what it was anyway. See is you can guess....

If you said Woody on a train than you guessed right! I've already got him disney brainwashed!!!

Clearly it is Woody on a train. I was all over that one!

Whenever I am in doubt about what a picture is, I just tell a child it is awesome, and then say, "Tell me about your picture."
It's a great way to find out what it is, and then I can join in the conversation from the knowledge I gain from the answer. It worked with my own kids and it works with my students.

Thanks for the Disney Store picture. It's still on my phone. I may have to look at it today. Today is the first day students come.

Wow, those girls of yours are real night owls! I can't wait until we can stay out late with Everett. I always had a very strict bedtime when I was a kid, but all that went out the window at Disney. I still remember how exciting it was to be able to be up past bedtime, in a place that was so magical.

On those childhood trips we stayed with my grandparents in Deltona, so we'd stay in the park as long as we could after it had closed, until every last store had closed up shop, and then we'd go to IHOP on I-Drive and eat pancakes before we made the 30 min trip back. Sometimes its the small things (late nights and pancakes) that make the best memories. I'm sure your girls will remember those late nights and last minute shopping adventures with the same fondness that I do!

I also wanted to say that those Mickey rainboots are super awesome! I think wearing them would make even rainy days delightful!

Sometimes they stay awake, as Brooklynn can do more of now that she is older, but sometimes they just fall asleep in their strollers whenever they've had enough. We have some early nights in, but we also don't mind some late nights out in the mix, too. We're very flexible on our trips, and we don't try to have any set bedtime.

It is great that you have those sweet memories to treadure. You are so right - often it is the little things that make the deepest mark on us.

Somehow I missed your classroom pictures!!!

Zach will be starting second grade in just over two weeks & I know he would LOVE to have a classroom that looks like yours. I've been in our school a few times this summer (Alex has had summer school & I've had to check the PTO mailbox) and it's hard to believe the first day is just around the corner. I think they just finished doing the floors & the furniture is just shoved back into the rooms. The teachers have a lot of work ahead of them before our school will be ready. I usually take the boys in to see their classrooms & meet or say hello to their teachers before school starts & it's amazing how it all comes together in the last few days!

I'm so sad that this will be Alex's last year of elementary school!

Our students arrive today. We were five shy of 700 yesterday, they told us. It will be a very busy place this morning!

The building always looks so nice when we return to start fixing our rooms. The walls are freshly painted and the floors are shiny. Our maintenance people do a kot of hard work for not a lot of money. We have a great head custodian - he would do anything for any of us. Just a great guy!

Love the shopping pictures!

Don't think I have ever seen DHS so empty. You must have shopped while the crowds were exiting.

We did. We let the masses flow on out and we just took our time. We'd rather be shopping our way out slowly than rushing to go stand in line at the bus stop.


************************************


First day of school here. On roll, as of when we left yesterday, are 695 students from Pre-K to 4th grade.

That's a lot of kids!

Also as of when I left yesterday, 23 of those will be mine. If we go over 24 each in second grade, they will probably hire a new teacher. They are pretty good at trying to keep the numbers between 20-22 for us. They won't hire anyone until September, though, when they've done a certain number of official counts.

Anyway, today is another new beginning. New children will come into my life, and I will get to know them well through the next 180 school days. I try to influence them in positive ways - especially in giving them independence and organizational skills. I feel like those are the best tools I can give them to help them through their future school years. They will learn about me, my family, and of course, my Disney love. We will have fun as we become a family of sorts for this year, and we will learn, learn, learn!

I do enjoy being a teacher. Even though I lament about all the paperwork, testing, mandates, and pressures, I love nurturing and teaching the kids. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers this year as I impact these young lives. Pray that I set a good example for them in thought and word and deed each day.

Have a great day, friends!

 

[Happy Elf]

MeMom, I hope your first day of school is fabulous and you have 23 angels in your class!

 

[declansdad]

Welcome back to work, hope you have a great class.

I start vacation tomorrow. WOOHOO!!!

 

[momof2TNboys]

Have a great first day of school!!

 

[Mic_n_Min]

Have a wonderful first day of school MeMom! Those 23 children are very blessed to have you as their 2nd grade teacher this year. Although we know they won't all be, I'll cross my fingers that you have many more this year than you have had in years in past. I know you'll make a difference in these children's lives that they'll remember and the parents will hopefully appreciate. I know you have your struggles throughout the year and some parents just don't seem to care, but please remember that there are those of us that do. They appreciate every moment of your hard work with their children!

All of us here would be honored to have you as our children's teacher! I know I would!

 

[mickeyfan71]

Hope you have a great first day with your new students!
And heres a treat for you! Thought you would prefer that over an apple!
Have a great year Memom!

 

[DWGal210]

Have a wonderful first day!! I'll be praying for you; I know you're impacting those kids in positive ways. They're lucky to have you!

Also -- I'll be in Chicago this weekend so hopefully I'll make it over to a Disney store. I'll be sure to text you some pictures!

 

[JaxJags08]

Have a wonderful first day back at school! I'm hoping for a wonderful group of kids that are excited and ready to learn - you deserve it!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Have a wonderful first day of school!!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I've said a prayer for you already! I hope you have the best year ever and I hope you get a great class of kids with less problems than they had last year. I know you will do a wonderful job this year, just like all the years before! Can't wait to hear all the details when you get home!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Have a great 1st day of school!

 

[pooksma]

Hoping you have a great first day.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Hooray for the first day of school!! Since I can't find any apples, how about a banana for the teacher?

MeMom, if your trip reports are any indication of what kind of teacher you are (which I believe they are), you are the kind of teacher I would want for my child. You take the time to make sure everything is in order, you make a visually stimulating environment for students, and your love for what you do is evident. I know that your year will be filled with challenges and rewards, but you already have the most important thing in mind, the students.

 

[Disneychix]

Happy 1st Day of School!!
What a great attitude you have at the start of a fresh school year. I hope all your students come in with that same positive outlook!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Have a great first day of school MeMom!

 

[TCKK]

I loved all the Fantasmic Photos. Jill your pictures of the boat are great! I can't wait to see that in a couple of weeks. Jill I love the picture of the girls with Tigger. It's so cute to see your hands trying to hold hold your little one and keep her in the picture. So funny.

Memom, so sorry about all the testing and problems with the school system and most assuredly I will pray for you as you teach those kids and that your love for Christ will shine out to the kids and be such an example for them each and every day of the school year. I hear so many people picking on teachers and saying they get paid way too much for only working 9 months a year. I will tell you that I stand up for you all very quickly. There is no way they could pay me to do all you do. At least when I get off work, I can go home and not have to take papers home to be graded and stuff. Also, they say you all get 3 months off, but do you really? I mean, it seems to me you've been working on your classroom for weeks now. I think people don't really get it. Just want you to know I do and I think you teachers are awesome!! So anyway, here's one person standing on the side of all the teacher who truly care about their students!!

Anyway, I guess I should get off my soapbox now.

I love the pictures as you were leaving Hollywood Studios. So cool with no one there.

Have a great first day of school!

 

[jillyb]

Hope you have a great first day of school!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

MeMom, I hope you have a great day at school! So glad to hear that your are in a district that will keep the class size to a great level. Jeremy's school really cut back this past year and of course, it was teacher's they cut. He will be in a class with almost 30 students now and no hope of that being reduced. I thought it was bad last year when there were 25 but I know 30 will be worse.

I don't think we tell our teachers enough how much we appreciate what they do. You have a tough job each day and really do make an impression on their lives. So, thank you from all of us parents who appreciated the hard work you put into it!

 

[tinkgurl]

Good luck today!!

1 year from today exactly is my wedding day!!