School Time

As I prepare for school to start next week I want to revisit a quote that inspires me everyday in the classroom. Enjoy

"I've come to a frightening conclulsion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or deescalated and a child humanized or dehumanized."
- Haim Ginott

God has given me an awesome gift to work with children every day. I will rely on him to give me the strength to do it well. Here are some pictures of my classroom. For all of my friends that teach high school.... this is the reason I'm up there all summer. Also, Thanks Thanks Thanks to Laura for coming up Wednesday night and working in my room unitl 9:00. Your creativity is priceless!!

(For those that don't know...every year you have to completely take down your room, store everything, put the furniture in the middle and then come back all summer after the room has been cleaned to put it all back together again)



Math supplies, games, lockers


Classroom library, supplies, class store, discipline chart


Student computers, calendar, math skills


Rocking chair for teaching whole group, table for reading, my desk


Sign for the hallway. We have a Rock n' Roll theme this year (again THANKS to Laura for all your help!)

Summer Pictures

Here is a quick look at some summer fun.

Hanging out with "Lil Ray-Ray"


Swimming in the backyard with Granny


Jake had to break in his new Mickey Mouse bedding.


Of course, Luke did too!


Jake driving the Hetmers golfcart. He's wondering when we'll get one at Mimi's house.


Luke had to take it out too!


My boys at the Kaufman 4th of July parade. Aren't they handsome?


Cousins and second cousins were in attendance for the event.


Garren getting serios at Vickie's 4th of July party.


Jake's first firecracker.


They love the fountains at the Harbor in Rockwall.








Enjoying some ice cream on a hot day.

Memories of Our First House

Well, the house is rented and Tony and I spent some time reflecting on our time there....

- Painting cabinets, tiling, painting rooms, changing fixtures, hanging sheet rock (okay, we have lots of remodeling memories)
- Brining our puppy Hailey home
- My 25th birthday party- so many friends, so much fun (we won't talk about the cake incident)
- Late night dominoes on the huge patio
- Living on my own while Tony traveled to TN for work (It was scary there!)
- Setting up a nursery and bringing home our first child
- Putting Jake to sleep in his swing in the laundry room with the dryer running so we could demo the bathroom and not wake him up
- Jake's 1st bday party
- Playing in the blow up pool all summer
- Walking down Houston street every morning for 2 summers (we got to see everybody!)
- Bringing home our second baby
- Lukes 1st bday party

Some things we won't miss:
- It's TINY!!! Seriously, 1100 sq ft.
- Can anyone say "Gorch?"- Ah, what will it be like to have a garage?
- Low, low ceilings

All in all it was a great first house and I can't wait to figure out what's in store for us next.