Clean Slate

The best part about teaching: The fact that every August, you get to "start over" again.

Some people think that teachers are spoiled for getting the summer off. Well in reality, after the stress of dealing with 20+ children day-in and day-out, you really need that time to refocus. This is the first summer where I have time truly to myself and a chance to reflect on what I did wrong and what I want to change.

I took a great class today about Cooperative Learning and Learning Environment. I have so many great ideas about changes that I want to make and things that I want to take a step further. Every year it gets easier and I can already see what a huge difference just going from year one to year two made.

I like my job and even though sometimes I seem like I'm burnt out and ready to throw in the towel, something always keeps me wanting to try harder. Usually when I get to the burn out point, I get a lovely vacation to make me change my mind. :)

Oh and I can't forget that despite the fact that they drive me insane... my students need me.

P.S. I am due for a HUGE post about our Philly/West Chester/NJ trip a couple of weeks ago. I have all the pictures uploaded and I am going to dedicate some time to a substantial post about the amazing time that I had!

Still TTC...

I was all hyped up this month... well, unfortunately my little "friend" arrived today (a week early) and I am definitely not pregnant.

I am trying not to be bummed - we've only been trying since April. We're going on three months of trying in a few weeks... so I know that we're OK still.

I just guess I thought it would be easier? It seems to be easier for all the people around me.

*sigh* There's always next month, right?

Pregnancy Update!

I've been using ovulation predictor (pee strips) since the beginning of this month. I began right after my period stopped and over two weeks went by without any indication that I was ovulation. Needless to say, I was getting frustrated. Every morning it was the first thing I was doing. Peeing on those damn sticks. I started freaking out and thinking that maybe I wasn't ovulating? Not good. Anyways, finally last Friday I got the two dark lines! After 18 friggin' days. I was ecstatic. I am normal! The reason I was worried is because I'm so irregular. Anyways, we tried really hard this month... but now the waiting.

I have to wait until at least Sunday before I test. I have literally 5 pregnancy tests stocked under my sink in the bathroom. One of them says it'll work up to 4 days before the expected start of your period... but there's only a 69% accuracy if you do it that early. If I wait until next Friday, it'll have like a 98% accuracy. I don't want my impatience to cause me to get a false negative. I might just break down and do it on Monday though. I can't stop thinking that I might be carrying a baby inside of me already. It's scary and exciting. I don't want to get my hopes up just yet though.

We are so ready to have a family. It's so exciting to think that Steve adn I are about to take this awesome step in our lives together!

Details...

So I broke down and changed our car rental reservation to automatic for our trip to Costa Rica. The thing that prompted it: My driving lesson with my sister on her manual transmission car. Not so good. I mean, I did OK... but I was so nervous and shaky afterwards. I came home and was flipping through my guidebook and noticed this large section on how treacherous Costa Rica's roads can be. I remember reading something about how they have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in the world... YEAH, not good. So I immediately called up the travel agent and for $100 more I switched to an automatic car.

It was kinda a hurdle that I wanted to get over though... if you've read my blog for a while you've read about my Nice Trip in 2003. I had a traumatic experience...

Anyways now that that little detail is handled, I feel like I can fully enjoy my trip. Costa Rica here I come...

2 Years

I'm not too good at the sappy stuff, but I know this much - I married someone that loves me completely for me. My favorite times are of us driving around and dancing and singing in the car to the classic rock station. I like being able to plop down on the couch on a Tuesday night and watch the travel channel and daydream about how we'll visit those places together. I love knowing that I can tell you anything and you won't turn your back on me.Here's to many more happy years together. I love you Steve!