Spring Break begins at 3:15 today and I honestly couldn't be any more excited and ready. I am beginning to get a little burnt out and inpatient with my students and teaching. Things are going fairly well.... I am being moved, yet again, to help in a low performing second grade classroom. I got my students to a 90% level on their benchmarks and writing at a phenomenal level and they took the state test in Writing last week (it was a war zone! more later) so of course I am removed and moved away from the kids I have had for 6 months and gone a long ways with. It saddens me but I know that I benefited and helped them and I am ready, I guess, to be moved and help the second graders out. I am about to have a meeting with my principal in a little bit to work out the logistics of it all, I am going to plea to at least be able to keep my homeroom class until the end of the year so I can do non test related things with them to get them excited for learning. I want to explore poetry, creative writing, and more novels with them... we'll see if I get the chance.

The state test was an absolute war zone... kids vomiting, teeth falling out, kids crying... the school was on lock down mode as my students took the 7+ hour test.... the state department of education was here observing us walking by our rooms every 5 minutes to ensure we were standing up and monitoring... it was a long day! For the first time all year, I got in my car and cried. I think it was a combination of carrying all of their stress, my stress, and just being tired. It was an ordeal. I think I am ready now to teach 4th grade and prepare my students next year for the test in a more relaxed fashion.

Clint, one of my closest college friends and my pledge son, is coming into town tonight with a good high school friend of his... we're planning on taking a short trip to southern Texas and then enjoying the sites of Houston during spring break. I am excited to have a visitor and someone to spend some time with.

I am continuing to train for who knows what... perhaps a triathlon in April and definitely the Portland Marathon in October... along with some various things throughout the summer. I have lost a lot of weight and now am embarrassed by everyone at school that needs to make a comment on it including my principal in front of my kids during instruction! ha! I am feeling so much better though and have really started to develop a love for running and continue to enjoy going to spin class.

The weather is beautiful, not humid yet but in the 70's... supposed to hit 85 this weekend! I do like this part of being in Texas.

Enough for now... I was the Easter Bunny yesterday at school, yes, it was horrible... above is a picture for ya'lls entertainment.