The week at a glance...

That is a recent picture of Banks, Stella, and I. They are so huge.

Thing around here are pretty good. I took my class on a field trip to the zoo in Albuquerque on Tuesday. That was an interesting experience. Its a two hour bus ride and the little ones did pretty well considering. We saw some sweet animals, their favorites were the komodo dragon, baby giraffe, hippo (only cause he "toots and poops"), and the green tree python. I have never seen kids so excited.

As I was changing our class calendar to May, my students ask why is there a special day sticker on that day. I proceeded to tell them that that is the last day of school. Then they would get the whole month of June and July off and then come back to school in August. They were thoroughly disgusted that they wouldn't be allowed to come to school all summer, but were happy that they would get to come back again in August. Then I pissed them off even more when I told them well they would be going to second grade and have a new teacher. The whines and groans were deafening. " We don't want another teacher, we don't want to go to second grade..." Nice to know I am wanted! They are pretty cute little buggers and I don't really want them to leave either.

I am supposed to be arriving in Denver right about now to visit some friends. I was on my way last night when my gas pedal broke. That's right just stopped working while I am flying down the interstate. Thank goodness I was only 30 miles outta Gallup. Got a tow truck and am now safe and sound. They can't get the part in till next week. Poo. Very disappointing. So I took today off for nothing. Well at least I went for a manicure and a pedicure. It made me feel a little bit better.

10 things I did not do today:

1. I did not spend all morning cleaning the kitchen.
2. I did not take the pile of garbage to the dumpster.
3. I did not fix the loose board in the porch so that cats can't get out.
4. I did not discover Banks in my bedroom covered in feathers.
5. I did not find feathers all over the kitchen floor.
6. I did not find streaks of blood on the linolium.
7. I did not look under the couch, fridge, and dishwasher for a suspected dead bird.
8. I did not find a dead bird in the pantry.
9. I did not use two dust pans to scoop it up and fling it over the fence.
10. I did not spend all afternoon recleaning the kitchen.

It is absolutely goregeous here in Gallup. I knew would love the climate change. Its been in the 20's for a couple of weeks now. So enjoyable. Only 8 more Monday's and I will be done my first year of teaching! I will be back in Winnipeg the first of June. I am excited to spend my summer in Winnipeg, but I am not necessarily ready to let my kiddos go. I just love my class, it is gonna be super hard to let them go. I remember last year when my friend Sarah was crying cause it was the last day of school, and nowI totally understand. I have cared for, cried for, and nurtured these kids, and now I just have to let them go - after spending ever day with them. Ahhh I am not ready for that. I am sure I will get over it, but it is still sad.
My aunt and uncle were here to visit this weekend. We had a great time, I showed them the sights and kept em very busy. We went on two awesome hikes. I just love taking people on my favorite hike because it makes it all new and exciting again. So come visit me, there are lots of cool things to do and see!!!
I teach this week, and then its SPRING BREAK!!! I am headed to Mexico on Friday afternnoon. Yippie!
Thats all. I'm off to play some soccer.

CASSIE is ENGAGED!!!

Good Times in the Southwest

This past weekend Cara, Erin, and I headed east to Albuquerque, and north to Sante Fe for a grand ol time. I will let it be known that I did NO shopping this weekend, although I really wanted to (I am still hurting from our last trip to Albuquerque). We did more of the sight seeing and lazing aroud type of thing this time.

Here I am at the Plaza in Sante Fe. Pigeons were plentiful, no one got pooped on thankfully. Notice the wicked looking cowboys in the background.

Sante Fe is home to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Ms. O'Keefe spent the later years of her life in and around the Sante Fe area. No cameras were allowed inside so the best I got was the sign outside

No, you are not mistaken, that is Val Kilmer. The Iceman or Batmand himself. Looking a little pudgier these days, Erin though he was "soooo handsome."

Sometimes we get a little ridiculous. Gotta love fitting into a 7 year olds clothing. Now we are ready for a night out on the town.

My class!!! We have been reading all the Robert Munsch books, and they are obsessed. Last week we wrote Mr. Munsh a letter and sent him this wonderful picture. I am loving teaching so much I can hardly handle it. I cannot believe I get paid to hang out with these little buggers everyday.