The Beginning of the School Year

People ask me what it's been like getting started in my senior year at Emporia State. Well, the good news is, my head has not yet exploded. The bad news? I fear it might very soon.

As a part of Emporia's PDS (Professional Development School) program, I have been placed in an Olathe elementary school with a mentor teacher. I will spend the first semester observing this teacher, getting my toes a tiny bit wet in 2nd grade and (successfully) completeing 16 credit hours for Emporia State in various methods classes.

Needless to say, I'm already a bit overwhelmed and I've only been back for 7 days. Granted, it doesn't help that my first week consisted of Olathe and Emporia telling me about EVERYTHING that will occur between now and December 11th. Talk about your head spin!

So for now, I am existing from one day to the next. Each night I look at the planner to answer the following three questions:
-Where am I going tomorrow?
-What time do I need to be there?
-What am I expected to wear?

With that, I must close so that I can iron my clothes for tomorrow, set the alarm clock (On a side note, I've already decided that early mornings are HIGHLY overrated and that teacher's pay should include a monthly Starbucks delivery allowance!) and get my lunch packed. Us poor student teachers don't get to order out every day!

Fingers crossed!

Heartland Family Adventure

This past week has found us busy with Heartland Family Adventure. It is our church's version of Vacation Bible School with a few little tweaks. It's held in the evening from 6 pm to 8 pm with dinner served at 5:30 pm. It is BYOP (Bring Your Own Parents) and it ends with popsicles on the playground.

Branden and I volunteered to be on the dinner team which meant that we were in the kitchen preparing and serving the meals. McKenna is still too little, so she went to childcare, but Madelynn was able to attend.

After dinner, we went with Madelynn to the auditorium and sang songs and learned our bible verse for the night. We also shared "God-sightings" with other families and put out our "God-lights" (little battery powered tealight candles) to remind us that God is with us always. After that we played games and did a craft centered around our verse for the day. Finally, Madelynn went into the gym for a story and the parents went into the auditorium for a little pep-talk on how to be the best faith-builder for your kids. The church's tongue-in-cheek motto for this was "You can do it, we can help!" (sound familiar?)

It was a lot of fun and I think Madelynn had a good time! We can't wait until next year!

McKenna Mae

So, McKenna is the second child and therefore more devious. But what I didn't realize is that she is very observant.

For example, as soon as warm weather hit, I dug out my flip flops. I practically live in them in the summer. And what goes hand-in-hand with flip flops? Why a toe ring, of course! So McKenna has been watching me put on my shoes and put on my toe ring for a while now.

The other day, I was preoccupied with household chores when I heard an odd clinking sound. Clink, clink, clink. As I investigated, I came upon McKenna looking oh so innocent! But when she walked away, the clinking resumed. I looked down at her feet and there was Branden's wedding ring around her big toe!

hee hee

Summer Trips (40 photos), by Amy Connelly

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=473261246045147095/l=2483287007/g=36844174/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1136985007/a=36844174_36844174/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=40%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Fall Carnival 2009 (22 photos), by Amy Connelly

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=441261246045092221/l=2483286007/g=36844174/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1162072007/a=36844174_36844174/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=22%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Easter 2009 (86 photos), by Amy Connelly

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=822261246045021692/l=2483285007/g=36844174/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1162073007/a=36844174_36844174/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=86%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Happy Father's Day Poppa!

Since they don't get to drive all the way down to Ponca to see their Poppa, the girls wanted to make a video so he would know how much they love him!

Enjoy Poppa (they were kind of in a silly mood!) and have a very Happy Father's Day!

We love you - Madelynn and McKenna Mae