The First Week of School

We made it...we survived...Ethan's teacher is still breathing!!! Ethan and I had a great first week! Ethan has been so excited this week and absolutely adores his teacher. He started the week really strong...but by about Thursday he didn't know about this kindergarten business...because..did you know... you have to go everyday!

Well I was super excited that I was at the same school with Ethan on his first day. I had to be there early to help guide my students to my classroom, so Jerm and his Mom took Ethan to his class. When Jeremy took him in, he said Ethan was quiet but decided to share with his teacher, "Did you know I can make myself into a ball?" He then proceeded to lie on the floor and make himself into a ball. Yep...that's my boy. I am proud to be the parent of a ball! Anyway, I was able to go and check on him during my conference time and It was so wonderful that I could do that. I haven't checked on him anymore this week, but have seen him in the halls a couple of times. I think it is the comfort of knowing that we are so close that gives me peace of mind.

On the first day, Ethan's teacher helped him find his way down to my classroom after school...but Tuesday and on he has made it all by himself. He is even starting to warm up to the kids in my class by giving them high fives on their way out the door. I'm personally loving Kindergarten. Ethan comes home so tired that I never thought I would see the day that he would be exhausted. This morning when I was waking him up for school...he was telling me he was soooo tired. So, I promised him that tomorrow we could sleep as long as we wanted. I say "we" because dude I'm tired too.

Every year I forget how exhausting the first week can be. I think it was especially exhausting for me because I was learning a lot with my class this week too. Every day it gets better and I become a little more acclimated to my new school. But, I have to say that when I left on the first day of school with Ethan...I knew right then and there that my move to Forest Ridge was the result of divine intervention. I felt so good and at home. It was as if God was affirming to me that not only did I make a good choice, but that I was following his path. I have found a peace that I thought would take me years to find. Thank you Dear Lord.

This morning I came into my room and I had this awesome basket from my Principal and Asst. Principal with all kinds of cool stuff in it. They had included a note to thank me for a good job my first week and to let me know that if I needed anything they would be there for me. How awesome is that? Ethan thought it was especially cool, so he decided that he needed to share the basket with me and took everything he needed. Luckily he left me all the cool teacher supply stuff and only needed the candy and snacks.

Anyway...thank you all for your prayers and kind words over the last months as I have been transitioning. They definitely worked, because my prayers have been answered.

Starting Over

Here I am...thirty years old...starting over. The last few days I have been overcome with thoughts, feelings, and apprehension. What am I doing? Can I make my way? Will I do a good job? Will they like me here? I feel like a kid again starting a new school again...well I guess I king of am.

Well Friday was the districts kick-off to a new school year. It was at the First Baptist Church where I have gone time and time again for Bryan ISD's convocation. This time as I approached the massive church, I was lost. I didn't know anyone and I saw masses of people. I found a few ladies who were wearing the same shirt as me and followed them in. They didn't know me and I didn't know them, but we had the same shirt on so I was going to follow them. A few people greeted me here and there and welcomed me to the campus. I was looking for a couple of my friends that were from Branch but couldn't find them. Then, finally someone I knew! A sense of relief flooded me. I wasn't alone in the district...I had a friend. Isn't weird that even at thirty years old, we still need that reassurance of community and friends. I really needed it, because I was in very familiar surroundings but my friends were no where to be found. I felt very alone.

I enjoyed the kick-off and left with that renewed sense of purpose and determination in my profession. I love that beginning of the school year spirit. The spirit feels your heart with love and guidance and you are so ready to take on the world. I could feel it and I was pumped once again.

Thirty minutes later after finally getting out of the parking lot, I made it back to my campus and met in the cafeteria for our first faculty meeting. It was overwhelming. We have a very large faculty! I was thinking how we used to scrunch into the Library at Branch...and i was looking out at about double the people I was used to seeing. The purpose of our meeting was to meet and greet. I got to stand up in front of all of the curious faces and smile. Then we were to go around and aquaint ourselves. Everyone got up and began hugging their comrades and chatting about their summers. I made it around to a few people to make those awkward first introductions...wondering if that person would be a lifelong friend like I had made at Branch. I know...pity party time...It just made me really miss my friends.

Things are definitely different on my new campus...but it doesn't bother me so much. I can learn new approaches...I can teach anything. I can use different systems, new grade books, and lesson plans. I guess my biggest worry at this point is if I will make those connections. Will I know this school inside and out? Will I be successful? Will I find my crowd? I want so badly for this to all work. I want to be apart of this school like I was at Branch. I want this to be my new home.

I'm Back!!!!

Well, I regret to inform you that the former "Jeremy and Alyssa +2" that chronicled the life of the Johnson family through the ups and downs, births, birthdays, naked dancing (not me of course), first days of school, and so forth is no more. Many of you may have tried to go to my old blog and found that it was not there. Well, long story short....Jeremy accidentally deleted it. I know. I've already cried about it. He did try to get it back. He emailed blogger and bugged and bugged, but no response. My precious memories are somewhere in cyberspace lost in a technological black hole. :(

So....here I am two months later ( a good period of mourning) ready to start anew. I really love my blog and want to continue to chronicle the happenings of the Johnson family. So...if you did not notice this address is a tad different. My new blog address is www.alyssaandjeremy.blogspot.com
I just switched our names around so it would have to same feel as the old.

So let's get with it. I have lots that I could blog about like new job, my bro coming home from Afghanistan, wrecking my car, 30th birthday...but it would just be too exhausting to back track all of these events so we are starting with today.

Today was Emily's first day of school at her new daycare. You would think that I have this down pat. I have done this before, but I still cried like a baby. She was doing so good too. She was excited and pumped and ready to go. We got there and she went right to her room and started to play. I told her bye and she said "bye mama." Then it hit her...and the lip turned. You know that is the worst. I hate the lip. It can break a heart in a second flat. Jeremy immediately instructed me to leave the room. I couldn't even tell the director good bye as I walked out, because she would see me crying. I know...such a cry baby, but you try being a Mom!!! It is hard!!! Well, one thing that I love about this new daycare is that it has webcams in the classroom, so you can check on your little one. What a relief! Except I couldn't get me phone to load the correct settings. It was killing me!!! I had to see that she was okay. Luckily, one of my new co-workers has children that are attending the same daycare and was able to pull up the webcam on her phone. I was able to check on my precious as I saw her eat her lunch and take a nap. Whew!!!!

While Emily had her first day...I too had my first day of work as a new employee of College Station ISD. This week I am participating in a new employee induction. It feels kind of nice to be considered a new teacher again...cause it has been a while. I was extremely flattered when people would ask me if it was my first year teaching...do you know how long it has been since some one has asked me that? Let's just put it this way...a long time. Today's training was pretty much a review, but it was really nice to meet people and start networking. All of the people I have met have been extremely nice. I also got a really nice teaching bag today too and some cool pens. Can you tell that I have been teaching for a while? Yes, bags and pens will do it for me. I am really excited about this school year. I am still pretty lost in many aspects but I am excited about all that I will learn. It was definitely time for a change. I am ready for something different and to expand my horizons as a professional. And those of you that know me on a professional and personal level, know that I am always willing to try something new (especially if it's cool!) And I have come to the conclusion that Forest Ridge is definitely cool--cause they hired me, right? Well, to all my teacher peeps out there....I hope that you all have a great school year and that you too will be able to grow and try new things!