Monster Truck, Monster Teacher

One of the snit snorts is obsessed with vehicles, monster trucks specifically. So obsessed, in fact, that he brings something like this to school everyday: 

 I bet you didn't know they made monster truck magazines. Well, they do. And it's pretty distracting in a class consisting of mostly 6 year old boys. I had to take it away from Cristian again today. We put it in my desk, with lots of promises that he'd get it back when school was over. At the end of the day, we had already trekked all of the way to the other side of the school to his daycare line, when we discovered  the horrible realization that the magazine was still in my desk!!

There were tears, and promises to get it back first thing in the morning, and more tears. He won the battle, and we hurried off back to the kindergarten hallway, hand in hand, to retrieve the magazine. We had a sweet little conversation on the way:

Cristian: I love you, Mrs. Hawley

Mrs. Hawley: I love you too, Cristian!

Cristian: Why you so mean to everybody all the time, Mrs. Hawley?

Mrs. Hawley: Uhhh

Cristian: Is it because they won't listen to you and do what you say?

Mrs. Hawley: Uhhh. You think I'm mean?

Cristian: No. I mean, yeah, a little bit. 

Mrs. Hawley: Okay, well here's your magazine. See you tomorrow.

Cristian: Thanks, Mrs. Hawley!

Awesome.

How many kindergarteners does it take...

to tie a shoe...

These pictures might not seem precious to you, but they are. Simply because they are all working together to tie a shoe. It's the little things in kindergarten, you know?

(Also, I promise that I actually teach sometimes, and I don't just spend all day taking pictures.)

(And also, I'm not quite as obsessed with my students as it might seem. Actually, in reality, I can hardly stand them most of the time.)

 Track started today. Yes, elementary schools have track teams (4th and 5th grade) And yes, somehow I ended up being the coach. 

The events include: 

50 yard dash

100 yard dash

200 yard dash

4x100 relay

800m (1/2 mile)

softball throw

long jump

and....tug of war

I know - I don't get it either. 

In other news - I "volunteered" to represent my team by doing a choreographed hip hop dance on stage in front of the entire school for International Day. 

They are so mean to first year teachers. 

Daisy

I have been thinking about and dreaming about Zambia A LOT, especially this little punkin. 

Here's praying that she's safe and healthy and knowing I love her. 

See you in 3 short months, sweet baby!

A Walk in the Park

My in-laws were in town this past week! Lots of fun things happened, but the highlight was probably last night...at the park. I'll let the pictures tell the story. 

It started pretty normally; you know, kids playing. 

And then the adults decided to play.

(I also had an awesome, less than flattering, picture of Betsy's turn down the slide. But she's my best friend, so I'm going to refrain myself from putting it on the internet.) 

The night also included an obstacle course race. However, I was involved; so there are no pictures.

I'll finish the recap with this - just because it's so perfect.

Bieber Fever

"No, she's not!"

Yes, she is!"

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yes, huh. My brother's girlfriend read it on the internet."

"Girls, what in the world is the problem?"

"Yelitza is saying that Selena Gomez is cheating on Justin Bieber!"

"It's true, isn't it Mrs. Hawley?"

"Ummm, I'm not sure. I'll find out for you and we'll settle this tomorrow."

 Anyone know?

I remember a similar argument, between myself and a friend, taken place about 15 years ago debating whether or not Taylor Hanson had a girlfriend. 

Some things never change.

Ta-Da!!

It's finally finished!

Much to my dismay surprise delight, Ben has picked up the overly expensive, time consuming, barbaric hobby of hunting from my dad and brother. He killed his first buck last fall, and despite his argument that "it's not big enough to mount", my parents had it done for his birthday! His big day isn't for a few more weeks, so my parents are "housing" our new wall decor.

They had it covered up when we ran over for a quick visit last Friday, but Ben couldn't contain his excitement. We had to look at it. 

I am so proud of him. 

Now we just have to find a place deep in the back of a dark closet to hang it up!

We're not stupid.

So after my parents caught wind of my brother and I's little road trip, they invited themselves.
And then, my dad offered to pay us cold hard cash to skip the whole Six Flags thing, and just go shopping instead. (He doesn't like lines. But I didn't think there was anything he liked less than shopping; so I was really confused by the whole thing.) We're not stupid, we know what to do. Hello, J Crew, LOFT, and Banana.

Also, the greatest thing happened. Now I don't usually shop in Forever 21. Honestly, it just really overwhelms me, and most things are way too trendy for my boring style in clothes (solid colored tees).

Anyways, I was walking through and I saw this. I bought this dress, not because it's cute (although I do think it's fairly cute), but because my Nanny had a dress this exact same pattern. Writing about this, it doesn't sound quite as exciting as I initially thought. But Nanny was my absolute favorite person in the entire world. She had about ummm only 3 dresses that she wore. I just remember sitting next to her in church as a little girl with her wearing a dress with the exact same ugly triangle pattern. And if I can somehow be a little like her, even if it's just by wearing a dress made out of the same fabric, I'm gonna do it. And I mean, how crazy is that? What a coincidence! Not blog worthy? I'm sorry; I'll do better next time. But still, it's my new favorite dress. 

Does she know something I don't?

Saturday, Ben and I went to a wedding reception for our dear friend, Ryan. At the reception, a sweet little old lady introduced herself to me as being a dear friend to Ben's grandmother, Racine. Our conversation went a little something like this:

Her: "Hi, I'm blah blah blah, Ben's grandmother, Racine was a friend of mine. I sure wish you would have been able to meet her."
Me: "Oh! Nice to meet you! And yes, me too; you have no idea how much I wish I knew her."
Her: (Leaning in about 2 inches from my face) "I will never forget something Racine told me. She said, "You never really know someone until you've known them when they are pregnant." Well, I just thought that was such a silly thing to say."
Me: Nodding Nodding Nodding
Her: "But you know, she was so right. A pregnant person just has this certain glow about them. I am so happy for you and Ben."
Me: Shocked speechless look on my face.
Her: Squeezes my hand and walks off.

I mean, was she trying to tell me something? (I was wearing a flowy shirt.) Did she have me mixed up with someone else? She had me thoroughly freaked out.

Thank goodness

Don't get me wrong; I love being a teacher. However, there is no possible way that my students have ever acted worse than they did this past week. Nine beautiful, blissful, sleepful days away from them, here I come!

Just kidding; I'm going to Six Flags with my parents and my little brother, remember??

Also, I went to the dentist today. Three cavities. Awesome. Not to mention, that he told me that I should consider a crown lengthening procedure. In other words, "You have a really 'gummy' smile. Let me fix that for you for a few billion dollars."

6 MORE DAYS!!!!

till Spring Break! Yes, Spring Break is a proper noun in my book.

I think Grant and I just decided to take a little road trip to Six Flags!
You're thinking that's lame? Well it's not.

Also, I finally finished The Fountainhead. If you can read it in less than 2 months, kudos to you.

  Now I'm going to go read something by Lauren Conrad. 

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

We're supposed to be Sneetches. Can't you see the resemblance? 

Also, Ben and I started running again this week - the first time we've exercised since we've been married.  And I feel like H E double hockey-sticks, while Ben is like, "I feel great; let's run a couple more thousand miles!"

Reason 5,321 why I love him.