About Me

I am a kindergarten teacher who loves her job!!!

Since I have started blogging, I have participated in a few "about me" linky parties.   I have copied a few in here for your entertainment... Ha!

Here is my most recent post about me.

First I have to say that I am not very exciting so brace yourself!

I am an animal lover! I can't recall a time in my life when I did not have a dog... or two!

I think I was about 6 or 7 in this picture.  My sister,  Susie, is laying down.   That is our dog, Shawn.

This was Sootman, my horse.  It is hard to tell, but he was black and feisty! After school, I would meet up with my girlfriends and we would go on hour long rides and talk about boys.  And laugh? Goodness! Some great memories!

I grew up in San Diego and we enjoyed sailing in the harbor.  

Totally wish I still had those legs!

Mr. and I have been married for 21 years.   Let me just say that we thought we were VERY cool 20 years ago.   Yes, my hair was wild then too... it was all about big hair! The Mr. is sporting his stache!

We have THE most amazing child!   I will talk about him ALL day if you let me! We share the same sense of humor, love of music and affection for cookie dough.   When he was a baby, my mom would give him a bath in her sink (no... that is not the dishwater). She would make some sort of treat and Matt would lick the bowl.

I love Diet Coke!   

Seriously! 

Those poor girls in Vegas had to put up with my deep, deep addiction!

I was in the Navy Reserves for 6 years.  Mr. and I were already married and I wanted to be a teacher.  I went in the Reserves to pay for my education.  Um... I went to boot camp in my 30's.   Hilarious!   I really like my creature comforts, so I have a few stories I could share... but I won't! Lol!   

Those 6 years taught me now to really work hard.  I worked full time as a medical administrator, went to school full time, reserve duty one weekend a month, then mom, and wife... not necessarily in that order. I never could have done it without the help of my won-der-ful parents.   

Yes, I was tired!

We move to Missouri a few years ago and I love it!

What else?  

I don't like escalators

Asparagus

or shellfish

I posted these photos in August of 2011.

Mr. W, me, and Baby Matthew...Ok... 3 weeks away from 16!  YIKES!

Dexter... Everyday is a POOL day!

Emmett... the finder of all random bones in Maries County!

My Girls!!!  They promise beautiful brown eggs in about 2 more months.

The calves... My husband reminds me that they are NOT pets... but they are so darn cute!

This is a little about me from a Feb 2011 post!

Here is a little information about me.  I grew up in San Diego which is where I met my husband of almost 20 years.  We moved to Missouri 6 years ago and we love it!

Our son is a sophomore in high school... the light of our life.  He runs track and cross-country and the boy can SING!

For the first part of my life I was a medical administrator.  Great career, great people, but teaching has always been my dream. I have been teaching for 8 years, four years in second grade before I was asked to be help launch our Balance Literacy adoption in my district.  I served as a Literacy Coach for two years.  I loved collaborating with the other teachers, but I missed, missed, missed having my own class.  So when a kindergarten position opened up, I begged and pleaded... Ta Da!  I'm back in the classroom.  Kindergarten is amazing and I'm here to stay!

Now the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?
A: Well, when I was 6, I wanted to be a waitress in a truck stop.  Think of all the people I would have met!  Now, if not a teacher, I would like to be a park ranger (see I'm still 6 years old).

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Teaching isn't a hobby?!  Spending time with my family, filling my roll as a taxi-service to my 15 year old son (8 months until he turns 16), and reading.  I started running a year ago and completed my first half-marathon in October.  I love cookbooks, but don't like to cook...hmmm... I guess that means I just like food.

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A:  Oops! I already answered that.

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
A: Diet Coke, the entire food group known as The Cookie Food Group (can't have them around), Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew... Seriously, I'm drawn to it like a moth to flame... weird!

Q: What is your biggest fear?!
A: Escalators (I blame it on George Jetson) and small, confined places.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?
A: Back to San Diego to visit my friends and family. Although... Italy has been calling my name.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Realize when you say something unkind, you can never take it back.  People can forgive you, but they rarely forget it was ever said.

Q: What do you value most in others?
A:  Integrity!  I also look up to people who are active in their own destiny.  If you are unhappy about something, take steps to see if you can change it... talk to the right people or make a change.

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?
A: Resiliency.  Being able to roll with the punches, then make a difference where you think you can.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?
A: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr!!!  Shallow me: Hugh Jackman, Teacher me: Lucy Calkins

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

 I broke my arm falling off a horse when I was 11.  In high school, I worked at Sea World making cotton candy. I was in the Navy Reserves for 6 years in a unit that supported the marine mammal team... pretty cool!  I have two crazy dogs (a lab and a golden retriever).  They are frequent subjects of my modeled writing.  I LOVE shoes!  My husband thinks I have "enough"... Whatever that means!