Christmastime is over.

Christmas Break:

·      Cleaned the house everyday (out of pure boredom)

·      Baked 8 dozen sugar cookies and 4 dozen almond cookies.

·      Make chocolate covered pretzels

·      Picked up the babies and played with them everyday

·      Went to the post office 3 times… and stood in line

·      Read The Odyssey, The Canterbury Tales and trying to finish up The Catcher in the Rye

Christmas for me means spending a lot of time at home.

We eat good food and have good times.

This Christmas was a little different because Brady was old enough to participate in the festivities. He ran around opening presents, stealing cookies, and scream in sheer delight. It was a blast to see that he was having so much fun.

Christmas was so fun this year!

I will begin my adventures in student teaching on the 3^rd … and I’m both terrified and excited.

Here's where I'm at...

Wow! I haven’t written in quite a while.

Well, here’s where I’m at…

1. I finished my last semester of classes of my undergraduate career, thank God. (Roughest ending to a semester ever.)

2. I had to say goodbye to my Madison kids and family, my boss at the philosophy office, and my girls at the high school

3. I slept many, many hours

4. I went to Onalaska High School, met with my coop. teacher and got to meet the students

5. Winona got 26 inches of snow in about 24 hours- blizzard conditions

6. During the blizzard, Christine and I spent all weekend stuck in my apartment… except when we trekked out in the snow. DANGER.

7. Christine and I made cookies… yum!

8. I drove home today and it took me over 3 hours, yuck!

9. I am now in my bed at home, safe and warm

So many things have happened in the last week. There have been very large up’s and some down’s. I have experienced new things as well as felt the comfort of old.

I am happy where I am, here, today.

 

Thank You ABC Family for providing Harry Potter Weekend THIS Weekend!

HARRY POTTER WEEKEND YOU ARE THE BEST!

I woke up this morning at 8 a.m., I gladly turned on the television to find that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was already playing. -- What an excellent way to start the day.

I started doing homework... listening to Harry and his friends defeat evil.The hours pass... literally... through The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire and finally The Order of the Phoenix and I continued to work on assignments, papers, and portfolios.

Now it's after 10 p.m. and Harry Potter is still playing... defeating evil with his friends. I have accomplished more than I could have ever guessed. I give all the credit to Harry Potter.

I do this because not only are the movie entertaining, I have seen them so many times I do not need to actually watch them to see a picture in my mind. It's great to have something comforting while stress and anxiety fill my mind.

What would I have done without Harry Potter Weekend? It saved me. It encouraged me. It guided me.

I know this sounds funny...but it's the truth. Maybe you should try it?

CLASSES AND TFA!!!

Undergrad class= Done

Well it's over. Classes as an undergrad...OVER! 

I'm not sure it has hit me quite yet that I am never again going to walk into Minne Hall and listen to a professor lecture. It's crazy to think that it has been 4.5 years. WOW!

Saying goodbye to college classes is bittersweet.

What I will miss:

                            1. Seeing friends everyday

                            2. Reading really good, engaging material

                            3. Working in the Philosophy Office and the Children's Center

                            4. Accomplishing big homework assignments

What I will NOT miss:

                           1. Stupid assignments

                           2. Rude classmate

                           3. Sitting in class and listening to a professor lecture about nothing

                           4. Sitting for hours in Minne Hall

Overall my college experience was top notch but this semester has worn me out of school. I'm glad that it's over, FOREVER! :)

Teach for America

 Today I had a great experience interviewing for TFA. The most interesting thing I will take away from this experience is the amount of knowledge I have learned about the educational system. Many people outside the education department think that education majors do nothing, well I beg to differ. Today I got the chance to watch non-education majors teach lessons. Some did well and others, well let's just say, needed some help.  I think that the methods and techniques I have learned have really prepared me to teach. I have learned so much about being a successful teacher and I hope to use that in the near future!

THANKSGIVING! :)

So what a weekend it was!

Not so good....

First, no heat at the house I was staying at for Thanksgiving.

No hot water at the house I was staying at for Thanksgiving.

Blew a fuse at the house I was staying at for Thanksgiving.

No mom at Thanksgiving. 

HOMEWORK. HOMEWORK. HOMEWORK.

What a weekend.

THEN the worst of all...  A mouse in our house!! eeek!

But thanks to Nate---- Ted = Dead.

The good...

Brady.

Brooke.

Grandpa Lou.

Family.

Thanksgiving dinner!! YUM!

Shopping...

FOOD and Friends.

Sleep.

GIVING THANKS FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS! :) 

Overall a challenging but worthwhile weekend.

P.S. This is the busiest week of my life.

Wish me luck.

Revelations!

Today I had an experience where I learned about people I didn’t know much about, but have had quite a few classes with. Learning about them made me think about all of the people and friendships I may have missed out on throughout the years. These two wonderful girls are fun, carefree and just plain lovely. I really had a good time working on our assignment together and getting to know them better. The overall feeling of our group was relaxed and safe. We discussed things about our classroom dynamics that I have never discussed with anyone. It was comforting to hear that they had the same feelings and theories about particular aspects of our classes. The girls also shared details of their lives that I never knew before. It was quite exciting and, at times, emotional to hear about what is going on in their lives. I truly enjoyed spending my night working on our homework and talking. This experience makes me feel that I need to look for those kinds of people to be in my life, the kind that loves life and wants to do good in the world. I know both of these women will do good things and affect the lives of their students. How exciting is it to learn new things about yourself and others at this stage of life!

The excitement leading up to HP7 pt. 1!

I cannot control my excitement for the up and coming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Part 1 movie!
Every time I see a commercial or anything Harry Potter I shriek in excitement!!!!!!!

I can't wait.
More to come after the movie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-yP8_H0wg&feature=channel

 

"Details in the Fabric"

To Lauren, my dear friend: 

I'm glad that we have become such good friends this year.

I don't know what I would have done without you this semester!

After yesterday's conversation, I listened to this song and thought of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA5vR_f34hA

Watch it. Listen to it. Believe it.

"O Captain! my Captain!

O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;                                         
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

Here Captain! dear father!

This arm beneath your head;

It is some dream that on the deck,

You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;

Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!

But I, with mournful tread,

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

--Walt Whitman

As I finish watching The Dead Poet’s Society for the first time, I cannot help but think about this poem. Being a future English teacher, the act of inspiring students to be creative and think for themselves will be my biggest challenge.

 “O Captain! My Captain!”

The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;

Tonight and probably for the rest of my life this poem, this movie will stay with me. The movie truly made me think about  what kind of teacher I want to be. And it comes to this, I want to inspire, I want to be unique, I want to be great.

Being Home

Being home is like…                     Hot cocoa on a cold day

A swimming pool on a hot    

Turkey on Thanksgiving
And presents on your birthday

Being home I like…   Kids on a playground

                            Or sitting in a waiting room

            Regular. Normal. Comfortable.

Being home this weekend made me think about why I like it so much. Yes, my family is there, I get to spend a lot of time with Brady and Brooke, and there is always great food. But, the real reason I like being home is because of the relaxed, free feeling I get when I pull into the driveway.

I like being home so much that my mom always jokes when she makes changes around the house. She asks me if I want to keep the old curtains, pillows, and even the kitchen utensils. Now, I have a box of crap with my name on it.

Being home.

I go home to see my family but now it’s more than that. I go for the good feelings and the ease of being simply at home.

Your life is and occasion, rise to it!

As my blog title states, "Your life is and occasion, rise to it!" From this,  I have decided to start blogging.

I think it is important to reflect on the little moments of life that may not mean anything at the time, but at some point, teach you something and help you celebrate your life.

Celebrate your life. It's what I've begun to do. Shall I say, finally?

Celebrate YOUR life. Do what YOU love. Do what is enjoyable to YOU.

Laugh a lot, love a lot, and celebrate often.

xoxo,Kelsey