My Classroom

It's no secret that I am super excited to have a job right now! I am also super nervous excited to get this school year off the ground!! 

Since I was on a one year contract last year the district had no obligation to keep me. I went into this summer thinking that the BEST thing that could happen was my school was possibly going to add a fourth grade position and I thought I might get that. To this day they still have class lists with 32+ kids in each class and the district has yet to pull the trigger and get a new teacher. I am so thankful that I am not sitting around waiting for that to happen! Whew! So, you're probably wondering, how did I get to stay in the same grade at the same school?! Here's the story. . . my best teacher friend and teaching partner from last year was offered an administrative position at the district office, so thankfully I was given her position! And, the best thing is, I didn't just get another one year contract, but a permanent one!!! This means no more worrying from year to year if I will have a job. Now that all that is out of the way, do you want to see some pictures?! Of course, you do!

 Here is how my room looked the day I walked into it . . .  

(Beware, it's frightening!!)

I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelmed I felt when I walked into this room. Thankfully my mom was able to come spend a couple in days in Vancouver to help me pull it all together. I have put in over 30 hours in the month of August working in here (all unpaid, of course ;)) to try to be ready for the first day of school. Besides having a few little things to copy and plan I think I am ready for the kiddos! All 22 of them as of now!! Here is how the room is looking today! 

I still have to fill out all the going home information next week!

Aren't those paper curtains mom made just  the cutest?! I've already gotten so many compliments!

View from the door.

Library!

Birthdays and Jobs!

Teacher's point of view!

I still have a few things to add to this calendar/math focus wall.

Back door of the classroom.

I know it says October. I need to re-laminate September. :)

Crayon Art by Dad!

More Crayon Art by Dad! ♥

This is new this year. We will add a link to our chain each time we receive a compliment! When the chain touches the floor we earn a party. Great visual for the students!! (Thank you Pinterest!)

Library Bin and Lunch Tub!

 Well.... what do you think?! 

Here is my room from last year if you want to check it out!! 

Last Year's Classroom

FISH!

Last year I found a grant for classroom teachers while surfing through Pinterest. It was offered by a website called http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/. This site allows classroom teachers to apply for grants to get pets in their classroom. The whole idea of a classroom pet is to teach care and responsibility. I decided that I would apply for a fish grant. That's easy enough for me! I can't imagine the upkeep or smell of having a reptile or small rodent in my room and then at my house over summer. YUCK!  
I was granted $50 last December and ended up all all of this...

 

That was just enough to get me started. My students ended up naming the two Betas, Jake and Mark. I am planning on letting my new kiddos rename the two fish this school year. 

I applied again for a sustaining grant in hope of getting some new decor and stock up on food etc., but to my surprise they gave me $50 to use for this school year! I didn't need much stuff, but I found some goodies anyway. 

Take a look . . . 

 

Everything I bought had to be "fish or small pet" related, so here is what my $50 got me today! I am going to use the fish bowl for my daily drawing for good behavior (once I decorate it I will be sure to post pictures!) and that squirt bottle for for Rollie's naughty little butt!! The Dr. Seuss statues are meant for large aquariums, but I figured they would be such cute decor for the classroom and I will probably put them on my desk. Other than that, I just got a few cute/cheap clearance items to spruce up the tank this year! I can't wait to see what my $50 will get me next year?? Maybe one of those cool neon glow tanks with the awesome lights?!?

Back with a BANG.... and, hopefully with little backlash!! :)

So, I have have never thought of myself as an outspoken political person. Outside of family and close friends I don't usually discuss politics. I definitely don't like to talk about it at work. It's very clear that I am a conservative fish in a very liberal pond. School staff rooms are plastered with Democratic campaign sign and if you ever have a question about who or what to vote for ask almost anybody for works for public schools and they'll probably even offer to do your ballot for you. I have always found it funny how when a Republican president gets sworn into office it is not televised in the schools, but when a Democratic president is school comes to a halt and the inauguration is watched by all. More than anything I hate the message this sends to the students. They only get to see one point of view, the Democratic side. It's not so relevant in the elementary schools, but I imagine it's much worse in the middle and high schools.

Now you're probably wondering WHY I am writing this post. I am writing it because lately I have had several (4, 5 maybe 6) people I know coming to gain a deeper understand of conservative beliefs or maybe just me personally, I don't know. I believe when people think of me they probably think this. . .

And, yes they are right, but hey forgot to add good-looking and hard-working! ;o)

I don't even know that I can truly explain the difference. I can explain my beliefs and why I believe them. Everybody is just so different and my view of what is conservative to me, may be "too right-winged" for someone else or a little "too liberal" for somebody else. How I see it you're a liberal or a democrat. It's pretty black and white for me. I believe that the two are so drastically different and I struggle to see a middle ground. I believe it comes down to liberals believe that individuals are collectively responsible for the welfare of the entire community. Thus more programs to help the entire community means that higher taxes and bigger government is needed to oversee the programs. Conservatives believe that individuals are responsible for themselves, and that the community benefits from the efforts of the individuals acting in their interests. Thus less governmental programs, less taxes, and less government is the goal.

I think that they main issue that come to mind is abortion. It's no secret that liberals are Pro-choice. Again, I am Pro-life and I  am never quiet on this issue. I believe wholeheartedly that life begins at conception and abortion is murder. Period. Lots of people say things about women having control of their own bodies and I don't care because you got pregnant and murdering an innocent baby is not an okay choice to get you out of the situation. I am, obviously a huge advocate for adoption. I have adoption in my family. There were years I would have done anything to have a baby, now that is not an option for me and if I ever decide to have have a family adoption will be the only option I may have. It's hard seeing someone disregard something that millions want, but can't have.

Liberals rely heavily on equality for everybody. I don't necessarily believe this. I don't think that someone should be accepted to college or hired for a job just because of race or religion. It should be whoever is more qualified for the job. Life is not fair. Liberals support feminism and just typing that word makes me CRINGEEEEEEE... Ewwww. Feminism!!!! My views are patriarchal. I believe that men are to the head of the family, church etc. All my reasons for believing this are Bible based. Next, gun control. If you take guns away from people then only criminals will have them. As we all know, criminals don't follow the law, so they will get guns anyway. Imagine a world when only cops and criminals have guns. And, yes, if you break into my house I will shoot you. Just sayin'... ;)

Of course, I do not support welfare. If you don't work you don't eat. Period. I am tried of working my butt off to pay more taxes, so that people who don't work or people that made more kids than they can afford can drive nice cars, have iPhones and eat all organic. Yes, I believe that they Pledge of Alligence should be read in schools and yes, they should continue to say "Under God." I will close by saying that they I oppose abortion, but support the death penalty 100%. Innocent babies should live and the scum of the earth should die for their crimes. "An eye for an eye...." Oh and another big issue.... should the wealthiest American pay more taxes... Uhhhh NO! Why should they pay more than anybody else?! That just teaches if you work hard and do well you are punished for it. Plus, they already pay something like 97% of all the money that is gathered for taxes. Were would liberals be without rich Republicans paying all those taxes for them?!

Andddddd, I'm done!!             

Thought of the day . . .

"Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate." - Rick Warren

Happy 2nd Birthday, Rollie Jax!

January 2011 : Rollie's first day here after being nursed back to health by his guardian angel who is now his sweet Aunt Lindsay.

♥

My sweet baby turned 2 today! I cannot believe it's been nearly 18 months since he came into our lives. I feel like he's been here forever. His sweet purr is the last thing I hear at night as I fall asleep and it is the first thing I hear in the morning when I wake up. Rollie goes to bed when I do and doesn't sleep anywhere besides on my pillow, curled up around my head. His personality is the greatest and he is SO smart (I'm a little biased, but everyone else says it too. We all can't be wrong!) The Schiltz household is also known as Rollie's Kingdom, the dogs and I just live in it. I knew (and so did he) that sweet baby belonged here with us from the very beginning and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Birthday, Ryder!

Well, my sweet baby is 3 years old today. THREE!! I cannot even believe it. I was reading through some of my old blogs last night and came across this one. . .

my baby

I think it needs some editing . . . ;o)

Ryder, little BIG sweetie, you're four months THREE YEARS old and I can't imagine life without you. In just a few short months YEARS, you have brought me enough joy and heartache for a lifetime. Now please don't grow so quick STOP GROWING. Please don't lose your chubby, squishy little body...errrr. Too late. Never stop snuggling with Momma. I miss when you would try to suck on my chin and bite my ears. Keep your sweet disposition, (WHERE DID THAT GO?! - Your "pitbullness" came out when your daddy left and I was too nice to come down on you.) but at the same time keep your big brother and LITTLE BROTHER on his toes. I STILL love you. I love you. I LOVE YOU. 

2009

2012

just some thoughts

I keep seeing this circulate around Facebook and I am not sure why it bothers me so much. Maybe because, for the most part, the friends I see that are "liking" it are either not married and never been married OR they are married and in a relationship that is not healthy. Call me bitter or whatever, but let's be real here people.... half of marriages don't work out. I was doing some research today and I saw that 65% of marriages with brides and grooms under 25 end in divorce! That is just mind blowing!!
I don't think that anybody goes into their first (or any) marriage with the idea "I hope this works out, but if not no big deal!" Everybody wants to be married forever and everybody thinks it's going to last forever, but in reality that is not always going to happen. I looked through my Facebook friend list the other day and I saw couples that just won't make it for the long haul. Maybe I am wrong and they will surprise me, but for some reason people are pretty open with me and seek advice from me. Imagine that!!! They ask the divorced girl for advice! Ha! I have come to accept my destiny and that my "first marriage" may not be my last. But hey, maybe it will because I do not really see getting married again in my future.
I was once young and native and that's exactly what I had in mind until he left me for another woman to start a new family.  My advice would be to make sure that when you marry someone that you see past what YOU want and try to find out what the other person REALLY wants out of life and marriage. I am a prime example that just because one person is in it forever, doesn't mean that it will really last forever. You just cannot control what another person thinks and feels. People grow and people change. I know that I am not the same person I was at 23 years old when I got married and I definitely want different things out of a life-partner now than I did when I was in my early 20's. Would I have ever left him? No. Is he the kind of person that I would have wanted to spend my entire life with? Probably not because I have grown and my needs have changed, but I made a commitment and I would have seen it though.  I know that I am pretty much the first of my friends to get a divorce, but I surly will not be the last. When I feel like I am an outsider or damaged goods I remember that there are lots of people I love and admire that are divorced and since I am a celebrity in my own mind (kidding, but not kidding) I think of my fellow celebs that are divorced and desired and are highly successful. Think about it: Jennifer Lopez (x3), Britney Spears (x2), Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson, Kim Kardashian (x2), Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie (x2), Eva Longoria (x2), Kate Winslet (x2), Marilyn Monroe (x3), Barbara Walters (x4), Sandra Bullock, Christina Aguilera, Heidi Klum, Katy Perry, Demi Moore (x2) and I could go on and on and on. As silly as it sounds it's comforting to know that people go through this all the time and can still come out on top. It's still sad. Going through a divorce is like mourning a death. It takes time and although you may never fully recover or still may long for what could have been you get over it and learn how to deal.

Because a few people have asked I will just go ahead and say it here to answer any questions. . . No, my divorce is not yet final. Yes, I know it's been 2+ years now and it's a little ridiculous. The paperwork was not filed until April 2012 and then was not delivered to me until June 2012, so I had no chance to reply or respond. Obviously, he's known for doing things behind my back, so why would him filing and withholding the paperwork from me be any different?!? 
I have decided that I am not going to submit any response to anything and I am letting a judge force the divorce and sign off on it. It may come off as me "holding on" or "being difficult," but the truth is that divorce just wasn't in the plans for me. I don't feel comfortable signing divorce papers because I don't believe in it. Maybe if we were having marriage problems or if it was a mutual thing I would feel different. He has done everything behind my back and he's been sneaky every step of the way. I still haven't had one single questions as to "why" answered from him, so I don't feel like I should have to sign or agree when my questions are unanswered. 
I do take comfort in that IF (big HUGE if) I do remarry it can only benefit me to be able to say that the divorce was not only not my idea, but that I never signed the papers because it's not what I believed in.          

5 Year Plan

It was almost instantly. No sooner had the ink dried on the numerous pages of paperwork to refinance my house that I instantly began to feel that I had made a mistake. Looking back now I realize I didn't make a mistake because it was the right thing to do at the time, but life in Vancouver just isn't the long-term plan for me. I've recently been thinking that I really need to make a short-term five year life goal for myself. So I did! My days in Vancouver are definitely numbered. I'm starting my masters program in a few weeks and that's going to take me two years. I was blessed enough to be given interest-free student loans, so rather than trying to pay each semester out-of-pocket, I went ahead and accepted the loans. The main reason I did this is because if I can remain teaching at a low-income school for five years half of my loans will be forgiven! So awesome! By the time I finish my masters I will have three years of teaching down and two more to go! I will definitely want to teach here in Vancouver two more years so I can get my loans forgiven. By that time I should also have a good amount of equity in my house and should be able to sell it. My plan is to make my way back north. I plan on using my new degree and apply for administrative positions in the Bellevue/Seattle'ish area. There are so many school districts up there and the work opportunities are endless. When I moved to Vancouver four years ago I definitely saw myself living here long-term. . . . Teaching, married and raising my family. Now I have come into my own and marriage and kids are no longer the plan for me. I see myself in a bigger city and closer (not too close- sorry mom!) to my family. Maybe just an hour away versus two hours away. I'm exactly where I need to be right now, but I'm definitely excited for what the future will bring.

Ride a Mechanical Bull

Now let me be honest, I have had the chance to do this several times, but I have yet to go through with it. Now that I am throwing this out there I need people to hold me accountable for getting this crossed off. . .  THIS YEAR!!!!

Get a Masters Degree

I am FINALLY on my way! I wish I would have started years ago, because the pay increase is so significant. I start my program on June 25th and should be done around April of 2014. That seems so far off. I will be 29 years old when I finish. It was my goal to be done with school entirely by 30, so I am still on track! I will still need to get my professional certificate and I will probably start that next year and do it along with my Masters and finish both at the same time.

There is still the chance I will go on to get my Principal Certificate, but is a few years down the road. I will be getting my Masters in Professional Development, which will open me up to numerous jobs in the field of education, but not necessarily in the classroom.  I would like to explore the areas of mentoring, Intervention Specialist and/or the option of teaching at a university. I don't know where this all will take me, but I am excited to find out!

Class of 2014

Sing in the Rain

This one pretty much explains itself. I want to sing in the rain. Hmmm... Washington gets enough rain, I should be able to do this most any day.

Travel to all 50 States

 

I have been to 25 states, which mean I only have 25 more to go! Since I have done 25 states in 27 years (actually accomplished this by 24) I can definitely do this by 50! Oh yeah, 50 states by 50 is the real goal!! 

States I have been to:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana 
Nevada
New Mexico
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Washington
Wyoming


States I have left:

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Reflect on My Greatest Weaknesses and Realize They were My Strengths.......

This is a tough one. Honestly, I don't think I am anywhere near old enough to reflect back on my life and see that every thing went "wrong" or not at planned will actually be for the better. I think I have overcome more in 27 years than some people will in a lifetime. I will continue to push forward and and make the best of this one and only life.

Look Into My Child's Eyes, See Myself, and Smile.......

I'm not sure that this will ever happen for me. Currently, I am going through a faze of not wanting to have kids. I am getting old and I really don't want to have kids too late in life, so I am really on the fence about this. I do, however, think it would be absolutely majestic to look at your child, that you created and see part of yourself. Inspiring.

Be Kissed in the Rain

Doesn't think just look splendid?! So romantic. One day this will happen for me. Take some hints boys!

Bucket List

Accomplished:

Become a Certified Teacher.......March 14, 2008

Own a Home.....March 9, 2009

Go To Hawaii.......August 2007

Get My Own Classroom....... September 28, 2011

Plant My Own Flower Garden.......May 17, 2009

 Learn How to Ballroom Dance Properly.......  March 2011

Send a Message in a Bottle.......August 25, 2007

Catch a Ball in the Crowd of a Major League Baseball Game.......August 2002

Ride a Horse on a Beach.......Summer 2003

Learn to Ice Skate...... September 2010

Accept a One of a Kind Marriage Proposal.......October 20, 2007-Seattle, Washington

Wear a REAL Hawaiian Lei.......August 23, 2007

Fly First Class.......August 21, 2007 to Hawaii

Ride in a Horse Drawn Carriage.......Victoria, Canada 2004

Stay in a Five Star Hotel.......August 2-5, 2009-Las Vegas, Nevada

Go to Las Vegas.......August 2-5, 2009

Create a Blog.......October 2007

Accept Myself for Who I am.......2009 and Always
Own a pair of Uggs..... January 13, 2012

Things I'm Working On:

Marry My TRUE Soul Mate.......August 3, 2008   

Experience Child Birth.......

Be in 2 Places at Once.......

Have My Portrait Painted.......

Be a Member in the Audience of a TV Show.......

Learn not to Say YES When I Really Mean NO.......

Shower in a Waterfall......

Be Kissed in the Rain.......

Look Into My Child's Eyes, See Myself, and Smile.......

Reflect on My Greatest Weaknesses and Realize They were My Strengths.......

Travel to all 50 States.......

Sing in the Rain.......

Get a Masters Degree.......

Ride a Mechanical Bull.......

Spend New Years Eve in New York City With Katie.......

Learn to Be Good at Playing the Piano Once Again.......

Ride in a Helicopter.......

See the Hollywood Sign in Person........

Go to the Super Bowl.......

Learn Conversational Spanish.......

Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans....

Travel to Maui, Hawaii.......

Take up Photography.......

Have "High Tea" at the Plaza Hotel in New York.......

Own lots of Real Estate.......

Stop Worrying.......

Go to the Kentucky Derby and Attend the Barnstable-Brown Ball, Watch the race from the Turf Terrace,Bet on my favorite horse, Have a Mint Julep (the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby. It's an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and sugar,) Wear a great hat at the race and Stay at the famous Galt House Hotel.......

Send my Parents on their Dream Vacation.......

Reach my goal weight.....

Party in Cancun....

Go on a no-budget shopping spree....

Celebrate my birthday in Las Vegas.....

Watch fire works from inside an airplane.....

Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome....

Stop being so afraid and start living....

Drink wine in Italy.....

Go into an airport and buy tickets for a random flight.....

Have a daughter....

Have a son.....

Kiss my love on the big screen at a sports game.....

Have a love like Noah and Allie.....

Own a beach house.....

Meet my other half....

Meet Tim Tebow....

Spend Christmas at Disney World....

Stay in Cinderella's Castle....

Spend New Years in Paris....

See the Eiffel Tower.....

Be given a puppy for a present....

Have a "usual" somewhere....

Have fireworks at my wedding....

Be married to the same person for over 50 years....

Own a pair of Louboutins....

Put up a Christmas tree with Him...

Be snowed in....

Receive everything on my Christmas wish list...

Stay up all night on Christmas Eve....

Have my husband kiss my pregnant belly....

Date a celebrity....

Go on a vacation by myself....

Use a fake name at Starbucks.....

Live in a mansion....

Shop in Tyoko.....

Jump into a pool fully clothed....

Visit Puerto Roco.....

Be on the show Cash Cab......

And, lastly........

COMPLETE my Bucketlist.... haha

Accomplished: Own a Pair of Uggs

I loooooooooooooove my Uggs!! The only downside is that they make me get hot flashes sometimes hahaha... They are so cute and comfy! One more item off the bucket list! Yahoooo!

Shower Under a Waterfall

I better get back to blogging about my bucket list, since my plan was get through all of these in the year 2012. With school starting in a month I better get serious!

Ready. .  . Set . . . Go!

Ummm... does this not look heavenly?! One day I will accomplish this. I considered marking this off since I have a "waterfall" shower head now, not the same. :o)

Concerts

First of all, let me say that I DESPISE this new Blogger layout. I have sat down to post several times and I just don't like the layout, so I haven't been posting. PLENTY of this have been going on that I have wanted to blog about, but I just haven't wanted to deal with figuring this out. Whew... now that is off of my chest! I feel a little better.

I have about 10 blog ideas of stuff that is going on that I want to write about, especially since school will be starting for me in about a month (that's a whole other post!!). Needless to say, I need to get busy. So that brings me to this post. I was (and am constantly) looking for concerts to go to. I love going and I don't think that I have been to nearly enough in my 27 years of life. I thought it was a good idea to post every concert (major, not random bands) to inspire me to broaden my horizons a little.

So here it is . . .  Here is who I have seen (no making fun and no hatin' on me!) :o)

This was the first concert that I remember. It's Carmen. Yes, the Christian singer. It was at the Tacoma Dome and the place was ROCKIN'. Like I said, no hatin'.

Jamie O'Neal at the Puyallup Fair. What ever happened to her?!

Mmmmm. Mmmmm. Mmmmm. Yup, loved this show. Again, at the Puyallup Fair.

Up until last summer, Rascal Flatts was by FAR the best concert I had seen. Once again, it was at the Puyallup Fair. 

BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE! This was the best concert I had ever seen and I don't think it will ever be beat!!

I also saw NKOTB with BSB at the Tacoma Dome and the show was ah-amazinggggg!

I loved seeing Britney at the Rose Garden in June of 2011. Very fun show!! 

I saw Nicki the same night I saw Britney. She was awesome. I would see her again in a heart beat!!

I have seen Toby Keith not once, but TWICE! Both times I saw him at the Sleep Country Amphitheater in Ridgefield. Always a good show. I would probably even go again! 

 

 

I saw Trace in the summer of 2010 and what. a. show!! He is so tall... like 6'7" I believe. Love, love, loved this show!

 

 

Eric Church came with Toby Keith last summer. It was a pretty good show!

I'm not going to lie. . . she did not put on a great show. I was pretty close to the stage too. Not feeling it.

Matt Nathanson was in Kent with Kelly Clarkson. It was an okay show. Not exactly my kind of music, but still fun.

 

Kelly Clarkson is amazing. Seriously, this girl can BLOW! Her live vocals are just mind-blowing! She'll be here in Vancouver in July- if you can GO!!

 

I saw Matthew Morrison last summer and he puts on a great show!!! It was just him, no Glee and I loved it!

Coming Soon  . . .

September 22, 2012! It's going to be freaking awesome! First whole family concert since Carmen! ;o)