Secret: Planner

Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without. ~James C. Dobson

Hey guys! I hope everyone is enjoying school. It definitely is flying by! I just wanted to give you an update of how school and the wedding planning was going. So far, so good. I was told it would be a very stressful time in my life right now while I try and plan my wedding and students teach. It is stressful, but nowhere close to what I thought it would be. The secret is to keep a planner. I take my planner with me everywhere and could not survive without it. If I lost it tomorrow, I am not sure what I would do! I am telling you this now because I did not realize this until my sophomore year. I have done so much better with it and keep a very organized life now. With so many different classes, it is a great way to write down when your homework is due. Trust me on this; a planner does miracles. We now have our engagement pictures, photographer, our save-the-date cards done, and plenty of ideas in mind. With my handy dandy planner, my senior year should stay a little more stress free!

For A More Serious Side...

I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday. ~Author Unknown

Even though school is stressful right now, I am still loving every minute of it. The thing about college is that the experience is not just about school, but about the environment, and the friends you make. Two weeks ago, something happened that had a major effect on my life. What happened made me appreciate life more and gave me a new perspective. It is so important to cherish the people in our lives and to be thankful for what we have. College has changed me in many ways and they have all been for the better. It forces you to grow up, think for yourself, and become a responsible, respectable individual.

When I graduated high school, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into coming to college, but really had no idea. It has surpassed my expectations in many ways. I thought I might have learned a little about how to become a teacher, and now almost feel as if I could start teaching tomorrow. I thought I might meet some cool people, and now have met my future husband, and have life-lasting friendships. I thought I might have to grow up and become a little bit responsible, but have surprised myself at how much I have grown. I thought I might have some fun, but have had the time of my life! These are just a few things to look forward to. For those of you who are contemplating college, just know that it is worth it. I would not trade a minute of what I have gone through for anything. My experiences, good and bad, have made me who I am today. I want everyone else to have the opportunity to grow in college like I did. I just hope you guys are ready for the time of YOUR life!

Aly

www.quotegarden.com

Oh My Oh My...

Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions. ~Author Unknown

Time really does fly by when you are having fun. The second week of school is already almost over! I have been waiting very impatiently to hear about my placement into an elementary school and I finally heard last week. I was told I would be in a kindergarten classroom at a school in Greeley. Yesterday was my first day in the school and I could not be happier. The teacher of the classroom is very knowledgeable and the children are so cute and willing to learn. I will be there two days a week and cannot wait to become more involved in their classroom. This is one thing I love about the education department. I will have at least 800 hours in field experience by the time I graduate. Wow! I know, right! I will be very busy but I also know that I will be very well prepared to teach on my own next year.

Aly

THE BEGINNING AND THE END

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time. ~Abraham Lincoln

So…It is the second day of school, and I have no classes today. Wahoo! My first day of school was so much fun. I love my senior year because my classes are ones that I actually want to learn in! The first couple years of college are all general education classes and now I am in classes that apply to my major. It makes me so much more excited to become a teacher and cannot wait! Normally, I will be in an elementary school every Tuesday and Thursday observing a classroom, but we will not find out our placements until tomorrow and hopefully I will start next week! It is nice only having class three days the first week of classes though.

I live in house off campus with four other girls. Over the summer, three of them went back to their hometowns to old jobs so they could make some money for the school year. I completely understand their reasoning, but our house was pretty quiet and lonely with only two of us here the entire summer. It is so nice to have a full house again! I used to get annoyed hearing four blow dryers going every morning, but now I would not trade that noise for anything. My roommates are my best friends and since this is our last year living together, I want to make the best of it! One of my roommates, Tiffany, got guitar hero for her birthday and that has brought us all closer together. I am a little worried though because I am quite addicted and I already have homework that is not getting done. Oops :)

I am very excited to start working in the elementary schools next week and cannot wait to update you on how it goes. I hope everyone else is having a great first week of school as well!

Aly

www.quotegarden.com

BUSY BEE

The essential question is not, "How busy are you?" but "What are you busy at?"
~Oprah Winfrey

Hey guys!
I just wanted to drop in and say hi! I have been busy my last week before school starts. School starts on Monday! Even though it will be my senior year, I am still nervous for school to start. I am more excited though! I still cannot believe it is my senior year. I will keep you guys updated on how my first week goes.

Aly

www.quotegarden.com

Running on Empty

I learned three important things in college - to use a library, to memorize quickly and visually, to drop asleep at any time given a horizontal surface and fifteen minutes. ~Agnes DeMille, Dance to the Piper, 1952

Literally and physically, I am running on empty. First of all, I think everyone will agree with me when I say the gas prices are outrageously over-priced! I just went home to visit my family and spent $150 in gas. I cannot take much more of this! Secondly, the summer is coming to end and I am getting tired just thinking about my year to come: planning my wedding, my senior year of college, career searching, and finding a place to live! Don’t get me wrong, I am very excited for all of this to come, just definitely stressed about it. Daytime naps are something I have come to love in college and I have a feeling I will love them just as much this upcoming year.

I am trying to get ready for the school year to start a little bit at a time. I already got my notebooks and have my financial aid squared away. I am now just waiting on my teachers to post what books are required for my classes this upcoming semester. It is a little frustrating right now because I really like to buy my books online and I need plenty of time to allow them to get to me before school starts. I keep checking everyday and none of my books are online yet. I recommend you guys definitely look into buying your books online. I have probably saved about $300 by buying my books online. It is definitely worth looking into. Let’s hope my teachers feel the need to post my books soon! I guess they have a summer too though:)

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while. ~Kin Hubbard

Tonight just proved to me even more how the weather is always changing in Colorado and Greeley is no exception. I woke up to sunny skies and not a cloud in sight. I put on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and slipped on my flip-flops before heading out the door to work (I am a nanny this summer). Six hours later I was wearing pants, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes.

A tornado warning was issued for Greeley at 6:45 pm last night (of course when I was right in the middle of cooking supper) as well as many other cities in Colorado. A tornado, thankfully, never touched down, but with the thunderstorms came plenty of rain, which was very much needed! I do not know if any of you have ever done this (I bet you try it the next time it rains though:)), but the kids I nanny and I made boats out of aluminum foil and raced them down a gutter that was overflowing with water. I love the moments I have when I can just be a kid again, and being the nanny of a six year old and a ten year old definitely brings back the child in me at times!

The next couple weeks will be very busy! I will be trying to fit in all of my last summer adventures and preparing for my senior year of college! Stay tuned for a couple of hectic weeks! I am sure all of you are preparing for school as well so take a break and read what I am going through and how it compares to preparing for high school to start back up. Have a great day!

Aly

www.quotegarden.com