Oh! Hey there...

Mom and Dad came two weekends ago with the washer and dryer that Dad and I had found (for free). They were able to come early enough in the day to meet my students and my aide! It was a great day--especially for my dad. He thought it would be smart to gift each student a recorder... you know, those flute-ish noise making devices that no group of 19 six and seven year olds should be given all at once. Well, they all loved it--Dad loved watching me try not to lose control. As my principal said, it is easy to see where my sick sense of humor stems from. We had a calm evening together, Mom and Dad left the next morning.
This past weekend I went home to Vermillion. I spent Friday night at home with Mom and Dad. Saturday I went to Sioux Falls to spend some time with Ali and Colleen. I had a great time with those two ladies--I am truly blessed :) Sunday was spent watching the Super Bowl at Maya Jane's with some of my former co-workers and Tim.
Tim and I were invited by the GoTeach program at USD to come speak to prospective teachers. GoTeach is a program that places students in rural areas and on reservations for their student teaching experience. It is in its first year, unfortunately 12 months behind me :( Anyhow, we were treated very well by the program--each of us had a King Suite reserved and paid for, our substitute teachers compensated for, meals covered, mileage to be reimbursed and the opportunity to advocate for the area we love and the jobs we adore! It was a really interesting experience that I am glad to have had. After a long weekend, I was ready to get home--the highway was a sheet of ice for the last 40 miles or so of my trek. I predicted a late start, but instead was treated to my first official snow day (as a teacher)!
I have been terrible about keeping you all up to date via blog, phone call, e-mail and text messages. For this, I apologize and will strive to play a more active part :)