After a day spent with nearly one hundred 14-year-olds, I am still standing. How? Turns out that that my anal-retentive, OCD organization paid off and we made it through the day without any major hiccups.
The morning began with frantic, last-minute tying up of loose ends as I made a few calls, made copies of questions for the kids, briefed my teammates, and organized where the kids were going to put their lunches. During the midst of it all, I had a moment of panic. Was I actually old enough to be doing this crazy adventure? How on Earth was I allowed to be in charge of this many people? Holy crap. If I messed this up, it could be really bad. YIkes! Needless to say, I snapped out of my "moment" - the kids were coming any minute and NONE of my parent chaperones were there yet! Crap!
The next 20 minutes were a total blur with kids whilring by me, questions flying, and parents (finally) arriving. With 5 minutes to go before we had to leave, we were still short 2 parents! I had NO IDEA what I was going to do! Hours of organizing all these kids into specific groups (fully equipped with organ system names!) and I had no idea how I was going to rearrange them on the short bus ride?!?!?!? Just as I was about to crack, 2 angels arrived: 2 moms who just thought they would drop by to see if we needed any extra help on the trip! THANK GOD! Off we went and not a moment behind schedule!
The kids LOVED the IMAX movie and the Grossology exhibit. It was so great to watch their eyes light up and their smiles fill the rooms as they became fascinated with my true passion: science. They wore themselves out so much, most of them fell asleep on the way back. It was adorable.
School Bus For a Day: $150
Admittance to Museum: $450
Admittance to IMAX: $450
Watching Kids Fall In Love With Learning: PRICELESS
Monday, November 21, 2005
Moment of Truth/Broncos Stampede
In a moment of insanity this past August, I came up with the "brilliant" idea to take 97 eighth graders on a field trip. Monday morning, 97 students and 12 chaperones are all going to board buses for downtown Denver to go to the Grossology exhibit. While it is a FANTASTIC exhibit and a super-fun way to kick off our next unit (human anatomy), I am totally freaking out. I have gone off the deep end as far as being organized. My money and permission slip collection was borderline OCD and my methods for identifying which kids belong to which group is clearly batty...the kids will all be wearing flourescent colored sticky badges with an organ system name on it. Totally dorky, I know.
Here are my fears:
1- Lose a child.
2- Child destroys or breaks part of exhibit.
3- Child pukes during Human Body IMAX or while walking through or smelling exhibit.
4- Parent chaperones don't show up.
5- Children steal my crutches during lunch.
Thank GOD Thanksgiving Break is only 2 days away.
In other news...
Chris and I went to the Broncos game today. We were offered two tickets in the 7th ROW of the North endzone!! The game started with Navy Seals parachuting into the stadium with red, green, and yellow smoke coming out of their heels. Very cool! We had a GREAT time and the weather was incredible. Our cheeks even got a little pink on the sunny, 65 degree day. :) Broncos showed excellent form in their first shutout in many years. Denver's offense had the ball for 42 of the 60 minutes and their defense forced fived turnovers and knocked the vomit out the Jets starting QB, literally. Let's hope they continue to do well throughout the rest of the season!
Layla had her "girl" surgery on Thursday and is doing just fine. It turned out she hadn't been spayed at all. She was in and out in a day! She clearly is much more comfortable. :)
We are heading to Minnesota on Wednesday for Thanksgiving break. Can't wait! Mmmmm....family, fireplaces, good food and SLEEPING IN!!
Speaking of which...my eyes are getting very heavy. Time to get my sleep on.
Here are my fears:
1- Lose a child.
2- Child destroys or breaks part of exhibit.
3- Child pukes during Human Body IMAX or while walking through or smelling exhibit.
4- Parent chaperones don't show up.
5- Children steal my crutches during lunch.
Thank GOD Thanksgiving Break is only 2 days away.
In other news...
Chris and I went to the Broncos game today. We were offered two tickets in the 7th ROW of the North endzone!! The game started with Navy Seals parachuting into the stadium with red, green, and yellow smoke coming out of their heels. Very cool! We had a GREAT time and the weather was incredible. Our cheeks even got a little pink on the sunny, 65 degree day. :) Broncos showed excellent form in their first shutout in many years. Denver's offense had the ball for 42 of the 60 minutes and their defense forced fived turnovers and knocked the vomit out the Jets starting QB, literally. Let's hope they continue to do well throughout the rest of the season!
Layla had her "girl" surgery on Thursday and is doing just fine. It turned out she hadn't been spayed at all. She was in and out in a day! She clearly is much more comfortable. :)
We are heading to Minnesota on Wednesday for Thanksgiving break. Can't wait! Mmmmm....family, fireplaces, good food and SLEEPING IN!!
Speaking of which...my eyes are getting very heavy. Time to get my sleep on.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Oh, Layla Girl!
Oh, the suprises of dog ownership!
We have loved owning Layla since the moment we were able to take her home from the shelter this past July. One of the perks that we were so excited about was that we got to take her home the very same day we picked her out because a little scar on her tummy said that she was already fixed. Woo hoo! No waiting...just playing with our new puppy!!
Well, yesterday, we made an interesting discovery with our beloved puppy. What was thought to be a scar from a spaying surgery has turned out to be NOT that at all. Miss Layla had not been fixed and had left little "surprises" all over the place! We thought she had cut her paw...we were WAAAAAAAYYYYY off!!
Needless to say, she has a visit to the vet tomorrow. :)
Life sure would be boring without all these twists and turns, wouldn't it?
We have loved owning Layla since the moment we were able to take her home from the shelter this past July. One of the perks that we were so excited about was that we got to take her home the very same day we picked her out because a little scar on her tummy said that she was already fixed. Woo hoo! No waiting...just playing with our new puppy!!
Well, yesterday, we made an interesting discovery with our beloved puppy. What was thought to be a scar from a spaying surgery has turned out to be NOT that at all. Miss Layla had not been fixed and had left little "surprises" all over the place! We thought she had cut her paw...we were WAAAAAAAYYYYY off!!
Needless to say, she has a visit to the vet tomorrow. :)
Life sure would be boring without all these twists and turns, wouldn't it?
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Quick Update
School:
The author responsible for our new curriculum model is coming to our school for the rest of the week. She is meeting with each department and teacher individually. She'll be in my room observing me on Wednesday. Yikes! The first week back after break and a personal meeting with a nationally-renowned curriculum specialist and author...no pressure at all!
Knee:
Just got back from the doctor's office about an hour ago. The good news: My sprain has healed and I got to remove the knee brace. Yay! The bad news: Looks like I have a torn meniscus in my knee. I start physical therapy right away and have an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss surgery. Doc said ski season is most likely out until at least April or May. Boo.
Husband:
Incredible! He has been so sweet and has been taking such great care of me. He welcomed me home from my MI trip with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the sweetest card.
Gotta run...um wait...hobble....
The author responsible for our new curriculum model is coming to our school for the rest of the week. She is meeting with each department and teacher individually. She'll be in my room observing me on Wednesday. Yikes! The first week back after break and a personal meeting with a nationally-renowned curriculum specialist and author...no pressure at all!
Knee:
Just got back from the doctor's office about an hour ago. The good news: My sprain has healed and I got to remove the knee brace. Yay! The bad news: Looks like I have a torn meniscus in my knee. I start physical therapy right away and have an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss surgery. Doc said ski season is most likely out until at least April or May. Boo.
Husband:
Incredible! He has been so sweet and has been taking such great care of me. He welcomed me home from my MI trip with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the sweetest card.
Gotta run...um wait...hobble....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)