Sunday, March 10, 2013

Day 139-147

Day 139: Dumb friends League visits to collect donated money
As some of you might remember my class and Ali's kindergarten class was collecting money to donate to a local charity: Dumb Friends League, which helps abused, homeless and abandoned animals. Lisa, from DFL, came to collect the money and tell the kids where the money goes to. My students asked some awesome questions... I think it might have been a little lost on the kinders. hahaha oh well
Lisa from DFL addressing questions.


Day 140: Tibetan store on Colfax
My co-worker wears the most fabulous jewelry, well let's be honest she is just fabulous in general. So I finally asked her about these amazing ivory elephant earrings she was wearing. She told me about this amazing Tibetan store that was super cheap, super cute and I had to go check it out. I luckily got the opportunity to go later that afternoon and got some ivory fish earrings and a meditation bracelet.

 
Day 141: Teach my students about using their lizard brain vs. wizard brain.
As I educate my students about the basics: math, reading, and writing. It is also apart of my job to teach them how to become successful adults in our society. Eric, our school psychologist, and I opened my students eyes to using their wizard brain versus their lizard brain. This helps my students to stop and think, thinking skills must be learned to engage the section of the brain where problems are assessed and analyzed before responding. Otherwise, the reptilian or "lizard" part of the brain – the section housing emotions and the fight or flight response – takes over, triggering impulsive, non-thinking. It has been amazing how even hours after introducing this, they started to stop and think.


Day 142: New hair dresser: New style: Half my hair is shorter by 1/2 an inch :(
So it has been a while since I have had my hair cut. Now I am not new to trying new hairdressers, but I took a chance on a Groupon for an Aveda Salon. Now for most females they hear Aveda and it is well recognized named associated with hair. So I thought I was safe..... Not so much.
My time in the salon was filled with the gay voice of Nigel my hairdresser. He had funny stories about his life and his boyfriend. But what was not so funny was when he took the apron off, I could have sworn half my hair was shorter than the other. But I brushed it off and left. Then Magdiel sees me and immediately says "Wow, babe it is so short." I asked him if one side was shorter than the other and he confirmed it. It was blatantly obvious! UGH, you have got to be kidding?! Not only did he cut more than I wanted, he cut one side shorter by an obvious half an inch.

Day 143: Tacs in my body
Acupuncture day, which for me is heaven day. I left the last time in a state of utter happiness and I was expecting the same this time. But I of course was treated to something different. I shared with my acupuncturist that I had started getting these stress headaches, which had caused me to lose sleep and have no energy. So she asked if it was OK if she found my pressure points that were associated with headaches. She decided to put tacs in my pressure points to help release pressure that comes with these headaches. They are honestly the most amazing things. My students actually became intrigued and liked pushing on them. One of my students had the magic touch and always found the pressure point when she was pushing on it.

Day 144: Eat Hamentashen cookies for the Jewish holiday of Purim
According to the Book of Esther, in the Hebrew Bible, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus planned to kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled by Mordecai and his adopted daughter Queen Esther The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing. My co-worker Rachel is Jewish and brought these to work to share. I also made her tell me the story before I ate the cookies. :)
Hamentashen cookies


Day 145: Make a wish Foundation
Kyle invited to go to the Make a Wish Foundation Celebrity Dinner. Of course, I am never one to turn down free dinner or time with my brother.

Our first order of business was cocktail hour with some of the celebrity waiters. So it took Kyle and I a drink to warm up to celebrities. 

Roller Derby girls, who are currently on the Amazing race. They were so adorable.

Just take one look at this guy...isn't he awesome with that 'stash!! James is a stunt double (for who? Probably Chuck Norris!!)
 
 
Kyle and I had a Cutthroats player as our celebrity waiter. We had such a good time!! 

Fri Day 146: Go against teacher protocol
I have the blessing of being with children each and everyday but when they divulge their life to me, a life I could never even fathom at the age of nine, protective mama bear comes out in me. My student came to me one morning so embarrassed because she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Of course I had no clue because they wear a uniform shirt, so I couldn't tell the difference. But I come to find out that the swat team had gone to her house and arrested her gang banging uncle and her grandpa for selling drugs out of her house. So here is when protective mama bears comes out. I immediately get her new clothes and make sure she has eaten. I tell her she can stay at my house (SO AGAINST teacher protocol) and get permission from her mom so that she can talk to our school psychologist. She is one of the most resilient students I have and she blows me away with her intelligence. She ended up staying with her aunt and a few days later the police let them back in their house. But as of right now, her uncle and grandpa are still in jail, awaiting trial.

This is a life I can't imagine at the age of 9.

Sat Day 147: Cinema Grill
My best friend from high school and her husband recently moved to Denver. So we decided our first outing together was going to be dinner and a show. We went and saw Argo and got to eat dinner right there in the movie. Can't beat dinner and a movie!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Day 128-138

Day 128: Organize our school relay team
I am set to run the Colfax Marathon in May with some teachers from my school and my team needed a name.... I mean we have 4 teams running and we were SOAR #1. BORING! So my co-worker and I worked together and came up with: Landa where's my wanda. Landa is tag in Spanish and when people run relays they have to pass a wand. We thought we were pretty creative and funny.

Day 129: Eat homemade cheesecake made by my student
Well yes of course

Jennifer handed me this plate on top of a plate and says "Open it Kate!"

She proceeds to tell me she made me cheesecake and it is a special recipe. It was delicious!

Day 130: African dance class
My school has an amazing arts program and part of that is the African dance and drumming our students do. Well a local African dance teacher (not ours) teaches a class at our school every Wednesday. It was amazing. I loved learning the movements and hearing the drums. It was very therapeutic!


Day 131: Non-Valentines Day at school
This is my first time not celebrating Valentine's Day in my classroom. It was a little sad, but also very nice. I had no real crazy behavior since we don't allow candy at school. My students passed out cards as we were walking out the door for the day. I felt a little bad for them because let's be honest we all loved those holiday's as kids. But as a teacher now, I was a little thankful I didn't have to deal with kids on sugar highs!

Day 132:  Have a heart-to-heart with a 5 year old


I received this picture of Natalie, my little 5 year old buddy, crying for me. So I had to have a little chatwith her that when friends leave each other they don't cry they smile. I had her pinky promise me that she would never cry again because I will always be in her heart even if I am not with her. My chat worked because she has not cried since. :)

Day 133: Start Voxing
When I first got back from Central America, my friends told me that I needed to get Voxer, which is a walkie talkie through your phone. Or it is another way to text message with just your voice. So I downloaded it and now I am addicted. I think the best part is hearing the inflection in people's voice. It really beats texting and voicemails!


Day 134: Ice Racing
Magdiel and I were headed up to the mountains and were shocked to see ice racing. It was so cool to see these cars flying across the ice.


Day 135: Keystone, CO
Magdiel and I headed up to Keystone for our Valentine's Day celebration.
Sexy boy
 

Our view from the room.


Day 136: Babysit Avery and Jaiden
Sadly I haven't taken care of my niece and nephew alone....they probably don't trust me ;).
So Aunt Kate stepped in when Nicole and Kyle had things going on. We had a blast and I just loving hanging out with them!


Day 137:  Cook Beef Brisket in a crock pot
I have always wanted to use a crock pot. People say they are so easy to use. So I was craving beef brisket and decided this was my chance to actually use it and try a new recipe. I got a slab of beef and a bottle of barbecue sauce. I threw it in the crock pot with a bit of salt and pepper and 7 hours later my beef brisket was done. Oh my gosh it was so delicious! This might be my new passion: crock pot cooking!


Day 138: Eat at an airplane hanger restaurant
Every Thursday Gretchen and I go to dinner and Spanish class. We decided to head to this beer garden right near class, which just so happens to be in an old airplane hanger. The food was awesome and so was the beer! I am super stoked to go back during the summer when they open the tops of the hanger.