Day 90-99

Day 90: Visit Fort Collins: Eat at Famous Jim's Wings

Getting ready for my  mouth to be on FIRE!!

Here we go...

Yep, delicious!

Yummy!

Day 91: Karaoke
I hate singing on a stage!! Not that I have ever done it. But it strikes fear into my heart! But for Hannah's birthday I made an exception to sing "Call Me Maybe"

Shanna, Hannah, Meredith, and I jammin out!

We are obviously enjoying ourselves, maybe not as much as Hannah's brother though!

Day 92: Try a new type of Yoga
Vinyasa is one type I have never tried. So I went out on a limb and I actually went to a yoga class by myself. I am not one to go to workout classes alone, but it was amazing. So glad I went.

Day 93: Teach with an one of our professional development coaches.
Margaret Wilson is one of the authors of the many Responsive Classroom books that I use for my classroom discipline. She came into my classroom and we got to work together. It was a true pleasure for me since she is one of the professional coaches that we have that actually gives ALL positive feedback. It is a nice change from the other coaches.

Day 94: Have a teaching epiphany
So for you non-children/teachers this might seem strange that I had this epiphany about my teaching, especially since it comes 4 years into my teaching career. But I went to a yoga class and in the middle of it, I thought about how I should really change jobs. I hate having to yell at kids all day, it is very exhausting.
So I thought about becoming a yoga teacher.... no joke. I can be zen all day and get a rockin' body.

But reality struck. I actually like teaching kids. I like being with them all day and helping them grow into great people.

So flash forward to the next day when I decided to take my yoga teachers approach and speak in the most calm voice I could. I got through the entire day without raising my voice once. To some this may seem awful that all I did was yell but sadly that was how they kids worked. So when I saw our school psychologists after school and he said to me, "Wow Kate you are actually smiling after school." I knew I had to change my ways. My epiphany was how much my students feed off my energy. I decided from that moment on, my energy would be as if I was a yoga teacher. Speaking to my kids in a zen voice and about the flow of their energy.
Let me tell you, it has been an amazing turn around in my classroom.

Day 95: Buy as many Groupons in one day as I can afford: 5
I raided Groupon for every possible Groupon I would ever want...actually even the ones I might not want. I found everything from ice skating, to 2 hours of jumping on a trampoline to yoga passes, to massages and more workout classes. I set myself up for a lot of fun things to do for my project.

Day 96: Get a class pet: Baby Mouse

She apparently doesn't like humans. She is a biter!

Wheel time

Day 97: 12 person "get to know you" dinner
At Bob and Barb's house they have these dinners where you sit next to someone who is a stranger, in hopes that you get to know someone new. Then at the end of dinner, we had to share a little about ourselves and a life changing trip or experience. I shared my life changing experience was moving to Honduras and meeting Magdiel :)

Day 98: Shop at Mi Pueblo
Mi Pueblo is a Latin market where you can find foods from Mexico and Central America. It was like walking back into the grocery store in Honduras. It was amazing and the best part was getting pupusas!! Legit pupusas! So delicious.

Taking a little step back into Central America :)

Pupusas...so good!

Day 99: Eat my school cafeterias Meatloaf
(may seem innocent enough, but you haven't seen it!)
Did I also mention it was vegetarian meatloaf? So of course my students are like "WHOA Miss Kate is eating the meatloaf." So I had to put on a happy face. It was AWFUL. It literally tasted like dirt. My poor students who have to eat that on a regular basis are brave!!

Days 80-89

Day 80: Go to a fancy dinner party with my parents... ON THE WRONG DAY
There is really no way to express how much we laughed. But we got to the house and were mortified as we walked up and we were met by a young man asking us what we were doing. Not sure who asked him if the party was this night, but before we knew it, we were all running towards the car because he had told us the party was the next night. We all laughed till we cried! So instead we went to a restaurant called Seasons and had a wonderful dinner.

Day81: Go to a fancy dinner party with my parents... On the right day!

Magdiel and I enjoying delicious food and great company

Day 82: Visit the oldest church in the United States

San Miguel Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Magdiel and I in front of the church. 

Day 83: Go to catholic church mass in Santa Fe at St. Francis Cathedral.

One of the most beautiful churches in Santa Fe. 

But we couldn't help ourselves....we went shopping for some Native American jewelery after church. 

Magdiel posing with the Indian statue. 

The lady we bought jewelry from. 

Day 84: Make a sign for airport pick up
Who wouldn't love to be greeted by an obnoxious sign at the airport??? Well I love them and decided we needed to make one for Kristin when she came to Denver to visit us...
For the one person who hates birds, we decided to put a bird on it, literally. I unfortunately forgot to take a picture of our master piece of a sign. But you can only imagine the beauty it held!

Day 85: Go Salsa Dancing for New Years

Kristin and I before we headed out to La Rumba for some salsa dancing. 

Sweet love :)

Day 86: New Years Day movie marathon with pizza and ice cream
It was the perfect day to lounge around, eat pizza and ice cream and watch a TONE of movies. Day well spent.

Day 87:Visit Buffalo Bills grave
Buffalo Bill was known for many things back in the 1800's but I knew him best for his work on the Pony Express, carrying mail from Missouri crossing the great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. So why not go to his grave and take in the beautiful scenery surrounding his grave.

We made it!!

The beautiful view from Buffalo Bill's grave. 

Day 88: Apply for CO teaching license
Colorado teaching license here I come!!!

Day 89: Read Quien Fue Pablo Picasso? A biography on the late artist in Spanish
Picasso had an amazing life and it is very fascinating reading about him in Spanish. I have learned lots of new vocabulary from it.

Days 74-80

Day 74: Try duck pizza

Oh goodness it was probably the most awful thing I have tasted in a long time. Don't ask me how we made the mistake of not realizing how strange it might be. But when Gretchen tasted it, she said it tasted like 'jello'. I knew I wasn't imagining the awful texture in my mouth. It was confirmed.

Post duck pizza.... yes we are still smiling.

Day 75: Teach Radi and Magdiel the words to "Wild Ones" by Flo Rida

http://youtu.be/bpOR_HuHRNs

We stopped and rewound the song more than enough times, but the best part came when they said "Oh wow it says Wild Ones".... yes it does! I love learning a new language and watching others do it as well.

Day 76: Play secret Santa with my family, Magdiel and Radi.

We decided to play secret Santa or amigo secreto, since this was our first Christmas with non-family members. So we pulled names and then each giggled and akwardly looked around, not wanting to give away our person.

But my dad immediately pulls me aside and asks, "What does Magdiel want?"  well, that secret was ruined. Then as my dad walks out of the room, my mom points to my dad and whispers, "I have dad.". Oh jeez, so much for secret Santa. I was hoping the boys could keep their secrets better than my parents.

So Magdiel, Radi and I head out for the mall, as we were driving, they asked me to tell them 4 things my mom, dad and myself would want for Christmas. So I start with my dad and Magdiel is acting like he has my dad, when I know perfectly well my mom has him. Then I begin to say what my mom would want and I mention lotion. Radi then chimes in "What smell does your mom like?" hahaha oh really Radi, who might your secret Santa be? I tell him she loves Gardenia. But lost in translation, he thinks I say Gardening. Oh English language learners.

When we arrive at the mall, we go our separate ways, but I knew I was bound to run into the boys sooner or later. Unfortunately, I was buying Magdiel's present for my dad and as I rounded the corner in Aldo I almost run right into Magdiel. I instantly knew he had me for secret Santa (he was looking at women's shoes). He just looks at me with desperation and says, "Help me, you are such a difficult woman." So eloquently put my love.

I won't go into the details, but 4 stores and countless back and forth's later, he decided on a gift for me. I wish I wasn't so picky, but I told him, would you rather your gift go in the back of the closet? Or would you rather me actually like it?

Point taken.

Day 77: Learn how to make Pan de Pan

This is a traditional Honduran dessert that Magdiel and his family make each year during Christmas. So Magdiel wanted to share one of his family traditions with us.

So Magdiel, Radi and I went to the grocery store and immediately I am curious about the recipe, it called for 2 cups of vanilla extract..... what? 2 cups?  How is this possible? But who am I to question. It is not my recipe.

Anyway our team effort, led the three of us to make the dessert together. Radi was in charge of carmelizing the sugar, I was in charge of mixing the bread and milk and Magdiel beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla together.

And yes there is almost 2 cups of vanilla extract in this recipe. It caused me a bit of confusion when Magdiel said 2 cups, but who am I to question Magdiel on how to make a traditional Honduran dessert. But don't get me wrong, I definitely questioned it. Oh man, was it was delicious!!

Day 78/79: Share my family's Christmas traditions with Magdiel and Radi.

Christmas Eve posole with family and friends and 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve church service.

The posole ready to be eaten.

Christmas cookies to feed an army!

Magdiel, Radi and I hanging out before the party.

One of my favorite families, the Cloaks, who came over to celebrate with us.

Christmas day omelets and presents, while listening to Steve Wonder's Christmas album

The boys chopping vegetables for the omelets.

My dad and Magdiel working together.

Go Magdiel, beat those eggs. ;)

Now it's present time!!

Magdiel got a backpack from his secret Santa.

My mom got lotion, Gardenia

Radi got Coke and Red Bull from his secret Santa, hahaha his favorite.

My dad got an ipad!!

Fun times with my family, Magdiel and Radi for Christmas

Day 80: Jumping pictures at 10,378 feet

It was a staple move that Kristin and I did in Central America, but we never did it on top of a mountain... Here was my chance.

So I decided to take the boys up the Sandia Tramway, the longest tramway in the world.  

Just about to head up the mountain.

The other side of Sandia, with the moon and the snow. So beautiful.

Sweet love

Radi and Magdiel catching the last bit of the sunset at 10,378 feet.

Look at the view!! Magnificent

Jump Magdiel, jump!

Radi and Magdiel jumping at each other.

Jump babe!

Last picture on the mountain! Good-bye wind and freezing temperatures.

Day 65-73

Day 65: Make Christmas stalkings for my new apartment.
A little bit of puffy paint, a hot glue gun and a glass of wine and stalkings were made. :)

Day 66: Share a meal with a few disabled gentlemen.
I got the pleasure of meeting Jim and Richard at Magdiel's host families house. Jim, unfortunately had multiple strokes, which left him paralyzed on the right side and unable to speak more than a few words at a time. Jim's first sentence to me was "Very pretty." Such a sweet moment for me. Richard is mentally challenged and has a very short term memory. But he managed to tell me all about his birds (I later realized they are not "his" birds, they are the birds in the park).
They are both very sweet and it was so nice chatting with them. They requested steak since their nursing home doesn't give them steak. Wow, they sure gobbled up the steak. It was a very special moment to share with them.

Day 67: Watch one of my students perform in the Nutcracker

Janis, Jenna, Ellie, Hector and myself after Ellie's performance.

Day 68: Go to a new state... Wyoming
Okay, okay, it was day two of watching the Nutcracker, but who's counting? This time I got to go all the way to Wyoming to see my little cousin perform. She did a wonderful job!

Madison and I after her performance

Day 69: Go to church with Magdiel's host family and help them decorate their Christmas tree while drinking Egg Nog

Magdiel and I decorating the tree.

.

Radi, Magdiel and I enjoying the decorating.

Day 70: Save a life, the spider in my classroom 
In Honduras, I was a spider crusher, bug crusher, if it was moving I was attemping to crush it. But this day I felt like saving this little spider's life. Except, it did send my students into a tizzy. I scooped it onto a book and all I hear from my students "I am never reading that book AGAIN!" A little dramatic if I say so. So after I put it on the windowsill to go outside. I sat my students down (at this point you would have thought there were 500 spiders still in our classroom by their reactions) and told them how I used to teach in a classroom with spiders, cockroaches, beetles, you name it, there was all kinds of bugs in my classroom. This almost sent them over the edge. They couldn't believe that I used to be in a classroom with so many bugs. My little gangster children afraid of spiders. They are probably more afraid of spiders than guns.... no joke.

Day 71: Drink hot cocoa and help decorate Avery's first Christmas tree

Jaiden and I enjoying our hot cocoa, while little man tries to take the cups from our hands.

Day 72: Help Magdiel write his graduation speech

I think I have found my calling, writing. I love to put thoughts and feelings into words on paper. So Magdiel asked me to help him with his speech for his graduation, which I was so excited to do. But with two educated people, one a native English speaker and the other a native Spanish speaker. We were bound to run into problems. I am pretty sure my roommate was just looking at us like we were crazy, with all our bickering about what to put in the speech.

Day 73: Celebrate Magdiel's graduation

Radi, Magdiel and I :)

Sweet love

Day 57-63

Don't worry my friends, I have not stopped doing my activities. But keeping up with my blog has taken a backseat. Sorry friends!!

But don't worry there is always more!

Day 57: Give parent conferences in Spanish
If you would have asked me a year ago to do it, I would have said no, there is no way I can speak fluently in Spanish, let alone tell a parent how their child is doing in my classroom... in ANOTHER language. But perseverance of speaking Spanish everyday with Magdiel has proved to help me with my confidence, as well as my vocabulary. Now if I could rewind and hear what I actually said, I might not be as proud of myself. But I am going to continue to tell myself they went great. ;)

Day 58: Get told by one of my students: "Miss Kate, I am going to pimp slap you!", oh really now?
I am not sure what my faced looked like at the exact moment my student said it. But I must have looked horrified because the minute I said "what?", his face dropped, but he still managed to mumble it again. So I calmly asked him if he knew what a pimp was, to which he replied no. So I told him it is not nice and to never say it again. Luckily in the back of my mind (and probably his), I had his parent conference that very night. So to his poor moms surprise, I hit her with the "Well, I have to tell you what your child said to me today..... He told me he was going to pimp slap me!" Now her reaction was exactly what I expected.

It was as if time slowed down and in slow motion she put her arm in the air with her finger pointing to the sky and her neck began to dance (you know those black girls, who say "oh no he didn't", all while making their head and neck go in opposite directions) and then this came flying out of her mouth:
"Oh hell no, now we gotta have a conversation about pimps and hoes. I cannot believe, I have to explain what a hoe is, oh dear Lord Jesus!".... it took all of my abdominal strength to stay in my chair and with hold the outburst of laughter, I had built up inside.

I am wondering how my students so called 'come to Jesus' talk went that night.

Day 59: Eat at famous Petes' kitchen and then give my leftovers to a homeless man
It was a delicious breakfast for dinner kind of a night. So when we left, there happened to be a homeless man walking along outside. He asked for spare change, so instead of handing him money, I passed him my food. Poor Magdiel, I thought he was going to keel over, when I gave away my delicious pancakes, hash browns and bacon. But we both know, he needed it more than us.

Day 60: Get a little emotional at parent conferences
It never gets old hearing how much you impact a child. But when it comes from the mouth of your most challenging child, tears come!

Day 61: Help one of my students write a petition to have meat served twice a week in our cafeteria
Our cafeteria is vegetarian based. It serves tofu, hummus, salads, lasagna, meatless meatloaf and countless other dishes that typically children sneer their nose at. But my kids seem OK with their vegetarian based lunches. Until, the other day when my student L.B. wrote a letter about his desire to have meat in his diet. He is a growing boy and he feels he needs more protein (yes he is very sharp) in his diet. Well the principal was very impressed and decided to allow him to poll the students and then write a petition to have students and parents sign. So we wrote it and we did some research why growing bodies need protein in their diet to help their muscles grow. He is looking to send out the petition this week. So I will be wishing him good luck on his quest.

Day 62: Go to Dions in Colorado Springs and then head to Manitou Springs.
Witches, wizards and chai tea. What more could we ask for?

Day 63: Research, write and propose reasons why students need a certain amount of exercise a day. My teaching partner and I are proposing more recess (our recess is at 2:05.... SO LATE). So we feel passionate about the fact that our students are only getting 30 minutes of exercise and it doesn't come till 2pm!

Day 64:Watch Step Up and then actually learn the dance moves (minus hottie Tatum Channing holding me). Yes I was actually dancing in my living room and driving my downstairs neighbors NUTS!!

Day 48-56

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