Day 164-179

Day 164: Wear a pedometer to track my steps
I don't realize how many steps I actually take a day. So I put a pedometer on to the test: 16,460 steps is what I averaged this day. At least I made it past the 10,000 a day requirements by the American Heart Association.

Day 165: Pecos park

Day 166: Petroglyph park

Beautiful sketches in lava rocks.

Day 167: Quarai, Tiguex Pueblo

The last part of the pueblo standing, which was built in the 1600's

Day 168: Mineral Museum Socorro, New Mexico

The most amazing minerals I have ever seen!

Day 169: Meet Penelope

Being an aunt is the greatest. 5 months after this precious little one was born, I finally got to meet the adorable Penelope Castillo!!

Day170: Celebrate Magdiel's acceptance to New Mexico Tech

 

Day 171: Chimayo cocktail

The world famous....according to my parents: The Chimayo Cocktail, what is in it, I don't know. But all I do know is that it was strong as hell!

Day 172: Easter in Santuario de Chimayo

 

Day 173: Quit my job
I officially resigned from my job. It was the most glorious day. I will soon be saying good-bye to a school that doesn't respect its teachers and moving on to hopefully a school that does.

Day 174: African Dance with my students
I get a kick out of my students everyday. So I love giving them a kick out of me. They are in the last trimester, which their art special is African Dance. It is amazing watching them learn all about West African dance. On this day my students were dancing and they just weren't showing much attitude (which is unlike them because they are full of it). So I hopped in line and started dancing with them. It was so fun to watch their faces drop and then decide they couldn't let their 29 year old white teacher show them up. So they kicked it in to high gear and finally got their booties shaking.
Now they ask me to dance with them everyday because we had so much fun!

Day 175: Shakespeare's The Tempest

The story of revenge and a lesson in bullying through the story of the Tempest by Shakespeare.

Day 176: Chinese Herbs
My acupuncturist told me I was too stressed out and I needed to calm down. I can't say that I am out of control stressed but my body is heading down a path of negativity due to my stress. So an an effort to calm me, he gave me Chinese herbs.

Amazing calming herbs

Day 177: Opening Day for the Rockies

Go Rocks!!

Day 178: Estes park, Colorado

The famous Stanley hotel, which the movie the Shining is based on.

Beautiful hotel

Magdiel found a friend!

 

Day 179: Leisure drive

We went from the beautiful open plains....

to the wooded Rocky Mountains.

Day 156-163

Day 156: TCAP: State Testing
As if I didn't just love my job... I had to administer TACP (state testing). Every teacher dreads them because all you do is walk around for hours on end while your kids take these tests. It is also tough to either see your kids rocking it or totally failing and you can do nothing to help them!

We need a new system. State tests are awful. The anxiety and worry these kids go through is hard to see!

 

Day 157: Purchase my plane ticket to Peru!!

It is official Kristin and I are headed back out for more adventures! This time we are going down to Peru to teach for a couple of weeks and then we are headed to Chile and Bolivia. We will welcome any good tips on places to go!

Day 158: Hershey's Macadamia nut kisses

There is nothing like Hershey's kisses but when you add the sweet macadamia nuts, it become this out of this world treat. My roommate Jax decided to bring me an entire bag (such a good/bad idea) back from Hawaii. Now I have had my fair share of macadamia nuts in the past since my oldest brother lived there for many years and would send packages of the nuts for Christmas. But after trying Hershey's macadamia nut kisses I feel robbed. They are so delicious and my sweet brother never thought to send those, which by the way are only available in Hawaii!

Day 159: Food Challenge: 50 wings

Man vs. Food. We have all heard of the show (and if you haven't you should really check it out). Adam Richman goes around the country in search of ridiculous food challenges. So I had watched the 50 wing challenge episode and thought how hard could that be....
Now let's be honest I know I can't finish 50 wings. So my thought was, how well can 4 adults do on 50 wings. It shouldn't be a problem right? Nope! Between Kyle, Nicole, Magdiel and I , we could not finish 50 wings! How the heck did Adam almost complete that challenge? That is beyond me!

Day 160:Avery's 1st birthday party

Look at that little prince with his grandma!! Sweet boy! Happy Birthday Avery

C-A-K-E!!!!

Day 161: Contact teacher and thank them
Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs but it can also be one of the most challenging. With each year of teaching I gain, I reflect more and more on the teachers I had as a kid. There were a couple that really stick out: Mrs. Barnes, 4th grade, Mrs. Winchester, 7th grade and Mrs. Tennison, 9th-12th grade.
My luck struck out with Mrs. Barnes, I was unable to find her. But luckily Mrs. Winchester and Ms. Tennison were still working at my middle and high schools. It was amazing to share with them my journey of teaching and learning Spanish, since they both taught me Spanish. It was also nice to be remember after 10 plus years.

Day 162: Spend a day without my cell phone
You know you are an adult when you Spring Break consists of sleeping and enjoying a day... or two without your cell phone.

Day 163: Read a wordless picture book about War and Friendship.

This wonderful book talks about war and friendship all without one word written. It is a wonderful book. The article below really sheds light on its meaning.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/books/review/waterloo-trafalgar-and-grumpy-little-king.html?_r=0

Day 148-155

Day 148: Copper Mountain

Shanna and I headed to the big C... Copper Mountain

Freezing my butt off... notice the high top Converse (just an FYI they do not make for very warm shoes in the snow)

It is okay, we warmed up with a shot.

Day 149: Jump Street
Jump Street is every kids dream. Foam pits, trampoline dodgeball, and a huge indoor trampoline.

Swinging into the foam pit.

Now I have to manage to get out of here.

 

 

Day 150: Denver Cutthroats

My first and possibly my last semi professional hockey game. Sadly there was only about 10 people in the stands and 0 fights! Oh well great experience!

Day 151: Help Luz Write Letter to Judge
As if my heart didn't break enough in my job, one of my students asked me to help her write a letter to a judge. She was asking if the judge would release her father from prison. The reasons are fuzzy about why he is behind bars but it is clear that he will be deported soon. As I sat there and helped this amazingly strong and poignant 4th grader compose a letter to a judge, I realized what children/adults are faced with each day and how incredibly lucky I am to help a few of them along the way.

Day 152: Science night for my school
Sadly my students didn't get to share all about their knowledge about animals and their habitats due to our science teachers quick departure. But I did get to see the 2nd and 3rd graders talk about insects and their bodies. It was so sweet.

Day 153: Open Magdiel's IELTS scores
Magdiel was required to take an English proficiency test in order to get into graduate school. He was going for 6.5...... and he got it!!! WAHOOOOO

Day 154: Cupping
Now I know what your thinking.... What the hell is cupping?!?!
I thought the same thing when my friend Shanna mentioned it. It is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine. They light a fire under a cup and then stick it on your back. It is used to help blood flow as well as loosen muscles. It is one of the coolest and most intense feelings.

They were trying to help a pinched nerve on the right side of my back.

Day 155: Won Tickets!!!! (I never win anything) Av's game with Kristi
I actually won something and it just so happened to see our professional hockey team, the Av's.

Av's vs. Sharks. Amazing last 8 minutes!

We are finally reunited and living in the same town!

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!

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.