Look Whoo Started First Grade

This week marked my first official week as a first grade teacher. 

What an adventure it has been! 

Wondering about the title, take a look at the theme of my room.

 For more pics of this adorableness you can click here

I love my little owls, they're adorable.

 Back to school night! 

Annual first day of school pic with Megs, we even match! How adorable is that! Love this girl. AND I'm so glad that she's teaching 6th grade at the same school so I can still play with her. 

Look how happy I am in this picture with Megs, I had no idea what I was getting into! 

Wow, first grade is hard, but I will say it is also the funniest thing of my life. 

It is tiring in a completely different way than 4th grade was.  Like, who knew it took a half an hour to color a picture or write a sentence. Or that listening was just so hard. 

My kids are so adorable and so well behaved so far (cross your fingers and knock on wood). 

I wish I could upload all the adorableness that is my class but, I haven't taken a class pic yet, so you'll have to wait. But you'll be in for a treat because they are so stinking cute. 

Every teacher knows that the best thing you can do is write down the funny things the kids say so you don't forget it all. Well after a week in 1st grade (which makes me an expert) I decided to make a list of the things I have learned so far this year. 

Lessons Learned in First Grade

(Week 1)

1. Shoes are very hard things to keep on your feet.

2. Finally being able to use grown up markers for a project is like winning the lottery.

3. Potty breaks are very important and should be taken often.

4. Snack can never come soon enough.

5. If at first you don't listen, try again. 

6. Gold fish are worth their weight in gold.

7. Dimples on a six year old are to die for.

8. What rhymes with old?.....Octopus.

9. I'm so very beautiful, very loved, and the best teacher ever!

10. When you're six, everything is funny.

11. Little kids have the softest hair and the smoothest skin. It's kind of ridiculous. 

12. Patience is a required virtue.

13. The only way to keep 21 six year olds quiet is to tell them to pretend they have marshmallows in their mouths. Seriously go try it, it's genius. 

14. Touching the carpet is the most exciting part of the day.

15. Silver teeth smiles are socially acceptable when you're six. AND super cute.

16. You should never be embarrassed to sing your heart out and dance whatever you feel. Don't know the words? No worries, just make noises that don't even sound like the words. It's cool. We'll still love you in room 5.

Love,

j

Summer Highlights

Since I was such a bad blogger this summer (shocker) I thought I'd do a little wrap up for you.

In chronologically order, here are the highlights of summer 2012 (Highlights because I felt the need to take a picture of the events)

 In celebration of my completion of BYU my mother and I spent a week in beautiful Hawaii. Getting there was quite the adventure as these pictures show....three flights people. Three. But as Lori would say, "It was cheap!"

 Aunt Wendy's house is full of beautiful orchids! This was sent to the BFF my first morning there.

 Our first day, locating the local beach and basking in the glory of the Hawaii sun! Can you say zero photoshop. It was that beautiful people.

 We even went on a little hike to a beautiful water fall.

 We even visited Benner who is stationed in Hawaii with the army. 

 A trip to the beautiful temple was a must. 

 The completion of my life's dream wasn't too bad either ;)

 We were even mistaken for locals this day. I think we should just move there. 

 Driving home from Utah, pre-hawaii. Nothing is as beautiful as Nevada in June...not. 

Glitter toes are my favorite. 

 Loved spending the summer with these two adorable pups. They are my favorite. 

 And of course, what is summer without the always adorable Green girls. Here was a picture from Six Flags.

 Bug found my graduation cap and gown in my car and took it for a test drive. 

 Mom and Dad <3 p="p">

 Shelbs turned 15! I can't even believe it.

 A long overdue visit to the SF Giants...such a fun day.

 Dates with my favorite guy.

 Dates with my favorite girl. 

 I turned 22. 

 Friday fun swim day. 

 Blake and Marissa went to the Junior Olympics for water polo. 

 Blake won a silver medal. 

Wrapping up another fun time with these cuties. 

Love being home for summer.

Nothing beats California sunshine.

Pool side

Nothing beats sitting outside in the sunshine by the pool.

Hello summer.
Hello tan lines.
I've missed you.

Hawaii bound in four days.

School's Out for Summer!

You know it is bad when the last time you posted on your blog was in February....embarrassing.

Ok well let's play catch up shall we...

1. I graduated from college.

1.5 I was hired to teach at Amelia Earhart Elementary School here in Provo next year. I will be teaching 1st grade. (My first reaction to making this decision = ahhhhhhudisiuwipwu!!!!! A few days later I was at peace again)

As of graduation day I had three different offers for different teaching positions. I was miserable. Looking back I feel so blessed that I had choices when so many people do not. The only problem with choice is that it forces you to make a decision, which I do not like to do. I would pray and pray and I just felt like there was no right decision. Heavenly Father trusted me to make the choice for myself. Sometimes I forget that I was given agency to choose. Heavenly Father isn't just going to give you the answers. He expects you to get up off your butt and do something about it. He wants you to study things out, pray, and make the best decision you can. Once you do then he will step in and either confirm that decision in your heart or it will not feel right.

Deciding to teach 1st grade was light stepping off a cliff in my mind. I didn't quite know why I was making that decision. It came about 5 minutes before the decision deadline while I was on the phone in tears with my mom. (Shout out to that wonderful woman who continues to put up with me and all my crazy). So anyway I chose 1st grade and walked away still not feeling like Yes this is it! It took a little time, a little thought, a little pinteresting for me to become very excited about this new path I have chosen.

Extra bonus: This lady will be teaching there too! (In 6th grade) I don't have to say goodbye to the wonderful Miss Smith just yet. She has helped me conquer this year. I don't think I could have made it through my internship without her. Not only did I spend most of my time with her, she was the only other person in this world who knew exactly how I was feeling about every situation. What a blessing she has been every day.

2. Ashley got married and the besties reunited. Minus Karissa who is on her mission. Ashley married the boy she fell in love with freshman year. We were all there. We saw it all. We're glad Derek finally realized how wonderful she is and decided to be with her forever :)

3. I officially finished my first year as a teacher.

It is so weird to think that I am done. What is weirder is that I may never see any of this wonderful kids again. It makes me cry.
The last day of school was a weird experience. I woke up Friday morning thinking about the first day of school. I couldn't sleep the night before, I was so nervous. I remember sitting in my classroom, well pacing in my classroom, so nervous about what was ahead. I had heard that some teachers say a prayer for their class. A teacher's prayer if you will. I love prayer and couldn't think of a better way to calm my nerves. I prayed that I could be an example to them. That I could teach them what they needed to know. Not just in reading or math but in life. I prayed that I could develop good relationships with them and that I could love each of them.

Well this year was amazing. It truly was. This was my thought waking up Friday morning: Such a bittersweet day. I'm looking forward to summer and next year with all it's new adventures but my goodness how I'll miss these kids. They were my first loves. I don't think any group will be as special to me as these ones.

About an hour before they were out for the summer I sat all of them down in my now empty classroom (we had been packing and moving) and read them each a short letter I had written them on a bookmark. Wow, I honestly didn't think I was going to cry but about 3 bookmarks in I was in tears. My kids have never seen me cry. All they could do was sit there and tell me it was going to be ok. I was a wreck. I was overcome with so much love for each of them. In all their own ways they are such creative, wonderful people with so much potential in life.

Saying goodbye was hard. I told them all they had to hug me. And boy did they. I've never been squeezed so hard. But boy it was great. They all started leaving when suddenly one of my cute girls reappeared in my room. She looked at me and told me she needed one more hug.
Que my water works, I mean come on. Stop. They're killing me.

Then, next thing I knew I was all alone in my room. No kids, no stuff just me.
Wow.
I did it.
It's over.
Wow.

At this point I had to go hug Megan for a minute to just get my bearings again.

I finished packing and went to turn in my keys. To officially leave Westridge.
Que water works again.
It was bad. I was a little emotional.

But, I moved my stuff into my new classroom at Amelia and so when I get back in August I'll just have to set everything up.

Nice.

I spent yesterday with the bestest bud. Its been nice to reconnect with her again.
While we were eating dinner I wanted to show her a picture of one of my students so I pulled out my yearbook. I hadn't looked at it yet and I flipped to one of the autograph pages and there it was (in his neatest handwriting because we've fought about it all year):

Miss Webb,
 Thank you for such a wonderful year this has been the best year yet
From,
____

I don't want to write his name due to privacy reasons, but let's revisit this post.
See where it says Day 2: Hard. It use to say more before I deleted it for a variety of reasons.
Basically the student above blew up on me day 2. When he wasn't around I cried. He made my life very hard the entire year. It took me months to learn to rise above. To learn that I was the adult and I needed to act like it. Our relationship got better throughout the year, but he was still difficult.
Here's the kicker, I know he loves me. Through all the garbage at the end of the day I learned he loved me. I gave him his best year yet. What more could  ask for? I made a difference to him. At the end of the day that is all that matters as a teacher.

Que water works at the kitchen table.
I am one blessed girl.

Love,
J

PS: I was listening to my roommates talk tonight about past relationships and I realized that I am the only one (out of the three years we've lived together) who has never had a serious relationship.
Embarrassing.
BUT, its OKAY!
Cause if I've learned anything this year it is that I do not need a man to make me happy. I am so much more than that. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be in a relationship, but that is not the most important thing. I have so many blessings. I love my profession. I love my friends. I love my family. 

life.

Blessings.
It's crazy how life can be completely falling apart and then little things happen to remind you it's all going to be ok.
My life has been a roller coaster lately. Everything always seems to be going wrong. There is so much to worry about and not enough time in the day to worry sufficiently.
Like how in the world am I going to finish this stupid independent study class so I can graduate? No idea....maybe I should get on that.
And then there's other things like where in the world would I live next year?
Guess what, that one worked out perfectly.
My family is going through trials and I'm not there to help.
Certain things at home are slowly working themselves out for the best.
Observations have not been the greatest and I feel like I'm in a teaching rut.
Monday went really well and I've been more motivated to find new and exciting things for my kids to do.
Thanks Heavenly Father.
Will I get a job next year? Where will I work? Will I like my new roommates? Will I ever actually have a valentine?
A whole new wave of worries.
That's life I guess.

j

ps: I hate Valentine's day. Hate it. It's the worst holiday ever. (I probably feel this way because I've never had a valentine).
Guess what..when you're a teacher Valentines is the best. I got Sees chocolate, a balloon, a rose, soap, and endless amounts of candy.
Who needs a boyfriend?
I've got great kids.

once upon a time.

Once upon a time...

I lived in the dorms at Helamen Halls...at one of the first activities I met some wonderful girls...


We all had a lot of great times together....
One of these girls is named Ashley Janeal, I'm Janelle Ashley, we bonded instantly.
We even have a picture of the first time we all met.

Becca, Janelle, Ashley, Hilary

We all had a lot of fun together that year...
We played in the snow...


Shared a love for BYU basketball and of course Jimmer Fredette


Went to dance parties...


Went of vacation to my favorite place....Danville


And we studied really hard.


Then freshman year ended and some things changed.
Becca got married!


And the rest of us went back to school.
We still stayed in touch.
Random trips to Costa Vida helped.


Then Hilary went on a mission.
And Junior year started.
That included Jason Reeves concerts...


and trips to the Cannon Center to relive the glory days!


Finally we were at Senior year.


And Karissa decided she wanted to go on a mission too.


So it was down to the three of us...Stacy, Ashley, and myself.
I had never in my life had a set of girls I was so close to. They became my family.
To say I'm blessed to know them would be an understatement.

Today I got an exciting text message from Ash. It was a picture of her finger and it had a ring on it. She is marrying Derek, a boy from our freshman ward she basically crushed on all year. It's the cutest.
Here we all are at the temple, Derek is the tall one in back. Little did he know that he would be marrying one of the most amazing people I know.

I can't believe where life has taken us all and will yet take us. I am so excited for her and Derek.
May 24th 2012...it's gonna be big.

Love,
j

Pathetic...party of one

Some days I look through everyone's engagement and wedding photos and...not gonna lie....get a little jealous. They're so cute and happy and in love.
Not fair.

Ok...I'm done feeling sorry for myself.

Back to my 25 kids...

ha!