I’m great. Well, maybe great isn’t the right word, but I am ecstatic to not have to do any homework or go to class (just pretend you don’t know anything about all of the work I still have to do to get licensed). I loved student teaching. Adored it. Miss my kids tons. Wish I was there. I know not everyone has a good student teaching experience, but mine was great. I had an awesome cooperating teacher, and while my school certainly wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t so messed up to the point that I wouldn’t take a job there. In fact, it’s still my number one choice for places to work, not that there are any jobs there right now. Maybe there will be, maybe not. Definitely within a few years – at least one retirement in the works. Until then, hopefully one of the other districts near me will have an opening.
We had an awesome party last weekend to celebrate 
‘s graduation, my “program completion,” and 
‘s upcoming birthday (Mother’s Day this year). prepared an amazing taco bar, 
brought more beer than we knew what to do with (and balloons that 
is enjoying a great deal), and there were more people at our house than we’d ever hosted.
The moms and their spouses, eating tacos and enjoying the festive decor.
Oh, my sister also gave birth to my niece just over a week ago. I was there, and it was amazing. And Emma is beautiful and perfect and adorable.
Welcome, Emma Hope!
Me and Emma in her first hour of life.
A few weeks before Easter, 
asked me to take pictures of her with her boys (before the baby was born). We took some in my backyard, and then went to the park near my house for the rest. If we had waited a few weeks, it might have looked more like Spring than Fall, but the weather was actually quite enjoyable, despite what the pictures may look like.
Joey really liked to talk to the baby.
Joey also liked the playground.
Well, Joey liked everything about the playground except for another kid who was trying to be helpful. Grant enjoyed himself too.
My favorite picture of the day.
After a week of pure laziness, I’m starting to get back into the swing of being productive with my time in non-school-related ways, like weeding our garden and pruning the hedges, or working on the rest of the stuff for my license.
But I’ve really got to get to work on that licensure stuff. The big deadline is May 15th to have my TPA finished. Would you like to know more about the TPA? (No, you probably don’t.) Basically we have to submit two 10-minute videos and somewhere around 25-30 pages of write-up about the lesson planning and evaluation of said lessons. After I get that submitted, then I need to get my electronic portfolio ready, which is not in the best place right now, though I did get it started before student teaching, so I’m not starting at square one. I also need to take my two exams, the content area and the pedagogy (science of teaching).
After I get that done, my university can recommend me for licensure, I can fill out the forms, get my fingerprints taken, pay the money…. And when that’s done, I can start applying for jobs (because I need to at least be able to say “license pending”).
And lest you think I’m just going to be able to hop right back into blogging after a three month hiatus, I wouldn’t hold my breath. I got into the habit of blogging in my head because I didn’t have time to do it for real, and that seemed to meet my needs. Unless, of course, I have pictures of something that I want to show off. I’m sure my mojo will come back, but for the time being….
Happy Thursday!
Welcome back!