Last day reflections

It's the last day of school and I am sitting at my desk wondering what to do next. I have posted all my grades, desks and tables and chairs are cleaned out, really the only thing I have left to do is a final inventory of all my computers and to create a few online courses for next year. But really, I would much rather leave early today and do all that tomorrow. I mean, I have to be here so I might as well have something to do to be productive, right? Right.

This year has been interesting. I started out the year working as an aide at one of the elementary schools because I couldn't even FIND a certified special ed teaching position within 50 miles of my house. So, I took the aide job. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled about the MASSIVE pay cut, but I was just glad to have a job.
     Work started on a Monday. On Wednesday, I got a call from my friend that taught in this new program for at-risk students. She was having a meltdown because she was having too much conflict with her coworkers, and was thinking about resigning and retiring. I told her to stick with it for the kids and to hang in there. Then, Friday morning, I was leaving the elementary school to go to a meeting about tutoring services I was providing for a high school student. (Anything to make extra money, right?) As I was sitting down in the meeting, I got a text from my friend that said, "I just resigned." I didn't have time to call her and find out what happened or anything at all. The meeting I was in went just fine, and before I left, the classroom phone rang. It was the superintendent. She wanted me to come meet with her. Insert panic here.
      So I went to the meeting. She and I talked for close to an hour about the program and she told me she wanted me to sub in there until they could find a replacement, but that if I truly liked it and would be willing to take the job, I would most likely get it. She wanted me to go straight to this new program right away, meet the kids, and pretty much start that day. On my way to this program, I had to call my friends at the elementary school and let them know that I wouldn't be able to bring lunch and explained the situation. They were very supportive and happy for me, which was so nice.
     I arrived to pure chaos. The kids were upset that their teacher had just resigned and they didn't know what was going to happen to the program. I talked to them and explained that I would be there for at LEAST a few days. Well, long story short, I fell in love with these kids. When the superintendent called at the end of the day to check on me, I told her right then that I wanted this job and that these kids needed me. She understood and told me to put in a request for a transfer. And the rest, as they say, is history.

This has been a year of ups, downs, laughs, tears, failures, but most importantly, successes. I have 3 students that were labeled dropouts who will be receiving high school diplomas on Friday night at graduation. I could not be more proud of them. I love my students like they are my own kids, and I love knowing that they know what it takes to succeed in school and in life. We've had some do-better talks, but those were few and far between. I loved having kids that would confide in me, come to me for advice, ask me how to resolve a conflict, and would allow me to celebrate each milestone with them. This morning, I got a picture of a beautiful baby boy on my phone. One of my students had her baby. I can't wait to meet him over the summer. I love teaching, even when it's hard and overwhelming, because the rewards are totally awesome.

Starting something new

Menu Plan, Week One

I'm going to attempt this thing I've seen done before, and in an attempt to save money, I am now going to post my meal plan for the week. If I post it here, someone might see it, so I am accountable for it...and have to stick to the plan! This is only going to cover dinners... lunches are for sandwiches.

Yesterday (Sunday): Ginger Apple-Tomato Soup (y'all, I made this one up completely and it was delish!)
Monday: Tortilla Rollups and leftover soup
Tuesday: Buffalo Chicken Crescents with salad
Wednesday: Red Beans and Rice (we don't eat this with a side dish)
Thursday: Fish Tacos with guacamole
Friday: Date night!!
Saturday: Marlboro Man Sandwiches with red wine braised asparagus

We'll see how this goes. I've tried meal planning before, and it was hard for us to stick to it. Let's hope this time it works!

Domestic Goddess...ish

Came home from work today, and because Brent has been sick, I decided to make a strawberry pie. I'm also in the middle of laundry (my least favorite thing ever), but had to share the picture of the pie!

I swear I'm alive.

I'm just not the best at this blog thing. I mean, I have several that I read every day. I am just terrible at writing what happens in my own life. Granted, that's really not much. I've got a husband, two dogs, and a house to deal with. Not a whole bunch of excitement there. My days consist of work (11 days left!), coming home to watch two hours of "Friends" straighten the house a little, before trying to figure out what's for supper. Then eat supper, go to sleep, rinse and repeat.


Anyway, occasionally things happen and we do stuff outside our house. More on that soon (swear!). Let's do a quick run-through of the Benson updates: Spring Break in NOLA, Danceline tryouts,  Hank Williams Junior concert, Easter, new truck, social events, visit from Pensacola fam, and this weekend we have family coming up from LA--Lower Alabama.


Spring Break in NOLA: well, that's a blog post that requires it's own space.


Danceline tryouts:
Yeah, I'm the new danceline sponsor at my former high school. A full week of after school clinic culminated in one very emotional day of tryouts. I am so proud of every girl that tried out! If you have never tried out for something like this, I gotta tell ya, it takes serious guts. I am really looking forward to next year with these girls. They are all just precious!


Junior concert:
The day before Easter. This was not the most thought-through thing Brent and I have ever done. That Friday, we went to Huntsville for my best friend's birthday party. She was the maid of honor in my wedding, and moved to Louisiana roughly 8 months ago. I was so freaking excited to see her!! We had fun chatting and, truth be told, she was meeting her boyfriend's close friends for the first time and wanted me there to scope out her new man help her play hostess. 

Best friends forever! Because we know too much...

Now, on to the concert. 

We left home in time to make it to Tuscaloosa for lunch. See my previous post to see where we ate. It was heavenly. I gotta say, I love going to Tuscaloosa. Yes, this Auburn girl actually loves T-town. It's because I lived there when I was little, so everything there is perfect. We spent time walking around the UA campus, because I like walking after a HUGE meal of ribs and loaf bread, and also because Brent likes to tell me about his time at UA. Yes, I married a Bama grad.

High-five for the garden gnome Nick Saban

On the Quad, with Denny Chimes in the background.

Funny story about Denny Chimes... my parents took me there when we were trying to sell our house in Tuscaloosa to move to Scottsboro (the first time). I loved it! All that room to run, practice my dance moves, skip, play... it was fabulous.

Well then it became time to head over to the amphitheater. Had to get a seat in time to watch Junior!

Excited!

FLASHBACK:     One of our first "dates," before Brent got over our age difference and I began seriously dating was to a Hank Williams Jr. show at Riverbend in Chattanooga. I had just wrapped up my freshman year at Auburn and was having dinner with two friends. He called and said "Hey, do you like Hank Jr?" I said, "Um, I'm Southern. Duh." I was also hyperventilating because he called (I'd had a crush on him since I was 16). He says, "Well I have an extra ticket to Riverbend tomorrow night and he's playing. Wanna go with me?" I said, "Yeah, I'll be home tomorrow so I'll call you when I hit Scottsboro. Talk to you then." Aaaaand then I almost fell out of the booth. I went home the next day, and that evening Brent's parents picked me up and drove me halfway to Chattanooga, where we met up with Brent and I hopped in his car. After that concert he drove me back to Scottsboro. Our next real date wasn't until almost three years later.

The concert was fantastic!! Junior does not disappoint. Even though there were a few too many "RTR's" for my taste, he put on a great show. He played all my favorites, and of course had something to say about his political stance. 

Oh, did I mention we had AWESOME seats?

Easter:

The next day, we dragged ourselves out of bed and went to Sunday School and church. Brent and I absolutely love our Sunday School class. It was HUGE that day (55 people!), but it is all young married couples. Most couples have young kids, but several don't have children at all. The service was wonderful. Two of Cindy's friends joined the church, and they will be baptized together this week! God is SO. GOOD. After church, we went to Cindy's for our usual Easter meal and screaming child chasing photo shoot.

At this point, a little one was screaming for Anna to hold her.

The Opposite Brothers and their Twin Wives.

The Bensons

Truck:

After 13 months of endless searching, bargaining, and test drives Brent sold his BMW and bought a truck. He loves it, and I gotta say, I do too. And now, presenting the newest addition to our driveway:

Brent named him Gus. 

Pensacola fam:

Last week, Brent and I got to spend some time with my grandfather's brother, my Uncle Pete! It was so great to see him and Aunt Janet. They are the sweet, precious relatives who we just don't get to see nearly enough. Brent and I are going to plan a trip to see them very, very soon.

Stay tuned for the updates from the family coming to visit this weekend. My aunts and uncles, plus my grandmother. It's going to get LOUD. Coffee is going to be consumed en masse. Stories are going to be told. Gossip is going to be shared. Eyes are going to be rolled. Laughter is going to ensue.

My favorite restaurant

Ever.
And I am writing from a table inside that red door.
Pure. Bliss.

Another hint...

Here's another hint as to where I have been this week:

From an undisclosed location

But, here's a hint...

(and yes, it is totally obscure).

Ballpark nights

I married into a baseball family. My brother in law is the head JV baseball coach, and is also the Varsity assistant coach. In the fall our family is all about football and danceline, the spring is devoted to many nights at the ball field watching Wildcat Baseball. I absolutely love it, and I love being able to support Drew in his first year of teaching am coaching.


I sit with my sister in law, (but really she's like a real sister to me) her two girls, the varsity coach's wife (who was just a year ahead of me in school and always a friend), and her little boy. We have a great time snacking (the concession stand sells everything from ring pops to pinto beans with cornbread), talking, laughing, playing with babies, and watching baseball.

This week, I went to several games with Amber and the girls. We had so much fun! Here are a few pictures from the week, as you can see we love to cut up and be silly:

Catching up on Aunt Anna time

Addisyn LOVES her Aunt Anna. It's mutual.

The Techie Tots. Yes, both watching "moobies" on YouTube.

 

Crying toddler? Just hand her a phone and let her watch "Strawberry Shortcake"



We make fun of you if you post a picture like this.
Yes, we really do.
There may also be some judgement being passed.



One sweet moment with Annslie and Uncle BB

On a fun note, Happy Spring Break!! I'm going somewhere very fun... post to come when I get back!