A look back

What a year 2012 has been!

To start off 2012, I moved back to Arizona to finish my degree after being in California because of my health.  I started the 18 month teaching program offered by ASU for my dual degree in Special Education and General Education.  Because of the fast pace, I took 22 units and interned two days a week.  My first internship was in a functioning non academic first through fifth grade autism classroom and my second internship was in a first/second grade emotionally disabled classroom.  I enjoyed both of these internships very much.  In March, I relapsed with my RPS but because I knew the signs I was able to start treatment before it got as bad as it did the first time around.  We started my weekly shots, doctor visits, and parent switch off; so I wouldn’t have to miss any class.  I did miss a few weeks of my internship; however, I made them up after my classes ended and I was feeling 90% better.  

I decided to go back to California for the summer and nanny for a family I met when their daughter was a few months old.  I had a great time taking the kids to the park, reading, and working with the daughter on her numbers and alphabet to help prepare her for Kindergarten.  When I was in California I was also able to spend time with all my nursery babies and their families along with my girlfriends and family.  Summer ended to quickly and I was back to Arizona to start my SENIOR year!! Hard to believe I have been at ASU for four years!  When I got back to Arizona I was joined by a girlfriend from church who moved to AZ because of her job and my youngest cousin started his freshman year at ASU! 

Concert with my California turned Arizona who left me to go back to California girlfriend

The fall semester started and ended just as quickly as the spring semester.  For this semester, the program had us taking 19 units and interning four days a week until our classes started and then we dropped down to our two days a week.  This semester I was blessed to intern in a first grade general education classroom, where I work a long side of my master teacher and two other wonderful ladies.  I couldn’t have asked for a better team of teachers that offer me so much help and support.  The semester seemed to fly on by with all the hours I was clocking in my internship class and my ASU classes. 

Fun as a Sun Devil 

As great as this year was, I didn’t imagining saying good bye the way I did.  One week prior to Christmas, two weeks prior to the New year.... I said good bye to my gallbladder as it had me in some serious pain!  Thankfully, once surgery was over I was back to myself and it was off to California for Christmas break.  I was excited to go to Colorado for Christmas and have a white Christmas; however, I was reminded why Arizona was a better choice for me when the weather never got over FREEZING!! 

I am now preparing to return to Arizona for my FINAL semester!!!!!! I will be student teaching starting January 7th in my first grade placement from the fall semester for eight weeks and then in March I will start a new special education placement, which I am nervous about!  Looking forward to spending 5 days a week with the kiddos that have stolen my heart; however, I am not looking forward to telling them good bye in two months.  

Let the journey continue and 2013 be the best journey yet! 

The last 4 months

As 2013 rolls in, I am finally remembering to update my blog!! 

September:

Intern hours in my first grade classroom,19 credit hours,  baby sex reveal party, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan concert, friends getting engaged, bridal showers, helping a friend prepare for Miss Rodeo California, and so much more!

October: 

More intern hours in my first grade classroom, still taking 19 credit hours, baby shower, friends wedding, seeing old friends, Fall festival with my first graders, family Disneyland trip with 21 of us, friends having babies, and best of all lots of time with those who matter most! 

Brittany's baby shower beautifully decorated by Rosie and Kim of Save the Date Events

The Fall festival with my first graders was a great first experience for a class party.  All the teachers at my school dressed as book characters, I dressed as Judy Blume from the Lunch Room.  It was a fun day! Us teachers switched classes and read our books or a chapter of our book to the classes we switched with.  At the end of the day, we had three different activities for the students to do and then we turned on the Magic School Bus “Amazing Bats, since we just finished learning about bats and allowed the kids to have donut holes and apple juice.  It was the perfect fall festival for our class. :)

Oh what a weekend I had between Disneyland and a family friends wedding.  Eighteen of my family members from Colorado took a trip to California and scheduled a day at Disneyland, so my parents and I decided to join them for some fun at the happiest place on Earth.  This girl will always love Disneyland no matter where she lives! I enjoyed riding some of the little kid rides with my second seconds that range from first grade down to a year old, what fun we had! After a day at Disneyland, my parents, grandparents, and I jetted off for dinner at our favorite hang out in New Port Beach- Crab Cooker!! It was the perfect California day!  

Saturday evening we watched a family friend say “I do.”  Our families have been friends since our parents for younger.  It was truly a beautiful day of shades of blue and fun to see many of our favorite people that we haven’t seen in a long time!

November:

Football games (all season; however, went to two of them this month), more friends having babies, more time at my internship, doing homework and classwork, ASU beats UoA,  Thanksgiving in California with the family, good MRI results from the doc, girls weekend in Arizona with Sara and Jess, LOTs of FINAL projects for classes, lives taken too soon, and days to be thankful for. 

ASU beats Wash State! 

December:

More time in my classroom with my first graders, more time in class learning how to be a teacher, more FINAL projects, finals, National Finals Rodeo, Miss Rodeo America pageant, hospital stay, Christmas in Colorado, and ASU in a bowl game!

My semester in first grade has came to an end and I have fallen in love with my kiddos and the teachers I teach beside.  I have be blessed beyond belief by these individuals who are willing to teach me all they know about the field of education. I cannot wait to return to the classroom in January, I’ll stay with this group for two more months officially student teaching!! And then in March, I will student teach in my special education placement, I am so excited to almost be done with my bachelors degree and have my own classroom.

As finals came to an end, I started feeling sick and had a lot of pain.  After an observation, I decided to go home and rest for awhile before a Christmas party; however, I never made it to the party because I drove myself to urgent care and told mom she needed to make the drive to Arizona because something was wrong.  Saturday, December 15th, I was admitted to the hospital and had my gall bladder removed Monday, December 17th.  What a crazy weekend that was! I was released from the hospital Tuesday and mom and I drove back to California Wednesday.  Everyone but Brant packed up and drove to Colorado Friday for a white Christmas with my mom’s family.  We had a fabulous Christmas with all of the family out here and are excited to head back to California tomorrow where it is above freezing! 

Hope everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS and here is to a blessed and healthy 2013!

Wishing everyone a ....