Welcome October!

Well tomorrow marks the one month of school mark. I seriously cannot believe that we have gone an entire month! It now just seems like a job, and I actually sleep at night and am not up worrying.
This last month I have learned SO much, and hopefully grown as a person, and as a teacher. I have also fallen in love... with 31 little smiling faces.
Today we were walking down the hall on our way to PE, and my principal walked past us and said "oh my word, this is the best looking second grade line I have EVER seen... Honestly! Who's kids are these?!?! Are these your kids?" And I smiled and said that yes, they were mine and at the same time I was watching every one of those 31 faces turn around and look at me with the biggest, proudest smile... I couldn't help but get a little teary. I am so proud of every accomplishment they make. I have totally turned into a mother goose. At the same time though, I am equally disappointed when they do something they know not to do, or let me down in any way (and this happens often because I have very high expectations for them). I am excited when a child I don't expect to get the answer shares it correctly, and out loud, and when I listen during "think, pair, share" time to the way they are learning from each other, I am truly amazed. They are wise beyond their years, and have no idea how many times a day I learn something from them! I tell them daily how proud they make me, and how the things they do (like today using amazing descriptive words in their writing) makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy.
Not everyday is "warm and fuzzy", by any means. And not every behavior is cute, at all. But I have only had one day in this entire crazy, busy, overwhelming, unknown, stressful month, so I consider that a step in the right direction!
I think it is truly a blessing to enjoy what you do. And I know that I have been given that blessing. I am doing what I was made to do, and that feels good. Plus I have the most amazing support system a girl could ever ask for in my hubby, who has spent hours this past month grading papers and working in my classroom.
Speaking of him... THE YARD IS FINISHED!!!!!!! Yay for Kevin Thomas!!! He spent six long months transforming our yard into an amazing place for kids, dogs, and adults to hang out in! We have a fantastic garden and flat ground with little sprouts of beautiful green grass popping up everywhere! It is so exciting for us! I cannot wait to have a big party next summer in our huge new yard. He is so far beyond words... I can't even explain the way he gets things done for his family. I am a lucky lucky girl.
So this wraps up our last month, and hopefully next month we will have more to talk about than just work and the yard, and I think we will. I see my life getting more back to normal now that I feel like I am getting a handle on stuff in my room. And I think we both need a little much needed get-away, so we are heading to the beach with the doggies on Saturday just to go somewhere for the day. It will be nice to spend some time just the four of us with no papers to grade or seeds to water!  :)
Hope fall finds everyone well and warm. Can I just say... I love October!