Happy Easter! I tried to be cute and typed Hoppy Easter first, but I couldn’t do it.
We had our Blog Meet Up yesterday at the Cheesecake Factory. 🙂
There were a TON of us so I’m cutting myself some slack (maybe that’s what the tailor should have done with my dress!). I’m just going to tell you what I remember and share the 5 (FIVE!) pictures that I took. That’s right! FIVE! That’s better than last time. Here’s where the slack comes in — I can’t remember everyone’s names, blogs, shoe size, and favorite color. I just can’t. There were too many of us and it was a big blur. A Blurry Blog Meet Up. So forgive me. Please.
First things first. I had cheesecake. Cookie Dough Cheesecake. Oh, the pure deliciousness of it. I have no words.
Okay. I’ll share my pics now.
Fran, Rachelle (our guest of honor), and Hadar
Rachelle, Annie, Hadar, and Traci
Christy, Sandy, Michelle, Tammy, and me
Lindsay and me (Is this hilarious or what?)
Rachelle, Lindsay, and me
I couldn’t talk to everyone as much as I wanted to because there were about 20 of us (maybe more!) and the table was about as long as my school’s enormous playground.
I met Heidi from Heidi Songs. THE Heidi. I remember getting my picture taken with her, but apparently not with my camera. Because I don’t have it. Waaaaa.
I have decided that I really talk a lot about myself on this here blog. Here’s a couple of things that different bloggers (now my FRIENDS) said to me over the course of our 4 hour lunch (except that I was with Hadar for FIVE hours because we carpooled again. I drove ALL THE WAY to her house and then she drove us less than two miles to the Cheesecake Factory. We weren’t sure if she could handle it, but she did. It was touch and go there for a minute.) Here’s just some of what my new friends said to me:
1. I won’t order steak.
2. I thought you’d wear the dress!
3. You’re not in your new jeans!
4. Do you recognize this? (It was a Dave Ramsey envelope system that I was supposed to recognize and he would be happy to know that I did get it right)
5. I have some Western pics that I can show you to give you some ideas for your Open House.
6. You need to sell stuff.
7. Who are the Curriculum Cops? Exactly?
8. I thought of you the other day when I heard knocking in my classroom.
Hmmm. Maybe I ought to curb some of my thoughts. Speaking of which, I discovered that some of us might be a little worried about what I say on here. And if it’s really okay to be as sarcastic as I am. Or snarky (is that a word?). Basically, we wondered if it’s truly okay for me to be honest and say that my first graders are not my lovelies — they are actually little rascals that stink up the place and bite each other?
Shoulder shrugs all around the table.
Until Fran said, “I’ve got your back.” Or something like that. Fran is going to let me know if I’ve gone too far and then I’ll delete the law-breaking, job-on-the-line story or post if necessary. So far, Fran says I’m vague enough. I’m vague. Who knew?
Here’s some stuff we talked about (or at least the multiple conversations I was involved in) over the course of the afternoon:
assessments, periods, fidelity to the core, selling, units, themes, traveling, private, public, principals, egos, male teachers, blogging, food, teammates, cheesecake, drinks, pajamas, contracts, money, veterans, age, hair, etc.
SO FUN!!!!!!!!
I just love how I felt like everyone was so familiar even though it was the first time meeting a lot of them.
Teachers rock.
And roll.
Half of us were just starting our Spring Break and the rest of us are going back tomorrow.
I just have to get there (school) and then I’ll be okay. We are starting our Pioneers unit TOMORROW and I am actually itching to begin! But other than that, I’m not sure how I’m going to wake up in the morning. I’m not even sure if my alarm clock remembers what to do.
P.S. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL IDEAS FOR OPEN HOUSE SO FAR! I can’t wait to share them with my team. Thank you!
Fun, fun, fun! Thanks for sharing!
Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
I had so much fun!!! I feel so blessed to have met you!
Kristin! You are so funny, adorable, and truly tiny…and it was so great meeting you! It's good to know that they still bite in 1st grade… 🙂
Michelle
Apples and ABC's
I've said it before and I'll say it again—waaaaaa!!! from over here on the east coast. In all seriousness, you guys are incredible and I'm so glad you all got to meet up, must have been the best!
I loved reading all about it! I am going to the TN blogger meet up this coming Saturday, and I am super pumped!! So fun!
Becky
Teaching, Learning, & Loving
How fun! Glad you had a good time and a good turn out 🙂
Sounds like you all had a wonderful time! And Cheesecake !!!! Waaaaa! I want some too!
Heidi
It was sooo fun! Amazing that we can all get together and everyone is so sweet and it isn't always like that when all of the teachers on one campus get together. 😀
Looks like you ladies had so much fun!! I wish I could have been there!! I hope you are having a great Easter!! Oh P.S. I think you are totally vague enough!!
So much fun! And thank you for your sweet comment! You are amazing, and don't stop blogging about what you blog about (does that make sense…???) Every single one of your posts makes me laugh. We all love you and Fran will keep you in check. 🙂 Happy Easter!
Oh chickarooni – you've got…bravery {I was thinking of another "b" word, but thought it may not be appropriate on a blog. See, I'm not even brave enough to say things that might not be "teachery" on somebody elses blog. You are a-okay in my book. You're the Katniss of the teacher bloggy world…
Love the fun you had…
Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade
Looks like a blast!!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Oh so jealous! Is it weird I wanted to see how short you are! I'm five feet and my "lovelies" call me short so I was just wondering! Wish some NC folk would get together
Rachel
It was so much fun to get together again! I just love reading your blog so don't change a thing!! Fran's got your back so snark on!!! And yes, it's a word!!
Kathy
Coloring Outside The Lines
Ya'll are Blogging Royalty out there! I'm glad you had a good time. 🙂
Do you think the waiters love us as much as we love each other, lol?!
BTW, I just read your previous post–my every-day-for-an-entire-week kindergarten visitation is themed as a "Round Up". The visitors usually (budget permitting) receive bandanas, I serve trail mix and beef jerky, we create a 'campfire' for circle times, we sing songs such as "Oh, Susanna" and "Home On The Range". I hope you have a wonderful Open House!
AND, I love the book boxes on your table groups…I do that, too!
ReadWriteSing
I was wondering if that was Dragon Flies Traci.
Looks like you guys had a great time! I wish we could all have a US meetup! ha!! How fun would that be?!?! We'd NEVER get to talk to everyone though – there'd be so many of us…lol
I just loved reading this post! I was afraid I would be too, too, too jealous to read it, but because I am so grownup and mature, I handled it well. The joy that comes across to all of us in this post is so wonderful! I just love Bloggyland!
Camille
An Open Door
I don't know if this is feasible but I always have my students make butter during the pioneer unit. Would it be possible for you to have something with butter and they could make the butter for the open house? Just an idea.
Sounds like you had a great time Saturday, I have to go to this Cheesecake Place, I found one in Salt Lake City (about 3 1/2 hours away), next time I go I'm going to try it out.
Kristen (Ladybug's), I'm with you…waaaaaa.
Us East Coasters are so jealous.
But, equally glad you had a good time.
Elizabeth
Fun in Room 4B
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. jealous waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Glad you guys had fun! And I'm so jealous!
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
Looks like you ladies had loads of fun! 🙂
Second Grade Sugar and Spice
It was just slightly ridiculously fun on Satirday wasn't it?! So glad tha I got to meet you and so many other incredible teachers (and people!).
Ugh. Hate auto spell. Saturday… Grrr….
You need to tell Reagan, Farley, and me when you are coming to Texas! I might be very speechless meeting you though. =)
Thank you for your humor and for saying the things my filter has to block because my blog is read by my principal and maybe even the curriculum cops!
Heather
Heather's Heart
I "filter" myself to an extent-
I don't make a big deal out of my blog at school- I don't know if any of them read it-
but you don't use names or their faces and you aren't defaming anyone- so…..you shouldn't have any worries:)
And I would love to meet you- but wouldn't take a picture with you- I would look like the Jolly Green Giant next to you!!! {You could be "Sprout"….hee hee}
Staci
Going Nutty!
misssquirrels@yahoo.com
Here's how I feel about the meet up. As long as you can identify me and know all the details of my life and what makes me whine, the rest is fine. I have no idea who some of those cuties were so I feel better that you are clueless too. What's your excuse? No old age going on… It was so much fun to see you and I just want to hug you. I swear I am going to visit your classroom one day in my PJs.
I will never talk about the BLOG to anyone in your entire district (our little secret along with a billion other teachers).
Fran@kindergartencraons.blogspot.com
No one has every posted twice in three seconds but I don't follow any rules. I have your back and will not let anyone drag you off to the district jail where the curriculum cops live! Promise. I really do have your back and you just make all of us laugh. We are thinking it too!
I am so glad Fran has your back because you are so right on all the time. My experiences here in Nevada are often exactly the same and I know exactly what you mean. That leads me to the second part of this post….cowboys (or pioneers). Here in Elko we do cowboy poetry in January. It is a big deal…I mean BIG. Partly because we are in the middle of nowhere and we need something big and partly because this nowhere is cow country (and yes much of that old time cowboy stuff still happens so we celebrate it). We do get good talent come and sing and recite poetry and they like to visit the schools. I need good cowboy stuff. I make the cutest horses. I hope I can explain this because I don't have a blog and I don't have pictures….think a rectangle with a neck, head, and ear (two more rectangles and one triangle). Then two clothespins for legs (they will stand on their own) and yarn mane and tail. My favorite website is http://cowboykids.nationalcowboymuseum.org/ . Don't know if that will help with your open house…but I can't wait to hear your ideas.
Terri Izatt
tizatt@ecsdnv.net
So jealous of your fun meet up!
✪ Miss W
Miss W Teaches
Hi ! Funny ladies ! You guys had just loads of fun !!!! Grrreat !!!sell my house
Hey, Kristin!
It was great meeting you! And I remember getting our picture taken, too- but it wasn't with my camera either, LOL!!! I sure wish we had had more time to talk! It was so much fun- we'll need to do that again soon!
See you!
Heidi ("The" Heidi!) ha ha!
http://www.heidisongs.com
http://heidisongs.blogspot.com
And here I sit in Palm Desert which is a lot closer than San Jose. I'll have to plan my trip better next time so I can make one of your meet ups! SO jealous!
Jenn
Finally in First
I totally wish I was in California!!
I love snarky people so I say stick with the snark!!!
Marvelous Multiagers!
Kristin – had a blast with you…you totally cracked me up. I love your sense of humor. Too bad we didn't get any pics but I was a little late – LOL Happy first day back. :o)
Vicky
Traditions Laughter and Happily Ever After
Oh don't change anything about how you blog! You're perfectly hilarious!
Don't change a thing about your blog- you make me laugh every time I read it! Glad you had fun!
How fun! I am so jealous!! Are you still coming here in June? If so, we must meet up. 🙂 I love your posts. You are so honest and say what most of us are thinking. Don't! Change. A. Thing!!
<>< Crystal