Real Friends … July 20, 2012

This summer Tammy and I have gotten more prepared for next year. We have completed a math journal, ran off memory book templates, science journals, writing prompts, ABC creations, and so much more. I am so thankful to have a co-worker who is not only my co-worker but also my friend and cousin.
When I took the job at my school, I didn’t know who my co-worker would be. Of course, hoping we would meet and get along great is what you want. It is always a plus when you have someone to bounce ideas off of and plan with. I got so much more! While talking we found out that we are cousins. My grandma and her mom grew up in the same town just a mile apart.
During all the mean less drama this summer, she has been there to listen to it and talk me through it. As I have done for her. Some say friendship is a two way street – very true both have to meet in the middle to work. My friendship with Tammy is just that. We both pull our wait in the friendship.

Friendships

During my trip to DC with the Oklahoma teacher’s union, I got to know more people from my school district and can call a few more of them friends. I enjoyed walking between the conference center and our hotel every day and chatting with Stephanie and Kari. (Thanks girls!!)

During the conference, Vice President Biden came to speak with us. Last year the line was a 2 1/2 hour wait to get to our seats. We were asked not to brig bags, but many people did. This year to help with lines there was a ‘no bag line’ and a ‘bag line’. Stephanie, Kari, and I decided to take the chance and carry our purse into the conference. Well … It was a great decision!! Our ‘bag line’ was so short!!!

While waiting for Biden’s speech and everyone to get in and take their seats, a delegate from California came to talk with us. She teaches 2nd grade and had taught the 1st graders that were going to be her students a lesson over “Flat Stanley”. The students then made themselves like a flat Stanley. She asked if we would take “Flat Linda” back to one of of classrooms and take pictures of her with students. I now have Flat Linda, but we took a few pictures of her at the conference.

Flat Linda loved hanging from the chair!

Flat Linda also loved Subway!

My family and my fellow union members (friends) also went to watch the fireworks on the 4th by the Washington Monument. It was amazing go be in DC for this holiday!!

Billy and Jayden before it started.

Kari, Stephanie, and I (with the boys peeking in!)

Brenda and I before the show

Jayden during the fireworks

One of my favorites

The fireworks went on for such a long time. They were beautiful and continuous.

Overall, my trip to DC was outstanding! I made memories with my family, my friends, my union (at local, state, and nation level). I am thankful to be in a profession that I love and to work beside others who love it! I am a proud member of the teacher’s union!

Family in DC July 7, 2012

During my trip to DC, my family enjoyed a few days of site seeing and many very hot walks!! We arrived two days early to enjoy some family time before I had to hit the meetings. Most of our adventures were amazing and than a few were not so amazing!

We enjoyed eating at five guys. Thank goodness the guy told us to only order one order of fries for us all!

We saw the coolest pop machines at Five Guys!!

Our hotel was nice, but had some strange things going on. For example, no ice machines, you had to call and have house keeping bring up a bucket of ice. There were no pop, water, or snack machines, but the hotel gave us free bottles of water. Our hotel had nice, big wine glasses which my family used for ice cold water!! Jayden loved using the glasses!! He thought it was so cool that the glasses were so big and had a stem for him to hold! Fun times!!

Before the conference, we have an area where you can register for drawings, drawings, and more drawings! I chose not to enter them this year. Also, in that area there are tons of free things for us. We enjoyed looking around the booths and spinning the wheels for prizes. Within the expo this year, there was a mini golf game. Jayden and Billy decided to try. Billy helped Jayden aim the golf ball to protect everyone around.

Then we watched to see if it went in the hole!

What a great trip we had!! We saw some amazing sites! We had many long, HOT walks. Now hopefully at home we can enjoy so actual sleep!!

Jayden and I being silly on the trip!!