I will SURVIVE!!!

Ok, so for starters let me tell you about my first week of teaching. The very first day of school I had a student tell another he was going to "beat his a**" What a start! Let's just say I have an interesting group of children this year. Apparently the entire school thinks that the 1st grade class as a whole is a troublesome group. It made me feel a little better knowing that the other 3 teachers were in for just as much of a challenge as I was. So at the end of the week I had already sent 7 letters home and talked to 4 parents either on the phone or after school. Needless to say after the first week I was slightly stressed.
Secondly I am not used to being away from Maddie or Josh this much and I miss them terribly. I know that I have been spoiled by getting to stay home for Maddies first year, and I am glad that I am working, its just an adjustment that I will have to get used to. (It probobly wouldnt bother me so much, but I think she is starting to favor daddy more than me, and Im not used to that AT ALL).
Lastly, my daughter 1 year and 9 days old is officially staying the night away from me for the first time in her/my life. We dropped her off at my mom and dads around 8 tonight so Josh and I can wake up early in the morning and go to Miles and do some dove hunting. I know that this would happen sooner or later and I just need to let go, but MAN this is HARD!!! Josh and I have however done alot of cleaning tonight and are actually making some progress that would not have happened had we had Maddie here.

SO

All three of my new and exciting events in my life have caused me much stress, happiness, and emotional outpoor. I was good on Friday when I got home until I saw Josh and then for some reason I just started bawling like a big baby. I also cried tonight when we drove off from my parents house without my beautiful daughter. So please, say a prayer for me to be strong, not only for myself but for my students and my family. I know that I have lots to give, I just need to find a way to do it.

Maddie's Birthday!

This is Maddie showing us how old she is.
These are the cakes that I made for her birthday. Strawberry w/ pink icing, White w/ purple icing, and Maddies was strawberry also.
Maddie was still more interested in the decorations at this point, she had stuck her hands in the cake but wasnt sure what it was since this was the first one she has ever had.
But once she got a good taste....yummy! She ate at least 1/3 of that cake, I am shocked that she didnt have a tummy ache.

She got lots of wonderful presents and had lots of friends and family come to her party, I was very glad to see it turn out like I planned! I also think God was holding onto the rain for me because even though it was supposed to rain several times that week it didnt, and about an hour after we left the park it started pouring!

Happy 1st Birthday Maddie!!

Well, after being at a workshop all day long yesterday I got home at about 5:15, then started on Maddie's birthday cakes (2 flower cakes and a 6 inch cake specifically for her). I just finished 10 minutes ago, it is now 12:25 am. All for my dear darling daughter!! Anyway, I have to go to work tomorrow and finish everything that needs to be done by Monday for the first day of school, so I had to make the cakes tonight. I am exhausted!! I still have to put party favor bags together, wash some clothes, and I was going to do some stuff for school...but that will wait till tomorrow. So by the time I get to bed it will be 2 or so and then I have to get up about 7 to take a shower and get to work. As excited as I am for today to be Maddie's birthday, I am not being able to enjoy it as much as I thought because I have so much going on at the moment. Just keep me in your prayers tomorrow and pray that I get everything accomplished and with a SMILE on my face! SO....now that I have that off my chest, let me get to the original reason for this post.



My daughter is 1 year old today, and I have to agree with Amy when she says that the first year has flown by. I am so blessed that God made it possible for me to stay at home with her during the first year, so much happened and I got to be there for all of it! As for her history (copying Amys post for D'Laney :) She was born at 2:22 pm on Aug 22nd. She weighed 8 pounds 1 oz, and 20 inches long. We have been very lucky that this 1st year has been a healthy one, no trips to the doctor besides the monthly checkups. She is full of personality and seems to always be happy (unless she is teething, then she turns a 180 and becomes a screamer) I have baby pictures but they are on Joshs computer so i will finish this post tomorrow, and that way I can let you know how her birthday party turned out!

Then and Now

This was my first trip to Shreveport, LA about 5 years ago...during Josh and I's first year together. The waterfountain is at the Horseshoe Hotel/Casino that Joshs parents stayed at while we were there the first time. We were not old enough to gamble then so we just went to the mall and hung out in the hotel. Josh, Lacy, and I stayed in 2 different hotels while we were there, it was really fun.
This is our picture in front of the same waterfountain only 5 years later and quite a few pounds heavier, lol. We were actually old enough to gamble this time, and we had a great time! Josh, Maddie, and I stayed at the Horseshoe this time with Jeff and Sue which was nice because Sue helped out alot with Maddie so I could do a little gambling with Josh.
Maddie's 1st of many trips to Shreveport Im sure. If you are a Schoenfield you like to gamble.
Our room had a wall that was mirrors from floor to ceiling and Maddie spent lots of time looking at herself, she is easily entertained.
She also liked to look out the window. You can see lots of other hotel/casinos, and the river. She just kept pointing and saying....KUEL (which is supposed to be cool, but she says it kinda funny)


So as for our 2 year anniversary, it was so great! I have a wonderful sister in law who loves her niece and offered to watch her while we went to eat and to the movies. We splurged and ate at Red Lobster (Josh's favorite) and then went to see The Dark Knight, which was really good! Not romantic, but there really wasnt anything else out that I felt like watching. So after it was over we went to pick Maddie up at Lacy's and she had bought us a piece of cheesecake and a gift card from McAlisters! YUM, she is so thoughtful and we love her for everything she does for us!

The great thing about it all though is Josh and I are more in LOVE today than we ever have been and it just gets better every day.

Happy 2 year Anniversary

Today is our 2 year anniversary and I just have to say these have been the best 2 years of my life! Josh is so amazing and supportive in everything that we do. I have to go to work right now, but I will write a better Anniversary blog tonight!

One Week Down!!

• So this week was very interesting, I have learned a lot of new things, and I have met tons of new people. I am not very good with names, so I am having a heck of a time remembering all the teachers in the school that I work with. I have got quite a bit accomplished this week, but I still have a ways to go till my room is complete! I was given $200 as a new teacher to spend anyway I liked at the Teacher Store, and that was great! It went farther than I thought, cause I bought a $80 double sided pocket chart stand and still had lots of stuff after that. (Being a teacher also means I get 10% discount on all purchases there too)
• The hardest thing about this week has been being away from Maddie and Josh for so long. I get there about 8 and have been working on my room till about 6 so that only leaves me with 4 hours of time with Maddie before she goes to sleep. I know once things get going I will be able to go home earlier, but for now I am going through baby withdraws, lol.
• This next week is going to be soooo busy, but very exciting! It will be my last chance to get myself prepared for 1st grade, as well as my 2 year anniversary on the 19th, and Maddie's 1 year birthday on the 22nd! What a week!!
• Maddie is still not walking, but we have progressed to pushing the walker around the living room, she just wont let go! She stands on her own every now and again, but I wouldnt be surprised if she walked any day now. She has 3 teeth and they are all on the bottom.
• Maddie's one year appointment is on Monday which is my 1st day of school, so I will have to meet Josh up there as soon as I can leave work. I will be very upset if I have to miss it, because as strange as it may be I look foward to doctors visits.

Whoo Hooo!

A Great Day is turning into a Great Week!! After all the excitment on Monday, I did get the official call on Tuesday offering me the job! Then we headed to Shreveport, LA for 3 days. It was Maddie's first trip out of Texas, and my first time to gamble there. I didnt get to gamble much because I kept Maddie for the most part, but Josh's mom watched her some so Josh and I could go together. The first night Jeff made me play Craps a little, and I ended up winning 20 bucks and then decided I was good. Then I went to a slot machine and ended up 40 cents ahead. So I was a happy camper. The next day we went to Bass Pro Shop, and the Boardwalk which is like a outlet strip, it was fun and Maddie got to ride on a little Trolley. That night I got another chance to go gamling again, and this time I went straight for the Black jack table which is my favorite! It was awesome because our family and friends had the whole table. I ended up winning 200 dollars!!!! I couldnt believe it. We also ate many wonderful buffets, so needless to say I could not eat for a week and still be full, hehe. Maddie got her 3rd bottom tooth in while we were there so she had a rough night the first night, but it was better the second. Still no top teeth though.
Well I really need to get some sleep since I have some Curriculum, technology, and something else training tomorrow at 8:30. I also have to fill out my papers, but I guess I will have to do that when the training is over. I know that as much as I need to sleep I wont be able to for hours. I will just lay there and go over and over and over in my head all the things that are fixing coming up! The good news is that I have 200 dollars to get me started on a wardrobe for teaching, so I get to go shopping this weekend too! I just dont see how this week could get any better!?! I will fill you in on how my day goes tomorrow and also post a few pictures of our trip tomorrow! But for now I guess I will go lay in my bed and stare at my ceiling :)

What A DaY!!!!

• To start things off, this morning I got the official call from the Instructional Aid lady that deals with the hiring of all aids in SAISD. So right off the bat this morning I had to respectively decline and told her I did not want to take the chance of missing out of a full time teaching opportunity by taking the aid position. She then informed me that at this point in the year my chances of getting a job were not likely. So I finished that call feeling kind of down because I said no, and I hate doing that. Then about 3 hours later I get another call from SAISD, and it turned out to be the principle of Fannin Elementary. She was one of the 3 principles that I had interviewed with back in May. She said she just had a position become available and wanted me to come in and talk with her. So 1 hour later, I went to talk with her and I felt good about our conversation as I left, even though she still had other applicants she had to get with. I was told that I would find out by tomorrow one way or the other. So I am pretty excited at this point, you know...hopeful, scared, nervous...all balled up in one BIG EMOTION....what that emotion is called Im not sure? Anyway so I had a nice trip to get a pedicure with Lacy and Katy and then I went to the mall to get a few things and I just happened to be rummaging around in Belles when I see the Fannin Secretary...she apparently works two jobs. Well after beating around the bush for a few minutes she finally just told me that I got the job and I had to promise her I would act surprised when the principle calls me tomorrow!!! Yeah...You can now call me Mrs. Schoenfield! 1st Grade teacher....GOD IS GOOD!!!
• Secondly, I am supposed to head to Shreveport, LA first thing in the morning until Thursday. I am super stoked about that and hope that this new job doesnt cause me to have to return home on Wednesday, because apparently First Year Teacher Orinetation starts on Thursday or Friday and goes into next week. So there is a chance I will have to drive back on Wednesday, depending on what the principle says tomorrow. She knows of my trip and said not to worry about it, so Im not sure what that means. This will be Maddie's first official trip out of Texas!
• Lastly, I will start work on the 12th....that is only 8 days away, and I have NOTHING, ZILCH, NADA SQUADA!! So the next few weeks will be quite stressful, but a good stress!
• Having this job will be a big change in several ways, but I am ready and excited to get started, and I have to admit the money will be a nice Bonus, hehe!!