New Classroom

I have a different room this year...same floor but down the hall. Bonus: it's much bigger than the room I had last year.  Double Bonus: The intercom works in this room so I'll actually be able to hear morning announcements this year - and know when we're having lock down drills. Yep...last year we did not participate in one of the lock down drills because I had zero knowledge that one was taking place!  You can imagine how grateful I was that it was just a drill.  

 I've spent a couple days this week working at school to get my room in order and I am about 90% done.  

These pictures were taken very early in the process so they are nowhere near the finished product. 

I'll get pictures next week of the finished room.  There will be four 2nd grade classrooms this year.  My partner teacher from last year moved to New York so the three remaining positions were going to be taken by one of our 1st grade teachers (last year) who wanted to move up a grade, and the two 5th grade teachers (last year) who wanted to move down.  

However, in the past couple weeks, both of the 5th grade teachers have resigned/quit/got fired (not sure which one) so two new teachers need to be hired.  This leaves me as the team  lead this year.  I'm not to sure about that title since common core still confuses/frustrates/angers (all three) me.  

Hoping for a great school year.   

Summer By The Numbers

I know that summer doesn't officially end until the middle of September, but since we are only a couple weeks from starting another school year (yay)...I wanted to take a second and recap some of the things we did.  

4 - the number of movies we have seen.  This is more than the past two years combined.  We have seen Guardians of the Galaxy twice, Spiderman, and Planet of the Apes.  Yep...that's right; I saw it.  Definitely not a movie I would have seen under normal circumstances but Monday evening found us at Universal during some torrential rains so rather than walking around the park getting soaked, we went to the Cineplex to see the movie.  My opinion?  It was okay.  The ending was odd (spoiler alert...Caesar dies) but I enjoyed the time spent with the boys.

5 - the number of times I woke up before 10:00!  Yikes!  My body is in for a shock when school begins.  

6 - the number of times I was able to work at Universal this summer.  As I said, I spent the entire month of June waiting for them to put me in the schedule. I really would have liked to work more but it is what is.  I am just grateful for the hours I was able to get. 

5 - the number of days my mom was here visiting.  We had so much fun that week watching movies, eating out, visiting with a friend, and going to Universal.  

Someone took this great picture of my parents at a party they went to...

57 - the number of days left until Halloween Horror Nights!!!!!

I am so ready!

Rainbow

Last week on Saturday, walking back to wardrobe after my work shift, there was a huge, full rainbow right over Universal.  It was so big, in fact, that I could not get it all in one picture.  As usual, pictures do not do justice to the beauty of the real thing. 

About Me

Full Name: Judy Lynn Koeck

Maiden Name: Olson

Born: November 30 in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Grew Up:  Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Now Live:  Orlando, Florida

Went to School: Elementary School - Sacred Heart. High School (Catholic Private School) - Lourdes Academy (Catholic Private School). College - University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. 

First Job: I started babysitting at about 12.  My first 'real' job was at a bakery.  It didn't last long though because the owner came into the store one night drunk and called me a liar while spewing out a string of obscenities.  

Current Job:  I actually have 3.  My main job is a 2nd grade teacher at Kid's Community College.  I also tutor at Huntington Learning Center, and do seasonal work (Christmas and Summer) at Universal Studios.  

Other Jobs:  Lots of them. I've worked at a few Day Care Centers, taught at various schools, and was a waitress when my kids were little and I was staying home with them.  

Favorite Job:  Without a doubt it was when I was teaching at Valley Christian School.  

Favorite Color: Pink, pink and more pink

Favorite Thing To Do:  Go to sporting events and theme parks (or really do anything) with my boys.  

Least Favorite Thing To Do:  Get up in the morning. I am truly a night owl.

Favorite Food:  I don't really have one

Children:  Three sons...Christopher Lee, Jr., Jonathan David, and Zachary Scott.

Other Names Considered:  For C.J. -none for a boy (I really thought I was having a girl so we did not really discuss boy's name).  If he was a girl, he probably would have been named Courtney.  For Jonathan, we did not start discussing names until after we new he would be a boy so we did not have a girl's name picked out.  Up until a week before he was born, we were going to name him Taylor. For Zachary - if he had been a girl, he would have been Sarah.  Aaron was a strong contender for a boy's name and, really, he was very, very close to being named that. 

Pets:  When I was younger, we had a Shetland Sheepdog named Laddie.  He lived to be almost 16.  I also had two cats at one point named Brittany and Brooke.  I ended up giving them away because they (or one of them) kept peeing and pooping everywhere. Right now I have a Jack Russel mix name Ollie.  
  
Most Embarrassing Moment:  I've had many like when I accidentally walked into the Men's Room at Disney, or the time I accidentally dropped (but didn't notice that I had dropped them)  a couple tampons in the McDonald's parking lot and they were picked up by a very attractive young man who then yelled loudly as he ran after me, "ma'am, you dropped something."  But the most embarrassing moment would have to be fainting in the shower at the hospital after I had my oldest son. I blacked out and when I came to, I was in a chair with about 5 nurses around me and nothing on - not even a towel to cover me up.  

Another Year Goes By

We had a great time celebrating C.J. tonight and, because he cringes at the thought of drawing attention to himself through wild and obnoxious birthday announcements by waitstaff in a restaurant, we celebrated quietly with some amazing food at Bubba Gump on City Walk.  

Then we walked across to the Cineplex and saw Guardians of the Galaxy 2 which has quickly become one of his favorite movies. 

I know it sounds cliche', but I cannot believe how quickly time goes.  I feel like I blinked and he is now a grown man.  But, to me, he will always be my baby boy.

Spiderman Experience

Last evening Zack, C.J., and I went to the IMAX Pointe Orlando to see Spiderman: Homecoming in 3D.

They've even installed new seating since we were last there two years ago to see Jurassic World. 

Never ever did I think I would be interested in superhero movies but having boys has altered my views on this.  I just love spending time with my boys no matter what we are doing but I find myself actually enjoying these movies too. And, I'm sure, seeing it in IMAX 3D made the movie even better.  

It's a Good Thing He Doesn't Have a Video Camera

I am sure everyone has heard the story of the boyfriend/girlfriend who had the brilliant idea of acting out a dangerous stunt to increase their YouTube viewership.  

In case you haven't - here is a link to the story...
Spoiler Alert:  It did not end well!

When YouTube Stunt Turns Deadly

There has been a lot of unkind comments about how stupid they are but everything needs to be put into perspective. These kids were young. The rational part of a person's brain is not fully developed until the age of 25.  

In fact, I don't agree with the charges of 2nd degree manslaughter.  In my opinion, either involuntary or negligent manslaughter are a better fit for this situation - but that is just my opinion.  

So anyway, the other day I was talking about this with Zack and told him that I would hope he would have more sense than that and realize that internet fame is not worth putting your life in jeopardy.  To which he replied, "Oh...I don't know."  

Like I said -brains not fully developed yet!