no place I'd rather be

| THIS MORNING |

I would have been sharpening a gigantic handful of brand new pencils, watching bits of shaved pencil dust fly onto the freshly clean carpet.

I would have written the first date for the year on the white board next to 'Mrs. Williamson'.

I would have smiled at 25+ smiling yet nervous little faces and welcomed them with open arms back to another year of school.

I would have been wearing a pencil skirt that spent the summer months on a hanger in my closet to be replaced with capris and flip flops.

I would have put an emphasis on getting to know them all day long and trying to make them laugh at my silly jokes.

I would have started my FAVORITE teacher read aloud, Goblins in the Castle by Bruce Coville, and smiled contently as I watched their eyes grow with excitement at the turn of every page and hear the many sad sighs when read aloud was over for the day closing the book at the best cliff hanger yet.

 I would have sat with them at lunch and asked them about their families, what they love, what they did over the summer, and most importantly, what they are looking forward to during the school year.

I would have taken their pictures so that they had something to remember this special day by for the rest of their lives.

At the end of the day, I would have reluctantly said goodbye to 25+ of my new best little friends until tomorrow while also simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief from a whirl wind of a day that first days of school always are.

I would have gotten to share all the ups and downs of the day with my favorite teacher friend across the hall.

Then I would have taken one last final glance around the room, making sure to take one last look at every child's name tag in hopes that I had every single one of them completely memorized before turning off the light, closing the door, and driving home to get some rest before I started it all over again the very next day.

| INSTEAD |

I got to wake up to the stirring sounds of a well rested baby across the hall, his drawn out cooing sounds communicating to me that 'yes mommy, I'm definitely hungry'.

I got to bring him into our warm cozy bed and snuggle him while he happily nursed beside me.

We got to watch daddy whirl around the room getting ready for work and putting on my favorite dress shirt and tie.

I got to carry Liam out into the kitchen and make both my boys their favorite breakfast, Nic scrambled eggs and peanut butter toast and Liam a half of a banana, some baby oatmeal, and a handful or two of puffs!

I got to snuggle Liam on the couch while we spent a lazy morning watching a few minutes of Micky Mouse Clubhouse in our jammies and playing with his favorite toys.

I got to rock him until his eyes drifted to sleep at nap time.

I got to be there when he woke up from his nap, his smiling face showing me how happy he was to see me as I opened the door.

We got to go grocery shopping for ingredients to try out new recipes, an experience where Liam tried his very best to swipe everything off the shelves that were in his reach when mommy wasn't looking.

We got to repeat those precious nap moments for the second time that we experienced earlier in the day.

We got to have a mommy and baby play date together with new friends at the park.

We got to dance in the kitchen and sing along to our favorite country songs as we got dinner ready and welcomed our favorite guy home from work at the end of the day. 

Teaching was my passion. I'm still passionate about it and I loved the little lives I got to be apart of and the teacher friends I made. But today, more than ever, there was no place I would have rather been then at home with my little guy. Ever since I've had Liam, my heart is wherever he is and while teaching was my favorite job outside the home, I'm so grateful I don't have to leave my heart behind anymore. I hope he always remembers these special days with me filled with snuggles, slow mornings, endless smiles, and dancing in the kitchen. Because I know that I always will. Today I got to live my dream job and I get to do it again tomorrow! I've never felt more lucky.  

being a working mom

It is spring break for me and I have been looking forward to this week since the day I went back to work in January! One of the biggest things I have learned so far as a new mom is that you can't ever fully prepare yourself for what it will be like to have a baby. Nic and I were so ready to start a family and Liam has been nothing short of our biggest blessings so far. I tell you what though, being a work mom is HARD. Before having Liam I knew that it would likely be difficult going back to teaching for the rest of the school year but it seems I was more naive than I thought. I'd definitely be lying if I didn't say it has been incredibly hard on both Nic and I. It is amazing how your priorities quickly change when you have a little one to be thinking about all day. Being a mom has changed me.

So if you have been wondering where I've been... Truthfully I've been buried in a mountain of papers to grade, a lesson plan book that never seems to be filled, and a class that seems to have forgotten over the last few months that we have classroom rules. It makes me crazy when people say all the time how being a teacher is the best mommy job. It definitely is in the summer but during the school year is a different story. I can't just walk away at 4:00 every day and leave work behind me for the evening if I want to keep up and help my students succeed. I've been going to bed as soon as I can brush my teeth after my little guy closes his eyes (8:00) yet he has lost all the sleep training progress we worked so hard on before I went back to work leaving us both in a constant walking zombie state during the day from waking every 2 hours to a crying baby. On top of it all, our brand new year old house flooded and here we are a month later with only the drying finished and the new tile down, still with a million other things that need fixing. The shining ray of light in all of that chaos though has been soaking up every precious second in the evenings that I have with my 2 favorite boys!!  

So where was I?! Ah yes, Spring Break. I am convinced that this week was designed more for teachers than it ever was for students. This week has been complete bliss so far and we are excited to have daddy home with us for a 4 day weekend starting tomorrow! Blogging is my "me time" that I have had to let go of over the last few months and it feels so amazing to get to sit down and write today. I have so much to share over the next several days that I hope I have the time to fit it all in. But if not, 8 more weeks until summer! 

Before I go, I'll leave you with a recent picture of our silly little Liam who is 5 months old already! When did that happen?! I'm quickly learning the meaning behind a frequent phrase I hear from most parents... "They grow too darn fast!", 

hello, august!

Happy first day of August!

We have been excited for this month to come. :) 

via 

{A look into what this month holds for us...}

1 :: We put in our 30 days notice for this little apartment of ours. While I'm beyond excited to move into our first home, I also know that I'm going to miss this place. A bittersweet goodbye! After all, it was the first place we lived together and for that alone it will always have a special place in our hearts. 

4 :: Our best friends Beau and Mindy and their daughter Ari are coming into town to visit! They recently moved to Arizona for PA school {boo} and we sure have missed them!

6 :: I am starting my second professional development class for the summer! It is a classroom management slash prepping a classroom for first year teachers class. I'm hoping that I walk away from it that much more prepared to start the school year. 

9 - 12 :: We are headed on a family vaca to a family reunion on my mom's side in the lovely state of Washington. A vacation with my husband who really loves Washington but but has never spent any time in Seattle. What?! Pike Place Market and the Pier, here we come! It will be wonderful seeing extended family that we only get to see about once a year.

13 :: The date that we are supposed to close on our house!!! :) Which also means it is moving day!

15 - 17 :: Road trip to Boise for my step brother and his fiance's wedding! We are very happy for them. He definitely picked a sweetheart!

22 :: Staff Orientation Day which means back to school for me, ahh! How did that get here so fast, yet how did it take SO long! I've mentioned it before but it is a crazy situation when you are hired for a new job in May but don't start until August. The anticipation is full of excitement and nerves for me. 

28 :: The first day of school!

Look at that crazy, exciting month! Hope I'm still standing on two feet by the end of it. ;)

happenings

It has been over 100 for the past few days, all of which I have spent sweltering in our apartment. It left cause for spending two hours in the public library yesterday. I found the books I wanted to check out within the first five minutes but the AC on fully blast in that place was pure heaven so I pretended to be interested in every section just to wander around in the pleasant 68 degrees. Also, have you been to the library in the summer time?! There are some straaaange people that hang out there during the day. And I became one of them yesterday. HA But today... today is 95 degrees, and while it is still hot, it feels much more manageable.

But I'll still probably be sitting as close to my portable AC as I can, while I ooo and ahh over my cute little cleaning fanatic. She is so adorable!



In other news, I signed my contract with the school district yesterday and it just feels so much more official. Almost as if a weight was lifted. Not that I didn't actually believe I got the job but getting hired in May and not starting employment until August is sort of a strange situation. I have been in my classroom a few times now and feel so giddy to start in August!

Nic has the next two days off for the fourth and I'm so happy about it! It will be a fun filled four day weekend over here! Try saying that 10 times fast! ;)
Happy Fourth of July Eve!

the end of something wonderful and the beginning of something even better

A couple weeks ago I had my last day of student teaching with my second graders at Tyhee Elementary. When I applied for my student teaching internship I had 3 completely different schools listed on my application. Tyhee was not one of them. When I had my first interview with the professor over my student teaching internship, she pointed me in a few different directions. I remember walking away from the interview feeling confused and no longer knowing where to student teach. What made it even more confusing was not knowing anything about any of the schools that she had suggested.

After experiencing this semester, I definitely believe it was divine intervention that I felt drawn to picking Tyhee. I had no specific reason to. In fact, on a list of about 4 other school choices, I just made a leap and went for it, truly hoping it would be a good experience. Well, now I can say it wasn't a good experience, it was an incredible one. My cooperating teacher and I were so similar it was unreal. I'm so grateful for these people who taught me more than I could have ever imagined.

{cooperating teacher}                                            {university supervisor} 

and a little video of my graduation celebration held by the College of Education at ISU where I received a completion of student teaching certificate. :) Still waiting on that diploma in the mail.

p.s. Yes, the whistling is coming from my husband in the background. haha

After an incredibly intimidating round of interviews, I accepted my first teaching position at Lewis and Clark Elementary in the third grade. I could not be more excited!!! Their colors are even blue and yellow {my high school colors}. How crazy is that! Going back to my roots. While I'm sad to be closing such a wonderful chapter in my life, I'm thrilled to be opening a new one in a place I feel completely welcome surrounded by people who I believe will end up becoming some of my closest friends in the coming months. :) Happy Graduation to me indeed!

goodbye summer, hello first day of school

                             

                                   * Inspired by and linking up with Lisa Leonard's Hello Mondays!

Hello to a Monday I've been looking forward to for a reallllly long time now! 

{as in four years} :)

Hello to waking up to the beautiful sunrise that I've missed all summer.

Hello name badge that I get to wear to my first day of teaching fifth grade tomorrow!
Hello favorite TOMS shoes and thrifted button up.

Hello PE Methods class. Yep, I've been putting you off until the very last semester.

Hello cute little backpack that I open up multiple times a day just to see the polka dots inside.  

                                     
                                      Hello permanent smile, I don't see you leaving any time soon!  
                                          Hello last year of college... I thought you'd never come.

and a very happy Monday to you and you and YOU! :)

xo

an update

because a blog post isn't a post without a picture, AND because i love this quote - via

Where did last week even go?! I swear it is an exhausting blur looking back. I got an offer to teach a couple science classes to elementary and middle school aged kids at the local history museum and it started last week. Summer seemed so relaxing until it came to a screeching halt at 6 a.m. on Monday morning. I forgot what it was like to wake up to an alarm over my last two spoiled months. On top of preparing lessons and teaching, I also had my certification exam (the Praxis) on Saturday. Those things are so silly. I memorized hundreds of meaningless facts like the12 main deserts in the world or every president along with their years in office from Washington on down. Well, 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, I went and showed how many of those silly little facts I could put onto paper to prove that I am great teacher. And wait for it... 4 more weeks until I find out if I even passed. Silly I tell you! I just might even forget I took it by then. ha

In other news, you may have noticed the changes around here! When I finally came up for air on Sunday I spent some 'me' time redesigning this little blog and adore how it turned out. I finally added social media icons that I promised AT LEAST two months ago as well as a FAQ page. If there is something you are curious about, ask away :)

Today I started week two of teaching at the museum and it is proving to be very different than my experience last week. I had 1st-3rd graders last week and taught them about oceans and coral reefs. On the first day I had them make submarines out of cardboard boxes that they could sit in while "exploring the ocean" because you can't breathe underwater after all. Well, what I thought would be a short little activity turned into HOURS of fun! They added parascopes, propellers, windows, sea life and waves on the outside. Those little creative geniuses I tell you what :) This week however I have 5th-7th graders and so far they are proving to be little sticks in the mud which makes me sad. They don't quite have the spark of excitement about learning that the littler ones do. I also think the idea of learning about science in the summer isn't quite as fun as riding your bike with your friends at that age. But, it has been a great learning opportunity for me as a teacher and I'm loving every minute of it!

4 years.

4 years ago I was stepping out of my little Oldsmobile, Alero, 
staring completely wide-eyed at the run-down 7 story building that would be my new home.

To make it even more unreal than it already was in that moment,
my mom and I began unloading our cars of the things I had brought with me,
hauling them up the elevator to my room on the seventh floor.
We unpacked together for a while,
most of that time filled with my mom's buzzing words of excitement.
You are going to love it here, I just know it. 
You will have so much fun meeting lots of new people.

I was quiet mostly,
trying desperately to take it all in.
I didn't really want to admit it at the time but I was pretty terrified.

A million thoughts were racing through my head...
You chose this remember? 
You are strong enough for this. 
Every day will get a little easier. 
And you know what, it did.

The girl who stood alone in a cafeteria filled with hundreds of strangers,
The girl with tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched her mom pull away,
The girl who didn't quite feel like herself and was truly shy for the first time in her life,
I don't even know that girl anymore.

The truth is - my life changed here.
And for the first time, I began to discover who I was, on my own, completely independent from the comfortable life I was living at home.

I've learned some hard lessons...
That my big group of friends from high school who I thought I would remain close to forever, would all move away. We would slowly lose touch and they would simply become a fond memory from my past. A faded photograph that I think of from time to time but not very often anymore.
That it is important to do what you love no matter what anyone else says, even when it isn't the best paying career you could choose.

And some lessons that were unexpected...
That I would find love when I least expected it.
That I have a confidence among strangers that I never knew I had.
That I am strong and independent all on my own.

But most of all, I've learned who I truly am.
And I have these last 4 years to thank for that.

 

thoughts on being a teacher

via

I realized something valuable today that I don't want to ever forget. While I was at work, I am a receptionist at a dental clinic by the way, one of the dentists approached me and wanted to know the cost of tuition at ISU. His daughter is graduating from high school this year and is thinking about attending. The moment I responded with the answer he was looking for my boss, overhearing this conversation, chimed in and asked him what his daughter wanted to major in. With a semi-disappointed look on his face followed by a sigh he muttered, "a teacher" - a response that almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself that it was a joke. I could tell he was embarrassed to say it out loud but not as embarrassed as when my boss said, "Oh, Meagan is going into education!" It was as if he wanted to crawl out of the room with his tail between his legs.

This one experience made me realize that this is not the only time this situation has happened to me. Over and over again I get the same response when anyone asks me what I am going in to. One memory in particular stands out - One of my favorite high school teachers that I admired said, "Why would you ever want to do that? You are way to smart to be a teacher. You would be wasting your talents." I was floored!

And I can tell you that all of these experiences made me react the very same way.

I began to defend my career choice.
Then I'd question why I even chose it in the first place.

I know today won't be the last time that I am faced with this situation but it will certainly be the last that I will feel a need to defend myself or question why I chose it because I KNOW why I chose it.

I chose it to make a difference.
To see the glow in a child's eyes when they learn something new.
To be someone they can depend on when they have no one else.
To teach them things that will make them successful in this world.
And because it makes me incredibly happy.

I am proud of my career choice. The truth is, I know I was meant to be a teacher. Life is too short not to do what you love and what makes you truly happy, and that is something I never want to forget.

Can I just tell you...

via

I am one very lucky girl.

Yesterday I found myself in a "woah is me" mindset.
I came home grouchy to my sweet husband.
Took all of my frustrations out on him.
I complained about the pile of homework that continued to rise higher no matter how much I accomplished.
The same pile of homework that kept me up until one in the morning.
And believe me, a one in the morning kind of night does not look so good on this girl the next day.
I stressed over the giant weight that seemed to force me to tears at the thought of finals week only being a week away.
I was just...
discouraged
tired
and in need of a break.
When I felt like one more day might push me to my breaking point, I was reminded of how truly lucky I am and suddenly felt 100% better.

I am a firm believer that people come into your life for a reason.
For a purpose you may begin to understand right away,
or you may never know.
Both of which cause me to see the world from a different perspective,
to find out who I really am,
to make me grow into the person I am supposed to become,
and to feel more lucky than a girl could ever be.

***

On Monday night I heard an unexpected knock on my door.
Nic went to answer it only to find my favorite person standing on the other side, the Bishop's wife.
Let me just tell you, this woman is amazing.
She had in her hands a heater from her own home that she wanted to lend Nic and I for the winter.
Made my heart swell with gratitude.
I am lucky to have her in my life.

Last night when I felt overwhelmed, I took a study break.
A little blog stalking to be exact, my favorite kind of study break :)
Most of these woman (whether I have met them in person or not) truly inspire me with their talents and their heart that they share through their writing.
One of these women is Eva over at Delightful Creations.
Yesterday as I was happily reading one of her blog posts, I was thrilled to find out she had received the Liebster Blogging Award. {I had no idea what this was at the time}
So I kept reading and discovered that it is a pay-it-forward type of award for bloggers with less than 200 followers and that it means favorite or dearest.
Still smiling, I kept reading along.
A few more paragraphs down I wasn't expecting to find what I did.
When selecting 5 people to pass along this award to, I found my name on the list.
Me? I had to look at it a few times to make sure I wasn't just crazy. {Since I tend to be these days}
After only knowing each other for a week, it just blew me away.
It is people like Eva that completely make my day.
I  have been so inspired and lucky by the lives that have touched mine through this whole other world.

I am currently taking a special education class for my major this semester and last week I had an amazing opportunity.
Remember that man that had such a big impact on me that I talked about here?
I got to meet him!
He has been blind his entire life but it has in no way stopped him from anything.
He has an amazing outlook on life and is so willing to help people succeed.
It was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever had.
My class was able to go to the disability center (where he works) and where college students are able to receive extra assistance for whatever their needs may be.
This place has EVERYTHING from reading development programs, to magnifying projectors - even a brail printer!
yeahhhh, I know, I was amazed too!
I am grateful for this experience because it made me realize how lucky I am to have my sight, to have an opportunity to work with students with diverse needs, and the opportunity to help children succeed in school no matter their circumstance. {a big thanks to adaptive technology}

Need I say more?
When in need of a little reminder, all I had to do was take a look around me.

25 Credits Look Like.... One Step Closer

In case you were wondering,

This is what 25 credits look like......

I made it through my first week of school {and let me just say, it was a CLOSE call}!
6:30 a.m. wake up calls and late nights studying/paper writing/reading were a bit of a wake up call for me.

The other day I completely forgot my binder... yes, I was that annoying kid who had to sheepishly lean over to their neighbor and whisper (embarrassed beyond belief)
Me: "Do you have a piece of paper I can borrow" (I love how I always say borrow as if I am planning on returning it to them with all my scribbles at the end of class)
Annoyed Neighbor: "Uhh.. yeah."
Me: "Thank you so much, you are a life savor! It has been one of those mornings ya know.."
Neighbor: "(insert sigh) uh huh"

Then the next day I come trying to start up a conversation again..
Me: "Don't worry, I remembered to bring my binder today!"
Neighbor: "Good for you..."

I remember thinking to myself, well that didn't go very well. Thank you anyway friendly neighbor, you really did save me from writing a page of notes on my hand. I will be sure to never forget paper again, learned my lesson on that one!

Looking beyond that ginormous stack of books, I am THAT much closer to accomplishing my goal, fulfilling my dream, becoming a TEACHER!
I will be leaving this school with my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.

Being in the education program, I always get at least one teacher every semester who asks me why I want to become a teacher.
I've gotten to spend a lot of time really thinking about it and this is what I discovered.
I absolutely love the learning process.
There is something so incredible when you look into the eyes of one of your students and something changes.
The confusion fades.
The light bulb goes on.
A subtle smile emerges from their lips
A HUGE smile is plastered across my face every single time.

One of the first times I had an experience like this I was an elementary teacher aide in a special education classroom. I had been working with a girl who had a speech impediment and could barely make out a handful of words. She struggled even more with names. Every time I saw her she would always say "hi" but wasn't able to remember or say my name. I could tell she wanted to so badly. Sometimes I would think I even heard her try but it never kept her from always saying hello to me. I was having a particularly rough day one day and was feeling pretty down when I walked into the classroom. Trying to hide my emotions, I noticed her out of the corner of my eye hiding beneath a table giggling with another teacher. I could just tell by the way she was interacting with this teacher that today was a particularly good day for this little girl. In that moment I knew that being there was exactly what I needed to turn my mood around. It wasn't a few seconds after I walked in the room that she noticed me and I couldn't believe what happened next... She shouted "Hi Miss Meagan" with a huge grin on her face. It was as if my world turned upside down in that moment. I'll never forget it.

There is one other reason I love to teach. Teaching is my way of being able to make a difference in the world. Even if I end up only touching one child's life.. 5 years of college credits and the stress and sleepless nights that come along with them will be 100% worth EVERY SINGLE second.

......................................................................

On another note, I have been waiting all summer for a certain part of school that I was excited for. It may sound totally silly and cheesy but it didn't stop me from grinning on the first day when the teacher took role and called out "Meagan Williamson". :) I love being a Williamson. I hope I always get that giddy feeling every time I hear my name. So far it hasn't worn off.

Teaching with Technology

I LOVE being in my major because I now get to take classes that I actually enjoy!

But, for some reason I wasn't really looking forward to teaching with technology.

I didn't really know much about the class but not only is it a yucky three hours but it's also a night class. I thought it would be WAY different then it is. I'm LOVING this class!! It has actually been one of my favorite classes I have taken in my program so far :) SO I thought I would share a little creation that I made with you....

We were taught how to use a free program called Animoto where you can create picture/video slideshows and it's FREE to teachers.. love it. For our homework assignment we got to make a personal one, and I have been wanting to make a slideshow of Nic and I to play at our reception. Perfect opportunity?? I know right!

Needless to say, it is still a work in progress because I have to add baby/childhood pictures of each of us but here is where we actually started our lives together!

Enjoy :)

Our Story