Fables, North Shore and Conferences!

It has been quite busy here in Hawaii since my last post! Between our first field trip, a weekend up at the North Shore and preparing everything for parent conferences next week, I have been quite exhausted. Because of my tired state of being I made the mistake of getting a venti coffee after school today to help me get through the rest of the work I had to do! So instead of going to bed like I should be right now, I am bouncing off the walls with hyperness annoying my roommates ;)

Last week we went on our first field trip to the Hawaii Theatre to see "Fun with Fables!" It was a successful field trips without losing or damaging any children. :) But I must say as much as I love first graders, a bus full of them is NOT fun! Next field trip I may be bringing ear plugs for the ride. The Hawaii Theatre was gorgeous and all the kids enjoyed the field trip very much.

After week full of teaching, taking class pictures, going on a field trip and presenting at Exordium (kind of like our chapel), Laura and I offered to help watch the kids at the retreat for the church leaders this past weekend.  So after school on Friday we headed up to the North Shore where we stayed at Camp Erdman. Grace you will be interested to know that Camp Erdman is where they filmed the "Others" camp for Lost! So basically I was walking and sleeping where all the stars of Lost had been!! :)

It was a great weekend to get to know some of the families at Trinity a little better. The camp was gorgeous! As you stepped out of the cabin there were the mountains and on the other side was the ocean! Doesn't get much better than that.We spent Friday watching the kids and then having a camp fire with everyone. It reminded me a little bit of family camp, except that we were in Hawaii so it wasn't freezing on the beach! I am thinking that next year we should have camp here! It was so much fun to be able to take a walk on the beach at night and look up at the amazing amount of starts in the night sky and see the silhouette of the mountains! I love the beach at night. Saturday we got to take the kids on a hike. I must say that my only disappointment was that I didn't see any sea turtles like everyone had told me I would! After the weekend of watching kids and sleeping at camp Laura and I both came home, plopped down on the couch and didn't move for a long long long time! Being with all the kids this weekend was a lot of fun but it made me miss my lil babies back home! Miss you Oliver and Adam!!

This week is another busy week because we have parent conferences next week! I can't believe how fast the school year is already going. It has been a really smooth start to school and I have been enjoying teaching so much. I must admit I am a little more stressed this week though with all the grades and assignments I need to get into our grade book on the computer before conferences next week. But I will get it done, I always do. :) Fall break will be a welcome break from work! I am sooooooooooooo excited to get to spend the week with Grace! Don't worry Grace I am planning out our daily activities! You will have so much fun you will never want to leave Hawaii! :)

Well, I think I am going to go take some laps around the house so that I can get some sleep! ;) Love you all!

Jessica

Ready for the field trip in my beautiful Trinity blue polo!!

At the Hawaii Theatre waiting for the show to start!

On the way in the bus. Aren't they Cute!

 

Our cabin at Camp Erdman.

The view out of our cabin!

On the hike with the kids.

North Shore!

Lazy Saturday

Well, since I don't have any spectacular plans of climbing any volcanoes or surfing 20 foot waves today, I thought I would update everyone on what I have been doing. I know you all have been dying to hear what I have been doing. ;)

I have been settling in quite nicely to life here in Hawaii. Here is a little of what I have been up to and been learning about myself this past month in a half of being here.

• I love teaching first grade.
• I love having the beach so close by.
• Boogie boarding is one of my favorite things to do.
• I love the people I work with, live with, and go to church with. 
• I am becoming quite the expert in grocery shopping.
• I am getting to put to good use all the cooking skills that Amy taught me over the summer.
• I am learning how to communicate effectively with my students parents (not always easy).
• I love teaching Math to both of the first grade classes.
• Hawaiian studies is one of my favorite things to teach, I get such joy from the excitement my students have about it.
• I am learning to like running (never thought that could happen).
• The sand on the beaches is wonderful!
• I have a new found appreciation for cars and miss having one desperately!  
• I hate the dogs in our neighborhood that decide they all have to howl and bark at seven in the morning on a Saturday!
• I am so thankful for my roommates.  
• I don't like getting stung by jelly fish (This happened while boogie boarding last Sunday, don't worry it was little one. I am still alive)
• I miss my family and appreciate them so much more after living on my own for a little bit.
• I am very thankful for Kim Hepburn, my partner teacher. Transitioning into my first year of teaching would be so much more difficult without her.
• God's creation is breath taking!
• I miss my adorable nephews!
• I am thankful for Skype and telephones that allow me to keep in touch with everyone back home.
• First graders can test your patients at times.
• I have a lot of influence over my students and they look up to me (which means I better be doing a good job teaching them).
• Kids say some of the craziest things!
• Can't wait til Grace gets here to visit me.
• I have become addicted to having coffee in the morning since I have to get up so stinking early!
• Doing science experiment in kids is so much fun!
• I like having a home to take care of and clean and cook in (most of the time :) ).

One of the yummy dinners Laura and I made

My pretty painting I bought for my room!

Planting our bean seeds!

Cloud in a bottle experiment... quite the crowd favorite!

Singing our North, South, East, West song.

Our pretty bathroom... For all of those who were dying to know what it looked like! I know you were don't worry. :)

So there you have it! That is a little update of what I have been up to, for those of you who care! :) Miss and love you guys!

Jessica

Labor Day Weekend!

My three day weekend has come and gone and I am back to teaching! I had a fabulous three days off and got to do a little bit more exploring of the island!

On Sunday I think I may have found one of my new favorite things to do!! We borrowed a couple of boogie boards from the Pastor's family and hit the beach (walking there of course). It has been a long time since I have been boogie boarding and it was one of the most fun days I have had since getting here! Laura and I spent the whole day catching waves on our boogie boards then laying out in the sun and jumping back into the ocean to do it all over again! By the end of the day we were quite exhausted and a little more bruised and banged up then when we had started, but it was worth it!

Monday we woke up early and went hiking up to Manoa Falls with two families from Trinity. It was a beautiful hike and it was really fun to get to know so of the families from church. After our hike we were treated to a delicious lunch at a resturant on the water. It was a wonderful day and I made a new friends with Lenya, the Goda's 10 year old daughter. :) 

We also had our first party at our condo! We had a small house warming party with some of the teachers from trinity, a couple neighbors, and some people from church. It was a very fun night and I am very excited to have several more parties!  :)

~Jessica

Volcanoes, Groceries, and Chicken Broccoli Casserole...

Three day weekends are a very very good thing! This three day weekend was a perfect present after a very busy and tiring week!

The second week of teaching was a really good week but also a very busy one. Monday we had parent night so I was at school from seven in the morning until nine at night. I have been blessed with a lot of great families in my class and am excited to get to know them better throughout the school year. We also have been learning about volcanoes during Hawaiian Studies this past week! Hawaiian Studies is one of my favorite things to teach because I get to learn so many cool things along with the kids. We even got to do a volcano experiment this week! It was so much fun to do because the kids were so excited about it! I loved watching their faces during each "eruption". It is safe to say I love teaching first grade!

Kawika isn't so sure about the volcanoe experiement!

Mixing the baking soda and water together.

Ready to see what is going to happen.

IT ERUPTED!

We also had to say goodbye to the car we have been using since we got here! The car has been very missed since we parted ways. Today Laura and I decided we needed make the trek into town to get groceries. We walked into town bought our groceries and then proceeded to walk the long walk back home with our groceries (groceries are heavy). I now have a new appreciation for cars! On the other hand we will be in amazing shape if we do this every weekend!

To finish off our day I was very proud of myself and made us a yummy dinner of chicken broccoli casserole! I even think the walk into town was worth it to make a delicious dinner. I felt very grown up, I didn't even have to call my mommy to help me make it! :)

And the best part is I still have two days off to find something fun to do! I will be sure to let you all know what it is after I have done it! Miss you all.

~Jessica