things about me

on facebook, there was a note circulating to list 25 or 30 things about yourself. i kept avoiding it, because i wasn't sure if it would be too a.) hard, or b.) time consuming, to complete this task. then i saw a friend list this same thing on her blog. i liked the idea. so here is the game. leave a comment on my page with how many of these things you knew about me already, and if any were noteworthy surprising to you. if you are reading this and you have a blog, post 30 things about yourself on your blog. if you don't want to play my game, that's fine too :)

so, here goes nothing...random things about me.

1. i think i am funny and i make myself laugh
2. i would have more dogs if i could
3. i am terrified of hitting an animal with my car
4. i love being a teacher, but i hate grading
5. i am a caffeine addict so much so it doesn't really work to wake me up
6. i leave diet cokes in the freezer a lot. (see number #7)
7. i don't like anything tepid. something meant to be hot needs to be HOT and something cold needs to be COLD!
8. i wish i liked red wine, i think it would make me seem more mature
9. i want to run a marathon but i am scared i couldn't finish because of my knees
10. i am hard on myself
11. i have issues with piling up crap. i wish i didn't.
12. i am a little bit type A, and i notice it mostly when i'm teaching.
13. i love silence.
14. i rarely listen to music in the car
15. sometimes i wish i still played competitive soccer
16. i don't adjust well to change. it is scary.
17. i really believe everything happens for a reason
18. i miss my grandparents and miss having them around. (yes, even grandma)
19. i don't consider myself a democrat or a republican
20. i wish i were fluent in spanish. i got so close.
21. brazil for 3 weeks taught me a lot about me
22. i am a very reflective person in every aspect of my life
23. i hate carpet-y bath mats. please put down one that is towel material.
24. speaking of towels, i don't like to share a towel with anyone. ever. euw. not even my husband.
25. i can't wait to be a mom. but see #16, the change in life does scare me.
26. i am passionate about a lot of things
27. i love photography and wish i could do it on the side
28. i am inspired and encouraged by perfect strangers all the time. i wish i could tell them all.
29. i speak my mind more freely than ever before. i love that freedom, it feels healthy.
30. i love middle-school kids so much and they drive me so nuts all at the same time
31. i love being married!

ok, so that was actually pretty easy. i cheated and put 31. i think i could have kept going :) Thanks for reading!

action shots!

set the wall boys. and cover those privates.

what happened to the wall?!


GOOOL!

team shot

and more Roosevelt champions!

The boys soccer team defeated Standley Middle, the number one team who hadn't lost in this league in 3 years. We won 1-0, on a goal scored by one of my students, Eduardo! You can see the photo I snapped right after the goal was scored. Half of these pictures were taken way across the field with my second lens. These are ALL taken on auto, because there is no way I could to do anything manually and capture anything in the fast-pace game!

I really notice the difference in quality from my point-and-shoot digital to my Nikon. It's good stuff. The best part is, I am already happy with picture quality and I am still a novice. It can only get better from here!

champions!

Roosevelt Cheerleaders won Nationals on Saturday! They got FIRST place in their division!!! It was the first cheer competition I have ever been to, and it was really exciting and a lot of fun! I have SO MUCH more respect for the "sport" of cheerleading (ok, I'll admit it, I still have a hard time calling it a sport--sorry) but it was INCREDIBLE the things these teams did, and the routines they pulled off. It was exciting and very entertaining.

Matt became an assistant coach for the cheer team at school (when the other asst coach went on maternity leave) and he has loved working with the girls!!

Yes, folks...that's right...I married my very own little cheerleader. I think it is a good thing that now-a-days people's jaws drop when they hear Matt cheered in HS. haha. My sister's fiance, Derek, just got material to last a lifetime, when it comes to making fun of Matt.

I think it is kinda cute. emphasis on the kinda.

Nonetheless, we are SOOOO proud of our girls! They were awesome!!!!!

it's the weekeeeeend!

and BOY, are we excited about that!

Tomorrow, Matt is coaching a cheer competition this weekend (Nationals!) and I am going to watch. I am also going to watch our Roosevelt boys soccer team. Even though these are work-related things we choose to do over the weekend, these are the fun parts! I LOVE supporting my students outside the classroom, it's the best and we love these kids!

Matt is getting in marathon shape and I am just attempting to get in shape. I have been running more and feel pretty good. Let's hope this habit of mine continues!

Just got back from a run, and we are off to happy hour and then sushi! TGIF!

xxx

day to day in the classroom

i realized a few weeks ago that not many people know what my day to day is like at work. and i must say, that while my routine has many constants, it is also different every day! i brought my camera a couple days to school. i wanted to share a glimpse into a day as mrs. harvey at roosevelt middle with crazy 8th graders! see for yourself a sampling.

we are reading "Freedom Writer's Diary"...most days i read aloud. (yes, even 8th graders like to be read to!) some days, certain periods, kids like to take turns reading aloud. they ALL listen, it's awesome.

my students journal every day. they write down a quote I put on the board, and can free-write about anything! i don't read them, they are private journals [unless they ask me to] i just give them points monthly for writing.

meet sweet and hilarious miss lorena. i love this girl. she brightens my day.

one angle of my classroom from the computer side. i need to take more pictures of my actual room.

my 2nd period, A day [huge class as you can tell and there are kids absent here!] disclaimer: squinting into the sun with reading glasses on=not a good picture. also, it was "college shirt" day hence the outfit.

no comment

does this count as wearing your uniform? haha. (and no hats aloud. oops.)

honestly, i am happy when he comes to school! who cares about a dumb shirt, it is the least of his problems. i love this child.

hope you liked my mini-tour. maybe i will do another one sometime later this year!

happy <3 day

that is happy heart day, not 'happy greater than 3 day.'

we are headed up to the fabulous OC to spend some time with matt's brother mike and his wonderful wifey, kirstin. we love them! and we certainly don't get to spend enough time together. kirstin and i planned this weekend about 2 months ago, because it was the first chance we had to get together....and it just happened to be valentine's day, too. we are going to see their new place, cousin shelby, and just spend time together! buddy and zoe are dancing on their tippy-toes in anticipation of seeing their cousin, shel.

happy day of love, everyone.

this photo melts my heart

have you heard about all the fires in Australia? so sad. i wish i could get on a plane right now and go help rescue animals.

lazy me

so, i know i am not a "lazy" person per se. but i do get lazy about getting up in the morning and getting ready for work. for example, i wear my UGLY roosevelt polo shirt at least once a week (because it is so easy) and other roosevelt tee-shirts at least twice a week. with jeans. and tennies. i hit snooze about 17 times (i have listened to probably 4 full songs on my radio alarm by the time i turn it off). not good. so, i roll out of bed by 6:30........5.....ish. 6:35. i toss a couple bobbies in my hair to get it out of my face (if a brush hits my hair, that's a good day...usually comb it out with my fingers quickly.) and if my make-up is still on from the day before, i touch it up, pour my coffee and i'm out the door by 7! oh, if you are getting grossed out, i do shower every day...just at night often times :) deodorant and perfume is a given, right? i didn't think i needed to mention that. but i did just now.

i used to wear heels everyday. i used to care about trying to be almost as tall as my students...and looking nice. i used to wear all my slacks. now i wear all my jeans. so, why do i blog about this today, you ask? let me tell ya...

today, a girl in my after-school reading class says, "mrs. harvey, do you have a meeting today?" I wondered why she asked, and i responded, "no honey. why do you ask?" She continues, "do you have somewhere to go straight after school today?" I said, "no, why?"

She said, "oh because you look nice today so I was just wondering." HAHAHA. oh gee, thanks!

I was wearing heels to school for the first time in ages. but jeans and a nice shirt. i had to laugh at her attempted compliment which for me was more so a glaring indication that i am a slob at work this year. leave it to a 13 year old.

I'm wearing heels tomorrow.

x-rated material

OH, the joys of teaching middle school. You should have seen the mortified, absolute petrified look on this poor 8th grade boy's face as I took this drawing away from him in the middle of class. I think he would have rather had the paper be full of curse-words or rumors about someone.

It took all that was in me not to BUST UP laughing when I looked at this "note" for lack of a better word. I was tempted to tell him he was a good artist, or tell him that it was a very true to life representation of the body part, veins and all. But I just had to walk away.



It must be hard to be an 8th grade boy.

the abster

Abby is 18 months! It is crazy how big she is getting. She is just too cute! Check her out.

zoooooooom

lens #1...all the way zoomed

fun lens #2!

This was the first thing I shot with my zoom lens...Mt. Shasta from I-5 :)

This is part of Lake Shasta, at dusk. fabulous.

House boat, anyone? Yes please!

the end

...of my club soccer coaching career. for now.

Today was the end of the year team party and this Wednesday is my last optional practice for the girls before try-outs for next year. I am a mixture of relief, sad, and excited.

relieved because of the huge time commitment over and stress of the club world off my shoulders.

sad because i really love my girls and i will miss being in their lives consistently. i also had the best group of parents around that made coaching their girls super easy. i will miss being a part of that. i know i will miss being around the game, too.

excited because of all the time that will be freed up to spend on other things...being a better teacher, going to the gym, trips this summer...to name a few things.



What a fantastic experience I've had these past 2 years!