Mrs. Jones is Checking Out

Well...the time has come.

The past 6 years of my life of being called Mrs. Jones are now over, and it is time for me to move on from this place...

Not only did I attend Highland Elementary during my entire elementary experience, I also worked there as a secretary/aide for a year, and then as a teacher for five.

I taught 1st grade for 3 years, and have taught over 400 students from kindergarten to 6th grade over the last 2 years as a specialist.

I have spent 13 years of my life as a Highland Hawk...and I have to be honest...walking out those doors on Friday will be leave a bit of a lump in my throat.

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I am so incredibly lucky that I get to stay home with Jack, and it really is time to go, for now. Although the past while I have only been working part-time anyway... it is time for a clean cut and different season of my life...and I'm happy for that.

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So much of my identity for the past 6 years had been as Mrs. Jones, and I will cherish the memories I have of being in the classroom. I will always remember my early years of teaching with absolute fondness.

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I highly doubt my teaching days are entirely through--

but...here's to remembering my first years...through early marriage to pregnancy.

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This was my very first classroom.

I did just about all I could do to turn a nasty room in a trailer into a pleasant home for myself (seeing as I was there about 18 hours a day!)

Into my 2nd year, I was moved into the new addition of our school and my smelly room was upgraded to a brand new room!

I cant tell you how many of these awesome faculty pictures (and faculty shirts) I have laying around from every year. I have been so lucky to rub shoulders with these people during my years at Highland. Some of my fellow co-workers were even my teachers at Highland...which never stopped feeling weird!

Some shots with my first grade classes from over the years....

Apparently, I was too busy chasing these little 6 year old rats around to catch many pictures...but, take my word for it...it was every bit as rewarding as hard work...and I will never ever forget it!

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Mrs. Jones....signing out!

Because I've Been a Blog Slacker

Here's a quick Jones Rundown:

I'm pretty sure in the last month, Jack has grown up at least a year.

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My lack of quality photos has something to do with the fact that I'm too lazy to get my camera and end up taking the majority of my pictures with my phone...

AND

Even with a good camera...most pictures of Jack end up like this:

because he is one fast little monkey these days.

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However, it is not difficult to catch Jack looking adorable.

Feast your eyes on some snapshots of him over the last month.

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As you can see...

Jack is still quite fond of his blankie.

He really is a great combo of crazy and really really sweet.

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He is totally going through a phase of obsession with dogs and went for a spell insisting on wearing his Halloween puppy costume at all sorts of random times.

Jack loves to be a total nut and get a laugh from anyone who will watch.

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His thumb still takes a close second to his blankie...

and I live for this little smirk.

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He is by far the most suave (almost) 2 year old at church....

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And...while my child is perfect and never throws fits...

occasionally we get a bit of this:

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It's worth it though because the rest of the time... he looks like this:

Ummm....when did my baby turn into a full-on man?

His adorableness is too much to handle.

Do you like his drivers license photo?

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As for Brett and I:

We have been working hard getting the yard fully landscaped (finally!).

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Brett is busy busy busy (what's new?) with work, scouts, finishing his very last classes, and being worshipped by Jack.

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I finish up teaching in the next couple of weeks, have been doing my Oilo blog writing, and was super lucky to find out yesterday that I have shingles.

No...not the kind on a roof.

(We've had those for some time now.)

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I'm talking shingles...like the awful kind that cause the worst nerve pain that you can imagine and bring a lovely rash to go along with it.

For like 10 days!

Yes...those shingles.

Dead sexy shingles.

I know you're thinking that shingles are an old person's disease...

and I'll let you go on thinking that...

you should just feel (really) sorry for me while you're at it.

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How's that for ending on a happy note?

Check It

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Just a couple of weeks ago, I started a new gig. ........

I was asked to do the blog writing for a baby bedding/decorating company called Oilo.

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Today, Oilo is going to be on Ellen, as part of her Mother's Day show!

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Just watch and you'll see--they made it as Ellen's favorite baby bedding pick for her giveaway!

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I mean, I'm practically best friends with Ellen now.

(Oh, wait. Maybe not. But I bet she'd like my hair!)