Thanks, Anneke.

It's funny that Anneke sent an email saying she is doing some blogging again, because I had been thinking of the very same thing. Facebook is fun, but I'm ready to do some serious catching up with people on blogs. So come on everyone who blogs - let's be blog buddies.

What? A whole year? I love to look at other people's blogs. I wonder why I haven't posted anything on my own for over a year? I actually can't even remember how to do this, but I'm giving it a go.

The First Annual Cousins' Camp. July 8, 9, 10th, 2010

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!

And I'm already missing it. We had 1/2 a day yesterday, Field Day, and then I hugged them all good bye and it made me sad to see my class go. They've been a great group of kids and I love them. I haven't really known what to do with myself today. Not that I don't have lots and lots to do, but I just couldn't get too motivated.

Dear Mrs. Bayles. . .

When we were eating lunch in my classroom yesterday, (all 8 of us 3rd grade teachers,) a couple of little 3rd grade boys pounded really hard on my window and made us all jump, so their teacher made them write me apology letters so that they would know not to do that again. Here they are:

Dear Mrs. Bayles,
I am sorry. I guess I was a little to mean there. Please pretty please forgive me. I will never pound on the window. Just truly sorry. I will never break your heart. Your friend, Ethan.

and then the other one:

Dear Mrs. Bayles,
Sorry I pounded on your window. It was Ethan's idea.


Ha, ha, ha. Funny kids. One of the other teachers got a funny letter from one of her students too. It said,

Thank you for all you have tout me.
p.s. Maybe you could teach me how to spell tout.

Oh my. I love my job. 3rd graders are great. Today was our Valentine's Day party/dance and it was delightful. I came home with a whole sack of valentines, a belly full of cookies, and a smile on my face because they were so cute.

Yay! I'm remembering to drink water.

I set the goal to lose 10 pounds during the month of January. Well it didn't happen, but I DID lose 7 pounds. So it made me kind of encouraged and I'm going to lose 6 pounds this month. February. So we'll see. I know I can do it if I just eat better, drink more water, and move more. I'm doing really good about eating more fruit and vegetables. But I still like candy. I passed up one of the huge, delicious cinnamon rolls that they make for the teachers in the cafeteria once a month and that made me so happy with myself that I went home and celebrated by eating 4 cookies! Yes, that's the way I work.

Thank You Notes - 3rd Grade Style

Honestly, I have the funnest job. We've been doing a lot of writing this week and one of the assignments was to write a thank you note to someone. I gave a few instructions and let them write to whoever they wanted to. Here are a few of my favorites: (I'm not adding the signatures.)

Dear Grandma.
Thanks for taking me to the balling alley.

Dear Mom,
I want to thank you for being a great mom to me. I will alweese love you.

Dear Mom,
Thank you for wakeing me up in the morning even if you don't want to and making me brekfist and watching for the bus. Thanks agen.

Dear Dad,
Thanks for saving me when I fell into that stream when i was little.

Dear Dad,
I wont to thank you for making tapioca. I love you so much.

Dear Grampa,
Thank you for helping me with my pinewood dribey. Right me back.

Dear Drs and nurses all over the world,
Thank you for saving people's lives!!!! You always make your people feel right at home!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!

Dear Mom and Dad,
Thack you for the breakfast, lunch and diner you fick for me. Thack you.

And this one is so sweet:

Dear Mom,
Thank you for getting up in the morning and cooking crepes for me. I hardly get crepes to eat and they taste really good. I love you for doing that.

Some of them even wrote to me!

Dear Mrs. Bayles
Thank you for being the best teacher in the whole intire universe. You teach me so much and I've learned way more than I did last year. Thanks anyway. P.S. YOU ROCK!!

Dear Mrs. Bayles,
Thank you for teaching us. I've been haveing a wonderful year.

Dear Mrs. Bayles,
Thank you Mrs. Bayles for teaching us stuff we need for our careers such as math and learning to read and following directions.

Dear Mrs. Bayles,
Thank you for teaching me my times tables. I will say the times tables. 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36.

Aren't they so fun? I don't know how something like teaching can be so exhausting and so wonderful at the same time. But it is. I'm so blessed.