Mountain Climbing

Climbed this mountain - cerro de silla - with a group of students from the dorm on Monday. We started our adventure at 5 AM :) and after 4 hours of hiking, finally reached the top!! It was super foggy, so I was a little bummed that we couldn't see much of the view. But we definitely got a work out!

http://www.vaultbbs.com/~csteiner/cerrodelasilla.php

Between sweat and rain, we were pretty drenched lol but having lots of fun :)

View from the half-way point

Stopped to catch our breath and have a snack

The trail that would NEVER end!!!!

Picture time ;)

Lots of pretty little flowers along the way! God's creation is SO beautiful!!

Me & My Kiddos

Joselyn, Gloria, Dara, Rut and Rubén...love them all SO much :)

Spring Break in Tamazunchale

Almost forgot to post spring break pictures!! But here's a little taste of my adventures...

10 hour car ride over very windy roads...my stomach was feeling a little funny :P

Scenery

Orange tree orchard!!

This is a sugar cane field. Saw many of these and big trucks hauling the canes off to  be refined.

Made a little pit stop at an fresh orange juice stand....soo delicious :)

Me and Raquel with our juice!

My first flautas de pollo...super good! And of course, accompanied with frijoles (beans :) )

Making agua de tamarindo (tamarindo water)

Learned how to make guacamole :)

Outside kitchen...frying tortillas, meat, and beans for lunch one day

After church, Raquel and I went to the park and got "raspas" (flavored ice)

Banana tree in the backyard...how cool is that?! 

Haciendo Crepas!!

This week was my turn to learn how to make some Mexican food. Andrea taught me to make crepas :) super delicious!

My first crepa :) ...nice perfect circle!!

Andrea teaching me all the tricks ;)

Nutella, lechera, and lots of fresh fruit...:) :)

Yes, I was VERY excited about my crepas!! lol

Andrea

This is my friend Andrea! She is a freshman at the University here...she comes over once a week to practice her English. This week we made cookies together. It was her first time to EVER bake cookies...so it was pretty entertaining!! We have lots of fun together :) 

Finally....:)

Not sure who's more excited...the kids or the teacher :) but i'm looking forward to having a little break for the next TWO WEEKS!!! I'll be spending this week at my roommate, Raquel's house in southern Mexico. She lives like 10 hours from here, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of Mexico! 

Quote of the Day

I knew it was going to be an exciting class today when Rubén, one of my 2nd graders walked (actually "flew" would be a more accurate description) into my classroom and loudly announced, "Teacher, coffee makes me happy!" lol  He is one kid who definitely does NOT need coffee. :/ Ahhh...never a dull moment :)

My Kiddos

Fun with Friends

This is me with my roommate Raquel (white jacket) and two friends, Nara and Marisol. Last Monday was a Mexican holiday...and no school! So we celebrated by going out for breakfast to "Los Generales" and enjoyed a delicious buffet!

Me & Raquel <3

Puzzles!!

Love finding these little notes on my whiteboard!

Picture Time :)

Xareny and Rubén playing their favorite game - "Doggie, Doggie, Where's Your Bone?" :)

Friends :)

Elisama playing "teacher"

First attempt at a group shot...

Try 2...

...and 3 lol my crazzy kids!!

Haha!!

Week 3

Wow! It's been three weeks since Christmas break...time is flying by SO fast :) Just wanted to take a minute to share some blessings and prayer requests from this past week:
Blessings
~New roommate :)...Raquel moved into our apartment last weekend. She studies at the University here and also teaches one of the 2nd grade at the school. I met her during my first month here when she helped out with my classes for a few weeks. Little did I know then that she would be one of the biggest blessings in my life this year! I am so thankful for her and for the fun times that we've had together as roommates already!!
~Little notes from my students...it always makes my day when my kids come running up to me with a card or art project that they made for me. One of my 3rd grade boys handed me a note one day this week that said "You are the best teacher that I have!"...Joel is a sweet boy, but full of energy and definitely tests my patience during almost every class. He is learning tho and it's been neat to see him start to apply himself more.
~Third grade chapel presentation went well. My 3rd grade class had to do a presentation for the whole student body and parents in chapel on Wednesday...in Spanish and English. After lots and lots of practice, it all went smoothly and I'm thankful that it's over!
~Over 1/2 my second grade class getting 100s on their spelling test Friday :) It's always fun to see the excitement on their faces when they "sacan cien" (get one hundred)! They worked hard for it too...one of my girls wrote all her words 8 times every night lol
~Warmer weather. I know I shouldn't complain about 40/50s in January, but when there is no heat anywhere...it gets old pretty fast! Nice to have temps a little warmer this week :)
~Report cards DONE! In true Mexican style, I was told the night before that "oh, report cards are due tomorrow!" lol So it was a late night of doing that project, but they are done til the next quarter.
~My mom and dad's 26th anniversary! Thankful for them and for everything they have done for me.
Prayer Requests
~Learning Spanish. I understand a lot more now, but I still get frustrated sometimes when I don't know always know what's going on around me. And that I would be able to speak it better too!
~First grade chapel presentation in February...patience in practicing and that the kids would learn quickly :)
~One of the 2nd grade teachers quit on Friday, so pray that they would be able to find a new teacher quickly.
~Growing in my relationship with God and wisdom for the future.

"I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hand, with God things don't just happen...everything by Him is planned, so as I face the future, with it's trials great and small...I'll trust the God of miracles, give to Him my ALL!"

When I Grow Up...

Recently did a vocabulary unit on "occupations" in 3rd grade English class. One of their projects was to make a poster of what they wanted to be when they grew up...here are a few of their posters!

Back to Work

Just want to praise the Lord for the opportunity He gave me to go home for Christmas and for the time that I was able to spend with many of my friends and family during the past two weeks! And for the safe flight back to Monterrey this morning. Went into school for a little while this afternoon and was ATTACKED by lots of little hugs and everyone loudly and rapidly telling me (all of them at the same time, of course!) about their Christmas breaks!! It was SO fun :) I was really having a hard time yesterday with leaving the States and my family and coming back down here...but that "welcome" made it so worth it. I am thankful for my kiddos and for being able to be a part of their lives this year. Pray that I would keep my focus and be faithful in my responsibilities that God has given me here.
P.S. I ate a grasshopper today :P One of my friends brought back a huge container full of them from his hometown in southern Mexico and convinced me that I HAD to try one! They cook them with lemon juice and garlic...mmm! It wasn't too bad, just a little crunchy and weird to be eating a bug. But I did it :)