The Beam

My school is in the midst of a huge renovation and addition. Just last week it began to get exciting as they started putting in the steal frame of the new wing. We've been watching the crews work each day as we enjoy our recess and the kids have been intrigued by all the work. 

Yesterday was a super special and exciting day! They were going to be placing the last steal beam into place! But, before that happened the whole school had the chance to sign the final beam. 

 They painted it white and had sharpies for all of us to leave our mark on the new wing! The kids were so excited to be able to participate in this special event! I was so excited too, I feel like I am a part of the school and loved participating in this event!

 Then right before the end of the day we had the chance to watch the crane lift that special beam into place! The kids were captivated and eagerly waited for the crane to hoist it up. They loved seeing the American flag that came along for the ride!

 The sun sets right behind the construction site so it was hard to see, but the sun also lit up the beam which was super cool as well!

 We all cheered as the beam was lowered into place and attached to the neighboring beams. It was crazy to watch the construction workers walking around the beams without any harnesses! Talk about balance!

And just like that the beam was in place! I bet within a matter of days we won't even be able to see the steal as they begin to close in the new wing. But it's so special to know that I left my John Hancock on the new addition! A day I will not be forgetting soon, for sure!

4th week around the sun

What a great week! I celebrated my birthday - turning the big 2-4. We also reached the half way point in the school year, crazy! Insane to think that January is pretty much over, wowza!

I'm submitting #24 for my best of the month! 

Thanks for joining me on week four around the sun, can't believe it's been 4 weeks!! I hope you'll come back again soon and feel free to check out the last 3 week's journey by clicking my 366 button on the right hand side! 

Scav Hunt Sunday: Candles and Rust

Artificial:

 I am very anti-artificial anything. So I use stevia in my drinks and yogurt. It's healthy artificial sweetener!

Pattern:

 The modern rug at my orthodontists' office.

Rust:

 Some rusting steel and concrete in a carport near my apartment. Loving the shadow of the brick in the puddle, too!

Smile:

 One of my last smiles of 23. Also smiling because I can't even see my braces in this picture!

Stand alone:

My lone candle in my the cupcake I ate on my actual birthday this week!

Birthday Recap!

Another birthday done and it was a good one! I loved reading all the facebook posts, blog comments, and emails I received all day! I had a huge smile on my face all day!

Saturday night I had a small party with some friends. It's a tradition of mine to make a pot of veggie chili for my party - since January is a chilly month (cute, right?).  I also made my mom's famous poppy-seed cake - it's birthday cake taken to a whole new level! We've been making it for years, now I just substitute the normal flour with the amazing Orgran flour - no one can tell the difference!

 I made all the fixings to go along with my rocking chili, my homemade guac, some fruit salad, cheese, chips and dip, and trail mix. And the best ingredient of all was my friends coming to celebrate with me!

 My friend Emily insisted on taking pictures of me - saying I am never in pictures (it's true). Of course, I get so nervous in front of the camera so she just took a few hundred and I pulled the best/least embarrassing ones!

 Then, Monday night. I took my last pictures as a 23 year old! I had my annual b-day photo shoot and had some fun showing 24!

 I woke up early to open my cards and gifts! My mom and Avi sent me such great cards and little gifts - I felt so loved and I smiled from ear to ear as I opened each one! I always love on my birthday at the gym when I get to punch in my new age! Taking pictures while moving quickly on the elliptical - not so easy!

Some highlights of the day? As I was catching up on twitter at the gym I tweeted Hoda Kotb mentioning it was my birthday and (!) she tweeted me a happy birthday greeting! Um, happy birthday to me! 

And it was so precious to have my class sing to me at snack time, they loved counting all the way to 24 and a few of them remarked "Geeze, Ms. Benjamin, you're old! -- ah to be 6!! I got hugs all day and some adorable b-day cards, just so sweet!

I also figured out that besides turning 24 on the 24th it was also the 88th day of school and I was born in 1988! Now it's got to be a great year, right?!

Then at the end of the day, after class, and a nice Indian dinner at the local curry house, I came home, made my birthday wish, and ate a cupcake, and vegged out. All in all a great birthday - here's to a great 24th year!

Winter

 Oh my, goodness!

I do believe... 

 that...

 winter...

 has finally...

 made it's way...

 to Boston...

 and I couldn't...

 be more excited...

about it!

**Granted yesterday was 50 degrees and all the snow is now gone... but at least this year it wasn't -24 on my birthday this year...**

24 on the 24th

Another year gone by, another trip around the sun. 

Wow. 

What a year and what a ride. Hard to believe that I was this cake smashing toddler just 23 years ago!

This year has had its ups and downs, but the ups have been so grand and I've really loved this year.

I really feel like I have come into my own this year, I've hit my stride, I'm really paving my way. 

I feel like I've smiled more, lived more, grown more, and breathed more than I have in years.  

I've confronted some demons, shed many tears, and had many good laughs.

I've found such joy in teaching and wonderful support in my circle of friends. 

I've learned what family truly means and have learned how many people really care about me.  

So, 23, thank you. 

Thank you for a great trip around the sun. 

Thank you for showing me that I am smart, that I am kind, and that I am important. 

And 23, thank you for showing me that I have so many people in my life who do realize this! 

Good-bye 23 and welcome, 24, I can't wait to see what the next 365 years hold for the two of us!

3rd week around the sun

What another great week. Winter finally arrived and between school and classes I'm back in my routine. This was also the last full week of being 23! I rounded a great week with a small early birthday party ahead of my birthday on Tuesday! Looking forward to week 4 and kicking off my next annual trip around the sun!

Thanks for joining me on week three around the sun! I hope you'll come back again soon and feel free to check out the last 2 week's journey by clicking my 366 button on the right hand side! And come back tomorrow for my special b-day post!

Scav Hunt Sunday: Sunsets and Snow

Sunset:

We went to the Museum of Science last Sunday. The sun was setting over the Charles and I caught a last bit of light in the steam from a near by building.

Black and White:

 The museum had an exhibit on x-ray technology, nothing more black and white than an x-ray!

Colorful:

 This is an awesome rock formation that is just so stunning and colorful, sooc, too!

Day in the life:

 It's winter and it's back into the throws of teaching, pretty much sums up my life!

Four:

We use unifix cubes a ton in our math centers - one of our four frames with four cubes!