Lean Into It

On the very last day of my very first year of teaching, my principal shared some great advice.  He said, “Lean into it.”  Such a simple statement, yet so full of wealth.  Lean into it – Feel every emotion, whether it be positive or negative.  Be vulnerable.  Experience joy.  Let it all happen.  Be there.  Experience all you can without worries about the outcome.  Feel alive.  Live. 

I’m not sure if that’s exactly what he meant by that statement, but that’s how I interpreted it.  During my first year, I experienced the bitterness of defeat, breathed in the luminous rays of hope, and tasted the sweetness of victory.  I leaned into it.

Even though my last day of school was almost a full 2 weeks ago, I haven’t really taken the time to truly reflect on my year.  As I was lying in bed, 11:58pm, restless and wide awake – it hit me.  What an extreme year this has been!  Extremely tough, but an extreme blessing! 

So many twists and turns, ups and downs, and unexpected changes – this year has been action-packed to say the least!  Such an incredible journey – a complete emotional roller coaster… but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything!  Teaching is my true passion.  I’ve found my home away from home!

I endured hardships and kept on pushing through… I survived.  Not only did I survive, I thrived.  I had the opportunity to teach 84 amazing children who came to my classroom with many different backgrounds and learning experiences.  It was a challenge, but the benefit was far greater.  Each one of these 84 children brought joy to my classroom… and to me.  No matter what their circumstances, they always came in excited and ready to learn.  They have shown me the importance of having a positive attitude, putting forth 100% effort, and believing in yourself.  These have always been my core beliefs, but my students have shown me the true beauty and power they hold.   I am forever grateful for this experience. 

This upcoming school year, I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach 4^th grade at the same school.  Having my own classroom has been a dream of mine and I feel so fortunate that it is finally coming true.  I don’t know what will come of this next year, but I do know that there will be many challenges, unexpected surprises, and moments of sheer joy that come with this dream.  My plan – experience it all!  Laugh.  Cry.  Learn.  Grow.  I will lean into it with all of my might!

~Chelsea

2, 4, 6, 8, Who do we appreciate?

You!  You!  You!  J

Hooray for teachers!  You inspire the young hearts and minds by believing in them and helping them succeed and there’s no greater gift than that!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

I hope that you are feeling extra appreciated and special this week.  I know I sure am!  On Monday we were treated to Starbucks and today we were served lunch – a tasty baked potato bar!  And if you know me, I LOVE my baked potatoes!  J 

Besides all of the goodies and tasty treats, the thing that I love most and feel most appreciated by is my students.  There are times where I feel like I want to pull my hair out, cry, and/or scream because of extreme frustration, however, I’ve realized just how precious my students are.  They care about me and each other and truly want to learn.  Looking back, those little moments are the ones that glimmer and shine through all the negative things.  I am so fortunate and unbelievably blessed that I have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of children.  They have inspired me to be a better teacher and have made an enormous difference in my life.  They are the reason why I teach. 

Sadly, the days I get to spend with these kiddos are numbered.  The last day of school is just 11 school days away (say what?!?)!  We already started benchmark testing, which means I already had to say goodbye to some of my groups.  L  This past Friday marked the last day I would spend with my 2^nd grade group.  I had a special day planned for them since they had worked so hard over the course of the year.  Little did I know that they had some surprises for me…

We usually start each class period with 2 minutes of “share time.”  Since the students come from different classes and have all sorts of exciting things going on in their lives, I figured that this would be a good way to help build community.  Students usually ask me before class if they can share, which I then pick two students and give them each one minute to share anything they’d like.  Things shared range from activities done over the weekend, family pictures, book recommendations, and comedy acts.  The kids absolutely love it and it has made a huge difference in promoting a positive classroom atmosphere.

Anyways… it was time to share on our very last day together when almost every hand in the room shot up wanting to speak.  Since it was our last day, I decided that it would be ok to let everyone share.  We had a few typical sharings and then two girls insisted on being last.  They had one student hold their creation while they both read what was written in unison:

“I will miss you so much.  You will become a fourth grade teacher but I wish you could stay with us.  You are so funny and creative.  You are a teacher that I love in my life.  Also you are smart and fun.  I love you.”

I’m not one to cry very easily, but how could you not tear up after a moment like that?!?  Looking back at the first few days with this group, I wasn’t sure if we’d make it to the end of the year (we got off to a very rough start).  But by the end, we had accomplished so much!  Our class had developed such a tight-knit bond (I even had a few kiddos crying real tears because they didn’t want to leave)!  This year was filled with transformational moments – with a family as the end result.  I love them and will never forget them! 

I know that each and every one of my students will go on to do amazing things in their lives.  I just feel so fortunate that I got to be one little piece of their incredibly large journey.  They’ve shown so much progress over the course of just this year, so I can’t wait to see what their future holds. 

It is my hope that each and every one of my students continues to learn and grow every day.  Christopher Plummer (from the Sound of Music) couldn’t have put it any better when he sang Edelweiss, “May you bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever!”  That is exactly what I want my children to do – bloom and grow forever!  I hope that each of them will come to realize that learning is a lifelong journey! 

~Chelsea

A Fresh New Start

Spring Break was exactly what I needed… a little bit of rest, some relaxation, and lots of sunshine!  J  I’m going back to work feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to go!  Woohoo!!!!  What a wonderful feeling it is!

To contribute to my overwhelming amount of joy, some amazing things happened to me over the past two weeks.  Here are some of the highlights:

·         My blog was awarded a Top 10 Blog!  Woohoo!  Thank you to Emmy over at Daydreams of a Student Teacher for nominating me for this award!  If you haven’t read her blog, you seriously should.  She is witty, innovative, and inspiring – what a great combo!  J

·         I found a stray dog wandering around our school parking lot when I left school.  He was the cutest mini-schnauzer and was just having the greatest time sniffing and running around.  I was loading my bags in my car when he came right up to me and attempted to jump in my car.  He was looking quite parched and I didn’t want to leave him wandering the streets alone with so many busy intersections nearby, so I picked him up and let him ride in the passenger seat of my car.  I gave him some water and turned the air-conditioning on full-blast.  He enjoyed every minute of it!  I, unfortunately, couldn’t keep him, so I took him to the Humane Society where they took him in with open arms and gave him lots of love while he waited for his family to pick him up.  Isn’t he adorable?!?!

·         I spent this past week in Florida where I met up with some of my family.  I was able to spend some quality time with my dad, grandma, great aunt, great uncle, and second cousins.  It was so great to see everyone and hear about all the exciting adventures taking place in their lives.  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family! 

·         For two days, I was able to enjoy the luxuries of Key West with my dad.  I went on a bicycle ride around town (and took a small tumble – haha), watched 2 breathtakingly beautiful sunsets, ate entirely way too much key lime pie, and soaked up some rays on the beach. 

 

·         Knowing that Florida’s oceans are home to dolphins, I had my hopes up that I would get to see a dolphin on my trip.  After spending two full days at the beach and a 3.5 hour boat ride to and from Key West, I was beginning to lose hope that I would get to witness these magical creatures in their natural habitat. However, on my very last day at the beach, I was lucky enough to witness 3 dolphins swimming less than 50 yards from shore!  They were so close!!!!  What an amazing sight to see!

·         I gave my blog a much-needed makeover!  I even designed a button!  Now I can always feel like I’m near the ocean…  J   

·         I made the realization that there are only 29 days left of school!  SAY WHAT?!?!?  I couldn’t believe it!  This year has flown by at warp speed and will be over in the blink of an eye!  Crazy!  What an incredible journey this year has been!!!

·         I received some news… some news that might make you jump right out of your seat… (drum roll please…)… Say hello to the newest 4^th grade teacher for the 2012-2013 school year!!!!  J  Woohoo – I honestly couldn’t be more excited!  My dream of having my very own classroom is becoming a reality!  Hooray!!!!  J  

I am looking forward to this incredible opportunity.  I have learned so much from my experience this year and continue to learn and grow every day!  I can’t wait to see what lies ahead as I continue on this glorious journey!

Cheers!

~Chelsea



Simply Sunshine!

Wow!  It’s been exactly one month since my last post!  I apologize for the delay… life has just been a little bit chaotic lately!  I must say, I am very jealous of those of you on Spring Break already… mine is still one week and two days away!  I’m counting down the days until I’ll be on the beach soaking up some much needed sunshine!  J 

Let me catch you up with a few details from this past month (I still can’t believe an entire month has already gone by - how time flies!)… 

Last week was truly an insane week!  I knew that when I uttered the words, “what else can go wrong?” I had made a serious mistake… I jinxed it!  Long story short, last week was awful, but I still found little things to smile about to help get me through the week (like when I leaned up against a sticky table…  and got milk spilled down the front of me… twice… in one 30 minute period… and had a very important meeting to attend after school that day!  (What are the odds?!?)  Let’s just say that I appeared nothing short of professional that day!  It was definitely something to giggle about (and had half the staff giggling too –haha).  J) … AND I learned that I will never utter that menacing phrase again… unless there is wood nearby to knock on!  J

After winding down on Friday night with a few glasses of wine and a good book, I knew that the next week could only get better!  My re-discovered positive attitude even had an effect on the weather (although it was probably the other way around J).  So far, every day this week, I’ve woken up to a beautiful sunny day, including a slight breeze and an expected high temperature of 75 degrees…  Absolutely gorgeous for a “springy” day in the middle of March in Colorado (usually one of our snowiest months)!  J 

Let me rewind a little bit to this past Sunday…   Sunday’s weather was just perfect!  I wanted to spend the day outside, so I thought to myself, “what better way to do this than a nice jog?”  I put on my new Experia running socks, double-knotted my shoe laces, and hit the pavement.  About halfway through my run, I encountered a dirt path that I had never seen before.  I continued on my planned route, but curiosity got the better of me, so I made a U-turn and traveled down the path.  At this point in my run, I was feeling pretty tired (especially due to the fact that this path turned out to be more like a steep hill instead), however, I decided to push through to see where this path could possibly lead.  Many times, I felt like giving up and going back to the “safe” route.  My muscles were screaming at me telling me to stop as I neared the peak, but I focused on my deep breathing and the scenery that surrounded me and pushed on.  Finally, I made it. 

 Where did this path lead, you might ask?  To a park!  A park that I never knew existed.  As I began my cool-down jog, I noticed two young girls leaving the volleyball court fanning me a quick wave hello.  I smiled, uttered an out-of-breath “hi,” and continued jogging around the park, noticing that the park was buzzing with people… families playing basketball, kids chasing each other on the playground, friends showing off their skateboarding tricks, etc.  The park - a great foundation to build relationships, share laughter, and create lasting memories... I took it all in.    

Being the reflective person that I am, I couldn’t help but relate this experience to teaching and to life.  Here’s what I’ve learned:  Life is an adventure!  Take the time to explore.  Sometimes we have to do things that are uncomfortable, but we become stronger for it.  Enjoy the journey and don’t be afraid to slow down and look around for awhile.  If you believe that something can happen, it can, you just have to put forth the effort and genuinely believe that it can.  Find the positives in every situation, build relationships, and do what inspires you most.  Never give up, know that anything is possible, and spread the sunshine everywhere you go! 

At times, teaching is a job that can be completely overwhelming, but it’s important to always remember your purpose as a teacher.  You are there to inspire, create, explore, embrace, teach, care, encourage, guide, instruct, praise, protect, mentor, think, believe, hope, dream, and learn.  Most importantly, you are there to make a difference.  Know that you hold the power to brighten the lives of each of the children that set foot into your classroom – use it!  Be the light that guides your children to places they never thought possible and shines on the endless opportunities that lie ahead. 

Anything really is possible when you believe. 

Shine on! 

~Chelsea

A Commitment to Motivate and Inspire

Last week, I heard the comment that every teacher dreads to hear: “This is boring!  Why do we have to learn this boring stuff?” 

I know that it’s all a matter of opinion of what’s considered fun and what’s considered boring, but this comment really hit home for me this week.  After hearing this comment, I realized that it was the time for a little reflection and the time to change some of my ways.  It was time for me to rediscover my student’s passions and find ways to spread the joy, wonder, and excitement of learning.  And, it was a time for me to take a little trip down memory lane…

When I was a child, I loved school!  In first grade, I experienced the power of reading.  My mind soared as I journeyed to unknown worlds and took part in fascinating adventures as I turned each page of the books I held in my hand.  In second grade, I was given the power of choice in my writing.  I was able to craft wonderful stories filled with as much imagination and adventure as in the books I read.  In sixth grade, I was shown that math was not made-up of just facts that I had to memorize, but rather numbers and symbols that served a specific purpose in my daily life. 

Continuing on to middle school…  social studies – a subject I normally dreaded due to the mundane repetition, memorization, and unknowing purpose of studying our nation’s history.  But that all changed when I set foot in my eighth grade social studies class.  In that class, history was brought to life. 

In all of my science classes throughout high school, I was lucky to get to experience hands-on, minds-on learning every day.  Through the use of 21^st century skills, such as technology, collaboration, and critical thinking, everyone was able to work together to achieve a common goal.      

Let’s not forget college… my favorite courses were the ones that were taught by professors who thought outside of the box.  Instead of having us listen to monotonous lectures, these professors involved students in the process of learning and the culmination of new ideas. 

Through all these experiences, I’ve realized that each and every one of my teachers had a genuine passion for teaching.  They found ways to make the subject-matter they taught relatable and applicable to everyday life.  They spent a significant amount of their time planning these lessons, conferring with students, and asking thought-provoking questions.  They made all students feel like a success… leaving their classrooms with the feeling that anything was possible.    

My teachers helped create these passions and instill a lifetime love of learning.  And to them, I offer a very sincere thank-you.  Because of you, you have shaped the teacher I want to become.  I want my students to experience the magic and wonderment that you showed me every single day.  I want to inspire my students to believe they can do the impossible and give them the tools to do just that.  Anything is possible.    

And so, I leave you with this quote from Seth Godin’s e-book titled, Stop Stealing Dreams:

“When we let our kids dream, encourage them to contribute, and push them to do work that matters, we open doors for them that will lead to places that are difficult for us to imagine.  When we turn school into more than just a finishing school for a factory job, we enable a new generation to achieve things that we were ill-prepared for” (187).    

I want my kids to dream.  To realize anything is possible.  And to do this, I commit to making a change.

~Chelsea

Tag... You're It!!!!

Whew… last week was one grueling week!  I won’t go into too much detail other than parent-teacher conferences, formal observation (plus pre and post conferences), data inundation, misbehaving students (full moon?), meetings galore, sickness, and complete, total, utter exhaustion.  To sum it up in one word:  Stress.FULL!  I’m looking forward to a much more laid-back week this week (and a long weekend)!  J

Miss Russell over at Thoughts of a Student Teacher has asked me to be part of a little bloggy-tag game… and now I’m it!  Here are the questions that I was asked to answer:

1. If you could move anywhere and teach, where would it be?

2. What is your favorite grade to teach and why?

3. What is one of your most memorable teaching moments?

4. What is your favorite restaurant to eat out at?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. What is your biggest fear?

7. What is the hardest thing about teaching?

8. What is your biggest pet peeve?

9. How old were you when you realized you wanted to be a teacher?

10. Do you prefer salty or sweet things?

11. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you bought?

12. What is your biggest piece of advice to future teachers?


And, here are my answers...

 

1.  I think it would be absolutely wonderful to have the experience of teaching in another country (or continent)!  Since I was in 2^nd grade, it has been my dream to travel to Australia.  I would love to experience what it’s like “down under” and be completely immersed in another culture.  But, on the flip side of things, I do love it here in Colorado!  It’s nice to be so close to my family and friends, as they’ve been my support system through everything.  As long as I have kiddos to teach and am surrounded by loving people, I honestly think I’d be happy teaching anywhere!  J

2.  I used to be a stickler for wanting to teach

 just 2^nd grade since that was such a magical year for me, but with such a wide variety of experiences in each of the grade levels, I’ve realized that there is something to love about teaching each grade!  Each year, from beginning to end, it’s amazing to me how much kids learn and grow!  They grow academically, physically, and emotionally and it is such a wonderful experience to be part of their journeys.  If you create a positive, supportive classroom environment, there’s no limit as to what incredible things kids can do!   

3.  Each and every one of my favorite memories have been moments of realization… moments when I’ve laughed until I cried… and moments when I’ve cried until I laughed.  These are the moments that changed the way I look at life and serve as inspiration when times get tough. These moments are ones where I can truly say, “I am a teacher and I am proud to be making a difference!”    My hope is that you can experience these moments too (even though I’m sure you already have)!  Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions and I know that there is nothing that I’d rather be doing than that! 

4.  I'd have to say it's a tie between Chili's and Outback Steakhouse!  At Chili's, I love the chips and queso and their Guiltless Chicken Platter (I think they call it Magarita Chicken now)!  At Outback, there's nothing better than a well-done filet mignon steak and a Wallaby Darned (a yummy peach drink).  Simply MmmmAzing! 

5.  It’s a tie between 3 people… Paul Walker, Owen Wilson, and Hugh Grant.  Find me a guy with the perfect mix of those 3 and I’d marry him!  ;-)

6.  Hmmm… that’s a tough one.  I guess I’d have to say fear of failure.  I always put forth 100% effort into everything I do, but sometimes I fear that it may not be enough. 

7.  Everything!  Haha.  Only kidding.  Teaching is a very demanding job though.  It’s extremely hard to find a balance and not let the petty things get to you.  Every day presents a new challenge, but you must embrace it with a positive attitude and an open mind!

8.  Negativity.  When things change, it’s easy to react to them in a negative way.  However, it’s important to remember that change is something that cannot be controlled – it is a constant.  As my swim coach used to say, “You can only change two things in life… your attitude and your underwear!”    Why not control the way in which you react to change?  Since change is a constant, wouldn’t it be better to be open-minded and positive about it?  I believe that it’s important to lift up, rather than tear down the people who surround you.  Why not spread the sunshine everywhere you go?  J

9.  I’ve always wanted to be a teacher since I was really young, but my dream first began as a marine biologist.  I absolutely loved dolphins and wanted to know everything about all the creatures that lived in the ocean.  Whatever career I chose, I knew that it had to be something where I could help other people or animals.  It wasn’t until high school when I started spending lots of my time volunteering in local elementary schools.  This is when I realized that I loved working with kids!  It was amazing to see the excitement these children experienced from learning and working together.  I knew that this was something I wanted to be a part of.  I wanted to make a difference, just like all the teachers I had met were doing, and just as my teachers had done for me.  This is when I knew that teaching was 100% the right choice for me!   

10.  If you know me personally, you would definitely know the answer to this one… SWEETS, of course!  J  I get made fun of all the time at lunch because of my “little kid palette.”  I’ve even created a daily feature called “What’s in Chelsea’s Lunchbox Today?” where I showcase all the items in my lunchbox and see if anyone can guess what I brought for lunch that day.  It usually consists of: fruit snacks, Dunkaroos (yes, they still exist!), cosmic brownies, goldfish, some sort of candy/chocolate for dessert… you get the point (Although, I have to admit, I am trying to be a bit healthier).  And, my favorite food, you may ask?  Ice cream, of course!  J 

11.  Good question… I can’t say that I really know the answer to this…  Assuming that what I won would be millions upon millions of dollars, and I would be swimming in cash (wishful thinking – I knowJ), I would probably buy some “basic” things like new clothes (a new pair of jeans, some work clothes, some workout clothes, etc.), a new laptop, and a document camera and projector for my classroom.  I would love to buy a plane ticket and travel to various destinations across the globe – Australia, Europe (Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Italy…), the Caribbean… the possibilities are endless!  All selfishness aside, I would give a good portion of my winnings to my parents.  They have been so supportive of everything I’ve done, so I would make sure that they’d receive a substantial amount to spend on whatever they see fit (eg. a new house, a relaxing vacation, etc.).  I’d set some money aside for my future children and then I’d donate the rest to non-profit charities that make a huge difference in our communities and schools. 

12.  I am a new teacher, but I still have a lot of advice… hehe.  First of all, find a balance.  Take time for yourself, friends, family, and work.  Enjoy every single moment and find something to smile about every single day!  I keep a notebook of all the funny things kids say to me and notes that they give me.  It keeps me going on tough days and always makes me smile and appreciate that I am making a difference!  J  Most importantly, don’t lose sight of the big picture!  It’s easy to get caught up in petty things, but remember what you are there for…. to inspire and encourage children to be the best that they can be every single day!  Always remember to keep moving forward and never give up.  Believe that you can succeed and you will! 

Now it’s my turn to ask some questions to learn more about my awesome bloggy friends!  Here are 12 questions that I would love for you to answer: 

1. What is one of your favorite books from your professional library? And from your personal library?  Why are they amongst your favorites?

2. What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

3. What’s your secret to motivating kids to learn?

4. What is your dream vacation?

5. What do you like to do in your spare time (all teaching aside)?

6. If you have a pet, what kind of pet do you have and why did you choose it?  If you don’t have a pet, what kind of pet would you get and why?

7. What is your most prized possession and why?     

8. What is your favorite song?  Does it have any significance in your life? 

9. What has been your biggest challenge so far in your teaching career?

10. What is your favorite grade level to teach and why?

11. What is your most memorable teaching moment?

12.   What is the single, most important piece of advice you would give to a new teacher? 

So… 

Heather @ Heather's Heart

Lori @ Conversations in Literacy

Tammy @ Forever in First

Ashleigh @ educationjourney

Kylie @ Miss Smartie Pants

Tag – You’re it!!!!  J 

I can’t wait to read your responses!  I hope that you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day spending time with the ones you love! 

~Chelsea

Digging Deeper into a Land of Endless Wonder and Discovery

Let me just start by saying that these past couple days were eXtreme!  And by eXtreme I mean awesome, extraordinary, superb, brilliant, amazing, wonderful, fantastic, outrageous, glorious (I think you get the point…)!  What is the cause of all this excitement, you ask?  Well… for the past three days I was at the 45^th annual CCIRA Conference on Literacy – a reading teacher’s paradise! 

This was the 2^nd CCIRA Conference that I’ve been able to attend and both times it has changed my life!  Yes, you read that correctly (even though I might seem a little teensy bit dramatic) – it really has changed my life… or at least the way I teach literacy!  J  I listened to so many phenomenal speakers and met some absolutely wonderful people at each of the sessions I attended… teachers really are the nicest, most dedicated, caring, and kind people I know!  To any teachers (past, present, or future) reading this right now – thank you!  Thank you for your dedication and commitment to excellence, your passion and creativity that help create a world of wonder and opportunity, and your ability to make a difference and inspire the hearts and minds of others.  The world needs more people like you!  J

I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and listen to so many authors and teachers that are the driving forces of change in our schools.  Their groundbreaking research is helping to enrich student learning and ensure a lifetime of opportunities and future success… And most importantly, to inspire educators to follow their passions and bring learning to life inside their classrooms!  I can’t tell you the amount of knowledge I gained in the past three days and the delight I experienced knowing that I can become a teacher who ignites sparks of passion, brings out the magic and wonderment in discovery, and makes a difference in the lives of every one of my students. 

For those of you that are fans of the Daily 5/Literacy CAFÉ, you’re going to be super jealous of me!  I got to spend 4 hours with the two sisters, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser!  After one of my sessions, I had the opportunity to chat with the two of them… and let me tell you, they are the sweetest people!  They even autographed the copies of the books that I bought (I know that you’re really jealous now!)!  J 

In between some of my other sessions, I made the choice to go to the bookstore and exhibition hall.  Look at all the cool stuff I came back with!

Plus I met this nice woman and told her my sad story of how my really nice Dibels timer went MIA and she gave me this Fluency timer for free (normally $12)!  Love it!!!!

And look what arrived in the mail this past week!

I’m going to have a lot of reading to do over the next couple weeks!  J 

In other news, Colorado’s weather has been pretty eXtreme this past week.  We got over 18 inches of snow in 2 days!!!!  And yes, you did read that last sentence correctly!  It is Colorado after all… sNOw big deal (sorry, I couldn’t resist)! 

Here’s a picture of my car that I took Friday evening.  It went on to snow a couple more inches after that, taking over an hour and a half to scrape and shovel my car out of its parking space today!  These are the times that I really wish I had a garage! 



This was only halfway through the snow storm.  My car was completely buried by morning!



It definitely gives new meaning to the song, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland!”  Haha! 

Now, I’m finishing up my last load of laundry, planning for my formal observation, preparing for parent-teacher conferences, entering Dibels data on my computer, and getting ready for the Super Bowl (go Pats!).  It’s going to be a busy day (or should I say week…)!  J  Enjoy your super Sunday!!!!

~Chelsea