First hike around Laguna Alegria

This was a jam packed weekend and I can't believe that it's already over. The last week went well and I can't believe we are down to only 14 days, so crazy! We are starting to review a lot and grades are done next week so then it will just be a lot of busy work to finish off the year :) On Friday, I went out to dinner with some other ladies to a nice Chinese restaurant. It was nice to get out and enjoy delicious food with great company! Saturday was a relaxing day...ran some errands, and then spent some time with a friend that I hadn't seen in FOREVER! Jose had a game in the evening so Rachel and I went along to watch.

Today I went on a hike to Laguna Alegria. It's a lake about 2 hours away and it is green because of it's high sulfur content. It is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes and is gorgeous. Jose and I went with some other friends and it was quite the hike. It was about 3 hours up but through non-existent trails, over rocks, and up-up-up.

On the way down, it started raining and thank goodness we went down a different way because we wouldn't have made it over those rocks when it was raining. Overall fun and beautiful but Jose and I decided that hiking is something that we only need to do every once in a while....a very once in a while haha. This week the students have their semester writing exam and I am just starting to wrap everything up. It hasn't hit me at all that the year is almost done. I think I am thinking too much about the Framingham class that I still have hanging over my head before summer will start too. But less than a month until I'm home!

First birthday on a school day

So this week was my birthday and our mother's day show. I've never had to teach on my birthday because I student taught in the fall and last year it was on a weekend but this year it was on a school day, which was actually kind of fun. Since my birthday would be during the week, Jose and I went over the weekend before up into the mountains. I always forget how much I love it up there until I go. That is one thing that is so amazing about this country. There are mountains in one part of the country and then beaches in another area, the best of both worlds. It was relaxing and really nice to get away.

On my actual birthday, my students were so cute. A few brought me gifts and then when I was out at recess duty, they snuck in to the classroom and wrote messages all over the whiteboard. They had all made a card and signed it as well. Then, around 11am a few students from last year ran into the back door of my classroom and scared me. They shouted Happy Birthday and all had a sign that they had gone around and had students from my class last year sign. I couldn't believe they remembered but they came over from the middle school during their lunch time and were worried they were going to get caught, it was so cute. They gave me a few little cafeteria snacks they had bought at lunch. I felt so loved with all of the emails, cards, and messages. Thanks to everyone that thought of me yesterday. It was really a great day!

After school, I went to dinner with some friends at a restaurant I had never been to called Adventure Cafe. It had a beautiful view of the city and we were there at a great time, just in time to watch the city lights come on and the sun to go down. It was a great group of friends that went.

Today was our 5th grade Mother's Day show. We had an 80s theme so all the kids (and a few of the teachers) had a great time dressing up. The moms really enjoyed the show and we had quite a few of them crying. It was a lot of preparing and practicing so I am very happy that it is over! The students sang 3 songs....1 in spanish, a different version of "Moms just wanna love us" instead of girls just wanna have fun and then a newer song by one direction. It was a hit!

I now only have 20 days of school left and I can't believe it! This year has flown by and it's hard to believe that I've been here 2 years already. Looking back on it, it feels like just yesterday that I was packing up to come here and thinking....oh man 2 years, that's a long time, but it was over in the blink of an eye. I am getting very excited for my mom and Betsey's upcoming visit and then to come home June 18th, it will be here before we know it!