2024 Recap- Quarters 1 and 2

So we’re a couple weeks into 2025 and I haven’t posted anything since like September. I have several drafts of different things I want to post. I decided to recap 2024 first. I have tons of pictures to share more things that will help explain what 2024 was for me. I didn't write about every single thing and I don't have pictures for everything. 

I would say there were 3 big things that defined my year. The first one was ending my last school year and officially quitting my teaching career. The second was spending the summer with my niece, Kennely. And the third was starting a new job. There were a lot of smaller things that made my year everything that it was. 

So I started 2024 with a sprained ankle and sharing a car with Tej. It was the best time honestly. I got to see Tej and sometimes Luke everyday. Also, being a passenger princess in my own car is one of my favorite things. I was so sad for Christmas break to end, because I soooo enjoyed hanging out at Tej’s house everyday. And also, the second half of the school year is when things start to get real. I wasn’t ready to face 3rd and 4th quarter of school. 

In the midst of the madness, I turned 32. A few weeks before my birthday, I got sentenced to 6-8 weeks in a boot for my ankle. I was already struggling with some depression for the sprained ankle and how terrible my last year of school was going, but that boot was the straw that broke the camel’s back. When I left the orthopedic doctor’s office with that thing on my foot, I bawled all the way down Smithville back to school. I was bummed. And it was my driving foot, so I had to keep taking it off to drive. I had this whole plan for my birthday, even had a dress. This boot thing had me like “Fuck all that shit!”. It was about 8 days before my birthday when I decided I needed to celebrate myself. So I put on the dress, couldn’t wear the shoes, and wore that stupid ass boot to my birthday dinner. I had a great time, I was surrounded by love, and I’m so glad that I didn’t let the boot win. It was close, guys. 

February is an action packed month in kindergarten. We have three parties, tons of crafting, and a little extra love in the room. We have 2 Valentine’s Day parties (class party and grade band party), and then we have a class birthday party for my birthday. We have food, decorations, music, and gifts. My last class was a whole disaster, but the birthday party was so much fun! We definitely went out with several bangs… because they kept popping the balloons lol

February was action packed outside of the classroom as well. My friends had a baby!! I was partying with them in college and now they’re married with a baby!! And I got to meet her when she was 2 days old all because of the Find My app. #teamiphone I was at a conference in Columbus and just happened to check the Find My app and saw that Kiera was close. They pulled up shortly after and I met my new niece. Love at first sight is real, guys!

 Here are some pictures from the first quarter...

The next part of the year was also very eventful. I picked up a new and expensive hobby: Legos. I was looking for a new challenge and was looking into 3D puzzles. Lego sets kept popping up and I’m like nah…I’m not that level of dork. Come to find out, I am. Or Legos aren’t dorky. Whichever sounds better. 

You thought getting into Legos was crazy? Well I also got a freaking hamster!! Penelope is my freeloading roommate. I am not her mother. She’s a rodent. No judgement to those who feel maternal towards their rodents. I watched my friend take care of a hamster in her classroom and I was like hmmm…I can handle that. It’s been going well so far. She minds her business and I mind mine. Pretty cool. 

Everything is sounding good during this part of the year, well here’s the gross part…So as the kindergarten teacher, I had always been responsible for the Awards Ceremony at the end of every year. Honestly, I always dreaded it because I hate public speaking. People are always shocked when I say that because I have such a strong personality. Anyway, I had a lot of feelings at the end of the year and I think that it was difficult to figure out what to say. I was mad at everybody, honestly. The kids, their parents, administrators, myself…It was not my best work. I’m not even sure that it was outwardly bad, I just know I didn’t feel right on the inside. 

It’s going to get good again, guys! I attended Keenan and Roe's wedding. We've talked about that before, but it was definitely a highlight of my year!

​When school let out, I was nervous about the fate of my school relationships. One of my coworker friends was pregnant at the time and she had one hell of a journey to get there. I was very excited for her. She had a gender reveal that I attended and I felt like it solidified our friendship. Now she’s not my coworker friend, she’s just my friend. See, good stuff, right?

My Texas bestie grew up and had a baby!! It’s always so crazy when people you once made irresponsible decisions with does something mature like finding the love of their life and having a baby. And yall this is the cutest baby boy!!
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That’s two babies for me this year!!

Around the same time as the baby was born, school ended and it was time for me to go hang out with Kennely! I was offered the opportunity to spend time with Kennely and make some extra money while I figured out what my next steps were going to be. I bed hopped between my friends homes and got to spend a little time with my girls. It was definitely a summer for the books. Bonding and connecting with your people when you feel like your life is falling apart is unmatched and so necessary. 

Here are pictures from the second quarter:

The other thing I didn't say was that I looked good in 2024. Did you see me lol