As is any year, there was many things to celebrate and many things to overcome. But through it all, 2025 was a great year! I'm thankful it happened. I learned a lot. I was happy a lot. Here's my 2025 in pictures!
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I kicked off the year running a half marathon at Disney World! This was a race that saw me overcome a challenge at mile 10 that nearly derailed my race. I'm learning to smile more...and put my hands up!
Houston...we have marathon 2! It was so cool my 2 classes of 4th graders signed a shirt for me. I had to wear it at the expo.
Brrr! Temperatures were in the 30s, but strong winds made it feel like the 20s. I never thought I'd wear an earmuffs, gloves, and a long sleeve for an entire marathon, but I did.
As part of the trip my parents and I went to the Johnson Space Center and even saw stingrays later on in an aquarium! It was a great trip. I don't take these trips for granted.
I love celebrating the Chinese New Year every year!
I love celebrating the Super Bowl yearly too!
Back to back first place finishes at the OCPS Sea World race with two different schools! (I'm still at the same school this year.) This race was a literal sprint for the finish.
In March, I went back to the Sea World, but not to run. It was my first visit to the park. I had so much fun riding rollercoasters and seeing the animals! I like Sea World!
I became a Universal pass holder again!
I was thankful to get an invite the watch the Savannah Bananas play first at an NFL stadium (Buccaneers) for the first time ever! The atmosphere is electric! The players, Jesse Cole (CEO), and entertainment is top tier!
I went to Zoo Tampa! I paid for my friend and I to get an elephant tour. It was cool!
Pancakes are the Sugar Mill at delicious! It's super popular and in the heart of the Deleon Springs State Park.
There's more than just pancakes at Deleon Springs State Park. There's boat tours, walking trails, and this beautiful hot spring in the middle of it all.
I love March Madness in the spring and I love bringing it to my students yearly.
That feeling of finishing your first Springtime Surprise Challenge! 5k, 10k, 10 miler. All paces were between 5:52-6:02 and I was top 10 in all 3 races. I was the 2nd fastest challenge runner!
When you do a challenge and see you the same runners day in and day out, they become your friends, not just your competition. This was a super cool moment!
Epic Universe opened up and I got to see a preview of it!
My favorite universe is Super Nintendo World + Donkey Kong country. It brought back my childhood where we used to the play the game at grandmas. My brother and I had Yoshi's Island on our Gameboy Advance. and to my shock, I was able to rebuy the game! It was just how I remembered it. I really like Epic Universe. It's more of my childhood.
We did Glow Day in 4th grade to review for the state test! The kids showed off their learning and had fun!
I'm really happy with how the kids did and the volunteers that helped make the magic continuous!
My Running Company 6 race series came to an end in May.
Four victories, two runner-ups, one appreciative runner.
I surprised myself in a lot of ways during this series.
So many bubbles for so many deserving kids!
The last day of 4th grade is always a happy and sad one. I learned so much this year. I tried my best every day. I loved my students. I'm thankful to be at my school. I feel very lucky.
To celebrate the end of the school year, I built this F1 race car! My largest build yet. I love how it turned out.
10 out of 10 recommend everyone color code their bookshelf.
The new Villains Show at Hollywood Studios is great! I'd go on to see it a few times this year!
I went to Animal Kingdom by myself for the first time. I had great time riding rides and eating. I'm glad I had the courage to do it by myself.
The Wild Robot on the Island, the picture book version of the chapter was released. It's a beautiful book. I recommend it! During the new school year, after we finished reading The Wild Robot, I gave away one or two these copies.
As I flying back to Nebraska, I watched The Unbreakable Boy. It's a true story about an Autistic boy. Turns out the family not only lives in Nebraska now...but in the town where my parents live. When I saw the book, I had to buy it. Turns out it was last autographed copy. The book is just as good as the movie.
"Through these gates walk the greatest fans in college football." What a beautiful stadium, even in the summer. The University has made massive upgrades around the stadium. One day the stadium will be given upgrades.
Learning at the Lincoln Museum next door to the stadium. I had never been there. There were so many floors to venture to. It took us many hours!
I'm finally teaching 3rd grade! I taught 3rd grade when I first started teaching and blogging almost ten years ago! Change was scary. I was heartbroken to leave 4th grade. I didn't know how my new team would receive me. I've had a lot to learn and most show massive amounts of improvement going into January. But I'm thankful to my team and students. They've helped me more than they'll ever know. I've been a lot happier this semester. I'm loving 3rd grade!
I added a big 3 and SPACE ! I've always wanted both and finally got them.
My 3rd grade classroom is similar to my 4th grade one, but bigger and better. Peep the stars hanging and the cabinets with no anchor charts. Simple and on theme.
Speaking of on theme....I had enough extra that I could staple it to the bathroom, including the door. Something you're definitely not expecting, but turned out so cool!
First day of 3rd grade! 🚀
I trolled Swift's and Kelce's engagement after Nebraska football beat Cincinnati four first game of the season!
I had the idea to give my ESOL students a copy of The Wild Robot as I read it aloud to the class. Then I saw a student or two face sad as they overheard so... I bought everyone a copy!
Rain was pouring, the touchdowns were scoring, and fun was overflowing! Gotta love UCF games with friends, minus Scott Frost being their head coach again.
We love book fairs!
Not a throwback, but reality. Finally after seven years, the Jungle classroom transformation is back! The kids loved it. I loved recreating it. I was a wild day!
4 years of continuous racing was celebrated with an evening race in my Florida roots, Auburndale! It was a 5k race to raise money for the police department. I wasn't feeling super fast, but apparently my body was. I averaged a 5:27 pace, thus breaking my 10 year post collegiate record. 🎉 I was shocked!
My first ever regular season game watching the Seahawks in Jacksonville! (I watched them play a preseason game in Kansas City.) It was perfect weather for football. I had a great time, especially because the Seahawks won 20-12!
That's not Oregon, it's Florida. This was a run back in Baldwin Park thanks for a teacher training I attended. I used to live close to there.
Color changing science! We even tried with celery and lettuce!
I just love my students! They're on pace to be an all-time favorite class!
My first ever NHL game, Lightning vs Ducks! I can't believe I'm saying this, but hockey might be my favorite pro sport to watch. Lots of action, the atmosphere was electric with the entertainment, and having two breaks means you can go to the bathroom and get food and drinks without missing a second of the action! I loved it!
Pumpkin science!
My first ever tall Christmas tree! I love it! 🎄
A friend helped me hang my tvs in my living room and bedroom and I'll never go back. It's a vibe. You know what else is a vibe? Putting up Christmas decorations on November first so you can enjoy them for two months. Who am I becoming?!
One of my students' father is a MedEvac helicopter pilot! We learned so much and had a lot of questions for him.
My first ever, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party! There were so many cookies and hot cocoa! I had a great time! We even rode on a few rides! It was good be back at Magic Kingdom! I love where I live!
My 50th race month was... a marathon in California! Everything was perfect about my time there and Raceday. It was a great atmosphere! I gave it everything I had. I'm thankful for the experience. What I learned as a runner with this race, you're never alone as a runner. Odds are someone else had your same day race ups and downs. It had been over 20 years since I had been in California! I'm glad I came back.
Students in Ms. Colon's and my classroom helped them win the door decorating contest! They deserve it with the all the math, science, and reading they put on the door. It was also so cool to have another teacher want to team up. My team has been so welcoming and encouraging of my creative ideas. It's so great to see our hallway decorated with student work that myself and others have an imprint on. Students deserve it!
Survivor 49 season finale! It was very predictable, but fun! It's becoming a thing where I decorate my home with Survivor on the premiere and finale. I even had plastic leaf like bowls!
Students opening their presents on the last day class for 2025! I wish I could give these kids the world, they deserve it. They're a very special, wonderful class! I'm trying to cherish every second with them.
And finally... my mom has a cat again. Whoops, my mom has CATS again. Ever since our beloved childhood cat died nearly two years ago, I was begging for her to get a cat. Cats make her happier and she loves them (and so do I, any animal honestly.) So the agreement was our their Europe trip in the fall she'd buy a cat. Well... it wasn't happening so I might've kept pushing and pushing and pushing. When I arrived in Nebraska, these two balls of energy were waiting. No, they don't have names yet, but are so loved and super kind... unlike a former cat of ours haha!
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Those are my highlights from 2025! But I also had some major low points from 2025 that I'll continue to learn from and heal from. I remind my students that just because you're an adult doesn't mean you've learned it all or that life will be easier. But through it all I enjoyed 2025! I can't be how many firsts I'm still knocking more and there's hopefully more to come in 2026. 2026 is shaping to be quieter year, but than again, you can never be certain. Enjoy the ride!
Have a Happy New Year everyone! God bless you and your family!
