Roadtrip to.... Albany?

This week, I went with my Mom to Albany.

If you've ever been there, then you know... well... it isn't too exciting. She had to go for work, so while she was at her meetings I was lounging around the hotel at the pool or reading a good book (just finished Perfect Match by Jodi Piccoult, oh my GOSH what an amazing book).

BUT, we did find the time to do some exploring and fun
(and of course some time to have some wine!).

Our second night in Albany, we walked around downtown
and checked out all of the cool buildings.

This was the original capital building:


It was gorgeous!

Here are a couple of views of downtown Albany:

This was a windmill type piece of art, that was fun to stand under.
You felt like you were going to get hit with one of the blades!The building below is called "The Egg" (go figure) and has an amphitheater inside! If you didn't know, my Mom is quite strong. She actually carried it in her hands! :)
View of the entire downtown area:
I almost fell in. For real.


It was a fun trip :) And I can now say that I've been to the capital of New York!

Cedar Point!

It's going to be a long one... so get ready! :)

June 1st was a very, very long day. It began with my moving my entire apartment out, and into my new casa! After moving (4-5 hour process, phew!), I then met up with my good friend Marisa, who drove me to Phoenix to catch the midnight flight out of Phoenix, to Buffalo, NY (where I'm from!). Thanks again, Marisa!

My new place is currently a pile of boxes, and I'm actually looking forward to getting back and unpacking! Unpacking party, anyone? :)


Anyways, a few days after getting home, I went to Cedar Point with one of my best friends from High School, Jen! Cedar Point is a HUGE theme park about 4 1/2 hours from Buffalo (actually, Orchard Park, home of the Bills where I grew up).

On the trip it dawned on me that I had been in 5 states in two weeks: Arizona, Georgia (connection on my way to B-Lo), New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Kind of cool!


Anyways. We have been talking about going to Cedar Point for YEARS, and we finally actually got the chance to go! We went from a Tues-Thursday, with the thought that the park should be pretty quiet (we were right for the most part).

I haven't been to Cedar Point myself in about 8 or 9 years. I used to go with some of my family, Aunt Marcia and Uncle David, The Contos and Sabuda families! (I thought of you all so many times while at the park!) So I was more than ready to go back!

Tuesday, we got to Sandusky, Ohio around 4:00, just in time for a late lunch and a late entry into the park!

The bad news? It was raining! Of course, that didn't slow us down!


But it did slow the park down.


We were only able to get on three rides in five hours. The park kept shutting down rides (there was no thunder or lightening), and it of COURSE always seemed to happen when we were one of the next people to get on.

In line for the Millennium Force, one we actually (eventually) got on that night.

Oh well. At least we tried! We headed back to our hotel at 10:00pm (after waiting for over an hour to get on the Dragster, only to have it shut down at 9:15 for rain) for a good nights sleep. We had a long 2 days ahead of us!

We got up early, and were in the park by 9AM (because we were staying in the hotel, we got in an hour before everyone else). We were EXHAUSTED by 1:00pm. Maybe we're getting too old for this? Nah.

We headed back to the hotel, and took naps. I'm OK with it.


At about 3:15, we were re-energized, and headed right back into the park.

I got to ride the "Top Thrill Dragster" for the first time ever -- the tallest and fastest coaster in the world.

It. Was. Insane.

It shoots you up over 400 feet (STRAIGHT UP), and then straight down, at speeds over 100 MPH. 120 to be exact.
Even scarier? Sometimes the coaster does. not. make. it. over.

You heard me.
Sometimes, it actually gets close to the top, then comes straight back down.
Backwards. It is hard to "not be concerned," let me tell you.

In addition, you haven't seen a bad hair day until after riding on this thing!

We rode the Dragster 6 times in two days. It was AMAZING.

Anyways. Few more pictures from around the park :)


My other favorite ride in the park (Jens, too) was The Maverick.

It is supposed to be like riding on a horse. It also shoots you up a hill (but much smaller than the dragster), then down 95˚. You heard me, not 90˚ but 95˚. I won't say much more, for those of you who will eventually ride it (full of surprises) - I wouldn't want it to be ruined. But it was awesome!

We spent the rest of that night in the park (until 10pm), then headed back to the hotels hot tub.
It felt GREAT (as you can imagine)!

Thursday morning we woke up, headed into the park for about 4-5 hours, and headed home.

SUPER fun trip -- I can't wait to go back in another 10 years! :)

Schoooools out....... for the summer!

I normally post pictures and tell some kind of a story. Today, just words.

But they should make you smile!

One of the teachers on my team asked students to write a compliment to any teacher at our school. I am going to share some of the quotes from the letters I received.

They all begin with "Dear Ms. Buchheit" --

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"There is so little time and so much to say about how great a teacher you are. You made my year a great one. I wish you could move to the 8th grade with me! I <3 you so much, and I am so glad I got a chance to be in your favorite math class.
Love, McKenzie.
P.S. - Sorry I yelled at you so much."

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“You’re the best math teacher ever. You may be somewhat crazy, but any new 7th grader will be lucky to have you. One awesome thing you did was allow students to stay after school to review for benchmarks, formatives and AIMS [state test].”

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“I’m so lucky to have had such an AWESOME math teacher. Because of you, I am more confident in the class in my (personally), HARDEST class. Thank you SO much!”

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“You made the classroom such a comfortable and colorful place. You are so much fun to be around, and I feel like I really learned a lot. You may be a little out there sometimes, but that’s what makes you so unique! I’m so sad I’m leaving your classroom next year! I’m really going to miss you.”

**********************

“Thank you for all of the awesome activities this year. Thank you for making math fun too with your Buchheit Bucks and jeopardy games!”

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"You are my favorite teacher - math is the funnest class! You do a great job of teaching everything quickly and efficiently. I can tell you have fun teaching. Usually."

*********************

"You have a terrific way of everything. You are a super teacher!"

*********************

"It's been a joy having you as my teacher. Not many people know what it's like to be a teacher, but I do. You stay after school on half days, stay longer at school than we do, stay up late grading papers and try to have some fun at the same time. I can't even imagine what it's like for you!"

*********************

"I have always looked forward to coming to math everyday.
Except doing math review, that was a drag [bellwork]."

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"I guess I have to face the fear facts - I'm almost an 8th
grader and can't always have you for math!"

*********************

"I really like how you make math fun sometimes.
You made it so I didn't feel stressed about AIMS, I liked that to0!"

*********************

Turns out, I might have done a couple of things right this year! Can't wait for next.

....

Who am I kidding?

YES I can! :)

Appreciated :)

Today is the last day of school. I can HARDLY believe it!

As I sit here with 70+ thirteen year olds watching a movie, after being told all day "thank you" and receiving nice cards and giftcards (Olive Garden! Starbucks! Michaels! Coldstone!) it is amazing to see how much they've gotten to know me. AND that they really DO know how to say "thanks!"

Yesterday, we had our final reward party at school. My team (Team Navy) of four teachers every quarter puts on a special party of some kind to reward all of the students who have had excellent behavior. Yesterday was our final party.

We had two inflatables, a water slide and water filled obstacle course. It was SO MUCH FUN!

The Language Arts teacher on my team and I took the first run down the slide:

And then the fun began!

A fun, innocent water balloon toss....



....quickly turned into a "let's hit the teachers" water balloon war!

But it as all in good fun :)

I think the highlight of this whole event, however, was reading all of their facebook messages afterwards.


And my favorite message:


Wow am I going to miss these students!

My new casa!

Lots of things have changed since my last post! Here's what you missed....


I since signed a lease in an amazing new house for the next year! I got the keys... TODAY! I'm planning on finding a roommate to share the house with (it has 3 bedrooms!). The house is also about 2 minutes away from my school - which will be so convenient!

My current washer and dryer? RIDICULOUSLY small! Look at these babies!!!

I will post more pictures as this place comes to life!! :)