So this is it.

I am not sure what words I exactly want to write about the end of the school year...it's over.  It was fast.  I'm one day into my summer and I miss my kids desperately.  I'm not too sure what to do with myself yet.  You see, I didn't just pack up my room for the summer, but I packed it up for a move so I had to walk out of my school for the very last time ever.  Even though two years may seem like a short time, the two years that I spent at my school were pretty memorable...good, bad, sad, hysterical, enlightening.  When I think about writing blogs, I can often put everything together perfectly in my head and I'm pretty sure I've written this post in my mind very eloquently, with the very best verbiage and even a sarcastic quip.  As for now...I've got nothin'.  Here is how I left things:

My empty, clean, kindergarten classroom - ready for the next teacher to come in and make it their own.  I'll just say this much: I will greatly miss my colleagues, especially my mentor, fellow kinder teachers and those that I bonded with over unfortunate circumstances.  I miss my kids with every second of my day - they were an amazing, inspirational, intelligent and sweet group.  They changed so much about the way I teach, manage my classroom and cultivate my classroom culture.  

I will miss most...

• The way that Gabriela always says "Ms. Paschal, you're so pretty, I like your [insert piece of jewelry here]."
• Every single time I need one, I can always count on one of my girls to offer up their "chongo" (Spanish slang for hair tie/band).
• Shaking my kids' hands every day when they walk through the door and asking them how they are today - most answer with "awesome, great, good" but I can always count on Xander to say "handsome".
• The way Eyanna begged her mom for Toms so she could match my shoe style.
• How no matter what, day after day, Meghan always says "Ms. Paschal, this is the greatest day ever!  You are the best teacher." and I respond "You are SO right, I am!"

I will always be thankful to every parent, student, teacher and mentor I've had over the past two years at Davila Elementary School.  Here's hoping that there are more impressionable children waiting for me in Austin!