RAs, Training, and Opening...oh my!

HAHA, see what I did there ;D I'm cracking myself up today. BUT I guess that means I am in a good mood right?  YUP!

The past few weeks have truly been a whirlwind of busy. Usually, I am dreading how busy this time of year is. BUT I decided to embrace it, be thankful for it, and enjoy it this year. And that I have. Hopefully, this will be my last year doing all this stuff, but if not at least I had fun. If it my last time, at least I had fun. So fun to be had either way. MUCH better than dreading it all. 

The RAs showed up bright eyed and bushy tailed on the 4th and we hit the ground running with training immediately. During training we always have one day to do staff development activities. This year the department decided to put a community service spin on it- FUN! (I am not being sarcastic, I like community service) My staff was assigned to dig up sand spurs and clean up trash from an island that children with disabilities play on. We had to kayak to the island, clean it up, and kayak back with the trash. It was interesting to say the least. They also took us on a kayaking tour for free! I swear, we kayaked against the waves both ways. I'm not sure how it happened, but at least I got an amazing arm/shoulder/back workout. haha

Anyway, training was long, but fun. I really got to bond with my staff and they got to bond with each other. I must say- I believe this might just be the best staff I have ever hired! They all get along so well. It's precious. In fact, they get along so well that they scheduled their own beach day together and all but 3 were able to go. That's 17 people y'all! I feel like a super proud mama :D

Throughout the week I had them do activities with each other and one of them had to do with strengths and weaknesses and how they would work together as a group knowing these. I always participate in everything I have my staff do and so I played along too. And guess what? I learned something very important about myself. Most of you all know that when patience was being handed out- I was clearly skipped. I just have no patience for anything. BUT I learned that I do with my staff. My staff was stunned that I wrote that down as a weakness. I laughed because I thought they were joking, but nope! So maybe my real kids will have some hope someday ;D

Fast forward a week and a half and now we are well into opening. I am very happy to have the routine starting back up, but not so much the crowded parking lots and traffic. haha. Opening has been pretty steady, which is why I am able to post today :D We finish up with opening around Monday/Tuesday and classes start Wednesday. Crazy how fast August has gone by. I really do need time to slow down!

Some of my staff at our banquet

 some of the guys on staff- the left two both either lived in Raleigh or have parents that live in Raleigh. Pure coincidence! I had no idea when I hired them :D 

 My staff is the best :D

 Their beach trip! I had to work :( But l wished them a good time :D

Here is to a great year, with an awesome staff :D