Field trip fun... or fail?!

As a child, I can remember the excitement of a field trip. Everything from riding the bus (in the back, of course!) to bringing my favorite lunch with extra snacks.. ah, it was all so exciting! Now, as a teacher in charge of the well-being of lots of little people, I see why my teachers never seemed to have as much fun as the students. The junk is stressful! Having to make sure all the people you leave with actually come back with you? Man! Exhausting!

So yesterday we were scheduled to leave by 7:45 to head out to Raleigh, NC to go see the Titanic exhibit that's located inside the science museum. First we had permission slip issues, which turned into us leaving 30 minutes later than expected. No big deal.. who is ever on time to a field trip, anyway, right? Well.. as we're about halfway there, the bus is filled with not-so-quiet chatter and IT hits me... in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the morning, I definitely did not grab the check. The $600 check located in the safe that was supposed to pay for entrance fees. Sweet Jesus. It's times like these I'm glad I prayed to my sweet Jesus before I even left my house, or I'd be a basket case. How exactly is one supposed to tell 75 little faces that they're actually going back home? Ugh. After calling the school (a dreaded task), the book-keeper said I should ask about mailing the check. I bravely walked into the box office and explained my dilemma (while trying not to cry), and as nice as the lady was, she just couldn't say yes. So I did what any (crazy) teacher would do, and wrote out a check for $600 myself to cover the trip until the school check arrives my mail. My husband would and may still disown me, but there was no way I was walking back to those buses without Titanic tickets in hand. No way, Jose! As long as the check arrives prior to Tuesday I'll be good--no harm, no foul. So all you praying people out there--say one for me that an angel delivers that check bright and early Monday morning! :)

The rest of the day went beautifully... I tried to breathe and remember to have fun, but I was really just glad when 4:25 came around and my last kiddo had been picked up. Here are some pictures from the museum. I would post some from the Titanic exhibit, but no cameras were allowed. Here's a brief tidbit of what it was about:

Despite the rough start to my day, the field trip did turn out well and everyone I left with did indeed get returned safely. The kids had a blast and made many meaningful connections to what we've studied throughout the year.

If asked their favorite part, I'm sure at least half of them would reply, "The escalator!" :)