January Currently

I am still in shock that in a few short hours 2014 will come to a close.  It has been a great year, but I am very much looking forward to all 2015 has to come!

I am linking up with Farley to tell you about my currently!

Listening - My daughter got an easel, canvases, paints, brushes, palettes, etc. for Christmas.  She is painting away and chatting with me as she paints.  I love to see her using her creativity.  She has such an imagination and I love that both my kids use their daily.  (My son writes his own stories all the time)

Loving - I wanted to completely clean out my laundry room, re-organize, and pitch stuff.  I did it.  It seems I rarely get to accomplish a task like that on break.

Thinking - So many amazing women have recommended "It Starts With Food" and I want to read it and then maybe do the whole 30.

Wanting - A need a few more days of break.  My family was sick for the first week so it seems like break just finally started for us.  I want more time with my little ones before I have to go back to work.

Needing - I wish my house could clean itself.  I get one room clean and then turn around and another room is a mess.  I guess that is the joy of having small children???

YES - I will get healthier and make better food choices this year.  It has to happen.  It will happen.

Maybe - I would love to go to Vegas for the conferences and meet-ups this year.  Trying to see if I can swing it with grad school and family stuff.

I wish - I really want to put our house on the market in August, but I don't know if that is going to happen.  I wish we could purchase a new house because we really need more room.  (One reason why our house always seems to be a mess is not enough room for everything)  Trying to talk hubby into it is another story.  It will happen, but may not be on my timeline.

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy New Year!

7

Fourteen in '14

I can't believe that in a few short days 2014 will be over.  This year seemed to fly by and slowly crawl along all at the same time.  Does it feel like that for anyone else?!?!

I am linking up for Fourteen in '14 to share a bit about my year.  And because let's face it.....I am not ready to think about school quite yet.  I still have some break left to enjoy! :)

 I have to remember this quite often with all I have going on in my life on a daily basis.  This is one of the reasons that my blog hasn't seen much love recently.  Hoping to change that!

Can I pick two?  Well I am going to even if I can't.  {I am such a rule breaker}

Leggings and Boots.  I mean you can't have one without the other.

Did the Married With Children theme song start playing in your head with that last sentence or is that just me?  ;)

I can't remember a non-kid movie that I went to go see this year in the theaters.  Of all the kid movies I saw, this was definitely my number one pick.

I would hate to admit how much reality TV I really watch.  And how my full my DVR usually is.  A show that I fell head over heels in love with this year is The Mindy Project.  Mindy is HILARIOUS!  Yes, I did just put that in shouty caps because that is how much I laugh at her.  I also follow her IG.  Love!

 Ok....it's not technically a restaurant, but they opened an Orange Leaf in my town this summer and I hate to admit that for awhile there some of the employees knew me by name.  In case you don't know, Orange Leaf is a delicious froyo place.  Yum!

Making bows for my daughter.  I am getting better with each bow I make.  I have probably made close to 30 now.  I have been making them for my daughter and two nieces.  This was my first batch so no judging!  ;)

For Christmas, my hubby did a really good job, but I think my favorite gift was my new Garmin vivosmart.  It is similar to a fitbit.  Love it and it is keeping me accountable.  I have spent less time just sitting on the couch watching TV because it will remind me I need to get up and move.

I was hoping to re-do our bedroom and I fell in love with this headboard and then my hubby even said that he would make it for me.  Then I decided that would like to put our house up for sale once I am done with grad school so I am not sure if we will do this headboard or not at this point.  If not now, then when we buy our next house!  {Picture takes you to the pin}

 I know this post may not have seemed like a big deal to others, but to my kinder babies it is a HUGE deal.  They will not leave at the end of the day until we do our end of day ritual.  Click the picture to see all about it.

 I achieved some personal milestones this year both with my blog and with TpT.  Very proud of that!

Can I break the rule again and choose more than one???  Please???  Ok....I am doing it anyway!  :)

Our Spring Blogger Meet-Up in French Lick was just the best.  So much fun and it was amazing to meet all these fabulous teachers and bloggers.

 Our trip to DC with our best friends.  It was so much fun.  A short trip, but we made the most out of every minute.

My goal is to graduate from Grad School without having a meltdown.  I don't handle stress very well and grad school has definitely been stressful!  I also would like achieve more personal milestones for my blog and TpT.

HOPE.

1

Merry Christmas!

Just want to wish you a Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

0

Christmas Conversation

It has been really hard to find time to blog lately with all the craziness that surrounds this magical holiday season.  I truly love the Advent and Christmas season and thought I would join Abby in her Christmas Conversation linky party.

This year on Christmas Eve I am starting a new tradition with my children.  I bought them new Christmas pajamas and the book 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  It was favorite book as a child and I want to start the tradition of reading it every Christmas Eve night.  

My favorite family tradition is our annual cookie decorating party.  We get together and decorate over 150 cookies.  It is just a blast!

And sometimes it ends up with a light saber battle.....lol.

And now I am off to finish wrapping presents.  I got a little sidetracked on my wrapping with myself, hubby, and son all getting sick.  Hoping it stays away from my little princess.

Merry Christmas!

1

Someone touched the elf 2.0

Last year I had to do some quick thinking because one of my students touched our classroom elf.  You can read all about that here.

This year I was so excited to introduce an elf to our classroom.  We received a package in the mail and found out there was an elf inside.

On the very first day of having the elf, not one, but TWO students touched the elf.  I was having a mini panic attack about this since it was the first day.  I told the students that I hoped he would return the next day.

The next day when the students came in they saw him like this:

He was sick in bed with a big bandage on his arm.  We also received a letter from Santa telling us that our elf, Jingles, was unable to make it to the North Pole and Santa had to send out a search party for him.  Jingles was so sick that he needed a big shot in his arm to inject more magic into him so that he could come back.

The kids felt so bad that the elf had to get a shot that we haven't had any trouble since.  My aide and I really played it up and talked about how much his poor arm must hurt with a bandage that big.  His bandage stayed on for two days.  Tomorrow when he arrives he will be bandage free!

What do you do when this happens in your classroom?

3