What An I Doing?

Just for those that dont know where I'm off to! I'm heading off to spend 6 months doing volunteer work in hospitals in Michigan...looking forward to the contacts made at work & the rewards of the job...

And I'm Off!...

Well here I sit in our motel room....my bags are actualy packed for the next 6 months I think! If only I could have more then 50lbs in each but after takin out some things & rearranging I think it'll work! Ran to town this morn for lst minute things then quick finished packing, loaded everything in the truck & mom & I are off to school to say good bye to "my" students...pick up sis after work & in to have sup with dear Grandpa yet...& now here I am! What a long busy day! & the morning will come soon with the beginning of an adventure!! Along with comes nervousness & excitement! And a lil but io sadness at saying good byes...but its only 6 months!So good bye for the next 6 months!

New Wheels & Unit Preperations Update

Yes I gotta my lil black jetta on Monday n do I ever love it!!! Only 19 more days to drive it tho:( :)

Preperations...or lack of preperations...or is it slow preperations?! 3 dresses done n worn! Another just needs some buttons..another@ the dress maker so its off my mind! Mom has another Sunday one on the go for me and I'd like to sew 4 or 5 more...if I could be a wonder woman tomorrow I'd get a few or even 1 more done..but...! 3 days of work and I'm done! :( :) a lil bit if shopping left & 1 more appt & then I think its just the packing & things around here...

Sewing Update

Dress #1 is half ripped apart so it can be resewn to fit me.

Dress #2 was cut out awhile ago & is still waiting to be sewed.

Dresses #3, 4, 5 cut out Sarurday & lstnight & are waiting to be sewed.

Dresses # 6, 7, 8, 9 cut out today & are waiting to be sewed. Dress # 9 is serged.

Dress # 10 is spread out on the kitchen table half cut out to be finished before work in the morning.

Dress # 11..I don't really have enough fabric I realized after I cut the front skirts so...we'll see if I can scrounge up some more!

Dress # 12 needes to get taken to someone else to sew!

The end.

This morning I woke up to rain so no work! So I got to stay home & have brunch with Grandpa's & 2 of my cousins. Then I got to go to this real good book sale! And to the little fabric store to buy them out of small shoulder pads! Along with other needed things for this venture...and finally home to cut dresses the rest of the day! Cutting is the worst so now I can have the fun of sewing! Anyone wanting to come spend a day sewing?! :)

Where Have I Been?

Well I'll try n give you a run down of the highlights so far this summer! Maybe then I'll realize where it went!!
School year-end was the 1st weekend in June! All went well after all the business leading up 2 it!!
The following Tuesday, we went n had supper with Grandpa at his place...had one of Grandma's pies..that was my first time back after her funeral..n yes it was so empty n so hard....then on to Edmonton for night.
Early Wednesday morning I flew to Phoenix!!! And there I met my big sis!!
Was soooo good to spend about 2 weeks with them...time was spent swimming, shoppin, eating, talking!! So hard to leave but leave I must...reality was waiting! Got home in the middle of the night & by the next supper my uncle, aunt & 4 cousins were here! They stayed til a little after lunch the next day. Before they left, in time for lunch, a real good friend & her 2 yr old girl arrived as a surprise visit for mom! So uncles left & they stayed til atleast 4 the next day! A busy time but so much fun having them here! "Little A" the 2 yr old is such a darling! I even played in the kiddie pool with her! Haven't played in there in a long time! :) Then life returned to normal...I think!
A week later I helped put on a jungle themed baby shower for my sister-friend...(you know those sisters you choose!) She is expecting a boy the end of July!
Day after the shower I finished cleaning ALL my stuff out of school...& then before sup 5 of us girls, our luggage for all weekend, pillows& 5 sleeping bags all piled in 1 car! (we did fit by spreading a sleeping bag out on the back seat to sit on!) Headed up by Medicine Hat to spend July 1st weekend wth 1 our friends! Sunday night left there & went camping with her! Home monday night! Fun weekend!
The next morn I started my yard care job down at J.L.'s about 25 min away...I'll be there about 3 days a week for however long I need work...they have 1 little darling boy who is about 2 1/2...he loves to come out to where I am working &"visit"! He calls me"Lady"! But is also starting to say my name...such a dear! Other then visit with the sweet lil guy, I mow, water, weed, rake, whatever they need help wth! That week I also started a yard job in town a day a week...actualy both of these jobs I had last year. In town I just help her with anything that needs doin inside or out! All great people to work for & will miss all greatly when I quit at the end of the month...
July also brought SVBS.. Had a girl come teach & she spent a week & half here..she was actualy "lil" sis' friend..so SVBS brought on many youth deals- sup at the dunes, pizza, fireworks by the lake, volleyball, volleyball, more volleyball!
Found myself a black diesel jetta to buy! I actualy don't have it yet but can't wait to drive it!
Went to a friends wedding I think it was July 22..was huge! Before I got home mom called & I am leaving for Ann Arbor Sept 12! So the rest of July was filled with work & starting to plan for that...
August started really nicely!! My sister-friend had her lil (or big,8 lb) boy august 1st! He is such a sweetie n I'm trying to get all the cuddle time wth him I can before I leave! Otherwise so far August has just been the normal juggling of work around rain n then trying to get started on my sewing...dress number 4 is now cut out...Thursday is a sewing day for me! doesn't sound like there will be alot there but EVERY BIT HELPS!!!
Ok I'll end this long post...n I need sleep cuz I'd like to get up early enough to cut a dress before work! Think I can??? we'll see...!

The Golden Key

Yes I'm still alive! Thought summer might slow down from the crazy month of May but NO! I'll try & do a catch up post of the highlights yet but this will just be a short post on that GOLDEN KEY!
Why I call it the golden key is because our school keys are gold! Yes, I handed mine back to the board this week...my teaching days at WCS are truely over now...that was"my"key, "my" school! Yes it was a lil hard & had a final feeling to it...but all my stuff was out of there..all grades recorded where they should be so it was time to give it up...
Good bye WCS & all the wonderful times my 3 years there...

F.R.O.G.

Head over to Heather's blog and read this beautiful post...she talks of F.R.O.G.(fully rely on God)...so true in the classroom and also just in everyday day life...she also has a beautiful poem on there.
Have a happy Tuesday! We are almost blowing away here!

On HOLIDAY!!!

Yes I'm not doing very good with posting but I am on HOLIDAYS! Enjoying the warm, actualy HOT weather with my big sis n her hubby! The days are filled wth swimming, shopping, eating (shhh don't tell anyone all the good food we've been consuming!), relaxing, talking, just being together! Yup.its a great life...but back to the real world next week!:( company coming, a classroom to clean up, a baby shower to plan...yup REAL life!
Any baby shower ideas?! Thinking of a diaper cake...any thoughts/ideas for that?!

End Of Year Gifts

I only have 3 days left teaching...it sure comes with mixed feelings...

What do you all do for end of year gifts? I'm finishing the handles on my duct tape bags for my girls tonight! I love how they turned out but they were lots of work and here I am finishing them last minute!
I'd love to do what I did last year again! I found soccer balls and other sport balls for $5 at Wal Mart. I just signed on them and wrote a little note to them right on the balls..they LOVED them! And they were quick and easy!
And...what about coteacher and school board gifts?...

Field Trip & a 3 Hour Drive..

Friday is field trip! And we've got a 3 hour drive each way! So I will b riding in a van with 8 livly children from 7a.m.! Some parents will be there too thankfully!! Anyway does someone have some good travel game ideas? Or anything fun for passing the hours?!

Thunk! And You're Thrown Back Into Life...

I am home and have taught 2 days since Grandma's funeral...there we were surrounded by loving friends and family we could lean on...now here we are back home..there are still wonderful friends here but we must carry on..but there is a grandma sized whole in my heart...
  On to school! 9 days left! Can't believe it! Today I am trying to finish up the duct tape bags I am making a end of year gifts for my girls! Also need to go to school and check the chicks we are hatching there!
  Any fun little ideas for these last few days?!

Memories In May...

Yes today is one year since Andrea's battle ended and she flew to be with Jesus...Is it that long ago already? She was such a cheerful, sweet girl and I often wished I could have had time to get to know her better...but God knows best...My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family as they remember Andrea...It's more real to me now I think as here it is May again and we say good bye again...back to the same Church for the funeral but this time o so different...friends are hard but this...this is my grandma...It's still so unreal to me but I'm going there tomorrow... I'll walk in to Grandpa's and there will be no Grandma...and it will have to be real...But as Grandma said, It's good night here on this side but good morning over there...I want to just picture her there in heaven...and maybe Andrea and Grandma are having a sweet, Grandma time today...just rambling memories and thoughts as May will now always be a month of memories...

You can read of the long battle Andrea fought over here...


A Kind friend has stepped in and came to take over my class when I called her after receiving the news...and she came this morning again when I just didnt feel like I could teach my dear bunch...but when I went at noon they were so glad to see me and all came and hugged me..I love them...they were good for me this afternoon. The Mom's came and we had a party in the park! Thanks dear friend for stepping in and again next week...

Goodbye For Now...

Grandma is gone...she has flown to heaven...free from pain...but it's so unreal to me...My grandma lived live to the fullest...she loved caring for people and just loving them. You would walk in the door n b wrapped in her hug..no more cookies? No card with a $5 bill in it on my birthday "just a little birthday touch"...no more phone calls? never another triomino game?
But shes with Grandpa R now..and other friends gone already....tomorrow is a year since a 16 yr old friend passed away after fighting for life so long...and life goes on...
Goodbye Grandma..."see you in the morning"...i love you...

Flower Pot Good Behavior

Started trying a new behavior plan today! Got cute little clay flower pots and decorated them up with scrapbook stuff. Then found cute felt flowers on a wire stem @ Dollarama so got one for each student. Their names are on the leaves. If I have to keep reminding about noise our behavior issues, I just quietly pull out their flower. Anyone whose flower stays in all week get a prize from the prize bucket! All flowers stayed "growing" today! :)

What Do I See?

I sit here and school is...QUIET...the little voices from the day still echo in my mind. But as I sit here in the silence, what do I see?
Through my door and then the far doors I see a grey blue sky..I can tell the sun is now shining but no green on the trees yet. Back in my room the camping corner is just inside the door...all is dark and quiet. The fire is"out"(off) and the lights turned off...the back table is surprisingly CLEAN! Only 1 unfinished owl is there other then the stuff that belongs there! The back counter...wow someone tidied it today! A whole row if paint brushes dry on th edge if the sink. The sun streams through the windows on my right. In front of me...3 rows of little desks with our Mothers day crafts drying on them. Behind me...o my! A mess! Carnations for science, owls awaiting eyes, science posters that need hanging, binder if program songs that need to be picked. And then my desk! 3 cups and a pop can! do I really drink alot?! A pile of FINISHED making, a plan book with this weeks page full! My EZ grader..a must! Pens galore! And SO, many papers! But it'll look alot better in a few minutes! Good bye! I'm going to tackle the messes!
What do you see as you sit there?

Grandma's Descriptive Sentences

Last Sarurday I attened a cricculumn meeting for school and then, since it was close to Grandpa's, got to have supper at their place! Grandma used to teach so often we discuss school things when we are together...so over supper we were talking about some of the new coarses that are out (and I won't get to teach) and composition and creative writing came up..So here is the simple composition lesson Grandma, Dad and I came up with over supper!(Dad used to teach too just to add to this family-teacher post! And Mom too!:-) )
Ok so start with a simple sentence like" They went there." Then go through replacing the words and adding more descriptive words. We did just a word or two a time and could see the steps how are sentence changed..Today we tried it for the first time and just did it all on the white board. Not sure if we'll get far enough to do them on paper yet this year but they had fun doing a couple together like this! Now we need to learn how to make interesting and sensible sentences not either kinda as silly as we can or unrealistic! "They went there" ended up as "The happy, fat boy and the skinny, crying baby swiftly ran to the tall, old tool store." Not to bad I thought. Just people don't always have to be fat do they?! Next time want to try "He/she/they said that."
Ok have fun with your very descriptive sentences!

Today's Thought

If you think you can, you can...if you think you can't, you're right!
(Mary Kay Ash)

Did I Truely Say "No"?

Well I'm back! It's the 1st week back after spring break...had a wonderful relaxing week! Spent time with family and friends...went shopping...slept in! And so far this week is great! 36 actual days of school left!
Anyway yes a few days before spring break the board all came to ask THE question..."We would like you to teach again next year. Will you?" Normally I wouldn't have answered right away but I already knew what I was going to do so just told them "no" right away...I actualy am not going to teach MY students next year? My sweet little monkeys? I could get possessive now! Someone else can't be their "teacher dear"! Did I really say I wouldn't teach? This all hit kinda hard after...but no, I know they will get a wonderful "teacher dear"for next year...it's my choice to do this...you may be wondering why? My name will be up in fall our winter probably for a 6 month mission so it'll be a fun, new adventure! And some of me can't wait for the freedom summer brings! But I will miss this bunch if mine and I do feel a little possessive over them!:)

I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Know I Can!

Report cards sent home today! Parent/teacher interviews tomorrow...Two days until spring break! This Week, especially today, is trying my patience...and I know I can't reach my dear little students if I going to be at my ropes end...so tonight my prayer is for more patience and love to pour on my students..especially those pulling on the end of my rope..they need it the most...but I think I can, I think I can, I KNOW I can make these last 2 days before break happy days! You can sigh a prayer for me too...
Then I'm off to my cousins for the weekend and then a night at a friends in the city and a day of shopping after! What better way to start a holiday?!:)

Cute Blog & Giveaway!

Found this cute blog the other day that you really should go and check out! And while you're over there enter her awesome give away! But hurry, it ends tonight!:)

Todays Thot

Some persue happiness, others create it. -Author unknown

Which will you do?!
Have a wonderful day!:)

Fundraiser Craft Sale

Last night was our fundraiser craft sale. It includes an auction of crafts and baking people donate and crafts the children have made at school. Also each class had a booth selling food or drink or a booth where you could play games! Our class sold chips and cheese sauce, cinnamon rolls and cinnaswirls. They did a great job serving and counting change! We had our booth decorate abit Hawiian..grass skirts on the front, bright flowers around the window and they each had a lei to wear! Then we had made the kool aid jammer bags I posted about a couple days ago for the auction and they went for $55 a bag! I was shocked and thrilled! Overall the evening was a great success!

Good Times...Good Friends...

A former coteacher from down south was out and stopped by after school for coffee...actually bringing us snack!:) And then one of the board couples stopped by with more food so we had a small party going on! Anyway, was so good to be with her again and just talk and swap ideas! Doesn't happen often enough! Then home for sup and almost finished a dress I m trying to sew for myself! Now I need sleep...

Kool aid Jammer and Duct tape Bags!

We made these darling bags out of Kool aid Jammers and Duct tape for our school fundraiser craft sale next Friday. Everywhere I looked to make them said to sew together and I was NOT about to tackle sewing with my class!! And I was in love with this awesome colored and designed duct tape!So I used this idea but used duct tape instead of sewing! They had so much fun and I love how they turned out!! It took us 2 art classes and I got friends to come help both times..We left some as just bags and some as lunch bags...added handles to them all by folding duct tape strip in half and taping it on..

Craft sale next Friday! Our class is having a booth selling nachos, cinnamon rolls, and cinnaswirls! Let you know how it goes and how the bags sell!

Love from long ago

Social studies today was learning about things from long ago and what we had from long ago that was important..."ok class,what are some things from long ago that we have now and are important?" grade 2 boy, "love!". Ok i think he was trying to be abit funny and it was not the answer i was thinking of but deep down it was a good thought...where would i be without the love of those in the past?...

also had 2 of my students from last year, who had moved away, come spend the afternoon with us! Cause great excitment but was fun! :) good to see them again and they soon were part of the class and joining the discussions! Some little people just don't change!:)

Tonight us youth got together for our first Easter Contata practice...i'll just say we sure need a few more! actually wasn't bad for the first one!

ok time for sleep and to end this random post!

Ready For Ideas!!

Going to another school today for inservice!! Ready for new ideas!! maybe share some with you later!
Mom and I came up to Grandpas yesterday so even got to be with them out of the deal!:)
Ok enjoy your day  and post later!

Rainbow Igloo

Here's a fun thing we've done this winter but it is alot of work...Make a rainbow igloo! Put a few drops food coloring in an icecream bucket. Have fun mixing colors! Fill bucket about 2/3of water and set outside to freeze. Do this to LOTS of buckets like maybe 30 we have. Once frozen remove giant icecube and stack together for igloo! Pour water on between layers to freeze together. Do this many times until your igloo is the size you want. BEWARE it takes LOTS of buckets as lots will break! Once done have story and hot chocolate in there! It really does look pretty!:)

100th Day!!

The spots on her cheeks are wrinkles!!:)

2 little hairs out the top of his head!:)

Carrying a bat?!

I love this shape!!

She is not going to be this fat this is just her dress!

Can only say, "O MY!!!"

Well maybe now I'll finally post about our 100th day!! We did 100 Things on a Ring with the whole school! 1 Teacher would just do 2 short rings of the bell and everyone knew that meant meet in the assembly room and do something thing fun! Then they could each bring 100 of something! A couple favorites from my class was one of my Grade 1 girls had 100 clips in her hair! That's alot on a small head!!:) And one of my boys had 100 goldfish crackers in a fish bowl! He was going to add water but his mom stopped him!:) Then we used construction paper to make pictures of what we'd look like at 100 years old! They turned out priceless!!Ok the pictures are at the top of this post! Can't get them to go on the bottom!grr...

Ok good night then...time for sleep!

Saving All Those Pictures

Like many of the rest of you probably get, I get many, many pictures,cards, etc. from my students!But I want to keep them all! But how?....
The solution! Grab a flashdrive and scan them all in there. I do ths after they have hung up a while and then can throw away originals after scanned. So far its worked great! Also do this with any composition,art,work, etc. of theirs that I want to keep a copy!

Life Moves On

Ok once again not a school update...sorry!but just a quick update on me!:) I'm here with my friends...i'm bridesmaid for her tomorrow so been here since Thurs eve helpin with all the little things...woke up refreshed this morn thankfully:) so the other bridesmaid and the brides mom and me went for a nice walk in the crisp mornin air! Today theres a few things to do and us b.maids n the bride get to wear our new matchin sweatrs!:)small joys...big memories...Tomorrow will b the weddin...she is wearing purple and us silver...think of us all on the big day please! Especially the bride and her parents!
Life moves on...another friend married...

Thot 4 today

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little~do what you can.~Sydney Smith

I promise ill do a real post of whats goin on soon!:)

Today...

grateful for this life,full of family, friends, and love...

Fun Winter Projects

Ok I can't find those popcorn compositions i was gona post. will post if I find them yet! Anyway here is just a few fun winter projects we've been doing in the last few weeks! Yesterday for art we did Frosty the Snowman paper bag puppets! They loved them! Just a Frosty head glued on front & back of bag!

Last week for art we made Borax Snowflakes(snowflags as my 1 lil girl calls them!) Anyway cut a pipecleaner in 3 equal pieces & twist together in the middle to make a 6point star. Tie thread to 1 point then move around star wrapping around each point. Next take a wide mouth quart jar & fill with boiling water. Mine had all boiled but had cooled abit before I filled their jars. Disolve 3 TBSP of Borax per cup of water. There might be some white stuff not disolved. Hang snowflake off pencil & hang in Borax water. Leave over night & by the time you remove them the next day your snowflake should be covered in crystals! Beautiful! After mine dried I hung them from the ceiling! We did all colors or you can do just white or add food coloring to the water to tint it...

Now does anyone have craft ideas to use Kool-Aid Jammers?! I'm thinking of lunch bags & using this cool duct tape you can get instead of sewing.

Popcorn Day!

Did you all know January 19 is popcorn day?! I only found out a couple weeks ago but it sure added a lil fun to being back in school after a cold day! You know chase away those i wana be lazy blues?!:) Well we did do a couple fun things for it...In my class we looked up some info on popcorn and I gave them each a kernal to look at. Then they wrote about their favorite popcorn or what flavor they'd invent! I'll try n post some of them yet so you can see the way we made it look like popcorn in bags[or tried to!:) ] Then at the end of the day the whole school had a popcorn and hot chocolate party!:) Fun times!
Now I must get some sleep so my bunch has a cheerful teacher and I can keep up with th lively tag games we've been having which gets more exciting as the teacher actually slides down the slide!:-|

Ideas Needed!

We have our school craftsale coming up in March...the children make crafts and then we have an auction with the proceeds going to school. Any ideas for craft for grades 1-3? I like something that doesn't take tons of supplies and not to hard but looks real nice in the end!! Something that we can actually auction!

Brrrrrr...

Brrrr its so cold outside here!! But that means I get the day at home with a warm fire & in my pjs! I'm actually gona make doughnuts n be lazy!! How are you all spending your cold day?!

Thought For Today

Act HAPPY, feel HAPPY, be HAPPY, without a reason in the world! Then you can LOVE and do what you will.~Dan Millman

How I Spent My Christmas Break!

Yes Christmas break is over but was it ever wonderful! And I'm ready to see my bunch tomorrow!

Here's some of my highlights of my break:

~Spending almost a week in sunny Phoenix with my big sis & bro-in-law!

~SHOPPING in Phoenix!

~scrapbooking & using my new cricut & cricut tools

~Seeing Grand Canyon & many other beautiful places

~I loved the palm trees & cactus

~Lots of good, relaxing family time!

See how everyone else spent their break over here!