Winter break is awesome!!!!

We just got back from Florida laaaate last night.  We left crazy early the first day off of school and just got back.  We had the best time.

We went to Disney for 5 days- all 4 parks and Epcot twice.  Epcot was our favorite this go 'round.  This is, of course, Princess Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty).  My daughters think she is just beautiful!  We found her in France at Epcot with a super short line.  When we went up, the girls before my kids were actually from France and Aurora spoke to them ONLY in flawless sounding French.  My jaw dropped seeing this.  It was amazing.  So I told my girls that they should greet her with hello in French (my girls know a tiny bit of French from last years adventures to Europe).  She was wonderful with them and had them twirl around the gazebo with her.  I almost cried.  It was so sweet.

Below is a picture of us at the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater.  It was so cute.  The tables were in the shape of cars.  It was pretty dark and they made the inside of the building look like you were outside at a drive-in theater from the 50's.  They played a variety of fun 50's era clipettes, such as concession stand reels and commercials for movies like The Blob and other silly stuff.  The girls LOVED it.  It was at Hollywood Studios in Disney.

We stayed at a condo on the beach with my parents for a week.  It was just a few steps from the ocean!  It was really relaxing.  The girls got some good swimming in and didn't argue the entire time they were on the beach.

We visited with my brother and his family several times.  They live near Orlando.  Below is a pic of my nieces and my girls.  They get along so well.  If only we could see them more often.....but that's what happens when you live in different states, I guess.  You miss a lot.  Makes me sad that we don't get to see them more, but I was so glad it worked out for us all this year at Christmas.  We had lunch at their house all together, my sister-in-laws family too.  It was really nice.  Everyone laughed and ate, it was so wonderful being with my family.  I miss them more than I realized.

We didn't want to come back after all the super fun.  Not to mention the weather was so nice and warm in Florida.  It was super cold where I live in NM (lows of single digits) while we were gone.  Although, today is not too shabby- mid 40's or so at my house.

Now that we are home, it's really nice to get to have a moment to sit and do nothing!  Traveling is great but it's always nice to get home.

I have literally nothing done for school- and I know this is a school blog- but sometimes you just have to stop and have fun!!  Next post, I should have a bit to share about January "schtuff" for school.  I always feel like I am on the sprint to summer when January hits.  I really love my class this year, and hope to get them movin' and groovin' the last 1/2 of the year with math, reading and writing.  We have a good start, so I am excited to see where it goes.

Busy time of year

Well, I realized I hadn't posted anything since the 2nd of December....so figured I should hop to it!  We have a little visitor at our house right now...and maybe forever.  We weren't planning on a new pet, but this sweet little one came to us through one of my best friends.  My youngest daughter is holding her in the pic below.  We collectively named her Jingle.  She has 2 different colored eyes, it's pretty cool!

I got my order from Scholastic and did a little dance.  I ordered my reading group and home room kiddos books.  I made fun new flagged pencils with duct tape to add to the gift package.  I used a bunch of my Scholastic points, but both book choices were $1 deals, so I got a nice deal.  I love Scholastic, it rocks.

Have a great weekend!

Decem-burr Currently

I am freezing!  I am thin skinned/have bad circulation/what have you.  I just get cold easily.  This week temps are getting a bit too chilly for me, where I live.  The area I live in is high desert, so we get snow and did recently.

Well, enough complaining...below is the fabulous Farley's currently linky.  Click below to join in.

The only thing I would like to explain from above is the tradition.  The kids get to open 1 present from under the tree on Christmas Eve, right before they go to bed.  Yes, bed.  Do they get to sleep early that night anyway, no.  So, might as well go with it!  They open the present, play a bit, and then pretend to go to sleep.  

Happy Monday!

Tired anyone?

Phew, I feel exhausted.  Since we added the super fun day of 50th Day to our November curriculum line-up, it took some of our Thanksgiving writing time away.  All this past week, I was trying to catch up.  I was able to finish, but wow was it a marathon.  Our grade level had a Thanksgiving Feast on Friday with tons and tons of food, singing/poetry reading/expository reading to parents from students, and some cute decor.

I did not have a lot of time, but took some pics that I, of course, left at school.  We are on break now- all week.  So, I won't be back to school until Dec 2nd.  We go to school for 3 other days that most schools have off, so that we may have an awesome Thanksgiving break and actually go and visit with family for an extended period of time.  It's pretty fabulous.  I love it.
Well, when I return, we will be in full swing of winter holiday activities/writing/crafts/fun.  Each child will have an opportunity to present to the class their special traditions.

I don't know about you all, but I am NOT going to even try Black Friday sales.  It just seems scary.  I love me a good sale, but not so much that I have to defend myself for it!!!  So, I am going to do Cyber Monday sales instead.  Seems more civilized.  I am joining TpT and many other teacher-authors in the big sale.

Fill up your online cart now!  I am!!!  

Happy Monday.

Let's Tawk Tuwkey!

Recently, my students had a homework/craft project to complete.  They had the job of disguising the Thanksgiving turkey, so that they didn't get eaten for dinner.  They had a great time creating very unique turkeys.

 

I think they turned out great.  Each one was so funny.

Honorable Day

Wow!  What a beautiful celebration of our veterans!  My oldest daughter is in the choir and was able to sing in the celebration to honor our schools veterans.  My daughter is the only one with a face not covered.  :)

Our program was beautiful.  It had a very special name included.

We had the Governor of our state at our school!  How neat!  She invited 2 kids up on stage with her.

Each veteran present was honored with a star on our flag in the blue section of the flag.  Each veteran unable to be present was on the red and white stripes.  

The veterans present, get called up on stage to add their star to the flag.  They also get a special envelope with letters from our students, thanking them, and a flag pin.  

Our school looked so lovely.  It had been decorated the day before (Sunday) by many volunteers and some staff members.  

To all those who have served our country or are currently serving, thank you.

50th Day of school/Veterans/Pilgrims

Time for 5 for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching- on a Saturday.



1
We had our 50th day of school!  For the first time in our first grade, we had 50's Day.  It was soooo much fun.  Below are the 1st grade teachers I work with.  I am the one on the right.

2
My youngest got to be a part of the fun day.  She is in 1st grade with me- although not my class.

My coworker and I sewed a ton of skirts for the special day.  Below are my 20 skirts made from felt or fleece.  I made my skirt out of fleece too.  I was still freezing though!  

3

My students did all sorts of fun stuff- like make words with the words in root beer floats, write the steps to make a float, eat a float, 50's games, dances, etc.  We used a variety of fun activities from the 50th Day of School Unit from Jessica Travis and Cruisin' Through the 50 First Days of School by Cara Carroll.  Click on the teacher-authors names to check out the packets...they are very cute.

4

Veterans Day is Monday.  We have a wonderful presentation at our school on that day (pics to come soon)...that's right, we go to school that day.  That's OK though, the ceremony is so beautiful, it's worth missing the day off.  We get a week for Thanksgiving so, it all works out anyway.  

I have a free Veterans Unit that you may want to check out.  Click on the picture below.  It has over 5,000 downloads!!!! I can't believe that!  Fun stuff!

One of my 1st grade teacher-friends, is the one who helps organize the Veterans Day ceremony.  Every year, we have special speakers.  This year it will be the Governor of NM!!!  The school is a buzz about this special speaker.  

5

I have begun my Pilgrim booklet in class with my kiddos.  I made the booklet last year.  If you wish to download it for free, click the picture below.

Have a great weekend!

Currently November

Happy November!!!

I love the Currently's that Oh'Boy 4th Grade does each month.  Click below to join in on the fun.

Listening- Does anybody have kids that argue all the time?  My kids get along pretty well, but lately they have been arguing a lot.  It's nice to hear them enjoying each others company again.  

Loving-  I'm a bit CRAZY about Christmas.  I listen to Christmas music from Halloween until past New Year's Eve.  It's my favorite holiday by far.

Wanting- Does anyone out there ever feel like you just want to do it all?  I want to have all the time in the world for my daughters, I want to have a super cool classroom that is constantly hands-on and fun, and I want to have a clean house full of homemade foods....all the time.  BUT, it ain't happenin'.  It bums me out that I can't.  I do the best I can but I always wish I could do more.  Maybe one day I'll face facts that I am not Wonder Woman.  Sigh.

Pin- 

I love mashed potatoes!

Anything Else?!?!

 

Here are the ladies I work with this year in 1st at our parade.  It's a candid picture while we are walking.  I am the short one on the right.  You may notice a squirrel on some of our shoulders.  We had a crazy visitor in our building this year...I named him Chomper.  It was a crazy squirrel that we had to scare out of our rooms.  It was nutty...ha!  Anyway, we decided a squirrel was a funny replacement for a pirates parrot.

 

My girls at our character parade.  My oldest is Susan the Brave from the Narnia series.  She loves archery.  My youngest- I kept asking "What does the fox say?  Pow, pow, pow!"

Our kids had their pumpkins on display with their storybooks.  They turned out really cute.

We had our NM Fiesta...wow was it a busy day.  I have a pic of my daughter doing the Hat Dance and our class pinata.

My kids finished their fall expository writing a bit ago.  They had them on the board for parents to check out during our fiesta.  Each child wrote about 4 pages worth of information.

Halloween Exchange

Thanks to my sweet friend over at

I was able to get in on a fun Halloween Treat Swap!


Melissa connected me to another blogger in a state fairly far away...Jamie in Louisiana!  I was excited to send Jamie a package, and she sent one to me as well.  Oh my, hers is much cooler than mine!  I sent some fall scarves, nail polish, and spider rings for her class.  She sent a whole slew of stuff!!  I had to take a super fast pic in the car, as my kids couldn't wait to help me dive into all the candy!  They LITERALLY were yelling at me, "Mom, hurry up!  I want to eat it!"

Here are some of the things she sent:

My kids also confiscated a cat stacking tower that was very spooky.
Seriously, no idea how she found it all for our $15 price range!
Thanks so much Melissa for organizing this fun time.

Thank you to Jamie for the fun surprises.  It was like getting a party in a box!
Go check out her blog over at Teaching Tidbits and More.
Happy Tuesday!