Celebrating The Love of Innocence

Today is the day to celebrate and I am of course linking up with Ruth at Discover, Play, Build to do just that. I know that a lot of my blogging friends are at NCTE this week and I am not, so I am NOT celebrating that. But I am celebrating the anticipation of reading all their posts about the amazingness of it all.

This week we had the REACH3 coaches come for a quick visit and to talk to us about writing in our classrooms. They are state department coaches that visit to help schools succeed. They opened with a big congratulations to us for once again being an “A+” school. I don’t really believe in all this school grading stuff, but I do think we have a great school and staff so I am celebrating our school and the amazing people that work there, along with the families that attend.

Yesterday was “teddy bear” day in our class. We wore our jammies, brought our favorite bears and read stories, learned bear facts, wrote interesting details, and graphed about bears. 

The highlight of the day was when I noticed the snow flurries outside.

Our windows are too tall for the kiddos to get a good look out of,  so I had them line up without telling them where we were going just that they had to be very quiet and sneaky. I took them to the front door and had them look out the quiet did not last long. There is nothing more fun than the excitement of a child’s sighting of the first snow fall of the year…even if it only lasts about five minutes.

This week I sliced about my dilemma of Christmas gifts this year. I’m afraid some of you that don’t know my personality and my smart assiness  sarcasm may have miss understood ( and maybe some that do know it). I by no means think my kids ruin any part of Christmas or anything else in my world. 

They’re just a bunch of fun suckers I’m Kidding!!! They are the most amazing, giving, loving young adults and I am so very proud of them today and always.
We as a family have always found a family to give to at Christmas and I will continue to do so.  I have found a special one this year.  

Sometimes (ok a lot of times) I just wish I could squish my kiddos back into my babies this time of year and relive the excitement of Christmas morning. The want of it all are my issues. YIKES! I have turned into my mother! J

On a sadder more serious note I was talking to one of my kiddos yesterday about the bear he’d brought and asked him if Santa had brought it to him. He said no. I asked what he was going to ask Santa for this year this was his reply- “We don’t get to ask Santa for anything.” “The firemen bring us things for Christmas like food for the winter and stuff.”

I asked if he got to ask the firemen for toys knowing full well he didn’t because my husband happens to be one of those firemen.

He shook his head no he said they just bring us things (it’s him, his dad, and an older brother). Well I said if you could ask Santa for something what would it be…he just looked at me unsure what to say. Finally he whispered “well there is one thing I would like.” “What,” I asked as I held my breath. “A scooter,” as he quickly ducked his head as if in shame.  

Guess what this boy will be getting from a special fireman this year? I wish I could be a fly on the wall…I am celebrating his willingness to confined in me every day until then. 

Christmas Really is About the Gifts!

It's Tuesday and time to slice you should take the time too! If you go there today make sure and check out the new page with all the 4-1-1 about the yearly and March challenge! 

http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/challenges/ 

When you have adult kids they tend to ruin Christmas. They just aren't a lot of fun in their pursuit of Christmas spirit! They want money for Christmas, but I still want to buy gifts. Money is not a gift to wrap and place tenderly under my tree. It's stuffed in an envelope and have no ribbons or bows...My kids think I have a problem. They think I am too materialistic when it comes to Christmas and only care about the gifts that come with it. They don’t understand my need to find the perfect gift to make their Christmas special and one to remember. I don’t know if I understand it either.

I think it started at a young age. I can remember begging my dad to take me shopping to find just the right gift for my mom, and vice versa for my mom and brothers. I can still remember sneaking into the store my mom was working at just before she got off to buy her the shiny gold key chain flashlight. I had been saving my money to get it for her. I just knew she would love it. She had mentioned it was hard to see the car door to unlock it when she had to work nights. I don’t remember how I felt when she opened it, but I do remember how I felt picking it out and buying it for her at the tender age of seven or eight.

It’s really not the gift that matters. It’s the fact that someone has taken the time to go out and find or make something they think you will really enjoy or like. It's the suspense and anticipation of seeing their faces of Christmas morn. It's the ribbons and wrappings and staying up late to get it all done. It's the sneaking and hiding and trying not blab what you have done. And it's the knowing that because you took the extra time you've made someone's Christmas day happy and maybe a fond memory. 

I usually have my kids make a Christmas list because let’s face it no one wants a bunch of things they already have or don’t like. I try to get some of the things on the list. But I also try to find something they hadn’t thought of, something they had mentioned in passing, or pointed out sometime throughout the year. I like the looks on their faces when they tear open their packages and find just what they’ve been wanting, or surprised by something they had never thought of.

The joy on their faces when they were young made me teary every year when they walked into a room filled with treasures from Santa. It was never a lot. But always things they had dreamed of or I thought they would love. I can still remember the squeals of the newly discovered puppy, the riding of a new bike in the house because it was too cold to go out, a son’s first shot gun, and my daughter’s first bow (the hunting kind).  

Money will not produce this gratification I’m afraid. At least not for me. I will try. I will have to be content in the fact that they are home, healthy and happy and still enjoy being here for Christmas. I believe I can live with that. 

That really is my favorite gift- but I wouldn’t want them to find out!   

So Much to Celebrate!

So much to celebrate this week! 2013 is quickly dwindling and I am feeling that added rush to try and fit everything in.

I'm linking up with Ruth Ayers at Discover, Play, Build to celebrate! You should too! 

My teacher friends and I went to OKC this week to a conference about iPads and helping struggling readers. I didn’t learn a whole lot about the iPad but I did learn how to make a cute little book and discovered a new children’s book. So I am celebrating that! I always say a conference is worthwhile if I come away with at least one new resource or activity to use.

This week I took a few moments to redo my classroom door. My friend and I attended a state conference this summer where the Keynote speaker said if you can only do one thing this year to make you feel better decorate your door, at least do that. So bestest buddy and I decided that would be our thing. We would keep our door decorated this year. I have combed pinterest to find inspiration and came up with this for November. The kiddos love it. I had one kindergarten cutie stop, peak in, and say-“your turkey is hilarious!” Such big words for a small guy.

Another turkey project we did this week was these beautiful gobblers! We sketched, outlined, used pastels, and finally painted. It was great fun and they turned out so nice. Such talented kids!

Lookee what came in the mail for me this week!! I can hardly wait to have a cold rainy day so I can crack it open and not be interrupted. I am for sure celebrating this gem.

And finally today I am celebrating the birth of my amazing baby boy. Who is 24 today. I never knew how wonderful life could be until he (and later his sister) were placed in my arms. Happy Birthday Kanten!  

Day 4

Today is day 4 of the 30 days of thanks.

Today I would like to say thank you daylight savings time I so enjoyed the extra time this morning.

Thank you for allowing me to arrive at work in daylight instead of dark.

Thank you for giving me a reason to shower and put on my jammies by 7:00PM every evening.

Thank you for giving me a reason for going to bed by 9 and not feeling guilty.

Thank you for the earlier sunrise to help get me out of bed, and not hit the snooze button three times.

Thank you daylight savings time I appreciate you every year around this time…until about January!

Currently November..the 3rd but Still November!

I am linking up with Farley today for the November Currently. It has been a long time since I’ve linked up a Currently so I thought I would once again. I am thankful for Farley and her Currently she connects so many blogs and bloggers. Thank you Farley.

The hubby is watching the Pirates of the Caribbean so I’m listening as I write this.

This was a busy but good weekend. All three kids came home (I now claim daughter-in-law to be as one of my own). It was nice. They got a few things for the wedding and tasted a few cake flavors for the cake. I just love my cake lady she has made ALL of our cakes since Hadley turned 16. She is super talented and super sweet. She treats Hadley like one of her own. I can hardly wait to see what she and the kids come up with for the wedding. If you like looking at cakes you can find her creations here- https://www.facebook.com/asweetsuccess

I really want to get started on Christmas shopping…really need to.

I found this yummy creation this weekend. I love anything pumpkin! 

Here is the link! 

http://recipes.topfoodnews.info/pumpkin-pie-snickerdoodle-bars/

Day 2 of 30 Days of Thanks-Thankful for Hubby's Shorts!

Day two of 30 days of thanks brings me to thanking my hubby and celebrating my new wall color.

It’s not every wife that has such an “easy” hubby. And by easy I mean easy going, easy to please, and easy on the eye!!

This morning I woke up early went to the store, stocked up on groceries, headed home and started putting them away. As I was putting them away Mr. Husband walked through in a gray pair of shorts. 
It is November remember and 34 degrees out but my hubby will wear shorts all year if he has his way. As he walks through I think I really like that color…it would look good on my two walls that are now red.

SO what’s a girl to do? Ask Mr. Hubby to take her to the paint store. And what does Mr. Hubby say? OK.

So off to the paint store we go. Match the paint to shorts. Buy paint. Come home and start painting!

I am thankful my hubby lets me paint or decorate at my every whim. I am thankful for himJ!

I am not only thankful for him I am celebrating my new wall color!

Link up with Ruth at Discover, Play, Build for her weekly Celebrations!  

Thank You November

Today I’d like to say thanks for November. It’s one of my favorite months and my favorite time of year. 

It’s the month my son was born and the month I get to gather my family close.

It’s the month that conjures up the feeling of home and hearth and the lyrics “Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go…” brings to mind the most wonderful memories of grandpa’s farm and grandma’s cooking.

November brushes the leaves gold and sweeps the fallen ones back and forth in my yard day after day until they still and pile in the crevices of my porch.

November is warmth and chill all bundled into one glorious month for us to gather, welcome, and give thanks every day.