Goodbye Summer!

Tomorrow I officially start back to work and K starts her new school.  This summer was by far the best one I've had since becoming a teacher and it all boiled down to priorities. 

I let some things go and made some more important.  Basically it meant more family time and less worrying about school.  In fact, I didn't go to anything school related (workshops, my classroom, etc.) until August.  I've never done that before - even before I had Kaitlyn.  But that decision allowed me to focus on my precious family and I don't regret a single second of it.

This summer I was able to get our new house unpacked (mostly...there is still that pesky garage).  I was also able to spend some time decorating and updating.  There is still so much of that to do!

We took our first BIG vacation as a family and had a blast!!!

K and I did some local things like Sea Life with my mom who retired last year.  

I took a road trip with a wonderful friend and K to see some of my college friends and one of their new babies.

K and I spent hours at home doing "art projects", cooking, playing, giggling, and just being together. 

I loved every single second of this summer and it taught me to pay more attention to my family because they need me and I need them. 

I know my students need me 100% of the day when I'm there and that's exactly what they'll get.  And I can't do my job the way I do without doing outside work.  But I'm making a promise to myself that I will try not to do any work for school once I pick up K from her school until after she goes to bed.  She needs me to be Mom once I'm home - not Mrs. Bush first.  I know there will be meetings and what not every now and then where I will have no choice to "work" while I have her with me, but gone are the days of coming home and getting right to work on my classroom stuff. 

My family deserves it. 

Happy new school year to all my friends out!

Liebster Award

So because I have been nominated for this twice now, I think I should probably actually do it.  I swear I'm the worst blogger ever!  I'm trying to get better!  ;)

As you may know, the Liebster Award is for up and coming blogs that have less than 200 followers. So what is a Liebster, you ask? Liebster is a German word that means sweetest, kindest, dearest, cute, endearing, etc. Such a thoughtful award! Here are the rules to accept this award:

[1] Link back to the person that nominated you.

[2] Answer the questions from your nominator.

[3] Share 11 random facts about yourself.

[4] Nominate 5 more blogs with less than 200 followers.

[5] Pose questions for your nominees

Thanks to Simply Swarbrick for nominating me! 

Here are the questions I was given to answer:

1. Why do you blog?

     I started blogging because I wanted to keep a history of happenings in my family.  I've always loved looking back on family pictures and videos and blogging helps me to remember things that I might not have unless I wrote them down.  I also blog sometimes as a form of therapy.  When someone is on my mind or heart sometimes the only thing I know to do is write about it.  

2. What is your go to dinner recipe?

     My go to?  Well - when I'm in a hurry and want something that everyone will eat we have brinner!  :)  Breakfast for dinner - with breakfast burritos, pancakes, cinnamon rolls - any of those or a combo of some!  Always a winner at my house!

3. How do you unwind after a long day?

     Snuggling with my daughter.  Talking to her about anything makes me calmer.  She has such a pure heart right now and I wish I could shield it from ever being broken.  Her joyful outlook helps me to put things back into perspective.   

4. What is your favorite blog post you've written?

     Hmmm...that's a tough one.  Probably this one.  It's kind of my soapbox.  Shaming children is still shaming children - even if you use cute clipart.  

5. What tips do you have for preparing for the week? (at work or at home)

     Pray.  Pray.  And pray some more.  Honestly - I feel like when I talk to God and hand things over to Him, things just seem to go better.  I just wish I remembered to do that in the little things like planning.  :)  Sunday nights my husband and I talk in bed about everything the week coming up holds and how we can help each other.  We started that last year and it helps so much!  We also use an app on our phone called Cozi which helps us know what all we have planned.  

  

6. If you were given $20 to spend on anything, what would you spend it on?

     Right now I'd probably go buy some really cute pens and pencils because those always make me happy in my classroom.  I always feel a bit guilty spending more on the cute ones, but they make me happier!

7. What does your perfect Saturday look like?

     Sleeping in and then having breakfast with my family.  Maybe hitting up an estate sale or antique store.  A fun lunch or dinner out.  Then just hanging out with my family either at home, shopping, or another fun activity.  I also really like when Cody takes K somewhere and I have at least an hour to myself.  I usually read, watch tv, or get on the computer and I just recharge.  I also love to shop at night by myself after K is in bed.  The crowds are gone and I can get some me time.  :)

8. Which season is your favorite and why?

     Fall - no question.  I love when the weather starts cooling off, but isn't too cold.  I love the smells and colors.  I love the holidays that are in Fall.  I seriously just love everything about Fall.  

9. What do you splurge on?

     Depends...I consider myself to be pretty thrifty, but every now and then I let myself splurge on things.  My most recent splurge was my Silhouette Cameo.  Truth be told though, most of splurges are on things for my daughter.  :)

10. Where would be your dream vacation spot be?

     I love history so I would love to go back to Europe and explore it more now that I'm older.  (I went when I was 15)  I also want to go to Australia and hold a koala.  

11. What do you pack for lunch during the week?

     I try to make enough dinner so that I have leftovers, but when that doesn't happen my most common go to meal is marinated mozzarella with cut up tomatoes and an avocado.  Sounds fancy, but trust me it's not.  It's super easy and quick to fix because you don't cut the avocado until lunch.  

11 random facts about me are:

1.  I can fold my tongue.  It really freaks my students out.  ;)

2.  My middle name is the same as my mom's, but she added an e at the end.  I've always thought that was interesting that she didn't give me the exact same one.  Her middle name is Ann and mine is Anne.

3.  I make up music videos that go along with my life in my head for songs I really like.

4.  I will ALWAYS fight for what I think is best for my students.  I like to consider myself a fairly easy to get along with person, but if you mess with my kids you will see Mama Bear come out.  Just ask my old vice principal when she told me my kindergarteners were going to have their individual pictures after lunch....on spaghetti day. 

5.  I am deathly afraid of roaches.  

6.  In high school I was in show choir and I loved it.  I would totally be in an adult one if things like that existed.  

7.  I will not eat seafood.  Anything that has lived in the water will not be going into my mouth.  I'm weird, I know.  And I went to college in Louisiana y'all.  It's not like I wasn't exposed to the good stuff.  

8.  I am such a chicken when it comes to needles and blood.  When I was pregnant I passed out more than once when they had to take my blood.  Just typing about it makes me a little light headed.  

9.  When I was little I thought for the longest time I was going to be an archaeologist.  I especially want to be one that got to work in Egypt.  

10.  I love a good montage.  Even if I don't know that people that it is about I love them, and have been known to cry at really sappy ones.  

11.  I am a firm believer that naps can cure a lot of problems.  

I nominate these great bloggers for this award:

1. Nicole at In my Daughters' Eyes

2. Natalie at Normal to Natalie

3. Robin at Our Grateful Life

4. Cindy at Three Hits and a Missus

5.  Lindsey at The Norrises...no relation to Chuck

And your questions are...

1.  What is one of your favorite family traditions?

2.  What is the best memory you have from elementary school?

3.  What is the worst memory you have from elementary school?

4.  If you could do anything in your life and you knew you couldn't fail at it, what would you do?

5.  What tends to be your soapbox?

6.  What do you do for fun?

7.  If you could have an endless supply of something in your life, other than money, what would it be.  And it has to be something you can touch - so no answers like love, honestly, etc.  :)

8.  What is your guilty pleasure tv show?

9.  What is something you want to improve?

10.  Do you have a question that you secretly cringe at any time someone asks you?

11.  What three words would you use to describe yourself?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Here we go again with my second What I'm Loving Wednesday!  

I'm still REALLY loving my Silhouette Cameo.  Y'all - this thing is incredible!  I was so hesitant about using the print and cut feature, but man oh man it's amazing!  Check it out!

 

I printed these ADORABLE letters for my classroom using the Silhouette program and then loaded it back into the cutter.  

Do you see what it did?  SO COOL!  One of the Ps didn't cut all the way around, but when I went back to look at what I did in the program, I noticed that I didn't have the cut line all the way around it, so it was my fault.  It's a tad bit fuzzy on the top because my inpatient self ripped it from the paper instead of cutting it.  But look how much time it saved me by cutting out the rest.  I'm so in love with this thing!

I'm also apparently loving chevron a little more than I realized.  I started packing some stuff yesterday to take up to school and my bag looked like a chevron convention.

Hopefully it will go well with my zebra/jungle stuff that I'm going to slowly be weeding out I think.  I want to keep the zebra pattern (Still love that!), but less of the monkeys and what not.  I'm still not sure.  When I think I don't want it anymore, I go up to school and love it again.  We'll see what happens this year.

I'm also loving K's new school and teacher already!  It is going to be hard for them to match the love we felt from her old school, but I've heard nothing but great things and I'm ready to see what all K has in store this year!  We have Meet the Teacher tomorrow night and K begins on Monday.  She will even have homework this year!  (Have I mentioned lately I can't believe she will be 5 next month!)  Oooo - I should probably get started on her birthday party.....hmmmm...

Here she is with a letter she got in the mail from her new teacher.  :)

Lastly, I'm loving my class list!!!  It's so exciting to put names and faces to the kiddos that will be in our room this year!  It's going to be an awesome year again!  AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE MY FORMER STUDENTS!!!  One of the things I missed so much when I made the switch to a new school was not being able to visit with former students.  That was always one of my favorite parts of my job.  This year I get to do that again and I can't wait to hear all about their summers! 

Let Them Be Little

I wasn't going to go shopping this weekend.  It is tax free weekend here in Texas and to me the crowds just aren't worth it.  But for some crazy reason I ventured out tonight with K because she does, in fact, need school clothes, and I just had that shopping bug.  I headed over to Kohls because it was 8:00 (yes, I was the mom that took my 4 year old out at 8:00 - judge if you must but it's still summer!)  and I figured most of the crowds would be gone.

I was right, but something much, much worse happened.

I discovered that K no longer needs the T in her clothing size.

That's right folks - she moved up to the "big little girl" clothes.

I HATE IT.

I hate it as in I'm in complete denial that my kid will be turning 5 next month.  I used to teach 5 year olds.  There is no way my daughter is that old.

So tonight after the horrible and shocking revelation, K and I ventured forth into uncharted water for us and scoped out the big girl section.

I HATE IT.

When did companies start trying to make kids look like adults?  And some not so classy ones at that!

Y'all.  I about had a heart attack.

We went from this:

to this:

Can you believe that?  My little girl is NOT - I repeat NOT - ready for dresses like that.  

And we wonder why girls are making questionable choices so much younger these days.  I know, I know, they aren't THAT bad, but it's little step by little step my friends.  These to me do not need to be on a 4 year old.  

I did manage to find one little girl looking dress and a few shirts, but I'm going to have to find some other stores to do some more shopping at because this seriously broke my heart.  

Help Me Find It

Tonight as I was driving home from Target (yes Target - that store has a crazy magic spell on me) I literally had to pull my car over on the side of the road because I couldn't drive anymore.  I felt like a crazy lady who just couldn't control herself...okay, so I kind of was.

A song from my playlist came on - "Help Me Find It" by Sidewalk Prophets.  I've loved this song from the first time I heard it.  I even included it in the senior slide show for our graduates at church this year.  It's just a great song.  But this time when I was listening to it, someone in my life came to mind.

This girl.

That's Maggie and she's amazing.

I met Maggie two years ago when she was my student teacher.  I wasn't exactly pumped about having a student teacher.  I tried to have one two years before that, but lets just say she wasn't where she needed to be and was asked to leave after two weeks.  After lots of convincing from my vice principal, I agreed to try one again.  I knew after talking with Maggie for 5 minutes this was going to be a great experience.

Maggie was a natural in the classroom.  She started building relationships from day one and that is so key.  She could break through to the soft spots of even the hardest kiddos.  The hardest part of my job as her mentor each week was trying to come up with something for her to improve on in her reflection we had to submit to her professor.

She was great.

But she didn't want to be a teacher.

She was already the children's minister at her church and was student teaching to finish her degree, but she had no plans to actually teach in public schools.  I respected what she was doing, but was a little sad that someone as great as Maggie wasn't going to be in the classroom.

Maggie completed her student teaching, graduated, and went back to her job at her church.

Then sometime last year, God put it on her heart to become a teacher.  I can't say that I didn't smile a REALLY big smile when she told me.

But her journey to getting her own classroom was not easy.  It took lots of faith, patience, and listening to God.  Maggie was comfortable where she was.  She was good at her job and the people she worked with loved her.  (You can't not love her!)

But she was faithful to the unrest that God put in her heart.  Even when it meant upsetting others.  Even when it took her to another country to explore that as an option.  (Yep!)  Even when others tried to talk her out of it - Maggie was faithful.

Maggie stepped out on faith and told her church she was going to be a teacher - even before she had a job lined up.  Then she once again was patient.  It was not a fun and easy journey at all.  But now Maggie has a job....teaching first grade.  My heart is selfishly a little happier that it's first grade!  ;)

I am so stinking proud of this girl and how she truly listened to God, even when her head was saying, "Are you kidding me?"

So back to the song - I listened to the words tonight and thought about Maggie's journey.  Never have I seen first hand someone handle such a hard journey without hesitation or fear.  It was simply beautiful.  So of course I cried like a sobbing ninny thinking about it and how faithful God had been when his child obeyed.

Maggie - you have some amazingly lucky first graders that have no clue just how hard their teacher worked to get to them this year!  I love you!!!

"Help Me Find It"

I don’t know where to go from here
It all used to seem so clear
I’m finding I can’t do this on my own

I don’t know where to go from here
As long as I know that You are near
I’m done fighting
I’m finally letting go

I will trust in You
You’ve never failed before
I will trust in You

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it
Can you help me find it

I’m giving You fear and You give faith
I'm giving you doubt
You give me grace
For every step I’ve never been alone

Even when it hurts, You’ll have Your way
Even in the valley I will say
With every breath
You’ve never let me go

I will wait for You
You’ve never failed before
I will wait for You

I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again)
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You)
I lift my eyes again (Was blind but now I see)
‘Cause You are all I need

What I'm Loving Wednesday

So I keep seeing this post series on several of the blogs I'm following and I just love reading what everyone is loving.  I decided I need to join in the fun!

This week I am LOVING (and am slightly addicted to) my new Silhouette Cameo!!!  It is amazing!  I splurged a little and bought it about two weeks ago (with an educators discount) and it came this past weekend.  For my first test project, I simply cut my daughter's name on paper and it was so easy!

I still can't believe how easy it is to use the software and the machine itself.  So the next thing I went for was the vinyl.  I'm also loving that Hobby Lobby had it 50% off this week!  Score!  I made this cute little box for my recess stuff (bandaids, tissues, nurse pass, etc.).

Then I got really excited and made a header for my AWESOME find on a road trip I took last weekend.  More on that later...

So I guess you could say I'm REALLY LOVING that thing!

I'm also loving my new Jamberry nails.  I was never that girly growing up, but I am now raising one of the girliest girls I've ever known and she is really rubbing off on me.  :)  So when I saw that one of my sweet sorority sisters was selling these I thought I'd give them a try.  I love having cute toes, but always pay so much to get the cute designs.  The designs themselves cost me an extra $10-$15 at the saloon, and one sheet of these nails is $15 and you get more than one application from the sheet.  Now, I will say that I had my doubts about these working, but I'm now a believer!  My toes have stayed looking like these for weeks now!  I'm hooked!

I'm loving spending so much time with my daughter before school starts.  This time of year I start getting really sappy, so K and I have been spending so much time looking at old pictures and videos lately.  We both laugh and I might cry...maybe.  But seriously - look at this baby!!!  I can't believe that she will be five next month!

I can't believe how young she looks in this picture.  Oh my gosh how quickly the time goes!

On a much more serious note, I'm loving my father-in-law so much lately.  Remember when I asked y'all to pray for my family?  Well, it turns out my father-in-law has cancer.  It started in his lungs, but he now has spots on his esophagus, liver, and spine.  He started chemo last Friday.  It's been a crazy fast process since we found out, but I love how he is already using what is happening to him to glorify God.  He stated while he was in the hospital how much it meant to him when visitors came, and he now knows he wants to minister more to people like that when they are in those situations.  Part of the the tumor the doctor removed will also be sent off for testing for cancer research and he started to think maybe that's why God allowed the cancer - so that others can learn about the next steps towards curing it.  He is an amazing man and I'm so thankful to be a part of his family.