Sea Turtle Unit

I created my first "real" unit back in April.  We were going on our field trip to the Sea Turtle Center like we do every year.  It is my FAVORITE field trip ever!  Anyway, I decided to make this little unit for my team.  We loved it and so did my kids.  I am trying to decide if I should even attempt to post it on TPT. 

This is just what the cover looks like. 

 

It includes math journals, whole group math activities, math center activities, long & short vowel activities, sentence construction,etc. 

Reality Check

Today, like many days during the summer, we were out at the pool.   Now if you know me, you know I love the pool and spend most summer days there.  I always have, even as a child, it was one of my favorite places to be.  Now I enjoy it for many other reasons such as, I get to see my girlfriends and chit-chat, my boys get to swim and play with their friends, and when it is time to come home my boys are EXHAUSTED!  When little boys are exhausted they normally take naps, lay on the couch and watch tv quietly, or go to bed early.  All of these things make me a little happy, since it gives me an extra hour or so to clean up and do some laundry.  

 At the pool today, I had a bit of a reality check.  Colin, my super cautious yet has no fear child, has decided that wearing swimmies in the three feet part of the pool is NOT for him and as long as I am in the water, I don't care.   However, today he got to the opposite end of the pool before me.   Both ends have steps and are 3 feet so no big deal I can get there.  Well, as I am moving to get to the end.  His footing slips and he can't touch.  All I can see his little head bobbing in the water.  He is doggie padding and keep his head up but just bobbing.  My heart skips about five beats and then the whole pool was able to see my Olympic style swimming as I shot across to save my boy.   He was perfectly fine and scared - so was his momma!  

From now on he will be wearing his full pool attire in the pool...swimmies, noodle, sunglasses....

Because I just love that boy so much!!  And most days he thinks he is as big as Cade,

BUT truth be told, I am not ready for him to be!   I can't even believe how quickly his 3rd birthday is creeping up on us. 

Wordless Wednesday

So it starts with a little Instagram fun... b ecause we all know I LOVE Instagram...

More School...

I know so many of you already know how to download fonts and use them, but I am just learning!  I made this Word Wall set for my good friend.  I love it more than my first set that I made! 

And if she doesn't like it, I am using it for myself!  I love this little set!  I need to finish making her the table cards, labels, etc.  I love it! 

InstaCUTE!

I LOVE Instagram!  

I am sure it is obvious how much I love it because I use it and put the pictures up here all the time.  I always have my phone so it is always handy to take pictures.  Plus I love playing with the filters, it makes me feel like I know what I am doing.  My other favorite thing to do is look around on Pinterest.  I mean, really, who doesn't LOVE Pinterest?  Pinterest & Instagram, could there be a better combination?

Look what I found on there last night!  

Yes, you can print your Instagram photos and have them turned into magnets!  Fists pumping & dancing were happening all over this house!   Do you have any idea what this means?  Of course you do!  It means all those pictures that I take on Instagram, I can have them printed and sent to family at least once a month without having to really think about it!  I am beyond excited about this!  Seriously, I am still dancing around & screaming on the inside because I don't want to wake up the kids.  

Now that you are done screaming, dancing, & fist pumping - GO print your Instagram photos to StickyGram!

School Time is on my Mind!

For some crazy reason, I can't get school out of my head!  It must be because I am so excited about all the things I am planning on incorporating.   I have been working on a unit that I can't wait to do at the beginning of the school year.  Basically, a whole bunch of different books that I have made cute little activities to go along with them.   It should be FUN and a great way to start off the year.  

We had to move classrooms this school year, so I had already started thinking about a theme for my room.  One of my good friends, suggested I do two colors instead of an actual theme since then it would be easier to incorporate all my anchor charts and units.  It wouldn't look like a Jungle overrun with Pirates or Gingerbread Men!  Yesterday, when I got up I read this blog post.  I was ready to get started.  I really wanted to use aqua and red so I started off with those colors and then I decided maybe I should do the blue and green as well.  Those are two easy colors to get from the butcher paper rolls!  So, unless I change my colors, I am probably going to go with the green and blue as well.  I am FAR, FAR, FAR from professional.  I just play around and do this so this not professional work.  Did I mention again, that I am FAR from professional??  Because I am!  So please doesn't laugh too hard at stuff I have created....  I am going to print it out and if I hate then I can start over.  

For some reason I can't get the little ribbon to show up when I make it a picture.... EEK!! 

 

Oh yea, maybe it is because I am NOT a professional so I don't know how to do this stuff!!  

These for book baskets and book shelves.

 Another little thing, I made.

 

For Behavior?

Or these?

So that is all for now, I have tons of other little pieces that I am working.  But like I said I am not a professional so this is just a little fun for me to do.  Plus, it makes me feel crafty!  Go Figure!

Kitchen

I promised I would post some pictures of the new house.  I *think* I am almost done in the kitchen.  I need a cute spoon rest that will stand out but other than that I think I am good.  Except for that table I am planning on getting from my mom and repainting, but that is a post for another day & time! 

So this is the kitchen! 

 Another view! 

 I picked these bar stools up at Target.  They weren't exactly what I wanted but they were on clearance for $11.98 and they actually look pretty good. 

 Stove area... is it too cluttered looking on the right?

 Close ups!

 Too Cluttered?

 Another view of the kitchen, I am going to pick up the labels that look like chalkboards to go on the snack jar. I think that will be so cute!

 Not the best, but it shows my Pinterest project.

 And last view...

S'more Weekend Fun!

This weekend was FULL OF FUN!  Seriously, it was a great weekend, even if I was reminded that I am not 20 anymore.  We kicked off the weekend on Friday Night.  I went to a Girl's Night Out - 50 Shades Party & the boys headed to the pool.  Saturday, we went out to lunch as a family & then did some shopping around.  We picked up a few things for the house that we needed.  Okay so we probably didn't need it but we wanted it...pictures to come!  I PROMISE!   

When we got home yesterday we decided to do S'Mores with the boys.  Of course, right after dinner it started raining, hard, so we had to do them inside in the microwave.  They were still yummy and fun! 

 

It takes a lot of work to put these together! 

 

See what I mean, lots of work! 

Then while your waiting for them to "cook" you have to eat some marshmallows!

   

Now, that they are done... they are oh so YUM!! 

 

Gooey Goodness!! 

 

Fun Times!

Our summer so far has been pretty fun!  We haven't done anything overly exciting, but we have done exciting things we love.   We spend most of our days at the pool.  I will admit, I LOVE the pool.  I love the sound of splashing children, the feel of the sun, the smell of sunscreen, and the screaming words "Mommy, WATCH THIS!" as my little ones run and jump in the water.  It was just another fun summer day for us at the pool.  But when we got home & changed we had even more fun! 

I know how is it even possible, but it is! 

Colin LOVES this barnyard fridge toy!  He loves to put the animals in and make the animal noises, but he also loves to sing and dance to the music.  

  

Cade doing his favorite thing...playing video games!

Yes, he has two of them with him! That silly, silly boy! 

Snack time... I never buy these, but decided to pick them up the other day.  Now, I am addicted!  I love the big CRUNCH they make.  I went through a whole bag in like two days.  That can't be good!

 

 Sprinkler Fun!  This was just classic fun for the boys.  It was so fun to watch them.  They would drive the jeep through the sprinklers, then park it and run through the sprinklers.  It was so fun to watch them and hear them scream & yell with excitement! 

 

 

Getting ready to go to the next set of sprinklers!  

All the memories come flooding back...

If you have a chance today please say a prayer for this sweet little baby, Mason.  He was born way too early, just like my sweet Cade.  They both thought arriving into this world at 23 weeks 5 days would be a great idea.   When I first, read this prayer request yesterday my heart broke.  I could feel tears start to sting my eyes and a lump form in my throat - just like now.   Even though my journey was 6 and half years ago, the memories are still fresh.  The smell of the hospital, the heartbreak, the roller coaster ride, the doctors, the sounds of the NICU...

I remember the emotional roller coaster ride that I took with Cade.  We had good days, great days, bad days, & the worst days.  Every. single. day was touch and go for the longest time.  I remember the first two weeks of his life so very vividly.  We spent it at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville.  I went to the hospital every single day and sat for hours and hours at a time.  I would just look at him and tears would stream down my face.  My life was consumed with the hospital and everything about my sweet baby boy.  The thought that he might not make it was ALWAYS in the back of my head, always.  I never said the words though, I just couldn't say them.  One day, when I was physically, mentally, & emotionally exhausted, Larry was driving me back to the Ronald McDonald House.  He was suggesting that we go grab dinner somewhere and get away from the hospital.  He knew I needed to get away, but that I wouldn't allow myself too.  I actually didn't know I needed to get away - I just wanted to be with my baby.  He got upset with me, and told me that I was doing all the right things but I was NOT taking care of myself.  He even pointed out that I needed to face reality and think about the fact that Cade might not make it.  I remember the true heartbreak I felt.  It was not something I wanted to hear out loud, but it was true.  I know that Cade isn't supposed to be the way he is today, I know that he beat the odds, and really isn't supposed to be here.  But he is truly our miracle baby and I know that sweet Mason will be able to keep up the fight as well if we all continue to pray for him.   

God gives us miracles! 

The BEST doctor, EVER! 

The List of "To Do's"

I posted earlier that I started making a list of things that I needed to do each day.  I was just using an old notepad that I found in my drawer because it was handy and available!  It worked so well, I was able to check things off, but I was getting a little frustrated because I didn't like just writing random notes at the bottom.  This morning, before the boys got up and I was drinking my coffee, I was playing on Pinterest and found this!

Of course, as soon as I saw it I let out a huge squeal.  The best part was it was FREE!  It is from this site, and it is so cute!  I printed two of them out so I could use one today and one tomorrow.  I think I am going to pick up a sheet protector and just reuse the same one each day using a Visavis Marker!  This will be going into my Home Binder to help keep me organized.