Currently January 2015

I have linked up with Oh Boy 4th Grade for their monthly January Currently.

Listening-I am listening to my heater kicking on.  We just got a snow storm the other day and it is really cold here now.  I'm hoping my heater warms up our house quickly!

Loving-Today was our first day back from Christmas vacation.  It was a great day!

Thinking-I am so tired after today.  Being on the Christmas Break got me off schedule and I will have to admit that I was quite lazy!  So after teaching all day today, I am very tired!

Wanting-If I could, I think that I could go to bed right now and fall right to sleep!

Needing-I have some things to accomplish at home tonight first before I can think about going to bed.  Maybe I can try for 7:00 bedtime LOL!

Yes-I desperately need to lose weight and have been trying for awhile but not having much luck!

Maybe-I'm pondering the Paleo diet and wondering how well I would be able to stick to it.  

I wish-I could be somewhere warm for the winter-I don't like the cold weather!  

Make sure you head over and link up for the January Currently!

Have a great night!

Wisdom for Wednesday (Rerun) and One (or three) Word Resolution

How's that for a confusing title???

I'll try to explain as we go along!

Wednesday around here means…

This week I'm doing something a little different. I have been watching the resolution link-ups and thinking about my own goals for the year. I always enjoy reflecting on my year and making a list of goals/resolutions, but this year I thought the One Little Word linky from Primary Powers was perfect for me.

Please forgive me for using three words. I just felt the need for clarification. I wouldn't want anyone thinking my goal was to embrace everyone I see or something crazy like that.

Now, to explain my One Little Word I'm repeating a post from this summer. These THREE words have been my mantra since the beginning of the school year and things are really starting to get crazy so I'm going to be working hard to continue embracing each day! 

So take a peek at my thoughts on July 23, 2014...

Today I'm going to get a little personal with you. I'm going to let you in on one, okay two, of my character flaws.

1. I am a major homebody.

2. I am slightly obsessive.

Those who know me well may possibly be nodding and giggling at this point, but let me explain.

I have seen a couple of quotes on Pinterest lately that have really stuck with me. Here's one of them:

I've been considering that quote a lot this summer.

I don't like to be busy.

I like to have plenty of time at my home.

Remember, I'm a homebody?

That makes me have the tendency to "wish away" busy times of my life. 

Every Sunday, I look at my calendar for the week. If I don't have much time at home, I start to feel a sense of dread and think 'I can't wait for this week to be over.'

So why have I been thinking about this so much this summer?

I'm getting ready to start what I know is going to be an extremely busy year. My son will be a freshman in high school and my daughter will still be in middle school as an eighth grader. That means that there will be times that they will be involved in activities on different nights of the week. For example, during basketball season high school games take place on Tuesday and Friday. Middle school games are on Monday and Thursday. We go to church on Wednesday, so a week like that would mean no evenings at home.

I know it is coming and I do not want to "wish it away." My kids are growing up way too fast! I want to enjoy each moment, day, and week. I don't want to wait for that someday when I'm not busy to live my life and enjoy it!

You may be wondering what this has to do with my other character flaw - being obsessive. It is really the flip side of it all. It is me creating my being busy because once I start something, I have to finish it! 

I mean...I will work on something for hours at a time because I want to be done. Kristi is saying AMEN right now in case you are wondering because she knows me too well.

Take for example when I decided to learn to sew while making my first quilt. It was a king-sized quilt because well, I don't do anything half-way. I worked on the quilt for days (and nights). I thought about that quilt every moment that I couldn't work on it. I dreamed about that stupid quilt! Obsessive, I tell you!

This summer I am trying really hard to find balance. To realize that the project I think is so important will still be there tomorrow if I have something come up or if I don't feel like working on it (gasp!).

I'm trying really hard to embrace the day.

I know I'm on the right track because this picture is of a plaque by my kitchen sink that I see (but don't if you know what I mean) every day. I took time to notice it this morning.

The Lord is definitely trying to prepare me for this year. I'm determined not to wait around or wish for someday.

Will I get tired and weary? Oh yes, but I must remember "...the LORD is the strength of my life..." Psalm 27:1

Thanks for stopping by to check out my One Little Word. Wish me well -- that basketball thing is in full force starting Monday, January 5th! Yikes!

Embrace the day, embrace the day, embrace the day...

2015 Resolutions Linky

I have linked up with Second Grade Nest for their 2015 Resolutions Linky!

Use more technology in my classroom.  I am not a tech person, and need to learn more about and use more technology in the classroom.

Make sure that I strive to do my best at meeting each individuals needs in the classroom.

Organize and stay organized!  Key is to stay organized.  I can get organized, but staying that way is harder for me.

Relax and slow down.  I always feel like I have many things to do.  My husband even says that I am restless.  So, I want to slow down and relax some. 

Arizona.....I have always wanted to go there.  I love warm weather!

I can't think of any food that I would like to try.  :-(  I am wanting to try the Paleo diet.....so I guess I would say that I would like to try some of those foods. 

I want to learn about acupuncture.  I am wanting to try some acupuncture and would like to learn more about it. 

Worrying!  I worry about everything.....in fact I spend a lot of time worrying over the littlest things.  So, I would love to give up at least 1/2 of the worrying that I do daily.  

Pilates-I want to make sure that I go do pilates at least 2 times a week and continue to swim a couple days a week as well. 

I want to enjoy life more this year and focus more on the positive!

Make sure you head over to Second Grade Nest to do your Resolutions for 2015!

Have a great day!

This is Kind of Embarrassing...

I'm really putting myself out there...letting this picture be first in the post for all to see.

No judgement please. I really do consider myself a very organized person--except this one area!

What can I say? 

This is reality.

This is a picture of my desk at home. As you can tell, I never sit there...like ever.

In my defense, the desk is shoved into the corner of my 30 x 25 foot living room with poor lighting. 

Over the last several years, I have tried to work there. 

I really have. 

However, it is always short lived because I feel a bit like a little kid who has been sent to put their nose in the corner after bad behavior. Ha!

Monday I got my hair done, took my son to the orthodontist, finished up my shopping and wrapping, and watched Christmas movies (you know, the normal Christmas break kind of stuff).

Tuesday I woke up with an idea...a big idea that would hopefully solve my desk dilemma once and for all.

Move the desk.

I know, I know! 

You're probably thinking, DUH!

But this was the first time it had occurred to me in the seven years we have lived here. Yes, seven years of making a mess on my table  or setting up office on the couch when I needed to work.

So I did it!

I spent the entire day moving the desk, purging some things, and organizing my new space.

Drum roll please...

Yes, that is a green clock on a blue wall. Don't ask. HA! 

Doesn't it look great? And this picture shows my view when I sit down to work. No more nose in the corner!!!

Yes, that is a breakfast of champions...bacon and cheese omelet and coffee drink (of course). 

You're also looking at my new (to me) MacBook which I have no idea how to use. I put it on my Christmas list as kind of a joke--needed a new laptop and have always heard good things about Macs... Anyway, my husband went with it and completely surprised me! Any pointers for learning how to use it would be appreciated!

I hope you're enjoying your break! 

Have a great day!

Wisdom for Wednesday-Magic of Christmas

Welcome to another week of:

http://www.christmaswow.com/christmas-sayings/

I thought that this quote was perfect for this time of year.  It seems so easy to slip into the Christmas mode of hustle and bustle and trying to get gifts etc. Therefore, with being so busy sometimes the true meaning of Christmas can be forgotten.  I always want to remember the true meaning of Christmas-without Christ, there would be no Christmas to celebrate! 

http://www.imperfecthomemaker.com/2013/12/free-christmas-printable-2.html#_a5y_p=1112787

 I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! 

First Day of Christmas Break!

Last Friday, was my last day of school before our break.  We ended our week with watching a movie (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) which my co-teacher had for us.  It lasted longer than we had anticipated because we had some technology issues with it.  :-)  But it worked out and the kids liked watching it.  Can you believe that there were actually some kids that had seen it before?  We thought for sure that none of the kids would have seen that one.  

At the end of the day, we had our Christmas Party which consisted of some Christmas bingo and decorating Christmas trees (which was an ice cream cone) with icing.  The kids had a lot of fun!

So, today I officially started my first day on Christmas Break.........my plans were to sleep in and be lazy for the day.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen.  Wouldn't  you know it on the the day that I could actually sleep in I woke up at 3 a.m.  When I woke up I was sure that I would be able to fall asleep but I couldn't.  Around 3:30 a.m. I gave up trying to sleep and decided that I should get up and accomplish some things.  So, I got up and started working.  I did get a lot done (cleaning and organizing my closet and dressers, laundry, etc.).  I am now just deciding that I will take some time to relax.  I'm hoping that my afternoon will consist of a long nap and being lazy.  

I hope you are having a great day today!

Merry Christmas Break!!!

Good morning!

This little cutie couldn't wait for me to open her present! These glasses were included with all the other goodies. Ha!

I finished up my last week yesterday and am sitting at home this morning with nothing planned---woohoo! I suppose I'll be wrapping some presents later and that is as hectic as my day gets. 

This week was so much fun! I tried to keep Monday and Tuesday pretty normal. Then Wednesday afternoon while we worked on parent gifts, we watched a movie. Can you believe I took NO pictures? We used round styrofoam ornaments and turned them into snowmen with earmuffs using pipe cleaners, poms, wiggly eyes, and felt for the scarf. They really did turn out super cute! We also made some foam ornaments using the sticky Lifetouch pictures and glitter to jazz them up a bit.

Thursday was Polar Express day. Need I say more? :-)

Yesterday we took a trip to the store here in town and did our Christmas caroling first thing in the morning. I had a little time to throw in a problem solving activity before our early pizza party lunch, followed immediately by our class Christmas  party. Students were dismissed at 12:30 and then the whirlwind was over!

I will say it was fun to take this guy with me to work yesterday. 

Birthday picture - he turned 15 this month!

Now that he is in high school, he was able to opt out of finals because of his good grades. The kids just love it when a "big kid" comes to school. My para's son also came and they were a huge help--cleaning up the stage (from concert and North Pole for Polar Express Day), playing with the kids at recess, and eating everything in sight! Ha ha! I'm so thankful I work in a place that doesn't mind my kids coming along when it works out. :-) 

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your break!