Hilariousness!!

Happy New Year friends. I am squeezing in my last blog post for 2012. Oh what a year. Of course, when I think of a year, I think school year. I feel like we should be counting down the night of the last day of school and then popping a cork, oh wait, I do that anyway. Haha!

Oh what a month! Most of my month was like this:

 Talk about whirl wind. I swear I have been more sick this school year that the past several years combined. No hot plans for tonight. I have been pretty much glued to my couch since Thursday watching Hallmark Christmas movies in my pj’s (don’t worry I have showered and rotated the pjs). I have gone through two tissue boxes and a few boxes of various medicines and stinky vapor rubs. The only thing that kept me going was my peppermint ice cream. I tell you there is magic in that stuff!

So, I am way behind on blogging. Shocker! I know. I wanted to share a few funnies with you. First off, the last week of school could have just been awful before the break. I mean, we are never in school up until three days before Christmas. Talk about coo coo for coco puffs! Anywho, we were all very emotional the last week due to the devastation our nation faced with the loss of those sweet children and teachers. Well, I can tell you how we survived…we had FUN! We loved, and hugged, and sang and did crafts and most of all we ELFED around like no body’s business. Now, don’t get me wrong, we still taught and kids still learned but it was different. Last year my kinder team did Elf on a Shelf but this year our whole school did it.

So, picture it..Monday: third grade elves had a snowball fight and covered their hall with tissue balls. (Sorry I didn't get pic).

Now on to Tuesday. On the morning announcements our principals states that the second grade elves are missing. Gasp throughout the school! Then an hour later we get an email with this picture. (Elves hanging from the FLAGPOLE!)

Then, an hour after that, we get sent another picture with a ransom note. Apparently other elves demanded lots of candy. Tick tock!

So, after lunch, when no candy was left out, this picture got sent. Students were writing letters and pleading with teacher for candy. So! Flipping! Funny!

By the end of the day the second grade elves were returned to their classes safe and sound.

On Thursday, we got to school and there was this picture on the office door. Apparently the elves that did this handy work left their footprints behind. I am thinking these were the third grade elves.  These are the pictures from later that day but before the office and specifically principal’s office was filled with holiday balloons. Just awesome!

Oh, and our kinder elves were no angels either. I didn't take this pic until later in the day so this damage doesn't really do us justice, but our elves toilet papered our hallway. Naughty little elves!

We had so much fun the last week of school in the midst of all of our chaos. It really brought a since of unity, laughter, and fun. Oh tis the season for all of those things!

Here are the ornaments that my kids made for their parent gifts. I had one extra ornament so I decided to have all of my student's sign it for my own keepsake. Well, that would have been a great idea EXCEPT I misspelled my own name! Yes, a mental health day should be given in this circumstance. Haha!

Just in case you aren't following me on Facebook, here are my latest creations. You can click on the pics for more info. 

I am also having a BOGO sale through January 1^st. Buy anything from TPT or TN, email me your username and purchase and I will send you something of your choice that is equal or lesser value. 

Happy New Year friends!! I will be back tomorrow to share with you my New Year crap that never happens resolutions! J

Not a typical MONDAY

Ohhh Monday...usually we have a love / hate relationship but today, it was just love.

Today was super fast. My son had an appointment so I was late getting to school. I felt like all I had time to do was give a few hugs and send my kids home. I am looking forward to tomorrow. No one had questions about last week, which I was relieved. I am not sure what I would have said but I am sure God would have given me the words. This weekend was a roller coaster for me. We celebrated my daughter's sweet 16 on Friday night. My sister had to slap me around a little to get me out of my crying funk so I could give Grace the party of her dreams. Then on Saturday and Sunday, my sweet hubs planned a weekend away for our anniversary. I tried so hard to be present in every moment this weekend but my mind continued to drift and I found myself fighting back tears. I still feel like I need to have a good cry but haven't really allowed myself that. Its amazing to me how one minute can provide so much prospective. I hope you had a great day. Love those babies! Yes, standards and teaching to our fullest are important but so is loving our students. Here is a sweet poem someone sent me today. Praying for the peace that passes all understanding for us all. Love and virtual hugs!

Just Heart broken!

Along with many friends, I'm not blogging today but letting my silence be filled with prayers for the families of Fridays shooting. I couldn't imagine and I am just broken hearted. Many tears shed. I don't want to skip this Monday! I can't wait to see and hug my students. Love and hugs to you my friends! Praying the peace that passes all understanding over us all! 

The Elf is BACK! (With Freebies!!)

The Elf is BACK! Yes! I am so excited. We watched the movie on Thursday. 

Then, we wrote a letter to Santa asking him to send us our very own elf. That night I wrapped the box he comes in wrapping paper and put it in the deep freeze. Friday morning I brought it to school and put it in the freezer there. Then, during group time when we were all on the carpet, the secretary called down to our classroom and said that we had a very cold delivery. I had two students go down to get it because I wanted them to come back blown away by how cold the box was, lol. 

We passed the box around so everyone could ohhh and ahhh over how cold it was. It was from the North Pole (gasp!). I read the letter from Santa. You can download it for free by clicking the picture. J

Then, I opened the box. Even I was impressed that the clear part where you can see the elf was fogged over because of the cold. I read them the book.

They didn't know, but I was changing the words of the book to fit our school elf. Then, I put the elf on the shelf.

At lunch, he magically escaped the box and ended up in our Christmas tree. Then…I left for the rest of the day because my son had a doctor’s appointment so the sub had to deal with all the excitement. Haha, I mean oopsie! J 

Today I spent my day in pajamas watching Christmas movie after Christmas movie. It’s okay to be jealous, I would be. Haha! Seriously, I have been running ragged all week getting stuff ready for my kids crazy schedule next week just so I could have today to do absolutely nothing. Last night my sister and I went to this Christmas stroll in a small neighboring town and got totally hot chocolate and kettle corn wasted. I seriously think I gained five pounds. We went on a carriage ride too. So. Much. Fun.

Anywho, since I am all ADD and really can’t just sit still and watch movies all day, I redid my Elf on a Shelf Unit. Last year when I made it, it was the only one out there. Now there are hundreds and mine needed a makeover. I added a few center/writing activities and more letters from Santa and the elf along with more ideas on how to use the elf in the classroom. The packet doubled in size but the price stayed the same. Really, I recreated it for myself but hope it blesses you too! Click on the picture for more details.

On Monday, our elf (Snowflake) will bring us peppermints because we are “Mint to make great choices all week.” Fingers crossed it works! Click the picture to download this freebie too!

Have a great day or night (whatever it is when you read this, haha!). Love and virtual hugs!

Shining Stars Freebie

Greetings friends! Yes, I am behind with this whole blog thing. I have been super busy. My sister and I just threw my parents a surprise anniversary party this past weekend with all of their closest friends at my house. My dad is a musician and his band brought over their acoustic equipment and played. I am sure my parents will always be able to out party me…not that this is hard to do. Haha!

Now, I am planning my daughter’s 16^th birthday party (ugh, 16! Shoot me please!) that is next Friday. I am running a marathon here people! Picture it, me + 100 teens and a DJ..I'll be waving around my flashlight in between all there inappropriate dancing. I am not sure my blood pressure can take it! I told Grace tonight that we will be fine as long as she understands any dance moves she does, she must be fine with me doing them too. Bwhaha! Talk about drop it like it's hot (and NOT being able to get back up!). 

Anywho, I felt like my kids needed some motivation so I created a Wall of Shining Stars (also known as the back of my door). I created these little posters and printed each on a different color of bright cardstock. When a student masters the task, the can sign their name to the poster. This has worked great in the past so I hope it works for this group. There are tasks for all levels of learners so everyone can be on at least one certificate. And, I only will test on Fridays. So, this Friday, I will ask “who wants to try and count to 100?” If they can do it, they sign their name. When they sign the whole wall, they get to go to the star jar.

Click the pictures to download them. (My name won't be on the one you download, lol. You can write in your name.)

Have a great day. Our elf is coming in two days so I will be back to give you details. We are watching the Elf on a Shelf movie tomorrow and then writing Santa and asking him to send us an elf. Then, I will wrap my box and freeze it overnight so it comes nice and cold from the North Pole on Thursday. I am so excited! Check my FB for daily pics and posts. Love and virtual hugs!