Yearly Update

Man, I am just terrible at updating this! I really want to be better. I promise!!! I guess it's just something that takes a back burner when I start getting busy. Sorry!

So updates....last year was pretty fantastic. I ended up with an awesome para(and I get her again this year too!!!!!!!) which helped to make for a great year. I had a great group of kids and feel like I finally was starting to know what I was doing. Which leads me to this year. I am going to the inclusion class this year and I must say I'm pretty excited about it. In college I worked with tons of special needs students and while I'm not expecting it to be quite like that I really enjoyed that work and will be happy to be working with students like that again. I also got to move rooms to a MUCH larger room and I love it!!!! It's so exciting to have such a big space but it's also a bit overwhelming. I have no idea where I'm going to put anything. Somehow I feel like I have more things and they just don't fit anywhere!!! 😣

On a better note I am feeling very confident about Open House. I've spent so much time on Pinterest and TPT trying to figure out exactly what I wanted my Open House night to look like and I have to say I'm feeling pretty ready for it. I've made "Getting to know your child" forms, "How I go home first day and rest of the year" forms, Backpack labels, contact business cards that are magnetic, Welcome banner, Sign in sheet, and a thanks for your commitment. I am almost ready to go for Open House. Now I just need to make the station signs and to decide if I want to do a cute little snack and water or not. I'm feeling like I might bake some cookies over the weekend or something just as a fun little treat for parents and kids. Plus it gives them something to do if I'm talking to another parent or something.

Anyways, I guess it's time that I get back to my classroom. This stuff isn't going to put it's self away.

Once Again Not Posting Very Often

Well I'm officially down to 2 weeks of summer break left. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. The really sad part is I haven't even been to the beach once!!! :'( 45 minutes away from the beach and I haven't gone! What is wrong with me!!! lol

Anyways I completely enjoyed my 2 weeks in Michigan and they went by crazy fast and man did I put a lot of miles under my belt. Living where we did in Michigan I don't think I really realized how central to everyone I live. Not being back there meant that everyone was super far away. Next time I'm planning things much better, making a circle next time, no more back and forth. I wish that trip had been just a bit longer. I feel like I barley got to see everyone, I hope next time I'll get more time with each person.

As for these next two weeks, I'm planning to get as much nephew time in as possible! Tonight will be the first time Peanut will be spending the night with Aunt Katie. It should be fun! :) Just hope the little man sleeps through the night! And if I'm lucky he'll sleep in longer than his older brother does. Little man never seems to sleep past 7! :'( Either way I can't wait for our first sleep over!

Is It The End Of The Year Yet?

Ugh, were only a few weeks left in the year I'm so ready for the end. It's not even that I'm tired of the kids, they're being pretty great actually. It's just I'm ready for a break, like a real one without a holiday attached so I can actually relax. Every break has actually meant more work because of church which just makes me exhausted. However this summer I'm traveling back to Michigan for a few weeks and I can't wait! It's going to be two and a half weeks of complete relaxation!

I'm actually taking a full break too. I plan to not even do any church work while I'm up there too. I can't even imagine how relaxing its going to be! The week before is probably going to be a challenge because it's going to take a lot of prep work to not have to work at all during that time but it's so going to be worth it.

I know after these next few weeks I'm going to want a break even more. Between GMAS testing starting next week and then end of the year parties and field trips. It's going to go by so fast...once it starts going. lol.


Oops, I never did post this.....End of April post...

Long Over Due

Wow, so I just looked back and I knew it had been a while but it's been a year and a half since my last post!!! How did that happen. Especially since I have had A LOT going on since then!! So to start it off...

In June I moved to Savannah! It was a rushed and crazy move. I literally packed up and drove south the day after school was out! Yup, I did that. It was the plan all along because my nephew was going to be born 4 days after school got out and I was not going to miss that for anything...or so I thought. It turned out he had other plans for us. He decided that he didn't want to wait for his scheduled C-section and came 3 weeks early. It did however work out pretty well because he was born on Memorial Day weekend. So even though I wasn't actually there for his birth I was there within a few hours and got to spend the whole weekend. So despite him being born early I still had to leave the day after work because I had a friend driving down with me but flying back and she already had her ticket.

So we made the most of the trip though. We stopped to see a friend of mine in Kentucky and them spend the night in Nashville. It was a blast, we ended up joining in on a few bachelorette parties.

Then we got to spend a few days showing her around Savannah. Despite the fun we did have it was very hard to leave my friends. I struggled leaving my roommate and her girls. They were quite possibly the best roommates a girl could have asked for. I still miss them all dearly and can't wait until I get to see them next.

But I finally got a job at the end of the of the summer and I actually ended up getting two on one day. What a way to go from bored, hating have moved (despite loving being with my family again) and feeling like I was never going to get a job. I am also the children's director for my church and while at moments I question why I am doing two jobs but then I show up on Sunday and I am reminded about how much I love working for the church. I also love teaching but I currently spend almost 2 hours a day commuting so I'm hoping to be a bit closer to home to make it so that I don't waste 2 hours of my day on the road.

Next big change is my newest and most exciting. I bought a house! It's crazy how it all happened so quickly. I messaged my realtor asking to go look at places, two days later we had a few houses to look at. Turned out it was only 2 though. We looked at the first one, it was so small I just couldn't even consider it. Walked into the second one and fell in love. Closet is perfect. It's 3 bed rooms. One is my office, and the second is hopefully going to be for a roommate and then there is my amazing master. I just absolutely love having my own house and I still live really close to my mom and dad and sister and brother. I have friends who live right down the street. I just love where I'm at in life in general.

So big changes in the last year and a half. Hopefully I'll not wait another year and a half before I update again.

Jim Gill

Wow! Its actually been a full month since I posted!!! So bad!!!

Anyways I figured if anything would be worth being a "welcome back" blog this would be it. I got to meet Jim Gill.

Now he's not super famous or anything but if you're in the Early Childhood world he's kind of a big deal.

Were having a concert for our school tomorrow and after tonight I can't wait! He always does a "teacher training" the night before the concert because he talks about the importance of adult and child interactions for songs and finger plays. 

We got a bit of a preview of some songs we would be doing with the kids but also about how to use his music in the classroom. We discussed a few of the songs purpose and learning benefits. 

Over all it was a great night and I can't wait for tomorrow with the kids. Looking forward to how a few of his ideas work with some one my kiddos!!!

Chili Cook Off/First Of Many

Well I went to my first Chili Cook Off today. It was pretty fun! There were a total of 8 chilies to try. Then we had to vote for our two favorite chilies. And it turns out my best friend Michelle WON!!!

Then the fireball came out....

And it all went down hill from there. In a great way! We seriously had a blast. I mean we were super goofy...a few of us a bit drunk, some not so much. But a good time was had by all that's for sure

And on a work note, got a few deliveries from hatch today. Its just the first of many and I can't wait to open them. I added the bookshelf and a block area shelf already but a few pieces need assembly so I think those will wait a few days. But I seriously can't wait to get the rest of my furniture! Some new shelves and such are going to be GREAT for the classroom. 

All the boxes... Or most that is!

My new bookshelf! Love it!!!

He new block area shelf. Love all the baskets and that it fits under my white board!

And this is only the beginning......

Birthday Lovin!

Well work was a pretty good day. Thank goodness for that!!! I walked into the classroom to find these super cute balloons on my desk. Needless to say my assistant is super sweet!

She also gave me a Starbucks card! She really gets me!!! ❤☕

Then during our small group the kids all made me bracelets. It was so sweet. 

And I even got a necklace...turned into a headband (guess who has a big head)

Then at the end of the day when I was giving hugs out to all my kids one of the uncles decided to give me a hug too...bit strange but it was kind of sweet in light of it being my birthday!

When I got home today I walked excitedly got to open a gift from myself. Some super cute booties!!! I was so excited. Couldn't believe they came today. 

Then I was surprised by my neighbor who I call Grandma(because she raised her granddaughter who was 2 years older than me and we grew up together, she'll always be grandma to me) with a card and as always on my birthday something that is a cow. A while (probably over 10 years) ago grandma found out I liked cows and now EVERY year for my birthday she gets me something cow. This year was this adorable coin wallet.

Mom and dad took me out to dinner. It took a while to decide what I wanted but I chose Kyoto a Japanese Steakhouse. It has a hibatchi grill which is always so fun and the food was delicious!!! Loved the noodles and the rice. Plus the salad and soup are always great. They also would fling a broccoli in the air to catch with your mouth and it was pretty cool too. Dad almost caught his, I didn't even try. I knew there was no way I could catch it. I'm realistic. 

But the best part of today was by far my present from mom and dad. I CAN'T WAIT to watch the alternate ending!!! 

Speaking of, think I'll go watch that now. 

Night y'all!