Fun that makes me tired!

These are the cutest books ever!!!   And even better when the Kinders yell, "We have that book!"

So many fun things to show my little friends!  Just introducing them to different concepts...and next week...I will arrange for them to measure and pour as we have been learning about different tools we use to measure things.  They thought I had lost my mind when I tried to use the ruler as I poured the water trying to measure it!

Little Miss noticed I had these crisps one day at snack time, and she told me to bring them on Monday and she would too..."because we bought the same crisps...did you get them at Costco too?!"  Yes, I did!        

So...I remembered to grab the "green bag".  She was so excited to have the same snack as her teacher.  Another Little Miss has been wearing multiple bead bracelets like I do.  They notice every thing all the time!  Lord, keep me aware of how I am handling life moments and help me not be a stumbling block to these little ones.

My little fur babies...they keep me company!  I have been worn out each day and we have to just sit and cuddle/nap so I can get my second wind.  Cute little sleepy face.

My tulips are getting closer to bloom!  So far...the deer haven't gotten to them...yet!

Counting money...and we are finally catching on to adding different coins!  

Time telling is still stumping us.

Getting little gifts detailed for Grandparents for Friday!  We get to have them come in for an hour to see what we do in K5.  And who doesn't like a craft project with little fingerprints all over it?!  We will give our special visitors a little taste of what we will do at our graduation program!

One of my little girls was trying to politely ask me if we would "be doing Grandparent's visit like Donuts with Dad and Muffins with Mom...you know..."  Ahhhh...yes, I understood where she was going.  I honestly did not want to add that complexity with 20 Grandparents in our room with 12 Kinders.  That is a lot of extra and energy and sugar...and then I recalled a conversation where I stated that I don't bake like I once did and I love doing it.  Here was my opportunity...and so...a double batch of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies were baked this afternoon.

We will be responsible Grandparent babysitters and take our cookies with us as we leave to go to lunch with Grandparents.  Our house smells divine and my little friends will be so excited to have a treat to share with Grandpa and Grandma..."after we eat our healthy stuff for lunch first!"

Amazon is a cool tool!  My teacher buddy and I were discussing graduation and she made a comment about wanting to use this book.  I agreed!  She mentioned that she saved it to her wish list and would like to get it.  I pulled up the app and ordered it right then and there.  Second year of teaching Kindergarten gift...check!  And I will give it to her early so she can use it.  I sat and read it again...and got all teary!  Every year...I forget the blood, sweat, and tears of the days and am overwhelmed by the privilege I have to teach little friends about all the things in K5...but most of all...to teach them about Jesus' love!

                                                 That is what I want them to know most of all!

 

A Week of This and That

Nice enough to sit outside with a cup of leftover coffee with hot chocolate added and whipped cream!  School days are so full and my brain and body are tired when I am done!  These little friends keep me laughing each day.  Friday was favorite animal day to go along with our Science.

First time going to the SOS in a very long time!   An emergency trip there proved to be quite relaxing and easy!  They have upped their efficiency game by 1000% and I told the hostess as I left that it was wonderful.  It is so easy to complain about things...it takes just as much energy to to give positive comments too!  And...you make someone else's day with kind words that are fitly spoken!  Hmmm...a Biblical concept that I need to remember to actively use when I am out and about town.  So many people have sad and frustrated looks on their faces.

Fresh strawberries, home-made granola, and yogurt...for snack and for breakfast and for lunch throughout the week!

There he goes again...he fixed the wheel on his suitcase because he couldn't find a suitcase that met his criteria.  He noticed the other wheel was wobbly when he was packing.  I was watching him and asked him how he fixed the wheel..."Uh...I'll pray the other wheel holds out till you get home...for you to fix that one too!"  No worries, lady!  I got three more wheels!

Sunday after church brunch for Alisa and I...pancakes with fresh homemade lemon curd and fresh blueberries with whipped cream!  Yummy!

Monday was all about Math practice!

Using our blends and special sounds to build words...on our desks with markers is always fun!

Ted's update...made me very anxious when he explained that he backed the gray car into the spot where he is staying in Belgium.  "How did you even get out of the car? and How do you not scrape the sides of the cars?"  Wow!

 

Busy, busy, busy

I walked in to pick my students up from Music and watched them go on their bear hunt.

Marking vowels and circling special sounds.

Special dinner leftovers for the teachers.  Yes and thank you!

Oh fun!  Snow again!  Poor tulips...

Counting by twos..."Prop your feet up on your desk...let's count!"

Learning about personal space..."Here is your bubble...no one goes in your bubble and you don't go in someone else's bubble."

Little bookworms!

We got to watch "the big kids" in the school play!  It was so exciting!  We ended up staying for the whole play.

They have been playing Wizard of Oz during free play and recess ever since!

 

Blessings in the spring of 2023

Cheerios!!!

Warm temps bringing life to our neighborhood!  A great way to work off the stress of testing mornings...yard work...of course, in small doses so that I can function the rest of the week!

A day off to spend with our number one daughter!  I picked her up at the airport and we had brunch together at 10:30am...hence the fried pickles!  She came to pick up a car to replace her sick one.

Lots of love from some excited puppies!

Spring in K5...testing, Science lessons, outside play....they have grown up so much this year!

Mother's Day gifts in the works!

Saturday...a drive north with a stop for breakfast at Tony's!  Good thing he read the menu!  A nine egg omelet!  Yikes!  We split it!

Driving north...you feel yourself relax!  Good coffee and good music and good conversations!

Visit with our friends...

in the woods that are just waking up!

Home in time to rest...and then take another trip...but this time, we headed west.

We went to celebrate Sean's Emily who gets married in May!

A yummy brunch with all the girls!  And oh my...lemon curd on pancakes with fresh blueberries! YUM!

"She has found her main squeeze!"

I won the prize for all the "junk" I had in my purse (partly due to our drive north on Saturday).  Lots of giggles about that!

We just had to drive by the Lake!

A special request by Alisa..."Can we eat supper at the Toasted Pickle!?  It is so good...and fresh squeezed lemonades!"

It had turned rainy, cloudy, and chilly...so it was the perfect spot!

On our way out of town...we checked out the wedding venue!  Such a pretty building right on the water (to the right of this picture).  "We need to come over to this side of the state more...it is so pretty...and the beach!!!!!"