Thoughts on Cleaning

A few thoughts on cleaning house:

I don't like it. I am not good at it. My dear sweet OMM, wrote in her bio on her blog that she would choose reading over cleaning. Another reason she was my Other Mom Marilyn. I would rather be reading my book instead of cleaning. In fact, I had to bribe myself to clean the bathroom with reading. 

I spent twenty minutes deep cleaning the thunder box. Really, twenty minutes? No one told you growing up that you were going to take twenty minutes out of your day cleaning the loo. I also thought that no one ever cleans outhouses in the woods. (Thanks to Roto Rooter for having a blog with 101 different names for the toilet!)

While cleaning the sink, I thought of my grandmother. I think of her every time I clean the sink. I remember her teaching me how to polish the faucet and make it shine. One of the many lesson she taught me while growing up.

I also feel like I deserve a taco for all this cleaning nonsense!

Today

Today...is a wrap your hands around a mug of hotness and settle in. All week the weather has been up and down and we have been told that we were going to get snow. Well, you can't really call what we have gotten snow, but it has been cooler and there has been some rain. I love this kind of weather and I love getting a cup of something warm and cuddle in, usually with a book.

Today... I discovered the author Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She wrote several children's books and even some fun ones for adults. I have to be honest in saying that I haven't read any of her books. I didn't live in the picture book world for every long before I moved to fourth grade and the adventures of middle grade books. I found her through Instagram and one of my favorite authors. Today is Amy's birthday, and the first one since she passed away about six weeks ago from cancer. I spent the morning pouring over Amy's Instagram page and her blog. This woman inspires me. I can't wait to start on my own Project 1,2,3.

Today...leaves us with fourteen days of school left. I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what I am gong to do this summer. It's almost time to build my Summer Adventure list. I do know that there will be lots of books read and lots of naps taken.

What are you up to today?

Grateful

Lately I have been reading a book called The Pages Between Us by by Lindsey Leavitt and Robin Mellom.

In the book Olivia and Piper have a notebook that they write to each other in and pass during passing periods at school because they no longer have class together and can't talk as easily. I love the idea and the format of the book.

But mostly I like what each girl writes at the end of each letter. They make a list of five things they are grateful for. I have thought a lot about this the past few weeks I have been reading it. I really like the idea. I myself need to focus on the things that I am grateful for more often. Some times the girls had a hard time coming up with five, but they always did. Some days it is hard to find things to be grateful for, but I feel like this applies to that also:

If you can't thing of anything to be grateful for, you aren't thinking hard enough. 

I am going to start thinking harder each day.

Here are a few things I have been thankful this week:

-The amazing growth our students have shown on their districts tests

-Laughter

-Snapchat

-Blogging twice in one day (but making myself wait to post)

-Being able to pay off a credit card

-Automatic coffee makers

-Friendships that form when you least expect it

What are you grateful for?

Slice of Life Challenge...Take Four

Four years ago I stumbled on to Two Writing Teachers and the adventure of Slice of Life. Each March they have the Slice of Life Challenge and encourage writers to write everyday for the whole month. They even challenge writers in the classroom to participate. So, I pitched it to my class and got four girls to join me. I loved it, even though I myself wasn't successful with the challenge.

Now, is my chance to redeem myself! Fourth times a charm right? Oh wait, that's the third.

This year, most of my class said that they wanted to do it. We rounded up notebooks and recovered some of the old covers and are ready. I kept forgetting that it starts tomorrow and they would say they were so excited for Wednesday and I always had to ask why. I am hoping that this isn't an omen to how I am going to do. Did I mention that I have not ever been successful with this challenge?

I want to do this. I want to succeed. I want to be a writer, even if is is only for this month. I know that I am going to need topics to write about, so I have a slew of writing prompts to pick from when this time comes.

Year four starts tomorrow. The month of success. This time, I will complete the challenge!

Do you want to join me in this writing adventure?

What are some topics you could add to my What-should-I-write-about list?

17 Update

Anyone else have good intentions of doing something and then it doesn't get done? Story of my life!

I wanted to blog on or around the 17th of each month to update my journey with 17. Did you see one in January? Yeah, me neither. 

I win in February!

• Read 17 adult books
• 2 of 17 - I realized that last year I read a lot of children's books, which isn't bad, but I have been missing the adult world. So far this year, children's books are still winning. 
• Read 17 children's books
• 5 of 17 - So far my favorite one was Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
• Write 17 letters
• I am not sure on the number on this one. I have started writing my sister every week on Sunday night to go out in the mail on Monday. I have also sent some extra ones. This goal won't be a hard one to accomplish.
• Get 17 or more miles a week with Fitbit
• 1 of 6 - This one is bothering me the most. A month ago I got in a fight with a patch of ice and the ice won. I haven't been able to walk around as much or as well for a few weeks. I think it is finally getting better and the beautiful weather we have had lately has helped. 
• Blog 17 times
• Does this post count? 2 of 17 - I have thought about blogging, just haven't gotten it done. 
• Get rid of 17 things a month from around the house
• 0 of 17 - I don't feel like I can give myself a point on this one yet. I got the first box of stuff ready and in the car for January and there it still sits. I keep forgetting to drop it off. The February box has been started. Maybe this weekend I can get this task accomplished.
• Make 17 phone calls to people I don't talk to often
• 0 of 17  1 of 17 - Apparently I just like to think of things and not actually do them. I have thought lots about who I want to call, but just haven't done it yet. WAIT! I believe I do have one! I talked to my good friend the other night for two hours! We were both up way past our bedtimes and it was really hard to get up and to school the next day, but it was worth it!

I am not super happy about these stats, but the good news is that I have 10 more months to improve!  

17 in 2017

About a week ago when I should have been sleeping, or getting ready for work, or anything that is adulting, I was on Pintrest.

I found a pin from a lady who had a list of 17 things she wanted to do before 2017. Well let's face it, I wouldn't be able to do that. BUT I thought, "What about 17 IN 2017?" and I quickly became obsessed.

I got out my everything notebook and started a list. You know how I love lists. I even made a 2017 board on Pintrest. I went through and picked at least a pin from each board equaling 17 pins to do throughout the year.

Did I mention that I became obsessed?

Here's what I have so far:

• Read 17 adult books
• Read 17 children's books
• Write 17 letters
• Get 17 or more miles a week with Fitbit
• Blog 17 times
• Get rid of 17 things a month from around the house
• Make 17 phone calls to people I don't talk to often

What do you think? Have any you think I should add? 

Currently I'm....

Reading..."Wish" by Barbra O'Conner and I can not wait to share it with my class. In fact, I want to jump ship with our current read aloud so I can read this one to them. I am not finished, but I just know that it is going to be a forever book for me. I very much enjoyed "How to Steal a Dog" by O'Conner and many people in the blog/book world said that it was better. It is reminding me of some of my other forever books: Ruby Holler, Snicker of Magic and Key to Extraordinary.

Watching...the Olympics. What? How long have they been over? I was so busy when they were on that I had to record a lot of them. It is very slow going. I only seem to find time to watch about one swim race at a time, usually while I am eating breakfast before school. I know most of the results already, but still want to watch.

Trying...to keep my head above water. School came rushing at me and I didn't have my life vest securely fastened before it hit. Hopefully soon I can get it in place and start swimming.

Drinking...as much water as I can without leaving my class unattended too much. I read somewhere that lemon, lime and cucumber in your water will help with unnecessary eating so I gave it a try and I like it. Plus I have this epic water bottle that keeps ice in it for hours! It makes drinking water such a delight!

Listening to...Happier with Gretchen Rubin which is a pod cast and I am loving it! It is great to listen to in the car and each one is about 30 minutes long so it is the perfect length. I knew of this other before and enjoyed some of the tips that I had picked up. I have found a few more that I would like to implement into my every day life. I want to go back and listen to all of them and make sure I have a notebook handy!

Thankful for...my team teacher and the laughs that we find throughout the day. I believe that these are the moments that are keeping my head from exploding.

What are you currently reading. watching, trying. drinking, listening to and/or thankful for?

Four Year School Journal

I should be asleep. I was almost asleep when I realized that it was August 1st and that it was time to start journaling for school again, and since I am often a little obsessive with things, I had to get up and journal.

Two years ago I started a four year school journal that helps me see what is going on during different times of the year. I just jot down a few sentences about the day and how I am feeling. It takes about a minute and is a good record of the school year.

This way of journaling helps to me see that I often go through the same things and feel the same way each year. Often times I forget that some of the struggles I go through as a teacher with each class is a normal part of the process. This way, I can see that it happens every year and that it too does pass. It is also a good way to remember the joys and celebrations.

It's hard to believer that it is already August and even more hard to believe that I will be starting my eleventh year of teaching!

2016-2017 Everything Notebook

A few years ago, I started a notebook where I wrote everything down. I wrote short stories, shopping lists, plans for things, book club schedules, recipes, scores for Phase 10 and dominoes, you name it, it was written down in this notebook. I didn't have a name for it until recently when I found someone else on Pintrest who does the same thing.

I also started one this year for school and it was a lifesaver! Often things are written down here and there and more times than not, lost. Writing them down in one place has been so helpful. I decided to have one each year along with my new lesson plan book.

One of my projects this summer was to decorate my notebook for this year.

You can get the idea here!

This is what I wanted to do on my notebook, so I did! And I love it! 

My favorite was using pages from one of my favorite books! That is the only good thing that comes from students being tough on library books. 

In a Month....

A month from today, I go back to work. My summer will be over and I will no longer get to take a nap in the middle of the day. Yesterday I noticed that they already have back to school items out at the store. Confession: I bought something.

Last night I looked at my Summer Adventure List to see what all I have gotten done that I planned on doing. I have done four of the 23 things planned. That's a 17%. That's horrible.

I better get busy!

Summer 2016

And that is exactly why I have made a list and a plan! The past few summers (minus last summer I just realized) I have blogged about my summer to-do list and enjoyed it. So that's what you are getting again this summer!

Things That Get Ignored All School Year Long That Don't Take Very Long To Do

• Copy recipes from print outs and screen shots onto cards for the recipe box
• File and/or shred paper work
• Address a years worth of rent envelopes

Crafty Things

• Jean skirt out of old jeans
• Decorate my Everything Notebook for the 2016-2017 school year CHECK
• A thank you gift for my sister for taking care of me
• Finish the "blanket" I started ten years ago (carry over from 2013 list)
• Weekly Goal memo board
• Misc. crochet projects
• Weave in ends of my first temperature blanket

Physical/Health Things

• Get the Japan badge on Fitbit
• Sleep on my left side again CHECK
• Swallow and Coyote Song Loop (carry over from the last two years)
• Narrow Gauge and North Fork View (also a carry over)

Books

• Raymie Nightingale
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
• A Breath of Snow and Ashes
• I, Alex Cross CHECK
• An Echo in the Bone

Random

• Turn hangers around CHECK
• Blog/write most days
• Get caught up on all my house cleaning
• Trip to Goodwill

Not a bad list to start with. I have not been successful in the past of finishing everything on the list, but maybe this summer will be the year!

If you want to join me for any of these activities, let me know! I was just thinking the other day of those who have helped me cross things off the first list.

{Summer 2014} {Summer 2013}

What I Have Been Up To

January 17th? Is that really the last time I blogged?! I know that I have thought about it a lot, but I guess thinking about things doesn't get things done!

May was a whirl wind if I have ever been in one! There was something going on every day of the month and there were times I wasn't sure I was going to make it!

 I finished up by tenth year of teaching and said goodbye to a really good group of students. It was a good year full of laughter, growth and lots of learning. The fourth graders did amazing on our district testing and got a lot of adults super excited!

In the midst of packing up my classroom, I was trying to get ready for my surgery. I was hoping to have my house cleaned, but didn't get as much done as I would have liked. Good thing my family didn't care!

Friday morning, the 27th my dad and my sister took me to Fort Collins. I had a tumor removed from my parotid gland just under my ear and along my jaw line. It was supposed to be a two hour surgery, but the tumor was bigger and deeper than they thought, doubling the surgery time. Thankfully I don't remember anything! I remember asking if we got to listen to music and then waking up trying to take all my clothes off, and when I say clothes, I mean the sexy hospital gown you get to wear. They wouldn't let me take it off, so I told them then they better get me cooled down! I hope I wasn't too rude, but I was hot! The last time I was under for my wisdom teeth, 15 some years ago, I woke up freezing.

The week to follow was NOTHING what I thought it was going to be. I don't know what I was expecting. I guess I was hoping that I would be able to sleep a lot and read my book while my family checked in on me from time to time.

Nope. The medicines that I was given, the killer headache and I didn't get a long very well. I am pretty sure in my mind the worst part was the headache and it was the cause of all my problems. Once we were able to get all that figured out, things started to move along. I will save you all the details and pictures that were taken.

I wasn't able to focus and read as much as I thought I was going to, so I feel like I am already behind on my summer reading!

To recap, I am very thankful for the care that I was given the last week, the texts and phone calls to check on me and the gifts that were dropped by. I don't know how anyone could go through something like that alone.

So now, in my world, summer vacation starts tomorrow and boy do I have big plans!

Celebrating This Week

Fist pump for Sunday! Double fist pump because it is a three day weekend!

It has been awhile since I have linked up with Ruth Ayres to celebrate the week. It's good to be back.

This week was a tough week and in the midst of it all, it was hard to find things to celebrate. Which is why celebrating with Ruth is good, because it helps to look back and find those moments.

Our little restaurant in town was once again open from a two week closure and serving tacos in abundance. Naturally I met two of my friends there and we sat and chatted for a good three hours. These two friends are my young friends that are still in high school that I first met when I had them in first grade my second year of teaching. Now here we are eight years later talking over chips and salsa. That's something to celebrate.

Scholastic always gives me reason to celebrate! I was getting ready to hand out book orders and noticed that Natalie Lloyd's new book was ready to be purchased and put into the hands of students and teachers. My excitement bubbled over to my students and several copies were purchased. Thanks to all the awesome parents who bought books for their children and the students who raided their piggy banks, I was able to get my copy with points, which equals FREE for me! That's two celebrations!

Goodreads page

Friday night I finished my 15th row of my thermometer blanket. I was one degree away the other day from using a third color, on the warmer end. I want it to get warmer, mostly because I am tired of this cold, but also because I want to add another color! Come one Mother Nature, work with me! The celebration with this one is that I am still in love with this project!

What are you celebrating this week?

January 2016

It's a new year! The other day I had a student say, "I can't believe it is 2016!" I had to chuckle inside because she has no idea what that means in her whopping ten years on this planet. She had to have heard her parents utter this phrase at some point. Every adult mutters this phrase at some point during the beginning of the new year. I know this, because I too mutter it every year. It is then usually followed by, "I remember Y2K like it was yesterday!" Are these signs that I am turning into an old lady?

Anyway, it has been since August that I blogged. Here's what I am up to at the moment:

Crocheting:

Recently, I was tagged on Facebook by a few friends in this picture. It is a thermometer blanket. You crochet a row a day and the color is based on the temperate for the day. I broke my pledge to not buy anymore yarn until I used what I had and bought the first few colors. I am not doing the colors in the picture, mostly because I didn't want to.

Here is what eight days looks like. I have not used the coldest color yet, so I guess that is a plus for the people who have to do recess duty! I am excited to see the end product. I like the idea of not having to really plan anything other than the colors. Mother Nature decides the color pattern and I just go with it!

Reading:

Don't act all surprised that this is what I have been up to. I am still working on The Fiery Cross from the Outlander series. I started it in September but put it on the back burner a lot the last four months. I was able to get a lot read over the two week break and got a good chunk of the book finished. My goal is to have it all read by the end of January.

This year, I plan to read 50 books for my Goodreads reading challenge. My goal was 45 last year and I read 50. Should be a pretty attainable goal.

Teaching:
Second semester is off and running! The words "state testing" are being spoken more and more as we move forward. As a school we are hitting writing pretty hard. This excites me, but terrifies me at the same time. Once again this year, my goal is to write more. In order to teach writing well, I have to be able to write well. Cassie got me this great journal with writing prompts to help both of us write more. So far so good! I also hope to blog better this up coming year and not care if I don't get any feedback. I am writing for me, not for comments.

Here's to the new year with lots of adventures; Reading, writing, crocheting and teaching adventures.
What are you up to these days?

Celebrate This Week

We made it through the first "week" of school! 19 students stood outside my classroom door bright and early on Thursday morning to start our year of adventures.

I don't know about my students, but this was me Thursday night when I got home. I went to bed willingly at 8:00 and slept the whole night through.

Today, I celebrate making it through, but I also celebrate the memory of a dear friend.

Ten years ago when I finished my first ever first day of school, I stopped by my mentor teacher's house on my way home and out walked her husband with a Popsicle. It was the best gift I never knew that I wanted.

After a whole day of talking, your throat gets dry, hot and tired. A Popsicle is a sweet, cold oasis.

At the end of the day, I went around and celebrated each teacher who was awesome and made it through the first day of school with a sweet, cold oasis. It was an incredible way to celebrate the first day of school and the memory of an amazing man.

What did you celebrate this past week?
Check out other celebrations at Ruth Ayres blog!

So This Happened Today

Living in a small town sometimes has its down falls, and shopping can be one of them. Since I was going to the big city today, I decided to do a little shopping before the baby shower that I was going to.

I was kind of dreading the shopping trip since I needed to purchase some new boobie jails. Not a fun item to shop for, yet an evil necessity.
Thankfully, it wasn't as painful as I had thought it was going to be. Since I was only going to get the one item, I didn't grab a shopping cart and was just walking around the store with a handful of bras, not really thinking too much about it.

Until I saw some parents of a future student. Face palm.
I went down a different isle to avoid them, but what I should have done was walk to the other side of the store until I was sure they were gone.

Walked right into them! I couldn't not stop and chat, and introduce myself to dad. Dad had to be along on this shopping trip? I wouldn't have cared if I had ran into mom with a fist full of over sized over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders, but nooooo, dad had to be there.

At least it will be a story to laugh about later and one that hopefully dad will forget!

Nine Years of Students

Best part about my day.

During my time student teaching, I observed a teacher who had a picture of every class that he had taught on the wall. I couldn't wait to do the same thing. Now there are nine pictures and seven classes on the wall. Two groups are on the wall twice! I love looking at these pictures and love to watch the kids that come back to visit look back at when they were "that small."

I felt proud when I put the last picture up. 

I was reminded of  why I was teaching.

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Goodreads description

Brad and Robey are....AWESOME! Just reading one page of the book is inspiring. Not only is it inspiring, but also makes me giggle. If you haven't seen any of Kid President's videos, go watch every one you can on You tube!

Goodreads description

I am anxious to share this book with  my students! I may even read it to the whole class. For some reason I like the whole Jack and the Bean Stalk thing. I enjoy the simple humor that shows up often and the story is keeping me entertained.

Jordan inspired this post. Check out her super cute blog.

Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most Books From

It has been a long time since I have participated in Top Ten Tuesday over at the Broke and the Bookish, but saw this one and got excited! I found my own list surprising but enjoyed reliving some of the moments with these books. There are reasons these authors made the list. Somehow each one has touched my heart in some way, provided an escape or just plain entertained me. A few of the authors will get a few more reads, and some sadly their writing days are over.

Here's who has won me over the most as a reader:

Janet Evanovich - 34 books
It helps that the Stephanie Plum series has 22 books alone! I have also enjoyed the little romance novels that she has written. She makes me laugh!

James Patterson - 24 books
Patterson was the first author that I though of when I sat down to make my list. I thought for sure that he would nab the number one position. It helps that he puts out a book a week! The Alex Cross series has 21 books in it and then he has a few other series that I haven't read. I have read some of the stand alone books.

Jeanette Oke - 16
I forgot about Oke until I was going through my list of books. One of my first adult books read was by Oke (I can't remember which one) and I think she is the reason I fell in love with historical fiction. A few summers ago I devoured the Love Comes Softly Series and wondered why it took me so long to do so. I even had my dad pick up one of the books from my library back home because I was going to be there and needed it! Might be time to pick up another one by her. (Oh Donnigan made the Man Meat list also)

Lynn and Gilbert Morris - 11
This is the Chenney Duvall Series that I feel in love with in high school and am rereading this summer. I even added Shiloh to my Fictional Man Meat list.

Nicholas Sparks - 10
For some reason I was surprised that I have read ten of Sparks' books. I knew that I read a lot, but there were other authors that I thought would have him beat. I haven't read one in awhile and just opted to go to the movies instead.  Another man meat list!

Lucy Maude Montgomery - 8
Anne of Green Gables Series. I feel like that is all I need to say about that. #1 Man Meat - Gilbert

Sharon Creech - 7
As an adult, Sharon Creech was my first favorite children's book author. I read Walk Two Moons first and fell in love. I have several others by her that I want to read.

Kate DiCamillo - 6
My second favorite children's author. I also enjoy reading her Facebook blurbs. I wait anxiously for her next book to be released.

Dom Testa, John Grisham and Rick Riordan - 5
Testa and Riordan each have series that I have read and enjoyed. My first John Grisham book was A Time to Kill and I could not put it down! I am sure that my boss at the swimming pool was not pleased to walk in the office and see me with my nose in this book! 

What author(s) have you read the most of?

Rise and Shine

Does anyone really wake up like this?

I have seven days left to practice waking up early.

I have seven days to fight off the nap ninja in hopes that I will be tired and go to bed early.

Could possibly be the hardest part about going back to school, right behind not being able to go to the bathroom whenever I want/need to.

This is more the feeling. I don't have a meat tenderizer though.