Weekly Plans

It's me again! Eager to blog and say something, but slightly lacking a topic. I decided that not only do teachers and students take two weeks off for the holiday season, so does the blog world! I have missed "Finish the Sentence Friday" and reading other people's blogs that appear to be either busy or taking it easy. Thankfully Top Ten Tuesday is still up and running!

I have enjoyed my first week of break thus far and am looking forward to the second half. I seem to have been pretty busy the first week getting ready for Christmas, traveling and Christmas itself. Thankfully the second half is still pretty open.

Here are a few things I plan to do in the up coming week:

This year I have had a lot of my classroom books fall completely apart (sadly some of them have been my favorite books!) and while I am sad about this, it gives me some crafting supplies that I would feel really bad about throwing away! I am going to cover an old coffee table with said book pages and put it in my classroom in the reading area. Thanks to Mod Podge Rocks for the constant inspiration.

Get started on my Sweet Summer Fling with the first book of the year followed by the movie. It has been torture for me to not get started already, but I am holding strong and waiting for January 1st!

Host the first book club of the year! Book club is probably one of my all time favorite things I have in my life! It was the first social thing I did when I moved to this little town on the plains! I have been the youngest member of this club for the past six years and have learned so much! I hold all of the people in the club close to my heart and look forward to seeing them all each month! Hosting it  at my house is a great reason to get my house cleaned!

How about you? Are you off this week? Are you working? What are your plans?

Sometimes You Just Have to Write

I have an urge to blog and had a topic to blog about, but can't get the pictures off of my phone, so that will just have to wait. I couldn't think of anything to blog about so I made my way over to one of my favorite writing prompt sites that I use in class and picked a random number. So here it is.

Write a mini-story (100-250 words) that begins with, "They had nothing to say to each other."

They had nothing to say to each other, everything had already been said. He turned to leave as the snow softly drifted down upon them. It was so silent except the faint, almost non-audible sound of snow falling. She knew that this is what was best for both of them. She loved him and knew that he loved her, but the cycle was unhealthy for both of them. She finally had to be strong and make the choice for both of them.

 His footsteps in the snow were almost deafening as he walked away with his head hung. She watched him climb into his truck, drive away and herself turned and walked away. Knowing that the pain would eventually subside, she let the cleansing tears run down her cheeks. It was all part of the process.

 Once she arrived home, she put the tea kettle on the stove and waited for it to sing. The house was almost as quiet as outside, but this silence she found comfortable. Grabbing her well loved Bible, she sat down at the kitchen table with her cup of tea and opened her heart asking to be held by her Heavenly Father. She knew that He truly was the only one who could bring her comfort. He wasn’t going to take away the pain instantly, but she knew that He wouldn’t leave her alone. He loved her and would hold her until the pain went away.

Just a random quick write without any pre-thought or plan, but got my writing bug out. I think it would be fun to revisit this prompt again another time and see what comes out! 

Top Ten Tuesday~ Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Dear Santa,
     I feel that I have been fairly good this year. There were a few times that I wasn't, but I hope that you can turn a blind eye just this once. I don't ask for much, but this year, I hope you might place some of these top ten books into your big, red sack.


From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos

I really enjoyed the first book and have high hopes for the second one. Our school library doesn't have this one yet, which is why it is on my list.

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech


LOVE. LOVE. LOVE Sharon Creech. It is my goal to read all of her books.

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech


See note above.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

Gilmore Girls fan? I know that there were writers that wrote Lorelai Gilmore's humor, but I am hoping that there is some of that humor in this book.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

I have enjoyed every book of Kate DiCamillo's that I have read. My students really enjoyed "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" and hopefully this one doesn't disappoint!

More Like Her by Liza Palmer

Liza Palmer cracks me up! "Conversations with a Fat Girl" and" Seeing Me Naked" made me giggle and "Field Guide to Burying Your Parents" made me think. I don't even know what this book is about, but it has Liza's name on it so I am sold!

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Sharon Creech again! This one I have read. You can read my review here. I want to add this book to my collection since it is one that I will read again.

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

I read this book years ago and enjoyed it. I recommend it to everyone (even though NO ONE has ever taken my suggestion.) This makes me wonder if it really is all I remembered it to be. I worry that if I read it again, it might not be good. I mean there has to be a reason no one picks it up after I tell them about it. I enjoyed the movie and have seen that a few times, so I think I might be safe!



4,000 Questions for Getting to Know Anyone and Everyone by Barbra Ann Kipfer

Super random book. Found it at a cute little shop but didn't want to spend the money to get it. I think it would be fun to use with friends and family but I also feel that I could use it in my classroom.

Wolf Story by William McCleery

It has been YEARS since I have read this book. I was thinking today that I am pretty sure that this is the one and only book that my dad has ever given me. We (mainly he and my sister) have a wolf thing going on and he gave me this book. I recently found a copy (no idea where mine is) but gave it to him. I have only seen it in the stores the one time. Also one that would be reread and put on the to keep pile.



What books would you like to have Santa leave under the tree for you? Have you been naughty or nice?

Top Ten Tuesdays brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

Pomegranates and Roller Derby

This time of year I sometimes have to look really hard for *heart flutters* to keep me going. This year seems to be especially tough for some reason. So I am making it a point to blog more this week in hopes of pushing me through to the other side!

This last weekend was full of firsts for me and I had a blast experiencing each one! This is just Saturday with Sunday to come soon.

I celebrated Christmas with my sisters (minus one since she had to work, and we missed her tons), dad and the nephews. I love to see those little guys and see how much they have grown since the last time I saw them. The oldest one is about to turn six and I just can't believe how big he is getting! Anyway...I like to bring him a little something each time I see him and this time I brought him a pomegranate. He was excited to get a gift but wasn't sure what to do with it once I handed it to him. I remember my Grandmother teaching me how to open one up and how to peel it apart to get the juicy ruby like seeds from the inside. So Grandpa and I taught Marcus how to do just that!

I think he enjoyed pulling it apart but he didn't eat too much of it. I think part of it was his attention was more on the presents in the other room other than the strange fruit in the kitchen. It was also a good thing that he had on an old undershirt since I forgot how juicy it can be and that it does stain! I don't care if he enjoyed it or not, I did and I opened his world just a little bit more!

That night we went to see Ali in her roller derby bout. OH. MY. GOODNESS! I want to go back!! It was probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I knew NOTHING about roller derby walking in to it and still don't know much, but loved every minute of it!

Ali was on team Ho Ho Hos and rocked the number 714 (for her mom and my step-mom) and her name was "Mistle Toes." I loved the names of the girls and some of their outfits. Sadly the Grinches slaughtered the Ho Ho Hos but they never gave up and rolled hard!

I am very proud of Ali for getting out there and trying new things. Of all four girls, she would be the last one you would think to participate in roller derby but she rocked it! I can't wait for the next bout this spring!

How was your weekend? Did you try anything new?

Top Ten Tuesday

I should be sleeping, but I am too excited about Top Ten Tuesday to make myself go to bed. I am sure that this post could wait until tomorrow and will I grumble about being tired at some point tomorrow? Probably.

I figure that this is going to be a long week. The kids know that Christmas break is so close they can taste it. They know that there are three days of school left. Down fall of teaching them how to read a calendar. So why not find something that makes my *heart flutter* and have that little moment, even if it is past my bedtime.

Brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

I have been waiting for this Top Ten topic for three weeks now! It is "Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2013" and I had a pretty good list! Some I will read more books from, and others...not so much.  

•  Kathrine Applegate – The One and Only Ivan (could any sweeter book be written?)
• Claire Vanderpool – Navigating Early
•  Diana Gabaldon – Outlander
• Ivan Doig – Whistling Season
•  Ann Patchett- State of Wonder
•   Stephen Chbosky – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
•   Jack Gantos - Dead End in Norvelt (Please put my name on the hold list for book two)
•   Richard Newton Peck – Soup on Ice (Dear Publishing Company, start printing these books again!)
•  Robert Peck – The Grandma Dowdell Series (would LOVE some more adventures with Grandma)
• John Boyne – Boy in the Striped Pajamas 

I just realized that 50% of my list are YA/Jfic authors and that excites me. I am then able to share with my students books that I think they should read!

     Have you read any new-to-you authors this year?

Traditions

I love traditions! I want more of them in my life and can't wait to start some that are on the horizon. Christmas is full of traditions (even if you don't realize it!) Some die out as you get older and move on into adulthood and some stick around and are passed on to your own.

Here are a few that are done in our family.

This is probably the oldest tradition that we have. I am guessing that my mom started it, but every year we got a "fang scraper" in our stockings. I remember mom asking me what I got in my stocking, and I always seemed to leave the toothbrush out in my excitement of reciting what I got from Santa. She also would ask if I got a fang scraper. Should have been my clue on who really brought it to me.

New pajamas every year. Last year Molly and I decided to skip this one and get each other pjs for Easter. My reason behind the switch was that I had more winter jammies than I did summer and needed to stock up. I don't think either of us really liked this because pjs are back on the gift list!

I am not sure how this tradition got started, but it is one that is just between my sister and myself, although she is cooler than I am and have gotten others calendars also. Each year we buy each other a new calendar. I love this one, because it makes me think of her so often! She always does a good job on choosing a calendar for me and I get excited to see what she picked!

And finally, we watch Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas. We are a Muppets family and love Kermit. The story is such a sweet one and a good reminder what friends and family really are.

As I was looking for a picture, just learned that
this is a book! 

What are some of your Christmas traditions? I'd love to hear them and maybe steal some ideas! ;0)

P.S Were you too singing "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof?

This has been a Finish The Sentence Friday post. The sentence is “My favorite Christmas tradition is…” brought to you by Finding Ninee.

Top Ten Tuesday

Brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

I get to participate this week!  Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR is the topic for this still very cold December Tuesday.  Cold weather makes me want to curl up with a book, blanket and cup of warm liquid.

Let's see what I have stacked up! (Sorry I don't have pictures of the books. Maybe when I am older.)

1. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
2. The Gift by Cecelia Ahern
3. Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah
4. In the Company of Secrets (Postcards from Pullman #1)  by Judith McCoy Miller
5. Whispers Along the Rails (Postcards from Pullman #2) by Judith McCoy Miller
6. An Uncertain Dream (Pos cards from Pullman #3) by Judith McCoy Miller
7. A Distant Melody (Wings of Glory #1) by Sarah Sundin
8. A Memory Between Us (Wings of Glory #2)
9. Blue Skies Tomorrow (Wings of Glory #3)
10. Before I Die by Jenny Downham

What are a few titles on your Winter TBR pile?