Tuesday, September 25, 2012

BIG NEWS! (Don't get too excited)

I have some big time news, but first I need to catch you up starting with this:

Max likes Carrie Underwood
In fact, he loves country music in general.  He listens to it when we're gone from the house.  Would you expect anything different from my dog?

I made these yummy chicken enchiladas last week.  I've made them before, but this time I added some cheddar to give it more color (and of course more flavor).  Very good!

 Claire was all dressed up for school picture day last week.  Parker wasn't interested in posing an additional time that day.  One time was enough for the ever pleasant school picture photographers.  
 Friday night, we ate dinner at Mom's with a bunch of lovely family.  
 We also watched some of the UT game, but this little lady was the star of the night (as usual).
 After church on Sunday, we celebrated Ron's birthday.



Now for the BIG NEWS! 

First, Dancing With The Stars is back! YAY! YIPPEE! It's better than ever with the all star cast.  Go watch it! It really was good last night.

THE BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL!

SEAN IS OFFICIALLY THE NEW BACHELOR! 
(I told you not to get too excited.)
(Maybe it's not big news for you, but it is for me.)
(Calm down.)

Anyway, I am so excited because I just think he's such a super nice guy.  I was terribly distraught when he was heartbroken last season (even though I knew it was best for him).  

It doesn't come on until January.  

I may mention it a time or two before then.  Sorry. 
  

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Boom Boom Pow!

Parker announced tonight that he no longer likes Keith Urban (saw this one coming for a long time) OR Skillet.  In his exact words, "You have to move on sometime".  He is apparently into Black Eyed Peas.  Something about "jackin his style and tryin' to copy his swagger".  Oh that boy cracks me up. (For anyone concerned, he only listens to the totally clean versions of his swagger songs.)




Sunday, September 16, 2012

The Rest Of The Week

EPIC Week continued...

Decade Day ~ Parker and Claire picked the 50's! 


I made lasagna on Thursday night, and Mom came to eat with us again.  


Friday night, we had our big EPIC celebration at school.  We had lots of inflatables, corn hole, music, food, face painting, and lots of fun.  I had to work a shift in the concession stand, so that was interesting for me.  Ha!






 On Saturday, Claire went to a birthday party.  It was her first experience with skating.  These pictures aren't   very good because of the lighting in the building (and the pitiful photographer).  I was so proud of her determination.  By the end of the night, she was rolling around and really getting the hang of it.



 Saturday night, I had some cuddle time with this special boy.
Playing Possum

"I see you, Mama"
 Andy and Miriam were in town this weekend, so we loved seeing them today.
 We ate a fan-cee lunch at Arby's after church with Nana, Mike, Karen, and Caleb.



Tonight, the kids watched the movie Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, then we had meatball subs.

One more thing...

Look what arrived yesterday! 
Yay!!!

It's going to be a crazy week because our first and second graders have to take a Pre-TCAP test this week. It should be very interesting since my little people are still learning to hold their pencil correctly and sit still for five minutes (give or take four minutes). This will be a TOTALLY new experience for them! The first test is 80 minutes if that gives you any idea what we're up against.  I'll let you know how it goes! 


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

This week so far...

This is EPIC Week at school.  We have special dress-up days every day and a few other special events this week.  

Monday was Hat Day.  This is me with my friend Wendy.  I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the kids with their hats.
 Mom came over to eat with us on Monday night.  She also watched the kids ride bikes for a while.
(Check out that look on Brian's face)
 Tuesday was Sports Team Day!
 A bunch of the little first grade girls wore their cheerleading outfits.  I love getting to be on the playground at the same time as Claire.  It's fun seeing her play with all of her friends.
 Today was Wacky Dress Day! 
Of course they had no problem with this one!
We went to our Life Group tonight.  We've recently started the Beautiful Outlaw study.  I'm really enjoying it so far!  I hope your week is going well.

Monday, September 10, 2012

My Classroom (Before & After)

I've been promising some before and after classroom pictures.  Here we go.

This is what I walked in to find:
 An empty room that was wet all over the floor around the air conditioner.  No students desks, chairs, or computers.  The stuff you see piled up was later picked up by the teacher who had my room last year.  The teacher desk had NO DRAWERS and one of the legs was falling off.  No joke.  

 Well, it's come a long way baby! 

Here's my cutie patootie monster on my classroom door made by Lisa, my amazingly talented and ridiculously patient friend.  (Seriously, if you all only knew what she puts up from me on a daily basis...)
 Isn't he perfect? We are Murray's Monsters by the way.  Not mean, get you in the night, monsters.  Just sweet, cuddly, furry first grade monsters.  There is a big difference.
 (The door needs a serious paint job.)

Here are a few other pictures from inside the room.  

 One of our little Five Senses activities (Thanks Pinterest!)
 Part of our word wall (this is not a good picture of it though). 
 Our Common Core standards board with "I Can" statements



 I really don't think any of these pictures show the room that well, but at least it gives you an idea of where I hang out every day!
Hope you had a good day!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Weekend Wrap Up

Our weekend started when friends and the ice cream truck stopped by around the same time!  I wonder how many more Friday nights that ice cream truck with come through before summer officially ends. 





This is how Saturday morning started.  Pretty typical actually.
The King and Queen have arrived! 


This is how I found Juliet on Saturday morning.  I guess that's how Claire solved the problem of Juliet staring at her during the night and "freaking her out".  


Later on Saturday, Brian took the kids swimming while I went to the grocery store.  It was raining, but they didn't care!
Max performed his lifeguarding duties in the rain like nobody's business!
   I also had to go to a funeral for one of my sweet student's mother.  She had been sick for such a long time, but I am heartbroken for that precious six year old who is now without her mommy.  Please pray for her and her family.  (It sure puts that rough day I had last week in perspective.)

This morning, we taught Parker and Claire's class.  Parker helped Mr. Terry with the Bible story.

 Then Brian and I worked with the K-2 small group.
 After church, we went to lunch at Logan's with a bunch of family.




 Then while we were resting for a few minutes this afternoon, this happened.  Never a dull moment.  Never.
 The weather was beautiful tonight.  We practiced tennis for a long time and enjoyed being outside.

  






Now we are just getting ready for the week and watching Peyton play for Denver! Looking forward to a great week!