What????

So, it just hit me that I never posted E's 2nd birthday!!!!! We were having computer issues at the time and I found this in the drafts where I apparently forgot it????? Let's take a quick re-wind back to April...

E's 2nd birthday was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" themed. I had found the book and big stuffed caterpillar in the $5 'Kohls's Care' section of my local store some time before and decided it would be a great birthday theme. Once I brought the book out to E she became obsessed with it and I knew we had made the right decision. Just like her first birthday we had a planned a party at the local park, however the weather had other plans and we decided the morning of her party that we would have to move it to my mom's house. My mom and I put a lot of work into her cake (which turned out massively bigger than we planned), and I was sad that the ink on the birthday book we made her smeared, but other than that she had a blast!

Birthday Pancakes!

Birthday book to sign (but people closed the book to soon and the ink smeared on some of the pages!)

Celebrating 3 Birthdays!


The whole table...


Birthday favors that doubled as balloon weights!

The cake! I said it was big!

Brother helped blow out the candles!

Bwahaaaa!!!!

Source: franstar.tumblr.com via Sara on Pinterest

Rock Stars

Finally time to post a few pics of my room! Tons of time and effort went into my new room this year. Some things are still not exactly the way I wanted them, but we managed to have a successful first week!

Some of our power words


This year's theme "Rock Stars"


my little corner of the world


My mom made this 'find it' jar for my class


Our quote board - I re did the quote after this picture to make it not so small. I'm very proud of the border, I made it myself from scrapbook pages.


Our community area - my kids have started calling the foam mats "the squishies" (notice my crates from this post)


"Books that ROCK" - sort of a 'book recommendation' type of thing. Currently all of the 5th grade teachers have a named a 'book that rocks' and it is on the front of the cabinet (we call them "big ugly's" in our school). Throughout the year kids can grab a colored shape and add a book that they think rocks!


Our "just right" books posters.


Library



Missing picture: I didn't post a picture of this project because it has my kids' names on it, but I will post a blank one as an idea soon...

Our check in board - it's really a nifty idea. Each kid gets a card with their name on one side and their picture on the other. When they come in in the morning they flip their card from the name side to the face side, this way I know they are here. If they want a school lunch they grab one of the little tags at the bottom and put it with their picture. This way, when I do attendance and lunch count I don't have to interrupt anything, I can just look over and take a quick count. It also works great when we have guest teachers because they can put a name to a face for my kids.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

I went to bed early last night (J had movie night at Gram's), and even managed to find time for a decent nap today. I feel a little less like I'm on the brink of a disaster, but still not quite all put together. I was actually kind of glad it was wet and gloomy this morning, because I didn't feel so bad about snuggling under the covers! I am hopeful that I can spend the extra time I will be up tonight (thanks to the nap), to finish my plans for next week, since I wasn't able to get them finished this week due to everything else, and feel a little more on op of things. My fantastic husband though, made sure the house was clean and dishes were done when I got home at 8:30 Thursday, so it was one less thing to do this weekend, and one thing that will be easier to deal with this week.




My big 4th grader on the first day of school! It absolutely floors me that he is that old already!

No time to breathe....

I don't ever remember having a first week back to school that was this stressful and tiring! Seriously, if this doesn't get better I don't know what I will do - maybe cry - I have found time to do that a few times this week. It's really not the kids, they're super sweet, just crazy amounts of stress..........

Monday Morning Music

OK, I know it's not Monday morning yet but tomorrow is my first day of work, so if I want to get this posted I need to do it now! Another song that has just been lingering with me lately......enjoy.....

John Mark McMillan "Death in His Grave"

All the Poor and Powerless

Welcome to Monday Morning Music!

So, I'm currently a bit obsessed with this song. My husband played it for the first time for me on Friday and I sat in awe (the EP version is a little different than this version, with a great bass drum/hand clap thing happening). Not just of this song, actually of several from the album, but I picked this one for you today. I had a whole long explanation of why I picked this song types up for you, but instead I'm just going to leave you with the simplicity of the song...

All Sons and Daughters, "All the Poor and Powerless"

I blame it on Pinterest...

Have you heard of Pinterest? I'm sure you have, but if you haven't you should check them out. It is an awesome way to waste time while organizing a million really cool things. I have been using it all summer to put together some ideas for my classroom and I finally made one happen. I had actually seen these storage seats in a book I bought while still in college, but never had the room for them. I saw them again on pinterest this summer and since I have the space in my big new classroom this year I decided to make them. They don't at all match my "Rock Star' theme for this year, but I couldn't find cool rockstar themed fabric and loved this pattern. Viola! I place to store all of my extra whatever and have a fun place to sit. I made 4 but the other crates are all at school. Enjoy finding you own cool ideas!

Only 4 years??

Today I have been married for 4 years, which seems like the blink of an eye to be honest with you, and I'm happy to say that things are still great! Not perfect by any means, but great. In honor of this day I leave you with a quote that a lot of people need to listen to, and a picture from our happy day!

Monday Morning Music - anniversary edition!

My wonderful husband and I will be celebrating our 4th anniversary this week (that seems like a day compared to how long we've really been together!)and in recognition of that you're getting 2 songs this week! The first is "our song", you all have one whether you want to admit it or not, so just go ahead. This became song came into our relationship very early, and there was never another song that really seemed to fit, regardless of how hard we tried. The second song was played during our wedding and we even took a few lines to add to our wedding invites. To this day when I hear this song, especially played in a worship service as it was at our wedding, I remember that day and smile (corny but true!)

Song #1 "What I Really Want to Say" - Steven Curtis Chapman


Song #2 "Only You" - David Crowder Band


Sorry the videos aren't the greatest, but they were the best YouTube had to offer!

Happy 4th/Monday Morning Music

Happy 4th f July everybody! I was debating about whether or not to post a 'patriotic' M3 today since it seems that most patriotic songs of current birth are soaked more in politics than patriotism, and I'm not a fan of politics much of the time. However, I did just finish the 2nd book in a 3 book series that takes place during the American Revolution, so I am feeling a bit patriotic and felt like I needed to put something up. So, found this video of a song I sang in choir every year myself, which has a very 'revolutionary' type feel, AND is directed by Bayard DuBois, who is a fabulous acquaintance of our family and someone I love to sing for! Enjoy the Issaquah, Washington combined high school choir version of BATTLE HYMN!

Family Camp

Every year Jackson and my mom go to Pinecrest for family camp. Usually, E and I go down on Friday, but this year I had a conference for work so E went down on Wednesday and I joined them on Friday (we even got Josh to join us!). The kids had a blast...(disclaimer - there are more pics of E because Jackson spends most of camp off on his bike in the woods somewhere so you can never take his picture!)




Frog hunting...I think they caught 8 or so of these TINY frogs (no kidding they are only about the size of a fingernail)



She was obsessed with the frogs, but when you asked her if she wanted to hold them she would promptly reply. "No, I too little"



She told my mom she was being a turtle....???


Swimming in the lake


She would steal licorice from the bag my mom had and then run under the bottom bunk so you couldn't reach her and eat it...so BAD!



Jackson singing with the Saturday night choir. Notice the "I'm all that" pose in the first one, and how in the 2nd one he has mysteriously lost his shoes!!!!!

awww....

I was taking a shower and came back in the living room to find this :)

Monday Morning Music

This week my M3 is a song that I was introduced to by a friend during a church service :)

just a thought...

I stole this article from another blog and appreciated the honesty in it. If you read the article this blog will make a bit more sense. Now, I'm not writing this to make anyone feel bad, or to throw my politics in your face, but I'm writing this to share my heart. Josh and I have long felt that hopefully we would at some point add a child to our family who did not share our DNA. Both of us have always felt a call to it and with his having 3 adopted sisters it was never a shock, or even a real discussion, just always a plan. I have no idea when that plan will happen, or maybe even if it will, now is certainly not the time for us to intentionally bring a child into our family who may need special needs, be it physically or emotionally, but hopefully someday we will be in that place. However, I know more than one couple, who have adopted children out of deep love and desire to have a family, regardless of how it is built, or what color it is.

"Adoption is an option" is this lovely quote that church-going individuals love to march around with, and YES, it is an option...but personally I remember very clearly those same individuals making an 18 year old, pregnant 'church brat' feel like her only option was to walk into a clinic. Adoption IS an option, one that is beautiful and selfless, but it is also one that requires an immense amount of support and guidance. It is a taboo subject that people are scared to discuss, and I don't understand why...

So, before my soapbox gets so large that it takes over this page, I will simply tell you to read the article and maybe a few of you will be willing to stand up...

Monday Morning Music

Ok, I get it, not Monday morning, but 3pm will do! Ok, this song was actually discovered by E and her constant search of Elmo on the ipad, but I thought you might enjoy!

Flower girl!!!

This is from a few weeks ago, but still to cute not to share. Elliette was asked to be the flower girl in a wedding for a beautiful who I have known since she was 8 months old. I haven't seen Kelley myself several years, but my mom has kept in touch with her and we were honored to be asked to be a part of the wedding. So, the last day of school my mom and I sent Jackson to my aunts and loaded up the car for a long ride to Atlanta! I'm not going to make this post long, because I'm sure you are more interested in the pictures, but I can say the wedding was hot, chaotic and beautiful! We were quite worried about whether Elliette would even go down the aisle but she pulled it off and got her reward in the end. Take a look...

(the rehearsal -the only time she threw the petals!)



(watching Elmo to keep from melting down)






(the baby was her reward for making it down the aisle)

one of those people

So, last year my MIL got us a bike trailer to attach to Josh's bike and go riding with a toddler. Now, I say this like there was some real motivation to go out and ride before she bought the trailer, and the lack of a bike trailer was the one thing holding us back, but that would be wrong. It was one of those, "yeah we should do that" type of things that was easily excused because what were we going to do with E?

Anyway, it's been sitting in the box in the garage since she bought it, collecting dust with most of the other things you store in a garage. So, I told Josh a few weeks ago that I would like to get it out and put it together to go riding on the trail that runs a few blocks form our house, but he kind of shot me down. So, Tuesday I decided to take a walk with the kids and clear some fog from my mind. When we got back I had quite the industrious feeling and decided that whether he was interested or not I was putting it together! Josh came home early from work and I magically convinced him to pull out all the bikes, air up all the tires, check the brakes and go for a ride as a family. Tuesday night we did about 1.2 miles, Wednesday morning Jackson and I did 1.2 miles before Josh got home, and then 1.8 as a family. Last night we did about 4 and Jackson, Elliette and I just got back from another 4 mile ride this afternoon.

Now, I have never been an "exercise makes me feel good, let's do it some more" type of person, however I will say that I enjoy going to bed with a good tired. A "my muscles hurt from exercising something other than my mouth and typing fingers" kind of tired, and I have begun noticing that when we take night rides, my body comes home tired, but there is a certain energizing feeling that makes it hard to sleep. Now, while I am still not one of those "yeah exercise" kinds of people (believe me my legs are ready to see our house at the end of each ride), I will concede to enjoying the benefits of a ride well done! Let's hoping we can keep it up when the typical STL summer temps roll around soon..

One of those days

Yep, today is one of those days. One of those pity party, why me, just want to cry type of days. I've been doing pretty good and haven't had one of those in a while, but then today showed up. Nope, no real reason for it just one of those days. A day where I lack patience with my kids and can't understand how there could possible be more laundry still to be done. A day where I spent half the morning cleaning and yet I feel like it is all still one big mess. A day where I feel like I'm the only one who ever does anything, and resent that my husband is working while I'm 'stuck' at home with the kids. A day where I blame my husband that he was driving my car last week when it overheated and now isn't running and am jealous that he is getting ready to buy iphone number 2 while I still have a piece of crap phone to call my own. Whine, whine, whine...

BUT, NOTICE IT'S A BIG ONE...

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS!!!!!!!

I know I'm blessed. I have 2 beautiful, intelligent, well behaved children who I live my life for. I have a husband who I love more than I did when I married him and who I am blessed to have known for almost my entire life. I live my life in situations I may not have planned, but I have a roof over my head, a college education and a job that means something. I have people in my own life who are dreaming of having beautiful babies of their own, and are struggling with the big NO that God keeps handing down. I watch loved ones struggle with crappy relationships, searching for someone who loves them just they way they are. There are people who have been told today that a loved one isn't going to make it, or isn't coming home, and for them it is more that just one of those days.

So, instead of snapping at Jackson when he yells "mom, come see this" for the millionth time I am going to try and rest in his creative ideas and that he desperately loves his mom and wants to make her proud. When Elliette tells me NO or tests any other toddler limit, I am going to try and remember that independence is a good thing, and that she is so uniquely herself. When I feel overwhelmed with the laundry I will feel thankful that I have a washer and dryer to clean those clothes, and a dishwasher to wash that pile of dishes. When I am annoyed with my husband, I will be thankful that he comes home, happy to see me even when I'm not happy to see myself. And when all else fails, I will pour myself a Dr. Pepper and look at pictures of these faces and smile, because today is one of those days, but tomorrow is a brand new adventure...

Monday Morning Music

Ok, I wish I could say this was an original idea, but it's not. I stole the idea from my friend Michael, but I'm sure he won't mind. The idea is to each Monday (hopefully) to post a song/video that I want to share. I will try and give some reason behind why I chose the video, but can't promise that I will always be able to be that creative! Today's song is from Sugarland and I love that it speaks to standing up and speaking out. I completely think I will be able to use it in my class next year and that excites me! So here you go...

Sugarland "Stand up"

Parade Time!

I LOVE ST. PATRICK'S DAY! On top of that I love St. Patrick's Day in St. Louis. We do it big folks. In fact, if I ever moved away I would do my best to come back here for it. In my remembrance I have only missed the St. Louis St. Patrick's day parade twice (not counting the years I lived and Colorado), and Jackson has only missed it once. I love it! This year was no different, and mom and I grabbed the kids and headed downtown. The weather was beautiful and the crowd was HUGE! Elliette was a little freaked out at first, but got into it as the parade continued.



She was not in the mood for my traditional 'stand in the middle of Broadway' picture. :(


The beloved plastic horn was worth the $7 I paid to give his hands and mouth something to do during the parade. Here it is being used to amplify sound and finally met its match later this morning when taken apart and used as drumsticks on the city sidewalks after the parade.



By far Elliette's favorite part was the "hesee's" (horsies) that kept coming. She is in love with horses and asks to drive past the downtown brewery to see them on the side of the building every time we get in the car. This made her day!



Could she be any happier? Or cuter?



Pretending to be an elephant


This is my favorite part of the parade every year!



He told me he was the St. Patrick's unicorn!?




I love 9 year old boys!


Didn't even make it back to the car!