High Five for July

This summer was going by really slowly. 

Now, July's almost over, I had to go into work yesterday, and I feel like I'm in crunch mode!

Where the heck did July go?

1// Fourth of July

My brother and his girlfriend got the cutest picture right before this, here is our best attempt...
Thanks for photo bombing mom!


We did get to watch the fireworks from the roof which was pretty cool.

2// Kyle went on his first job interview

He had an interview in the graphics department of a cosmetic company where two of his best friends work! It went really well!

3// Boender Annual Adventure!

We just got back from our week long family vacation in Colorado.
More to come!

4// I opened my TPT store and have been crafting like crazy!

I really love the things I made for my apple unit. 
Now to get it all cut, laminated, and ready to go!
Check out the apple freebie! Numbers 1-5

5// This wonderful picture!

Kyle made this for me and I absolutely love it!
It's our first dance with the lyrics behind us.
I've wanted something like this for awhile, and the free 18x20 print from Shutterfly sealed the deal!

Classroom Crafting

Recently I've started making things for my classroom. 

I used to only use things that I found online instead of taking the effort to make my own. 

However, I can be picky, and want things to look a certain way. 

After trying to unsuccessfully find something I wanted for my room, I decided to go ahead and make my own. 

Now I'm spending a ton of time this summer making things for my room and I'm absolutely loving it!

I get to make things that work perfectly for my room and my students. 

Since I've started making my own things I have opened up a store on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Many of the things on there are freebies. 

My favorite thing so far are these Classroom Job Labels. 

A teacher at my school had a poster with all her kids pictures in a circle on her door. 

I really liked the look of it and decided to make one for my job chart next year!

I'm forever forgetting who has what job and having to walk to my board to find out. 

This way, I can quickly see their picture and the job will be glued on a clothes pin clipped to their picture.

 Much easier to see from far away!

Click on the picture to download the freebie! 

These are the jobs I use in my classroom only. If you'd like me to customize the job titles you can purchase that option in my store (HERE).

I'm really excited to be working on more great things for my classroom!

Iced Coffee Recipe

I love coffee.

It's something I drink daily. 

Despite the heat of Florida I typically stick with regular coffee for quite awhile. 

However, as soon as school ends it's time for iced coffee.

I've been using The Pioneer Women's recipe for years now and love it!

It's perfect for summer and I love not having to make coffee every morning. 

She makes a huge batch, but I only do about half. 

Ingredients:

8oz Ground Coffee

1 Gallon Water

Bowl

Strainer

Paper towels or Cheese Cloth

1. Dump a bag of ground coffee into a bowl. I typically use 8oz.

2. Add a gallon of cold water, mixing to make sure all the grounds touch water. 

3. Cover and allow to sit at least 8 hours. I normally leave it overnight. 

4. Use a fine mesh strainer with paper towels or cheese cloth inside to catch the granules. Place over pitcher or other bowl.

5. Slowly pour coffee mixture into the strainer. 

6. Refrigerate until chilled, I normally wait till the next morning. 

7. Serve with ice and whatever you typically put in your coffee!

 

A Very Special 6 Year Old!

In May, our niece Riley turned 6. 

So we did what we always do and headed to Orlando for a fun, relaxing weekend. 

We took off Friday and spent the night hanging out, eating, and relaxing at the hot tub. 

On Saturday we spent our time at Epcot. 

 Riley's 6th Birthday celebration and Reese's first time at Disney (11 weeks)!

The whole family!

 We went to take a picture in front of the butterflies and ended up in a promo video to be released next year about the Flower and Garden Exhibit!

While we were in Orlando, we spent Saturday night with Kyle's best friends. 

We went to a video game bar. 

I was NOT looking forward to it, but it ended up being really cool. 

The place is filled with all these old arcade games as well as multiple current game systems. 

You can borrow any of the wide range of games they offer and play as much as you like!

Here's to using kids birthdays as an excuse to go to theme parks for years to come!

The End is Near

The end of the school year always sneaks up and then rushes by!

I have been so busy with everything happening recently. 

Not only have I been busy with the usual end of the year stuff, 

but we had a lot of school activities as well.

Not to mention, many changes for me next school year. 

I will not only be Kindergarten team leader, but I will have the inclusion class. 

This means any of the ESE students will come to my room and I will have a full time aid. 

I'm excited for all the changes, but it also means packing and moving classrooms!

With only this week to go I worry it's not going to get done!

1// We had swim for two weeks. 
Hot and sweaty called for a daily top knot.

 2// Class Butterflies! 
We spent the month raising them from caterpillars. 

3// Pony Races! 
One of my favorite things we do at the end of the school year. 

 4// Career Day!
Although the beginning of our crazy end of the year schedule, the kids always love it. 

5// Field Day!
Why oh why do we do these things in May? 
90 degree weather, I am not a fan!

 6// We Like To Move It Move It!
I started using GoNoodle in my classroom and the kids love it!
If you're a teacher check it out!
It a website full of 1-5 minute brain break activities. 
I use it for indoor recess, getting out wiggles, calming down, and class rewards.

High Five for Friday- Auntie Edition

The biggest things that have happened this month have all centered around my adorable new niece.

This is more like a High 1. 

Sorry I'm not Sorry. 

At the beginning of the month, we had a "sprinkle" for niece #2. 

1. All the baby shower decorations. 

I bought a new phone and despite having it updated to the cloud, my pictures from two weeks all disappeared! Thankfully I posted this to instagram!

2. On Wednesday our sweet niece #2 entered the world. 

Mommy and baby are doing great!

3. Proud Nana and Dampa!

 4. Already being loved on by Aunt and Uncle!

 5. Welcome to the world Reese Harper!

Already can't get enough of this beautiful little girl!

As Kyle says, "We have now reached Aunt and Uncle Level 2."

14 Things in 2014

I don't normally make any sort of resolutions at the beginning of the year. 

Either I forget about them, or I quickly burn out of trying. 

Instead I decided to make a bucket list for the new year. 

14 Things in 2014

1. Pay off at least one of our larger student loans.  11/22/14

Officially paid off my large grad school loan!
 

2. Buy a house. 
We've decided to focus on saving a lot this year and wait until next Summer. 

3. Get Kyle graduated! May 2014

4. Make a Wedding Album.  3/16/2014

It's been 2 years. I need to get on this!
Thanks to my Mother-In-Law and Shutterfly for an awesome FREE book!

5. Take more pictures!

I'm still horrible at this!
Now that I have my fancy camera I was told I have no excuse.
Plus in a few months I'll have a favorite photo subject.

6. Get a nice camera. Christmas gift!
Thanks to my brother Eric!

7. Help Kyle find a job in his field.  7/28/2014
Kyle's first day working in the graphic department of Cosmetic Solutions.

8. Use some pinterest ideas to decorate that house. 

9. Go to the beach at sunset. 

10. Go somewhere cold in the winter. 

11. Finally get through A Song of Ice and Fire Series!

Totally ditched this Series and tried Outlander instead.
Why do I pick such long series?

12. Experiment with at least one recipe a month.
January- Baked Taquitos
February- Shepherd's Pie
March- Crockpot Chicken and Noodles
April- Freezer Burritos
May- Chicken Salad
June- Broccoli Stuffed Chicken
July- Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
August- Cauliflower Mac&Cheese
September- Breaded Baked Chicken
October- Sorry October...
November- Gender Reveal Cupcakes!
December- Crockpot Chicken Noodle Casserole

13. Write at least once a month on the blog. 
Obviously I've already failed on this account. 

14. Keep up with meal planning in advance. 
3/18 Update: So far I've been planning 2 weeks at a time and doing all my shopping as well.
4/28 Update: Still going strong!
5/31 Update: Loving meal planning. 
7/28 Update: I've only been planning weekly over the summer since things constantly come up.
12/30 I did really well with meal planning, then I got pregnant.
October, November, and December have been spotty at best. Mainly because I was tired and not wanting to cook. Plus, pregnant women should not go grocery shopping. Cravings hurt your grocery budget! I really do love it and plan to get back on track now that I'm feeling more normal.