"Back to School, Back to School"

Yes, it's going on my 6th year in education and I finally know what I want to be when I grow up...a teacher, FOREVER!

Well, specifically a primary teacher. So it's back to school I go. I'm enrolled at Grand Canyon University, taking online classes. I'm trying to earn my Masters in Education: Curriculum & Instruction, emphasis in Elementary Reading. Phew...that's a mouthful.

It will take 17 months. Seems like a short ammount of time, but after finishing my first week I think these months will be harder that I originally planned, isn't that always the case though?

Plus, this summer in July is DisneyWorld, FL with the WHOLE family--for about 2 weeks. Crazy to be enrolled in school?! Yeah, I know. BUT WAIT, it gets better! I also will be trying to teach summer school this year--for all of June. I have visions of my family on the beach & me in a hotel...typing...or sleeping from 1 too many late nights!

Wish me luck, too late to back out now!

Best Mom

I think my Mom is the greatest!


But, this post is to give congrats to my sister Shawn. She is really a TERRIFIC mother! Addison is such a pleasure to be around & she is super smart.


I see all these posts about wonderful kids...and I'm sure that is the case. I however want to take a minute & tell my sister that I think she is doing a AMAZING job with Addi-girl! Addison loves to be around people, shares, uses manners, and cleans up. She is after all only 17 months old -- that speaks to the routines & boundaries that my sister & Juan have established.


It is so much fun to bathe Addi, get kisses from her, shop with her, and watch her learn & grow in her little stubborn way. Keep up the hard work Shawn & Juan--Addi is truly A BLESSING to me!!

A Button?!

Well, actually a few buttons, some pipe cleaners, & felt. These little guys took about 1 hr. and I made 10! That is an easy project! It is a tradition for my Mom, Shawn, and I to get "The King" family members ornaments every year. It makes unwrapping them super fun from year to year & recalling memories of painting them or opening them.

Found this particular craft on Martha Stewart's website, under Kid Crafts. My siblings all seemed to love them, my dad & Juan especially loved the reindeer (I added a small red nose to Santa & the reindeer too).

~ Merry Christmas ~

Counting the Days 'til Christmas

Ooooo...another blog about...CRAFTS!

This one is so fun & easy. All the supplies can be found at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's, & Wally-World!

The plates are only sold at Michael's (as far as I know). I buy the set for $17 & the plates are sold as pairs. All the ribbon & decorations vary. I have made red ones with trees, presents, and trains.

I also have made blue themed ones as pictured below:

My teammate was my Secret Santa last year--Pam loved her plate so much that it inspired me to make them for my teammates this year. Well, everyone but Motts--what do you get for a male teacher/co-worker??? (A plate counting the days 'til Christmas isn't probably going to be a BIG hit for him!)

Cinnamon! Cinnamon! Don't Forget the Cinnamon!

So...my wonderful, crafty friend Clare gave the website listed below for Cinnamon Ornaments. I was feeling adventurous (and CHEAP). So, I made 30 of them--22 was what I was aiming for (1 for each of the 21 kiddos in my class & 1 for my Secret Santa).

Mom and I stayed up 'til 12:00 baking them--they did turn out nicely! I hope my kids don't break them before they make it home. It cost me a total of $5 for the supplies & the house smells wonderful. Check out the recipe: http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Other/Cinnamon-Ornaments.aspx

Here are the results:

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"

Updated pics of my Christmas-time house! So excited to get more and more treasures as the years go by. I just love how my Mom's house looks at Christmas! My GOAL: Do it BETTER!! (Just kidding Vern, sort of!)

Garage Key!

Funny story behind this post's title...it will come later.

Once again, I was treated to the SUPER generosity of my brother & Dad. Chuck called Sat. morning with an agenda...installing my garage door opener. He got one for free & needed some parts from Home Depot to get it working.

Dad joined him around 10:30am & they got started. Well, a few hours later I pull up to my house & there they are, finishing the installation. I guess the free garage door opener was "too good to be true" and they scrapped it...the parts needed to make it work don't exist any longer! So, I got a brand new garage door opener--courtesy of Dad & Bubba!!

Merry Christmas House!

P.S. The title of this post--Garage Key--is actually a German word, which to this day my family knows NOT!! In the 80's my family & some friends were having dinner in a neighborhood guest house in Germany. At the table next to us, German men kept clinking their glasses together saying what sounded like "Garage Key" to our American ears. My sister & I joined in the festivities (we were only 6 & 4). The men thought it was hysterical...my parents were mortified!! Out of the mouths of babes...

Shawn & I hugging at the German guest house--a few hours after Garage Key!

So, an apt post-Thanksgiving blog--we still hold our glasses high & Garage Key each year. I almost did it at my sister's wedding, but hence that was too far!! :0)