My Classroom

Here is my classroom and some of my favorite items…. I love polka dots and bright colors :)

My phone camera is lame, but the color of this stapler is not!

You get to look through this beauty if you sub for me.  I'm obsessed with it.

This clipboard makes me want to write a nurse pass or make a to do list.  It's that cute ;)

Dollar Store balls- use them to review or take turns :)

Instead of name plates, we are using Sharpie Paint Pens this year! So cool!

Like I said, I like bright colors!

The Treasure boxes!  aka holder of my mom's old jewelry, our kids' old toys, and random things that I throw in there and my students adore :)

My reading nook.  Love my new bean bag!  Most of my books are from Half-Price or online garage sales.

The banner I used at our wedding adds to the windows!

Small, but fun carpet!

My second home- have to make it fun since I live here 9 hours a day.

First Day

The First Day went really well.  I got plenty of sleep and was not feeling anxious at all!  I definitely felt your prayers :)  I've got a good group this year- very sweet.  They hug a lot and kept telling me I was cute, so of course I love them.  It is my first year being trained for hearing aid devices, diabetes, and behavior for emotionally disturbed, but I'm ready.  Teachers = every job in one.  We are a little bit of everything- educator, nurse, therapist, social worker, motivational speaker, entertainer, child-whisperer, miracle worker, I could keep going.  ;)

I took a few pictures right before we left, but it was impossible to get Jack's attention (and make eye contact).  He was very happy though and jumped out of bed when I said 'school.'  He cried, "I want school" all summer so it was nice to be able to say yes!  I love that he loves his school.  They are all so sweet and loving.  He has come SO far in the last year and a half there.  He is talking so much more, more social and responsive, better at following directions and demands, better at sharing and taking turns, and accepts no a little better ;)  It makes my heart happy and my mind at peace when I hear a teacher at his school say, "There's my sunshine!" He knows many teachers there and they are ALL so kind.  I adored his teachers last year but know this year will be just as great!  I am so thankful for teachers who love on my boy all day, everyday.

Ellie started first grade at a new school!  She was a teeny bit nervous, but didn't show it.  She was strong and brave and her mommy said she did great!  She made a new friend and liked 'everything.'  So proud of her for being so brave and a big girl.  I missed her yesterday at school with me.  It was strange not having someone play teacher while I was cleaning up after school.  I know this new school is perfect for her though and she will do great things :)

2014 First Grade- Ellie, PPCD- Jack

Variety Trunk Show

Do you have plans September 28th, 3:00-5:00?

You do now :)

Please come to my 'Variety Trunk Show'.  All the proceeds will go to Autism Speaks in honor of my son, Jackson.  The DFW Walk for Autism is in October so when you shop, rather than give $ to me or the various boutiques, you will donate online right there to Autism Speaks through Jack's team page.  We will do this 'auction' style with the donations from different boutiques such as:

LBartlett

Hippie Chick Boutique

Suburban Chic

Paizlee

Congress Clothing

Kendra Scott

Burlap by Ever After

 

I will also have a representative from Stella and Dot!

Please come and bring your friends! 

Shop, hang out, eat some snacks, and learn more about Autism.

I hope you come!  

217 Mapleshade Dr.

McKinney, TX 75071 

Goodbye Summerrrr!

Farewell Summer 2014.

It was a good one.  

We played, we cleaned, we relaxed.

We had some mini-adventures.

We tried new things.

We crossed things off the list.

We laughed.  A lot. 

We destressed.

We read books.

We spent time with God.

We lost a tooth.

We learned to swim.

We practiced taking turns and accepting no.

We celebrated two birthdays and two anniversaries.

 We wrote letters.

We played in water.

 Some favorite pictures:

 My goals for the summer:

1.   Spend time with God 

2.  Play with the kids and make them laugh

3.  Clean out the attic/garage and buy shelves

4.  Deep clean the house

5.  Clean out closets

6.  Read 

7.  Start making smoothies for breakfast

8.  Paint the rocking chairs

 

 

**I've done all of these!  (Painting the chairs this weekend) 

It was a good one.  I'm ready to see my friends at work tomorrow :)

***I've gotten great feedback from my last post, and have some book titles and oils to share once I've tried them or read them! 

Strength

I had my first panic attack in 2009.  It was at the movie theater in Waco.  I couldn't move and felt as if I was having a heart attack.  I was trying to decide if I was going to apply for a job in McKinney.  It was happening quickly and I had an interview lined up.  (This is my current job now!)

I have had many panic attacks since then.

I have been on medicine, gone to therapy, and tried essential oils.  Currently, I am going the essential oils and hot baths route.... as well as seeing a counselor twice a month.

I haven't had one in months, but with a new school year coming up, and many changes in effect for our family, I am starting to feel anxious.

I bring this up because I have talked to many women lately, who struggle with anxiety.  The struggle is REAL.  I was surprised to learn how many of my friends and acquaintances have similar difficulties.

I have this on my mirror and read it every day:

As I'm nearing the start of another school year... and feeling anxious about the unknown... I seek first my ultimate Comforter and Healer.  They say 'God will never give you more than you can carry'... well God must think I am a superstar.... but, regardless ;) 

1.  I want to look at this year as a chance to LOVE on some children who may not have parents or their parents are incarcerated, and they are in desperate need of some love and structure in their life.  I cannot wait to pray with my teammate about these little ones coming into our rooms and our lives.

2.  I want to strive to use that strength and dignity when I face the future and the unknown.  A lot of women, including myself, live in constant fear.  I want to be bold and face those fears head on.  I want to live in confidence of who I am, and not depend on what someone says or doesn't say or does or doesn't do.  

3.  I want to take on each day, one at a time, without fear paralyzing me.  I will replace it with the HOPE that I will be able to do the same the next day.  If I am not able to, I will go easy on myself and try again the next day :) 

Books

I just read this book this past week :)

It's really good.  I stayed up late last night finishing it.  I am trying to read three books before school starts so that I can display them in my classroom and rave to the kids about them.  They get REALLY into it when I do my read alouds with Tale of Despereaux and Edward Tulane, so I thought I'd read a few books myself and talk them up.  They will immediately go to the library and ask for them, mark my words! 

Here are the other two books I plan on reading....for research purposes....

I have some parenting books on my list to read, but these are way more fun :) :) :) Kate DiCamillo is my favorite author (besides Rowling of course).  I LOVE reading her books to my class!


Ellie and I have been reading a lot.  We've gone to the library a few times this summer and she has read all of the books to me.  One time at the library, I said, "Where are you going?"  She said, "I'm getting a non-fiction book."  Of course, silly me!  This girl likes to read and so I am feeding that interest as much as I can!  She reads to me and then I read a chapter a night from a book.

We read these two:

Jack loves reading this:

He has memorized it and says it with you as you read :)

Good Times, Hard Times

When Jack has days with multiple melt downs, I don't call them 'bad days' or a 'bad time.'  I see it as a hard or difficult day.  Each meal, each transition, bath time, and bed time were all hard today.  The funny thing about Jack is that as soon as the demand is followed- Jack seems to forget what just happened and is smiling and laughing while I am left feeling shaken and emotionally distraught.  :)


On days like this I remind myself of these three things....


***Next week I will be back at work and will miss days like these, yes I really will.

***Tomorrow is a new day.  God's promises are new every morning.

***What were the good times in this day? 
         -Jack slept until 8:20 a.m.
         -I had Starbucks.
         -I am planning a super fun event that will benefit Autism Speaks.
         -We got the clothes that we ordered from Old Navy/Gap for school and they all fit and were        very cheap with the 40% off.
         -Jack did really well at Target today and made Ellie and I 'pee in our pants' laugh several times.  He might have laid out in the bottom of the cart and yelled 'Let it Go!!!!' down every aisle.  He was a complete goof ball and kept trying to make us giggle. 
         -During a time out I heard Jack yelling, "I'm scared, it's getting stronger" which is from Frozen... lol.
         -Mrs. Tilley sent me the cutest video of her puppies with bubbles.
         -We went to Ma and Popcorn in downtown McKinney today.  Kendall, who works there, was probably the NICEST human being ever.  She volunteers for Special Olympics and immediately loved on Jack and scooped him up, along with Ellie, and showed them how the popcorn is made, let them pick a color, and gave them some for free.  Jack adored her and kept hugging her and saying, 'my friend.'  I may have cried.  So, so, thankful for her and her sweet heart and words.  Even if Jack soon forgot it, I never will. 


So as you can see....the Good Times out-number the Hard Times, even though it doesn't feel like that in the moment.

And if personal reflection doesn't work, two handfuls of cookies should do the trick ;)