Sunday, December 27, 2015

My Favorite Holiday Movies

The holidays with Chica



As I'm enjoying this holiday break with family, with no schedules and no alarm clocks, I'm also taking some time to watch movies I've seen again and again.  Some are family favorites, others are classics, and one new film is sure to become a tradition.

Here's my list of favorite holiday movies...


Sunday, December 20, 2015

Smile for the Camera


If you didn't already know this, I love taking pictures of my family. My family...not so much. Perhaps it's because I take pictures every chance I get. Lately, I've been trying to cut back on the photos just because I get so much resistance.

But tonight, I asked. Okay...I begged and pleaded.  I bought these naughty and nice Santa hats, and I wanted to have our own little photo shoot.  After several foiled attempts, I was able to get maybe one decent photo.

Here are the rest if you'd like to see...


Friday, December 11, 2015

Chalk Talk - When the Unexpected Happens







What do you do, as a teacher, when the unexpected happens?

Well.  You just have to make it a teachable moment.

That was me today, when the unexpected happened...


A Sweet Way to Wake Up



This morning I awakened Buddy Roller in a sweet way. I gently nudged him half awake and asked him the following questions...


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Chalk Talk - Cherish the Moments



We have these "inspirational talks" at my school, once a month, during our faculty meeting where a staff or faculty member shares some inspiration with the rest of us.

This morning, one of my colleagues, Shea, gave an emotional reminder of something I needed to remember. Maybe you too.


Saturday, November 28, 2015

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

Central Connecticut State University - CCSU

Summerour Middle School
First Small Group - Victory World Church

Windsor High School Classmates

Have you ever stopped and thought about how you met the friends in your life? What brought you together? Are the friends in your life...around for a reason? A season? Or a lifetime? Have you kept in touch with all your friends? And if not, what happened? Did circumstances pull you apart? Or did "life" happen? 

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Last Year's Thanksgiving



On this night before Thanksgiving, I'm thinking back to exactly one year ago when my mom, sister and I were all together. It was truly a special Thanksgiving, and one to be thankful for. It always makes me happy to be around my whole family for the holidays, and while we're not able to be together this year, I still have last year's memories.

Here are three signs it's Thanksgiving from last year, and a post about traditions and the day after Thanksgiving.

Happy turkey day!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Because You're Never Too Old or Too Young...

 ...for the aquarium.  There's just something magical and wonderful about this place.


Happy Thanksgiving week!

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Operation Christmas Child



I've been searching for something meaningful for Buddy Roller to do during the holidays as an act of "giving back." I think we found something special. Here are more photos if you'd like to see..


Sunday, November 15, 2015

Who Runs the World?

The power's in the socks! Just kidding.

Who runs the world? Girls! At least that's what we say when we recite our Girls on the Run chant at the end of each of our practices.

This morning our season of Heart and Sole culminated with a 5k around Turner Field in Atlanta. It was cold. It was early. But we're girls...we can handle anything especially while wearing our crazy and colorful socks!


Saturday, November 14, 2015

Perfect Fall Saturday



First up.  Some quiet time with breakfast solo, and then some retail therapy. Ahhh.


Up next...fall fun at the corn maze. Even though I couldn't help but notice the "dried up" corn fields, the little ones didn't seem to mind.


Monday, November 9, 2015

What NOT to Say to a Pregnant Woman

2009 - Around thirty-something weeks of pregnancy


For the record, I think there's nothing more beautiful than a pregnant woman. I think babies are a miracle from God, and a woman carrying one is just simply gorgeous. Yes...even with a waddle and swollen ankles!


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Imagery This Imagery That





The morning clouds blanketed the sky, covering it with millions of soft white cotton balls.

It was exquisite.  

So unassuming.

Yet perfect in all its beauty.

Nature.

A sight to see.

Especially in the fall.

I hope you're taking time to appreciate all her beauty.

That's it for this Saturday.

Short and sweet.

Hope you're having a sweet weekend wherever  you are.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Find the Minion




Hello!

I have truly missed blogging, but I have been trying to get out from under the piles, and piles, of papers I have yet to grade. Literally.

So because I just couldn't resist, here's a quick post about something fun we've been doing at our house...


Saturday, October 10, 2015

What to Do on a Rainy Day



As we face another wet and soggy day in the A-T-L, I'm considering all the things I could do on this rainy day...


Thursday, October 8, 2015

What Are You This Halloween?



Are you dressing up this Halloween? Why not make it a family affair.

I haven't dressed up for Halloween since I was like in high school. I was taking a break from grading papers tonight and happened to surf some of the blogs I read regularly when I came across this photo.

Buddy Roller is into Minecraft, so of course, these costumes grabbed my attention. It's a cool idea, isn't it?

For more cute photos and some inspiration for your next Halloween costume, look here.

Photo Credit: The Huffington Post

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Life is Full of Surprises


Life is full of surprises.

Never thought I would love a rainy day,

Never dreamed I would welcome fall as I much as I do,

Never imagined I would love chocolate ice-cream or gelato,

Never knew a cup of coffee, once in a while, would give me a much needed attitude adjustment,

Never thought I would lay awake at night figuring out how to make my kids at school successful,

Never dreamed my students would go through so much pain and hardships at such a young age,

Never imagined I would come this close to seeing cancer ravage my student's life, and take not only her light, but one of her legs too,

Never understood how a mother could abandon her child, but I know well enough not to judge unless I walk in that same mom's shoes,

Never knew how much to appreciate a mother's love and sacrifice until now,

Never dreamed being a mom would fill me with so much love, wonder, patience, adoration, worry, tears, anxiety, impatience, frustration...a wide array of emotions, really,

Never would have imagined that distance would separate me from my own mother,

Never dreamed I would need her so much in my adult life,

Never can understand why we can't be together,

Never imagined I would love chocolate ice-cream or gelato,

Never dreamed I would welcome fall as I much as I do,

And never thought I would welcome a rainy day so much...just for a chance to sleep in late on a Saturday.

Life is full of surprises.

Some highs.

Some lows.

That's just life.

In Pursuit of...



I'm currently searching for the perfect...




Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Chalk Talk - Things That Make Me Go Hmmm...



So a student returned to school today after being absent for two days. He was visibly and extraordinarily tanned as he approached me with a pep in his step this morning. 

Our conversation went a little something like this...


Tuesday, September 22, 2015

There's a Ribbon in the Sky


Thirteen years ago, The Hubs and I said, "I do," before God and some of our closest friends and family, on a magical evening, 500 feet above sea level, on the beautiful island of Jamaica, in the Caribbean.  The sun, setting in the background, was the perfect backdrop as we celebrated into the night.

Our wedding song was There's a Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder, and I'm realizing now that that song is the perfect theme of our marriage...in more ways than one.


Sunday, September 20, 2015

Family Bike Ride



It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life. If we're not careful, every day could end up being a "work day." Know what I mean?

That's why today we made it a priority to do something fun as a family by going on a bike ride...


Date Night in Pictures


We each started with a blank canvas, and then we painted for the next few hours.  It was date night ya'll...


Saturday, September 19, 2015

You Know You're a Teacher When...



I'm almost too embarrassed to admit this, but today I chose comfort over cute. And while I type this, I'm both cringing and delighted at the same time.

How could this be?


Thursday, September 17, 2015

The Power of Distraction


If you've been a parent to a young child for any length of time then you probably already know this. But I am just amazed at how "distraction" has been my saving grace time and time again...


Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Everyone Is a Genius - Tip #7

Albert Einstein once said, "Everyone is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid."

Each week, I give my students a quote, like the one above, to write about and apply to their life. In my classroom, I'm not just preparing my kids for their next test. I'm preparing them for their future, so I like to give them nuggets of wisdom they can take with them wherever they go...


Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Building Relationships Outside the Classroom





I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'm one of the coaches for our girls' running club at my school.

The experience so far has been well worth it! Girls and coaches get together twice a week and talk, and run, and have fun. We get to build relationships outside of the classroom and talk about things that are on a girl's mind...


Monday, September 14, 2015

Do You Mean "Peculiar"?


I'm turning the tables on Buddy Roller.

I wrote last week about how he's been teaching me a few things, and now I'm giving him a dose of his own medicine...

Sunday, September 13, 2015

I Hope This Feeling Never Dies




I hope this feeling never dies...

This school year, my passion for teaching has been re-ignited.

There's a flame burning that I hope never gets snuffed out.

I'm happy, and I feel like I'm making a difference.

The kids love me, and they look forward to coming to my class.

As a teacher on my team told me, "You're their rock star!"

I feel it too.

Don't get me wrong.

I'm still exhausted at the end of the week.

This is still a tough job.

More parents need to get involved.

Too many kids are still slipping through the education cracks.

But...I'm leaving each day still full of life, energy and promise.

I'm also assisting two other teachers with coaching our girls' running club.

I'm happier and more fulfilled.

And even though I'm at my same Title I school,

Three things are different.

I'm teaching 6th grade, regular ed students...and I don't have a co-teacher.

It's just me and my 6th graders.

The last several years it was 7th graders with a collab teacher.

Change is good.

I hope my flame keeps burning.

This light keeps shining.

I hope this feeling never dies.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Tip #6 - Let Them Help You





Almost every class has one. They are willing and able, and they want to help. And this brings me to another tip from a so-called veteran teacher...