A Whole Lotta.....{just read it}

Yeah- it's over!!!!! Boooooo! No more Valentines!
I "took" away the exchange four separate times today- I was this close {I am holding my fingers an inch apart} from following through with it-
but then it hit me.....no, not the eraser that "A" threw...that did miss me,
What DID hit me was the fact that I am NOT the mean teacher and it is not their fault that this is an over blown holiday.
It is also NOT their fault that all three of the Littles rec'd a valentine from MR and I did not.
They are also not to blame that I cannot remember if I have taken my meds for the last two days.....hmmm....this may have something to do with all of this......

Let's change the subject-

{Disclaimer- The following pictures have been accumulating over the last two weeks. If you choose to continue looking, the owner of this blog accepts no responsibility for the time you will have wasted - unless you are inspired- and in that case, she takes FULL CREDIT!!!} hee hee

First let's check out a reason to not hate {Hate is a strong word, but I really, really, really don't like} Valentines-
Reason number 1

A Squirrel Mouse PAd! I LOVE HIM! (would that make him a new species? "squirrel- mouse")

Reason Number 2

AND Squirrel note cards- for when you need to acknowledge that NuttY friend!

And Reason Number 3- well there is the chocolate- too much to photograph....and I ate lost half of it...har har

I also have a few other reasons to  be happy.....more than a few I guess.... I have been working feverishly on de-cluttering- THANK YOU JODI!!!-
I have made so many changes {for "me-self"} and reinventing my workspace was at the tops of my list....so here  are few updates.....I really have to post these pictures...I have been wanting to for 2 weeks- but I wasn't sure how to add it in- so sit down, put up your feet and let me punch your ticket for a ride on my crazy train- *PunCh*

 

 I got the original idea from Create- Share-Teach. So simple to do. The tool box is 22 drawers and it cost 16 at Home Depot; 19 at Lowes. I have gotten rid of all cups, pencil holders, baskets, etc....if it does not have label on the drawers- then it does not have a home on my desk! I can email or post the template I used for the labels....just cut scrapbook paper to fit my printer and VIOLA! The font is Elise from K&A.

 

Are kidding me?!?!?! This is what my desk can look like? I hot glued this fabric on last year bc it looks like someone took a woodburning coarse on it...There is the rack for my laptop, ONE folder, my sweeties pic, and that little notebook next to the folder, it will show up later in the post. (I love me some binders, too). And holy macaroni- I just noticed the WMD shoes are right there in the corner!!! It was a "workout" day after school that day.....good thing no one was left in the room...whew!

 

I bought this monstrosity last year from Staples, thinking it would help. It is called the Desk Apprentice...more like the "dish-barrel-box- that -they-know-you-can't-see-over-so-that-is-the-blindspot-where-they-misbehave-box". My remotes for my technology, nurse notes, and a few files (graded, recorded, etc).

Remember those cutsie stickers I got at Christmas? Scanned them to make a Cover sheet for Lesson Plans....just cute...The large squirrel with the acorn getting ready to crush her skull.....that's me:)

 

Ah, the note book- I have banned Post-its (unless I am using them for a lesson, anchor chart, or a writing assignment with them). This is a $4 index card sized notebook that i bought at Wally World. I write the note I need for myself and when am done with it, I draw  a line through it.

Now I always know where I wrote 'that thing" and all I have to do is take this one little notebook with me at night to make sure I accomplish what  I wanted to do.

 

And last picture...My new center chart. I hot glued adhered the cards that I made (Just So Scrappy Scrap Kit) and ribbon to my closet door. Painted the clips white. The ribbon is not glued- just the cards- so I can (hopefully) easily move the clips.

I'll get a close up on the cutie ribbon.

Remember, I am considering that move to red. black, and white like dandelions and dragonflies (G.O.R.geous- Room, she has)......that sounded a little like Yoda, it did.....

OK, now yawn and stretch...you have more stalking to do!

Let me know if would like that template for the toolbox....I just used double sided tape to put it in the drawers and you can only see the AWEsomeness:)

The "Snow Gods" vs. The "Chocolate Fairies"

So I have flushed my ice cubes and there is a spoon waiting for me under my pillow....

But wait- if we don't go to school tomorrow- I won't get my chocolate!!! we won't be able to exchange little cards with Blow Pops taped to them....
Okay, that was bad- I know I should be more excited- but really, what does a 6 year old know about L.O.V.E????

Don't you remember when you picked out the box of cards you were going to pass out- and there were those awesome little envelopes that you had to lick and then seal? I swear, I loved those little cards.

I would hide them in room because my mom would only let us keep them for a short time and they were quickly relabeled "trash" as opposed to the "treasures" I thought they were!

But now, all you have to do is buy a box of Fun Dip and write your name on it and everyone gets the same one.
Better yet, nothing says "I think you're special" like  a Fruit By the Foot with a heart on it!

It just isn't the same... sniff...sniff..tear drop....

But I play the reindeer cupid games. Fortunately, valentine and hallmark are NOT Common Core Standards- so I don't have to give too much of our attn to it. We are "exchanging" from 1:50-2:30pm tomorrow. I have one Valentine story to read ( I actually have almost as many valentine books as I do Christmas and Halloween.....just NET!!!!!....{NET is my new acronym for
NOT ENOUGH TIME!!!!!}

Don't get me wrong- I am all about the L.O.V.E...just not the distraction when there are so many other things I am they are responsible for now.
Here are a few pictures of what I did do for them....I am NOT a "love grinch" :)

Remember those cute heart ice trays from the $ spot
(I take out every crayon other than the original 8 plus peach, gray, white, and pink- but I save the blue-greens, red-violets, and blue violets...some years we make candles- this year I recycled and made crayons for them)

old glass bowl and my candle warmer

foil to keep the heat in

poured into "ice trays"

CUTENESS- Heart Crayons!

Squirrel buckets have notepad, push pencil, 2 heart crayons and candy

{can you see my youngest Little through the handle}

So see, I am not a Heart Grinch:)
This is also the week I am doing Presidents and American Symbols { I am working on a Universal Symbol for SNOW DAY}.
 I purchased A Cupcake for the Teachers Presidents Day Activities from Tpt last night- can't wait to use it!!!! I also got her Dental Health Cutie Patooties!!!! She is just adorable......

well off to bed to be torn between dreams of the school parking lot fields covered in snow and mountains of chocolate....toodles!

What's Up, Buttercup? and a *Freebie*

Hello-o-o-o-o Lovely Ladies!
I have just been in a "mood" lately....surprisingly enough a really good mood!
It might have to do with all of the sweet bloggy love I got when i posted my pics last night- thank you {and my chin is totally tilted- BLARG!}

First: I want you to see what some of my boys did last week when we talked about shadows. Pretty Freakin Ah-mazing! They really loved it! I saw it a couple of weeks ago on a blog- and HAD to try it.

Next:
I got to go to Michaels thurs when we were at Vanderbilt- {we don't have one, so I was super excited}. I found the little heart boxes that I have seen online and I made something similar to the post from Mrs. Wheeler.

We count money EVERYDAY at the calendar- I use touch money.(a modified version) Last year was my first year, and they were ALL OVER IT when the $ unit started. We were able to take it so much farther because they were past recognition and adding the coins-

This is very early in the year- but we do it every morning- they are doing great with counting change- "touch money" was sent from Heaven!

 

 

 

And because of this, I thought it would be a good match to add a version of Mrs Wheelers change counting activity to our center rotation. Here's how it will go:

It is center 5 in the math center. Every thing they need is in there.

When they pull out the drawers (the top thin ones) they take the whole drawer with them.

Find a spot. If you have a center partner for the day, make sure there is enough room for both of you.

There are a total of 18 hearts. This will keep the center going for a couple of weeks. The markers are in there for recording.

Each person can only take out ONE heart at a time.

Open, empty it out in front of you. Turn it over to find the #.

On the recording sheet (there are places for 3 boxes on each side, they are in sheet protectors) First write in the box number. Then record the # of each coin. Then count - we use the touch system- and record the amount in the heart.

When the 2 minute warning for the end of the rotation goes off- check your answers on the answer key.

Yeah! I'm so smart! Wipe your recording sheets- put away your center and get ready for the next rotation!

Click the pics to get them if you like- leave a little "nutty chatter" if you likey- likey:)

Pics of Miss Squirrels- 24 hrs ONLY!!!

Seriously- I am totally taking these down tomorrow night!

I told the Mr that we were going to have to start bringing a "stunt-mom" with us when we go places-
1. I am never in the pictures.
2. When I am, I have 2 poses- drunk or bloated!
3. If something ever happens to me, we are going to have to pray that the little squirrels all have photographic memories!!

If you notice, my mouth is closed in both- there will be an 8 x 10 glossy available (signed) when this process is over!
Currently my hair is "natural", I believe it is referred to as BLECK BROWN in the hair biz.... I have an appt soon, so I will be taking care of that too!
Times up!

Awww... you missed it :( 
 

I Just Love CuRreNtLy!

I have been M.I.A. for a bit.....
Thursday was my daughter's 3 appts @ Vanderbilt (things are looking up).
We had an Early Release Day this past Friday with lots of meetings (ie lots of paper work to fill out).
BUT my OLW is Priority- and this weekend was Family First...so I didn't bring anything home! Yeah for me! (except I felt bad and went up there for 3 hours this morning)

Looking forward to everyone's currentlys.....