TEACHER WEEK: FIVE FUN FACTS

It is like the ladies at Blog Hoppin' were reading my mind.  ...my blog has been a bit neglected lately, and I can't think of a better way to start giving it a little much needed attention than being a part of Teacher Week!

I could probably come up with MANY random and ridiculous facts about me, but…

1.  I bought a house! ...and it is adorable if I do say so myself.  I officially live like two minutes away from school and I am LOVING the twenty extra minutes I get to sleep in every morning.

2.  #lovemyhsyg.  In addition to teaching, I am also the Youth Director at my church.  This past summer I was blessed to go on a mission trip to South Carolina with the most incredible group of high schoolers.  It was AMAZING and I am so proud of my little family.

 

3.  …I am pretty sure I run solely on Starbucks and Dr. Pepper. 

4.  If I weren’t a teacher, there is a good chance I would be a professional sleeper.  I’m just really good at sleeping.  …or I would be a librarian.  …or a professional sleeper.

5.  These girls are the best!  I am so blessed to teach with my wonderful, talented friends.  This year we are taking our school by storm to make this year THE BEST YEAR EVER!!  Our school theme this year is “Mission: Possible” because we know that with God, all things are possible.  On the first Friday of the school year we surprised our students with an afternoon of Agent Training!  Among other activities, each student had to have their photo taken for their Agent ID.  …and we may have taken over the photo booth for a few pictures.

…and that is a little bit about me! If all goes according to plan, I will be back tomorrow with a few of my favorite recipes.

IT’S CURRENTLY MAY!

Hello May!  The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and summer is FINALLY right around the corner.  …what better way to celebrate than linking up with Farley.

LISTENING: ...I blame my best friend.  She got me hooked over spring break when I spent endless hours at her house working on the yearbook.  Now every time I come over we marathon as many episodes as possible.  Mr. Fitz is super hot, and A is a bit terrifying.

LOVING:  While I LOVE my job, I love summer and sunshine!

THINKING:  I am so unprepared for this Outdoor Education trip.  Each year my 6th graders and I ditch the classroom and make our way to Camp Lutherhaven for a two-day camping extravaganza. ...wish me luck!!

WANTING:  I repeat, I LOVE my job, but I am ready to enjoy my summer.  ...and I have so many exciting things to look forward to...

NEEDING:   There are still so many things that need to be accomplished before the end of the school year.  It is hard to believe that I only have eighteen days left with my lovely 6th graders.

YES, I am going to Ron Clark Academy for the National Educator's Conference!!  I am beyond excited!  ...and the best part is that I get to go with the best coworkers.  [Brittany @ Nifty in First Grade and Holly @ Mrs. Ehle's Kindergarten Connections]

...I always have high HOPES for a relaxing summer of lake time, sunshine, and hours of napping in the hammock.  ...but then when summer actually hits, it is one thing after another and before I know it I am setting up my classroom for another year. ...of course, if my DREAM comes true, it will probably cut into my lake time.

IT’S ALREADY CURRENTLY FEBRUARY

…well, it is that time. 

LISTENING:  I enjoy sports way too much.  IU is playing Wisconsin, and I am hoping for a small miracle.  Go Hoosiers!!

LOVING:  guys.  You need a heated mattress pad.  It is my current favorite material possession and it makes winter slightly more bearable. 

THINKING:  Both my fifth and sixth graders took math tests at the end of last week.  Despite the extra day that was added to my weekend when we got twelve inches of snow on Sunday, they still have not been graded.  …so little motivation…

WANTING:  I rode on a four wheeler for the first time this weekend.  It was exciting and now I want one. 

NEEDING: …I want nothing more than to visit Ron Clark Academy.  I have basically wanted to visit for ever, and then Kim Bearden had to go and write the most inspiring book ever, Crash Course, and then my best teacher friend went to RCA, and now I am just so jealous.  It will happen.  I will make it happen.  …it will.  #slidecertifiedplease

okay.  I am the most indecisive person ever.  I just overanalyze everything and make myself miserable whenever I have a decision to make.  It is ridiculous, but I can’t help it.   

I always love linking up with Farley.  …but hopefully I will manage another blog post between now and March…

IT’S CURRENTLY JANUARY!

I think one of my resolutions should be getting back into the habit of blogging.  …so what better way to start than linking up with Farley for a little New Year fun.

LISTENING:  I tend to be way more productive when there is background noise.  Since Spotify starts when my computer does, we are kind of like a little team.

LOVING:  I’m not necessarily spontaneous, but I couldn’t resist spending New Year’s with a great friend.  …and considering I still haven’t finished scrapbooking pictures from college, a New Year’s Day Scrapbooking Marathon will be the perfect way to spend today.

THINKING:  I am bad at spontaneity because I overthink everything.  …although there is a strong possibility I would have done absolutely nothing on my to do list today if I was home, I can’t help but think about the long list of things I should be doing to be ready to head back to school on Monday.  blah.

WANTING & NEEDING:   …I really haven’t done anything that I promised myself I would do, so an extra week of vacation would be excellent.  (Last winter that actually happened.  Thanks to that not so wonderful Polar Vortex, we had five snow days in a row that resulted in an extra week of break.  I didn’t really appreciate the additional hour that got added to our school day for three weeks to make up all the missed school, but I never grumble about a good snow day.)

YES, I really do need to make more time for ME; a happier, healthier me this year.

MAYBE, I will be able to resist that quick stop at Starbucks on my way to school. …but it is just so tempting.  I WISH, I did more traveling.  …there are just so many places to go and things to do.

Well, Happy New Year!

MY INSTA YEAR

I may have a slight addiction to Instagram.  It is just way to enjoyable to browse the many pictures of the lives of others.  …so I am linking up with [Teaching Tidbits] to bring you the top ten pictures of my year on Instagram. 

(oh, and if you don’t already follow me, click [here] to start.)

the family @ Sacket’s Harbor

This past summer we made our way to upper state New York for a vacation that there is a good chance only we could enjoy.  We spent the weekend along the St. Lawrence Seaway enjoying the Antique Boat Museum, Antique Boat America, Boldt Castle, The Boldt Yacht House, Alexandria Bay, Sacket's Harbor. ...basically, heaven.

life is better at the lake.  #lakehairdontcare.

There is nothing better than a day at the lake, on the boat, with my book in the sunshine.

Here is another one from our trip to New York.  We took a slight detour on our way to Clayton to stop at Niagara Falls.  I love that you can hear them before you see them.

yep.

Reading is my favorite.  I don’t always make time for reading during the school year, but I typically make up for that lost time on breaks and over the summer.  Hello, Harry Potter. 

 

rake and run with la familia.

In addition to teaching, I am also the Youth Director at my church.  #lovemyhighschoolyouthgroup.  This fall we wandered the neighborhood near our church raking leaves as a way of sharing God’s LOVE through our actions.  …don’t worry, we raked after we threw them in the air.

My first group of LOVELY 6th graders are all grown up and off to high school. oh, so proud of this incredible group.  I love you guys!

…the caption is fairly self-explanatory… 

nerd day.  I’m a natural.

I am so blessed to teach at a Lutheran school where I am able to live God’s LOVE and share it with my students.  My favorite week of the school year is National Lutheran Schools Week.  It is full of spirit days and fun ways of celebrating the blessings of His LOVE and Lutheran schools.

I am so proud of my la familia.  #nogreaterlove.  #costaricamission.  #forcedit.

…if I start talking about this trip, I won’t be able to stop.  Read all about it [here]. 

aunt Heather and Henry bonding time. …those lips…

My best friend had this cute thang in October.  It was probably one of the most traumatizing days of my life.  Both momma and baby are now fine and healthy, but complications during a c-section put my best friend in the ICU on a ventilator.  I feel extremely blessed to have both of them in my life.  …and clearly he loves me.

...and…

I just couldn’t stay away…

I guess when you hold a small child people are more likely to like your photo.

There they are.  The top ten pictures of my year according to Instagram. Looking back on this past year has reminded me how truly blessed I am.  I have a loving family that supports me in all that I do, fantastic friends, my dream job, AND I can’t wait to see what this next year will bring.

IT’S CURRENTLY JULY!

July??!  Already!?!  How did this happen?

…at least I managed to remember to link up with Farley this month!



Although it is hard to believe it is already July, I am LOVING summer. I have been spending much of my time, reading, relaxing, enjoying friends and family. …and I have actually been pretty productive.

Tomorrow I am off to Wisconsin where I will meet up with one of my best friends before continuing on to Minnesota for another friend’s wedding.  I can’t wait!!  It is going to be one excellent college reunion.  AND, I will get to see my mentor teacher from my first teaching placement. #bestweekendever.

…then I will be directing 100% of my energy toward the Costa Rica Mission Trip I am planning for later in July.  Busy, busy, busy! 

If anyone wants to help with my To Do List, let me know!! : ]

LIEBSTER AWARD

…since I have been blogging for all of a month, I was pretty excited to find out that Lisa at Mrs. Tilmon Says… nominated me for the Liebster Award!!

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than two hundred followers as a way of welcoming them to the blogosphere. …I have all of five followers, so I would say that I meet that criteria. 

Lisa’s Questions & My Answers.

1. What grade do you teach? What grades have you taught? How long have you been teaching?  I have been teaching for five years and I LOVE it!  I currently teach in a small private school where I am the only 6th grade homeroom teacher.  Throughout the week I teach middle school math, literature, writing, and art. 

2. What book do you read to your class each year without fail?  I like to switch it up.  I am currently reading Wonder, by R.J. Palaico, to my 8th grade art class.  I discovered this book over the summer and decided it was one of those books that everyone needs to read.  …so if you haven’t read it, start reading!

3. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be doing?  …sleeping…  I seriously think I could be a professional sleeper. OR, possibly a children’s librarian.  I worked in the children’s department of the local library when I was in college.  Best. Summer. Job. Ever.

4. What's one thing you're just dying to buy for your classroom?  I can only pick one thing??  I would gladly take a personal Starbucks barista.

5. What's your non-teaching guilty pleasure?  I may or may not have a slight addiction to all things reality television.

6. Favorite book that is not teaching related?  This is the most difficult question ever.  I really just love reading.  My New Year’s “Resolution” was to read fifty-two books this year.  #nerdalert.  I was on a roll during the Polar Vortex where every other day was a snow day.  I think I have recently fallen a little behind.  …I just read the Divergent trilogy and loved it!

7. What's one thing on your bucket list?  ZipLining!!  …preferably somewhere awesome and tropical!

8. Favorite restaurant?  I have a thing for local restaurants.  El Azteca has the best black bean soup and excellent margaritas.  yummm.

9. Who would play you in a movie about your life?  I can’t know.  PASS.

10. What's one thing you could eat everyday?  I’m pretty sure I could eat a PB & J everyday and be okay with it.

11. What inspired you to begin blogging?  I started blogging as a way to network with other middle school teachers.  When you are the only 6th grade teacher in the building, there is a definite lack of collaboration and idea sharing.  Although I am new to blogging, I already love the community of teacher bloggers and the inspiration they provide.

11 Random Facts about ME.

• I LOVE hockey.  Go Blackhawks!! 
• I have never broken a bone.
• I have traveled to France, Switzerland, Italy, Mexico, and Canada, yet I don’t have a single stamp in my passport.  lame.
• I hate shoes.  If I could live in flip-flops, I would.  ...my shoes are regularly off in my classroom.  shhh!
• It’s official.  I am slightly addicted to Dr. Pepper.
• My favorite season is summer.  …and not just because teachers get summer’s off.  Sunshine and a good book make all things better!
• I may or may not have seen every episode of Hannah Montana.  I might also own the movie and all of the CDs.  Don’t judge. 
• I am terrified of goats.
• My classroom is extremely organized and it makes me INSANE when students plop things on my desk.  Excuse me, what are you thinking??
• …my bedroom is extremely unorganized. 
• I am off to Costa Rica in exactly 105 days for a mission trip with my fabulous High School Youth Group.  I can’t wait.  “…and what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Now that you know a little more about me, I would love for my nominees to answer the same questions that Lisa asked me and share eleven random facts about themselves. 

       

Here are the rules. 
1. Link back to my blog as the one who nominated you.
2. Nominate five blogs with fewer than two hundred followers.
3. Answer the questions posted.
4. Share eleven random facts about yourself.
5. Contact your nominees to let them know they have been nominated. : ]