Crafting and Creating 2014 Resulution

I am a little behind in actually posting, BUT I am feeling good about actually posting...and not just thinking about it. Ha.Ha.

I have always enjoyed crafts.  I love creating things for my classroom (I LOVE even more that I have a little more time).  I have been making things from the beginning of my teaching career, but I didn't do a lot of classroom decor, until more recently.  This is due partially to moving grades and schools in the first few years of teaching (due to pink slips and short term contracts) and then having grad school the last few years.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my school and where I am at now, and I know that everything happened for a reason.

I love making things for my classroom, but I want to find/make more time to do things I love at home too.  I went to a cool place in my city in which you have a drink and paint a canvas.  You can paint the picture you signed up for or whatever you want.  I painted the peacock like they were teaching, just using my own colors and such.  I am a little a lot messy when I paint... but there is something so relaxing about painting. 

I painted a few things at home as well, in addition to using my cameo to add vinyl to things.  I want to create more projects using the vinyl because it is just so.much. fun.  I made a craft table earlier this year, I just have yet to paint the top.. at the moment it is covered with a table cloth.  I also have made a few homemade cards.

 I didn't finish adding the pictures, but I made this cool exploding box.  I found it on Pinterest and the directions were great (you can find them here).

I started a scrapbook after my first trip to DC... I think back in 2011... and it has yet to be finished... I need to make more time to do these things I enjoy... and also finishing my friend's wedding album...from 2010... I'm ok if you judge me a little. haha.

Ever since my friend's baby shower a year ago, I have made a bunch of banners for friend's parties and for my classroom.  I am kind of addicted and am looking forward to making more.

All in all, I hope to do more of what I have shown in these pictures.

You can link up too!

Thirteen in '13

Although I have been possibly the worst blogger around...I am linking up for the Thirteen in '13.  I plan to update what I have done the last month and a half to keep a record for myself.  I have a goal of being a better blogger in 2014.  I will say I am great at thinking about my posts, it's the execution of posting that needs some work. :)  I digress... Here is my 13 in '13!

(you can link up too!)

[one]

In January I had the honor of co-hosting a baby shower for one of my very best friends.  It was a blast getting to plan and create all the details.  She is one beautiful momma.

[two]

In February, near the end we get two days off for Rodeo Break (gotta love living in the southwest).  The day before break, we do a kinder rodeo breakfast.  Later that day, right around lunch or so, it started to snow!  We never, rarely get snow here in the southwest.  It is beautiful to see, especially on the cactus! (no photos of cactus this time)

[three]

In March, that beautiful, handsome, amazing baby boy was born (the one we threw the baby shower for).  This kid is one of my favorite people around. I adore him.  I mean, really how can you not, he is so stinking adorable!  I have so many pictures of this sweet face.  I LOVE spending any time with him I can.  He is getting so big now, and I am ready to help him make messes.

[four]

I was SO excited to see Wicked coming back to my city.  It has been a time or two before, but I was not able to see it.  I bought tickets around Christmas to go in March.  I was supposed to go with my friend who had that sweet baby, but she had that sweet baby too close to the date of the show, so I went with my mom.  It was such a fun mother/daughter day.  I can say, I am looking forward to Wicked coming again soon (hopefully!) because it was awesome.

[five]

Another spectacular event from this year was finishing grad school and earning my Master's degree!  Two years of full time teaching, full time grad student was exhausting...but sometimes I miss parts of it.

Not only did I get to celebrate with my friends and family.  I celebrated with my littles in class as well.  I got my degree through the U of A (go cats!)  and the colors are red and  blue (love).  We we celebrated by making silly hats, playing with red and blue balloons, I arranged the desks to be in the shape of an "A," and we even had red and blue jello.  I had a sub the day I had to go present to the panel as a final step towards graduation.  I texted my sub when I was done, and I received a cute picture of all my littles in a cheering mode and came back to a sweet note.

[six]

Summer finally came around and I got to visit a friend of mine who had moved to San Diego back in December.  I had a blast with her and her fiance going to The Hash House A Go-Go (oh.my.word. the food they brought was massive and oh so tasty).  We went to the Wild Animal Park, and my favorite...the beach!  It was hard to come home.

[seven]

I attended my 10 year high school reunion.  I wasn't going to go, but glad I did.  It was nice to catch up with a few people I hadn't seen in 10 years.  This picture is of one of my best friends to this day (since middle school!) and one of our favorite teachers.

[eight]

I was so blessed to get to be a part of my friends' wedding day in Santa Barbara.  For one, it was held on the beach and another, it was beautiful and just perfect for them.

[nine]

Over my fall break, I visited my sister in DC.  It was incredible to not have any obligations (aka grad school homework and projects to do).  I got to spend about a week with her and her husband and doggy and enjoy every second of it... and enjoy actual fall scenery!

[ten]

In November, I was able to attend another beautiful wedding. 

[eleven]

At work, I was part of a committee that put together an K-8 assembly to honor the Veterans who have connections to our school.  I was really proud of what came together and am looking forward to making it even better next year.  Another big thank you to all the men and women who have served our country or are currently serving.

[twelve]

This year I did two Color Runs and one Run or Dye.  It was a blast to do each 5k and end up very colorful by the end.  The first Color Run I did was in January (it's Arizona so it's great weather) except this day it was raining. The whole time.  It was still fun, but I was glad to get my shoes off and not have soggy feet.  The other two were fun and dry...what a different experience.  I am looking forward to more activities like this in 2014.  I might try the "Kiss Me Dirty Series" or if it comes near my city, and "Cupid Run."

[thirteen]

For as long as I can remember, ever since I have had access to taking pictures myself (I think as far back as middle school with a 35mm film camera) I enjoy taking pictures of pretty skies and beautiful scenes.  Here are some of the skies I have been lucky enough to see and enjoy this year.

I am looking forward to 2014 and all the experiences and love with family and friends.

Five For Friday (a little late)

Linking up again with Doodle Bugs Teaching for a Linky Party, just on Saturday.  I don't know about you all, but there is something about the end of the week, that I am wiped out! :)

What a week it has been learning about BATS!  My kiddos LOVE learning about them.

[1]

We started our week out by creating a "Do You Think Bats Are Creepy or Cute?" graph from Cara Carroll over at The First Grade Parade.  It was an exact split in our room.  12 of my kiddos think bats are creepy and 12 cute.  We then analyzed the data.  I love hearing the kids use math talk to describe the graph.

[2]

We read our scholastic reader about bats, focusing on finding sight words, using the pictures and beginning sounds to help with words we don't know.  We read the book together and then students buddy read.  We also did some EEKK reading/blending with our bat word slide.  Oh my word, the kids LOVED this.

[3] 

Right in the middle of the week, I got to have a super tasty dinner with my favorite little guy and his mommy from To Second Grade, With Love.  Could that face be any more adorable!?!

[4] 

I pulled out the tree map and the first words out of my of my kinder's mouths was, "There are two sight words!" and then proceeded to read them. Love this!  Another kinder said, "I think we write bats in the top box."  We have done this one other time with Apples, so I LOVE that they are understanding putting the topic at the top.

[5] 

After our graphing, and tree mapping, and reading so many books about bats, we of course had to create bats!  I gave each child a small brown square, a brown rectangle, and two white rectangles.  We first cut the bats body out of the small square.  Then we folded the rectangle in half (either direction) and drew one wing.  I taught them that when they keep it folded and cut once, they will have symmetrical wings.  Then we did the same with the two white rectangles (folding them in half).  One was used to create the eyes, the other the teeth.  With the scrap brown.  They had a blast, and they all turned out differently.  They make me smile as I walk by our room.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!  I'm off to lunch with a friend.