Catching up- October

So I was determined to make October fun!  We waited out the first couple of weeks, because we knew there was a possibility John would be laid off, and if we could do things with Daddy then we would wait for him.  Bless John's heart, that first weekend he was off I think I filled up!


At the beginning of the month it was beautiful out.

At a new playground we found when out one Saturday.

More birthday fun!

                                    

                                      We celebrated our cousin's birthday.

With my Papa

We carved some pumpkins.

I love this picture!

Making the same face as his pumpkin!

We did hit up a local pumpkin farm.  On recommendation from my sister, we went to Ballenger's in a neighboring county and it was FABULOUS!

About to pick our pumpkins!

We loved the slides.

We had to stay warm, it seemed it was chilly the weekend we were out and about.

It was also chilly for Boo at the Zoo!

My ninja and pumpkin

We also did some resting this month!

And this pic just because.  She is her brother's mini-me.

Like I said on the last post, I feel like I was just going through the motions.  I know Wheeler had a great time and we made wonderful memories, but I felt like I was getting farther and farther behind with work.  If I'm at home my mind is on work, if I'm working on schoolwork my mind is on my family and the time I should be spending with them.

Catching Up-September

Ok, so I have been absolutely horrible at keeping this blog updated.  After being so tired and sick throughout the pregnancy last year I wanted so badly to make it up to Wheeler by doing those fun family fall outings we usually do.  We did quite a bit, however I just felt like I was going through the motions.  Don't get me wrong, I loved being with my family, but I just didn't feel it this year, like I have in the past.  This feeling has continued through the Christmas holidays.  I have had to really do some self reflection and praying over the past couple of weeks.  More about that later, though (maybe!  If I make it back to the blog for that post!)

Anyway, I am rewinding the year, and playing catch up.  September wasn't that eventful.  John was still working weekends and I was working from home most weekends until at the end of the month I had a breakdown and decided that weekends were family time, I put in enough hours during the week!

We get a four day weekend for Labor Day, so Kelli and I took the boys to the zoo.

Aren't they precious!

Do you see them?

They had been begging to ride the camel!

We also celebrated my uncles' birthday.  Yes they were born on the same day a couple years apart.

The Birthday Boys

With Grammy

I added this one just because I like it!  My aunt and cousin bought Miss C this outfit and it is the cutest! I'm sad it won't fit her next summer.  Well, actually, if she keeps growing as slow as she is it might fit!

Wheeler had career day at school and on that particular day he decided he wanted to be a doctor.  I think he's changed his mind about 50 times since then.  Thank goodness he has a little bit of time to decide!

While he was trying to decide what he wanted to be, he dressed as a cowboy!

Like I said earlier, I came to the realization at the end of September that I was starting to neglect my own kids and work was consuming me!  It's still a struggle to find the balance, especially now that I've got a child of my own at school and he can't stay late with me in the afternoons without getting rambunctious!  I love teaching, but it can't consume me to the point it was, and yet there is not enough time to do everything I HAVE to do, much less everything I need to do.  I think this has been a huge cause of the slump I've been in the last quarter of this year.  Like I said, I've been praying about this.

Hopefully I will be back with October within the next couple of days!  I spent about 3 hours watermarking all the pics over the las couple of days, I need to use them!!! HAHA

I'm Still Around

Yes, it's been weellllll over a month since I last blogged, but can I just say this school year seems to be kicking my rear!  I can't believe it's already the middle of October!  So many little things are different this year (remember my "years" span August to August with the school year) and I just can't seem to get into a routine.

First, I had to change classrooms this past summer.  I loved my old room.  It was spacious and attached to a mini computer lab.  Second, I lost the BEST teaching assistant in the world.  While I love the assistants I have (first grade shares three) and they are FABULOUS!!!! Janice and I had built a bond and she could read my mind.  Even one of my students piped up a few weeks ago and just randomly said "I sure miss Mrs. Janice."

Third, my baby boy is in Kindergarten now (I can't believe it!)  and therefore I get NOTHING done before or after school on many days.  He is ALL boy and loves to run free and the momma in me won't let him do that before and after school.  And lastly, John's been working 12 hour shifts on weekends and that leaves me and the kiddos.  Weekends zoooooooommmmm by!  That change this weekend, though.

I have so much to update you on, hopefully soon.

In the meantime:

This was taken a few weeks ago.  

Showing a little love

I felt like showing a little love tonight.

What I'm loving right now:

that my daughter has been sleeping through the night, finally (praises!!!!)

my first grade class, they are so smart, so caring, and overall a really sweet group of kiddos.

hearing the rain hit the windows as I type.  It's thundering and lightning as well.  I love hearing a storm at night.

that as chaotic as my life seems right now, God is in control.  I just need to remember to relinquish the reigns more.

that my little guy is loving Kindergarten and his teacher.

That my husband made it home safely in this storm.

Have a great weekend friends.

The End of Summer Craziness

So I was doing great all summer at keeping this little blog updated, and them bam!  The end of summer hit.  I did great at the beginning of summer making plans for all we were going to do.  The last minute call to teach summer school in June didn't even throw me for a loop.  However, August threw me!

Next year I know I need to plan better to get school stuff done before the end of summer.  I started the school year ten kinds of behind!!  I'm still behind (oh, wait, I'm pretty sure a teacher never actually catches up!)  Throw into the mix the sickies for all of us, and I actually started the school year a little panicked.

It was a blessing in disguise that I found out in June I needed to change classrooms.  With my awesome family's help, I accomplished that in only a day, and it only took about 6 more hours of me working to finish the set up completely.  The boys' birthday party, which you can read about here seemed to be the end of summer for us in some ways.  I think we did a few more things, I'd have to go back and look at pictures to see, but about a week later, I started trying to prepare.  Then, on August 3, sister had a cold. Within a week, I had bronchitis, daddy had pneumonia, sister and a sinus infection, and brother also had a cold.  That was not a fun week.  Add in TRYING to work from home for me, daddy trying to finish two online classes, brother's actual birthday, and the fact that sister STILL wasn't sleeping through the night and her nights were getting worse, and I was a zombie.

I plan to not neglect this blog over the course of the school year.  Here's hoping I can stick to my plan.

(And yes, the kids are calling each other brother and sister!  Actually, it's most often Brother Bear and Sister Bear.)

Favorite Pins Friday

Time for another link up with Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade!  I've been slacking again on Pinterest, but we've been having so much fun this summer that time is slipping away!  I've really been hitting the back to school boards, though.  We have adopted a new reading series this year, and I've got to get a move on with planning for it!

I pinned this idea by First Grade Fabulous Fish to help students with vocabulary.

These look so yummy.  And peanut butter and cocoa?  How could that be wrong?  From Smart Food and Fit I want to try these PB protein balls.  They will make a great, quick go-to snack for those first few days of school.  

A sweet friend who owns the Etsy Shop LucyBellCrafts makes these canvases and I want to get one with both the kids stats.

And in my quest to be healthier (notice I said quest, I'm definitely working on this!)  I found this quinoa salad.  I love quinoa and this looks delicious! From Triplantstrong I found a recipe for California Quinoa Salad.

Now it's off to mark another item off our Summer Bucket List before summer is gone!

Another Bucket List Update

Needless to say, after this summer, we are exhausted!  But in an absolutely wonderful way.  Sure, summer's not over yet, but I go back to work in two weeks.  We are still working through the Summer Bucket List, but here is an update.

Peach and Apple Picking 

Wheeler found his new "buddy" on a peach.  I convinced him since we didn't have anything to bring it home in, that she had to stay.

Picking Pole

Aunt Kelli picking from the top.

Teamwork

Showing sister his apples.

Zoo Days

We've gone to the zoo a couple of times now.

Splash Pad!

All three of them together were *almost* 12 feet long!

See the turtle!

These signs tickled me!

The boys got a kick out of the monkeys!!!

They were a hoot telling each other where we should go next on the map!

Sister is always just along for the ride!

Ober

This was so much fun!  We plan to take the boys back in the fall.

Tram ride to the top!  The kids loved it!

There was an animal exhibit.

We were pretty close to the bears.

Cousins

Water ride!!!

He loved the swings!

His first game of putt putt looked more like pool.  He would push the ball.

With Aunt Kelli

The Maze!  What a pain!  If you like a good puzzle then this is for you.  You had to go through and find all the letters in MAZE and punch the card.  Of course the boys couldn't get it on their own, so I went in.  It was tough!  But this is not my kind of thing, either.

Daniel punching his card.

The summer isn't over just yet.  We are still going to try to fit in a few more things off the Bucket List before August 14th, my first official day back to work.  Time sure flies, though!