13 in '13

Hey yall!

 

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas...I know I sure did! But I'm definitely ready to take down these decorations and move on to a new year.

 

Even though I'm a little late to the party, I'm linking up with Hadar, Kristin, and Traci for their annual end of the year linky!

 

I was struggling a little coming up with 13 great memories from 2013, but then I just started scrolling through my Instagram photos. I had forgotten how much I actually did this year! It was fun reliving those moments:)

 

So here they are.....my 13 top moments in 2013.

 

Having my whole family home for Christmas

 

I have a rather large family. There are 19 of us in total and we are spread out all over the country, so its not always easy to get everyone together. But my sister Kristie and her family are getting ready to move to Germany next summer, so my mom told all the troops that they better make it home for Christmas this year. And they all did!

 

This is what Christmas for 19 looks like...

 

 

We got to spend a few days together with all 19 of us and it was such a blessing! My mom was in absolute heaven :) Our family, like most, have Christmas traditions that we had to get in before the big day.

 

The Sibling Pyramind {in our Christmas jammies, of course!}

 

 

The Grandkids Pyramid

 

 

Meeting Baby Brooklyn

 

My brother and sister-in-law welcomed their second child on November 26th. I had to wait almost a whole month before I got to meet her, though! She is absolutely perfect and I might be a tad bit obsessed with her sweet little self. I may or may not have taken 143 pictures of her this week...

 

Meeting her for the 1st time...the first of many snuggles

 

Brooklyn with Uncle Wes

 

Brooklyn with proud big sis Alyssa

 

Christmas Brooklyn

 

More snuggles with her Aunt Natalie :)

Girls Trip: Nashville

 

In May, I got to visit Nashville for the first time to celebrate my bestie's bachelorette party. I took a tiny, tiny little plane that was a tad bit scary.

 

 

We went to see the infamous Bluebird Café.

 

 

And, of course, checked out the nightlife!

 

 

It was such a fun trip and I can't wait to visit again!

Blogging Meet-Up: Greenville, SC

 

In August, I traveled to Greenville to meet up with some amazing blogging buddies! So.Much.Fun!

 



Photo from Ginger.



Family Trip: Charleston, SC

 

In July, my sister and her kids came to visit. We decided to take a quick little trip to Charleston to get in some beach time while they were down.

 

Couples Trip: Ashville, NC

 

In March, the hubs and I traveled to Asheville to meet-up with some friends. We stayed in a cute little cabin, walked around downtown, and checked out the nightlife.

 

Widespread Panic for NYE

 

The hubs and I are HUGE Widespread Panic fans, and we try to see them at least once a year. This year, we started it out right with a trip to see them play in Charlotte, NC.

 

Wedding in Johnson City, Tennessee

 

In June, the hubs and I traveled to Tennessee to see my bestie get married! She was a beautiful bride and we had such a great time.

 

B2S Trip: Hilton Head Island, SC

 

It's quickly becoming a tradition for my hubs to take me to the beach to celebrate my first week back to school. Its a lovely way to spend a long week and really helps get me geared up for the new school year. Sort of like a last hurrah :)

 

It was too cold to actually go to the beach, so we just enjoyed each other's company and did some serious shopping. It was also the first time we took the pups with us on a trip....never again!

 

Grace Potter in Columbia, SC

 

In October, my friend Jennifer and I went to see my girl crush Grace Potter in Columbia. It was a school night and I didn't get home until after 1 am, but it was soooo worth it! She is just absolutely amazing! We had a blast and Jennifer even caught her guitar pick!

 

Earning my Ed.S

 

In December, I finished up my Ed.S degree! My thesis about killed me, but I made it through and even got a 4.0 :) Hello pay raise!

 

Rock Fore Dough 2013

 

Here in Augusta, we have a little tournament every year called the Masters. Maybe you've heard of it? :)

 

They always throw a big concert to celebrate during the week and I try to catch it each year. This year, my girl crush came! You might recognize her from #10 :)

 

After the show, we stopped at the local Mellow Mushroom to grab a bite to eat. Well, little did I know that Grace Potter was there eating at the exact same time! I didn't find out until later, and was sooooo bummed that I missed getting a chance to meet her!

 

Reconnecting with Old Friends

 

This year, I reconnected with one of my best friends some high school. We had lost touch over the past few years, but ran into each other early in the year. We've since grown even closer than we were in high school and I am so thankful to have her friendship again!

 

 

I was super excited to see this pretty lady welcome her baby girl to the world! And I've been loving on her ever since :)

 

 

 

2013 was an amazing year, but it didn't bring me the one thing that I want the most. Here's hoping 2014 gets the job done!

Happy New Years yall!



Be Kind

Hey yall. I come to you today with a heart full of grief for those fallen angels at Sandy Hook. One year ago today, 20 children and 6 adults were brutally shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. I know we all remember that day. It was a day of sadness and confusion and I cried for all those innocent angels that were lost that day.

 

 

I couldn't {and still can't} imagine what kind of person would commit such unspeakable acts, especially to those innocent babies. But then I remember how we can help people like that, just by doing something so small and seemingly insignificant.

 

Be kind.

 

Maybe if someone had been kind to Adam Lanza, he wouldn't have gone to that school that day. Maybe he wouldn't have shattered all those lives. Maybe he wouldn't have taken those lives.

 

Be kind.

 

We can all be kind today, and everyday, by doing small things for others. The mayor and people of Newtown have asked for us to be kind to commemorate all those lives lost.

 

How can you be kind? There are so many different ways.

 

*Purchase someone's coffee this morning.

*Pass out candy canes to the holiday shoppers.

*Smile and greet every person that you see today.

*Let someone go in front on you in the checkout line.

*Volunteer at a nursing home.

*Take cookies to your neighbors.

*Donate clothes or blankets to a homeless person.

*Babysit for free.

*Send a card to a friend or family member and tell them that you love them.

 

And the list goes on and on...

 

I'll be spreading kindess today...will you?

 



It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Hey yall! Happy Friday!

 

How's the countdown going for yall?

 

 

We're down to 3 days people....3 days!!!

 

I've been really getting into the Christmas spirit this week, so I've linked up with Casey to share the spirit!

 

 

1. I've been working hard on getting the house holiday-ready this week. My whole family is going to be in town for Christmas....all 19 of us! I can't even remember the last time we were all together for Christmas, so I'm over-the-moon excited!

 

 

Some of the girls from school came over and we had a little wine/painting party! We decided we needed a little holiday décor :)

 

 

 

And yes, those are stockings for our pups :)

 

2. I've been on the hunt lately for some cute little slippers to wear around the house. Saw these babies at Target and snatched them up....LOVE!

 

 

Totally worth the twelve bucks!

 

3. We've been having fun adding some spirit in the classroom, too! We made these adorable little stockings from Cupcake the other day.

 

 

4. Yesterday, our whole school went to see A Christmas Carol at the local theater. I was worried that it was going to be waaaay too long for my firsties {an hour and forty-five minutes!} but they did sooo great! They were amazingly well-behaved and totally into the play! Proud teacher right here :)

 

These sweet girls were snuggled up on the bus ride back.

 

 

5. I've been without a bulb in my ActivBoard all year, but it FINALLY came in this week! My kiddos actually cheered when they got to watch BrainPop Jr. on the big screen! No more huddling around my tiny desktop monitor :)

 

 

Enjoy the weekend, friends!



Last Minute Christmas!

Hey yall!

 

We are 6 days away from Christmas vacation....I think I can, I think I can.

We'll be spending this week and next immersed in all things holiday! We'll be using activities from my two newest packs: Holiday How To Writing and Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Math Centers.

 

 

This sweet little pack includes 6 different holiday how-to writing organizers and writing paper, including:

*how to build a snowman

*how to wrap a present

*how to decorate a tree

*how to catch an elf

*how to eat a gingerbread cookie

*how to make hot cocoa

 

Each writing includes a graphic organizer and four choices of writing sheets.

 

 

This holiday pack includes 9 math centers and 1 whole class activity. It meets 9 different standards!

*Place Value Stockings (1.NBT.2)
*Ornament Ordering (1.NBT.1)
*Elf Statements (1.NBT.3)
*Tens of Penguins (1.NBT.5)
*Frosty Time (1.MD.3)
*Santa Scoot (1.OA.6)
*Gifts of Measurement (1.MD.2)
*Reindeer Games (1.OA.6)
*Snowmen Graphing (1.MD.4)
*Candy Cane Tens (1.NBT.6)

 



 

Since its so last minute, you can snag this pack for 50% off until Friday! Click on the pictures above to grab your copy.

 

Now, I'm off to wrap some presents :)

 

6 more days, people!



Do you love a good freebie...or 50?

Hey yall! Happy Friday!

 

I thought this week was going to take forever, but it has actually gone by pretty quickly. This girl is sooo ready for the weekend, baby!

 

How am I going to spend my Friday night, you ask? Downloading freebies!

 

Have you heard about the Winter Holidays EBook? It is FULL of freebies that are geared towards 1st and 2nd grade....over 50 of them! And you just might find one from me in there as well :)

 

Click on the pic to download the ebook.

 

 

And today is also the kickoff of a fun Facebook Frenzy that I'm apart of! Myself and 21 other first grade bloggers have put together a fun hop that is chock full of holiday/winter goodness!

 

 

Start the hop at my FB page and snag my freebie! I'm offering my Polar Express Unit...for free yall!

Then just continue the hop by clicking on the snowman.

 

If you get lost, here's the map to help you find your way :) Click on the picture to open the PDF...it has all the links you'll need!

 

 

 

Happy hopping, friends!

Hello? Anyone there?

Hey yall! Happy hump day!

 

I feel like the world's worst blogger. I have been seriously neglecting this lil ol' blog of mine. And I've not read any other blogs in many, many days...but I had a good excuse!

 

I've been knee-deep in completing my thesis for grad school, but I am super stoked to say that I am FINISHED!!!! Posted my paper last night and am officially done with this degree.

 

Hello, Ed.S! {and pay raise....hallelujah!}

Oh, Ryan... :)

 

I feel like I just birthed a giant baby, since I had been working on my thesis for 9 whole months. I chose to complete a study on something very near and dear to my heart....education blogs! I mean, I know that we have all been impacted greatly by this amazing online community, but I loved getting some real statistics.

 

Do you agree that blogging and/or reading education blogs should be considered professional development? Well, 100% of my participants do! And they also all agree that education blogs have made a positive impact on not only their teaching, but also student achievement, professional growth, and their support network! Not to mention that they have given most teachers a newfound sense of excitement in their job.

 

I won't go too much into detail, but if you are interested in reading my thesis you can check it out here.

 

Warning! It's quite long....60 pages...but you can really just skip to page 35 to get to the good stuff!

 

I also need to say a huge thank you to all my participants....I couldn't have done this without you!

 

Now, I'm off to catch up on my favorite blogs....but I promise I'll be back soon with some goodies!