start of summer vacation 2016

I've realized it's not the fact that I can sleep in until 10 o'clock; but rather, what I enjoy most about summer vacation is the fact that I can wake up at normal time but then not have to get dressed and hustle around in the morning to leave by 7:30am. I can enjoy breakfast, I can read, I can blog browse...

Yesterday, my first day of summer vacation, found me in Bismarck. I had to get the key code activated for our vehicle, I changed my address on my drivers licence (I still had my GF address from almost three years ago!!), had my hair appointment, and had lunch with my grandma at Olive Garden. Surprisingly, I didn't do any shopping at the mall. I just didn't feel like it! Also, a bunch of the streets were blocked off by the mall for Donald Trump, who was speaking at the civic center.

"The federal government needs to get out of the way of North Dakota coal and energy," Donald Trump speaks in a media conference before his speech.

I agree! 

Anyways, today will find me at Shopko, shopping for my trip next week! Surprisingly, I really like their tank tops for summer and they don't break the bank, like Athleta. So, if you live close to a Shopko, I would recommend their tank tops and athletic wear. :) 

HAPPY SUMMER!

A few things

5. The making of homemade Maple syrup is so neat! My parents tapped their maple trees and made their own syrup this year. I tasted a spoonful of it and it is so good! It has a slight smokey flavor to it which is mmmm....so tasty. I'm excited to bring some back and make pancakes for Aaron!

4. I've never really been too interested in essential oils until, this weekend. Mom brought me into Detroit Lakes to a lady's house that makes/sells essential oils...and it kind of piqued my interest! When I came home I checked out all the essential oils mom has and turned on the diffuser. I now know what I want for my birthday.

3. Speaking of that lady's house - her house was amazing. I loved it! It smelled so nice and clean and the colors of her house were so warm and inviting. It inspired to me get painting on ours. When we moved in to our house I wanted dark brown, but for about a year now I've been really leaning towards light colors like creams and whites and light tans. So with that lady's inspiration, and pinterest inspiration, our living room is going to get a new look.

2. There's nothing quite like having the windows open at the lake and hearing the loons. It makes me want to get a Minnesota loon CD and play in the evenings.

1. I hope I have a son or daughter that treats me as good as mom treats my grandma. When my grandpa died five years ago, my grandma moved in and mom and Will have been caring for her ever since. In the morning mom will bring in her pills and breakfast, and grandma will get up when she wants, eat breakfast when she wants, and then come out at noon to have lunch. Mom helps bathe her twice a week and then does up her hair for her. With grandma's memory and dementia she doesn't really notice anymore what all mom does for her, but I do, and I think it's amazing.

TGIF

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

My desk at the school looks like someone threw up all over it.

And by that I mean threw up papers, sharpies, assessments, stickers, permission forms, unit file folders...

And then this afternoon while we were making scarecrows one little boy thought it would be fun to glue his shirt together. And then try to glue pieces of yarn to his upper lip.

Then, I came home from school, let Wylee out (our in-law's dog that we are baby sitting) and Ruger would NOT stop pestering the poor Bichon. Wylee finally figured out that to get away from our pup, he can fit through the small cat door in the garden shed. 

Our "little" 6 month old (6 months old tomorrow!) cannot squeeze in, no matter how hard he tries. First he'll try getting in with his head and right front foot, and then his head and left front foot, and then frustration kicks in and he just tries to push his way in. I can imagine Wylee in the shed, just out of reach of Rue, happily panting away.

A Farmer

After I took this photo, Paul Harvey's old broadcast "So God Made A Farmer" came to mind.

Both Aaron and I come from farming families - I love this.

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.

"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church.

"Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.

early christmas present

Oh how I wish there was more to take pictures of in and around our little home!

My early Christmas present from Aaron - a Nikon DSLR camera. 

Okay, in all reality, I say it's from him but I picked it out. And he picked out a range finger for his gun - but it was a Christmas present from me. I guess that's just how our Christmas presents worked this year!

I read through the manual front to back last night. It really does give a lot of helpful information! Especially this tid bit. --> "When framing photographs in the view finder, hold the handgrip in your right hand and cradle the camera body or lens with your left. Keep your elbows propped lightly against your torso for support and place one foot half a pace ahead of the other to keep your upper body stable."

I thought about not putting up a tree. We didn't last year because it's not what Christmas is all about. But, I do love the simplicity and light that this tree gives off. As I sit here in the evenings, it's cozy! As you can see, we only have two ornaments. I decided that every Christmas Aaron and I are together we'll add another one. The branches may be droopin' after 50 years....

Anyways, be prepared to see lots of shots as I try out the settings and explore more with this neat piece of equipment!

A Typical Day

6:15     Alarm goes off - hit snooze
6:30     After hitting snooze three times, finally roll out of bed, shower
6:45     Get ready for the day, let the cats out of the basement
7:05     Wake Aaron up, eat breakfast, start car
7:30     Pull cats out from under the bed, put them downstairs, head to school
7:35     Arrive at school, start computer, get ready for the day, chat with fellow kindergarten teachers
8:00     Kids start arriving at the school, remind kids to head outside - no lingering in the hallways
8:25     Kids come in from outside, bring backpacks into classroom and empty them out, do lunch count, milk count, pledge
8:40     Rug time - go over letters, numbers, shapes, read a story or two
9:00     RTI - kids split into four groups, I work with a group going over CVC words
9:30     Reading, talk about the difference between realism and fantasy, read big book (this week it's Jack and the Beanstock), sequencing, focus letter Bb - "feed" the sound muncher items that start with Bb, adjectives
9:50    Snack, put on classroom timer
10:00  Remind kids they have 5 minutes left
10:05  Recess, walk to the lounge, check mailbox, talk with special ed teacher across the hall about her baby that's due next week!
10:30  Kids come in from outside, start working on handwriting, remind the kids often about the 'hat line', 'belt line', and 'shoe line' of writing
10:45  Brain break, hand out play dough, form letters in play dough
11:00  Math, #11 booklet, go over tally marks, 10's frame, review even/odd
11:25  Lunch, eat school food while going over their handwriting sheets, talk with fellow kindergarten teacher about journaling
12:05  Prep time, make copies for tomorrow, prep for tomorrow
12:46  Journaling based on Gingerbread Man story
1:10    Have the kids get their book bags, work on stamina
1:20    Calendar time
1:46    Rest time, go over the #11 booklets while kids watch Mickey's Christmas
2:00    Gingerbread Unit, read The Gingerbread Boy and The Gingerbread Girl - compare and contrast with the kids, make gingerbread puppets
2:30    Snack and center time, listen to students count to 100, take students pictures to put on the '100's club' bulletin board
2:55    Center time pick up, students get their mail, help student zip their coats, prepare to leave
3:05    Walk kids to the front door and wait with them until their parents arrive, start prepping for RTI tomorrow
3:45    Head home, check the mail, let the cats out, change into comfy clothes
4:00    Grab my computer, sit on the couch and check email, pinterest, blogs, pet the cats
4:45    Wash clothes, play a bit of piano, watch in amusement as the cats jump and tumble at each other
5:00    See what Aaron's up to in the garage, help out when needed (help out as in hold things for him, grab tools, etc.)
5:30    Decide what to have for supper, could make hotdish but decide that the Pizza Corner pizza in the freezer looks easy and delicious
6:00    Call Aaron for supper, eat supper, chit chat about the day
6:30    Ride with Aaron to Alco, pick up garbage bags and dish soap, meander through the aisles looking for any good deals (they're going out of business)
7:15    Sit in the recliner, wrap up in blanket, correct handwriting worksheets from last week, look on pinterest for fun Gingerbread art activities, start planning for next week
8:00    Aaron comes in, he begins watching The Office after showering
8:30    Join Aaron, fire up my nook and browse for potential good books - never actually pick one, just put about five in wish list, pet the cats
9:15    Check email, get ready for bed, pull cats out from under the bed, put them downstairs
9:30    Sleep

A few posts back I made the announcements that a German Shepherd puppy would be joining our family this spring! I found out today it may be sooner than we expected. A litter is due in February, which means the puppy would be making its appearance in our home in March. (If all goes as planned.)
I've missed having a dog around - and I am getting so excited! Here are the parents!

On a side note, I rearranged our furniture again today. There's just something about rearranged furniture that makes the room seem fresh and clean. (Maybe because I was able to clean behind the piano for the first time since it was moved in. Yikes!)
Aaron had weekend duty at the plant, so I appreciated the fact that our flooring is old, and I was able to heave and ho the piano around on my own without worrying too much about scratching the floor.

So for my family, that I wish could just drop in for the afternoon to see it, here is the arrangement for the month of December!

I will regret saying this...

I know I will regret posting this when February rolls around but, I'm ready for snow! I'm excited to see the white flakes coming down and coating everything that is brown and blah in a pretty, crisp white. My sisters and I used to get so excited when the first snow appeared - it meant we could set up the farm set. I remember doing cartwheels and flips in the living room when we saw that first flake even if it did melt right away!

In honor of my anxiousness (if that makes sense) I'm currently listening to Christmas music and I just ordered some pretty sweaters for winter. I'm also excitedly thinking about the upcoming festivities this month will bring. 

I can honestly say, with the turn of another calendar month, that we are getting into my favorite time of the year!

Glimpse of a past Christmas

pinterest funnies

This week has been a long week. 

Maybe it's because last week was so short. Or maybe it's because parent teacher conferences are coming up this coming Monday/Tuesday so I've been trying to get everything together for that. Probably a mix of both, but once again I am so excited it's Friday tomorrow. 

Here are a few things that made me smile - made my day - today.

1. There was a picture posted on instagram of a little boy I'm proud to call my nephew that was busy bowling. He's starting to look so grown up!

2. I also received a text picture message from my stepsister of her baby bump! Baby Q is due in February.

3. Lastly, I found myself browsing through my "haha" pinterest board and I couldn't help but chuckle at the things I had pinned. I thought I'd share one. 

MN

We didn't have school Thursday or Friday so I cruised to my parents for a long weekend. It was nice to get away for a little bit. I love MN in the fall because the leaves, when they're changing colors, are gorgeous. Sadly, I missed the prime time of color changing but was happy to see a few trees still had their leaves - a few vibrant yellows with red mixed in.
It was a wonderful four days and I only wish my hubby could have made it! He spent his evenings re-siding our house and today was spent bowling so he stayed pretty busy - not missing me TOO much I hope! ;)

One of my goals was to take a picture of Koby with anything and everything that he found to put in his mouth. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone on me all the time...but these were two objects he had fun with. Definitely a retriever!

Saturdays + Sundays

Ever since I started my full time teaching job, I really appreciate the weekends.
1. I love sleeping in. (Sleeping in for me now, is around 9:00. I'm ready to get up at that time! I really have no desire to sleep until 11 anymore.)
2. I love being able to sit on the couch, with the window open, enjoying a cup of coffee.
3. I don't mind having Saturday be a "cleaning day". During the week Aaron and I really do not do any cleaning...and I drag my feet to wash any clothes or dishes on Monday - Friday. But come Saturday, I'm ready for a clean, fresh, fall smelling house.
4. I love catching up on blogs, catching up on my own blog, and not feeling guilty that there is something else I should be doing, school wise!
5. I love the feeling that on Sunday night, after 2 days of resting up, I feel {slightly} rejuvenated to tackle another week! Which, by the way, a three day week this coming week! Yippee!

Here's a few snapshots of our Saturday, this 11th day of October.

Aaron doing some fall cleaning in his "shop".

All prepped and ready for siding. It was supposed to come in Thursday/Friday this week, but didn't arrive - SO, next Tuesday it's supposed to get here. 

I think they're happy to have us home on Saturdays.

Now, I plan on listening to some Jim Reeves Christmas on Pandora and do some planning for next spring/summer! A trip is in the works as well as a lil German Shepherd pup.

My mom recently shared this on facebook. Very true! 

It is sometimes so easy to over think things or over analyze...

life lately - end of july 2014 edition

I always plan on doing a five for Friday post - but I always think about it on Thursday, and when I think of it again, it's Saturday. So five for Thursday!

5. Tomorrow's my last day of summer school! I taught five 1st and 2nd graders. I wouldn't have minded it too much except the attendance was really up and down. One day I had two students...other times I had all five - I never knew who would show up. So that part was a little frustrating. But I did learn a lot and if I do it next summer, I know some things I would tweak and change from this year. 

4. Hubby's working nights and some weird hours. There was an unplanned outage at the plant he works at, something to do with the boiler, so I really haven't seen much of him. I really am not caring for this outage stuff! But, I guess it's all part of the job.

3. My sister, Elizabeth, is coming to visit this weekend! She'll be here tonight. We plan on heading to Medora tomorrow! We're headed there with my sister-in-law and her boys so that'll be fun! 0% chance of rain! Great for the musical!

2. Now that summer school is coming to a close, I've been kind of getting my classroom set up for fall. Only three {three?!?} more weeks until school starts! I'm so thankful for the other two kindergarten teachers - they've been so helpful this summer. As a 1st year teacher, I am grateful. 

1.  Our cats' newest form of fun {and newest form of entertainment for us} is chasing flies. They are not afraid to leap from couch to couch in order to catch a flying fly. They've also had to brush up on their sneaking skills. What a life house cats have!

Life Lately

My sister and I ran (and walked) in the Fargo 5K yesterday. Races like this are so much fun and I sincerely wish I were more of a runner! Maybe it is just because I am so out of shape, I don't find running enjoyable?! I'm thinking I may give this running thing a month and see if I get to liking it.

My hubby is almost done with working nights! It'll be wonderful to see him for more than 15 minutes each day! Yippee!!

I'm looking forward to a week and a half of grandma/horse/dog/lake time! I'm staying with my grandma while my parents go on a trip so hopefully there will be some sunny, hot lake days. A library visit for some good books is in the near future.

As of yesterday, I am now 24 years old. My 23rd year of life was pretty fantastic - I wonder what this year will bring!?

Winter...still...

Winter sure is getting long. I think how the person feels in this video, is how I feel. 

Ninja!

Every time we go over to my in-laws place, I drool over their blender. So, after some research, I invested in one this afternoon. 

A Ninja! 

And what a great time to invest in one, too! Jeremy, one of our friends from college, is here visiting on his way out west to start his job so I've been busy making iced drinks. He also used to work at a coffee shop so he gave us some good tips on how to make coffee drinks. 

I don't have that much experience with blenders, but this one crushes ice cubes amazingly. I am impressed! On a scale of 1 to 5, I would definitely give it a 5.

Now, I think I will spend some time searching on pinterest for some blended food/drinks to make!

well...

I was messing around with the labels on my posts and must have accidentally deleted a bunch of my posts that had the label 'family' on them. Very frustrating! So if you are wondering where the last few posts went, that's where.

ANYWAYS, here is a shortened version of what I blogged about today but it, too, got deleted: I plan on doing some more chalk painting! The two end tables in our living room as well as the Hoosier cabinet we will be getting from my in-laws do not match. I like things to match. So, I found this chalk painting idea on pinterest {below}. May try to give it a go next week!

What do chipmunks eat?

Today I stayed home with grandma while mom and Will went to Eagle Bend for convention. During lunch today we were sitting at the table eating Chili when grandma asked,
"what do those chipmunks eat?"
I replied, "they eat bird seed". I must have said the word "seed" a little quiet because she looked at me and asked,
"they eat...birds?!"
haha I am thankful that we don't have bird eating chipmunks!