On the ball..

I only had kids the first two periods today! I got my room cleaned, bulletin boards done, and everything ready for them to wax the floors. I only have to print a couple of things off STI tomorrow. It's nice to not be stressed about getting everything done and be able to enjoy the last day! And for that, I'm extremely thankful.

However, I have a prayer request. A student of mine who was my assistant twelve hours a week had her baby two month premature last Friday. I don't want to say her name without her permission, and I'm not sure when or if I'll see her. Please keep this young lady in your thoughts as she graduates tonight and faces this scary journey into adulthood and motherhood!

Have a great Friday and weekend!! Much love to all!

100th Post... Glencoe Graduation Banquet and SCYC

Graduation Banquet at Glencoe church of Christ

Erin's Table

April's Table Last Picture: Fellowship Hall (minimally decorated with balloons on every other table) There was another table, but I couldn't get the picture to load.
Daniel and Alex at Supper
Alex's cabin picture
Alex and his "little man in training, E" as he called him. I have no idea.My cabin, 5th and 6th grade girlsWatermelon Waller

(They throw a watermelon in the pool, and

two cabins basically play football with it)

Daniel and I after Watermelon Waller (Yes, I participated, and it was freeeezing cold!!)

Since Friday morning....

I have been on a field trip to the McWane Center, been to Jaz's graduation party, decorated for the graduation banquet at Glencoe, had the graduation banquet at Glencoe, been to decoration, and helped with dinner at the Revival tonight. I've literally worn myself out. I started shaking and had a terrible headache at dinner; so, I came home to lay down and didn't get to stay for the worship service tonight. Also, we leave for camp Thursday and haven't even packed at all yet. As I mentioned, we have revival this week ending Wednesday! So, please excuse my absence over the next few days! I will have some pictures of the banquet that I will post soon! If I don't get a chance to post before Thursday, I will post the pictures after we get home from camp on Monday.

Also, please keep us in your prayers as we decide what is in our best interest with our careers over the next month or so! (Especially concerning the education budget and my job. The program I'm in is a one chance shot. If I lose my job, I cannot just begin working in another system without starting a master's program.)

Moving on...

As school comes to a close, I cannot help but be excited about the 2 carefree summer months to come! However, I have grown attached to my 3 classes of eighth graders! I'm going to miss them so much. For the most part, they are extremely well behaved and so smart! I know I will PROBABLY feel the same way about the kids I have next year, and I have already started building relationships with them by interacting with them between classes. As I reflect on this year, I have three goals to help improve my teaching for next year. First, I hope to be more consisted with grading. Such as all homework is worth 25 points, quizzes worth 50, and tests worth 100. This year I based it off of the length and difficulty of the assignment. Secondly, I want to become more organized and plan ahead more. I'd like to make out my tests before I start teaching that chapter. Thirdly, I am going to integrate technology in the classroom more. My projector was installed today, and I believe it will increase student engagement and decrease teacher workload! For all you educators out there, what do you think would help me be a more efficient teacher!? Share your expertise, please!

Mother's Day and Button Bouquet instructions...

I'm not much on sappiness or mushy stuff. However, I want to say thanks to all the "Moms" in my life. First, there is my Mom. She's always been there for me and had my best interest at heart. She's become my best friend over the years. Second, my mother-in-law couldn't be a more loving, generous, and caring person. I love her for the son she raised and is now my husband. I love her for the example she is to so many. I know my kids will have two grandmothers like the grandmother I had! Thirdly, there's my Mom's mom. She passed away almost 13 years ago. I think of her often and miss her daily. She still has a great impact on my life and will even have one on my children's life through the memories she left behind. Lastly, there are all the ladies at church whom I have come to love as if they were my grandmother. There are too many to name, but I gave them each a hug yesterday and told them how much I cared about them!

So, to all you moms out there, thanks. Everyday should be Mother's Day if you ask me!



Here is a picture of the presents I made for Susan and Mom. They are button bouquets. It is suppose to mimic a flower bouquet but never die. I thought it was too cute, and I had a BLAST making them. I even kept the secret and suprised them both!!

Supplies: Jar, Buttons, Shears, Plyers (optional), Floral Wire - 18 or 20 gauge

Helpful Hints: Jar about 3 - 6 inches tall with a small opening for best results otherwise the buttons spread out to much and fall over, about 30 buttons in your favorite colors and various sizes so you can stack the buttons, plyers for bending, shears for cutting (I just used shearsno plyers, but you have to be careful how hard you press the shears while bending the wire), floral wire (18 gauge, 20 gauge, or 22 gauge- the bigger the button the lower the gauge. I know it's backwards, but it wasn't me who designed the gauging system. If you are in doubt, I recommend 20 or 22 gauge.) I used 18 gauge and should have used 20 gauge. It was so hard to bend because it was too thick.

How to assemble it: Cut your wire to the desired length (depending on how tall you want your flowers to be, leave about 2 inches for the buttons and wire bending. Example: If you want your flower 4 inches tall, cut it 6 inches. It will be about 4 inches after you put the buttons on it and bend the wire. Then, bend the wire in an "S" shape about 3 inches from one of the ends, place your buttons on the "S" shape, and wrap or twist the remaining end to secure the button on the wire! Make as many "flowers" as you want and put them in your vase. It's suppose to be random and fun. Don't get too caught up in making it perfect!

It took me about 30 minutes to make it once I got the hang of it! Leave any questions on my comment wall as to how to make them. I will get back to you as soon as possible!!

Graduation Party

I have been asked to do the Graduation Party at church for the graduating seniors. Well, it has proven to be quite the event. The biggest problem: scheduling. We've finally got it all planned and schedule. I've decided to decorate in a brown and black theme. We would do the school's colors, but they look hideous together. They are baby blue/red, black/gold, and kelly green/white. Can you imagine the clashing that would be going on? So, we simplified and are doing brown and black with wrought iron accents/decorations. I'm hoping to give it a "homey and mature" feeling. If you have any adorable decorating ideas, please let me know. I thought I'd share a few with you that I've found along the way!


Quotes:

The tassel's worth the hassle! ~Author Unknown


You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.You're on your own.And you know what you know.You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss



This is my favorite though! *I'm going to use brownies so it will all be brown instead of using cupcakes. Same idea though!!*

Here's the link to the recipe!

Prep Time:30 min
Total Time:55 min
Makes:24 servings, 1 cupcap each
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow or white cake mix
1 env. KOOL-AID Orange Flavor Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix
2/3 cup (1/2 of 7-oz. tub) BAKER'S Real Dark Semi-Sweet Dipping Chocolate, melted
12 HONEY MAID Honey Grahams, broken crosswise in half (12 squares)
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
2 chewy fruit snack rolls, any color
24 jelly beans
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin pan cups with paper liners. Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Stir in drink mix until well blended. Spoon into muffin cups. Bake 20 to 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool.
SPREAD 1 tsp. melted chocolate onto each graham square to cover entire top of cracker. Place on baking sheet. Refrigerate until hardened. Remove paper from cupcakes. Turn upside down. Using wooden spoon handle, make small tunnel from top to bottom in center of cupcake. Place whipped topping in small resealable plastic bag. Snip corner; pipe small amount of whipped topping into each cupcake. Place remaining whipped topping on top. Top with chocolate covered graham to make "cap".
SEE tip below to make tassels. Place each tassel on top of cap with jelly bean in center, using a small amount of whipped topping as glue.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Substitute
To make all white graduation caps, spread additional whipped topping on top of grahams instead of chocolate. Line them up in rows for a black and white graduation!
How to Make Tassels
Cut fruit snack rolls into 24 (3-inch) long pieces. Cut 3/4-inch slits at one end of each piece to make a fringe. Roll up lengthwise tightly to make tassel

I made our Mother's Day gifts last night. They turned out adorable... pictures soon to come!

Medicine for 'Monday Melancholy'...

TLC has some of my favorite tv shows on a single station! I enjoy watching Jon and Kate Plus 8; Little People, Big World; Take Home Chef; What Not to Wear; Flip That House; and (MY ALL TIME FAVORITE) Movin' Up. Tonight is Jon and Kate Plus 8 and Little People, Big World. Mondays are definitely not my favorite day of the week, but TLC's Monday night tv line-up sure does make it nicer! What's your favorite television show?

What does a friend mean to you?

To me, it's someone I can be myself around, completely be myself.

I've always had plenty of friends. My interests vary plenty enough I can usually find something in common with anyone. I may not necessarily be buddy-buddy with everyone, but I can find some common ground with them.

But, I'd only say I've had one "best friend". (By best friends, I mean inseparable.) Well, I met her in middle school. We soon became as inseparable as possible considering we lived an hour apart and weren't in the same class. We stayed very close for the next four years. We've had our ups-and-downs in the sense we'd go six months without talking, but we ALWAYS picked right back up where we'd left off. Well, that time has now come where we haven't spoken in almost 18 months to 2 years. She's done some not so courteous things that have hurt my feelings. I do take some blame for our loss of communication, but I've never intentionally been rude to her. I consider her my sister would even be upset if anyone intentionally hurt her feelings. I've tried to contact and even seen her in the last year, and our relationship seems terribly stressed. I've accepted that we might never be close again, but I just want some sense of acquaintanceship (act as if we know we each other we see each other).

I say all of that to say this, next time you see your "best friend" give them a big hug. Also, never take their friendship for granted.

Edit: I saw her the other day, and everything was normal! Yay!