Anyone Out There?

Oh, friends!

I took quite a break from you.  A 3 year break may I add.  For a while, I have STRUGGLED balancing everything in my life.  Being a momma, a wife, and a teacher can be very stressful.  I know there are many of you in the same boat as me.  You feel me? 

So, what have I been up to? I moved schools two years ago.  I am now working where I student taught, and I am loving it! I am still teaching 3rd grade. My boys are now 3 and 6. I am getting ready to begin my 10th year of teaching! I'm ready to start slowly adding back in blogging and sharing what I'm up to in my room.  

I am still a busy, busy person.  Now, I have added being a baseball mom to my list of duties.  BUT, I have finally learned how to find "me" time during the week.  I've been able to read more and just have a little time to myself.  

I've been trying to teach like a pirate and be 
the wild card!

I implemented flexible seating this past year.

So, I will be back to share more about some fun things that I've been doing in my classroom.  

Thanks for welcoming be back into the blogging family.  I have truly missed writing and sharing with the teaching community. 

Trying to Balance Life

Hello, Dear Friends! 

I haven't forgotten about you, I promise.  Adjusting to life as a mom of two boys on top of being a teacher and a wife is sometimes a struggle.  Honestly, sometimes things don't get done.  So, my blog has been left neglected on top of laundry, mopping...etc.  One day, I will figure it all out.  As of right now, I'm just taking life one day at time and spending as much time as I can with my munchkins. If the mopping doesn't get done, it's okay.  The laundry can wait.  They grow up so fast! I've being enjoying my summer! 

I love being a mom to two little boys.  I was always told that I as a "boy mom" by my co-workers.  They would joke because I could always reach those active little boys and love them like they need to be loved.  The good Lord laughed and gave me two boys of my own. 

Boy Mom status at it's finest...

We love some Doc McStuffins!  It's time for your check up! 

Gavin is now eating solid food, rolling over, "talking" all the time, and trying to sit up on his own.  He'll be 5 months old next week.  Time needs to slow down! 

We love summer! Bubbles are always a big hit! 

Brotherly love!  Brayden LOVES his brother! It amazes me the amount of love he has for his little brother.  It's as if Gavin has always been here.  

I will be teaching 3rd grade again this year.  This past year I had a great group of kids, but between being pregnant and feeling like a new teacher (since I was in a new grade level), I didn't have time to create and share like I wanted to.  

I enjoyed 3rd grade more than I thought I would.  I love their independence and love the fact that they still love their teacher.  3rd grade is a challenging grade, but a rewarding one.  

As I enter 3rd grade for the 2nd year, I feel more prepared.  Long range plans are done. Yay! I'm the grade level chair for my team, so I'm able to work with a new group of teachers and have them try new things than they have done in the past. Hello, genre studies! :-)

So, here's to a great new year.  Enjoy the rest of your summer, friends.  Relax, unwind, and mentally get ready for a new group of students.  

Lots of love, 

Meet Gavin

Hello, Friends!

First, I'm posting this from my phone. My apologies for any wierd fonts/spacing.

So, I wanted to drop by and share my new bundle of joy with y'all.

Gavin was born on February 16th at 7:48 am EST. He was 19 and 1/4 inches long. He is precious and just perfect.

I am adjusting to life as being a mom to two children. I'm super busy I feel like and appreciate the days that my 3 year old feels like taking a nap. :-)

Brayden is being such a big help. From helping to make bottles to throwing diapers away; he's trying to be such a big boy. 

Watching him love and talk to Gavin just melts my heart. I'm blessed!

I'll be back to blogging when I return to work in April. It'll be here before I know it. 

Until then...lots of love,

Five for Friday

Happy Friday, Friends!

Today, I am linking up with Doodle Bugs to share some of the things I've been up to this week.

My baby turned 3 on Monday.  How do I have a 3 year old and why does time seem to fly so fast the older I get? 

I learned in September that I was being paired with a 4K teacher at my school for our Classroom Buddies.  To be honest, I was a little terrified.  They are so little...what could we possibly do together?  Well, I'm so glad that we were paired together.  My students have LOVED helping the little ones and having fun together.  Below the 4K buddy picked out a picture book for my 3rd graders to read to them.  LOVE! 

Yes, this picture is blurry but their smiles are not.  We learned about all of the different battles fought in South Carolina during the American Revolution this week.  Below these are my Patriots throwing paper balls at my Loyalists.  They LOVED it.  So much fun! 

Yay for an optional teacher workday!  I woke up husband up at 6:30.  Went back to sleep and Brayden woke me up around 8.  Yay for sleeping in!  I'm enjoying spending the whole day with my munchkin'.

I am almost 35 weeks pregnant and my baby has already dropped.  I never dropped with my first time, so this worries me just a little.  My C-Section is scheduled for February 16th, but I really think he's gonna be here before then.  Better get to getting all of my ducks in a row. We aren't quite ready for Gavin to enter the world yet.  I can't wait to meet him, but need a few more weeks to get everything together! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday! 

Lots of love,

We Are Back From the Beach and July Currently

Hello, Friends!

We came back from the beach yesterday afternoon.  Why do I always feel like I need a vacation from my vacation.  Boy are we tired.  Brayden woke up around 8:30 and at 9:30 he told me he wanted to go night night.  Hoping we feel like ourselves by Friday!  At least, we get to relax and sleep in.  My poor husband had to get up and go back to work this morning.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our beach trip!

We had a BLAST.  Brayden LOVED the water this time.  Can't wait to go  back in September.

Now on to Currently. It has been FOREVER since I linked up with Farley.  And...how is it July already?!?!

Listening:

I'm listening to the news right now.  Exciting, right?  Well, Rachel Ray just went off and I need to catch up on the local news since I've been gone for a week.  

Loving:

I am absolutely loving summer.  I love the summer heat (to an extent).  I love sleeping in (ish).  I love getting to do whatever I want whenever I want.  Summer is the best!

Thinking:

While we were at the beach, Brayden accidentally dropped my iPhone in the toilet.  First, EWWWWW! Second, it is currently sitting in some rice.  We had to wait until we got home to do that.  Luckily, we were leaving that next morning anyway.  Praying that all of the water will be absorbed and I won't have to buy a new phone.  Those things are too expensive! 

Wanting:

Summer needs to slow on down.  It's July already.  While I do love July, it's my birthday month, it means one more month closer to school starting.  I have so much anxiety about teaching 3rd grade.  I have so much I need to do to prepare for a new grade level.  So, summer please so on down.  I'm not mentally ready to go back yet!

Needing:

I would love to have a nice tan! How does one go to the beach and come back just as white as she was? When you have a two year old, that's quite easy.  He gets bored so easily.  We were only out around 30 minutes at a time, if that.  He was ready to go back in. No time to lay out with a good book and work on my tan.  I get to chase a little one around.  But, that's okay.  I love being a mom! 

4th Plans:

My father-in-law bought a smoker and is planning on smoking some BBQ for the 4th.  Can you say YUMMY?!?!  The rest of us are in charge of bringing sides.  We still haven't decided what we are bringing.  Oh, I cannot wait.  I'm hoping my munchkin' can stay awake for the fireworks. We shall see...

Have a great day!

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Thanksgiving Freebie

Friends,

It's been quite a week in my little ol' room.  My little ones took the ITBS test for three days this week and it just drains us.  I like to stick to a schedule, and felt off all week.  Two more days and then we can get back to our regular routine.  

First, I want to share that my niece arrived yesterday.  She is just perfect.  She was a week early and weighed a whopping 5 pounds 12 ounces.  TINY, TINY, TINY!  It's hard to believe that my little one was once little.  She seems huge compared to Brayden's weight of 6 pounds 11 ounces.  LOVE her to pieces already and can't wait to love her on some more.  

Here she is, friends.  Lindsay Hunter-Grace Mejia

I have some serious baby fever right now.  Hopefully, holding her will fix it.  We aren't quite ready for another one yet.  

I am so thankful to all of you.  November is the month where everyone shows how appreciate they are.  I don't just appreciate all of y'all in November.  I appreciate y'all all the time.  I've enjoyed meeting and making new friends.  I just love y'all to pieces.

I made a Thanksgiving Making Words Freebie for you.  Click below if you can use it in your room.  My little ones absolutely love making words out of bigger words.  So much fun! 

Getting ready to head back out and love on my new niece.  There's so football today, so she has all of my attention. :-)

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Summer Scented Rice (Future Math or Reading Center???)

Hello, Friends!

I found an idea through Pinterest on creating some summer scented rice.  I just knew that my Brayden would have a blast.  Click here to see the original link. 

I got to thinking.  I bet my students would have fun writing their word wall words and doing their math facts in this rice.  I love that I can make the rice smell differently, too.  What fun all year long! Look for more posts in the future with my new set of kiddos. :-)

It wasn't hard to make at all!  All you need is some rice, water, Kool-Aid packet, and plastic baggie.  

First, put as much rice as you want in the bag.

Second, add the Kool-Aid packet.

Third, add the water and mix it all up. You can also add food coloring here to make the color more defined.You only need enough water to make the rice wet.  The more water you add, the longer it takes to dry. 

Last, place your wet rice in something to dry. I can't tell you how long it took to dry.  I waited an hour, and it was still a little wet. I left the house for a few hours, and it was dry when I came back. 

Now, it's time to play.  Lesson learned; this is messy with an 18 month old. We will play outside next time.  It was just too hot to play outside today. Amazingly, he didn't try to eat it.  :-) Brayden gave me some weird faces.  He thought it felt funny. He loved picking it up and dropping it...all over the floor.  Such fun!

The rice was all over the floor before I had time to write some word wall words.  I really think this could be a fun in a math or reading center.  Hmmmm....we will see.

I hope everyone has had a GREAT day! 

Lots of love,

Hello, Monday! :-) AND A New Packet

Hello, friends!

Today is my first day of summer vacation.  Hello, Monday.  Today I don't despise you.   Brayden woke me up at 8:00.  It's a NASTY, RAINY day so we have to stay inside.  Yuck!  So, I got out some paint and let Brayden paint for a little while.  Little while only being 10 minutes...he lost interest pretty quickly.  The first time painting was a success! 

Yesterday, I uploaded a polka dot and chevron themed classroom decor packet to TpT.  Click the picture below to go check it out.

But...I have a problem.  I LOVE polka dots.  I LOVE chevron.  I can't wait to tie them all together.  I still feel like a need a something else.  I asked my Facebook friends, and they helped a little.  Now, it's your turn.  What should I pair with chevron and polka dots?  Owls, little monsters, or football kids?  Whatcha think?

As always, I will give my newest packet to one of you.  I'm in love with a newish song on the radio.  If you can guess the name of song, I will email you my new packet.

Here are your clues:

It's a county music song.

It's by a fantastic blonde headed lady.

She is married to another country music singer.

Good luck!  Comment below and make sure to tell me what you think would pair well with chevron and polka dots.  I'd LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your help!

Lots of love,