Monday Made It

Hi all just made it back from Dallas and visiting friends!! What a great trip! Mom is headed to KC to visit and help get my classroom set up and here are a few of the crafts that she got put together to bring with her! So we are linking up with Tara at 4th grade frolics to share! Go check out all of the super creative teachers over there!

Summer "Tea-riffic" packets with tagged water bottles. In place of ribbon, she upcycled and used some of her t-shirt ribbons. I always have to have a straw so the mom that spoils me added straws too. Planning to make a few more to give to my teacher friends at my school! Click on the picture to get the free printable to make some for your friends.

Then she hooked up this really cute clipboard! Cheap deal! Mom got tons of the clipboards from the resale shops so that we could make them cute! She paid .25 for each of them!! Great place to check for clip boards.

 Now a few more cute cute cute pretties for my class! I have mainly black and then bright primary colors. So the crayons, markers, and colored pencils go perfect! She up-cycled a glass jar by putting crayons all around! 

Then she found a bright red frame at the resale shop for .50 and then added new colored pencils! Then she put in the picture of my sweet girl in her Pete the Cat outfit from when she helped me introduce Eric Litwin at the CYY conference!!!

So there are our crafty made it's for Monday! Hopefully we inspired someone! Don't forget the "tea" freebie! Make your friends feel appreciated!

Anyone else have a great way to use crayons or markers to decorate?

Mom gets here tomorrow so hopefully we will have lots more to share later this week!!

Much Love, Autumn & Ruth

Sunday Funday in Dallas

Sometimes I wonder if I like the Sunday Smorgasboard so much because I get to blab about random stuff that is really all about me?? My goal is to try to include at least 1 teacher/school/learning thing in this Sunday Smorgasboard. Great news all the other bloggers linked up over at Fabulous in First also like to blab about random stuff!!

1. We came to Dallas for the weekend to visit friends! My husband and I both have best friends from high school that live in Dallas! We went to different high schools! He was in Brooklyn and I was in southern Missouri but we both have best friends in Dallas! They had a huge party while we were there!! My hubby was in heaven! They fixed tons of West Indian food so he felt at home!!The Caribbean "punch" was my favorite! My BFF and I were able to take the little miss to see the Dallas world aquarium!! We had a great weekend!!

2. My mom arrives tomorrow afternoon and I am so excited! My hubby is even excited to grill for her. He even promised my favorite, steak! Mom comes to help me get my classroom ready. She loves me so much!!


3. Our hot water heater went out the day before we left. unexpected bad news...BOO


4. Here is my little **teacher moment** last year I created a little sheet about "All about number..." I used this with my class. Hopefully you can use it too!!

 

 

4. The Red River is Red! We watch lots of football so I knew about the Red River Rivalry and now I have seen that the red river is red!

 

 

 

Much Love Autumn & Ruth

Classroom "Must Haves"

I am linking up with Primary Possibilities for Wednesday Wisdom. The theme this week is your must haves in the classroom! Here are a few of mine.


1. I  have an extra large tervis cup of water (the new water bottle tervis is my favorite!), but sometime during my day, I have a Dr. Pepper (she has tried to downsize to the half-can size) 

 

 

2. Ladybug document camera. I was honestly a bit intimidated by this at first but it is awesome and one of the easiest pieces of technology to use. I know I need to learn more than the basic uses, but you can turn it on and start using immediately.

 3. Premade supply boxes of pencil boxes with supplies. This way when Johnny walks in on day 24 with no supplies I am not digging thru cabinets to find him crayons and then glue, etc. All necessary supplies are right there. I have seen several pins on the new student bags and plan to try this for this year also. The bag has the name labels for all around the room, a welcome letter, and other needed items for a new student.

 

 

4. Line Order!!! Ever listen to the no I was here first crying sniffling argument? Well I haven't since I started using line order!! Day 1 the kids have an order. I do boys line/girls line (easier for bathroom breaks). Then everyone has a spot. At the end of the week the line leader goes to the end and everyone moves up. Sometimes small adjustments are necessary when 2 talkers are next to each other but the kids adjust to it! I print the line order out and hang it up but I also print a mini version and use packing tape to cover it and put it on the back of my id badge. That way when you are on the playground and no one remembers where to line up, you have it right there without carrying around a big paper!

I am sure I have a dozen more necessary things but when your not in the trenches at the moment its hard to think of all the things you deem critical!!

What are your must haves? Or any suggestions on how I can make my must haves even better??

Much Love,
Autumn & Ruth

 

 

 

Sissy's Bathroom Picture & Freezer Meals

Last week I desperately wanted to link up for made it Monday and I searched the house for something I could take a picture of.... But I am pretty sure no one wanted to see a picture of my "made" bed.

But great news I made things this past week!!!  I actually jumped in feet first and now I have 13 meals in the freezer ready for the school year to start. I am hoping the recipes are good!!!

I also finished the cutest picture for Naomi's bathroom! It was a family project! Na's handprints, I finished the butterfly and put the ribbon on the edges, then my hubby wrote the scripture on! I think we are going to do another one with her feet as a butterfly.

 

And mom made these super cute buses out of Hershey nuggets candy. Wonder if there are any left or if Poppy ate them all??

So cute to use as a first day treat! Or later for an appreciation gift! SO easy too!!

 

We are linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Made it Monday!

 

Much Love Autumn & Ruth

Insta Grab for Instagram

The other day I had a friend mention an app called insta grab. She did a quick explanation to tell me that it allows you to have 2 or more instagram accounts and switch back and forth between them easily. Well today I went on and downloaded it!! It works perfectly. One click of the button to switch between my personal account and the school/blog account I have!

 

1. Right after you download it you will be asked to sign in. So then you sign in your instagram account. Next go to the top of the page and click the 3 lines for the menu.

 

 

 

2.Then click your profile picture.

 

2b. Next click the wheel next to the Accounts.

 

 

 

3. Now you will be asked to put in the information for your other account.

 

 

4. And tada you can now switch back and forth between account!

 

Well worth the .99!!

I found this little nugget and then checked bloglovin to find out that Primary Possibilities is having a linky for Wednesday Wisdom!! So perfect timing to link up! Hope someone else can use this info!!

Much Love,
Autumn & Ruth

Sunday Ramblings.......Linky

WOW I should be incredible at this one! I love to ramble! Usually when my husband is watching the end of a game or a big sports announcement! This is like a free pass to share about all the junk you are pretty sure no one cares about except maybe some of you do care. I sure do like see you all ramble!! GO check out everyone's randomness over at Fabulous in First!!


ONE:
Freezer cooking?? Do you do it? Have you tried? I am plotting and planning to give it a go. I think I have settled on a set of menus! They have gotten really good reviews and they are all set to go in the crockpot. I am hopeful this will be helpful when I go back to school to have a few quick meals!!

TWO:
Birthday Party....
My daughter with be 3 at the beginning of September! She is in love with Doc McStuffins but also loves the farm. So what do we pick?? An at home party decked out with all the pink and purple and doctor stuff!!


Or a party at our local Children's Farmstead decked out with all the cow and pigs and bandanas you can see...


Okay those are the 2 random things on the tip of my brain....

Much Love Autumn & Ruth

AN Award and bloglovin.....

So I made the leap to bloglovin and in the transition it looks like I lost MANY followers... : (

But the good news is I made the transition and then this morning I wake up to a message from Anna over at Gluesticks 'N Giggles. She nominated our little blog for the Liebster Award. WOOHOO!!!

<a
href="http://gluesticksngiggles.blogspot.com"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
Qr8KJeLLhJQ/UblTuI4Hl5I/AAAAAAAALvQ/RC5OJqSQoEE/s1600/button.png" alt="Gluesticks N Giggles" width="150"
height="150" border="0">


 The rules for receiving the award are as follows:

- Link back to the original nominator's website

- You must post 11 random things about yourself
- Answer the questions the nominator set for you
- Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate
- Nominate 5 - 11 blogs (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post

 















Random Facts About Me:

• I have a daughter that is 2 and a half and a son that is 18! Yep crazy!
• I love yoga and finally got to do it on the beach this summer.
• 
   
• My mom is my very best friend in the whole world.
• My husband is my other best friend!
• I was a high school drop out.
• I love shoes and feel like I always need a new pair!
• My husband and I love to entertain and host parties!
• I love to hear my British in laws say my name!
• I love plants and flowers but have a black thumb hand.
• I watch a ton of reality TV and am now embarrassed that I admitted that!!
• I read tons of fiction in the summer!!

 

Answers to Anna's Questions:

 

1. How long have you been teaching?

I am starting my 11th year! All of my teaching has been in kindergarten. I have been in my current building for 10 years.

2. What is your favorite subject to teach? Why?

Subject....With kindergarten there is so much overlapping but I guess if I had to pick one subject I would say writing(although I feel lost most of the time) Love seeing the kids grow in their writing!

3. If you couldn't be a teacher, what other career would you pursue?

I am not sure...Maybe a party planner.

4. What is your favorite part of summer vacation?

Spending time with my own kids oh and sleeping in!!

5. Do you have a classroom theme?

Last year when mom came in August we simplified all my bulletin boards with black fabric and borders with bright primary colors, so I guess that is the closest to a theme I have!

6. How long have you been blogging?

A year and a half

7. What is your favorite food?

Steak! that was about the only thing that didn't make me sick when I was pregnant with my daughter. I think I could eat steak about everyday!

8. What is your favorite children's book?

Polar Express! I love Christmas with all the wonder and magic and love!

9. What was your first job?

Writing out sales receipts at my grandparents lumber yard. My first paying job was McDonalds!!

10. What is your favorite school related app or computer program to use?

For the kids I really like Little speller and our new starfall apps!

11. What is your favorite non-school related app or computer program to use?

Right now I am loving the music app SONGZA. It is the coolest  music app ever!! 

 

Now my 11 questions ( may have a few repeats!)

1. How long have you been teaching?

2. Do you have a classroom theme?

3. What is your favorite school related app?

4. What is your favorite non school related app?

5. What is the best characteristic of your best friend?

6. Beach or Mountains? Why?

7. Do you wear jeans to work?

8. What was your best teaching moment?

9. Coffee or other morning drink?

10. What is your favorite dinner?

11. Reality TV good or junk?

 

My nominees are.......

My Kinder Garden Blog

Kinderlove and Learning

Just Diving In

Elementary Nerd

Mrs. Poultney's Ponderings

 

Go check them out & show them some bloggy love!!

Much love Autumn & Ruth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloglovin......

Feel like I should put dunh dunh dunh........

I feel like I am barely a blogger and now they are doing bloglovin....Don't get it.....
But the directions say copy this in a new post.....

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5657985/?claim=sht48yf3td3">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

SO here we go.....

4th, Farm, Museum, and a flower girl

Summer just seems to fly by!! In the last week we have been really busy. We had family and friends in for the 4th. We have huge bar b que and by the time the fireworks show starts near by we had probably 100 people on our street. Between our party and the neighbors!!

 

Then Na got her first gig as a flower girl! Our nephew got married. It was a beautiful country wedding with an amazing couple!

 

Then we headed to the museum with friends! At our county museum they have all sorts of neat things for the kids to pretend play with! We especially loved the tractor!

 

Last but not least we went to the children's farmstead down the street! The goats were the favorite!

 

So basically I guess we did a thematic unit on farms and then threw in patriotism!! LOL

Hope you are all having as much fun this summer as we are! Now to start getting some work done to be ready for August!!

 

Much Love Autumn & Ruth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linking Party Tic Tac Toe

My favorite grade to teach and why?  My favorite grade to teach was Kindergarten because of the innocence and the thrill of life.

My favorite clothes and shoes store.  I really like shopping for grand daughters more than for myself. I enjoy ordering unique thing on Etsy or shopping at my local Belk's. And yes, I get things at Sam's, Walmart, Target, or anywhere else.

Hobbies- I enjoy playing I my yard with plants, bushes, and trees. I  split plants and repot lots. Also, I learn to make concrete paths and decorate with wind chimes, bird bathes, feeders, and other ideas from pinterest.