Still Here!

Yes, it truly is me......blogging.  I kind of can't believe it myself!  When I looked at my last post, I was horrified to see that it was from late February.  I am thoroughly disgusted and ashamed of myself!  Well, kind of.  I was quite the busy beaver!

Anyhoo, I am here and back and ready to get back in the blogging realm.  As busy as I have been, I have truly missed my little life here in blogger land!

I am on summer vacation now.  We ended on June 10th.  This gives me more time.  Time to do what, I have no idea, but t-i-m-e people!  So excited!

I have been working on some new projects for TpT and my home and classroom.  I know that all of you probably have your summer bucket lists too.

Keeping it short today.  I just wanted to make sure that you knew I was still alive and kicking.  All's good (just really wet the last couple of days)!

February Currently

I know what you are thinking, "What is she doing?  She is going to be the very last person to link up for 'Currently' this month.  What's the point?"  I know that this is assuring myself a spot in the Slacker Hall of Fame, but late is better than never.  Who knows, maybe I wanted to be the last person to link up (can't say I don't have goals).

Listening

I like listening to books on tape, CD, playaway or whatever.  Let's face it, it doesn't matter what age we are, we still love to be read to.  I have always been a fan of Dean Koontz.  Lightning was one of my absolute favorites by him.  I download most of the books on my phone from the local library and listen to them on my commute or while up in my new office (more on that).

Loving

We have a 4 bedroom house.  Each of the girls have their own room, our room, and then a guest room.  The guest room used to have a queen size bed in it.  It was always my hot spot for dumping things.  More and more, anyone who visits us is a singleton, so why the need for the double bed?  Enter my wonderful mom who suggested I put in a day bed and make the rest of the room my office.  She. Is. Brilliant!  I don't have any before pictures, but here are some afters.  I am not done (walls need more color), but you get the idea.

Thinking

We have 2 more weeks of our school wide Fountas and Pinnell testing.  I feel like I am drowning in data.........in a good way.

Wanting

Don't think I need to comment!

Needing

Love having Lilah around.  She is really starting to settle in, she's getting used to her crate, and knock on wood, we have not had an accident in the house in a month.  HOWEVER, I am having a problem with all of the dog hair on my dress clothes.  I use the little rolls of tape on a handle (don't know what they are called), but it is not good enough.  Her hair is short and coarse, so it really grabs a hold of my dress clothes and won't let go.  Any ideas are welcome!

2 Truths and a Fib

Yes, I could do the limbo on roller skates. I am not sure what the current world record is, but my best was

8 inches.  I looked a lot like this:

I do have an aunt named Betty Crocker!

The last is the fib.  I did enter the Miss Macomb pageant while in college.  Most embarrassing moment of my life was when they called my contestant number as the winner, but someone else's name.  For a whole 2 minutes I shared the title with the other girls until the judges confirmed it was not me who won, it was her.  I like to think of those moments as character building.  I built A LOT of character that day! :)

Thanks for reading!

Currently

It is 9:30 here in the Midwest, and the eternal question on every school-age child (and teacher alike) is:  Will there be school on Monday due to the extreme, seriously cold temperature coming that day.  The high will be -13 degrees!  I know that somewhere in the world it is colder, but man!

I am linking up with Farley for this month's Currently.

I must comment on the first one.  Listening.  My little one listened to the Frozen soundtrack ALL DAY TODAY.  The whole time she was practicing a performance that she lured her older sister into, and then performed for the hubs and I later in the evening.  The songs are so catchy, and I have been a fan of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel for a long time.

Have a great rest of your Saturday and keep your fingers crossed for me and others for a Cold Day on Monday!

Five For Friday

If you have read my past few posts, and especially my November Currently, then you know we were thinking about getting a dog.  Then I read my friend's post about losing his dog, and it was equally touching and funny.  I think that sealed the deal with me making up my mind, and I started looking at Pet Finder to find a dog.  We were looking at Golden Retriever dogs because that is what we had before.  So, today, my Five For Friday is going to be 5 things about the newest member of our family.

So upon looking at Pet Finder, I was amazed and saddened by some of the stories about the dogs and their past.  We were not looking for a puppy.  It just wouldn't be fair to it with the hubs and I both working full time.  I didn't look at any more dog profiles once I saw this one.  Meet LILAH, the most crazy Golden Retriever, Chow mix you will ever know!

We called about her and were lucky that the foster parents lived nearby.  Within 2 days, she was on her way to meet us.  The foster parents had no concerns about our home and left her with us that day!  It also happened to be my youngest's 7th birthday (her golden birthday, pun intended)!

We definitely have had some adjusting to do.  She doesn't like it when her humans leave and tends to get a little panicky.  Something we found out the hard way when we came home and our home was destroyed!  She even chewed on our stairs!  We never used baby gates with our children, but have installed 2 since we got Lilah!  She can also open the gates we had installed.  We took her to the vet and then brought her home to run errands, and this is what we came home to!

We had to go back to the vet that same day because she had gotten into the chocolate cookies (you know the ones with the Kisses on top).  They kept her for a few hours so they could make her throw it all up.  Needless to say, we are looking into getting her "crate trained." for her protection, and to avoid any future destruction.  

We also found out the hard way, that she is not spayed like the rescue said that she was.  We are going to get it taken care of, but can't right now because she is in heat!  It is a big pain in the butt.  Thankfully, she keeps the doggie diapers on.  And honestly, she looks really cute in them!

So, in a nutshell, it is much more work than I remembered with our other dog (over 7 years ago).  But what my family is getting back from this naughty, yet truly lovable companion, is so much more!  I don't think I realized how much she had gotten into my heart until I picked her up from the vet after her chocolate incident.  She put both of her front paws on my chest and thoroughly licked my face.  The people working at our vet commented on how much she is already attached to us.  That made me feel wonderful!  She is so sweet, but vicious to her stuffed toys (I've seen the massacre).  She is a great napping buddy, and I look forward to the morning wake up call she gives me every morning by jumping up in bed and not so gently nudging me out of my spot (not to let her out, but she wants my spot in the bed)!

We are very lucky that this wonderful, nutty dog has come into our lives!

Happy Friday everyone!

Resolution Time

I love the new year.  I love a fresh start, a clean slate.  However, I am realistic about resolutions.  I feel like the pirates on Pirates of the Caribbean, they are really more like guidelines.  I usually also try not to make more than 3 every year.

So, here it is time once again, to think about what you want for yourself in 2014.  I am linking up with
First Grade Nest.  She has a great New Year's resolution linky!

Okay, here we go!

Our district has so many new things going on, that teachers are finding it hard to keep up with everything.  I would love to ease that burden if I could.  I would love to hold a weekly brown bag professional development lunch.  If I say weekly, then I am sure that I could keep up with a monthly one.

I would like to read 4 professional books this year.  I have started a couple, but need to finish them.

In the past two years, I have consistently lost about 20 pounds.  I would like to lose the last 10 pounds this year.  These are going to be the hard ones.  I haven't done anything drastic, just always keeping it in the back of my mind.

Stay more organized.  I hate it when I miss deadlines or miss out on something because of my disorganization.  It drives it me crazy.  I know that staying organized is all about routine, routine, routine.

I really, really want to see Walt Disney World during the holidays.  I have heard it is just magical (even more than usual)!

I have never had sushi.  I always eat the cooked kind.  I believe that is cheating!  I need to go with someone who knows what they are doing.  I am going to have to ease in.

I would love to learn how to do Yoga.  I don't even know if it is something you can learn, or you just have to do, but I'm intrigued!  You may not know this about me, but I don't handle stress well!  I feel like this would be a great way for me stay grounded and handle the everyday stresses better.

I would love to give up my awesome ability to procrastinate!  Anyone have a pill for that?

READ!  I recently have taken time to more reading for pleasure, but that is usually at the cost of something else (laundry).  My goal is to read 52 books this year.  For you math experts that is right:  one a week!

Don't shoot me, but I have never read the book To Kill a Mockingbird or seen the movie It's a Wonderful Life.  I would love to do both this year.

Whew!  That is a lot to take on!  Okay, who is going to have the linky in June (halfway through the year) to see how we are all doing with our resolutions?

Thirteen in 13

I am sitting here in my dining room watching the snow fall out the window.  We have about 12 inches already, and it is still coming down.  But don't worry, it has to get better.  The forecast for Monday (the day we go back to school), the high is supposed to be -8!  Ugh!

I am linking up today with Miss Kindergarten, Dragonflies in First, and A Teeny Tiny Teacher for a look back at 2013.

It has been a crazy, busy year.  Here is what I have been up to.

I don't really have a favorite article of clothing.  Anything comfortable.  I have been buying some new clothes lately (lost weight and my pants keep falling down darn it).  My new favorite store is Maurices.

Frozen was so cute!  I have always been a Disney fan.  Growing up The Little Mermaid and The Lion King were my favorites.  This is my new favorite.  The music is outstanding!  The talented singers really make the movie.

I am completely addicted to a couple of shows.  Right now my favorites are:

My absolute favorite restaurant is on Maui, but I don't get to go there very often.  It is called Mamma's Fish House.  My second favorite is The Melting Pot.

I have been using a new calendar app for the past 4 months.  I LOVE it!  So much better than Google calendar.  After the new version of the iPhone, the calendars on it were not so appealing to me anymore.  I love this new one.  It is called CalenMob.  Try it, you'll love it!

I have always felt like after 15 years of marriage, you should be able to re-register.  Towels are starting to fray and rip, your pots and pans are starting age, and the colors in your house have probably changed.  So, I have been eyeing these new dishes for about 3 years.  My mom got a great deal this year at Kohl's and bought them for me.  I told her that I didn't need them.  She said that is what Christmas is about, getting something that you don't need, but want.  I love her for that!

I love this inspirational quote.  This seems to be the theme of my resolutions for the new year.

As you will see in #4 below, we added to our family with our adoption of a Golden-Chow mix named Lilah.  So, I am in a doggie honeymoon stage right now.  I love this post from my good friend Matt Sutton over at Digital Divide and Conquer about his dog.  Made me cry and laugh.  I think it was the motivation I needed to actually look for our newest addition.

This past year has been a great accomplishment for me.  I started my Teachers Pay Teachers store and started this little blog of mine.  This has been such a wonderful learning experience for me.  I think every week, I learn something new.  I can't think of a better accomplishment.

I have way too many pictures that are my favorites, but this is my latest favorite.  The newest member of our family (more to come on that later) has not been spayed, so we have resorted to using doggie diapers until we can get it done.  They really are kind of cute!

My husband and I were able to go to Maui in the summer of 2013.  It was an amazing trip!  This is me at the top of Mt. Haleakala.

My goal for 2014 is to blog at least once a week.  I have other personal goals but I will probably share them in another blog post.

When I get overwhelmed, this word always seems to bring me back to center and what is important.

Happy New Year!