Hello 2016!

I promise I am going to start posting more than once a month!! ;) There was so many times I wanted to sit down and write about our adventures in Third Grade or the fun preschool things we are doing at home, but the last months of the year were pretty much survival for me while I dealt with morning , I mean, all day sickness and trying to keep up with the boys, the house, lesson plans, etc. etc. But I definitely turned a corner in December and started to get life {mostly} on track at home, so now I am ready to add more things back on my plate! ;) 

So to start the new year, I will be linking up with Farley's Currently and hopefully I will figure out a good posting schedule from here on out!

{listening}

Silence is truly GOLDEN. It's been a very wet couple of weeks and the boys' energy is a little too much for this small house sometimes! It's nice at the end of a loud day to have a little peace and quiet. 

{loving}

That may not make sense to most people, but I spent most of this week thinking the 1st fell on a Saturday. (pregnancy brain!) So when I realized that New Years Eve was a Thursday, and I have a whole extra day, I was quite thankful! And Will has off on Monday, so that gives me an extra day with him at home too... then it's back to school for all of us on Tuesday!

{thinking}

I have not thought about goals, resolutions, or anything for this new year! This pregnancy has left me TIRED and I honestly don't want to set any goals for myself that I am not going to be able to keep up with! BUT I do think some small monthly goals would help me accomplish some of the things that have been hanging over my head. I was able to get a huge chunk of lesson plans figured out this week, but I definitely have some TPT projects that need to be completed, and I want to figure out a way to keep up with the housework that piles up every day!

{wanting}

I want a ME day. At home. Where I can do WHATEVER I want, WHENEVER I want to. With no one needing anything from me, wanting me to get more food, needing me to change diapers, help solve disputes...

I recharge with solitude and I think after a busy couple of months I need to day just to myself. 

{needing}

Seriously. There are so many areas of my house that need a good cleaning. But its getting harder and harder to bend down, or fit in the tight space, etc. I already have my 5 year old follow me around with a little dust pan to clean up what I sweep up so I don't have to bend over! But I love to start the New Year with a clean house and that is definitely not happening this year! ;)

{one little word}

GRACE--for myself and those around me. I need to show LOTS of grace to my boys even when I am exhausted. Grace to my husband who is swamped with school and classes and trying to help out at home in the things I can't do well anymore. Grace to myself because I am TIRED and don't need to have it all together. Because sometimes pajama days where we watch a little too much TV and snack a bunch instead of eat real food is okay, if it means we can keep being happy and not overtired. So I want to show more grace. And accept it too.

So the goal is for most posts to show up on Wednesdays and Fridays! Wednesdays will be about all that is going on in third grade and Friday will be more of our preschool fun at home. My life is such a mix of both it's hard to not do both! ;) I hope you will follow along! 

Be sure to head back to Farley's Currently to read to find out what more teachers are currently up to! :)

Currently December!

It's December!

{listening}

Coffee brewing is always wonderful! Especially when there are no kids up yet!

{loving}

Our school takes a break from Thanksgiving through Christmas! It allows parents time to do other school stuff with their kids besides the homework we give, and I am definitely thankful for the extra time at home and break from school stuff! :)

{thinking}

So on Monday we found out we were expecting a GIRL! I was completely expecting to be adding a third boy into the mix, so I was quite excited to find out it was a girl! I have been spending way to much time on pinterest and look forward to getting crafty for this little girl. :) I have been really sick this pregnancy, which is why this blog has been totally neglected, but I am starting to get some energy back and have several posts to start working on! :)

{wanting}

I want to go baby shopping too, but I am trying to hold back! ;) She isn't due til April.

{needing}

The boys and I are going to go visit my dad for a couple days while my mom is out of town. Will has a ton of classwork and lesson plans to work on so I figured he could use some peace and quiet too.

{real or faux}

REAL! We started getting a real one about 2 or 3 years ago and I will never be able to go back! I love the smell and how beautiful the real ones are! This year I am giving in to Alex's wishes and going with colored lights though. I love the simplicity of white lights, but I guess the kiddo's desires trump that sometimes! ;)

Happy December everyone! :)

Be sure to link up with Farley's Currently!

Currently November

I can't believe it's already November! Time is flying by! I'm having trouble keeping up with life, so my Currently is a couple days late, but here it is!

{listening} 

raining again! I think our house feels forever slightly damp! It's an old house so I currently have a love/hate relationship with rain!

{loving}

We made Thai food tonight and it smells DELICIOUS. Thai food always makes me so happy! The leftovers are great too!

{thinking}

Our homeschool academy starts winter break the week before Thanksgiving! I need to start thinking about what we are going to do to celebrate the end of the semester. I'm thinking an Author's Celebration while we share our holiday narratives!

{wanting}

It's been a long day! I am ready for the boys to go to bed so I can follow soon! :)

{needing}

I am kind of keeping up with the everyday cleaning. But there are some areas in my house that really need a deep, deep cleaning! I'm just trying to find the energy for it! 

{yummy}

I love making Thanksgiving every year just to be able to make my mom's stuffing! I think it is from an old betty crocker cookbook, but it is amazing! I make a double batch every year and it is perfect leftovers!

Linking up with Farley's Currently!

Currently October

Hello October!

{Listening}

Alex is so funny when he is talking and playing. Liam slept in today so it was nice to have a quiet morning!

{Loving}

I've been ready for cooler weather to come in. And we are getting ready for lots of rain, so hanging out with coffee under a blanket today is the best idea ever!

{Thinking}

We finished up our first units for Writing and Literature. Now we are moving into using our Voices in writing and beginning to think deeply about what we are reading to build comprehension. I like to try and plan out the whole unit at once so I make sure to know where I am taking them. I am excited for these to start because they are ready to really go deep with their comprehension. I am thinking about using Patricia Polacco as an author study because there is a lot we can connect to her books in both writing and literature!

{Wanting}

Now to find the time to get the planning done! I need a kid free afternoon sometime to be able to devote to planning. I work better in this kind of situation with a big chunk of time instead of trying to do it over the needs of the boys! :)

{Needing}

I keep renewing my library books online, but am so ready to take them back and get new ones out. We just can't find a time to go, and I have SO many books out right now that I am trying to plan a time when Will can come along so that he can help me with all the books and the boys. I also need to check out a bunch of Polacco books for our study. 

{BOOtiful}

Fall puts me in such a good mood. From the beautiful, bright colors of apples and pumpkins to the pretty design on my PSL starbucks cup. And all the other colors in between. And because its scarf weather. I love it. Its the little things in life that make it so beautiful!

Linking up with Farley's Currently party!

Hope you all enjoy a wonderful October! :)

Currently August

I'm a little late to the party, but August definitely crept up on me! ;)

{listening}

we had a really fun morning out at the zoo, but the heat totally wore me out, and we have watched a little too much TV this afternoon. #mommyfail #keeping it real Every once nice in a while it's okay though! 

{loving}

It's so fun to watch my boys at this stage! There is definitely lots of refereeing but life is fun with those too. We are hosting a Chinese high schooler for a couple of days and he was commenting on how he never had anyone to play with at home. It made me realize how fortunate my boys are to have each other as playmates!

{thinking}

Since I am teaching only two days a week at a homeschool academy this year, we jump into the curriculum a little faster than I am used to. My kids will have also spent the last several years together so I will be the newbie coming in getting to know them! I have been thinking a lot about how I want to jump in to the first days, but still use lots of time to get to know the kids too!

{wanting}

I have a huge pile of books to read, but by the time the boys are tucked in I am exhausted too and don't have the brain power to really dive in to some of the professional books I want to read. I need to figure out our schedule better to work in some reading time for me during the day! How do you think independent reading would look with a 4 year old and 2 year old? ;) I think my 4 year old could give me 20 minutes looking at books, but my 2 year old, not so much!

{needing}

I love the quiet hours after the boys are tucked in... but during summer they always seem to go to bed later which makes me go to bed later! I need to make myself go to bed much earlier than I have been!

{b2s rak}

This is such a great idea! :) My new teammates (the 4th and 5th grade teachers) have been especially wonderful. My boys will be going to the same school as well. Anyways, the bananas are piling up in my freezer so a special loaf for the first day of school would be a fun treat! :)

I'm linking up with Farley's Currently! See what all the teachers are up too! :)

Currently July

It's July! That means it's time for Farley's Currently! :) 

{listening}

I love it when i find a new show on netflix. I love murder/crime dramas, and British accents are always a plus so Death in Paradise is perfect! ;) But it takes place in the Caribbean, so it makes me want to be next to the beach!

{loving} 

After a busy June (read about it here), its been nice to have a lazy week at home, except of course, how lazy can you be with two kiddos at home! 

{thinking}

Next year I am teaching 3rd grade in a new setting! Today I did some work to redesign my blog to match! :) I have been meeting with some of the teachers I will be working with to plan out some stuff so my brain has been running a mile a minute! It's a part time position, so I am looking forward to some preschool fun at home too! 

{wanting}

I have a whole list of projects to work on to get ready for next year, but I am having so much trouble focusing on one thing too long. I work on a little bit here and there, but my boys are taking up lots of attention (and rightly so!) I need to figure out how to manage my time and our days a little bit better, especially with lots more time at home next year!

{needing}

I REALLY need to get into an exercise routine. And I can't use the hot weather as an excuse! Now that we are done traveling and I can start building some routines that are not just summer based, I need to get on track!!

{All Star} 

I love being able to help others. If I have a resource, I love to pass it along--ideas, strategies, making treats for the hallway. I always feel happier when I can be a help to others! I think that is why I have enjoyed selling on TPTs too, because I get to see how sometime I make has helped others! :)

Hopefully in July I will actually find time to start blogging more too! The break from everything has been needed, but I've been thinking about lots of things in THIRD grade that I am looking forward to sharing! I need to start connecting with some more 3rd grade teachers too, so I can get more ideas!

Currently June!

It's definitely the end of the school year! I am having trouble keeping up. :) 

But, I'm only 3 days late for Farley's Currently! Here is what is going on...

{listening}

silence is golden right now. School day is done, kids are in bed, and I am learning to enjoy the sound of silence more and more!

{loving}

last year the format of our end of year awards changed and it went from being a grade level assembly to a classroom celebration. I love the change because it has become a lot more special to our class. I used the awards from Fabulous in First and The Sweetest Thing. I made a slide show for the class using smilebox.com and then read the sweetest book, I Wish You More, at the end. If you don't already own it, you HAVE to get it! I had quite a few parents, so it was special. It was especially bittersweet because they are my last group of first graders to celebrate for a while!

{thinking}

2 more days! Half days with kiddos at that! The last days will be filled with some fun times and cleaning up the classroom! 

{wanting}

Our spare room is filled to the brim with stuff I have been bringing home from school. It is a serious mess and I am really wanting to start sorting through everything, but its not a project I have time to start right now! 

{needing}

I usually live by lists, but have not been able to keep up with everything that is going on! I know I will forget something if I don't take time to sit down and write out what I need to do... If I accomplish anything tonight I guess it should be that!

{summer lovin}

June is busy with a wedding and two family reunions in Illinois, Ohio and PA. We have one more wedding in July and then I fully intend to make sure we have some DO NOTHING time! I am so wiped out I know I am going to need to make sure we take it easy and don't take time to get caught up on rest. Ending out the school year is never very restful! 

Well that is what is going on! Be sure to check out what others are up to as well! :)

Currently: May

It's already been a busy start to May! But I'm slowing down long enough to join Farley's Currently Linky Party! 

{listening}

I love all cop and crime dramas! lol. So right now on Netflix I am doing a Hawaii-Five Oh marathon. Some background noice while I get other stuff done! ;)

{loving}

We went strawberry picking today and so I have been enjoying some of the strawberries with Trader Joe's Cookie Butter! Delicious! The strawberry cupcakes we had earlier were pretty amazing too! :)

{thinking} 

This time of year I always start noticing how dirty and disorganized my house is! The first couple weeks of summer I love to get it all back in order, but we will be gone a lot of June, so its going to be staying dirty for a while! :(

{wanting}

I have fun figuring out all the blogging stuff... but its been a while since I have had time to play around with it. Hopefully I will have time soon to make some fun little changes and additions.

{needing} 

Our boys have not been sleeping well. Will usually gets up with them at night, but its been SO much recently that I have been getting up some too or at least waking up. It's getting really old. I am heading to bed very soon. Hopefully everything we did today will wear them out enough.

{summer}

YES: My family is spread out all over the world and the US, so I am super excited we get to spend a week with them all this summer. Then the week after we will head to a more extended family reunion for my dad's side! 

HOPE: We don't have any beach plans set in stone, but I am hoping we can at least go for some day trips this summer. That is the great thing about living in SC... you are never too far from the ocean!

DREAM: I know. ANSWERS are a weird thing to "dream" for, but there are some changes happening this summer and we don't have all the answers yet. I'm hoping and praying that God will continue to unfold his plan, but in the meantime, the trusting part can be a little tricky sometimes! 

BUT, He does tend to answer with more than we ask or dream, so I am excited to see what He has in store for us...

at least I know this dream will probably come true! ;)

Happy May!!

Currently April

The beginning of the month came and went and it wasn't until today that I remembered there is always a Currently with Farley to look forward too! :) I blame the fact that my brain is on spring break! 

{listening} I'm catching up on shows over break, so Will and I had saved up a bunch of Parks and Rec episodes to watch. OH. My. Goodness. that series finale about had me in tears! It was the perfect way to wrap up the show. Gave me lots of closure, which is what I always need at the end of a series! ;)

{loving} Spring break has been good to me this year! Just the right amount of busyness and productivity, but lots of rest and fun times in there too! I can't believe it is almost done though.

{thinking} I want to work on a new tpt product, knit, or read. I don't know which one I will do yet, but my fun to do list is definitely not going to get completed this break! 

{wanting} Ice cream sounds like the perfect ending to this crazy day... but thankfully there is none in the house! It's too tempting to have around much! But the boys were both in moods today and it made for an exhausting day!

{needing} I stayed up way to late last night and am exhausted today. Its going to be hard to readjust to waking up so early next week! I'm more of a night owl... especially in the busy days when my only ME time is at night!

{the name} Teaching and learning is a journey that we never quite have all the answers. But the more we inquire, the more we will grow in our understanding of the world around us! I hope that my blog reflects the questions I have and my journey to find the answers! :)

Currently March

Are we seriously in March already?! Its a new month, which means a new currently! ;) I'm linking up with Farley's Currently!

The boys are going to bed, but Alex starts crying because his ear hurts. So he gets to hang out with me in the living room until Liam falls asleep... thanks to those giggles, I can assume he will probably be okay! ;) 

This was such a PERFECT Sunday! From the text this morning that there was lunch for us at church, to the fun-filled afternoon making puppets, going grocery shopping with Alex, then family game time, and we ended with family movie night. I think Big Hero 6 is going to be a new favorite in this house! 

Next year, which really means next school year, so life after June. Not really sure what it will all look like. It's going to be different. Will and I are pursuing some different options, but we really don't know how everything is going to pan out. I think about it a lot, but try not to worry. TRY. key word there! ;)

This rainy, cold winter we have had has thrown off my exercise routines... Plus my boys need more time outside and indoor recess needs to stop. Spring needs to get here soon. With all its sunny blue skies. Except maybe not the pollen!

Last week we had two delays and a program, etc. We didn't get much done that I had planned... It threw some of my kiddos off a lot and I am hoping this week is more normal so we can build up our routines again. Delays can be a blessing or a curse!

Spring Break! Still four weeks away! I have lots of plans to get life a little bit more organized. It may or may not require a trip to Ikea. ;) I feel like I spend so much more time organizing life at school, but there are some things around the house that need to get cleaned up so we make better use of our small space!

Here's to a great month!

Currently February!

Its February! That means...

listening:

I love Kari Jobe and all the others at Bethel Music! Their music has really been encouraging to my soul recently. I discovered that they just came out with a new cd so had to grab it on itunes!

loving:

Is it bad that I am starting the count down already?? I have a bunch to do to get ready for tomorrow, but I needed a day like that. It's also been one of those years. I can do 80 days though! ;)

thinking:

Normally I try to have everything ready for next week by the previous Thursday, but that didn't happen this week, and now I'm sitting on my couch on a Sunday afternoon and still have a full week of lesson plans to complete.... 

wanting:

the to do list of what I want to do is so long, not to mention the list of things that need to get done! I think I need a day to relax, a day for church, then a day to be productive and get everything done. Its hard to cram everything into the weekend. But then, here I am, sitting on the couch not really using my time effectively. I will get started soon!

needing: 

my husband and I definitely need some wisdom for some decisions coming up... of course when I have lots on my mind I have so much trouble sleeping! And it is a busy week coming up with lots of parent conferences! Put that all together... 

and you get my pageant title: COFFEE QUEEN! 

Life is much more manageable with a cup of coffee in my hand! ;) 

and so its time to go start a new pot and get started with all the stuff I need to do.

Linking up with with Farley's Currently!

Happy February!

Currently January!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it is 2015! Time is going by so quickly,

TO quickly, but I am enjoying it all!

{for the most part}

New Year, New month means a new Currently!

I'm linking up with Farley's Currently.

Listening: I needed a new netflix show and I love old time mysteries. I have only watched one or two Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, but it seems pretty good. It's a show from Australia and kind of reminds me of Agatha Christie's books.

Loving: Christmas break! Does it need to end? I really needed this extended time at home to be a mom, wife, and have some personal time! I was tired from the first half of the year!

Thinking: I am such a night owl and that doesn't work with the early school hours! I need to get back on track!

Wanting: Now that the Christmas madness is over I want to shop some sales! I just need to find a time when I can go without the boys and actually try stuff on! ;)

Needing: Lesson plans... the dreaded words. I need to figure out what to do next week! Thankfully I have been noticing lots of freebies out there! I am going to have to go in to school in the next couple days and get everything back in order. I missed the last day of school so I have no idea what to expect! 

Yes: No more excuses! I need to take 20-30 minutes a day, by myself, to exercise and get fit! 

Maybe: I am a summer reader, but I would love to be better at reading all throughout the year.

I wish: I need a new adventure! I am praying for some change in 2015! Good change.

Looking forward to all that 2015 has in store for us!

December Currently!

It's December!!

Listening: So happy to get the new Chris Tomlin CD on a great black friday deal!

Loving: We got our tree on Saturday and had fun decorating it! Last year we switched to a real tree and it is the most wonderful thing in the world! Why did we not do it sooner?

Thinking: I had a huge to do list over Thanksgiving break and didn't even make a dent in it! There is not enough time in the day to get it all done!

Wanting: My house needs some serious TLC after thanksgiving! We had a full house and it needs a good clean up, but that will probably mostly wait until the weekend.

Needing: Half the reason my house is a mess is because not all the Christmas decorations have been put in their rightful spot yet! And none of the decorations are staying in their spots thanks to Alex and Liam!

Giving: For the next two days you can get my Measuring Snowman Center free! I put it out today and my kids really enjoyed it and it kept them busy at their station! Click on the picture to grab a copy!

I'm linking up with Farley's Currently!

November Currently

It's November! 

Listening

It is SO quiet in my house right now!!

Is anyone else like me? 

Will took Alex out to the park, Liam is sleeping, 

and I am loving the few moments of peace and quiet I get right now!

Between a bunch of first graders at school and 2 little boys at home, 

it doesn't happen that often! :)

Loving

I ran to Target this afternoon and was so excited 

that those huge bags of halloween candy were on sale! 

We hide it up high away from the boys and snack on it when we need a treat.

Thinking

My class decided to attempt composting in a bin this year. (You can read about it here)

And I am a little nervous that we might have attracted bugs into our room... 

I really want to check it to see if it is going okay! 

I am really excited for us to keep up with it over the next several weeks to see how it turns out!

Wanting

I was up earlier than my boys for Daylight Savings! 

That tiredness from life is catching up with me, 

but the minutes are too precious to sleep away!

Needing

Not sure why I told Alex we would bake cookies instead of just buying something from the store...

but we are new to preschool, snack time, 

and not wanting to seem like I am that mom that doesn't really try... 

So I told him we would make Alphabet cookies...

definitely not winning for sending in nutritional things, but at least they will be fun to make together.

Reading

I have been doing the latest Beth Moore Bible study on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, as well as reading through some of Paul's other epistles, and I am SO encouraged and challenged by it all! 

 I have so much to be thankful for! 

I'm linking up with Farley's Currently!

Currently: October Edition

This is my first time linking up to Oh' Boy 4th Grade's Currently Linky!

Listening... to Parks and Rec, well watching I guess. I can't ever keep up with current seasons of shows so I love watching Netflix on the weekends!

Loving... Fall is back in South Carolina! Hoping the weather stays cool like this. We had a nice little fall weather week and then it got hot again.... That does not make me happy! 

Thinking... My boys are napping I really should be getting something done around the house, but its the weekend. I love just being able to do what I want for a couple of minutes! 

Wanting... Naptime sounds really nice... ;)

Needing... My lesson plans are done, but my school to-do list is full of random things that need to get done... not to mention my cleaning to-do list! I can't keep up!

Treat! For the last couple of years we have done a fun pumpkin measuring activity in class! For this month you can find it as a freebie in my TPT store! Thanks for leaving some feedback! :)