Teacher Appreciation Week

We just had Teacher Appreciation Week at the PCP’s school.  The PTA does most of the leg work and coordinates something special each day.  Thursday was “supply day” and each class presented their teacher with a basket of supplies and other items from the teacher’s wish list.  A sweet mom in the PCP’s class went above and beyond and also organized a collection to have this sweet “I’m Special Today” chair painted for birthdays and other occasions.  Another mom provided the 31 Gifts tote, monogrammed with Mrs. B’s name, for the rest of the collected supplies.



I expect she’ll have the sweet chair in her classroom for many years to come.  The students signed their names on the bottom with a paint pen and were thrilled to give it to Mrs. B!

 
If you’re in charge of planning Teacher Appreciation activities or are just curious, here’s what the rest of the week held…

• Snack day – parent volunteers pushed snack carts through the hallways and had teachers pick a few special treats throughout the day.
• Lunch day – the room mom for each class delivered lunch to the teacher from her favorite restaurant
• Luncheon day – teachers were invited to a special luncheon in their honor

On another note, the baby woke up with this unique do this morning.  It exemplifies exactly what Sister was talking about when she penned the book “The Rats in My Hair” in second grade or so…



Have a good one, y’all!
xoxo

The Q-U Wedding

We kicked off our Valentine’s Day at the wedding of (the letters) Q and U in the PCP’s classroom.  It was a darling and elaborate affair that is a much loved tradition in Mrs. B’s first grade class.  As the parents arrived, we were completely wowed by the pink and purple tulle explosion that surely must be what seven year old dreams are made of :-)

Every detail of the wedding was meticulously thought out, planned for, rehearsed and executed.  It was truly impressive!  The groomsmen dressed as quarterbacks, and the bridesmaids as queens.  The flower girl dropped quarters as she walked down the purple aisle and the “vowel family” was prominently represented in the front row.

 

I must admit that my heart went a bit aflutter as the PCP / the groom / the letter U made his merry way down the aisle. 

  

All of the students perfectly executed their lines.  The PCP proudly pronounced to his bride “I do promise to stand by you in cursive and in manuscript.”  A high five sealed the deal.

And the happy pair was all smiles!

 

Should you like to watch the whole shebang, be warned that Honey changed the orientation half way through so you just might have a crick in your neck by the end :-)

Afterwards, the students served their parents at a small reception.  There were probably forty guests, with each student having at least one parent in attendance.

We couldn’t have been prouder of this sweet child.  I had to purposefully restrain myself from envisioning this same scene twenty years from now.

    

Their hard work was evident and the morning was not one we’ll soon forget.  We truly could not have lucked out with a better, more dedicated teacher!!  This was beyond “above and beyond”!

xoxo

M&M’s Around the World + Last Call Disney Books

The PCP has been learning the seven continents and five oceans in school and his teacher sent home a darling game to reinforce their studies at home.  So, after supper the other night I doled out m&m’s and we challenged each other’s luck and geography for dessert! 

You’ll need:
- 12 markers (we used mini m&m’s) for each player
- a dice
- a copy of the world map for each player (the one we used is here)



Each number rolled matches a part of the map:
1 – South America or North America
2 – Europe or Asia
3 – Africa, Antarctica or Australia
4 – Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean
5 – Arctic Ocean or Southern Ocean
6 – Indian Ocean




Honey and I both acted a little ignorant so that the PCP could help us figure out what was what on the map :-)

And while the PCP won by covering up all twelve points before anyone else, we all had a sweet treat at the end of the game!!
  


LAST CALL I'm only taking orders for the personalized Disney Signature Books through the 31st so order now if you know you're going to Disney!!  I will try to do another offer at least once a month from here on out but I'm not sure when that will be in February.



We're off to the doctor this afternoon for annual checkups.  Wish me luck... these visits always seem to go haywire :-)
xoxo

100th Day of School {Free Printable}

The PCP’s class celebrated the 100th day of school with a day full of fun and games (and I’m guessing at least a little learning)!  They did 100 piece puzzles, 100 themed word searches, activities and centers, enjoyed the annual 2nd grade dress-like-you’re-100-years-old parade, AND participated in a 100th day themed guessing game.

100th Day Bottle of Fun
Each student filled an empty 20-oz. bottle with 100 like items of their choice – and it was no surprise that the PCP chose Legos.  The bottles were then sealed in paper lunch sacks and sent in with three clues about their contents.  They played a guessing game to guess what was in each bottle.  FUN!! 




 

Download the bottle label here - it could really be used for anything! 

100 Days of School 

100th Day Necklaces
The PCP couldn’t wait to make 100 Day Fruit Loop necklaces for his classmates again this year!  In fact, the whole family got in on the fun (can you guess just how much fun Honey is having??)!!  The printable tag is below – one page for kindergarten and one page generic - and you can see last year’s post for all the details.

  

Download the bag topper here - 100 Days of School Tag 

The PCP reported back that it was one of his (albeit many) “best days ever”! 


He’s 100 days smarter and we’re 100 days closer to SuMmEr!!
xoxo

PS. Lest you think the PCP has all the fun, I assure you that the baby is the one truly living the life.  Lounging his days away with mommy tending to every whim and anticipating every need.  Case in point: luxuriating in his bear sleeping bag and watching Disney channel while I prepare his “third breakfast” of the morning :-)


Find me at: Between Naps on the Porch, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Shabby Creek Cottage, Tatertots and Jello, A Stroll Through Life, French Country Cottage, No Minimalist Here, The36th Avenue, Bacon Time, It's Overflowing, At the Picket Fence,Shine on Fridays, DIY Show Off, House of Hepworth, Homemaker on a Dime, Stuff and Nonsense, 52 Mantels, I Heart Nap Time, The Frugal Girls,Six Sisters Stuff, One Project Closer, Jennifer Rizzo, Miss Mustard Seed, Le Chateau des Fleurs, Common Ground, Liz Marie Blog

Chess Champ

After much begging and pleading (he gets that from his momma), we let the PCP enroll in an after school activity for first semester.  And he picked chess, of all things.  I cannot lie and say that I wasn’t quietly thrilled with this scholarly choice.  Much to Honey's horror, I cannot claim to know the first thing about the game myself (other than it makes a nice decorative addition to the basement.)  He won third place in the 1st & 2nd grade tournament (which I believe involves three different types of chess) and is over the moon with his trophy.



Per usual, I had to blink back the tears when he went up to receive his award.  It’s hard work keeping those mommy emotions in check, but I am determined not to purposefully embarrass the child :-)

xoxo

Traveling T.J.

The PCP completed his first school project (outside of Science Fair which was optional) of the year a few months back (but it just came back home this week which reminded me about it)!  Similar to Flat Stanley (have y’all heard of that guy?) the PCP’s class spent their Thanksgiving break carting the likeness of Thomas Jefferson around town, which was a great excuse to go to some of our favorite places. 

And while the PCP (and the baby alike) really got into thinking up poses for the guy, I led the troops in making it presentation worthy.  I originally intended to just have it printed at Kinkos (the price of ink for my printer is highway robbery), but once I got there I was quickly wooed by their promises to turn an ordinary document from drab to fab “while you wait”.  As such, I had it spiral bound with a clear cover.  I remember when Mother used to help me bind my book reports and such, and how I felt so fancy-pants turning them in to the teacher.  Why not start ‘em young in making a fab first impression?!?!  Because we all know many people DO judge a book by its cover :-)



We had to cull our thirty pictures down to fifteen and, Per Mrs. B’s instructions, the PCP wrote a caption on each.  We took T.J. to all sorts of interesting 21st century-ish places, including the Varisty, Georgia Tech, Honey’s work and Target.











The PCP said it best when he wrote “I had fun showing T.J. my favrite thins in Atlanta!"  (awww...that was before he lost the other front tooth)



This one is definitely a keeper.
xoxo

Best of 2012

As we sit on the brink of a brand new year, I thought it appropriate to take a walk down memory lane.  Here’s a roundup of reader favorites from 2012…

Monogrammed Canvas & Holiday Monogrammed Canvas

Teacher Appreciation Round Up

Guest Room {Before & After}

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

Have a BALL this summer! {Free Printable}

Snowman Soup

Deck the Halls 2012

Big Boy Room

Southern Porch

Chili & Beer Tasting Party

 

And a few from 2011 are still in my all time top viewed posts… 

The Road to Disney

Messages from Mickey {2011 Edition}

Finally Finished Banquette

He's Baaaaack!

Last but not least, I’d like to take a minute to thank my top referrers – all of which are fabulous blogs written by amazing and inspirational ladies. 

Savvy Southern Style

House of Turquoise

Kelly’s Korner

My Sweet Savannah

Mom Endeavors

When I started on this blogging adventure I didn't have an inkling as to all the wonderful people I'd have the great fortune to "meet".  Many thanks to each and every one of you that take time out of your day to spend a few minutes in mine.  With that, I think I’m going to sign off from the virtual world for a few days to soak up time with Honey and the boys.  

I’ll see y’all in 2013!!

xoxo

See the best of 2011 here!

Flattered for the features at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia and Six Sisters Stuff!

Minute To Win It Holiday Party + TONS of Free Printables

At the meeting I had with the PCP’s teacher to discuss holiday party planning back in November, I came armed with an Oriental Trading catalog thoughtfully earmarked with a few fun crafts I hoped to order and call it a day.  She, on the other hand, came armed with the seemingly crazy idea to have a Minute to Win It themed party… something I’d never even heard of.  As soon as I got past my “seriously? how am I going to pull off Thanksgiving, two class birthday parties, two regular birthday parties, a week in Disney World, Christmas preparations, a baby shower AND this minute to win it themed hootenanny in the next twenty-eight days” dismay, I popped in on Pinterest and had a plan in no time flat.  The pre-freak out was totally worth it because the classroom was exploding with pure JOY for one last fun-filled super crazy hour before the long holiday break!!!

I enlisted a great crew to help set up before hand, including Honey and his mama JuJu.  Mrs. B. took the class out for thirty minutes while we hung a gazillion glittering snowflakes from the ceiling, decked the tables with festive cloths and set up the stations.  A “Minute to Win It – Holiday Style!” sign greeted them at the door and “Melted Snowman” water bottles (with their names on the backs) were ready at their seats.  They absolutely worked up a thirst at this party!



The littles were divided into six groups of four to rotate through the six stations. There are never a shortage of parent volunteers and the party was no exception.  We had four Minute to Win It stations, a cupcake station and a craft station.  Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about a first grade holiday party…

Minute to Win It: Jingle Bell Rock
See how many jingle bells you can dance out of a tissue box in one minute!
   

Minute to Win It: Snow Throw
See how many marshmallows you can successfully throw into a bucket on your friend’s head – in one minute!
    
Minute to Win It: Snow Ball Bounce
Using a snowman paddle (white paper plate with snowman face), try to keep the snow ball (balloon) off the ground for one minute!


Minute to Win It: Wrap Race
In one minute, wrap your classmate in toilet paper and top with a scarf and hat to look like a snowman!
  
Snow Much Fun: Sticky Snowman
I ordered this cute craft kit from Oriental Trading so that they’d have a little something to take home.

   
Snow Much Fun: Cupcake Creations
Ice your cupcake to look like a snowman, with chocolate chip eyes and mouth and a candy corn nose.  Then EAT IT!
      
The class left with a few of our favorite party favors – Snowman Soup and Frosty the S’moreman Kits!  You can get the instructions and free printables here!!

Nearly everything was purchased at the Dollar Tree and Kroger out of our class funds and Mrs. B will have all the basics ready for next year.  And if any of y’all are crazy enough to attempt this for your holiday party (it would be great for a family or adults too!), I have all the free printables available for download here.  There are also blank cards in the event that you come up with your own fun games, and instructions for each of mine are on the backs of the table tents.

Minute To Win It Holiday Style

The Melted Snowman water bottle labels would be darling for any sort of winter party.  You can download those free here!

Melted Snowman Water Bottle Labels

At the end of the hour, we presented Mrs. B with a class gift – a tree decorated with LOADS AND LOADS of gift cards!  Families were given the option to contribute a gift card in any amount to any store from their child.  It was easy for them and she was pretty darn thrilled!
 
As we were wrapping up the soiree, I got the biggest bear hug from my very favorite first grader with a joyful proclamation that “it was the very best party EVER, Mommy!!!”  I tell you what, going into the school for the first time since last Friday was not easy – my heart immediately dropped and I had to choke back the tears.  A school should be a sacred place where we nurture and raise our most prized possessions.  More than anything, I think I needed this party to start to put the joy and happiness back into the thought of school for me.

Happy Holidays from Mrs. B’s class!!!

Now, I’m about to settle in for a long winter’s nap.  Ah… who am I kidding?  I’ve got two darling littles home for the next 2.5 weeks!
xoxo