542 Things.

Good morning, friends! I hope I can still call you all that... I haven't been a very good friend the past, oh, FIVE MONTHS or so! :/ I'm not gonna give excuses, though... just gonna do some quick updates and then hope to get back to my blogstalking that I enjoy oh-so-much! :-)

* This school year was TREMENDOUS. Seriously. For the first year in at least 5, my class never had to evacute our classroom due to an unsafe student situation. My kids were kind. They were incredibly smart. They had great senses of humor. It was such a fun year... but I was glad to see it end, naturally :-)

* I was happy to see it end b/c I get to spend all summer with this cute little man! Does life get any better?!?

Well, it'll be better now that we've gotten allergies, a hospital stay, a double ear infection, and Hand Foot Mouth out of the way. What a way to start off our summer

* It'll also be getting better... in September when Baby Boy #2 joins our family!! I can't wait to see if this little guy follows after his easy-going, sweet brother, or if we'll have a little spit fire on our hands ;)

* This school year will not only begin with maternity leave after only a couple weeks of school to get my routines established... but it'll also start at a NEW SCHOOL! My principal was asked to open up the new elementary in our district, and I was a lucky one to get my transfer approved to follow her there! The building I just spent 7+ years in is the oldest in the district with very outdated security, electrical problems, mold... you name it. It'll be SO NICE to get to start with a clean slate! Now we just need construction to finish so we can get in and get working....!!!

Ok... off I go now to check out the Monday Made-Its that I've missed out on. I have to see what the latest trends are so I can join in the fun during nap times!! :-)

It's nice to be back... however often that may be ;)

What I'm Thinkin' Thursday!

{Warning... this is going to be such a random post! I am just gonna put things in writing that are floating around my head.} :)

- I can't wait for the inevitable "Back to School" linky parties where we all share classroom pics, daily schedules, etc. There are SO many cute theme ideas floating around, and I can't wait to see them!

- There is NOTHING good on non-cable TV once "The Chew" is over at 1:00!

- I love Clinton Kelly!

- My TV dilemma will be solved, however, after July 9th, when "Good Afternoon America" debuts! :)

- I am really looking forward to back to school sales in order to purchase new borders and knickknacks for my new room decor... I'm thinking to a basic black and white foundation with splashes of color. Then I can change my colors whenever I want to, and it won't be too much money! I've had the same rainbow of colors for all of my 7 years, and I am excited for a change.

- Along with decor change, I'm thinking of moving around my furniture. Anyone else draw out lots and lots of ideas before finally settling on what's perfect??

- I reeeeeally want a Silhouette Cameo. So badly. Sigh.

- I've come to LOVE McDonald's Sweet Tea. Yummmm... in fact, hubby just called to say he's on his way home, and I asked him to pick one up for me as he drove by McD's! Can't wait :)

- Even more than McD's Sweet Tea, I am LOVING my baby's sweet smiles! He just started this weekend, and I get the best ones when he's on his changing table and I'm making crazy silly faces at him! So fun!

So.. since you were so gracious to read this far, I want to read what YOU are Thinkin' this Thursday! Link up with me and share with us all what's on your mind. Every once in a while, we all need a brain dump, right?? :)

Making Words: Finished!!

Whew! What a weekend :) I've been a little pre-occupied by this adorable cutie:

My hubby and I babysat his 2 1/2 year-old niece, and we had one packed weekend-o-fun! :) We had a bubble bath in our jacuzzi tub, had a mani/pedi session with a crazy color of blue (her choice!), saw Kung Fu Panda 2, played in the pool out back, went to McD's to play in the Play Place... and let's just say that I slept from 10:00 last night to 9:30 this morning! That little girl wore me out :)

Thankfully, my lab puppy, Lucy, kept her boxer puppy, Jack, company all weekend, so I didn't have to worry TOO much about him.... Lucy kept him in line!!

Okay, on to Making Words: All Year Long! After my long sleep, I woke up energized and ready to finally finish this file. There are 12 Making Words activities, one for every month. There are thematic graphics involved, and I think these will make a great center or early finisher activity... check it out at my TpT store!!

I will be also creating an alphabet of each of these graphic sets, thanks to Little Miss Glamour's great idea! Keep your eyes posted for that file soon. :)

Making Words *Sneak Peek*

So... I'm getting a good start on my Summer To-Do List, how about you??? :-)

Here's what I'm in the process of making today - but I think I'm winding down and needing to run errands, and I'll have to finish it tomorrow. But, I wanted to make sure you were on the lookout for the finished product!

Making Words: All Year Long! I will have 12 sets of making words cards that spell out a phrase that coordinates with the month it fits in (for example, August - Cooling Popsicles w/ popsicle graphics and September - Back to School w/ chalkboard graphics). There is also a recording sheet and silly sentence/picture page for each month. Anything else that would make this packet fantastic? Let me know and I'll see if I can throw it in there!

Here is a peek at August's activities:

How many days left...?

I can't believe it... only

So, of course, in true teacher fashion, I am deep into thinking/planning for next year!! :-) Here is the To-Do List I've already started for my summer... at least this is what I can remember. My real list is at school...!!

1) Reorganize my classroom library - you ladies have inspired me to make my library more functional and user-friendly for my kiddos! So, labels and reading levels on my books, here I come!

2) Rethink my indoor recess set-up - oh dear, indoor recess stresses me out!! I am looking to make it more organized and manageable next year... less of a free-for-all!!

3) Create new homework to correlate w/ Storytown.

4) Put up my new Focus Wall!

5) Move my room around to get ready for the THREE PARAS I will have in my room almost all day next year (1 student w/ autism, 1 student with microcephaly {small brain syndrome}, and 1 student with sever behavior issues).

6) Re-do my sub folder w/ fun labels and lots of easy-to-follow directions... I'm hoping to be needing a maternity sub here in the next few years to come, so I'd better start now getting it all organized!

7) Make new labels for my math manipulative storage tubs.

8) Create more early-finisher math activities that the kids can do independently.

I KNOW that there are a few more items on my list, so I'll update it when I get to school tomorrow! What's on your list to get ready for the new year ahead? Share your ideas here at Time4Kindergarten's Linky Party!