Currently ...

One of my blogging goals this year was to figure out how to do this cutie-patootie Currently linky thingy that you'll see right here below in just a minute ...and I DID IT!  If you haven't been to Oh Boy 4th Grade's blog yet, YOU MUST check it out!  She is seriously funny!!!

So, here's what I am "Currently" Up To:

Head on over to Farley's and you can link up to~

And now, I'm going to bed early, too many night-owl nights over break and today I'm paying for it!

Cheers!

and the Liebster Award goes to ... ME :)

I would sincerely like to thank the following bloggers who nominated me for the Liebster Award (eeeek way back in November) and thank them for their patience in my length of time in responding! Ya'll know how life sometimes gets in the way right? Anyway, thank you to:

Making the Basics Fun
Learning with Leah
Teacher's Take-Out
Fun in ECSE

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It’s to show new bloggers that they are being noticed and help spread the word about our little pieces of cyberspace.

Here are the rules:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

4. Choose 11 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link them in your post.

5. You cannot “tag back” the other blog, but leave a comment on this post with the URL of your Liebster post so I can learn more about you & see who you nominate.

SO, 11 Random Things About Me ~

1. I have been happily married for 29 years to my college sweetheart, The Accountant!

2. We have 4 beautiful daughters ranging in age from 11 to 22 ~ middle school, college and married!  You can see them here!

3. I was blessed to stay home with my girlies, for the most part for 19 years.

4. I taught Kindermusik for 16 of those years and ended my Kindermusik career at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

5. Ella Jenkins once walked into my classroom in Chicago and randomly pulled out her kazoo and started singing with us!

6. I got to be onstage with Yo Yo Ma as an Asst. Stage Mgr as part of his Silk Road Project.

7. I went to school in Arkansas at John Brown University.

8. I have lived in 5 states.

9. I am a "clean" eating enthusiast, although NOT the raw foods kind ~ just healthy!

10. During late grade school and middle school I memorized 4 whole books of the Bible.

11. I am a Christ-follower!!

OK this is going to be tricky.  I'm going to have to try and consolidate the questions I was asked by 4 different nominators.  Here goes: 

Who was your favorite teacher growing up? 

Mrs. Jackson, Senior Year English 

If you could trade places with one person for a day who would it be? 

David Tutera on the set of My Fair Wedding 

What is your favorite condiment? 

Guacamole 

If you could yell anything from the mountain top what would it be? 

The sky is falling! 

Share one of your blogging goals for the new year. 

I want to have at least 500 followers! 

What is a favorite educational app, youtube video or web resource? 

Smartboard Dice 

Salt or sugar? What do you crave? 

Suggah Darlin'

Favorite Holiday Tradition? 

our family's 12 Day Countdown to Christmas

Camp, Cruise or Roadtrip? What kind of vacation would you pick? 

definitely Cruise but Roadtrip would be a close second

What is your favorite classroom tool? 

the paddle ~ lol, no it would have to be my Smartboard 

Who would you like to say "Thank You" to? 

Mother Teresa 

What is your destressor at the end of the week? 

Tacos el Norte with my husband, Mariachi Band playing, something frozen in my glass 

When did you start blogging? 

November of 2012 

Why did you begin blogging? 

curiosity really and the intrigue of gaining a following 

What grades have you taught? 

Babies through 7 year olds Kindermusik, PreK, Music for PreK through 6th, and Kindergarten 

How long have you been teaching? 

about 22 years 

What is your favorite holiday? 

Thanksgiving 

What is your favorite dessert? 

Strawberry Shortcake 

Do you have any children? 

Yep, 4 girls ~ 6th grade, 8th grade, Freshman in College, and Married 

What is your favorite book? 

Firefly Lane 

Are you right or left handed? 

right 

PC or Apple? 

PC but I REALLY wanna answer Apple :/ 

Desktop, laptop or tablet? 

I guess all 3? I have 2 desktops (home and work) 2 laptops (home and work) and an iPad 

Where were you born? 

Long Beach, CA

Where are you living now? 

about an hour north of State Street that great Street (hint hint) 

What is your favorite subject to teach? 

Science 

What is your favorite movie? 

Little Women with Winona Ryder or Legends of the Fall 

What is your favorite story to read to students? 

Junie B Jones anything 

What is your TPT link? 

I don't have one ~ YET!! 

What is your favorite color? 

RED 

Do you have any pets? 

one sweet Silky Bichon named Sophie 

Favorite source for Clipart. 

DJ Inkers 

Favorite Web 2.0 tool. 

I didn't know what it was until just this minute but Ahead and TubeChop look like 2 that I would love to explore. 

Tell something about your most memorable student. 

his name was Cory and he taught me a lot about love and how it can change someone 

What position would you like to retire in? 

right where I am ~ teaching Kindergarten 

What technology do you have in your classroom? 

Smartboard, 5 iPods, 1 iPad and I'm very thankful!!! 

What piece of technology would you like to have? 

5 iPads for my classroom  

Do you have a classroom theme? 

Yes! Bluebird of Happiness and you can see it here

What is your number one selling item on TPT if you sell? 

I don't sell anything on TPT ~ YET! 

What is your favorite freebie you have found on TPT? 

The Dr. Jean Juke Box :) 

Uber Cool Blogs I'm Nominating for the Liebster :)

Carrberry Creations
The Extra Energetic Educator
Sent From My iPad
Covered in Glitter and Glue
Kindergarten Faith
Mrs. Payton's Precious Kindergarteners
Lesson Plans and Lollipops
KG Superstars
Kindergarten Love
The Kinder Cupboard

Mrs. M's Kinders


11 Questions for you:
Where do you live?
When did you begin blogging?
What is one of your blogging goals for the New Year?
Favorite teacher book.
Favorite free-time reading book.
Favorite story book to read to your class.
Favorite movie.
Do you sell on Teachers Pay Teachers and if so what is your link?
Could you share a link to your Pinterest boards?
Favorite Smartboard activity.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

WHEW!! Hope you were able to hang in there and read all the way to the end!  I enjoyed sharing a little bit of my corner of the world with you!

Happy Blogging!

Juggling My Christmas Trees ...

Alright some people think I have a sickness (heck, sometimes I think I have a sickness), but I LOVE Christmas trees, as proven by this incredibly long picture roll

2013 Family Tree with a touch of Whoville ...

The Whoville Be Jolly Tree from 2013 ...

Funky 12 Days of Xmas Tree with Krinkle's Dept 56 ornaments ...

9 foot Snowmen Tree ...

Baby Ornaments tree, all done in pink and blue and lacey goodness ...

Charlie Brown mostly handmade ornaments tree ...

Clay Pots, Grapevine, and Cardinals ...

Lovebirds Engagement Tree ...

Fall Fruits Kitchen Tree ...

Purple Girl's Bathroom Tree (for lack of a better title)

Marshall Fields Glass Ornaments tree ...

Pink & Brown Snowflake Tree ...

Santa Claus ornament tree ...

The Molly-doll Tree ...

The Sadie & Annsley Tree ...

I call this the Cover Up the Ugly Ceiling Fan Swedish Wreath full of Folksy Farm Animals ...

and various and SUNDRY other mantles, banisters and front doors over the years! What can I say, I change my mind a lot! There have been years (before going back to work full-time) when all or most of these trees have been up AT THE SAME TIME (she is crazy)!! But The Accountant just walked in with a new christmasey center piece decor type thing so I don't think he minds!! :/

Happy New Year!

A little late in getting these printed and mailed but they can be Happy New Year cards right? ;) All the best of God's blessings to you and yours in 2013!

Juggling My Recipesssssssssssss...

One of the things I LOVE doing when I'm not teaching is trying all kinds of new recipes. Christmas Break is a great time to do just that and fortunately my family likes my variety of choices :) Here's just a few I found on Pinterest just lately. I have tried, whenever possible, to go back and tag the original source for these links! Here is your 7-Course "pinteresting" meal ... First up, a yummy appetizer Mozzarella Cheese Balls

No meal is complete without a yummy salad and this one is coined as the Best Pasta Salad Eva ......

And now for the main course(s) Chicken Enchilada's with Green Chili Sour Cream Sauce ~ yum

Or, Better Than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice ...

Or, Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad ...

And we must NEVER forget dessert Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes appropriately named because they are IMPOSSIBLE to put down ...

Thin Mint Cookie Truffles ~ gimme gimme

With a lovely, yummy after dinner drink Snow Cocoa made in the slow-cooker ...

Have you tried any "pinteresting" recipes lately? Hurry and try these BEFORE you make your News Years Resolutions! ;)

Sleep in Heavenly Peace...

A friend posted ~ In thinking about the events of Friday and the darkness of this world, it is good to be reminded that Light has come....Hallelujah! Max Lucado wrote this on Friday. Dear Jesus, It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately. These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated. The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation? Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence. Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene. Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us. Hopefully, Your Children In the midst of horrific events, may we never forget that The Light Has Come

Bluebird of Happiness Classroom

Welcome to my classroom! Most of you know that I consider it more than just a place of learning for my students. Considering where I teach and the heavily-burdened children that are entrusted to me for a year, I want their Kindergarten room to be a place where they come and are safe and loved and able to BE ... I hope that when they leave me at the end of this year they will be able to see beyond the sadness of their daily home life ... So, here's a peek into my world!

Last spring, I happened upon Melanie Ralbusky at the Schoolgirl Style blog. Have you been there? You must! I had gotten my job about 2 weeks before school started and 3 weeks before my daughter's wedding {{{EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK}}} and so I had never really decorated it the way I had hoped. Well, I can tell you that the inspiration I received from Melanie's site made my little heart go pitter-patter. I began to plan every nook and cranny. I gathered all of my supplies ...

The first thing that had to go was this beast of a cubbie. It was painted in primary colors ~ ugh!! This baby has 32 cubby holes ~ ON EACH SIDE!!!

It took me about 20 hours to paint the behemoth but I chose nice warm colors that would complement the rest of the decor. I think you will agree that the end result was worth all the time that it took! Next I worked on the kids' work tables. I wanted each one to feel like they were sitting around the kitchen table!

Our Technology Treehouse and Reading Loft ...

Common Core I Can chart ... This was created for me by Karen at Rockin' Room 11

My Behavior Management System, also purchased on TPT through Jessica Stanford

The Reading Corner and Birthday Wall ...

Some more shots from around the room ...

And, we can't forget all the details that make everything JUST right:

This wall has a string of bluebirds carrying the words "Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true" ...

And this one is my favorite, "If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?" ...

I hope that my little sweeties will always remember our Classroom Sweet Classroom!

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the world!