Well...

I had lots of great things I wanted to share with you but I am just so dang tired!  I have an intern.  She is currently in her full-time teaching and it is wonderful.  She is doing EVERYTHING and I am getting to get stuff done and actually DO small groups. It's fantastic.  

But I'm still just.so.tired.

On a quick side note...those of you wonderful followers friends who gave me such wonderful and sweet words of encouragement about starting the dreaded Insanity.  I did it.  I actually completed the 20 minute Fast and Furious workout.  It took me 40 minutes though AND I hurt my back. HA.  

I am a pretty athletic person.  I actually am pretty surprisingly strong and am "fit" compared to your average 'couch-potato' but HOLY MOLY!  

That workout was literally INSANE. Duh! The name of the workout told me it was going to be intense.  I literally would start the workout then immediately have to pause it to BREATHE.

I think I'm going to join the Insanity team though, bite the bullet, and do the 60-day challenge.  It might take me 90 days but I think I'm gonna do it.

First...sleep.

Five for Friday!

It's crazy that it's even that time again!

I'm going to start with something slightly depressing:

Seriously.  This is what I'm going to be working with for the next four days. BLAH! Looks like a Lifetime and computer working kind've weekend for me!

This week was American President's week.  We made these "Cupcake inspired" Abraham Lincoln's.  They turned out pretty cute!  I love that the kiddos all gave him rosy cheeks! :)

After learning all about Abe and Washington we created a Venn Diagram together.  We did a little differently though.  We made it into a game!  I split the kiddos up into two teams. I then told them a fact and they had to super quickly raise their hand to answer.  We looked for the fastest hand each time! ;)  They would then tell us which President the fact belonged to. If they got it right, they got a point.  If not, the other team got the point. No worries, I asked in a certain way to insure that there would be a tie! We were ALL winners!!!

Here we are enjoying the game.  Side note: I promise the boys in the yellow and gray are not about to fight. Ha!

This came for me in the mail yesterday.  I'm still a little scared to give it a try.  The other day I posted about my habits and being in a bit of a rut {you can read about it HERE}.  I decided to switch it up a little bit.  I just bought the 20 minute Fast and Furious workout and the 20 minute abs workout.  Want to start small and see if I like it.  Wish me luck! :)

Hall Pass...I'll take it!

Love Reagan {Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits} and I love this linky party!!

Let's just get started:

I love my *best seller* Flat Stanley!

This packet is PERFECT to use when reading the stories and integrate reading, writing, map skills, and a little bit of math too!  The better news is that I am totally revamping it and adding a lot more goodies to the pack.  The bad news is my zip drive which contained all of the original packet goodies died so I will be just adding an additional unit...double the goods for you!

This is the original packet:

Here's the new cover {kinda still in the works too}:

What do you think? Should I change the cover?  Add anything?  I just don't know what to do with all that blank space! 

This was a little tough.  I like so many different areas in my room for different reasons.  

I love our "rug" area.  It's where all the learning takes place {well the majority of it}.  There's so much we do and interact with in this area.  Don't mind the chaos.  It was the end of the day!  I promise it usually looks a lot prettier. It's really not a good picture at all. Oh well...you get the point. :)

My signal depends on what we are doing.  During our Daily Five rotations I use a chime.  I do not have to say a thing.  They know to immediately stop what they're doing, clean up their area, and meet me on the rug.

I also use a lot of Whole Brain Teaching strategies.  Instead of saying "class" and they respond with "yes,"  I say "friends" and they respond "yes."  The clincher to keeping it working is to change up your voice.  I use funny accents and fluctuate my voice.  They love to repeat it in a silly voice!

To get my kiddos to go to their desks from the rug, vice versa, or to line up I like to use different things like:  walk like a penguin, tip toe quiet as a mouse, walk zig zag, hop like a bunny, etc... 

I love my kiddos and even though some days I'm just exhuasted and slightly over their ridiculousness I look forward to the silly things they say and do.  I look forward to the hugs and the love we all share for one another!

Keeping sane is easy.  I literally share an office and work side-by-side my teaching bestie who happens to be a real bestie outside of school too. I can vent to her, cry with her, laugh with her, and just sit and relax.  It's so wonderful having such an awesome support system 5 steps away.

My mom is also on my "speed dial" on my phone when there's a big crisis.  What would I do without my mama?! :)

Head over to Reagan's linky to find some more wonderful tips and tricks of the trade! I'm on my way! 

Habits.

Oh, my dear bloggy friends.  I have some bad habits.  I like to eat.  A lot.  Not healthy food. Currently, I like to be a bit "lazy" {I say this with quotations because "lazy" for me is actually taking time to just relax even though I have a ton to do...something that is RARE in my household}.  I like to make excuses.  I eat cookies....a lot of cookies.  I'm hard on myself.  I watch a lot of "trash" {as my hubby calls it} TV.  I bite my nails.  I "pin" endless workouts and motivational pics/blogs and that is where they stay.  Is it just me?

I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of the excuses.

I am by no means a "fat" person...at all.  I'm not a skinny person complaining of gaining a couple of pounds.  I am asking for help.

I do enjoy working out once I've gotten into the swing of it.  I enjoy being in shape.  I enjoy yummy healthy-ish meals.  I just can't get myself motivated to do it.

I do not have kids...unless you count my two adorable pups.  There shouldn't be any reason for me not to get my butt in gear.

I'm in a rut friends...I need help.  

I need advice.

How do you get yourself back "in the swing of things?"

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Side note:  Speaking of trash TV...did you watch the Bachelor last night?!  

OH MY WORD! 

I can NOT wait to hear what Sean has to say tonight!

Five for Friday + Winner!

I know I'm slightly late to the party but I had to make my "grand" entrance! :)

This week FLEW by! I'm hoping this weekend will slow down. How about you?

Okay. Let's get started:

Wednesday, I used Abby's Sweetheart Snatcher activity and the kids and I had a BLAST!  You can read about it HERE.  So much fun!

MY Valentine's Day Breakfast Party was a HUGE success!  I had 19 kiddos present and only 3 did not have a family member attend, however, there were so many people that came the love was shared and felt by all! 

I used party decor from my Love Birds packet.  Breakfast parties are the way to go.  The parents bring all the goodies and when they leave, they take all the "leftovers" with them.  There is not a lot of preparation on your part and no cleaning, the kiddos are not all sugared up, and they get to spend their morning with their loved ones! It's fantastic!!!

I also received this packet in the mail!  I was given this wonderful resource from Carson-Dellosa to use and try out in my classroom. I'm working on "cutesy-fying" how I set it up.  Stay tuned...there will be more information and a giveaway just ahead!!

I also got THIS package in the mail!  I live in FL.  It's obviously warmer here then most places in the US.  We have to prepare for warmer weather sooner and I am SO excited!  I have not bought a new bathing suit in over a year and I am PUMPED about the three I purchased! :)  Can't wait to be poolside with my bestie!

I will leave you with this adorable cutie!  Crumbs and all!  :)

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Congratulations Sara Edgar!  Send me an email {kellymchaffie@hotmail.com} to let me know which file you would like! :)

Sweetheart Snatcher + Giveaway + Sale

So naturally I forgot my actual camera today and had to use my iPhone camera and of course with all the PRE-Valentine excitement the pictures are blurry and just not good.  Bare with me.  Is that the right 'bare' to use?! :) haha!

First thing's first...you must go buy Abby's adorable Sweetheart Snatcher packet

Here's why:

Yesterday, we learned about estimation {found in Abby's packet} and even estimated how many heart-shaped candies were in our clear jar.  Then, I pretended to be in a hurry and told the kiddos we would count the candy in the morning to find out how many there ACTUALLY were!  Little white lie.  No big deal.

So this morning the kiddos came in and the jar was right where I left it with all the candies in tack.  Then, we went to a performance {yes, at 8:50am we were just getting settled and had to immediately line up to head to a performance...fun}.  While there, I snuck out and hid the candy and planted all the "clues."  

It was PERFECT!  

I taped the first clue to our "morning message" board.  Of course they immediately saw it {insert Academy Award winning performance by yours truly} and the kiddos fell for it hook, line, and sinker.  

They were so stinkin cute and excited and beside themselves!  It was perfect.  So we read our first clue, used lots of inferencing skills, and set out on the "hunt" for the Sweetheart Snatcher.

Here we are after finding clue #3 by the water fountain.  We were so into what the clues told us and could barely contain our excitement.  It was so much fun!

After we wrapped up our scavenger hunt and found the final clue with our candies, we talked about what we think the Sweetheart Snatcher looks like.  We did a lot of inferencing and then completed this adorable follow up activity:

I love his cute little "candy snatcher" as he called it.

These kiddos came up with some of the most creative ways that this snatcher came into our room and snatched our yummy candy!

{please admire the adorableness of my sweet friend and his cute bag and not the horrendous photography skills or the fact you can't see the heart's mouth and it's sliding down the bag bc he used too much glue. Maybe I should've LOOKED at the picture before saying I was satisfied with one take. Gosh!}

We followed up our day by making Valentine Snatchers {shown above}! 

These bags will hold our goodies we receive tomorrow from all our friends!

What a super fun day.  If you do not have this packet you MUST go get it! 

Do it tomorrow!  You WON'T regret it and your kiddos will have a BLAST!  The packet is so well put together and gives you tons of options on how to do this activity! Fun, fun!

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I am so very much loving this linky party!  What a great way to share and spread the love! :)

Here's what you can win from me:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This past year has been so wonderful and I am so excited for all the things to come in this new year.  I wanted to share the love I was feeling from all of you awesome followers and friends!

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day tomorrow!

I will be going to be EARLY in preparation for the madness that is sure to come in the morning!

Love you ALL!

Bears & Butterflies {Guest Post}

First of all, I want to thank Kelly for having me over today!  Beg, Borrow, Steal, is wonderful, and I am very excited to be here!

This is the second week of my two-week blog tour celebrating the release of my new Ebook, Bears & Butterflies: 41+ Hibernation Activities!  As part of the celebration, I am visiting some amazing blogs, sharing free printables, and giving away a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card!!   

I first started working on Bears & Butterflies: 41+ Hibernation Activities months ago when fall was beginning.  My kiddos noticed a new hole under our Hydrangea bush, and we began to investigate.  It turned out that a toad had dug itself a little hibernation burrow.  The kids were mesmerized.  They couldn't get enough information, activities, games, and investigations about hibernators!  

As I began to put together projects and printables, I realized this could be a wonderful time-saving resource for other teachers and parents.  I polished up the activities and wrote explanations for the printables.  I added in a background page for each animal--as someone with a Biology and Teaching degree, I can't resist fascinating information like animals whose hearts actually freeze during hibernation!  I also reviewed Common Core and Texas State Standards to make sure that the hibernation activities covered everything necessary for my little kindergartener. 

Now, at over 100 pages I am thrilled to introduce this hibernation Ebook!   Bears & Butterflies: 41+ Hibernation Activities is a fabulous tool that you can use as a supplement or to plan your own hibernation unit.  It could keep you busy for weeks or you could pick and choose projects that fit into your already-designed schedule.  It's very flexible, but full of information and ideas!  And, of course, it includes dozens of printable pages with math, science, reading, and writing activities!

Blog Tour Details:

1- To celebrate the release of my new Ebook, Bears & Butterflies: 41+ Hibernation Activities, I will be visiting eight blogs from Jan. 28th-Feb. 9th.  Each blog tour "stop" will include a freebie or flash giveaway AND a chance to enter a drawing for the Amazon Gift Card!

2- All readers of Beg, Borrow, Steal, can download this {FREE} Stamp It Acorns printable game!!  You can use the printable as a group or individual game!  To play, roll two dice, add up the dots, and stamp (or mark, draw, "x," etc.) the appropriate number.  The file includes a color version and a black and white version.  Many hibernators eat acorns, including ground squirrels, bears, raccoons, skunks, and more!  

3- To enter the drawing for the $10.00 Amazon Gift Card, just leave a relevant comment to this post!  (If your email isn't in your public profile, include that in your comment too.)  Everyone who leaves a comment at a post on the blog tour will be entered in the drawing.  Since there will be eight stops, you will have eight chances to enter.  Visit Preschool Powol Packets for a schedule and more details.  A winner will be drawn on Saturday, February 9th. 

Thank you again, Kelly, for hosting me today!! 

Sunday Morning. Star Struck.

Do you ever go back and look at past posts you've made?  Do you ever reread your posts and the comments that were made?  

Well...I was looking back through my blog to find images/ideas to share with my intern.  She will be taking over next week and I'm trying to help her start planning all the fun things she will begin teaching. 

In doing that I spent a major part of this Sunday morning reading all my old posts and your comments.  I'm a little star struck!

Some of my favorite bloggers, who also happen to be "famous bloggers" have commented on my blog.  MY blog.  This little ol' blog in comparison to the wonderful women who commented.  Seriously!

There was Lyndsey from A Year of Many Firsts, Sarah from First Grader...At Last, Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants, Hadar from Miss Kindergarten, Jennifer from First Grade Blue Skies, Cheryl from Primary Graffiti, Reagan from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, Kim Adsit, Babbling Abby, Amy Lemons, and Deanna Jump {among others}!

I am in awe!  Their comments were sweet and oh so encouraging.  

Granted some of these comments were from WELL over a year ago, I still feel a little special and a little in awe! :)

There are so many ladies I am DYING to meet {Kelley}!  Ladies who have made a difference in my life.  Ladies who inspire me.  Ladies I feel I already "know!" Thank YOU ladies for {unknowingly} continuously encouraging so many other educators around the world!  One day I will grow up and be you! :)

I'm planning on attending the National I Teach K conference in Vegas this summer.  Started saving already.  Will you be there?  

Saturday Mornings. {NOT school related}

So my Hubs has been working out of town A.LOT. the past month.  I pretty much get to see him for 72 hours each week. :(

Each weekend when he returns we spend the entire weekend together {something we normally don't do...usually "playing" with friends and such}.

This morning we had a little fun.  The Hubs makes movies.  He's pretty good.

This little movie was completely unplanned.  Extremely random.  And boat loads of fun. :)

Do not mind the mound of wood and junk on the fire pit.  We needed props and will be burning it later! :)

Hope you're having a fun Saturday and living each moment to the fullest!

My Gems!

I am linky up with the ladies from Blog Hoppin' to share in my wonderful little gems I picked up during the Super Sunday TPT Sale!

I am so excited to get these cute little literacy centers up and running next week {already have some ready for this week}!  Thanks to the ever so talented, Hadar!!

Have you gone over to visit Lyndsey from A Year of Many Firsts?  You MUST!  I am BEYOND excited to implement this into my curriculum this year!!!

And then....I went a little crazy in Sarah's store and wound up with this amazing collection of goodies!  Do you know how excited I am to use these?! :)

Sarah Cooley is one of three ladies that got me started in blogging.

She's so darn talented!

How cute are those covers?! :)

And if you still are looking for some goodies for Valentine's Day, I just uploaded this cutie:

I've extended my sale through the rest of the day!

Head over now! 

Five for Friday + Currently Combo + Sale!

Since this week flew by and I didn't get to brag tell you about the fun we've been having in my kinder class, I figured I'd link up with some of my favorites and give it to ya all at once! ;)

{click image to link up}

1. Our 100th day of school was this past Wednesday.  We had a blast!  As you can see most of us dressed up.  Some of us dressed up like we were "rock star 100-year-olds."  

These two beauties changed their names for the day.  Betty and Madeah.  **LOVE**

2.  We also made these adorable 100-year-old portraits!  They turned out super cute.  As you will be able to see...I love projects that require the kiddos to tear paper.  They always turn out adorable!

3.  We made these adorable snowman as a reader's response to Snowmen at Night.  I {{love}} this series.  So do the kids.

4.  We had a Code Red Drill.  I did not like this.  Two of my hyper-sensitive babies had a melt down.  My sweet boy with Aspergers was completely thrown off and upset.  Apparently this is now going to be a "regular" drill at my school. I understand that we as teachers need to be prepared for such traumatic experiences, however, a code red drill?  NO.  ABSOLUTELY NOT.  

Code yellow drill...sure, that makes sense.  Red?  NO!

Anyone else have to practice these now?  What are your thoughts?  Am I being unreasonable for thiinking that this is the most ridiculous thing to put these sweet innocent babies through?  Should they really be introduced to such scary situations when there ARE NO situations happening?  P.S. My kiddos do not know about Sandy Hook. 

Off my soapbox now.

5.  Currently:

**BONUS**

6.  I'm having a sale this Sunday!  Click on the button below to head to my store!  Thanks to the amazing Ashley Hughes for the button! :)

Happy Saturday everyone!