I Survived...

my 7th first day of 1st grade.

The first day flew by!

 I have an all time high (for me) 23 students with a wide range of abilities and personalities.

 

I love teaching but the best part is coming home to my boys, especially when they have cleaned the house and made dinner!

My sweet boy makes me smile and erases any stress from the day.

 

Just listen to his laugh!

"The Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4

A Prayer For the School Year

Tomorrow is my 24th first day of school! The butterflies and the restless night before still occur. I am excited and nervous at the same time!

 

 

I would not make it through the school year, let alone one day, if it was not with God's strength, mercy, and love. Here is my prayer for this school year.

 

Lord,

I pray that I find my strength in you and that I seek you in each moment of my day. Instill in me peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, humility, and love for others. I want others to see you in me. Help me to treat each one of my students as your child and see them through your eyes. Help me to use only words that build others up, encourages them, and makes them feel worthy. I know you handpicked each one of my students for me for a reason. Help me be all they need be to me. Thank you for the gifts you have given me and the ability to spend each day doing what I truly love. Help me to mold these students into better individuals and help them realize their true potential. I need you each and everyday to be the best teacher possible. Remind me of your truths daily and who I am working for. Give me the strength and patience to handle tough long days with mercy and grace.
Thank you in advance for the awesome things that will come from this year. I pray that each student that comes through my door will find value, feel love, and know how important they truly are.

 

You are my strong tower and the one I take refuge in. Help me stand strong with you all year
long.

 

In Your precious name,

Amen

Our Weekend Friend

Jackson made it through his first full week of Preschool. He continues to love it and kept asking if he could go on Saturday! We created a little behavior/incentive chart for Jackson to encourage and reinforce good behavior at school. This week he needed 4 stars and wanted to buy a new sword.

 He did it! However, the dollar store was all out of swords. No meltdown occurred (surprisingly), and Jackson chose a bug catching kit instead.

 

We spent Friday night getting the container ready for a bug. Jackson put some stones and grass in the bottom.

 Off to find something for his container!

 We had no luck Friday, but on Saturday Daddy and Jackson caught a little toad. He was so excited! He named him Thomas the toad.

 We got him a little cap to hold water and tried to catch him so bugs to eat. Jackson slept with Thomas in his room and talked to him.

 Jackson decided that it was best if we let Thomas go because he probably was scared and missed his friends.

 

Now, we are on the look out for a new friend!

Photoshop Love

The night before I could go up to school and work on my room, I got the urge to update a few things in my room.

 

I knew I wanted to do black and red to match the seats Brian made for me. I decided to try my hand at Photoshop and see what I could make. Between Brian and I, we figured out how to use the background of our choice to do many things. I created my own word wall letters, theme cards, and schedule cards.

iPhone pictures, it looks better in person!

 

One night this week, I had the urge to make a banner to hang outside my room. I turned to Photoshop to help me whip out a cut banner and labeled baseballs in a matter of minutes.

 I also figured out how to use my own background to create letters and get rid of the background around it. That actually took a lot longer than it was probably worth. But, now I know!

 

Now, I want to find some time to figure out editing pictures with Photoshop!

Haircut

I love Jackson's curls, but they began to get out of control (especially after a good night's sleep:)!

It was time for a haircut, but not before we all enjoy some blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry smoothie.

Jackson helped blend,

 test taste,

and drink the yummy smoothie!

 Then, Brian started cutting while Jackson watched Thomas. I love how much Brian is saving us by cutting Jackson's and his hair.

And the after!

 Why does it seem they always look so much older after a haircut? 

The End of Summer

This was my last week of summer. It was mainly spent up at school and in meetings.

Since Jackson didn't start preschool until Tuesday, he helped me for a few hours in my classroom on Monday. He handed me sticky tack, drew blueprints, and poured concrete:) He was a real trooper, and I enjoyed his company!

After we dropped Jackson off for his first day of Preschool on Tuesday, Brian spent the whole day helping me organize and get my room ready. He was AMAZING! We got so much done!

 Here are a few pictures from my iPhone of my classroom so far. I think it may be my favorite classroom yet! I have a few more little things to do.

In between working in my classroom and meetings on Wednesday, I snuck away to get my hair done!

Lunch out and learning about my 22 new 1st graders were the highlights of Thursday.

Jackson stayed home with me on Friday. I wanted to enjoy our last day of summer together. It started off by sleeping in, followed by playing construction.

We also went out to Jennifer and Lilah's to swim with some friends.

 I am going to miss seeing these ladies on a regular basis,

 and spending my days with this little guy.

 We made a pit stop at the outlet mall on the way home for Mommy to get a few "last day of summer" treats!

I think I am in denial that summer vacation is really over!

1st Day of Preschool

Jackson had his 1st day of Preschool today!

He is attending my Aunt's church's preschool, thanks to God for working out all the details for him to go there.

He was very excited and picked out his shirt for his first day!

Last week, we dropped off his sleeping bag and a treat for Miss. Debbie. He was already for today. He walked right in and started playing before we left.

Miss Debbie, Let's get started on the right foot and have a BALL this year.
Love, Jackson

When we picked Jackson up we asked how he did. Miss Debbie said, "He had a great day. He is very mature, I forget he is only three, and he is very serious about his food." She has our boy figured out!

Before we left for Preschool this morning, Jackson wanted me to take a video of him.

I can't believe he is old enough for Preschool!

Got Game?

Brian has been playing in a summer basketball league. This weekend they had a tournament to end the season. Jackson and I went to watch their first game. They won, so they played again. They won that one too, so they played again.

The next basketball star?

Brian played great (like scored 20 points a game) and looked like he had no health issues. Funny, or not so funny, thing is that he has more issues than one can count and could barely walk the rest of the weekend due to inflammation in his back, knees, and feet. He lived on ibuprofen the rest of the weekend and had to get a steroid pack from the doctor. Brian's ability is still there, his body just didn't keep up!

Sunday before church

Jackson and I love watching Brian play, but I think it may be time for him to retire and pull out the highlight videos. Thankfully one day we will all get new bodies.

"There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

A Day With Daddy

Brian took Friday off to hang out with us. Jackson went on a Daddy date to eat donuts for breakfast, and I ran. (I think I got the bad end of that deal!)

 Jackson was reading some words/sentences with me this week and one sentence I wrote was 'I can jump'. Ever since then, he couldn't stop saying he needed to go some where to jump. His way of saying he wanted to go to Pump it Up. We tried out a new jump place on Friday with Daddy.

 Jackson had a great time jumping and playing with Daddy. He always wears himself out at these places. Only bad thing is that he fell asleep on the way home and that meant no nap.

 Jackson let me go down a few slides with him, but that was because Daddy needed a break and it was me or no one:)

We spent the rest of the day playing, swimming, and working on all things school.

We love having Daddy at home with us; a perfect way to wrap up my last unofficial week of summer!



More Swimming

We have hung out with our friends Rob, Dana, and their children quite a bit this week. Sunday evening after some storms, they came over to swim and play with us. Emily kept me entertained, she is just too cute!

Yesterday, we met Dana and the kids to play at their Splash Pad/pool.

 Jackson loved that he could touch in almost all of the water. He just swam all around like a little fishy exploring the seas.

 Faith and her kids also met us there. Jackson liked playing with Drew, but was trying to hang with the bigger kids; Ryan and Addison. At one point he told me he could swim all by himself and I should go sit down.

We made it home just in time for nap time. 

Another fun day in the books!

 (I feel like I have used the word "fun" a lot lately in posts, but delightful or merry just don't sound as fun!:)



Cloudy With A Chance of Flooding

Jackson starts preschool next Tuesday, so the reality of summer fading is really here. We have been making the most of this last week and having fun so far.

I saw that Thomas was playing at the movie theater, perfect movie for Jackson. We met Lilah and Jennifer on Monday to have lunch and watch the movie. However when I went to buy the tickets there was no Thomas, it was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Not sure Jackson really liked the movie, but at least he loved his hamburger and apples and peanut butter!

Nothing like cooking to wrap up a great morning.:)

All summer long I have been wanting to take Jackson to Noah's Ark pool. Well, we made it there today. We were going to go with a bunch of friends, but plans changed so it was just the two of us. The car ride there was a sweet time. Jackson sang his heart out to every song on the Wee Sing Bible Songs CD.  

We got there right when they opened at 10 and played hard until 1:30. Not many people made for the perfect time sliding and playing.

We have done a lot of things with friends lately, so it was actually nice to have a day with just my boy!

Jackson loved all of the different slides.

He made me race him down the slide, but would always go before he said "go."

Little stinker! 

Running through the muschroom

There is also a big pool with 2 slides and 2 diving boards. At one point, Jackson told me he didn't like shallow water and wanted to swim in the big pool. He tried out both slides and diving boards. It was fun to go back and forth between the splash pad area and the pool. 

More fun with the ark

On the rainbow slide we played 3 Billy Goats Gruff every time. I had to be the troll and say "Who is tromping on my bridge?" Love that boy, he is so much fun!

Have to cool down with an ice cream treat.

What an awesome day with my funny boy, and

I am so thankful for the time I get to spend with him!

(A Little Shout Out to) My Man

...is a great Daddy.

He created a huge tent for Jackson Friday night.

They played, read books, and slept together under there. Jackson was beyond excited!

...can do just about anything.

He fixes my Jeep, his car, the pool,things around the house, and makes me things for school. This new seat (plus 5 others) will make its way into my classroom. Of course it has Brian's special touch and design too!

...puts others before himself 

Jackson and I are very blessed, loved, and spoiled. But, Brian is also always looking for ways to help others out. Love his heart! 

...he also tends to be a bit forgetful.

But, we won't talk about that! HA:)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17