No Clowning Around

So why such a happy face you might ask? I'll tell you why.

Connor is not allergic to wheat any more and his baby brother is walking.

We took Connor to be retested yesterday and he outgrew wheat, lobster, garlic. We celebrated with a Chicken Nugget McDonald's Happy Meal.

It's a circus around here with Cooper walking. He's been walking for about a week now. Everyday I come home from school and he is better and better at it. He still has his infamous scoot going on but he is using those legs to walk more and more each day.

First Day of School

I sobbed . . . . Craig went with me to drop Connor off for the first day of school and I sobbed. I was totally fine afterwards but just that moment of dropping him off in the care of someone else. The thought that someone else will have influence over my child and many other thoughts and emotions got the best of me and I sobbed.

The picture here doesn't show my face (Thank goodness) but it shows Connor's as he is telling me that I shouldn't be sad because he is not sad. He had an amazing day. Luckily I got emails throughout the day telling me how great he did. I am so . . . grateful to be at the same school as my children because I know I'm only an email or phone call away.

So how was my day with my own students? Fabulous, non eventful. Second Graders . . . . impulsive, innocent, teeth missing, darlings who want to share everything with you. I love the laid back, no stress, innocence of Second Grade. I do miss my Fifth Graders but I loved leaving at 3:45 today and not having all that material to cover and plan for.

So far here is the difference I see and feel coming back to work now that I have children. Yes, it is different. I was not nervous today for the first day of school. Before when I didn't have children of my own it was my world - my life revolved around school. Now, not so much. I'm just not as invested. I loved my students today but I am detached. I have different priorities. I enjoyed my day but I was ready to go and hear about Connor's day and spend time with my other children and husband. Just different. Now it's off to make lunches for tomorrow!

Racing Towards School

Connor met his Pre-K4 teacher today, Mrs. Gallina. We are so . . . excited to have her as his teacher. I'm in awe of this woman - Mother of four, working on her Masters, and teaching a class full of four year olds, Wow! Craig took Connor over for Orientation because I was in my class meeting my own students. Connor was not shy at all and especially loved it when Mrs. Gallina started talking to him about seashells. When I asked him what was his favorite part he said "Playing with all the trucks and they even have a Thomas the Train."

On another note, Yesterday Connor's PawPaw took him to see his cousin Luke in Orlando. It was checkered flags and go karts on the agenda. From the pictures I saw they all had a blast! Luke was geared up head to toe and ready for the races, hoping to get some endorsements from Home Depot!

The Many Faces of Caroline

Isn't she something?

Monkey Business

We are just going bananas over Cooper this weekend because he is turning one! We celebrated with a monkey themed party. We kept with our standard tradition of celebrating first birthdays' on Uncle Brant's back porch. Coop did not stick to the standard baby's approach of gingerly playing in the cake. He dove head first into it. Neither Connor nor Caroline ever attacked their cake like Coop did. The boy's eyelashes were even covered. Cake was everywhere. But don't take my word for it, here see it for yourself. I have a before and after shot of the cake.

He's not monkeying around when it comes to cake!

I wanted to make cupcakes with banana candy on top. We looked everywhere for Runt's candy. My candy loving expert, Jeanne, gave us the idea to hit up the Jiffy store for some Runt's and we found one box left with exactly the amount of banana candy I needed.

We had yummy Sonny's for dinner with some homemade banana pudding!

Connor & Caroline both wore monkey shirts to celebrate Coop's big day. I had to share these comical shots of Caroline having a little meltdown.

It was nice having the grandparents there to celebrate too!

Happy Birthday Coop, Mommy & Daddy are so proud of you!

A View from Second Grade

I snuck up to the school today (still no key yet) and snapped some shots of my new classroom with an incredible new camera that PawPaw just purchased. I'll give you a guided tour with commentary of my new classroom. I love the beginning of the school year when the classroom is all clean and the floors sparkle. There are no children to scuff the floors and dirty the sink. Although they bring their joys they also bring along their mess.

Come on and take a look at my classroom before my Second Graders arrive . . . . . . .

Fish wallpaper

Fish pond rug to go with the fish theme

20 cubbies

6 student computers

Motion sensor hand soap - What????


Motion sensor paper towels too!


A view into my office from the classroom

The office I share with another teacher

Teacher computer


My desk in my classroom

There are two large windows on the

same wall as the cubbies and my desk


A view of my classroom while

I'm standing in my office

Storage closet - A dream come true!

My almost completely empty storage closet due to the fact that I have never taught Second grade and my classroom was used as a preschool room last year. No complaints out of me about an empty storage closet because that means less junk to sift through. I know this closet will be full in no time!

Motion detector lights

There's a restroom in my classroom - this is a first for me!

Cute wallpaper in the restroom - little jokes about sea life.

A view from the front of the room looking back

Flat screen TV

Classroom printer and DVD player

Can you tell I'm getting excited? I know life is about to change - some hard, some easy - but I'm looking forward to getting my classroom ready and meeting my new students (and breaking in that motion detector hand soap and paper towels).