A Leprechaun's Visit

I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed when I found out that St. Patrick's Day was going to be during our school's Spring Break. After all, one of my favorite memories of kindergarten is the day the Leprechaun visited us. I was not about to let my kindergarteners miss this life-changing experience, so I decided we'd make our own St. Patrick's Day on the Friday before the break. We all wore green to school and while the kids were at PE, I placed a trail of sparkling green grass and small leprechaun foot prints leading from our classroom door to their individual cubbies.






Inside, I placed a piece of Gold (Werther's gold-wrapped caramels). During the decorating process, teachers and students form other classes oohhed and awwed from the hallway. I turned off the lights and closed the door as I went to pick up the kids from PE. When we returned, I was the first one in, so I turned on the lights and looked at their faces. I expected they'd know right away that a Leprechaun had come, but mostly, their faces had a concerned look on them as they were wondering what was going on in our classroom. They looked over each others shoulders trying to figure it out. So, I played it up; "OHHHHH!!!!! WOOOOOOW!!!! A Leprechaun was here! Look...he left a trail!" THEN they understood. All at once they were laughing and smiling and jumping up and down with excitement, admiring the tiny footprints on their hands and knees and following them to their cubbies where they were overjoyed at the gold the nice leprechaun had left.


Once they ate their candies, they ran around the room trying to find the little man and Mason even came up to me beaming and said, "Teacher, I didn't think Leprechauns were real, but now I KNOW they are!" As the 20 excited 5 year olds were calming down again, I suggested we carefully pick up the magic grass and place them in a bag so we could keep it for good luck. Once all the grass was safely in the ziplock, we (well, I did) wrote a note (with their help) to the Leprechaun, thanking him for the wonderful surprise.



We drew pictures of what happened and posted them on our outside bulletin board along with the letter.




It was without doubt the greatest moment of my teaching career. And if they're like me when they get older and only remember this about their kindergarten experience, I will be more than satisfied :) Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Your Highness

Two new additions have entered into my classroom.
#1 The Crown:
When I wear this, the students know they can not come up to me to ask me questions (I wear it only when I hold my small group tutoring sessions while in class)


#2 The Wand:
The students know this is my magic wand and it can make them do exactly what I ask, "Listen, Learn, etc. (wish it really could)


Step Three is to have them start addressing me as, "Your Highness," but we're still working on that part.

Best Weekend Ever!!

(Well, all my weekends with the twins are the best weekends ever)...especially when the zoo is the main event. Interestingly enough, El Paso has a fantastic one.


I was excited that my jacket matched the cute zebras!






Giraffes are for sure my new favorite animal.



TIMON!!


PUMBA!!



Note the Love Birds in the back ;)


"Yay! I'm a Llama again!" (Emperor's New Groove)


HEDWIG!!





We had a Happy Time :)

Valentines; What Jeff Gave Me

I knew Jeff had something planned for us for Valentine's Day, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. (Precursor: He had HUGE test he'd been studying for for weeks on Valentine's Day, and another HUGE test the day after as well, but he still did the following): He wasn't home at 5:00, when he told me to be ready, so I got a little curious. At 5:01 I got a text message from him saying..."Clue #1: I love how you always write me sweet napkin notes for my lunches, go to our mailbox...p.s. you MUST walk this whole treasure hunt!" I headed out the door, so excited and went on a huge hunt for ten clues around our complex. Each clue started with, "I love how you..." and then ended with where to go next. During the hunt, I found a small box of chocolates and a teddy bear. The last clue directed me toward our house, so I went back and the door was locked. Knocking, I heard music begin to play behind the door and when it opened, there he was in a tuxedo with a towel around his arm, welcoming me into his restaurant. He escorted me to our kitchen table lit with candles, set with a take-out Olive Garden dinner, a dozen red roses, and a large box of Sees chocolates.



Ummmmmm..........wow. I love him. We had a great time, and even though my gifts weren't as spectacular as his, he loved his box of candies, Star Wars cup, and a Wordsearch I had made for him (with words that, when put in sequence, spelled out a long love note).


I love you sweet Jeff. Thank you for making me the happiest girl :)

Valentines; What the Kids Gave Me

I opened the door in the morning to 20 five year olds standing there with their arms overflowing with Valentines for the class and for me. I've actually never seen so much candy or heart-shaped boxes of chocolates in my life! So, I told the kids to put everything they brought on my desk, and there was a mad rush of little ones trying to relieve their tired arms from the boxes of cookies, cupcakes, candies, and flowers they brought. That day, the other teachers at school were just as swamped with presents as I was when they asked me, "Doesn't it make you feel gross just thinking of all that candy they gave us?" "Absolutely!!!" I answered. (I secretly LOVED it). That afternoon, I think I had more fun than all the kids combined, helping them read the names on the gifts they brought to know who they were supposed to give it to, and watching the beaming smiles of those on the receiving end. Oh what happiness Valentine's Day brings...especially when you get a solid Hershey's chocolate apple!

For Jeff

Jeff, this song reminds me of us...

Best New Year's Eve EVER!---Steps

Steps for the Best New Year's Eve EVER:
1. Get a husband who plans surprise dates, a brother who's adventurous, and a sister-in-law who's willing to try something new (and maybe illlegal).

2. Go to your's and your brother's old elementary school across town (4 miles away from the strip).

3. Hop the chain link fence.


4. Push the dumpster to the wall of the school


5. Duck as 2 Police cars drive by


6. Shimmy up a pipe with the other 3 to arrive on the roof of the school




7. Climb up more to the 2nd story roof of the school (by way of a ladder this time)


8. Have a seat in the chairs the boys brought and sip some hot chocolate from the cooler they also brought (shinnnying up the pipe doesn't seem as easy any more does it?)


9. Count down to the New Year while looking at the perfect, unobstructed close view of the strip

10. Shout Happy New Year and watch the 12 hotels display their simultaneous and exact firework shows.


The End

And Then There was Golfing

(In between Christmas and New Years that is)

Las Vegas Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas Jeff and I had this year!


Family Christmas Eve Get-Together & Gift Exchange:








Getting cookies ready for Santa!!!




Reading Polar Express and Luke 2 [and watching A Christmas Story (no pictures of the latter, but then again, that's a given)]



Waiting for Santa:



It was a magical Christmas morning...especially when Adam, who was sleeping in Jeff and I's room, excitedly woke us up Christmas morning kicking and laughing and smiling :)

Christmas Day in the Mountains with more family and snow: :)






Merry Christmas to all...and to all, a goodnight.