Tag, I'm It....

Did you like playing tag as a kid?  I was never a fast runner, so I was always the one chasing kids... or... I was always the one that was frozen in freeze tag!  It was not my idea of fun...standing there waiting to be unfrozen... But this game of tag is bunches different, so I decided to play along.  I hope you do too!

Melissa over at Dilly Dabbles, DeAnne at First Grade and Fabulous,  and Miss Smartie Pants all tagged me in this game of question tag.  As in all games, there are rules that you need to follow:

1)           You must post the rules.

2)          Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3)          Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4)          Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5)           Let them know you've tagged them! 

Step 1:  Twelve Fun Facts About Me

1.    I am married to the man of my dreams. 

2.    I have 6 brothers and sisters.  

3.    I love dogs.  I have a huge black lab ~Willow~  and a red heeler ~Dingo~

  

4.    I have lived in Oklahoma my entire life (I actually live in Virginia for 6 months... but I don’t really count that since I was in between jobs).

5.    I like things to be organized.  In an obsessive way!  However I don't seem to have a problem with a messy car and dirty dishes in the sink.  I think I need to see counseling!

6.    I have been to Europe twice and would love to go again with my husband someday. 

7.    I love to sing karaoke ~ my two adorable dogs always run and hide when I do.  Not really sure why???

8.    I can get totally lost in a good book for hours.

9.    I won’t be able to retire until I’m 65!!! That’s not really a fun fact...but it is the sad truth!  

10.  I love to watch snow when it is falling... especially if they are huge flakes.  BEAUTIFUL!!

11.   I love to play board games and cards


12.   My first job was at a Sonic as a carhop.  My first customer gave me a $20 tip.  (From his breath, I'm sure he wondered what happened to all his money the next morning).

Step 2:   Answering the questions.  Since Melissa tagged me first, I'm going to answer her questions. 

  

1)          What is your favorite food/drink to de-stress? Coke – (shoot...I just missed happy hour!  Here comes the stress!!)

2)        What is your favorite book to read to your class?  Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Dummond

3)        What is your favorite book to read yourself?  The Bible – no matter how many times I read it, I always seem to find something I never saw before

4)        How far do you travel to get to your school? approximately 6 miles

5)        How many students are in your class? 17

6)        Do you exercise?  How often and what types?  I wish I could say yes.  But that would be a lie.  So...sadly... Nope

7)        What is your favorite topic or unit to teach? I love teaching about penguins

8)        What behavior plans/rewards do you have in place in your classroom?   I give my kiddos a Smartie when they do something that they know they are suppose to be doing, and no one else is doing it.  I tried pulling cards, but I can't seem to make it work for me.  

9)        What do you wear to school?  (slacks, skirts, dresses, jeans, types of shoes)  I usually wear slacks and if it’s cold I wear tennis shoes and if it’s warm you will see me wearing sandles (flip flops).

10)     How old/new is your school?  Old!  In fact my husband went to grade school there 100 years ago.  They have added 2 more buildings since he went there.  There is a Primary Building (pre-k through 3rd grade) and an Intermediate Building (4th  through 6th) and a relatively new cafeteria.

11)      What technology do you have available/use in your classroom?  In my classroom I have a Smartboard, an Elmo (purchased with my own money), one computer, 6 Neo2 (which are totally awesome) and through the help of Donor’s Choose I was able to get six MP3 Players.

12) How do you spoil yourself? reading a book, with a Sonic Coke and a bag of  Twizzlers – love it!

Step 3:     Passing along the tag... with your 12 questions.   

1. Do you have to sign in and out when you arrive and leave school? (including if you leave for lunch?)

2. What is your favorite snack?

3. What time do you usually get to work?

4. What is your dream vacation?

5. Who is your favorite actor/actress?

6. Have you ever had a bad habit that you have now overcome?

7. Is there a smell that you can’t tolerate?

8. Do you have a favorite sports team?

9. What’s your favorite type of music?

10.What annoys you more than anything?

11. What is your favorite children’s book?

12. How long have you been teaching?



TAG, you're it!

A Little Bit of This...A Little Bit of That

Today I decided to take time out for me and to READ!!!!  The only thing that could have made it more relaxing would have been the sound of thunder rumbling in the distant background and the smell of rain.  I finished my book and it was sooo relaxing.  If you haven't discovered The Best Endings you definitely need to go check it out.  I will warn you that there are some amazing bloggers there that share so many books that sound too good not to read.   My wish list for books continue to get bigger and bigger.

Cecelia over at I Love 1st Grade has created yet another product that you will definitely want to check out.  If you implement the Daily 5 in your classroom it will work into it perfectly!  Hop on over and check out her newest creation and her cute blog.

If you are not using Dropbox you are missing the boat!   I use it almost daily to retrieve documents from my computer at home when I am at school.  Love Love Love it!  You must check it out if you don't use it yet!

That's it.  I stayed up wayyyy to late last night ~ so I'm calling it a night! 

It's Nice to Feel Special ~ My Favorite Follower Award

Shawna over at The Picture Book Teacher's Edition, surprised me today by awarding me the "Favorite Follower Award."  She very sweetly reminded me that I was her first follower!  I just love being someones very first follower.   It's like making a new friend that nobody else has met yet!!!  If you are not following her blog yet, you need to get over there immediately!  She reviews pictures books and posts activities to go with them.    Thank you Shawna for making me feel special!

The rules of the award are to pass it on to TWO of my favorite followers.  So... I would like to pass it on to Holly over at Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade and to Barbara over at Grade ONEderful.   They leave the nicest comments and I always look forward to reading them.  Thank you ladies!

I know this is breaking the rules, but I have one other favorite follower that you positively must check out.  Hop on over to see Tammy at Klinger Cafe'.  She is one of the sweetest bloggers I know!   

I am officially ready to go to bed now.  I told my husband I would be there in a few minutes and I think I hear him snoring.  I guess it was more than a few minutes!!

Be Careful What You Say... & A Give Away

     My husband decided to spend some time at his shop this morning.   About 10 seconds after he left, I heard a knock at the door. I was a little irritated that he was going to make me get up out of my comfy chair,  to unlocked the door (when he could easily have retrieved the spare key from our secret hiding place), so I yelled at him "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!"   But, I hurried quickly finally went to open the door.  Much to my embarrassment, I quickly realized it wasn't my hubby... instead it was the mailman!!!   He was walking to the neighbor's house, but he turned back with a weird look on his face.  Yikes!  I hope I didn't scare him.   


     Anyways...on to the exciting part of  being forced to get up from comfy chair. There on my porch was a box.   My prize was here!!!!  I ripped carefully  opened the box, and there is was... my winnings from  Teacher Bits & Bobs.   


     Do you know how hard it is to take a picture with a glass frame...the glass causes all kinds of problems.  Trust me, this picture does not give it justice.   Anyways...I love it and I think I will save it for my hubby for Valentines Day.  Shhhh!!!!   Thank you Kerri!!!

On to something very important to me...


Beth Ann from Taming My Flock of Firsties is giving away something that would go perfectly with my recent prize.  I really do hope I win it!!!!!  Keep you fingers crossed for me okay!  If you win, I suppose I'll get over it.  I even almost decided to not blog about it, but she is giving me another entry if I blog about it ... so just read this little paragraph and forget you ever read it okay!  Click on her cute button below only if you decide that you want to check it out. 

What's Not Wrong

Mrs. Davis over at Carried Away In... Kindergarten! is hosting a party ~ What's NOT Wrong Wednesday.  Sounds like way too much fun to me to pass up so I'm going to head on over there and link up. 

Everything on my list is definitely NOT wrong:

1. Being glad that I don't have to cook supper tonight is NOT wrong. We have our monthly church dinner tonight and I am so glad that I don't have to cook and clean up my kitchen tonight! Praise the Lord! 
2. Winning & getting to choose any 4 units from some very creative bloggers is NOT wrong! Thank you to all those who put together the Ring of Bloggy Give Aways. You guys rock! 
3. Wishing for a snow day tomorrow is NOT wrong! Brrrr it is so cold outside and the temperature keeps dropping. I wouldn't mind, except it is soooo WINDY! If it's going to be this cold outside, there needs to be some snow out there!!! 
4. Jumping up and down that I don't have to entertain teach an abundance of kids next Sunday is NOT wrong! Sunday morning they will be showing the movie Courageous (which I have not seen yet!!!!!!) during our regular service time. All members are being encouraged to bring family, friends, etc. and that a nursery/children's church will be provided. I was trying to figure out a way to get out of it... but nothing was coming to me...until today!!! My bestest teaching buddy, Tammy invited me to a day out with the girls. YEAH!!!! 
5. Wanting to tell my brother-in-law to shut up is NOT wrong! Does anyone else have a person in your family that is soooo irritating. I love this guy, but he totally drives me crazy!!! I haven't decided if he is just plain rude, or if there is something seriously wrong with him. An adult constantly interrupting conversation ll the time is just wrong ... Grrrrr. 

Wow! that was fun. I almost feel like I had a little therapy going on there. lol

Click on the button below to find out what you need to do to link up.   See you there!

Currently & OLW

Yeah!  Farley over at  Oh' Boy Fourth Grade finally started her much awaited Currently Linky Party for  the month of January.  She is also having an awesome giveaway.  A pencil sharpener!!!  It is not just any ordinary pencil sharpener either.  You'll want to watch the video that demonstrates the pencil sharpener.   If you do win, and you don't need it, just let me know & I will gladly take it off of your hands.  

I have been thinking long and hard for the perfect OLW word that fit me.   Finally today I came up with it. TREASURE!!!!  This word encompasses so much in my life.  My husband.  My dogs.  My Lord and Savior.  My Family.  My friends.  My job.  My church...the list goes on and on. 

I'm So Sorry... But I Quit!!!

For the last hour I have been searching through all my favorite blogs trying to find someone ANYONE that has not been given the Versatile Blogger Award.  Do you know how frustrating that is???? I'm sorry!!! But I quit!!!   I can't do it anymore!!!  I still have over 300 more of my favorite blogs to check on to see if they have received it, but I've decided to let it go!!!!!


Wow!!! I feel such a weight lifted off my shoulders. 


I want to apologize to any blogger out there that has not received the award.  I will gladly give you mine!!!! It's too stressful!!!!  


Now... to get back to stalking all my favorite blogs.

Stressful Day and an Award

What an absolutely wonderful day! Well, not so much, but more about that later when I spill my guts about myself.


On to some exciting news! I just realized that I have been recognized as a Versatile Blogger by two different bloggers. See, I told you that it was pretty exciting! I feel so honored. Thank you so much to Jessica at Apples & Papers and also Sara at Smiling in Second Grade. If you haven't made it over to their blogs, you really should go take a look. 

 

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

• Thank the person/people that nominated you and provide a link back to their blog. 
• Share 7 things about yourself. 
• Pass this award along to 15 other blogs that you have discovered.

Thank you again Jessica & Sara! I am tickled pink that people are reading my blog!


Here are 7 things about me. (I think you will know me a little better when you finish reading them)

• I am ABSOLUTELY terrified of the dentist. In fact, that is why my day was not so wonderful. I had 2 cavities and today was my much dreaded appointment to have major surgery. Well, okay, it wasn't major surgery, but when you hear all those loud noises coming out of your mouth...it is downright scary!!! As a matter of fact, I was so stressed that I took the whole day off! Just so you really understand that I have issues, my dentist will write me a prescription for ONE valium anytime I go to her. And...my last words to her today were...I don’t like you. She told me I did great!!! Isn’t there a treasure chest I should be able to pick something out of or something?? 

• I never had children and that has always left a big empty space in my life. I don’t think anyone can really understand how painful that is (and continues to be), unless you have experienced it. 

• My husband and I dated for 11 years before we decided to get married. I totally broke his heart when he proposed and I told him I would have to think about it!! (What the heck was I thinking! I’ve got the most awesome man in the world!) 

• I love to read and I usually finish the book in one day. I enjoy almost every kind of book. I just discovered the library at my church and I immediately checked out 5 books. I hope that was legal!!! 

• I love to sing Karaoke! I definitely don’t have a professional voice...but hey... when I’m singing I think I totally rock! (I can’t for the life of me understand why my dogs leave the room as soon as I get out the microphone!! How rude!) 

• I don’t like to go to parties and try to avoid them (especially baby showers) or any event that has a lot of people there. It forces me to step out of my comfort zone. 

• I cry easily. Enough said. I could cry just writing about crying. And besides crying makes me think about my most recent cry, which was going to the dentist...and I can’t go through that memory again right now!! 

So there it is...seven things about me that I have exposed to my blogger friends. As if that wasn't hard enough, now I need to choose 5 other bloggers to pass the Versatile Blogger Award to. I'm exhausted from too much stress today...So, I'm going to wait until tomorrow!  I hope the blogger patrol isn't out there waiting and tries to strip my award from me.  Until tomorrow...