things I can't seem to do

There has just been so much going on these days and I am finding it difficult to steal even a few minutes away to sit down and write. It's horrible really. I really am working on that. There are quite a few things I have on my list of things to do but they just never seem to get done:

- keep the kitchen and house clean
- hang out with the hubs
- go on daily walks with Puppy
- exercise three or so times a week
- fold the laundry and put it away (right after washing it)
- read/quite time (a little bit every night)
- blog (at least a few times a week)

...and these are all the things that have nothing to do with school. That list is endless. Oh my goodness. I cannot figure out how to balance everything I need to and get all of the papers graded and back to my kids in a timely manner and how to do pretty much everything. It's pretty pathetic really.

But apart from that, things are going. We have been traveling a lot lately too, which always seems to make the house a mess... but I'm not going to grip or complain. I'm just saying this is what has been going on (or not been going on) lately. Hopefully some good changes are on the way :)

I hope you all are doing well and have a peachy weekend!

a happy treat

The weekends are some of the only times during the school year that I feel like I have a life. Mostly what that means is: I sleep in about an hour later than usual, make a yummy breakfast, clean up our house for the first time that week, do laundry, go grocery shopping, and take a nap (if I'm lucky). 

One of the highlights of my weekends is going to Target. Maybe that sounds silly, but I just love that store and just walking around the brightly light and squeaky clean aisles makes my heart happy. I don't get to go every weekend but I try and visit at least once a month when school is in session, to feel normal, you know? 

Anyhow. Today I got to go to Target. It's been a few weeks since I was last there. They had Halloween candy and costumes and decorations out. Last time I was there it was all back to school stuff. That's how long it's been (although, I do know that retail stores can put out new merchandise in a matter of hours, I've done it before). Anyhow. They had some fun new pretty fall stuff out. Oh, how I love Fall. It's my favorite season. But that's something I'll save for another time. If I remember :) 

So today I had a list of things I needed to get while I was there. Usually I don't have a list (or if I do I don't stick to it, kind of like what happened today), but today I did and it guided me through the store. As I was looking for one thing or another on my list I happened to get a glance of one of the most wonderful things in the store. And they had my name written all over it. I am not an impulse purchaser. I am not a decisive person. But when I saw these beauties, I picked them up immediately, put them in my cart, and walked off without a second thought. 

  

I got my feet a happy treat. 

See? Don't they have my name written all over them? They do. Don't worry, your eyesight just might be failing you at the moment :)

That's right y'all. Slippers. I don't know if you know about my deep love affair with slippers or not, but I have one. Again, that's something for another time, if I can remember :) 

Aren't these little piggies the absolute cutest and most wonderful slippers in the world? I mean, how can you not love slippers after seeing these little guys? I have been enjoying them all afternoon. Puppy is sniffing suspiciously, but I am loving them and forbidding Puppy from making them into his newest toy. 

Anyhow. That's all have for today. I just had to share a happy feet treat. Do you have something that makes you especially happy? Slippers anyone?

I hope you have a happy weekend! 

no school

Today has been a lovely day. I did not have to go to school. That's right, I got to stay home and do stuff, anything I wanted pretty much. A few things I have done today include: sleeping in until 7:30 (I know, that's definitely sleeping in, right? :), enjoying a yummy breakfast, reading a bunch of mindless reading materials, cleaning up the kitchen, taking a nap, talking to my sister, planning to exercise, creating dividers for my lesson plan binder, and thinking about reading and sleeping some more.

Pretty wonderful if you ask me. Now that I think of it, I should probably make sure that list includes making the bed and putting the clothes away. But hey, if it doesn't get done today then there's always tomorrow, right? :) I need to do those last two chores today. Hopefully they get done.

But I thought I would take a minute to write for a little bit. I would like to remember days like these ones.

Before I go I'll give you a little update on school. It's still going pretty well, thankfully. I feel a little more prepared this year than I did last year, which is wonderful and the kids are pretty good. I'm hoping the year just continues to get better and goes smoothly.

Anyhow. That's all I have for now. I'm feeling a little sleepy so I might take a little nap :)

I hope you all have a happy weekend!

the weekends

I love Saturdays so much that I never get much done. I try to. My goal every Saturday is to get everything on my list checked off. That way I have Sunday to chill and relax before the craziness of the weeks starts back up. But somehow that doesn't happen. Saturdays are spent being a little lazy and Sundays are the days I spend trying to play catch up and prepare for the week ahead. It's not fun. I try with every fiber in my being to get out of bed and get busy with the day's tasks, but it doesn't happen. Then later on I try with all that I have to get off the couch and be productive (or at the very least fold the laundry), but it doesn't happen.

It's a problem. It needs to change. How do you change it I ask you? How do you change it? I feel like one of the reasons I just want to do nothing on Saturday is because all week long I have been so busy and going non-stop and I just need to breathe. But Sunday is Sunday. The day before I have to be busy so I don't want a lot to do on that day. sheesh. If only I could have my week planned out before the weekend. That would be ideal. Then all I would have to worry about is laundry and grocery shopping.

Maybe one day I'll figure out how to manage these precious weekend days of mine a little better :) I hope you are enjoying yours!!

about that...

So, I took a little bit of a break from blogging. Not necessarily on purpose. Mostly because life started again. Life as in school. Yes, school has started. I have had a room full of kiddos for a whole eight days now and am getting ready to start my second full week of the year. Here in a few days I will try and take a few pictures of my new and improved classroom and my first day of school picture. 

Yes, my second full week as a second year teacher is about to begin. I can confidently say that I started this year off with a lot more confidence than last year. Last year I was terrified that the kids would eat me, you know, cause they are all so much bigger than me. I had no idea what I was doing. I was, at most, only a day or two ahead of the kids. Not so fun. And while this year I am still only currently a day or two ahead of the kids, I think it will get better and soon I will be a whole unit ahead of them, which would be wonderful and my dream come true :) I'm working on it. As far as the confidence aspect of the year/teaching goes, I have it. I spent a lot of time this summer thinking about how I wanted my classroom to go, what I wanted the kids to do, how to make things run smoothly (or at least smoother than last year), and such. I wrote out so many nit-picky things I wanted to tell them about how to behave in the classroom that I spent the first three days of school going over the syllabus and my personal expectations of them. 

I think it was fairly effective. I wanted to start out as strict and stern as I could possibly be. It seems to be working as the kids do what they are expected to do, what they are asked to do, when they are asked to it. It is wonderful and it makes my heart so happy. If two kids are whispering while I'm talking I get on them and they blush, apologize, and do their work like they were supposed to. I want to smile and do a little jig when this happens, but of course I would loose my effectiveness if I did that. 

All in all, it has been a good start to the year. I am not stressed and don't feel as though the kids are running over me this year. Leaps and bounds better than last year. I am hoping and praying it continues on as such. 

Anyhow. That's been my life as of late. Trying to get lesson plans and be consistent in the classroom. Speaking of which I need to go write out my lesson plans for this week. I will be back, sooner than later this time. If I can remember to take my camera to school one day I'll get some of those pictures of my room (my room makes me so happy this year!!). 

I hope all of you lovelies have a lovely weekend! 

sister visit :)

as I mentioned last week my sister was coming to visit me with her three little ones. I really don't know how the time passed so quickly while she was here (though, I don't think it was only when she was here, time is passing super fast these days). we did a few things while she was visiting... 

like visit the zoo. 

I especially liked the tiger. he looked so sweet and peaceful. 

yup. I got to enjoy the day with five of my adorable nieces and nephews

and their two pretty mamas. 

I like giraffes. 

we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum. 

awesome.

and then there was the color run. 

flattering picture, I know. 

it was pretty neat. maybe even a little bit fun. 

getting splashed with color. 

I especially enjoyed the part after we were done running. 

also, I decided I don't like running. 

I like the results of it. 

but not running. no sire. 

but it was a fun little run to do with my professional runner sister :) 

oh, we also went to Mammoth Cave. but I didn't take any pictures of that because I didn't want to carry my camera around in the dark cave and and break my leg for not being able to use both hands for balance. 

and we went to the creek with puppy. the kids especially enjoyed that. but I don't have any pictures of that because I didn't want my camera to get wet and break, as I'm sure it would have. 

so, that was my week. it was sad to see them go. and the house was so quiet. but I'm glad they came to visit. I love my sisters and seeing them and their sweet little ones. 

anyhow. that's all for now. 

my sister

Today I am happy to announce that my sister is coming to visit me! She is hauling her three little ones all the way from Minnesota just to see me! ... and maybe my other sister too, but mostly to see me :) Oh, and to also run in the Color Run with me. yikes! It's okay though. I've been running more and more so, I'm praying I will make it to the finish line.

I think we are going to go to the zoo while she is here and maybe even go see our grandparents. I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving, so I'm really happy she's coming. Also, she's never been to my house before. I warned her that it is pretty dull around these parts no toys or nothin' for her sweet little kiddos. But we do have a sprinkler and lots of left over bubbles from our wedding. So, I'm sure that could provide some entertainment one afternoon if we need some.

Anyhow, I'm going to go finish cleaning my house for her arrival. Good thing I have a few hours till she gets here :)

I hope you all have a happy Wednesday!