Geggie Baby Shower

Today my team at school threw me a beautiful baby shower. See, they were going to throw it before Harper was born, but Harper had different plans. I actually think having one of your baby showers after the baby is born is a good idea. I got so many nice gifts today that I wouldn't have gotten if the shower would have been four months ago. Harper got 6 month+ toys and clothes, safety items for around the house and lots of beautiful picture books (plus a number of other things). I just finished up unpackaging all of Harper's beautiful things and enjoyed a leftover cupcake before I sat down to blog about my fun day. Harper's babysitter even brought her up so she could enjoy her first party.
My team. I am especially thankful for two of my teammates that I have now taught with for FIVE years. My teaching memories wouldn't be the same without them.

Some of my favorite gifts were the picture books Harper got, the bedtime lotion I use for Harper and an adorable puppy dog jumper (which the dogs look suspiciously like Westies).

Classroom Giving Tree

I'm a teacher when it is not summer time. So, Sunday I crafted a little something for my classroom. I'm always looking for donations of different supplies - Ziploc bags, Lysol wipes, GermX... just stuff that you need for your classroom - stuff that adds up if you purchase it all yourself all the time. So, I made a Giving Tree! This Giving Tree will sit out at Meet the Teacher Night, Curriculum Night and at Fall and Spring Conferences. Parents are always asking me if I need stuff - so I thought why not present it in a cute and *optional* way.

I made the base out of some scrap wood...I tried to nail it around the little twig, but I didn't have nails that were long enough...so out came the hot glue.

I wrapped the base in some quilting filler to cover all the splinters from the scrap wood.

Then I wrapped the base in some pretty, green, scrap fabric I had.

I made a little sign for my Giving Tree just so the parents knew it was optional.

I made little leaves that hang from green ribbon.

My finished Giving Tree. I think it's so cute!

I Love My Life

I love my life. I love my job. I love my teammates (yeah third grade team). I love my friends. I love my husband. I love Samson. I could go on and on and on...

...I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I'm so lucky. I have a beautiful house and my own little family that lives here (hi Will and Sam). I've just started my fourth year of teaching third grade in an amazing school district. I love this time of year because I can sense my favorite season right around the corner, fall will be here before we know it (and I can't wait). Fall is Will and my favorite season. We like to decorate our house spooky, well at least I like to decorate it and Will just likes to enjoy it decorated. We love going to pick pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. Will always manages to carve his to look scarier than mine. We already previewed our options for Sam's Halloween costume at Petsmart. Last year he was a jack-o-lantern. This year I want him to be an unemployed person (complete with doggie robe and newspaper squeak toy). I think Will thinks that is a weird costume because he wants Samson to get the shark costume. How generic! Really, I just want an excuse to buy my Westie a robe to wear around the house. He would just be so cute in it! Anyway, this post is all over the place. The bottom line is - I'm just happy right now. I'm on top of things (as much as a teacher can be at any one time) at work and at home and bottom line is, I'm just in a great mood.

On a house update....we hung curtains this weekend in our living room. We chose basic white with cast iron rods. It looks pretty and really adds decoration to the room!

Well, I guess thats all from my life...

Solar Lights and Lamination

Yesterday Will and I picked up some cute little solar lights at Lowe's. I came home and quickly assembled them and we "installed" them in the landscaping beds in our front yard. As it got dark, I got excited that the solar lights would come on soon! Around 9:00, I peeked outside. They were super cute and added a lot to the front yard (and they look cute in the day too). I think it's fun how the little things can make me so happy sometimes...who would have thought solar lights would be one?! Another little thing that I used to love was cutting out lamination. I remember when I was a student teacher and that was one of my favorite things to do. Now, I HATE cutting out lamination. It's super boring and it makes a huge mess. This time of year I always have an overabundance of lamination. I find it stuck to my clothes, my shoes, just about everywhere. Sitting on my kitchen table is a huge bag of lamination to be cut...yuck.