Crazy, Giveaway, & a Question

Okay, let me just start off by saying I don't want anyone to take offense by what I am about to say.

That said, here goes.

As someone who has nine, count them . . . NINE more days with insane kiddos until Christmas break, I may be forced to leave hateful comments to the next person who posts about being done with school this week or in the next few days.

Okay-dokay. Glad we got that clear.

I have a great class this year (as opposed to last year) but people they were nutso today!

We had our Christmas program yesterday. Yes, on a Sunday afternoon! So they were wound up today.

I hope I get some serious sympathy comments about that Sunday program from all my dear friends out there! It was bad. But since it is for the parents, people, we can't complain. Remember, it isn't about us at all.

Anyhow, the kids were awful today. Oh, did I already say that. Yes? And do you remember I have NINE more days of this?

I seriously thought I needed to make a sacrificial offering to the Christmas gods today to appease them so that Christmas wouldn't be canceled or something. I even was willing to sacrifice more than one! Hey, don't tell me I wasn't willing to take one for the team!

Oh, yeah, and did I mention music was in my room today because PE was in the multi-purpose room because of the cold weather? (More sympathy please.)

So, even though I had things to do, I left the room. If I hadn't the sacrifices would have started.

I ended up in the lounge where there was NO chocolate! (Can I get some more sympathy?)

But the school nurse was there working and I started blabbing about sacrifices and, OMgoodness, then I laughed like a mad scientist.

Think the bug scientist on Monsters vs Aliens.

I seriously scared myself!

I did some deep breathing before heading back to class.

Hopefully the gods won't need any offerings tomorrow . . .

So, now that I am home and in my happy place, I want to tell you about the giveaway at Dreamlike Magic Designs. You can win a $25 gift card to anything in their shop. So finish reading this post, leave me some sympathy, help with the upcoming question (if you can) and then go enter. Good luck!

Okay, here is the question.

I have a Teacher's Notebook shop and I just received an email from someone saying they purchased an item but couldn't download it. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do? I've not had this happen before and am baffled.

Stay tuned for my 100 followers giveaway!

Woo Hoo!!!

It's been a few days since I visited my blog because I've been lost in a nook book. I have to say I LOVE it!

I read after lights out last night and no one knew it! I felt like I was 10 and under the blankets with a flashlight all over again. The family was wondering why I was so tired today. Shhhhh!

It's too bad you have to pay for the books. I was surprised they cost so much even though there is no paper. I'll get over though...I think!

Woo hoo!!! I've reached one hundred followers! I have to have a giveaway now so I am heading over to etsy to find something just right!

Stay tuned. And if you see a little light in the middle of the night...

Elf Photo Op

So yesterday I forgot to get the elf photos on my laptop before going home. Silly girl! Sometimes I'm lucky my head is attached or I'd probably forget that, too!

Here are the first few photos.

One of my little darlings did a gymnastics move (back bend kind of like thing) to get a peek at the title of the book Bluey was reading. It was Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus!

Foam math tiles are fun and the perfect size for an elf. My kiddos love building with these when we are stuck inside for recess too! Another little darling obviously added to Bluey's creation while we were at recess because there were an extra handful when we returned. I'm pretty sure I know who the culprit was.

We've been painting. Remember the art project I mentioned in yesterday's post. Who can resist watercolor painting? Certainly not Bluey.  Best of all, watercolor painting is all kinds of calming.  Do you think anyone would notice if all we did was paint until vacation starts.

BTW, I thought our last day of school before vacay was the Wednesday before Christmas.  Oh, no!  At our staff meeting this morning, it was rudely brought to my attention that THURSDAY is our last day of school!  I.am.so.depressed!  Sob, sob!  Boo hoo!  Ruined my whole day...almost.

When the kiddos come in tomorrow they will find Bluey hugging up with the Grinch! If anyone can melt the Grinch's heart, it would be an elf for sure.

On a side note, I got my Nook tablet last night and am all kinds of excited to download my first book and settle in to read this weekend.

It isn't going to happen tonight though because I've got a date with my favorite nerds from the Big Bang Theory. I LOVE those guys (and girls too)! Then Person of Interest is on and I have to say that Jim Caviezel is pretty easy on the eyes. (Much more so in this show than as Jesus although that was an awesome and heart-wrenching movie.) Interestingly enough I saw him on a TV show and he is really a man of faith. Makes me like him even more. Sorry hubs!

TGI(almost)F people!

95 & Counting

I can't believe I am at 95 followers! Stacy over at 2nd Grade Paradise was talking about reaching 100 followers by Christmas. I thought as I was reading that, yeah, wouldn't that be fan-tab-u-lous!? Now I am soooo close.

Did I just jinx myself?

Probably!

Monday our elf on the shelf showed up. The class was ecstatic! The kids each picked a name and I drew one from a hat. Its name is Bluey.

Over the weekend I purchased Sunny Days Elf on a Shelf Classroom Resource Pack. It is amazing! If you have an elf, you need to check it out.

Each day we are journaling about where Bluey is found and what we think he did during the night (besides going to the North Pole and reporting to Santa if we were naughty or nice). They are SO into it.

Because of how busy we are with practices for our upcoming (Sunday afternoon :( ) Christmas program and all the other crazy things this time of year, I am taking a photo of Bluey each morning to paste onto the day's journal page instead of having the kids draw a picture. As soon as they find him, I grab the camera and we are good to go! The kids are thrilled to know they will have a little book about our elf to keep forever.

So far, Bluey has been found reading Christmas books, building with foam blocks, and painting a picture! The kiddos are even brainstorming where they think Bluey will end up next and what he'll be doing. I love it! My 12 year old daughter is having fun helping me after school each day set things up.

All my pictures are on my school computer, but I will post a few soon.

I also want to share a really neat Christmas art project with you all.

Off to bed. Goodnight!

Critters in the Classroom

I am so excited to be a contributor on Erica Bohrer's new blog Critters in the Classroom. This is right up my alley!

But, I am feeling the pressure now! I mean it's Erica Bohrer...THE Erica Bohrer! Enough said.

Come over and check out my first post. (Hopefully not my last!!) ;)