Currently August

I can't help but link up with Farley even though I want to pretend it's not August yet!

Listening - my husband is always watching the golf channel.. I don't golf. Snore. 

Loving - we moved into the new home last September and the pool needed to be refinished and then it got cold. This summer it has a beautiful surface and crystal blue water and my family has been in it every day. I love that we can just hop in - swim and get back out. No packing bags, no packing food... it's glorious!

Thinking - I always need more time. I am an amazing procrastinator. I need more time to lose weight, clothes shop, create TpT resources, get my room ready.... you get the idea #whenwillIlearn

Wanting: I was asked to write 1st grade math curriculum for my district this summer. I am writing it with one other teacher and it has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I have loved the process so much but it is a TON of work. We are almost finished with the first half of the year though and then we'll take a break as it gets reviewed and revised! 

Needing:My sister-in-law is getting married and I still don't have a dress... or shoes.... or Spanx :) See, I procrastinate in all areas of my life, not just work! (um, I was waiting to lose 80 pounds but since I can't stop eating carbs I have enjoyed my summer, I guess I need to do the best I can with what I got (yes, I know that is not grammatically correct) sigh. 

B2S Rak: I am changing schools after 11 years. I am looking forward to my new adventure but I'm also so sad to leave behind my school family. Hopefully I can make a new family at this school.

Head on over to link up or read about what everyone else is currently doing! 

Currently July!

Linking up with Farley for my first Currently in about a year....

We are so excited to spend time in Ohio with our family! We are even more excited to go with them to the Outer Banks. If you don't already, follow me on Instagram to see beach pictures soon! 

Currently November

Hello Bloggy World! I have totally dropped off the face of the map.. sorry about that. I have been really busy changing to a new grade level (moved to first after 9 years in third) and the year started off with its usual crazy pace. But then, the worst phone call I have ever received happened 3 weeks into the year and everything went into a kind of tailspin. My mom called me one Friday afternoon. Her voice cracking, my anxiety level raising and she said, "Heather, I have cancer." We found out the following Friday that is was really bad - Stage IVB Vaginal Cancer.

I could post a whole book on the emotions I felt that day and every day since with the ups and downs that occur when a loved one is going through cancer treatment. I also live far away from her (I am in Texas, she is in Ohio) but I am really not sure if that is better or worse. Sometimes I feel like I am in a protective bubble, other times I feel like I couldn't possibly be further away. Any way, I figured I needed to rejoin the land of the living and try my best to live my life assuming she will get better (easier said than done!!)

Okay, sorry for the drama. Onto my November Currently hosted by the wonderful Farley.

Listening - I love country music. It makes me happy

Loving - today the high was in the 70's. Yay!!!

Thinking - my teacher bag is staring at me....

Wanting - I need to get November math stations ready to go before it is December!

Needing - this really is my thinking and wanting also... I love my mom and can't imagine not calling her to tell her the little random things about my day. Can't imagine her not seeing my kids grow. 

Yummy Pin. I have made this carmel apple dip several times. It.Is.AMAZING. Like, lick the bowl with no shame good. Click the picture above to get the recipe from Event Trender

Currently and August Calendar Freebie

Hi friends. I am super excited to link up with Farley this month for Currently. I missed the last 2 months and that is a total bummer! Here we go....

Listening; husband is watching, I'm blogging!

Loving; I read the 50 Shades series last summer. I am on the 3rd book of the Crossfire Series and Holly Hotness Batman..... a girl can dream. (when asked what I am reading, I reply, "smut" Ha

Thinking: I am guessing I am not alone in having too many things to do and too little time. As teachers, isn't that our mantra??

Wanting: hmmm, I am walking and eating better but a quick 20 pound weight loss would be lovely. 

Needing; I am changing themes again this year and I need to get my rear in gear....

Must have's. I always get a new haircut and some new clothes before school starts and I haven't gone shopping all summer. I am dreading it b/c I have not lost as much weight as I'd hoped. Sigh.

Does your school use Journey's? When I taught 3rd we didn't use it at all but my new team does. I am not sure how I will use it yet, but regardless, I know these Roll, Say, Keep games by Teaching With Love and Laughter will make my life much easier! I will use them with my GR groups and I will use them during Daily 5! Check them out by clicking on the picture!

Now, the freebie. I made some back to school calendar cards. You can get them by clicking on the picture below. Thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear from you if you grab these cards!! 

** edited to link up with Classroom Freebies Manic Monday **

Currently and a Sale

Linking up with Farley again for this month's Currently (I think I am number 98,365) Ha!

My husband is a high school basketball coach and if there is basketball on, we are watching it, especially this time of year!

I am all ready to go shopping at TpT today! I have a HUGE wish list so we'll see what happens! My store will be an extra 20% off too. Don't forget to get your additional 10% off by using the code SUPER.

My son has had strep 3 times since Christmas Eve and this past week he had strep and flu.. Yesterday, my daughter complained of a sore throat and yep, you guessed it.... STREP!  

I have 6, yes 6, almost finished products I am excited about. But life keeps getting in the way!

I have taken so many pictures and have started so many blog posts but for one reason or another I am not getting them published. I need to stop procrastinating and just do it! 

Pet Peeves. 

1. I cannot stand self loathing. It is ugly in adults and ugly in kids. I am all about helping kids develop a healthy self esteem and I offer a ton of praise but I can't stand the, "I am no good at anything, nobody likes me...." Is that mean?

2. Tapping. Need I say more? Tapping pencils on desks, tapping clipboards while working around the room, tapping anything drives.me.bonkers!

3. I am having a very difficult year and I have a group of kids who insist on correcting each others behaviors even though they were just doing the same thing. Grrrr. This is an area we continue to set goals for and continue to try to fix. Any ideas???

Currently 2013

Welcome to 2013! I am linking up yet again with Farley for this month's currently.

I can't believe our break is almost over...  :( I am loving being home and being lazy and just being a mom to my two great kids!

I am headed out to "The Dump" to try to find a new coach in the morning... a little nervous b/c I think they are like shoes, it may seem comfortable in the store but then you sit in it for a while and not so much. But unlike shoes, you are stuck with it for years!

I have about 10 files on my desktop titled "Need to finish for TpT" Sure wish I could actually finish something. Seriously, what is my deal??

The beginning of my school year was rough. Lots of behavior issues and very, very low benchmark scores. I am usually strong in classroom management and my scores are typically good... I am not liking this and I am constantly reflecting and tweaking. Kind of excited for this "new" start and hoping to make the most of it!

OLW: Breathe. I need to slow down, regroup and just breathe. I am way to stressed and it is effecting my family. I need to work on finding a way to not let everything bother me and I need to learn to let go of some things. I become more and more "type A" each year :(

At the beginging of the year we read a book called the Energy Bus and one take away for me was "I'm too blessed to be stressed" That is so true and I know it in my heart but I can't seem to get my brain to understand. 

Currently and Multiplication Bump

I love reading everyone's currently each month and this month is no different. Farley asked us to commit to a Random Act of Kindness (RAK) and I think that is a fabulous idea. I mean, who doesn't love doing something nice for others?

Taylor Swift, am I secretly a 12 -year old girl? I can't help it, I just LOVE her songs!!

Okay, I normally read only in the summer but for whatever reason, I downloaded a free book from Barnes and Noble called Bonded. Well, surprise, surprise, it was really good (not in a Shakespeare kind of way, in a cross between Twilight and 50 Shades way. Wink, wink.)

After reading this one, I read The Mating, then The Keeping, and I just started The Finding. Seriously addicted!

BIG stack of paper starring at me from my teacher bag.... progress report grades are due Friday so I better get on it :(

Wanting to finish one thing without adding 3 more... you can totally relate, right??

Needing to get my happy butt off the couch/computer and start walking. I am up 15 pounds from last Christmas. YIKES. I am not happy with my tight clothes and I refuse. REFUSE to buy more in bigger sizes. 

RAK. I am loving reading all the ideas out there. Since Farley said it need to be random, I picked the first thing that popped into my head. Buying Sonic drinks (because my school puffy heart loves Sonic drinks) for all the amazing women in our front office. I am so blessed to work at a campus where everyone gets along and respects one another. My front office sets the tone of the whole school and they go above and beyond for us everyday. They are like family and I want to spoil them this week as a mini thank you for all they do.

Both signs are VERY true so I think I will print and frame to add to our front office decor! To get your own CUTE posters, head on over to Sweet Blessings, ALL her work is ah-dorable!

If you are still here, I wanted to quickly share with you my latest TpT item. We are getting ready to start multiplication and my kids have been loving bump and scoot this year. Check out my winter themed multiplication bump and scoot pack!

What RAK will you commit to?

Currently and rounding

Linking up a few days late with Farley for this month's currently - I love these!

My son adores MMCH (that is cool mom shorthand for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse)

I am so lucky that my parents will come visit us for Thanksgiving. I love that we can still have some family traditions even when family lives so far away. They come every year at this time!

We really want to take the kids to disney over spring break so I need to get on it. Trouble is, there are SO many decisions to make and I am decision challenged :)

I am about 15 pounds heavier that I was last year at this time and I need to change that. But, I like candy.... sigh

I had to change classrooms this year and was told that 3 days before school started. Needless to say, set up was rushed and I still don't like the way my space is set up... I constantly feel like I don't know where to put stuff and there seems to be paper EVERYwhere. Drives me nutssssssssss.

I love my bedtime Mozart Cd. it is super long and so calming. However, I saw someone else mention that they played jazz because the upbeat tempo kept the kids just busy enough to keep them focused on toe tapping instead of talking. I am going to try it next week... it couldn't hurt with my ridiculously talkative high spirited group!

In other news.....

I have been very busy teaching rounding and we needed some games to practice with. I have been loving all the cute bump games around Pinterest and we played scoot last week. So.Much.Fun. Have you played with your class? 

Any who, I created some rounding bump games and a rounding / estimating sums and differences scoot game. The mini Thanksgiving themed pack is only $2 at my store but I included rounding to the nearest 10 bump game for free in the preview file! Click the picture below to get your copy. 

Happy Rounding,

Currently October!

I've linked up with Farley again over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade... for this month's currently. I can't believe it is october already!

My daughter (5) went to a cheer clinic last weekend and got to cheer at the varsity football game last night. Oh.My.Word. She won't stop clapping, jumping, cheering! It is cute though....

We had a cold front move through and it actually feels like October. Super Pumped!!!

My house is a messssssssssss and I need to have a date with my husband that doesn't involve leaving in the middle of the meal to use the potty or telling the little people next to me to, "sit down, sit still, use your napkin, shhhh." You get it, don't you?

I am LOVING that I get to go to my cousin's wedding in Ohio next weekend. I have not been home in the fall for 9 years. I have all sorts of plans that include a trip to my favorite fruit farm. Can anyone say apple pie, apple cider, apple dumpling?? But, before I can go, I need an outfit to wear to the wedding. Not looking forward to shopping... I have gained some weight. (do you think always thinking about apple desserts is a problem?)

I love Twas the Night Before Halloween to add to our purple poetry folders in class. I also love anything Junie B. for fun and she is wonderful for teaching about voice and conventions!

Toodles