Eclipse Mania

Like most of the country, we were swept up in Eclipse Mania this week.  (Funny how we don't doubt scientists about the eclipse, but attack them on everything else....hmmm....)

 The Thursday before the eclipse, I sent home permission slips from the school in regards to watching the eclipse (with proper eye wear of course).  Not all of the permission slips were returned by Monday, which caused some tears from my third graders.

Another member of my grade level managed to acquire 29 pairs of viewing glasses, so my class got to go out in smaller chunks.  I must say I love being part of a team that shares and values collaboration.

Las Vegas weather (rain, go figure) made viewing the eclipse rather difficult, so we live streamed from NASA instead.

My students loved seeing scientists of all genders, races, and ethnic backgrounds.  I didn't point it out, but it was heart warming to hear "hey, he looks like me!".  Diverse role models are important. 

We did have specials at 10:15, so I simply paused the live stream and we continued when they were back from music (thanks You Tube!).

We acted out the earth and moon's rotation around the sun, discussed important science vocabulary words, and set up our science notebooks.  We practiced making diagrams like scientists:

I didn't plan to devote two hours of my teaching day to the eclipse, but I'm glad I did.  By the time the next eclipse rolls around, my sweet third graders will be high school seniors.  That's a little terrifying to think about.

July Goals

 (Image from fellow {blogger})

I didn't do so well with June's goals, so hopefully July turns out better!  Granted, the month is half over, so let's keep things short and sweet.

In the next thirteen days, here are my thirteen goals:

1) Have the house totally cleaned for when my mom, bro, and his gf come up for my bridal shower at the end of the month.  My bestie and MOH can't make it, but her mama is making the drive up from AZ!  She gets to see our home for the first time, so I want to make a good impression.  

Now the house isn't dirty per say, I've just been in a binging and organizing mood.  Bags have gone to Goodwill full of things that don't bring me joy or reflect the life that B and I are building together.  

Granted, having most of my classroom in my garage & den isn't helping the situation!

I am enjoying redecorating and organizing the house.  B and I had a talk about our future plans for the living room.  We'd like a sectional.  He'd like new end tables.  I'd like larger bookcases (not my ancient cheap ones) and to move our art pieces over a few feet.  

However, none of that is financially possible at the moment so I calmed my redecorating urges with redoing our baker's rack:

I struggled to find bookcases I liked (and could afford) when I first moved to Vegas, so this  baker's rack was a perfect find.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but it's a black cast iron frame with dark wood shelves.  Normally I'm not a fan of the mixing of black and brown, but it turned out to perfectly match our furniture.  Almost everything I owned was black, but he's more a fan of brown, so we are compromising and blending the two.  I snagged this rack at a JC Penney home store on clearance.  I recently purchased the new illustrated copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and naturally wanted to display it.  However, he wanted his Denver Broncos things on display as well, so we compromised.  He got a football shelf (and hasn't noticed I snuck my Cardinals Mr. Potato Head in there!) while I got a shelf for my books.   

 
Of course, a new couch is far down on our to buy list.  Besides the wedding, a new water softener is our next major purchase!  Then a security door and new bedroom set...then new carpet and tile for the master bedroom...then a patio set...then a new couch.  Then, because that's obviously a several year plan, it will be time to (hopefully) decorate a nursery. 

2) Finish Wonder.  

I've heard great things about the novel and want to read it before my students do.    

3) Finish rewatching The Office with B on Netflix.  He's never seen the series and it's one of my favorites.  We're making excellent progress.

4) Try some new recipes.  This Buzzfeed {video} popped up on Facebook...

...and these bbq chicken sliders are on the docket for Tuesday's dinner!   It's not really a recipe, but I also want to make champagne ice cubes for my bridal shower!

5) Attend my bridal shower and not be offended that I'm not allowed to help decorate.  My future MIL is co-hosting the shower (with my momma and maids) at her house and despite my deep rooted desires to be in charge of everything and craft all things, she has banned me from helping.  She wants to pamper me and I tried to talk her out of it, but I lost.   

6) Set up my new phone.  My Galaxy 4 died around Easter, so I used B's backup G3.  With the issues I had in my classroom involving theft, I wasn't going to buy a new phone until the summer.  I wanted to wait until the end of this month, but alas, my clumsiness won.  I dropped my phone and did a stellar job of ruining the screen:

However, Tmobile is close and I got a new phone.  I even managed to accidentally match my nails to the case! 

There are lots of new tools and apps to figure out!  (But Pokemon Go! is not one of them!) 

7) Finish most of the long range plans.  I {shared before} that we're trying units of study.  We mapped out the first one and while I spent hours typing up notes, my ancient computer crashed and I lost all of it.  I had our ideas jotted down on paper so it wasn't a total waste, just a frustrating afternoon filled with tears and curse words.  

I must also keep in mind that this could have been much worse.  This could have happened during the school year when I don't have the luxury of binge watching Netflix and multi-tasking with typing up notes.  We talked through ideas for the first unit and part of the second unit.  Mrs. H and I have very different personalities (she's linear and sequential in her thinking while I am a complete squiggle), but we balance one another well.  Plus we both like to try new things and are pretty similar with our teaching styles.  Even if the rest of the grade level doesn't want to try our plans (which is fine), I'm excited for them.  

Excitement was something that was a tad lacking in my classroom last year, so I'm hoping this complete change is exactly what I need. 

We're meeting up again this week to keep working on units.  It's not too painful to set aside one afternoon a week during the summer to try and get ahead for next year.

8) Send out birthday cards in a timely manner.  Two of my bridesmaids, my future MIL, and brother have birthdays within the next five weeks.  I've got gift ideas in mind, but I'd like to get their presents to them before their birthdays.

9) I'd say exercise every day, but that's unfortunately a bit of a lofty goal when I haven't done so great this entire summer.  I am going to the gym with a colleague on Mon & Wed of this week, so that's a start.  If I can fit in at least two other work outs, I'll consider that a success.

10)   Finish going through our junk mail pile.  I learned the hard way that you can't do tons of shredding at a time.  I also learned the hard way that the plastic on the outside of envelopes can ruin the shredder blades.  So I'm determined to make shredder #3 last for a while because quite frankly, there are many other things I'd like to spend my money on!

11) Be more consistent with my small businesses.  Having a new phone should definitely help with my {make up business} because I won't have to wait for B to get home to use his camera. 

I did try out a new {lip stain shade} last week and celebrated with some selfies:

Of course, one of my helpers is there too!  I wasn't actually going out for the day and didn't want to do a full face of make up (just primer, foundation, brows, and lips...so five minutes of prep), so I seized the opportunity to rock my new shades and bypass doing my eyes.   

 (Side note: thank you Target for having cute, polarized sunglasses for twenty bucks!)

12) Help my mama set up her new phone.  We found a really good deal on a new phone for her and she's getting it as an early birthday present.  We got her a case and screen protector to go with it.  First on the must have app list? Ibotta and Cartwheel of course!

(If you haven't checked out Ibotta, do so with this code: uvnspet    
I'm up to almost $40 in rebates! Once I hit $100, B and I are going on a fancy date!)

13) Nap.  I've got a lot of time consuming goals and I'm going to practice some self care as well.  I love naps. I will be taking advantage of them while I can.  

Well that's nifty!

This week I had the privilege of being named DEN Community Member of the Week.

I am honored and humbled by the acknowledgment for my hard work in the classroom.

Read the article {here}.

Back to Reality

This past week was a blur at work.  I had a surprise IEP meeting due to a date mix up, duty, a counseling lesson, Battle of the Books, a staff meeting, report cards, and teaching.  I rushed to get everything done by Thursday because my mom was coming in for the weekend!

Let's recap:

Thursday

 She had a late flight (after nine pm), so I took a nap after work.  We picked her up, chatted for a few once we got home, and crashed.  I had work the next day and need a full night's rest when dealing with teaching three dozen ten year olds long division with decimals, without the algorithm.  

Friday

Friday morning we walked Waffles, I put dinner in the crockpot, and we headed to work.  A colleague was super chatty that morning, so I wasn't as productive as I would have liked.  It was also my off prep day, but that made for a quick afternoon.  We were able to Skype with my bestie at Yale.  We'd just learned about Connecticut, so it was academically appropriate.  She gave the students a walking tour of Yale and answered their inquisitive questions.  I also gave my students question time to ask my mom what they wanted (I was sure to set a timer!).  We had a pretty standard day with no ridiculous student behavior.  

We headed home and B brought home Redbox movies.  We enjoyed dinner, watching Minions and the newest Mission Impossible movie, looked at bridal magazines, wedding planned, and enjoyed bonding time.

Saturday

Once again, our day started with a walk with Waffles.  Isn't she precious?  (She's 10 months, so she may get a little bigger.  She's from ARP (Adopt a Rescue Pet), so we aren't entirely sure of her breed.  We think collie-shepherd mix, but who knows.  More importantly, who cares?)

She still isn't aware that dogs go to the bathroom while on walks, but wasn't scared by passing vehicles, so progress!

From there, we headed to {Babystacks} and it was amazing.  If you're ever in Vegas, go here.  Plain and simple.  Since it was a cheat day, I devoured an omelet, seasoned potatoes, and two of the most wonderful pancakes I've ever encountered.  They were German chocolate with peppermint and white chocolate chips.  I could have died happy on the spot.  As a silly twist of fate, we were right next to my coworker Mrs. O, her hubby, and their precious two year old, so that was fun to chat over pancakes.  

We headed to Alfred Angelo for our noon dress appointment.  I went in with eight styles picked out from their website, but ended up falling for a brand new one on the mannequin.  

(Read the full dress shopping saga {here}).

We were 99% sure that was the one, but had a 4 pm appointment at another store just to be sure.  The consultants totally understood and wished us luck!

From there, my mom and I parted ways with my future MIL and one of our maids until later.  We picked up some items at Target, hit up a local craft store for ideas, then stopped by the Cannery and Sam's Town so she could get a feel for the locations and report back to my aunts.  We had a little bit of time to kill, so I showed her the super awesome dog park where we take Waffles and she got to admire little dogs in sweaters for a few.

We went to the second appointment and it was simply alright.  I really only liked one dress out of six and it was quite similar to the other one at Alfred Angelo, except more expensive and with a super awkward seam in the middle of the dress.  The store was also filled with lots of teenagers buying their prom dresses and if I have a group with me, sitting in chairs, because I have an appointment, I kind of get first dibs at the podium and the big mirrors.  I shouldn't have to stand to the side, in a wedding dress, waiting for hopeful prom queens to move from my spot.

 
(Seriously girls, move. Wedding trumps prom.)

It also irked me that another bridal party was offered champagne and we weren't.  The sales woman did her best and I left my contact information, but I won't be back.  Going to the second store that day really solidified that the other dress was it.

As soon as we left that appointment, I said the other dress was it.  All of my bridesmaids agreed and well, it's quite the feat if ten women all agree on something!

We headed to my favorite {pizza and pasta joint} for dinner where we met up with B and a few more friends.  Dinner was delicious and afterward, my mom and I headed back to Alfred Angelo to officially say yes to the dress.

I posted on social media that I'd said yes to the dress and I'm floored by how many people are genuinely excited about it.  I have such an amazing tribe. Thanks friends! 

Of course, we also watched the Cardinals defeat the Packers and I had a lot of loud words about that amazing ending.  


Sunday  

Because it's Vegas, we started our day with brunch at {Crepe Expectations}, which is another family owned shop and is amazing. My mom, B, and I each got our own savory crepe and shared a sweet one for dessert.  Because it's brunch, a white peach mimosa was also involved:

We then went to {Popped}, a gourmet specialty popcorn store that's conveniently right next to breakfast.  I've gone there for popcorn for baby showers and other events.  Thank goodness for their loyalty program!

We then headed to Green Valley Ranch for Bingo.  We'd never done it before, it was more expensive than I expected, and we won nothing.  I'd do it again, but not on a weekly basis.  We were the youngest in the room by decades and the woman next to us was loudly praying to the Holy Spirit that her husband would win.  That got old quite quickly.

Afterwards, we headed to Target to complete our wedding registry, then headed to {Cream}, a specialty ice cream parlor where you make your own ice cream sandwiches.  Or in B's case, ice cream taco!

Alas, after enjoying fine foods and wedding gowns, it was time to take my mom back to the airport.  I talk to her almost daily and we'll see her in March when we're down for a close friend's wedding, so the goodbyes aren't that hard when I know it's seven weeks until I see her again.

When we got home, I napped on the couch while B enjoyed his team (the Broncos) defeating the Steelers.  We both play next week and if both teams win, the Super Bowl will be incredibly awkward.  We already decided if it's a Broncos-Cardinals match up, we're watching separately, for the sake of our relationship.

The rest of Sunday was devoted to grading (I set a timer), laundry, and watching a movie.  Today we have off to celebrate Dr. King and my day will be spent grading and working on work stuff.  My bridal glow is dimming, thanks in part to reality.

Naturally, I have helpers for grading essays:

So I'll be heading to Panera soon since I'm clearly not going to be productive at home.  

Skypin' it up

We wanted to ease into the concept of mystery skype,

So we set up a skype chat with Ms. G, our former technology guru who has since moved on to a position at Ohio State University.

Our students had previously learned about the Midwest region with our {geography unit} and this was a fun review before we gave our {unit test}.  We prepped them with what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to say, then crammed eighty of them into one classroom.  (Okay, eighty is a bit of an exaggeration.  The actual number is closer to seventy three...but there were three teachers, it's okay!)

Before calling with the students, we did a test run...and boy am I glad!  We didn't have a working webcam, so we:

1) Tried with the iPads, but didn't have the password for the app store.  We could hear her, but she couldn't see us or hear us. She'd ask a question and we'd type a response.

2) Admin didn't have the password for the app store.

3) The person who did wasn't at our school that day, so Ms. G called him to have him email me the password.

4) Facetime didn't work.

After about an hour of problem solving (plus one iPad, one iPhone, one desk top, one Android, four adults, and two administrators...), we got it to work.  

The kids loved it!  She showed them various sites around OSU and we got to virtually meet her coworkers.  They asked thoughtful questions about the differences between Las Vegas and Ohio as well as which Disney princess is her favorite (obviously!)  The whole call took about twenty minutes.

Of course, I rocked a Michigan hoodie out of protest.

We appreciate you Ms. G!

Our next skype call will be to Ms. V after we learn about New York.  We've got a guest speaker for upstate NY (the neighboring kinder teacher), so Ms. V will be representing downstate New York!