Day One... in the books!

(disclaimer... this post was started on Thursday)

The first day is always one of my most/least favorite things.  I never feel prepared (there is always one more thing to do...) and it is always scary to go over new names.  You never know exactly how the schedule is going to work.  BUT... you get to meet all your new kids.  You get to see them excited to be there.  You get to see them "get to work."

This last week my daughter started her first day of Kindergarten, my son started second grade and I started my 12th year of teaching.  WOW!

Another first for me this year is teaching my first "second generation."  When I started teaching I was teaching 7th-9th grade.  During that first year I had a 9th grade student who was expecting.  This year I will teach her daughter.  It makes me feel a little o(l)dd.  Part of working in a small(er) town is that you plan to eventually teach generations of students... I just didn't plan on doing it when I still feel "so young."

It was odd when I started teaching the children of my classmates.  It was odd when I noticed former students pictures starting to show up in the wedding announcements.  It is odd when I have former students whose children are in my children's class...

I know that my students grow up after they leave me in 6th grade but it sometimes a little surprising how quickly they do it!

Last year...

I was working on beginning of the year stuff and thought I would clean out some files from last year.  I found a few things I meant to share; hence the next few images.

love this ride... makes me think of how awesome it was to get to ride in "the back" when I was a kid.

one of my favorite things about our schools first and last days of school.  Our welcome line!

these snapshots are from our district wide art show.  We are so blessed to have an amazing art center in town that lets us put our school show up for a month every year.  We mix the work K-12 so everyone has to search for their images.  It is always one of my highlights of the year.  

Students were given the challenge of creating a patriotic image that wasn't a flag. 

Artist Tree houses:  Students had to research an artist and then create a 2 point perspective tree house that reflects what they know about their artist. 

Our collage projects for the end of the year from different classes...

Paint Shirts...

As I am getting ready to send my kiddo's off to school they were both asked too bring paint shirts.  I Googled them and found these simple to make, easy to use shirts.  Here Miss Haylee is modeling for us...

Take a regular older t-shirt (if you have this awesome that is great)

cut up the back 

so it is super easy on and off.  

Back to School Reality...

 "Back to school" time is in full swing!  I have gone shopping one on one with my kiddos to get their school stuff.  One home teacher visit is done and another one is coming soon.  School shopping for me is done and I have been to my room a few times.  Today was supposed to be my first full "work at school" day and my kiddos are SICK!  My son woke up throwing up and my daughter has a "really bad head-ech."

I am trying really, really hard not to have a complete breakdown.  We are moving sometime (the seller of the house we are buying is building in the "backyard" and so we are on her new houses schedule.) so  I spent June getting ready... cleaning the house, finishing projects, having a garage sale, etc.  July my school room was being "cleaned" so I got a bunch of paperwork stuff done but nothing finished as it was all working from home.  Last week and this week I have been showing our current house so there have been a few "spurts" of school work time but not my normal amount.  Today was going to be my first BIG day back at it... and now it is not.  My stress level is sky high... but this is all part of being a mom, right!

Just so this post isn't all negative, boo-hoo me.... I did get an email that one of my paintings was accepted to the Nebraska Art Teachers show.  It is called remnants and is made from painted tape left over from my school kiddo's project.  I haven't shown my artwork since college (not that I have made that much!)

almost done...

If you recall a few posts back there was a light fixture in a box

Well I still have to finish up the bulb parts but here it is...

I am pretty sure my two little princesses will love it in their new room!

Oh my goodness...

So last fall I talked with my college professor, Dr. Pearl Hansen, and she urged me to submit a presentation idea to the Nebraska Art Teacher Association fall conference.  Well I got the email today telling me that I made the cut... Oh My Goodness.

I am going to present at a state conference...

Me?

Wow!

Guess I better get to work on that so I don't mess things up to badly.

On another note, here is a before/after of the dresser I have been working on this summer. 

(there are 2 dressers in the set and I forgot the before picture of the long dresser.)

original look... mine from childhood

~new and updated~

and the fun chandelier I got for their room ($10) that required the scrubbing of 68 crystals.

Summer...

I am not sure where all my "free" time has gone but yesterday the Welcome Back to School packet arrived in my mailbox.  I hope that all of you are having a great summer.  We sure are having a blast here in Nebraska.

We started the summer with a trip to YMCA of the ROCKIES with my husbands Pheasants Forever Group.  

WOW... what a wonderful place.  So much to do and so very family friendly.  I mostly had 3 kids by myself as he was in meetings and it was no big deal!  

Then we had baseball, gymnastics and dance (all the things I tell my kids no to during the school year).  I also have gone back to running and was able to medal for the first time in MY LIFE in any sort of athletic event... yeah I was pumped. 

Also we are moving so that means lots of cleaning, tossing, packing, sorting, throwing away are going on.  

I have also tackled refinishing my dressers from when I was a child for my girls to use in their new bedroom.  It is fun but I am so grateful for my professional painter hubby who is helping make my dream finish come true. 

I am relishing that we still have over 4 weeks till school starts but really I know that time will go fast.  I have 5th grade projects planned out... let's hope 6th grade gets done lickety split!