Monday, November 10, 2014

"Miss Leigh Ann will you tie my shoes please?"

I picked up Kara at Nashville yesterday after her returning flight from D.C. She had a wonderful trip and made lots of memories. I am so thankful for the opportunities that FBLA has provided for Kirk and Kara over the last few years. They have attended several leadership conferences and have been able to enjoy some of the best cities in our nation and all that they have to offer. They have made lasting friendships and connections that they will treasure always and that may even open doors for them later in their lives.
Can you believe it-Thanksgiving is just a little over 2 weeks away?!!!!! I have lost count as to how many years I have cooked the Thanksgiving feast for my class but I'm going at it again this year. I just love doing it for my class!!!! I don't do it because I'm trying to do something that others may or may not do.I do it because I enjoy preparing the meal.  I do it because I want to do this for my students. I want them to see a turkey on a platter and a big feast and see what it's like to sit down together as our little class family for a meal. I was so blessed and am still blessed to have always had a big feast with my loved ones at Thanksgiving and at various times throughout the year. I know that for some of my sweeties it may be the only time that they have this kind of meal. Sad but true...so next Friday we will be feasting in our classroom complete with our Indian attire. :)
One thing that Kara talked a lot about after her trip to D.C was the Holocaust Memorial Museum. She told of how the room with the 4,000 victims' shoes was heart wrenching. As she was telling me of it, it was like the Lord just bopped me on the head and made me realize how many times a day I am asked to tie shoes and sadly I often deny the request saying "ask a friend, you've been walking through the bathroom and your shoestrings are dirty, tuck them in, you need to learn to tie them, ask your parents to get you shoes will Velcro,etc." I am ashamed of myself. All I could think was what if the last request a child had of me was to please tie their shoes and I denied them? Just the thought of all those shoes of the holocaust victims stirred this in me. So from now on no matter when or where I will stop what I am doing and tie a child's shoes.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Our third grade put on a program this afternoon with veterans in attendance. Tomorrow our middle and high school will have their programs. Thank you to my hubby for his service and all of our men and women who serve and have served.
Blessings to all!!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Kirk is going to Disney!!!!:)

Kirk got the email Monday morning Oct. 20 (the Monday after we got back from our Disney trip)that he was accepted into the Disney College Program! Woo hoo!!! We move him in February 2,2015 and he will live there until August. He is thrilled and we are all thrilled for him!!! His goal is to bust this semester wide open and then get ready for a magical but busy working time at Disney!!! He is taking a leave from his academic scholarship so he will have that waiting for him when he gets back. He will probably just end up with  1 or 2 college courses to take during his leave. The work schedule is so many hours that he doesn't want to overload. He will be classified as a college junior at the end of this semester. Many of you have asked me about the Disney college program. I suggest googling it. I do know that he found out 40,000 applied for the scholarship and only 3,000 were hired-2,000 at Disneyworld and 1,000 at Disneyland. :)
We survived Halloween week! Whew why is it that all holidays seem to go on for days and days....? I am so glad it was on a Friday this year though!!! We had trunk or treats at our church last Wed. Evening, the fall festival at school Thur. night, school parties on Friday and the trunk or treats before high school football game. It was also senior night so Marty and I got to escort our senior girl out on the field as AB club president. It was freezing!!!! So proud of Kara and all of her high school accomplishments. She is leaving this Thursday for a trip to Washington, D.C. for FBLA National Fall Leadership Conference. She is so excited and I'm so happy that she has had such wonderful opportunities through FBLA.
We squeezed in a weekend of camping week before last. It was very relaxing to get away and enjoy the cool nights sitting around the campfire. Now if we could just get back....
November is my favorite month of the year!!! I love Thanksgiving and all that goes along with it. I love cooking for our family add a dish meal on Thanksgiving night and I enjoy celebrating it with my class every year. I'm always exhausted when it's over but I do enjoy it so very much!!!
I had a wonderful phone call from my dear friend Alessia over the weekend. She's been one very busy lady and it was good to catch up with her. She is the one who convinced me to blog.:) be sure
and check her out at www.mrsalbanese'skindergarten.blogspot.com. She has some wonderful tpt creations that are a staple in my classroom. Hoping we get to meet up this summer in Vegas!!!
My sweeties are moving right along with their skills. I am very pleased with the progress they have made. They will benchmark them the 2nd week of December for Aimsweb. I hope they do as well when they are tested as they are doing for me now. :) I am also very pleased with their reading strategies that we have been working on.
Kali is staying busy with school and was excited to receive a purple ribbon in 4H on her speech on her career choice. :)
May you and yours enjoy a blessed and happy November!!!