InstaFriday - Two Weeks in One!

Oops!  I forgot to post last week! So this week, I give you two in one with as little words as I can (which is hard for me to do)!

  

 Snuggly Babies

Lolita, my stylish little girl!

Arizona State Fair was so much fun, but so expensive!  

Daddy is the cool one and actually goes on the rides with the kids.

Spent time with some farm animals in the petting zoo.  

Big brother Kyan won the BIG prizes for both he and his sister.

 I have missed Rosie J. Photograpy and snuck in a photoshoot for a friend.

Birthday Party at Michael's Craft Store with face painting included!

Movie date with my boy Kyan.  Here Comes the Boom! Go see it, we laughed a lot.

Nom.  Nom.

Caramel Apple Bites.

Corn Zipper (one of the best/most used kitchen utensils used in my kitchen).

Rae Lynn's Enchilada's.  She cooked too many and we got the leftovers.  Lucky us.

Stuffed Bell Peppers (I cook more than what the recipe calls for because it is just as good without it being stuffed inside and I wouldn't have enough if I didn't, I always eat it before)!

My favorite school lunch, bean burritos.  I don't like them anywhere else, but school.  Weird.

Slammed, by Colleen Hoover....just read it and the sequel too, Point of Retreat.  Be prepared to get sucked in.

Been doing lots of reading lately.  A few that I just finished reading (besides the two above):  

The List, by Vivian Siobhan (it's YA)

The Time Keeper, by Mitch Albom

Currently reading a good one right now called Reason to Breathe, by Rebecca Donovan

What are you reading?

Homework.

A picture of my boy in his new hoodie (courtesy of grandma).

Sleeping Beauty (snuck into her classroom during naptime for the first time ever, so sweet).

My girl Holly and I, miss seeing her sweet face every single day.

The kids helping daddy fill my tires with air.

The new screensaver on my phone!  I mean seriously?  I can't take this picture's cuteness.

My husband and I celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary on October 21st.  

Best part about it, our letters, written from the previous year.  Started on our wedding night.  Love.

Happy Anniversary Boo.

The start of school spirit week:  Crazy Hair Day!  Green and purple/pink hairspray.

Sewing the elastic tighter on Lola's new PJ's (in prep for the following day's school spirit day)!

School Spirit Week:  PJ Day!

Went to the mall after school, not ideal, but needed to shop for family picture clothes for the kids.  Mission accomplished, but it was definitely a long day.

School Spirit Week:  Mismatch Day

Oreo (Kyan's pet hamster) visited school as Kyan is "Top Dog" in his class! Instead of bringing in a treat, he chose to bring his hamster!

Spray Tan, oh how I missed you.  Welcome back into my life.

 I was greeted by a HUGE 52 ounce drink holder for my daily ice tea from QT, that looks like it really holds about 100 ounces (yes I was peeing all day) and Robek's Strawberry Smoothie for breakfast.

School Spirit Week:  Red Carpet/Dress Like a Celebrity.  Lola chose to walk the red carpet, Kyan went as Justin Bieber chillaxing on the tour bus, ear buds in and all!  His shirt read: I got 99 problems and my swagg ain't one.  Me?!  I went as a country music singer (no one specific)!  Around lunch someone asked me what happened to the back of my skirt, how did it rip?!  I had no clue.  Then she looked at it closer and said...."no, it looks like a chunk is cut out!".  OhEmGee!  At that point I realized that this skirt had once been in my scrap pile, but I had pulled it out because I realized I still liked it.  Yeah, I guess I forgot I used a chunk of it at one point for something crafty!  After laughing hysterically at myself, it was actually a quick fix, as you don't need to hem jersey material and someone else just evened me out!  Embarrassing for sure, but hysterical.

The Halloween festivities began last night at school, with free family fun night! 

This year's costumes:  Stealth Ninja and Rapunzel

Whew?!  Did you make it to the end!  That was a doozie!

Happy Weekend Y'all!

InstaFriday - Fall Break!

Well, it's already Friday.  That means that fall break is almost over {wahhhhhhhhhhhh}!  So sad.  However, we have had a great week together, check it out!

Don't know if you remember from last week or not, but we were expecting Grandpa and Grandma's arrival and arrive they did and they were ready to shop!  So as soon as school got out, we headed to the mall together!  Had lunch together and then shopped until grandpa couldn't stand being in the kiddie playground area any longer!  We met up later that night at the fountain by Westgate to play with friends and listen to the band play!  It was perfect {and kicked off with an icy drink at Margaritaville with the hubby first}!

 Our weekend was spent dipping into the delicious applesauce donuts that grandpa and grandma brought with them from the best little bakery back in Wahoo.  We beg for them a lot and it works only sometimes, especially when you put Lola on the phone!  Also cleaning closets out!  Grandma has a way of whipping us into shape quickly!  She doesn't let us get to overloaded and is a true clean sweeper!  The kids even cleaned out their stuffed animal stash!  I was very proud of them!  We snuggled and decorated for Halloween too, since our house was so clean {for like 35 seconds, because that is about how long it stays that way in my house}!  The kids love those dang spider webs hanging everywhere, but lemme tell you they are a pain! 

 Tuesday we went to see Hotel Transylvania as a family!  Afterwards daddy was hungry so we stopped to eat and I caught one of the cutest and candid pictures I think I have caught of Lola on her daddy's shoulders.  Love it!  She was mid dance!  After the movie, Lola and I headed to her gymnastics class, where so many new skills were practiced, including the handstand!  Sure glad we practiced those all summer in the pool because it paid off when she went to do it during class!  Can't believe how strong her back/shoulder muscles look!?  Lola is loving gymnastics!!!

 Face painting courtesy of daddy!  Not bad huh?!  She loved it, but did not love me scrubbing that green paint off later that night!  She was a tint of green the remainder of the evening!  Enjoyed my favorite candy, do I dare say ever, cinnamon bears!  What is your favorite candy?

 Arizona has a store called Last Chance that is absolutely wild.  You can get name brand everything for a fraction of the cost (like TOMS shoes for 18.99, no matter if they are the wedges or the originals and phone cases for 2.97)!  So I headed there with my friend Meghan to try and score some deals - mainly for Lola.  Girlfriend only wears her flipflops, so I was hoping this would inspire her to change it up!  Once you get to the place, you don't wanna leave.  You wait for the next time they restock the shelves.  It could seriously be an all day affair!  Good thing that I can't go very often or I would be in trouble!  It was my goal to get there once before break was over!  Then, it was home to spend time with my babies!  I am a lucky mama that they like to snuggle as much as they do!

 

Cousins came over to play with us last night too!  I tried to snap a picture for Grandma Donna of all her grandbabies and getting 5/6 of them to smile was an accomplishment!  Whew!  At least they are all looking my way!  I love how this one turned out and so did grandma!

Usually I am happy the weekend is here, but this is one of the times that I am not.  Only 3 more days of Fall Break left and I am hoping to soak up as much family/kid time as I can {with a little bit of neighborhood garage saling sprinkled in too, I am on the hunt for mismatched wooden chairs for cheap}!

Hope y'all enjoy your weekend!

InstaFriday - Almost Here!

Despite all of the tears that I cried this week, and I cried A LOT, when I looked back on my week in pictures, it was a nice reminder that I really am blessed.Whew, I could cry almost even typing that.  It has been a doozie.

I spent most of my weekend working, 3/4 pictures - WORK!  Grades are so not like they are in middle school and the way you post them is even more different.  Even with help, over half of them didn't post right anyway.  Ugh.  Walked for Education Saturday morning before Kyan's basketball game and Lola joined the crew!  She was hot and tired by the end and fell asleep the last 15 minutes!  

 My entire weekend was not spent working however and we managed to spend time together as a family for my nieces baptism.  This picture is a little bit blurry, but we were all dressed up for the occasion, so I jumped at the shot for a quick family photo.  

 Our week was busy!  The kids had to be up earlier than usual so that I could hold parent teacher conferences bright and early before school starts, which makes bed time a breeze!  Nights were spent a little later at school too to host conferences afterwards for working parents.  But Tuesday night was gymnastics time for Lola and then giant ball time at home before bed in Kyan's super ball that he was awareded by the Apex Fun Run team!  It looks like one of the hamster balls that they run around in while you clean the cage, only giant sized, so humans fit in it!  Hilarious!  I had a sweet surprise from my Auntie Heidi too!  My cousin has the coolest cup holder thingie ('cause I really don't know exactly what I am going to put in my yet) that hangs off of the desk in her craft room and I said I wanted one, sure enough, she sent one!  Totally wasn't expecting it and made me smile today!  Can't wait to craft next week!

 Sweet dreams my babies.  My kids sleep in the same room (even though they have their own), on bunk beds!  I know I always say it, but they have an incredible bond.  I know they look alike, but this picture shows how much they sleep alike too!  Crazy to me!  Love them.

 Wednesday was the BIG day we were all waiting for at school - RACE DAY!

Thank you to any and everyone who sponsored Kyan and Lola as they raced around the Apex Raceway!  Preschool went around the track for about 5 songs (they didn't get pledges per lap) and burped up a little water after she was finished.  Her teachers said she ran the hardest of all the kids in her class!  Kyan made it around the track 46 laps (don't worry sponsors, you only owe for 36)!  Just under 3 miles!  It was so exciting!  He begs to eat lunch with me all the time, so I figured this was a good time to reward him!  He raised the most money in his classroom per lap!  If I would have let him go through every contact in my phone, he would have called them to try and get more pledges!   I ran around the track as well, although I wasn't planning on it!  The back of my shirt said I went around the track 40 laps, but I think I might have begged for two marks a time or two running through, so my guess is I was closer to the 36!  I wanted to motivate the kids while running, so I held a lot of hands and high fived and ran with the kids that needed me!  During lunch, I rested on the floor!

 

So that was our week!  Want to know the icing on the cake?

MY PARENTS GET IN TO TOWN TODAY!

The truth is everything is better when they are here.

I finished all of my conferences, so when school lets out and I am done with all of my duties, I am taking off with the kids to enjoy time with them!  I can't wait.  I am going to soak up all of the Fall Break sun that I can with them!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

InstaFriday - Another Busy Week

Gotta check in quick today!  Super stressed and too much to do...ya know, story of my life it seems, but fall break is coming up at the end of next week, so hoping life slows down for just a little bit then (even if it is just one week)!

 I have seen this just about everywhere, but was so skeptical!  Turns out that putting your iPhone in a glass really does work to project the sound!  I was sick of plugging my phone into the speaker (and I would have to take off the case in order for it to really work) so I tried it!  Now, in my classroom, it's the only way to play music!

 Saturday was a busy one.  I woke up bright and early and headed to my friend, Holly's house, to run/walk.  She is trying to get my knee running again, but what was even better was that I got to spend time with her!  Then it was off to Kyan's first basketball game of the season!  He was so excited and looked adorable out on the court!  After the game, I spent the afternoon at my friend, Angela's, for her baby shower.  It isn't very often that the old team all gets together, so it was nice to catch up with everyone.  Although it really made me miss Lora something fierce! 

 Actually planned meals and had grocery shopping done all by 9am Sunday morning.  I was able to sit back and enjoy the day with my family.

 Monday afternoon I got mail at school from a former student.  It brought tears to my eyes.  She was one that I never really thought I made an impact on, but turns out I was wrong.  Goes to show that you never really know whose life you can touch.  It made me miss my 8th graders a lot.  The hardest part about adjusting to teaching 2nd graders is that there isn't that bond that you get like you get with a teenager.  Don't get me wrong, I love being with my kids and don't regret my decision, but something like this makes me miss it.

 Kyan and Lola both have a school fundraiser going on.  For Kyan, it is super serious and he is so into it.  He has been calling everyone and their brother to sponsor him running.  His little voice on the phone is irresistible too, they can't say no to him!  To date, he has sponsors that are supporting him for $16/lap that he runs around the Raceway!  Thank you family and friends for helping out!  Another element to the fundraiser is that the Apex team donates a year's worth of school supplies for every $10/lap raised to a student in Peru.  So Kyan has already helped to supply one student with supplies, he wants to help one more before the race!  Only $4/lap to go and he just might do it!  Lola, on the other hand, is oblivious and would rather eat jerky and read me books all night!  

 Kyan got braces on Wednesday and it makes him look so old and incredibly adorable!  Just like yesterday I remember the day my sweet baby boy was born...and now he has BRACES?!  What?!  It is true what they say about time, it really does fly.

 

I accidentally forgot to put dinner in the crock pot before I left for work Thursday, so I ran home during my prep period to throw it in.  One of the perks of living a block away from where you work I guess!  Dr. Pepper Slow Cooker Roast Beef, it was what was for dinner and it was delicious.  Although, I will say, I am not 100% sold that I will be using this recipe again.  I needed a little more oomph or something.  It was super juicy and very good, but it was my first attempt at pot roast and I want to try another one!  Sleeping Beauty fell asleep around 7 and I wished to be her.  Seriously.  I am stressed and feeling a little under the weather, but I had too much to do, so instead I just watched her while I worked.

Happy Weekend Y'all.  We have another busy one, but hoping to slow down and relax a little on Sunday!  Go Cardinals!

InstaFriday - Low Key

This week was pretty mellow yellow, and much to my surprise after going through my pictures this week to post, I realized I hardly took any. 

Love being able to be at school each and every day with my babies! 

Friday is school spirit day at school and we all wore our matching shirts!

 Basketball Camp on Saturday for Kyan - lots and lots of drills!

 I promised myself and my kids that I wouldn't go into work this past weekend and I stuck to my guns!  We were very lazy the entire weekend and laid almost the entire time!  However, that sweet little face was DYING to go to Target (my kinda girl), so on Sunday afternoon, we headed there for a little mommy/daughter time!  We ate dinner there (Pizza Hut) and she told me that she "had the greatest day ever, just you and me"!  Love her.

Hand Me Downs from cousin Ava!!!  Lola hit the jackpot!  This box was stuffed with so much good stuff!  Lola has already started to wear a lot of it!  Lucky to have such a stylish cousin!  Thank you so much for sending it our way Auntie Erin and cousin Ava!

 Kyan has to read nightly for homework.  When he chooses to read to his sister, it melts my heart a lot!  Love them.

 Proud to say that I have been able to leave school before 3:30 two days this week!  Something that hasn't happened since I started teaching 2nd grade.  I will probably pay for it and be super swamped next week, but...I enjoyed it for now!

Hope you all had a great week!

Happy weekend!

InstaFriday - It's been two weeks...

....yeah, I know!  I neglect this blog as it is and then I don't post about our week last week!?  

Onto this week!  Not as many as you are used to, but I am busy!  

School is always on my brain!  While I don't share too much on here about my classroom way of life, I want to share a picture of these cool Whisper Phones my friend made for the kids in my room!  The kids got to personalize them using duct tape!

What is a Whisper Phone?  Made from PVC pipe, you hold it exactly like you would hold a regular phone to your ear and you whisper in one end and in the other you hear your own voice loud and clear!  So cool {and quiet too} You really can't help but pick one up and try one when you see them!

This week I actually planned out our meals and tried new recipes too!  Helps us to not eat out so much!

Jalapeno Popper Sliders

Grilled Corn Salsa 

Ancho Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Avocado Cream

Chicken Enchilada Dip Rollups

 Sleeping Beauty.  Bloody Mary (best way to start off football Sunday).  Dance Party with Auntie Kiki.  Remembering 9.11.01  Snuggling my girl.  Thirty Minute Massage.

 I had a great week, this picture is the icing on my cake.  I love their relationship and hope that the bond that they share lasts a lifetime.

 

 Hope everyone had a great week too!  Happy Weekend!