Let's Get Acquainted

So I've seen this around a lot recently and decided to jump on the bandwagon (and hopefully even bring a few more people in to join my linky). Latoya from Flying into First Grade is hosting her first linky of what may become a series of them. 

This week, we are coming up with 3 things about ourselves that start with each of our initials. 

M is for May - I love warmer weather, and May is strongly associated with that beginning for me! School is dwindling down for the year (even though that's testing month for us), and everything's in bloom! 

R is for Reading - I feel like as a teacher (and a reading specialist), this could be considered a cop-out. However, I have recently begun doing a lot more reading for myself. Steven and I cancelled Dish and now just get the very basic channels (if the antenna cooperates with us). Plus Steven has been on the computer a lot more doing paper for his grad school. So I've been going through books at about 1 per week. I just finished Emily Giffin's Heart of the Matter:

 

 Now I'm trying to decide between Forgotten Garden or Barefoot. Have you ever read either?

          

D is for Dessert - When I was tracking my calories (up until last week), I realized how much I depend on dessert to make it to my daily minimum. I have a SEVERE sweet tooth and love my dessert! I make a dent in my Skittle jar on a daily basis and am part of the reason I have to replenish so quickly. My favorites vary, but right now I'm all about a good peanut butter pie and need to get my grandmother's recipe. I don't have a real preference for graham cracker or chocolate crust (as long as it's one of the two). I'm ALL about the peanut butter though!

Go check out this linky and join in. Then come back and link up with me, too!

Lucky Seven AND another mystery packet!

I mentioned yesterday that I was working on a craftivity that was inspired by my newest linky party, and I was able to put the finishing touches on it this morning! I had to change the hair for the girl option so it would work with the leprechaun hat. Then I was having some trouble with sizing, so I had to keep printing and putting it together to make sure it fit and looked right.

Then I had my helping otter put one together as an example for my students. I need to run out and get some construction paper for them to do it, though, because I have learned that I have some slow and/or lazy colorers. Have you found this to be true in your class? When they did my Valentine craft, I actually had some 1st graders walk by and say, "Those are really ugly! They can't color." That's pretty bad. I teach the oldest kids, and 1st graders think their work looks bad. It did, though. I was a little embarrassed to hang it up, and I only left it up there for a few days. So I think I'm going to make it easier for them to complete this time. I'll take pictures (if they turn out right), but here's my helping otter's example (isn't it cute?):

I posted the craftivity on TN and TPT. Please feel free to pin away! I love finding my items on Pinterest!

TN or TPT

Don't forget to go link up if you haven't already!

Then I decided to make another drawing conclusions mystery after reading a request for more like my Case of the Secret Admirer. This one is a St. Patrick's Day theme as well, and I changed it up a little. This one includes a map of Ireland, and students have to use directional sense to help them solve the crime.

TN or TPT

I bought my clipart to start working on spring literacy centers soon, but those usually take a few days to finish, so I won't have them up until sometime next week. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day, so I think I'm going to head on to bed. I haven't had a full work day since Monday with my meetings and a delay this morning!

Snow, linky with matching writing activity, and a giveaway

Who else got a lot of snow today? I was working on a committee with the state and we HAD to continue today, so I was watching it very closely. They offered lodging to anyone who felt unsafe driving home, but I only live about 15 minutes from the meeting area. It's a mess here, though. Slushy and gross. My school had an early dismissal because of it, and I'm still hoping we at least get a delay tomorrow. Instead, we got a call letting us know that "due to incliment weather, schools MIGHT be closed" and to "please stand by for more updates". Fantastic. As if I couldn't look outside and know that schools might delay. Those calls are such a let down.

***Uh oh! Power just flickered 3 times!! I hate wet, nasty snow!***

I will say that after this snow, I'm ready for spring to come in full force! This cold weather is getting old, and I'm ready to pull out my dresses. I even bought a new swimsuit Monday!

Anyway, if you haven't already joined in on my linky party, follow this link! It's going to be open all month, and I've had fun reading what everyone is blessed with! It's a great way to get to know you a little more.

I'm also working on a writing activity to go along with it, and I hope to have that finished tomorrow. I just need to make new girl hair that will work with my cute little leprechaun hat I have. The high ponytail that I've been using doesn't work, so I was thinking low pigtails instead. I need the scanner at school, though. So it will be up by Monday at the latest!

Finally, Donna from Hokie Teach is a 5th grade teacher here in Virginia who I've met. She's SUPER sweet, and she just reached 100 followers! Go enter her giveaway for a chance to win one of 2 prizes.

Oh, and one of the prizes includes my St. Patty's Day Literacy Centers!

My Lucky Seven

I'm finally doing it! I've wanted to host my own linky party for a while now, and the time has finally come. For those of you who have followed me for a little while, you may already know that I LOVE St. Patrick's Day almost as much as Christmas. It's just a really fun holiday to me! So I created a linky for the entire month of March. I hope you'll join in!

Graphics from www.mycutegraphics.com

The rules to this linky are simple. List 7 things in your life that you are "lucky" or blessed to have. Then please copy the button and link back to this post! Oh, and let's do the rule of 3. Comment on the two people who post before you and one after so we can meet new people!

Here are my seven:

My husband, Steven

This picture is from a wedding we were in a few years ago, but I love it!

My husband has become my best friend, and he really is AMAZING! He takes care of me, showers me with love, stands up to me when needed (I AM stubborn, so I need this a lot), and is a wonderful daddy! I couldn't have been any luckier when finding the man I want to spend the rest of my life with!

Keagan

Christmas 2012

This little goober has only been a part of my life for a short time, but he has become my pride and joy! He melts my heart and makes me want to pull out my hair at the same time. Having a child really is a great way to have even a glimpse of the love that God has for us - that unconditional, I-love-you-even-when-you-poop-all-over-me-and-my-last-clean-pair-of-pants kind of love! And yes, that did happen shortly after I brought him home from the hospital.

My family

Thanksgiving 2012

I don't get to see my family too often because they live in GA (and my sister in MS), but they are the people who helped shape me into the woman I am today. I'm doubly blessed though, because Steven's family has accepted me as one of them, and I really am proud to be a Dalton!

My in-laws

My sister-in-law's wedding a few years ago

I hear so many horror stories about in-laws, but honestly I can't say one negative thing about mine! I truly feel like I'm a daughter. Steven even jokes that if something went wrong, they're more likely to take my side! Becky and Steven's parents have especially done so much for us, taking care of Keagan, helping with errands, and spoiling our child ROTTEN! They're the best!

My small group

Halloween 2012 with most of the kids from our group

It's been great to be a part of a group who are all in about the same phase in life. We had babies within months of each other and are now raising small children together. There are four couples, and we are finally beginning to add adults (we think they were scared to join because they might get pregnant ;-). These couples have become some great friends, and I really enjoy spending time with them each week. I'm even sad when I have to skip out of group.

My job and coworkers

A few of the girls hanging out to celebrate the weekend

I've worked at the same school since I graduated, and I can honestly say that the majority of the time I'm very happy there! I have a principal that lets us try new things to see what works (this year, we went almost entirely to CAFE and Daily 5, and we were encouraged to basically throw out the basals!), and I have some pretty awesome coworkers, too! These girls are great teachers who would all fit right into this whole blogging community (a few of them are blog stalkers already), and they've got amazing ideas! I love that they inspire me to be a better teacher!

My God and faith in Him

I stole this picture from a girl at our church. She's a GREAT photographer!

I wouldn't call this luck by any means, but really none of it is. I was blessed to be raised in a strong Christian family and given good Christian friends along the way to help me grow. With that, God has continued to protect me in every way. I've never really been in need for anything. Good health (rarely visit the doctor), enough money to make ends meet (although college was pretty tight), a safe place to live, etc. I know that being a Christian doesn't necessarily mean that everything will go well for me. I mean, look at Job in the Bible. Still, God has chosen to bless me beyond measure! Too often I forget to thank him for that.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my lucky seven, and PLEASE pass this along to your friends! I'd love to have a good turn out for my first linky party!

March Currently (finally!)

Is it just me, or did February feel like it would never end? I don't know if it had to do with all of the sickness that went through my house or what, but I was starting to think we'd never make it to March. SOOO happy it's finally here, even though it's been 10 degrees below normal for the past few days, and I'm desperately wanting spring to come.

With the beginning of March comes my favorite linky: Farley's Currently!

Listening: Every Sunday, Steven and Keagan go down for a nap (well, ideally). Since I don't usually do well with naps, I use it as my quiet time (meaning I spend the whole time on the computer catching up on blogging and stuff). This week, I haven't been on the computer much at all because Steven's been working on a 15-20 page paper he has to write for his master's. The rough draft was due Friday, and he finished just before that. I have a feeling I'll not be able to use the computer much for the remainder of his schooling because his last 8 weeks, he ALSO has to write a 2-5 page paper for both of his other classes EVERY WEEK. So if I'm not on here as much, that's why. I may try and write a few when I get to school earlier in the mornings. Or maybe I'll schedule them when I do get a chance to write, but I won't be able to keep up with your posts as easily.

Loving: I tried to take one of those bathroom pictures to show off my mint jeans, but our bathrooms are too small, and it just looked silly. I've been wanting a pair for a while, and this is the second pair I've actually bought. I ended up returning the first because they weren't quite right. These I ordered from Target hoping they would work. They came in Thursday, and I immediately went to try them on. I LOVE them!! Now I need some more fun tops to wear with them...

Thinking: I finally reached my goal weight last week (I was sick, and that tipped me over with the last 1.5 pounds I had left to lose). So I went ahead and upped my calorie intake, which was exciting! Actually, the first day I felt so stuffed that I ended up barely eating dinner. My body wasn't quite ready for me to add 300 calories. We're there now though. The only problem is that I still have a serious muffin top. I don't want to lose any more weight, but I want to tone. So I'm getting the INSANITY dvds this week. A friend of mine is giving them to me. SO excited! I know it's going to kick my butt, but I'm ready to get toned once and for all. It took a year to lose the baby weight, and I want to look good by summer!

Wanting/Needing: These two go hand in hand. Our house is a disaster. Part of this is my fault because I've been so absorbed in my books lately (since I can't get on the computer, I've read 3 in the span of 2 weeks: Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult (okay), Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle (funny book from a mommy blogger), and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (LOVED!). Anyway, they're calling for up to 18 inches of snow Wednesday night, and I'm praying it happens. We have two more days we can miss and not make up, so I'm hoping it snows enough to close for Thursday AND Friday. We'll see!

Like: Do you have Menchie's where you live? 

We just got one here a little while ago, and Steven and I love to go. Our area's big on Sweet Frog, another yogurt place, but Menchie's is less crowded and has similar flavors (Steven says the flavors are better, but I'm boring and just get chocolate and mint, so they taste the same to me). They DO give cute plastic spoons that are dishwasher safe.

Love: I was going to put mentor texts, but that was two words. So I went with M&M's. I love chocolate, and M&M's are great. Nothing more.

Hate: I'm against all kinds of mushiness. Don't care for sappy, lovey things that much (remember my Valentine's Day rant?). Not a fan of PDA. But mushy also applies to foods, and there's kind of a pattern  I developed on this Like, Love, Hate. I don't like the mushy texture unless it's ice cream or mashed potatoes that are supposed to be mushy. My fries need to be crunchy! I get very bummed when I bite into something that looks solid, and then it goes all mushy.

Alright, sorry this post is SO long! I'm planning on hosting my own linky later this week (if I can figure out how to do it), so keep your eyes out for it! But right now, go link up with Farley!

Blogs by state and a giveaway

Diane from Fifth in the Middle had the greatest idea for a link-up, and I'm thrilled to join in. She has created a resource for bloggers to link up by state. I have found a few Virginia bloggers through searching, and I even started a Facebook page for us to gather here. But I like that this makes it easier to see which blogs match with each state. Go find your state and link up! And if you're a VA blogger, join our Facebook page and link your blog there, too!

Also, Amelia from Where the Wild Things Learn has reached 100 followers, and I am helping celebrate her giveaway! You have two chances to win, so definitely go check it out!

Then keep your eyes open for more on the way. I will be helping in another very soon where I will be giving away this:

Happy Thursday!

New Magic Tree House pack

I'm a little afraid to say it after the past two weeks, but the Dalton household seems to finally be on the mend! Now I'm praying for warmer weather to stick around (most days this week have a high of 50 or more, so I'm hopeful) because this girl is TIRED of cold, dreary days. I don't know what I'll do with myself with a full week at school, though! It's been a little while between holidays and doctor visits.

This morning, I finished my newest Magic Tree House series! Isn't it cute? This one seems to be on a little higher level, and I had a lot of fun making it. Very cute story! I may even go back and add more to this unit because I thought about adding a biography sheet for Lady Gregory. You can click on the links below to find it.

TN or TPT

I'm keeping it short tonight because it's my favorite night for TV. How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, and Biggest Loser. I missed everything last week because I felt like crap and went to bed when Keagan went to bed. Got some catching up to do this week!