OK, Making my Yearly Post...

...and thinking about starting a new blog. I love finding new teaching ideas on the internet during my "wind down" time each evening, and I've been thinking it would be fun to share them in some way. Plus...I miss the blogging world. Am I ready for it? Can I spare the time? Probably not, but Christmas Vacation is only 2 days away. We'll see....More later.

April...Fooled Ya!

What a Fun Day!!!

I was sitting here at home last night thinking....I need to have some fun on our last day of school before break. Everyone's stress level (and energy level) has risen over the week, and a good day of pranks and acceptable goofing off was in order. Thank you ProTeacher Community for your ideas!

I started the day by welcoming my students on their way in the door with my usual personal, individual greeting to each student, however, instead of saying "Good morning!" I said, "Good night," "Good afternoon," or "Good evening." I got some funny expressions and smirks right from the start. I continued to tell the students how I had been thinking of a special way to tell them all how wonderful they were and what a great job they had been doing in class lately. I said that I thought they deserved a treat to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break, and therefore I had come into school early that day to make them "brownies." They were thrilled and each gave a "woohoo." Next, I handed out "Brown E's" to each student.

The kids were laughing so hard that we decided to deliver "brownies" to the other two 3rd grade classrooms. The guilt brought on me by disappointed faces made me agree to bring real brownies after spring break (for the entire 3rd grade), but they all were laughing and talking about it all day. I gave my students extra brown e's to take home for the families. We had a "fake" test and played an unbeatable card game. The day ended with a pizza party that the students earned through reading 550 books on Dr. Seuss day, and I sent them home with a month's worth of assignments that had been piling up in the classroom. They finally took home their Ojibwa Indian tribe dioramas depicting life in the forest around the Great Lakes. What a fun project! I can't wait to do it again next year.

The Ojibwa in Spring and Summer

The Ojibwa in Winter

OK, Spring Break Begins!!!

THINKING ABOUT BLOGGING....

....Could it be? Do I even have anyone to blog with anymore?

I miss sharing our lives, but then....life is so darn busy I sometimes don't feel like I take the time to experience it myself. Anyway, I just wanted you all to know I am thinking about it.

Here are a few photos to share.

Zoe and her girl friends before the "MORP" (prom spelled backwards), the anti prom dance. This year's theme was "Love is a Hairy Mess," and the girls spent a couple hours ratting out their hair and dressing funky. They had a great time.

Jeff's Knowledge Bowl Team (Zoe included) landed a 3rd place spot at the district competition this year. They went on to state, but didn't make it to the 2nd round. That is OK though...Jeff still feels like a winner because he came in 1st place at Laser Quest, attacking teenagers with his laser gun before heading back home.

Max is officially a boy scout now! He earned his Arrow of Light, the highest achievement for a webelo scout, last month. He is so excited to be hanging with the big boys and getting involved in more community projects, fun adventures, and bigger challenges.

For Jeff's Birthday this year we took a three day trip to Schweitzer Mountain in Idaho. It was an awesome location. We stayed right on the hill. They had a quaint little village right there with restaurants, shops, and even a parade of skiers followed by fireworks at night. Unfortunately, after the first day of skiing, it rained the rest of the weekend and we were stuck indoors. We will definitely go back though. What a fun family spot.

So, Spring break begins in a week, and it will be so well received around here. We have decided not to go anywhere too far from home in the attempt to get the yard cleaned up, spring clean, get haircuts, take care of doctor/dentist/vet/automobile appointments, and just be home....together. This time of year is always so crazy, and we tend to forget about the importance of together time until it is gone. Soccer and tennis are in full swing, and I've been working harder and longer hours than ever before. We might even get in some spring skiing next weekend! Woohoo! O.K. Spring, here we come!