Thanksgiving 2012

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! It was nice being able to relax some and not worry about getting up early for work. I just had to work Monday and Tuesday this past week...it was an easy week! On Tuesday, we read a lot of books about Thanksgiving and did some fun activities. After work, I went home to visit my parents for the week. I was excited to go visit because I had only been home once since this summer. On Thursday, we went to both of my grandparents houses to eat. I'm sure I gained probably about 10 lbs! It was fun getting to see everyone! Here are a few pictures...

I will blog later this week about the rest of my break! :) 

New Orleans and A&M vs. Alabama Game!

It might seem like I have fallen off the face of the earth, but I promise I am still alive! :)  It has been forever since I have last blogged! I hope y'all are doing good. I FINALLY feel that school is starting to calm down a bit. The first six weeks were CRAZY! 

Not this past Friday but last, I took my first personal day to go visit my parents in Louisiana! I was kinda worried about leaving my kids with a substitute but everything went smoothly! :) Last month, my parents rented a condo in Slidell, LA which is about 30 minutes away from New Orleans. The condo was located right on the bay so my dad was able to go fishing everyday!

After I got off work last Thursday, Kyle's mom drove me to the airport. Kyle drove in a couple days before me so he could go fishing with my dad! My flight took off around 8:00 and I landed in New Orleans around 9:00. It was a really quick flight! After Kyle and my parents picked me up from the airport, we went to Harrah's in New Orleans!

That Friday, my mom and I went to go get manicure and pedicures while the boys went fishing. It was nice getting to relax! That evening, we all drove into Biloxi, Mississippi to eat dinner and go to the Beau Rivage. We had so much fun we didn't get back to the condo till 6:00 the next morning. Haha! I did really good on the craps table that night!

On Saturday, we went into New Orleans again! I had a BLAST people watching! We watched the LSU vs. Alabama game at a bar on Bourbon Street....it was crazy!!! I had so much fun getting away for the weekend. I needed a little break!

This past Friday, I went to College Station for my friend Kristan's birthday! It was my first time in College Station since July. Caitlin was also in town because she had an interview that day. We went out to the Olive Garden that night to celebrate! We had fun catching up! Hope you had a great birthday Kristan! My cousin Demi also got engaged that night! Congrats Demi! I am so happy for you!

After I left College Station, I went home to watch the A&M vs. Alabama game with my dad! OMG!!! That was the best game ever! We went to a nearby bar to watch the game. The bar got pretty wild the last few minutes of the game! I thought it was so funny that even U.T. fans were cheering for the Aggies! :) I cannot believe we beat the #1 team in College Football!!!! Gig Em Aggies!!!

Hope y'all have a great week!

Texans Game!

Hope y'all had a great weekend. I have been super busy this past week. We had Parent Orientation on Thursday...I was so nervous! I think it went well though! We also started taking grades this past week so I have been busy grading papers! I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately so this weekend, I treated myself to a new hairdo and a mani/pedi! :)

I haven't been able to blog much lately so I figured I will play catch up this week! A few weeks ago my parents, Kyle, and I went to the Texans game! Kyle's parents own season tickets and they decided not to go to the game so they gave us the tickets! : )  We had a fun time!

Caitlin's 24th Birthday!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Saturday morning, I left for San Antonio to visit my cousin Caitlin and celebrate her 24th birthday! When I got there yesterday, we went to Nordstrom's so I could try on a bridesmaid dress for her wedding! I think we've narrowed it down to two different dresses! : )

That afternoon, we watched the Aggies play their first game of the season against Florida. We were excited because it was their first game in the SEC! We watched the game over at Matt's (Cait's fiance) apartment....he cooked wings for us during the game! My friends Kimberly and Kristan also came! The Aggies lost but we still had fun!

Caitlin's Margarita Cake!

Last night, we went to a bar in San Antonio...it was 70's night so we had a blast people watching! Happy Birthday Baby Cait! I hope you had a great birthday!!!! : )

I'm loving this cooler weather... it's finally starting to feel like Fall!

New Apartment - Living Room

New Apartment - Kitchen/Dining Room

I hope y'all had a great weekend! Mine was pretty relaxing...which I definitely needed! Kyle and I went out to dinner on Friday night and then yesterday, my best friend Kimberly came over! She had to come into Houston this weekend to buy a new jeep so she stayed with me last night on her way back to San Antonio. Yesterday afternoon, we had fun shopping, eating Mexican food, and hanging out by my pool. Today, I took her up to my school and showed her my classroom! : ) I was excited about that!

I figured I would post some pictures of my new apartment....here is a little tour of my kitchen/dining area! I like my kitchen but it is pretty small. I was spoiled at my old apartment with a big kitchen and tons of counter/cabinet space!

Bar

I bought this clock on sale at Kohls for only $40...it was originally over $100!

Happy Labor Day!

First Week of School and My Jungle Classroom!

I'm sorry it has been forever since I last posted! I survived my first week of teaching 1st grade! I had a great week but I am exhausted. I have been working twelve hour days this past week...I am hoping things will calm down soon! All of my students are so sweet. First graders say some of the funniest things! We have mostly been going over rules and procedures this week. We have also been reading a lot of back to school books such as, The Night Before First Grade, Chrysanthemum, and The Kissing Hand.

I am teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies this year. My partner teaches Language Arts, Reading, and Writing. This is the first year for my school to start switching classes in the first grade so we will see how it goes! I LOVE my team...they have all been so helpful! I think it's gonna be a great year!

Here are the "after" pictures of my classroom!!!

 I added my students names after I took this picture!

Walking In...

My Reading Corner 

Side-view 

Calendar Area

I love my $5 garage sale chair! My aunt monogrammed my last name in jungle print on the back....it turned out so cute! I had to blur it out though for privacy reasons!

Thanks Kristan for the idea!

 My desk area

Back of my room/word wall

 Birthday Bulletin Board

Back Bulletin Board

Hope y'all have a great three day weekend! 

Classroom Sneak Peek!!!!

Hey guys...hope you are having a great week! I just wanted to give y'all a quick update! I have been busy this past week moving into my new apartment and decorating my classroom! I moved into my apartment last Tuesday and my classroom on Wednesday. It has been a crazy week! My classroom is slowly coming along. I have been having so much fun decorating my room and designing my bulletin boards!

Here is a little sneak peek of my classroom...

Before Picture!

My reading center....I still need to organize my library! If anyone has any TIPS....please do share!

Birthday Bulletin Board - BORN TO BE WILD

Word Wall

The cute pillows my talented aunt made for my reading center! I just LOVE them! 

I promise to post more pictures once I'm completely done! :) I have new teacher orientation all this week so I'm hoping to finish up within the next week or so!