Mother's Day 2014.

Happy Mother's Day! We are blessed to have encouraging, selfless, and loving moms. My own mom, and my mother-in-law, are the best! They both have so many qualities that I hope I can possess for our little one coming soon!

Oh the weekend.

This weekend was pretty good. Friday night my parents, sisters, and I went to Mom's Night Out. You should all go see it! My sister, Karlie, was home after college for the weekend before she leaves for Africa on a nurses mission trip for a month. 

Saturday morning/early afternoon we went to my sister Kayla's volleyball tournament. She's #3 and she's pretty awesome. :) Unfortunately, my camera's zoom and quick time is not best for capturing sports action shots.

After the tournament, we went to Gusto Pizza Co. for lunch. I was excited because I saw this list of the 15 best restaurants in Des Moines, and Kley and I's goal was to eat at all of them before we moved. We had already been to about half, so we have a few left! Unfortunately, Kley missed all these events. His dad, Brad, came down for Friday night/Saturday to help him study for his finals this week, which was super nice of him.

Saturday afternoon/evening Brad and Kley were studying, so I worked hard on conference forms. It wasn't much fun for a Saturday, but I'm glad I got a lot of work done! Today we went to church, did a few more conference reports, took a nap, and now we are headed to my parents for dinner!

Happy weekends!

The storm makes you appreciate the rainbow.

Today was like a storm- in all ways. We had a tornado warning all afternoon, and it hailed tonight. It was also a storm in my classroom- like a tornado engulfed my kids and turned them into wild spinning destruction-makers.

Don't get me wrong- I love my kids. So much. Like they were my own. But everybody has frustrating days.

We tried to plan something fun today. We are learning about our 5 senses, and today was about taste, so for art we did pudding finger painting. We had a more wild than usual morning all together, but that 30 minutes put me over the edge. We ended up with pudding all over some clothes and the floor, it took a long time (and our attention) to clean up the huge mess and all the kids, and while that was happening there was screaming and yelling (some from playing wildly, some from actual fights), all the toy buckets were dumped out everywhere, and it seemed that everyone thought "clean up" meant "run around the classroom and yell."

We had a very serious, important talk after this during group time about how mad I was. I actually think it went well. I don't get actually mad very often. But when teachers get mad, I think it's important for them to tell the class they are mad and why they are mad. Kids need to understand that adults have feelings also, because sometimes they don't understand that we do. There was a moment during clean up time when a fight happened that I wanted to sigh and speak harshly, but I bit my tongue and temporarily walked away.

I talked, not yelled, with the class about my frustrations and how upset I was with them because I know they can do better. I explained what they had done that made me feel frustrated. I explained that I had tried to plan a fun activity, but it makes it hard to want to plan fun activities when they misbehave. I asked them if they understood how that could make me feel mad. I asked them what they could do better next time.

Thankfully, everyone sat quietly, listened attentively, responded well/appropriately, and apologized.

And then we prayed and thanked God for forgiveness and fresh starts.

I am so thankful to teach at a Christian school.

Thank you, Lord, for the storms, because they make the rainbows so bright and renewing.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day 2014!

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. Teachers rock.

You should all read this post from Jen Hatmaker today.

Thank you for all you do- your job is incredibly valuable.

Second Trimester weeks 13-16.

Today I am 16 weeks and baby is the size of an avacado. :) It's been fun to read my apps each week about what developments baby is making. I don't have anything too monumental to write, which I am thankful for, because that means that everything is going pretty smoothly. We toured the hospital a couple weeks ago, which was definitely enlightening! So many details and things happen during birth. Wow. I can't even imagine what we will learn during childbirth classes later.

I have been building my maternity clothes wardrobe recently, which is about to come into good use. I have been wearing my pants unbuttoned (they still zip) for about a week and a half, but I don't think I can hold that out much longer. Even my shirt felt tight on Friday. I know I will get so sick of wearing maternity clothes at the end, but it's exciting to be able to look a little pregnant now.

I am so thankful so have been feeling well, mostly. I am still hungry, but it's not as much as it was in the beginning. I have also been tired and getting some headaches in the second trimester, but I don't feel like I can complain. I told Kley today that I was glad to have nothing much to report, because that means everything is healthy and well.

I went to the doctor again last week, but nothing monumental to report. They weighed me, peed in a cup, drew more blood, and I heard baby's heartbeat again (which is obviously the best part!). The doctor said everything was looking good! Yay!

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Dandelions can be beautiful.

Today was a needed day after a long week. It's Friday, it was sunny and nice this morning, we got to be outside for awhile at school after being cooped up most of the week because of rain, and a bunch of my kids got together on their own will and picked me a bunch of dandelions.

It was so sweet when they presented it to me.

It's those small moments that shine through that make teaching totally worth it.

Dandelions actually are quite beautiful, if you look at them the right way. :)

Body/Five Senses crafts.

Self Portrait Crayon Coloring

Handprint Stamping with Ink Pads- I included the verse, "Isaiah 49:16- He has engraved us on the palm of His hands."

Feet Stamping- I included the verse, "Isaiah 52:7- How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!"

Finger Painting

Touch- Shaving Cream Painting

Sight- Color Collage

Hearing- Decorate Bean Filled Paper Plate Maracas

Taste- Pudding Finger Painting

Smell- Red Strawberry Painting Scented with Jello

Five Senses Coloring Page