Thankful Thursday

This Thursday evening, I am reflecting on the school year that is coming to an end. Tomorrow will be the last day with my first grade class of 2011-2012. It's the eighth group of first graders I have taught in my nine years of teaching at Cornelia Elementary. This morning, I sat back for a few minutes and watched them converse as they were signing each others yearbooks, and I realized that I have grown to love these children. This is what lets me know that I am where God wants me to be. Yes, there have been moments and days of frustration...like when they were on a sugar high before Christmas break and I was still expected to lead them in learning, or when we had indoor recess for days on end in February, or even a few weeks ago when we had to participate in three long days of assessments and I had to spend hours on end grading these assessments, but overall, it's been a good year. We made a lot of memories together, and I am proud of the growth they have made. It truly is amazing how much a group of six-year-olds can learn in just a few short months! Today we had an Honor's Day program and I enjoyed seeing their beaming faces as each one of them came up to receive a special award. Then later, the tears flowed freely as I read "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein to them. This book has always made me cry, but when I read it at the end of the school year to a group of first graders who are about to move on, it brings on an even more special meaning. I am thankful for the opportunity that God has given me to teach this particular group of students, and I pray that I have made a positive impact on their lives. Linking up with...

Cake Walk and Chicken Toss

These just happened to be two of Chandler's favorite events at our school's annual Spring Fling this evening. Who would have guessed a two-year-old would like walking in a circle for the possibility of winning a cake? He didn't win, but he didn't seem to care. He liked going from number to number and dancing to the music. The chicken toss was hilarious to watch, and I had to just pull him away so the next kid in line could have a turn. These kinds of moments are priceless!

Fun Project

While I'm not the most crafty person in the world, I do like to try things out from time to time, especially now that Chandler is big enough to help me out. My mom and Mother-in-law do so much for us, and I thought it would be nice if Chandler and I worked on a project to give to them as part of their Mother's Day gifts.

At first, I was going to be really brave and try out some paint, but then I chickened out. I decided I might better wait until he has better hand and eye coordination before trying out something too big. That's when I remembered this simple butterfly craft that I saw a few weeks ago. It allowed Chandler to work hands-on, but for a short period of time (which was ideal), and I had all the materials on hand!

He loved coloring the coffee filters and putting the caps on the opposite end of each marker, but his favorite thing was sprinkling the water on the coffee filters. When I first showed him how to put his hand in the bowl and sprinkle the water, he looked at me as if to say, "Are you sure you want me to put my hands in the water? It might make a mess. Mama!".

Then, after discovering that the pink cotton balls were indeed NOT marshmallows, he helped me decide where to place them on the caterpillars. After the coffee filters dried for a couple of hours, I completed the project by rolling them slightly to make wings. I then added chenille stems to each butterfly to make antennae and glued a magnet on the back.

TA DA! A perfect Mother's Day (or anytime) craft! If I can do it with a two-year-old, anyone can do it!

Picnic

It's that time of year again! Another school year is quickly coming to a close, but my "to-do" list seems to be getting longer rather than shorter. Still, I was determined that I was NOT going to do anything related to work or school this past weekend. I was going to enjoy the time with my boys because life is too short, and it's important to spend time with loved ones and make memories. It was Mother's Day weekend, afterall.

So, on Saturday, I packed up a simple lunch and we headed to the park for Chandler's first picnic. At first he was all about going to play, but then we showed him all the yummy things we brought to eat, and he happily settled on the blanket with us, savoring his food. I think he was most excited about the pickles and the chocolate pudding, but thankfully he didn't eat them at the same time! I was able to snap a few quick shots of my precious little guy before he ran off to climb and play, though. I am so thankful that I am the mother of this sweet little one!