Sorry I've signed off for a while, guys.

I had to charge my computer.

😉

In all honesty, I didn't know how to start this first post after what's probably been months (or perhaps even years). Nothing like some humor to get us started!

I guess there've been quite a few changes since my last post. Since lists always seem to work well for me, I'll go ahead and start with a list.

My oldest is going to be starting middle school this next year.
My youngest is going to be in 2nd grade.
I will be teaching my first year as a 2nd grade teacher, and it will be after a 6-years-long preschool position (which happens to be the ONLY grade I've taught to date).
I now have four nieces and nephews.
I am single as a slice of kraft cheese.
I am going on my second year of teaching kindergarten catechism classes at my church.

I'll go into more detail in all of the above mentioned areas, I'm sure.

BUT right now, I can't even begin to describe how excited I am about this literature class I am taking for my licensure renewal. It's absolutely so much fun. Somewhere between showing up at the class this morning and getting home at 530 or so, I've just been on this huge, nerdy, excited, giddy, reading kick!

We get to read all sorts of books, talk about books, share books, and it's brilliant.

I'm learning new websites, new great reads, new resources. I'm just getting all jazzed about teaching reading next year!

Ran A Race

For my birthday, I wanted to share my passion for running with my friends and family. Circumstances happened and it was my family only. Which, just so happens to be some of my best friends!!! 

I ran 7 miles in 7 degree weather in off-road conditions. It was painful (by the end, my knee had bothered me more than ever since high school Varsity soccer- YIKES)!!!! But it was So worth it and I'm going to do it next year (even if I have to do it alone!)

This year, I was accompanied by my little brother (I nicknamed him "Duck Dynasty Waldo"), My little sisters (Mikala and Amy- who are "not so little" any more), my Aunt Mary ( LOVE her!!- Dad's little sister), and my sister's (Amy) boyfriend. 

Really, it was one of the most fun runs. Coming only after my favorite so far, the Dam to Dam. 

Here are some pictures. I told everyone we HAD to have a theme. We agreed with Waldo. 

Top to Bottom: Nathan and Mikala (siblings)

Nate

Me (front) Mikala (back)

*Selfie

Nathan and Mikala getting ready

The medal we received (against my Hanson t-shirt) ;)

Like Johnny and June

I'm not exactly sure how long since my last blog; it's been a while.

But, since then, I've done a lot of "things".

I've traveled a few states over with my daughter (my oldest one, not my little one) to visit a friend; I've had a summer off (a teacher's "summer off"); I've fallen in love, and lost that love; I've met AND INTERVIEWED my favorite band of all time; I've become a Scentsy consultant; I've started taking photos for other people *family/children photos*; I've celebrated holidays (and other special days); there have been projects; there have been trials and tribulations; I've seem some movies; I've read some books; my friends are FINALLY having children. Life has happened since my last blog.

As many know, I'm like so many others out there...... and unlike so many others.

I teach in a small-town that I did not grow up in. I moved at my first "gig" (teaching preschool). It was during my divorce from my husband (a few years ago).

I'm not even sure where to begin, but I wanted to start somewhere. That's why I started with this entry. An attempt at wrapping up, in a nutshell, what's happened since "last time".




It began with a series of songs on my iPod tonight. It's not that I haven't wanted to blog. I have. I get on here plenty and start an entry only to delete it. I want to post what I wear for "teaching fashion tips" or "what did Ashley wear today??!?"... a record to myself and my children what is going on with us. I've wanted to save ideas and share them. I've wanted to ask for advice and plea for help. But I haven't. This past year, I've grown more in touch with myself than ever before. I have gotten to know more about who I am as a whole than I ever have in my life.

I know that I've done a lot of things and been through a lot of things, but..... I feel I was wrong in how I went about doing them.

I thought I needed time "to be just me... alone... with my girls" to find out who "i really am" and to "find my calling", so to say. But I think I was wrong.

I think I found myself most when I had a purpose. I'll be honest, I learned most about my true character and my true colors and wants and needs and capabilities and skills when I was in my last relationship. I was finally not "running" from my past. I wasn't on some search to find what I needed from God.... I was simply "being.

I was being.

I was putting my total faith in God. I was trying my hardest as a parent. I was being tested as an educator during those times more than ever before. I was happy. I was someone who was constantly trying to be there for others. And, I think that's when we're at our best. When we're being selfless. When we finally realize that we shouldn't be searching for ourselves somewhere else, through reflection and everything else. That...... it is through life, even though crazy, that we find who we really are.

I didn't get to be in that relationship for long. But, in that relationship, I realized who I was as a person more than I ever had before. I am forever grateful for that.

I probably won't talk about it much, but I will talk about all of the fun things I've been doing other than that!!!! :D:D

Like, our "beach days', our "Montana Road Trip", my students in the classroom, my family stories, our holiday happenings, and my silly ole' moments. That's what I do best. Just simple updating so I can keep track of it!!!!!



By the way,
I also have two new additions to the family!!! Two wonderful hedgehogs. Zahra and Fluffy. They are absolutely amazing and I love them to pieces. The girls adore them. If you are looking for a pet but don't know what you should get, consider welcoming a hedgehog into your family.!!

Justin Adams

It's been a while! I'll catch ya'll up soon with more goings on in my life after a quick hype-talk about this AMAZING new country singer. His songs just got up on iTunes today! I can't stop listening to it! And I'm just still shocked at how much I love all of these songs, I had to share it with whoever would read/listen to me. 

His voice is amazing. And the songs are great and relatable. It's both up-tempo and some slower ones. I enjoy it. :) GET IT!!!! Promise, if you're a country person, you'll LOVE this!!!!!! 

Fave Toys .... Magformers/Magna Tiles.

Thought I'd share one of our favorite toys at home. It just happens to be one of the favorites at school, too. We have magna tiles in my classroom at school. The kids LOVE them! I didn't realize the single pack didn't include very many, so I did end up ordering the class size for next year!! 

Then, my daughter loved them so much (and has them at her daycare) that we decided to do that for her birthday!! It's something she has played with about every single day- for the past year+. We are investing in another pack of these, too.. come summertime. ALL we can do to occupy ourselves during the summer months, right!??!?!

Here are the links to the Magna Tiles.

and Magformers.

My two little squirts after making the magic ball with their Magformers. :) That's their favorite thing to build. 

Letter Matching

Here is a letter matching activity we did in the classroom last week in my 3 year-old classes. It was great  for letter recognition and matching. :) 

They did wonderful!-- and it was a great way to assess them, too. Another idea I had for my older kids was to match upper and lower case letters. Maybe do numbers to dots, etc. The ways you can tweak this to fit into what you need are almost endless!!! Shapes, colors (use other, non-neon, dots), tallies, sight words...... MEH!! :D use your imagination.

finished. 

P.s. I did raindrops no blue paper to match our "weather" unit. You can really do whatever you want!!! :) I also made umbrellas. :) Switching it up would be a way to bring your theme into your curriculum. 

Puppies!

Aren't puppies just the cutest things in the world???? :D:D:D

Our family dog (My Mom and Dad's) had puppies this weekend. ELEVEN of the little cutie patties! Here is a picture of the pile of them and mom trying to keep them all in order and they're just climbing on each other, etc.

There's a cute little picture of them squirming around in a pile with each other. :) Mama (Lucy) is out having some time outside for a couple of minutes.

Mama resting with her little puppies. :)

I just love them. So do the kids. :) It was ADORABLE!!!! :) She's still a little 'protective' at this point, so it was quick when we got chances to hold them (if, at all). Lucy wasn't all about sharing her babies quite yet. :) But she was very sweet to her visitors, and she's such a good mommy.

The top one is a little fuzzy, but it's hard to get both a puppy and a 7 year-old to stay still for a photo pop!!! :D

LOVELY!!!

Scentsy

I am currently hosting a scentsy "basket" party. I am loving it! I can't wait to finish it up because I just LOOOOVE scentsy.

In fact, I am 98% certain that I am going to become a Scentsy consultant!

I'm pretty excited and I think it'd be good for me.

Get myself out there can doing something new and challenging.

:) 

Wish me luck if I end up going through with this decision!!! :D

Laters, BABy... ;)

Family Dinner Discussions :)

"Family Dinner Questions"

Before I begin, here's where I got this LOVELY idea (free printables)! [[How Does She]]

I came across this super cute idea on pinterest (obviously). I printed off the free printables and got to work. There are so many GREAT questions/interesting facts/conversation starters for you to do at the dinner table with your family. 

Materials:

Mason/canning jar

Mod Podge

Printables from the link above

Scissors

Paper

Ribbon/buttons/scrapbooking paper

(any other decorations you want to make the jar pretty)

Glue

Basically, I printed off the activity from the link.

I cut them all out. *I didn't use all of them, just because my girls are both too young to understand some of them (not many- but some)*

Then, I mod podge'd the label onto the front of the jar. 

Next, I cut out some scrapbooking paper and put that in the top of the jar.

After that, I tied some little ribbon around the neck to add a little "pop" and then glued a couple little crafty buttons onto the front/top.

Put all of my questions into the jar and VOILA!!!

It is sitting in the middle of our table and after just the first night, it's been a hit for SURE!

:) I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Thanks for the idea!!! :D 

I'll probably be posting some of the answers that the girls give throughout the extent of this.

Also**** I do plan on adding my own as we go.

New Kicks

Got myself some new shoes. :) These things always make me smile.

Took a picture.

Cute with the mint jeans....

Enjoyed this sparkly, springy, glitzy, new outfit. :) I wish I had a pic of me from straight on. MEH it's alright.

Although, from this view, I feel like I need a tattoo on my foot. TIME to get going on that. I'll add it to my summer bucket list.

Speaking of summer bucket lists. The girls and I are going to work on that this week[end]. Pretty excited!!!!!

Printables for my place!

Cute, huh?!?!

I was going to paint the frames, but I think I'll nix that idea right now. I kind of like how they look. We'll see, that could change in the next few hours. But, I got these printables from 

HERE!-  (Spring)

AND 

HERE!! (Sunshine)

They look lovely on top of my black IKEA shelves that I am in love with. (Ever since I got them last summer....)

:)

Pillow Reading Nook.

Love Reading!

Tonight, the girls were having a little rough housing time. Which, sometimes is totally fine!!! But tonight, mama's headache wasn't really enjoying it. SO! I almost set up a library. But I figured we'd done that a bit much in the past year. WHY not try something new?!

So I had them help me collect pillows, blankets, and couch cushions. Together, we all made a wonderful, little, cute, reading nook!

:)Our reading nook.

*The girls curled up reading their books.

*Another precious picture of them curled up in the reading nook enjoying a book.

*they enjoyed these great reads + a few more!! :)

:)

Dance

I just had to share this precious picture of my Little Miss I this past weekend.

It was dance picture weekend and this is what I turned around to while I was trying to get things all together for her before time to go take pictures. 

She was just perched up on a tall stool, looking all cheese-y like into the mirror. I couldn't resist. My heart was melting and I had to snap it. :) Glad I did. It's one of my favorite pictures. And I will always remember the cuteness of this moment. :)

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER

SPRING has arrived!! 

It's coming. Slowly but surely. One day it's in the 70's and the next day we're having hail and then rain and then snow. It's crazy here in the midwest sometimes. :) But the days we live for are those beautiful spring days. (OR, at least I do!)

Here is a picture of the girls outside playing at my parents' place. I keep telling them "go outside and play!!!". And for some reason, they always come back in and tell me they're bored!! I never got it!! 

HOW can they be BORED on an ACREAGE in the middle of nowhere?!?! I had to teach them how to use their imaginations. I told them I was going to make them a ship. So here's our ship. I put a blanket on the top, a blanket on the bottom. They helped me organize a chair and an umbrella. They got "supplies", too. I made them help me find some. Supplies like rocks, a bottle of water, a sweatshirt, a "flag", and other necessary items when you're in the high seas all by yourself in a ship!!!! It was so great to see them playing!! 

  

We also looked for some fun hiding places in the trees and behind and in barns. We talked about how you can be adventurers, be native americans, or even be an animal!! We looked at what trees might grow berries in a few months, and how to "collect food". It was well worth it! They (hopefully) won't have any problem playing outside for hours this spring/summer.

MAGIC MATH!!

A Fun Math WORKSHET??!

..at least that's what Miss S thought! :) I made a little "magic" math worksheet for her! I used crayon to write the math equations (like you see). In the boxes under the math problem, I wrote (IN WHITE CRAYON) the answer. Right under the line, she wrote her answers. To check if her answers were correct, she painted with water over the box to reveal the correct answer!

It took a little bit of time on my part. But it kind of grabbed her attention. She's always looking for new ways to practice her addition and subtraction! 

:) This was a good one!