Merry Christmas

Hello Monday {Loving Fall}

Hello Monday!

A fresh week of beautiful weather ahead...

bye, bye summer...

you were a hot one this year!

Hello long list of to dos...

lots of things coming up...

I need to work on a plan of attack!

Hello busy classroom...

things are falling into place,

but it has been a challenge.

I say that every year according to my hubby,

it's probably true!

Hello lots of craft shows and a wedding...

being asked to do more shows is awesome,

I just wish I had more time to say yes to more shows.

Hubby's cousin is getting married...

bonus for me...

handsome hubby in a tux...

can't wait ;)

Hello speaking at our teacher inservice...

need to fine tune my presentation...

I've given it once before,

but this could be a bigger audience,

gulp!

Hello visitors in the classroom...

I hope my kids show the big wigs what they've been learning!

Hello new team at school...

honored to be asked to be part of a curriculum development team...

lots of changes in the air!

Hello random post!

Putting it all out there is good for my brain!

 

Hello everyone...

I sure hope you have a great week!

Until next time,

 

Hello Monday {planning}

Hello new week...

it's going to be a busy one!

Hello saying goodbye...

our family lost an amazing lady Friday...

we will miss her laugh and smile terribly!

Hello school business...

translation...

meetings for days...

substitute planning...

yay me...

ya, not so much.

Seriously it is more work to have a sub in your classroom 

than to just be there yourself.

It will all work out, 

it's just not my favorite.

Hello craft show planning...

trying to decide if we can do two shows 

back to back weekends.

I am not sure I can have enough product ready.

Hello crazy sewing lady...

If we do decide to do both shows

I need to work hard and efficiently...

I need to make a serious plan!

Hello washi tape...

found a great stash at the Dollar Tree...

looking at my jar of it on the table makes me smile!

Hello everyone...

I hope you have a great week!

Until next time,

{teaching}

The beginning of every school year in my room is 

a time of hope, fear, frustration, joy, and triumph.

I am all over the place with emotions as I learn

 the ups and downs of a new group of kiddos.

Today I am on the hope, joy, and triumph side of the coin.

My class just took their first math test of the year 

and more than half of them totally rocked it!

My little one that couldn't write his name 

and only knew six letters of the alphabet

can now write his name and is up to 17 letters.

Small steps and huge leaps.

That is what I am seeing so far in this group.

This is why I push, demand excellence, 

and work hard everyday.

It works and these munchkins learn

that they can be successful.

This is why I keep at this job 

even though some days are far from ideal.

I know in my heart I am helping these kids 

get to where they need to be for the next year 

and in a small way for life. 

I'm a teacher...

what's your superpower?

Until next time,

New Banner {a sponsored post}

I was contacted by Signazon with the prospect
of doing a review of their products.

Anyone who really knows me knows I am a skeptic through and through,

but I was intrigued by the idea of finally getting
a professional banner for upcoming craft shows.

I did a little research and found that Signazon
had a good reputation and many happy customers!

 

So I took the plunge and worked with Michelle at Signazon
and my designer sister to get my banner all set up.

Let me just say that the whole process was so simple.

I uploaded my image, proofed it, and was all set!

I do recommend using a very high resolution for your banner.

We used a 3960x 2640 pixel image.

I was so anxious to get my package!

The Fed Ex guy got a huge smile from me!

 

The banner looks amazing!

The quality is excellent!

I am so very pleased with our banner.

I cannot wait to order some oval labels and
some post cards for Amy's Monkeys.

Signazon is reasonably priced and
the quality of my banner is great!

Check them out!

Until next time,

This is a sponsored post; however, 

all opinions are 100% mine.

Hello Monday

Hello new week...

a wee bit quieter on the calendar this week!

Thank goodness!

Hello encouragement at the craft show...

I am so psyched about doing more events!

Hello homeschool...

the boys are loving it, 

but their dad isn't so sure they are working.

Emails of assignments show me things are going well

and attitudes about school work from the big kid are much better!

Hello classroom...

getting into my groove and holding the kiddos 

seriously accountable.

I am extremely tough at the beginning of the year,

but it saves me a million headaches as the year progresses.

I have a great bunch,

so we should have an amazing year!

Hello newcomers...

welcome to my blog!

Until next time,

{First Craft Show}

Yesterday Kenny and I tackled our first craft show for Amy's Monkeys.

It was so much fun and we met a lot of great people!

We also made some contacts to do other shows 

and 

I was invited to join a local women's network group!!

I love what I make...

but to hear other people say I made 

great choices in fabric combinations 

or that my quality was excellent... 

totally fed my creative soul. 

I kept thinking about my grandma 

and how proud she would be of her sewing granddaughter.

It was just awesome!

We were so proud of our display,

but we know we can make it better!

Craft show newbies with room for improvement for sure!

I'm off to decide what to make for the next show 

and to clean my house (poor,poor house has been so neglected)!

Until next time,

Hello Back to School!

Hello fresh new week!

Hello first full week of school...

I have been blessed with another great group...

the kiddos and I are going to have an amazing year!

Hello new responsibility...

I was asked to be a support teacher for a new teacher this year...

Kenny said he knows I would have helped her anyway,

but this way I get to add an official title to my résumé.

Hello crazy storm...

thunder, lightning, and pouring rain in August...

just wow!

Hello craft show...

next Saturday Amy's Monkeys will be part of a end of summer boutique sale...

so much to do,

but it's going to be great!

Hello homeschool...

the oldest two are doing great at home.

I love that they have the freedom to keep moving forward once they

have a concept mastered.

They are both keeping me on my toes!

Hello everyone...

how's the end of summer treating you?

Until next time,

 

Hello There!

I had no idea I would be taking the summer off from here, 

but if you follow my instagram you know we've had a busy summer!

Nik just got his cast off!  He was amazing through the whole thing!

For someone that had three broken bones, he sure was tough.

We were gifted a chance to repaint the interior of the house,

so we jumped on it!

But, if you give a mouse a cookie...

Seriously the painting led to decor changes

on a budget of hardly anything!

 Thrift stores, spray paint, and serious discount hunting have been good to us!

Schemes for painted kitchen cabinets and new back splashes 

are floating around in our heads...

It also led to major purging and organizing!

Which translated into we need to have a yard sale...

that is happening tomorrow!

I have never been so ruthless with clearing out in my life

and it's been awesome!!!

We are in love with all the changes,

but I feel like these changes were getting us ready 

for bigger changes in our lives.

Nothing official yet, 

but hopes and prayers for better opportunities 

could be answered in the near future!

The biggest change is that I am enlisting help to design a new blog 

to combine this space with Amy's Monkeys.

I'm not sure when that will happen,

but I will keep you posted!

If you made it this far you deserve a treat!

Have a great weekend!

Until next time,

Summer Just Got Interesting

The story started, "I was playing with my brothers..."

Layer that with not telling us he was hurt and I had quite a surprise yesterday morning!

Nik had hurt his left foot and I knew it wasn't good.

It gets even better since we already had our block of 

dentist appointments set for Thursday morning.  

Poor kid had to go to the dentist before we could get him over to the urgent care for x-rays.

After the doctor saw the x-rays she questioned him again about what he had been doing.  

Same story of jumping over a couch cushion on the floor and landing weird. 

 Enter mom and dad guilt for having the house torn up 

during our deep cleaning mission this week. 

All set up with his key board, mouse, and my school ipad!

All I can say is my baby boy has an amazing pain tolerance and patience!

So today we head to the pediatrician to get the referral for the orthopedic doctor.

Hopefully we'll get into the same doctor that took care of Luke's arm.

These boys and their broken bones!

At least they give us a long break in between major injuries!

Bless all the mamas tht deal with doctors and appointments everyday.

It his heart wrenching to see your baby hurt!

I am even more thankful for the health my boys have been blessed with everyday!

Until next time,

Hello Monday {Last Days}

Hello last week of school...

this has been a great year,

even with the challenges and changes.

That being said, I am so glad summer break is almost here!!

Hello graduating sixth grader...

Lukas is finishing up his time at the elementary school.

We will celebrate with him today at an ice cream social.

So proud of all of his hard work this year!

Hello sewing...

I have been finishing projects and making goodies for the shop...

I cannot wait to have time to fill up the website and empty out some of

my scraps with new products.

Summer time is my best time of the year for sewing!!

Hello summer break...
One visit planned...

and a lot of projects around the house will keep me busy!

Hello homeschool...

next fall will be the first year of true homeschool

for the oldest two...

lots of planning to do,

but I cannot wait to see them both return to the love of learning!

Hello fresh week...

lots to do, but it's going to be great!!!

Until next time,

Saying Hello with Lisa!

My Baby is Eleven

I cannot believe that my youngest boy is eleven years old today!

Seriously, time is moving way too fast!

This kid is amazing...

ornery...

such the third boy...

He is stubborn and snuggly...

a builder and detail kid...

and learning to be more independent.

He is a scholar and loves being active...

He looks just like his daddy, but acts like his mama.

My Nikolas is my baby...

even though he is sneaking up on me in height!

Happy Birthday my spiky haired boy!

Love you more than you will ever know!!

Thankful and Relieved

 

Today I am thankful and relieved that all of the state testing is done...

more thankful that next year's second graders won't have to take a big test like that!

I am thankful for a band of parents that spoiled the teachers yesterday...

I am thankful for a principal that has set a great tone for our school...

I am relieved that my plans for open house next week are falling into place...

May at my school is psycho!

I am thankful my boys are usually so healthy,

and relieved Lukas is over his little sickness!

I am relieved that the end of the school year is so close,

it kind of gives me a push to get the last activities done with my kiddos.

I am thankful for all the little things that fall into place each day!

Until next time!

Mother's Day {gift guide}

Mother's Day is right around the corner...

Why not visit Amy's Monkeys and choose the perfect apron 

for the special kitchen maverick in the family...

Vintage floral

 

Black Screen and Yellow Swirl

Or the fun and colorful

 Jess Apron

For the busy mom that needs a great bag for everyday

go for one of the  

Pintuck Hobos

Or a fun summer bag

Yellow Floral

Chevron Dot

For the organizing mom a zipper pouch keeps all the little things together 

instead of floating around the bottom of her bag.

Gray Chevron and Aqua Dot

Rainbow Zigzag and Yellow

Just Springy

The Mama to Be should be remembered too!

Head to the baby shop to celebrate the new mama!

In order to get to you in time orders must be placed by Monday.

All items will ship out Tuesday priority mail to ensure delivery by Saturday.

Happy Shopping and Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there!

Until next time!