First Soccer Game

Last Wednesday Owen played in his first soccer game of the season.  He plays for Rising Star this year- team Spain.

Owen and his friend, N.  They are in the same kindergarten class and ride the bus together.  Couldn't he and Adam pass for brothers?  We kept trying to get a picture without Adam and he kept jumping in.

Coach Szajda warming the team up.

A little strategizing before the game

I love this age.  Soccer is more about having fun and being a good sport, and it's so laid back.  I know as Owen gets older sports will become more political and the stress level will get much higher.  So, I'm enjoying every minute of under 6 soccer :)
 
So darn cute.

 

Owen's fan club

Owen filled me in on what was going on here... The other team scored in their own goal and they were telling us it didn't count.  So funny!

His tongue is ALWAYS out

Adam's shirt is off because he spilled water on it. He was thrilled to be sitting on the bench with the team.  He wants to be a part of the team in the worst way!

They are laughing at Adam because he is going to go line up to shake hands with the other team after the game.  He was trying to blend in.  Didn't work all that well.

Post game huddle

 Ahhh, I can't stand the cuteness and I can't wait for the next game.

Not really Wordless Wednesday

He rocks his baby, sings to her, pushes her in the stroller, tucks her in for naps, kisses her, talks to her constantly, scolds her when she falls off the chair onto the floor, hugs her, and takes her everywhere he goes... including daycare- every single day.  I can usually convince him that she has to stay in the car and nap when we go places (other than daycare), partly because I know we'll get some funny looks, and partly because I hate for her to pick up even more germs.  But I'll never tell him babies are for girls because that's so far from the truth.  Daddies are just as important in taking care of babies as mommies are and from the looks of things... he's going to make one super daddy someday!

Falling Behind

My sister texted me today and told me I needed to update my blog.  Between going back to work, Owen starting school, Owen having soccer twice a week, Mike coaching Owen's team, Owen having homework most nights, me trying to make dinner and play with Adam and try to keep up with house stuff, there just isn't enough hours in the day and sadly, blogging takes a backseat. 

Saturday morning I got to see and hold my cousin's new baby, Beatrice Marie.  She's so tiny and pretty and perfect.  I can't wait for Owen and Adam to meet her.  I know they are going to love her. 

Saturday night Mike and I went out on a date to my favorite restaurant.  We went with his assistant principal and his wife.  We had a really nice time.

This morning we went to church and then decided take the boys hiking to Gov. Dick.  The weather was perfect. Owen amazes me at his endurance. 

He hiked straight up the mountain and ran at least half of it while I huffed and puffed behind him.  I was pushing Adam in the jogger stroller, but still, that boy is in shape and could probably out run me right now.

Owen was very interested in finding "treasures" as we hiked.  We examined animal prints (mainly horses), a bee hive that fell to the ground, and spider webs.

Mr. Adam preferred to run on the trail too, except he's not as nimble as his brother.  He tripped on a rock and fell hard a few times, but that didn't stop him.

All four of us climbed up to the top of the tower.  Adam was a trooper and didn't have any problem with the ladders.  Owen was a little nervous after he looked out the window and saw how high up we were.  But he did it!  The view from the top was crystal clear.  I wasn't able to get any pictures because I had to leave my camera at the bottom so I didn't damage it.

Owen fueling up before the hike back down.

We had a really nice weekend, but it went way too fast! 

Classroom Tour

Tomorrow is our students' first day of school.  I love starting after Labor Day!  Here's a little tour of my classroom...

Here's the view from my desk in the back corner

Sink area with comprehension strategy posters on the cabinets.  I plan to put a star or arrow on the skill we are focusing on each week.

Student mailboxes.  I put a cute poem and snack in each mailbox for back-to-school night.

I love storage!!  I have so much storage in my classroom that I actually have three empty drawers.  I'm sure they'll be filled in no time.  In the 4th drawer down I have all my extra supplies for when new students arrive (which is sometimes on a weekly basis).

My listening center area and Helping Hands classroom jobs.  That light was in my sister's room growing up.  I have a lot of lamps in my room this year.  I'm hoping it adds a calming effect :)


My student transportation area- this is how we know how students get home at the end of the day.  I wrote each students' name on a clothespin and clipped it to the card that applies to them.  This makes it extra easy when students move out/in.

I moved my white board up front for our Open House last week.  It had my "Giving Tree" on it.  Parents can take an apple or two.  Each apple has a classroom item on it that we use a lot throughout the year.  I had a bowl full of apples for my parents on the table next to the door.

My clock


Each table has its own caddy.  Each caddy has a certain number of items in it.  I will slowly add more things to the caddies once I know we can handle it.  Tables that have all their caddy contents at the end of the day will get rewarded!

 

 Love my puff balls!  They are very therapeutic to make :) You can see my desk in the back of the room. You can also see my pathetically small classroom library.  Somehow a lot of my books got lost/taken/misplaced while I was off for 1.5 years on maternity leave.  I'm going to try donorschoose.org for a bigger/better library.

 Another view of my room.

 My cute curtains that my mom spent an entire day sewing.  Love them!

 My clearance lamp- from Lowe's. 

 I think this lamp was my dad's when he was little. 

 Our daily schedule minus the times.

 More storage.  Students will put their backpacks in the lower cubbies and hang their coats on the hooks. The colorful bags on top are filled with birthday goodies.  Whenever a student has a birthday, I just grab a bag.  Each bag has a birthday pencil, eraser, birthday sticker, three lollipops, fruitsnacks, crayons, and card.  No more rushing around trying to pull things together when a student has a birthday! I like that it adds color to my room.

 I saw this idea somewhere and I loved it.  I asked our IT guys for old headphones that no longer work.  I cut the cords off them and they will be used as quiet phones for students that need them.  I have two autistic students this year and I think they may like to use them.

 Does this painting look familiar MB?!

 The bulletin board outside my classroom.  I am definitely getting smarter the longer I have been teaching.  I wrote student names on the owls with a dry erase marker.  When a student moves, I simply erase their name.  I usually get a new student soon after one moves out so I can just write his/her name on the blank owl. 

 And let me tell you... Second grade is definitely a HOOT!  My grade level partners and I laugh and laugh and laugh at the things kids do/say and at ourselves.  If we didn't laugh our job would be miserable.

This sign lets visitors know where we are if we aren't in our room.

 

And there you have it!  I completely forgot to take a picture of my favorite thing in my classroom... my... Smartboard.  It's in the front of my classroom.  I don't know how I ever taught without it!

Thanks for visiting my classroom :)