Friday, February 27, 2015

Bowling and Bulletin Boards

How is it almost March and we haven't had a snow day yet?  I've heard so much about the East Coast getting tons of snow, and out West they have gotten a lot too....BUT NOT HESSTON!  Snow is in the forecast for this weekend for us, so we'll see about possibly Monday.  (Doing my snow dance now!!)  :)  

Anyways, Aaron and I have had a busy week with work and school work (for both of us).  Did I mention Aaron has been in school over a month?!  It's flying by!  He is liking his 5 classes and getting good grades!!  This week he showed me a grade book, made in Excel, for a pretend class of kids.  He gave them grades, put formulas into the document to calculate their final grades and cumulative grades! I think he really likes the grading part of teaching.  He is already an awesome teacher!  I have seen his love for books growing as well :)  I'd like to say that I have had some influence in that though. hehe

So last weekend we planned a trip to see Aaron's family.  We made it a very quick visit and made the most of our time!  We did lots of fun activities including IHOP for Saturday morning, playing with Makenah and Logan, bowling in the afternoon, a delicious lasagna dinner, and games to end our busy day.  Sunday it snowed all day out West so we got on the icy roads and headed home in our Chevy Cruze.  Love that car!  We drove about 35-40 MPH the whole way home.  




The Stuckys!  Love them!


My handsome man!


Snack break!  Popcorn and cookies!  



Hi Jenna!!


 This was Makenah and Logan's first time bowling!  They got a cute red, light, ball to use and bumpers in the lane!  No naps meant for a couple good cries.  Uncle Bear (Aaron) was consoling sweet Logie.  


You can't leave the bowling alley without playing the arcade games!!


ARE YOU READY FOR A BIG POP OF COLOR IN YOUR LIFE!??

Welcome to the hallway leading to my classroom!  I have 2 of the most creative and artistic paras in the whole school!  Basically what usually happens with the bulletin boards is I tell them what themes are coming up and we do a little Pinterest looking and researching for fun ideas.  Then....a few days later the girls have the most amazing 3D bulletin board ever!  The kids love looking at it and it really makes the school so inviting!  March is the month we celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday so it seemed fitting to deck the halls!


For art next week the kids will use their hands to make fish and Thing 1 and 2.  The books are 1 fish 2 fish, Red Fish Blue Fish AND Cat in the Hat!  We will be reading so many other books but this is the art activity!  


Love the truffula trees! (paper towel rolls painted black and wrapped with yellow streamers)


Here is our door for the month of February.  Green Clovers are about to make an appearance next week!


This week we learned all about going to the Dentist!  We did lacing with foam teeth cutouts (flossing teeth!), and marshmallow teeth mouths.


I wanted to add a few other pictures that made me happy this week!

Buffalo Chicken Pizza topped with Red Onions.
Made by Aaron!  Even the dough :)


My snowflake Jamberry nails & pig timer.  ha!  Thanks Nate and Maggie!


And to top off the week....Chocolate Mousse from Applebees!  I went with a group of girls from school after we finished work this evening.  


Currently I am ending my night with some homemade Chex-mix, thinking about my Yoder family who are all spread out.  I remember all the times mom made us Chex-mix and we couldn't wait to eat it so we burned out tongues when it came out of the oven.  Anyways,  I'm hoping for snow this weekend.  Love you all!!
-Maria





Sunday, February 15, 2015

February Pics

Hi everyone!
I hope everyone out East is staying warm!  Weather in Kansas this winter has been so back and forth between warm, beautiful days and frigid wind temps.  Our family is hoping for consistent warm temperatures soon!  Read further down in the blog to find out what we bought for Valentines day.  You'll never guess!

In other news, Casey got a trim and shampoo!  You can really see a difference in his shaggy paws in the first picture compared to, after getting home from the groomers, in the second picture!  


He is so soft and beautiful!  He is sporting a Vday bandana!


Superbowl Selfie!


So one of the big Western stores in Wichita is called Sheplers.  I haven't been there since moving out to KS, which is hard to believe!  Aaron needed new boots and so we made an afternoon of it!  This store has awesome clothes, boots, and accessories for REAL cowboys and cowgirls. ha!  


We found the pair Aaron was looking for!  He looks really good in them :)  
We also had to look around at the clothes and we each came out with a new pair of jeans! Woohoo!


Okay, on to Valentines week!  These are my Valentine Jamberries!  Thanks to my good friend Rachel, she let me use her second set!  My preschoolers loved looking at them and touching them throughout the week!


On Thursday, I came home to a package from my dad!  He sent me chocolates!!  (sea salted carmels!)  Thanks dad!  I love you!



Friday, the 13th, was our Vday celebration for the kids!  I spent much of my Thursday evening making about 50 sugar cookies (I have 34 kids, and made some extra for my Paras).  I used pre-bought dough to make it go quicker.  I liked the kind that comes in a roll.  The bag kind turned out a little different and more brownish.  Anyways, I had to post a picture of the cool icing tool that I got for Christmas! :)  It was perfect for writing a sweet note to my hubby on the cookies for Vday!


I took icing with me to school and let the kids help decorate!  
They were so excited for the Vday party!


Did I mention how giving gifts at Vday is more popular that giving them at Christmas?  I don't know the reason.  It has happened the last 4 years though! I got flowers, chocolate, a teddy bear, and plenty of cards.


BUT....I have to say that my hubby was the best Valentine of all!  When I got home on Friday after work he had flowers waiting for me, and the shower attachment in the downstairs bathroom was mounted!  This beautiful tub is also a shower now!  My husband is so handy!  I got him some chocolates and a new Milwaukee tool for his collection.  I am so thankful for Aaron.  He is so thoughtful and takes very good care of me, and Casey boy!


And now for the big finale!!!!!!
Yes, we are boat owners.  WHAT??!!  
YES. 
You heard right. 


Before I was in the picture, about 4 years ago, Aaron had his eye on buying a boat but decided against that decision once he started traveling to see me on a monthly basis from Kansas.  So to make a long story short, Aaron started looking at boats a couple weeks ago and researching what he wanted to buy.  We drove to Wichita on Vday and spent a good part of the afternoon talking with the owner.  The owner basically re-modeled a lot of the boat, and Aaron really likes it!  I don't think the boat has a name yet, but I think we need to name it.  :)  Anyways, you can guess what Aaron will be doing on the first warm day out here.  FISHING!  



Love you all and stay warm!
-Maria