Back to Blogging

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s been so long since my last post.  Now that I’ve got a little break from work and my master’s classes I’m hoping to do a better job of keeping things updated.  Here’s a little peek at what’s been happening around the Bumgardner house during the past 8 weeks . . .

1.  Lot’s of Basketball – We have been VERY busy with basketball since September.  Grant played on a fall team this year with a few friends from his regular winter league team.  For the past month the two leagues have been overlapping so it seems like we’ve been at either practice or a game nearly every night of the week.

The Blackhawks      

2.  Instructional Design – I was pretty sure this class was going to be the death of me.  It’s been a long 12 weeks!!!  Thank goodness it’s finally over!!!  I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time or worked on any one thing so hard in my entire life.  I got my final project submitted a few days before Thanksgiving and am happy to report that I got +5/4 points.  That’s right . . . 5 points {which is one extra credit point + the four points that were possible} on this 80+ page project.  Crazy, huh???   I call it my “book”.  I basically designed activities and assessments to teach beginning writers to write a complete sentence.

3.   Thanksgiving – It’s become tradition for Jeff and I to host both sides of our families for Thanksgiving.  This year was no different.  We ended up with 16 guests.  I love that our families get along so well.  We always have so much fun when we are all together.  My family came up earlier in the day and we spent a lazy morning looking through all of the Black Friday ads and making our Christmas Lists. 

{I can’t believe this was the only picture I took the entire day!}

On Friday morning my sister and I got up early and headed out to do a little shopping.  Karen hit Home Depot on her way to my house and managed to snag up a few boxes of these cute little trees.  I think they were intended for outdoor use, but I really like them inside by my fireplace.

4.  My Class Blog – This blog ends up getting updated on a much more regular basis.  If I had more time I would love to post updates several times a week but for now I end up spending a few hours on Friday or Saturday uploading all of the pictures I’ve taken during the week at school.  I don’t think the parents care though!!! 

5.  teacherspayteachers.com – Somehow my little class blog has become quite popular with more than just the intended audience {parents, grandparents, etc . . .}.  For several months I’ve had teachers from all over the country checking it on a regular basis and even emailing me about activities I do with my kids.  They’ve gone as far to offer to pay for copies of activities.  Over Thanksgiving break I did a little investigating and found this great website.  It’s an online store where teachers can create an account and link it to their PayPal to sell and collect money for lesson plans and activities.  Now I’m operating an online store with my good friend Diane and we are selling more than I had ever imagined.  In order to post activities we’ve had to change almost all of the clipart we use so we aren’t violating any copyright laws.  So, if you know any beginning K-2 teachers in need of some activities send them our way!!!

5.  tinyprints.com – I just have to say . . . I love nearly every products available on this website.  Since my life is so crazy right now I thought one of these Erin Condren Life Planners was just what I needed.  The problem was, I just couldn’t justify paying $55 for one.  But as luck would have it I got a 50% off promotional code on Black Friday and free shipping so I splurged and designed one for myself.  I told myself I wouldn’t open the box when it came, but wrap it and give it to myself for Christmas.  I had good intentions, but when the doorbell rang on Monday morning while I was home with the flu and I saw that little white box laying on the doorstep with the Tiny Prints return address I couldn’t resist. The day after I ordered my planner I got another coupon for $10 off of any purchase so I had to put it to use.  I ordered this cute notebook with our family picture on it.  It’s the perfect size to keep in my purse.  I’m sure Grant will end up filling all of the pages with his cute little drawings and stories.

I’ll leave you with a few pictures from Thursday night.  I had BUNKO so Jeff was in charge of dinner for himself and Grant.  Before I left I snapped this picture of my two boys making some stir fry.

I had NO idea they would just eat it out of the pan . . .

I guess this is why Grant thinks daddy is SO fun!!!

Giggles the {Psycho} Clown

This year when we were looking for a Halloween costume Grant found a face painting kit that he just HAD to have.  With a few accessories from Party City we were able to create Giggle the {Psycho} Clown.  Notice the bloody knife in his hand.  He didn’t think the costume was complete without it.

   Obviously this wasn’t an appropriate costume for school so he only sported it on Halloween night.

We dressed Spiro up in his Bumblebee costume just before all of the trick-or-treater’s began arriving.  He was not a happy dog.  He walked straight over to his bed and put his head down facing the wall.   He also knew I had the camera out and would not look at me.

Old Friends

Last night we went to Winfield and met a few old friends for dinner and drinks at the new Montana Mike’s restaurant.  It was so much fun seeing Kyle and Rachel.  It’s been almost five years since I had seen them so we had lots of fun catching up.  I guess we must of had a little too much fun  though because everyone around us asked to be moved to a new table in a different part of the restaurant . . . imagine that!!!   We are thinking we might have to do this again around Christmas time when everyone is back in town.

{Kyle, Rachel and Kelly}

My friend Kristen and her family were also in town and joined us for dinner.  Then they went back to my parents house with us and stayed the night.  As always it was great seeing her.  Grant always has so much fun with Maddie and Gracie loves goofing around with Jeff.  Somehow I didn’t get a single picture of Roy . . . sorry!!

Halloween {Round 1}

This week we began the first of our Halloween festivities.  I had my class party on Thursday.  This year I wasn’t super motivated to dress up, so I just wore a Halloween t-shirt that I had hanging in the back of the closet.  After the party at school we rushed home so I could begin making cupcakes for Grant’s party at school the following day.  Sometimes I wonder why I’m not the mom who just volunteers to bring napkins. 

Step 1 – bake the chocolate cupcakes

Step 2 – use gel paint to write RIP on 36 Milano cookies while the cupcakes are baking and cooling

Step 3 – ice the cupcakes with chocolate icing and sprinkle crushed Oreo’s on top {it’s supposed to be dirt}

Step 4 – insert a grave into each cookie

There was still some leftover cake batter after I made 3 dozen cupcakes so I used the rest of the batter to make a small round cake.  Then I iced a few more cookies . . . and made a graveyard cake to enjoy at home.  Grant thought the only thing missing were some bone shaped candies sticking up out of the dirt.

     While I was baking I put Grant in charge of getting all the accessories together for his “nerd” outfit.  The kids aren’t allowed to wear face paint at school so Grant decided to be a nerd for his party at school and something a bit more scary on Halloween night. 

I laughed so hard when he walked out dressed like this . . .the way he was walking and talking was a hoot!!!

The head room mom really outdid herself.  She had so many fun games planned.  I think the favorite was “hot skull”.  It was played just like “hot potato”.  There was scary music playing and when the music stopped if you had the skull in your hands, or were the last to touch it, you were out.  It was funny to watch the kids throw the skull around the circle as fast as they could.

They also used markers to turn ping pong balls into eyeballs.  Then they each got to bounce their ball into Halloween baskets to win prizes.  From the looks of things Grant may be a pro at beer pong one day . . . of course he will be 21 before he ever plays a game like that!!!

Here’s the two biggest nerds in 4th grade.  One day they may be sorry they dressed like this and let me take their picture.  They are such good friends . . . it was so much fun seeing them dressed up and being so silly. 

Family Pictures

  A few weekends ago we went to Winfield to have some long overdue family pictures taken.  We were originally scheduled to have them taken back in the spring, but due to an unexpected baseball game we had to cancel at the last minute.  Luckily Laura, who is a fellow blogging friend and photographer, let us wait and reschedule when she did mini-sessions again this fall.  Here is a sneak peek at one of our shots . . . we are so excited to see the rest of them.

After our pictures we met up with all of the great-grandma’s at Nieves for lunch.  It’s rare to have both boys and all three great-grandma’s in the same place at the same time so naturally I wanted a few pictures.  It’s amazing the difference in how the boys behave when I’m taking the pictures vs. Laura.

Take #1 . . . Miles!!!!

Take #2 . . . ok Grant, quit trying to act like your brother!!!Take #3 . . . seriously, this is not funny Miles!!! Take #4 . . . I’m not kidding, this is NOT funny!!!Take #5 . . . let’s see if we can really make mom go crazy!!!  {It worked}

This seems to be the only good picture I got . . . I can’t tell what’s more cheesy, the queso or Grant’s smile!!!After we got home the boys {reluctantly} helped Jeff do a little yard work and played basketball and football.  Here’s Miles setting up the ball so Grant can kick it.

It didn’t work so well when Grant tried to do the same thing.  Here he is rolling around in the grass after Miles missed the ball and kicked him in the foot {by accident of course}  with his size 13 shoes!!!

Another Terrific Tuesday

Tuesday’s are always terrific {I don’t have recess duty and I get a 90 minute break while my kids at are in PE and library} . . . but today was better than ever. 

It all started this morning before I ever walked out the door.  

I reached in my back pocket and found two freshly washed {and pressed} $5.00 bills.

Then after I got to school I had two students greet me with goodies as they were coming in . . . and it wasn’t even my birthday!!!

On kiddo brought me a few bags of yummy Halloween treats and a festive fall notepad.

And this little sweetie  brought me some beautiful flowers. 

I told Jeff he had some competition . . .

I also managed to get my report cards {almost} done during my big break and get the rest of my November stuff filed away and organized. 

The only thing that could make this Tuesday even more terrific would be if the dishwasher would unload itself and I would open the paper I started writing for my  Instructional Design class and see that it was all done.

Fall Ball

    For the first time ever Grant is playing Fall Basketball.  There are a few kids from his regular {winter} team and then a few new kids he’s never played with before.  They’ve been practicing for the last 3 or 4 weeks and looked pretty good on the court today.  This was their first game of the season.  Even though they lost I have to admit I was pretty impressed.  It looks like Grant has finally figured out how to use his size and weight on the court to his advantage.  He was more aggressive than I have ever seen him {yea}!!!

Here are a few pictures from today’s game. . . Grant is #24 

I’m so glad I got a picture of him shooting . . . SWISH!!

He called this the “Double Stuff”