Peanuts

I found these quotes and pictures today; ENJOY!

"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself."---Peanuts

WOW: Lucy with some powerful words!

 

It's like he is typing right to me!



Finally,I thought I would leave you all with this awesome reminder for me:

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!

Spring Break

Sometimes I wish I went some place on "vacation" during this week, but then I think about how relaxed I feel, and think, Naah...This was great! 

Breakdown on my Break:

*Dinner with Grandpa
*Coffee with Grandma
*Blazer Game (AMAZING)!!!
*Woodburn Outlet Mall
*Shooting Pool and Enjoying Ice Cream with friends
*8 Hours of Tennis
*Massage
*Day in Dallas
*My parents 40th Wedding Anniversary dinner at Famous Daves
*Planned our Seattle Trip this June--Matt is finally getting to see the Braves, twice!
*2 Hours of Work
*Helped cut up a tree that fell
*Watched my brackets fall to pieces
*Lots and Lots of sleeping
*Cleaned the apartment
*Paid bills
*Did laundry

Such an amazing week off!  Pretty sure I can make it to June now. 

Change

Our school is going through some changes in the next few months.  Our FANTASTIC Principal is moving her career to the district level where she is going to be the Special Programs Director (A job that she was born to do).  Although, our school will miss her on our day to day interactions, we know that she will be our BIGGEST advocate and cheerleader.  Next year, our new principal will be Tim Smith from Middelton.  He is well respected by his peers.  He also has the most experience of all elementary principals in our district.  I am excited to see all that he can do for our school.

What is it about change that is so unsettling for so many people?  Typically, I find change to be very exhilerating.  I know that the unknown is scary but it is also full of new opportunities and growth.  I am anxious to see what next year will bring for everyone in Sherwood.

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.  ~Author Unknown
"Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up."— James Belasco

Nike Tennis Clash

Matt and I were fortunate enough to go to the Nike Clash at the Matthew Knight Arena.  It was amazing watching these outstanding tennis players hit around.  Of course, it was an exhibition match, so they "took it easy" but it was still very impressive.  Mixed Doubles was my favorite part to watch.  Here are a few pictures of the event!

Victoria Azarenka

John McEnroe

Maria Sharapova



Roger Federer



Mixed Doubles Fun



Rafael Nadal



Captain Denominator

             

Friday I turned my classroom into a fraction factory.  The kids walked through a crepe paper curtain and a welcome sign to find a classroom covered in festive twinkly lights and guitar music.  I was wearing a Hershey Kiss Costume and giving all the kids "Numerator" nametags.  We looked at bags of skittles and figured out what the fractions were that were hidden in the bag.  We also broke apart Hershey Bars and played with them as well.  The kids did a great job! I  played up that I was a guest teacher and that Mrs. Rubrecht had given me notes as to where everyone sits and what all we needed to get done.  They knew their regular teacher was the taking the morning off and would be back after music class. 

I had a room full of kids who weren't quite sure if they should believe that Captian Denominator was real or not.  It was like when you are pretty sure Santa isn't real anymore but you aren't quite ready to ask your parents about it.  They kept asking why we wore the same glasses or had the same shoes or how long we have been friends.  I would say things like (we have so much in common, we are great friends, we have been friends for 30 years).  They just gave me the "tilted puppy dog" head and smiled.  Imagination is a wonderful thing!

Book Quotes

I love reading aloud to my class.  These are 2 quotes from 2 books we have read this year, that the kids felt were important. 

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy, Nothing in life is easy.  But that's no reason to give up.  You'll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it.  After all, you only have one life, so you should try to make the most if it." (Holes, 1999)

"Think of how much could be accomplished with just a little thought!" (The Phantom Tollbooth, 1961)

Sometimes I think adults could learn A LOT from "children's novels".  It's amazing the life lessons books can teach!