Class Christmas Party

Wednesday morning I helped out with Madelyn's classroom Christmas party. The kids enjoyed a healthy snack (Lincoln Elementary is on some health kick these days), then they crafted a snowman, and then turned some students into snowmen, one of those student's being Madelyn.

Madelyn is a little bit sweet on the boy in front of her. Can't say I blame her. He's a cutie.

 Love this beautiful girl so much.

 A few of the boys are a bit sweet on her too.

 Her crafted snowman

 Getting wrapped up

 Good idea to cover her mouth.

 The snowman and her builders

Enjoying a candy cane during storytime.

Kudos to Madelyn's teacher, Mrs. Bowman. Her son, who has multiple disabilites, had quit breathing and EMS was called. Thankfully he attends the same school so Mrs. Bowman quietly stepped out of the classroom tended to her son and then came back to class once he was stabilized and was doing well. Other teachers stepped in while she was gone and they didn't miss a beat. The students didn't even realize Mrs. Bowman had left.  When Mrs. Bowman returned she was calm and collected and resumed class as usual. That had to been extremely tough for her. I was very impressed with how that entire situation was handled.

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

In today's slumped economy and a Kansas Governor that is making detrimental decisions regarding social services the future is often unknown in my field of work. Therefore, I was completely surprised and grateful for the $100 bonus and the 1.5 % raise received at work. Although for many in the for-profit world this is nothing, but for those of us in the nonprofit world every little bit is celebrated.

I am thankful to be gainfully employed and to work for a company that gives what they can to show appreciation to their staff.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my most favorite man!! Madelyn and I adore you!

Baking Day 2011

After a year off because of scheduling conflicts we were able to resume our yearly baking tradition this past Saturday. Unfortunately Kaitlyn was only able to stay a short time due to a basketball game but I made sure to pesture her plenty while she was there. And I may or may not have left bite marks on her arm. She is much stronger than me these days so I have to resort to biting sometimes.
On the menu for baking day: peanut butter balls, peanut clusters, chocolate covered pretzels, peanut butter blossoms, pretzel rolo turtles, and sugar & spice cookies. We spent the majority of the day baking with a short break for lunch and a quick trip to the Dollar General Store for more pretzels. And conveniently mom left to go test drive a vehicle just in time for clean up. (Just kidding, mom.)



It was a fun day with many laughs and making memories.

The youngest girls actually getting a long.

Nana said to watch the cookies.

teamwork for Madelyn & Kaitlyn

 Madelyn not allowing Kaitlyn in the pic.

 mother/daughter love

the finished products

Wordless Wednesday

Gingerbread Building

Last Friday I spent the morning helping Madelyn and almost forty other third graders make gingerbread houses. There was sticky frosty everywhere, and many threats verbal prompts to not eat the frosting because there was actually glue mixed in. Obviously I didn't come up with that idea because what fun is making a gingerbread house when you can't eat it. But, I guess this activity was not about me. The kids had a great time and I enjoyed helping out and catching up with other moms. I did, however, walk away once again with great appreciation for grade school teachers. They are all saints!! No way I could deal with those pesky kids, all day, every day. Yikes!