It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

Cheesy, I know.  But, the truth's the truth.  I am a Christmas lover.  I super Christmas freakazoid.  Most people tend to get overwhelmed at some point, but not this girl.  Especially now that Christmas break is in full effect at the Preece house.  I'm loving me some December.

Our elf, Darwin, made his appearance in early December.  To celebrate his arrival:  Pancakes with chocolate syrup and marshmallows for dinner. Main elf food groups, right?

Our sweet Miss Donna came by school to visit.  Donna was Hanna's KG aide when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.  Last year, when she was Chlo's aide, the cancer returned.  She's such a fighter! We don't see her as much as we wish, so we savor every minute we get to spend with her.  She is #1 on Chlo's prayer list every evening, no matter what.  

Our Pioneers won the state championship for the 2nd straight year and we cheered them on in Wheeling.  Why do 12 year olds have to be so obnoxious at times?

My Dad turned 57.  I thought he was turning 54 and it felt like I had been kicked in the gut.  I'm having a little bit of a hard time with my parents getting older.  Needless to say, he's good with it.  Yes, he's modeling a one piece fleece PJ covered in beer mugs.  Because that's how he rolls.  

One of those "favorite picture ever" pictures.  I love their major discussions.  

We had a little Saturday night sleepover.  Nakayla and Hanna have been friends since Pre-K.  I love this girl.  

JamiLyn, cousin and BFF, came over to play the same evening.  They had ice cream pre-dinner. Because that's how I roll. 

Chloe's class had their Christmas celebration/PJ Day on Thursday.  How stinking cute can you get?!

This is Chloe's "boyfriend", Caleb.  He really bought her a little necklace for Christmas.  She is pumped.  

Her Daddy is not. 

And to leave you with ultimate Christmas cheer:  My daughter, full of Christmas spirit, especially when she doesn't win a game.  

XOXO

To Be Honest.....

To be honest, I've typed this particular post three times now.  First edition: so negative it made my stomach ache. Second edition:  no less negative, just stated in a sweeter way.  Then I started going through my photos since the last post and decided that I don't have one thing to gripe about.  OK, I actually have plenty to gripe about.  I'm exhausted, over scheduled, absolutely stressed to the point of no return.  Crying in the kitchen stressed.  Crying during my planning period alone in my classroom stressed.  My husband suggesting I take a day off this week because I "need" it stressed.  But, who isn't?  I tend to do things to myself (i.e. volunteering for whatever needs taken care of, deciding I'd rather do whatever myself than ask for help) and get myself to this point.  Something I have to work on for sure.  But, until then, I'll smile through, cry in private and deal.  It's life.  Alright, somewhat negative.  But nothing like what I was expecting you to sift through 10 minutes ago.  Thank me later.  

My Hanna Grace is growing up.  This is a whole other post all together.  We've been having a tough time lately.  I adore my child.  I promise I do.  But, I can't help but want to scream at the top of my lungs at her on a daily basis.  Please tell me I'm not the only one.  I can remember my mother and I fighting when I was her age, but for some reason, I don't think that it was anything like this (I'm sure I'm mistaken).  So, let me just end this mother of teenage girl pity party by saying she is beautiful, inside and out.  Sometimes, we just butt heads.  Life.  Period. 

She went to her Homecoming dance a few weeks ago.  I thought she was the prettiest thing there.  Biased.  Maybe.  But not really. 

I love that her dress was age appropriate, she wanted me to do her hair and makeup and she wanted to wear flats because you can "dance better".  

Can I just say I wish they made dresses with pockets when I was going to dances?

Hanna, her cousin Sabrina, and baby girl. 

Hanna has always looked like her Daddy.  Never like me.  However, I posted this pic and my best friend said "I can't believe I'm saying this.  She looks like you".  I love that we're standing the exact same way.  I guess she is her mother's daughter sometimes.  

I took Chlo on a hot date to see "Finding Nemo", which I was just as excited about as she was.  One of my all time favorites.  She lasted for most of the date.  

My kiddos have been working on looking at numbers as a group of five plus some more.  We illustrated a number to show our understanding.  They're really doing a great job!

The reason I teach.  

My teaching friend, Ron Maynard, is a caving and bat expert.  He did a little presentation for the kiddos to kick off my bat unit I'm starting this week.  You can only imagine how excited they were with this! 

We've been cheering on The Herd at the Preece house.  I love this picture.  Every MU game, I make Gray, Hanna and Chlo stand and let me take their pic.  This has been a tradition since Hanna and Grayson's first MU game when they were two.  Look at the faces I get.  

This picture basically sums up their relationship.  She absolutely adores him.  And he secretly adores her.  It's the big brother, little sister relationship in a nutshell.  

My husband, the low country boil tailgate cooking king. 

Hanna has the BEST group of friends.  Can you tell she's a bit of a tomboy? 

I'll leave you with a Chloe photo bomb:) 

Wishing everyone a less stressed week.....

Neglected....

My poor little blog.  It's definitely suffering from the back to school blues around here.  For the past two weeks, every morning, I've thought to myself "I need to blog".  But, then, I just do it in my head and it never makes it onto the computer.  So, here goes. A total mess, make you want to gag, too many photos, super random post.

Chloe and I are both in first grade now.  Actually, she's in the classroom next door to mine.  I've never had the opportunity to teach where my kids go to school until this year.  I must say that it makes my life 100000 times easier than I could ever imagine.  She goes to school with me, comes to my classroom after school, and I can stay late if I need to with no worries.  However, this is how we both feel about 6 o'clock each evening.  Not kidding.  Day 2 of 1st grade.  

We've been watching a lot of Pioneer football, too! We're 4-0 at the moment and heading toward another State Championship this year.  This is how Chloe travels between the car and the bleachers--by way of Grayson.  She already has these boys wrapped.

I HAD to have a girl's night or I was going to die.  Like had a little nervous breakdown the day before.  Even though Ginny, Lisa and I work in the same school, we really don't see one another at all.  And, gosh, do we miss Lara.  So, catch up was absolutely necessary.  

Listen, I know this is the WORST photo ever taken.  

But, folks, this is what true love (and too much sangria) looks like. 

OK, I could not get this to rotate.  But this is the best. picture. ever.  

Teenage girl picture in the bathroom.  We still gots it, ladies.

I've been fall decorating like a crazy girl.  It's my FAVORITE time of the year, hands down.  Found this little gem at Kroger of all places.  I'm breaking down and getting the matching cookie jar this weekend.  

The joy this new little love has brought to my life is unspeakable.  Keurig should hire me as their PR person.  

Another thing that has taken up a huge amount of life time lately.  I'm really coaching middle school volleyball...because I didn't have enough to do.  However, getting to hang out with my daughter and her buds every evening after school and teaching young ladies how to act like young ladies and good sports has really been a great thing.  

Too cute not to include.  Baby's first golf clubs.  She's so stoked, that her Daddy is the happiest he's ever been.  Exact quote from a little practice in the yard last weekend "Dad, how do you want me to finish my swing?"  I've never seen him smile so big.  

We've been cheering on the Herd the past two weekends tailgating our butts off.  Bill and I are both Marshall University alumni (and current students), so we decided that this fall, we were going to make the most of the football season.  It's been a great time! Gotta love 6-year olds that find it necessary to throw gang signs in every photo taken. 

My sisters-in-law, Deb and Kim (with a little Chlo for good measure). 

Another one of Bill's proudest moments.  A daughter who loves to watch football.  

And, a little something to think about to end with.  This past weekend, at WUMC, the message was on teaching our children to love Christ.  My friend, Kara, and I only had one study guide between us, so we snapped a photo to keep on our phones.  One thing that really stuck with me was the idea of "If we don't bring our children to the feet of Jesus, then who will they serve?"  

Obviously one of those that sticks with you. 

Gearing up for a big week! Hanna's homecoming is tonight (tons of pics to follow) and my kiddos at school are killing our apple study.  I'm so pumped with their progress!

Happy Weekend! 

Back to Life, Back to Reality....

It wasn't until I uploaded my pics just now that I realized what a super slacker blogger I really am. I have GOT to get back in the swing of things. Life as I've known it for the past 2 months is officially over.  I'm back to work.  And not just regular 'ole back to work, I'm new school, new grade, don't have the slightest idea what I'm doing back to work.  Overwhelming is the understatement of the week.  But, before we get to all of that business, let's do a quick recap of my last 2 weeks as a stay at home superstar Mama, shall we?

We've spent A LOT of time in our pool this summer.  I think that Bill and I both sort of decided that it's here, it's wonderful and we should use it.  So we have.  I've also decided that poolside is my "resting spot".  If I decide that I'm going to take a 5 minute sit, I do it in my bathing suit.  Sunshine is good for the soul. 

One of the local churches, Harmony Freewill Baptist, puts on a huge VBS each summer.  

Here are Chlo with her BFF's Maddie and JamiLyn enjoying a hay ride. 

They also have one of our local talents, Gary Boothe, the "balloon man".  

What 6 year old tells the "balloon man" she'd like "a scuba diver suit, please".  Only mine.

I also decided that, even though it was 2 months late, the girls were having a birthday party this year.  So, that's exactly what we did! Pool, sun, pizza, cake, fun.  Least stressful party I've ever hosted.  And probably the best.  The girls were thrilled, which was ALL that mattered.  And Mama didn't have a panic attack getting things ready.  Here's Chlo with her girl (and my cousin and BFF) Chanda. 

Chloe's cake...she wanted a mermaid, but settled for octopus and shark. :)

Hanna's volleyball cake...Let me go off on a cake tangent for a moment.  K's Sweet Shop, which is owned by one of my school friends, Kelly Ross, made the girl's cakes for me.  They were, hands down, the best things anyone had ever tasted.  Not normal birthday cake cake.  Like, you could taste the real butter and flour, cake.  And they were adorable to boot.  If you need a cake (or any other sweet), she's your girl.  

Can I tell you how much I love these two?  I can't imagine moving to this new school without them....

Our church has a Back to School Sunday where our pastor preaches his sermon to the kiddos and then they have a prayer together.  It's, by far, my favorite service of the year.  It just gives me such a feeling of peace knowing that my girls (and the rest of our church kiddos) are heading back to school with the prayers of so many who love them.  This picture absolutely melts my heart. 

I've been working my guts out on my new classroom.  We are talking working 12 or more hours a day.  It's tough to move to a new school when you have as much stuff as I do.  It's even harder when the teacher before you taught for 30 years and left her stuff, too.  But, the first day came and went, and I just decided that I was as ready as I ever could be.  

Night before first day of school dinner (per Hanna's request):  Chicken Parmesan Bake.  Pinterest find.  Totally delicious.  Recipe here.  Make it. http://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2008/02/end-of-chicken-parmesan-as-you-know-it.html

My girl reading The Night Before First Grade. And now I'm crying.  It is slowly killing me how precious she is and how quickly she's changing.  

Obligatory first day of school photo.  Hanna agreed to one.  This is it.  Gosh, I love them. 

Favorite picture ever.  Discussing their "first days".  

First grade is super exhausting...for kids and teachers.  I came home the first day, took 3 Advil and hit the couch.  Maybe I'm out of practice.  Maybe it was all of the stress that got to me.  Who knows.  But I could barely move the morning of the second day.  So then I thought "Maybe I'm too old to teach first grade?" However, my body is slowly, but surely, recovering.  I have 25 precious sweeties that I'm already in love with! I have a wonderful team of teachers who don't mind the 4,000 questions I ask daily about EVERYTHING.  I have a super supportive principal (who I just happen to be married to;) who let me cry it out Friday evening and then took the kids on home so I could have 5 minutes in the car alone.  Major changes.  But, I'm starting to feel that it's going to be OK.  If you ask me this past Wednesday, I don't know if I would've given you the same answer.   I've had lots of people sending lots of prayers my way and it's done the trick.

Now, heading to school to finish lesson plans, get the room ready for the kiddos tomorrow and then try to be a Mama the rest of the day....Happy Sunday! :)

My Oprah Moment (that didn't involve Oprah)

Again, I'm letting this blogging thing get away from me.  But summer is meant for relaxation, right?  Still doing a lot of chilling out here in WV, but with actual goals and to-do lists that must be accomplished.  It is hard for me to believe that I go back to work next week.  Like exactly one week from this very moment.  I say it every year, but this summer has flown by.  But, I must say, it has been one of the best we've had in a while.  Absolutely, positively relaxed and loving.  I couldn't have wished for a better two months.

Gratuitous cute kid pic to start...She had me playing dolphin and whale rescue doctor in the pool the other afternoon.  Floating gurney and all.  Peanut stuck in the blowhole was the diagnosis.  

I really laughed until my stomach hurt. 

I love this picture.  That's BFF Lisa on the left and Dr. Jorea Marple, our state superintendent of schools in the center.  Lisa and I had the privilege of attending our state's Teacher Leadership Academy last week in Morgantown.  Dr. Marple is wonderful! She started our session by dancing--like all 300 people in the room up and dancing.  She's way into healthy living and fitness in the classroom, which I admire greatly.  It was, by far, the best professional conference I've ever attended.  Which leads to my Oprah moment....

On the last day of the conference, in the afternoon, we were sharing some of our favorite resources to use in the classroom.  Folks who know me know I'm not a speck shy, so I went first.  Mind you, we have been in the same room all week with the same 50 people in our group.  I begin talking about this wonderful blog called settleonin.blogspot.com, which follows our reading series.  All of a sudden, this lady in the back raises her hand and says "That's my blog! I'm Mrs. Settle!".  Well, of course, me being me, I scream and run to the back of the room to hug her neck! The entire room started cheering and I couldn't catch my breath for a second.  What were the odds, really?  It was amazing! We talked afterward, and I thanked her for being an inspiration.  She thanked me for using her blog.  I made a new friend.  One of those moments that you live for, for sure.  I couldn't believe this was happening to me! :)

The week was absolutely even better because I got to spend it with Lisa.  She and I have been friends for about 5 years now.  I probably wouldn't have went if she hadn't.  But, I'm so glad we did! We spent the week getting inspired, eating GREAT, walking every evening and even doing a little shopping.  Our county office rep was Debbie, who used to teach with us, so it made for a great week.  I couldn't do a sit-up if I wanted all week because my stomach hurt so much from laughing.  I missed my husband and kiddos terribly, but all Mamas need a little time now and then.  I snapped this picture on one of our evening walks...

You can't see really well, but this little couple is around 80 years old.  They came out of one of the local bars, holding hands.  I started crying as we were walking behind them....that's Bill and I in 50 years.  Enough said.  I sent him the pic and he felt the exact same way.  Goodness, I love that man. 

I've started working in my NEW classroom a little bit, too.  I'm taking a retired teacher's place, so there's about 30 years worth of stuff to sort through.  It's been overwhelming at times, but I'm ready to get in there and make it my own.  Of course, the girls have been helping out.  This is what happens when Chlo insists on opening her ketchup during a Wendy's picnic in your classroom:

  That would be mermaid makeup under all of the ketchup.  

I also love the chicken nugget hanging out of her mouth.  

I'll end this way-to-long post here because it is MOVING IN day at Wayne Elementary! Get ready--plenty of before and after pics coming your way! I'll leave you with this amazing photo I took of the longest rainbow I've ever seen.  Bill came in the house yelling for us to come look at this the other day.  I can't help but think there are good things headed my way when I see this...

Happy almost end of summer vacation! :)