What’s the Buzz?

SO.  I know I’m not the only one.  Who else has their countdown on?  38 days for us.  Not that I’m keeping track.  But yes…38 days.  I can smell summer in the air.  Speaking of summer, I started a new workout program(ish).  I’ve been getting up every morning and working out here at the house before school starts for a while now. I was using a few different videos, but after being inspired by my beautiful best friend {you have GOT to read her story HERE!  Her progress pictures are INSANE!!!} I decided to try something new!  Last week I started Les Mills Pump.  I am in LOVE.  I seriously can’t wait to wake up at 5 and feel the soreness!!!!  It is SO much fun!!!!

I’m also *slightly* obsessed with breakfast.  I don’t like eating breakfast.  Not by a long shot.  I’m usually just a coffee drinker and then I’ll have a mid-morning snack and then eat lunch.  BUT….I pinned this AMAZINGLY delicious breakfast smoothie and I seriously CAN’T.GET.ENOUGH.  I have one every morning {almost}.

You need 1/2 cup quaker oats, 1 tbsp. peanut butter, 1 banana, and 3/4 cups of almond milk.  If you want a creamier texture, add a couple of tablespoons of greek yogurt!  YUM!  Anyway….just put all the ingredients in your blender and get to blendin’!  Seriously people….SO GOOD!

Did I tell y’all that we’ve been DIY’ing quite a bit here?!  It all started when we found out Mr. Spouse’s family was coming to visit.  I like a little motivational kick in the rear every now and then.  I FINALLY have a little “office space”.  Granted, it’s upstairs in the game room, but it’s an office space nonetheless!  I painted the little desk and chair and found this PRECIOUS fabric at Hobby Lobby!  LOVE!  I’m going to put the boys’ artwork on the little fabric covered corkboard {at least, that’s the plan :)}

We finally went and got a king sized bed {OHMIWORD…how did I not know there was such a HUGE difference between Queen & King?!?!}  I couldn’t justify spending $1500 for the headboard I really wanted {who charges that much anyway?!?!}, so Mr. Spouse & I decided to attempt to make one.  And we did!  Okay, so Mr. Spouse made the frame, but I upholstered it!  Now I just need to add nail trim around the edges.  And get new bedding.  And REPAINT the walls…for the 3rd time.  UGH.  One thing at a time.

MOVING ON to something teacher related.  Oh, yes.  Insects.  Did I tell y’all we were studying insects?!  Well, we’re all finished with our insect unit, but I wanted to share with y’all a few little things we did last week.  I found a few insect themed math activities I’ve been using since I started teaching.  You know, BEFORE there was oodles and oodles of clipart.  I actually had to draw our activities.  I can’t believe these have survivied the last 11 years!  HA!

First up, we did this little ladybug math activity that my kids adored.  Basically, we practiced adding the spots on the ladybug to match the number sentence.  Then we had to make sure the spots were symmetrical because, well, ladybugs are symmetrical.  This was a great activity to talk about symmetry again and make sure my kids remembered what it means!  As we made the spots symmetrical, we made number sentences to match it.  So, if we solved 3+5, we could also see that 4+4 was equal to the same amount.  It was a great way for the kids to see “doubles facts” and learn a little bit more about that, too.

  

We also talked A LOT about bees.  A LOT.  The kids were seriously obsessed.  To top it all off, one of our littles was actually stung by a bee during recess one day.  I pulled out the stinger and the kids were DYING to see it!  The bee fell to the ground and we picked it up to observe it, too.  SO neat!  And just a random funny.  My 4-year-old has REALLY sensitive skin.  He burns pretty easily {poor child had 2nd degree sunburn at 4 weeks old!!!!  It was the CLOUDIEST day EVER and we were only outside for 30 minutes!…and he was bundled up head to toe! Mother-of-the-year I am NOT!} We were in the pool last week and he woke up the next day with pink cheeks.  I said, “Look at your sweet cheeks!  You got some sun yesterday!”  And he said, “Nope.  That’s just the glow of my honey.”  Wha?!??!?!

Speaking of honey, one of the best things about bees is the honey they provide.  I decided it would be fun to have a little honey taste test and I brought in some of the more popular honey-flavored cereals.  We sampled Honey Nut Cheerios, Honey Comb Cereal, and Pure Honey on a graham cracker. 

I couldn’t believe how many of my kids loved the pure honey!  I was sure they’d spit it out.  I didn’t even start liking honey ‘til a couple of years ago! Thank goodness I’m not a gamblin’ woman because my money would’ve been on Honey Nut Cheerios.

We also did a little informational writing about bees and finished it off with a really simple craftivity.  I am FLOORED by how much my kids had to say about bees.  They were SO into it!  And I am SO proud of them!!!!!

“Bees carry pollen.  Bees drink nectar.  Bees leave their eggs in a honey comb.  When bees sting you, they die.  Bees put pollen into flowers.”

“Bees bring pollen from flower to flower.  Beekeepers keep the hive safe.  Bees keep pollen on their legs.  Bees live in a hive.  Bees make honey.  Bees live in a honey comb.”

“Bees can sting.  Bees keep pollen.  Bees can drink nectar.  Bees can fly.  Bees can sting.  Bees can put pollen on their legs.”

“Bees carry pollen to flowers.  Bees drink nectar.  Bees have stripes.  Bees have wings.  Bees sting.  Bees are black and yellow, too. When bees sting bees die.  Bees are insects.”

SO stinkin’ proud of these babies!!!!  If you want to add this to your files, grab your free copy below!  Just click on the pic!

Now it’s time to get ready for EARTH DAY!!!!  Do you love celebrating?!  I do!!!  Incase you’re busy planning like I am, you can check out what we did last year HERE.  I just finished my newest little packet and just in time for Earth Day!  I am SO excited about this one!!!  It’s jam packed with 6 literacy station activities, 5 math tub activities, 3 writing craftivities, mini posters, a science experiment, and MORE!  Eeeek!  I can’t wait ‘til the 22nd!!!!!  You can read more about the details HERE.

And are y’all loving that “WONDERFUL” font on the cover page?!?!  I am!!!  It’s by my talented friend, Michelle, at Fabulous in First!  I love, love, LOVE her fonts!!  You gotta check ‘em out!!!!  TOO stinkin’ cute!

Have a GREAT week friends!!  The countdown is ON!