Happy December!

I'm so sad that we're halfway through the month and I'm JUST now finding the time to sit down and update this sweet little blog.  Because...well...LIFE.  It kinda gets in the way, right?!  I kid...sort of...but in all seriousness, here's a little peek at what the last few weeks have entailed...

I spent the first week of December prepping for the MI Kindergarten conference and getting my house ready for my soon-to-be SIL's bridal shower.  Terrible planning on my part.  I always over commit, gosh darnit.  In between all that prepping and planning, I also chaperoned Landon's field trip to the zoo. 

The shower was on the 6th...

Then I flew out on the 7th.  I started my day of travel around 10 that morning and finally ended up in my hotel room about 11 that night thanks to a couple of delays and a layover.

Did I mention that I was crying in the Chicago airport as all of my sweet friends from school kept sending me pics of this silly little elf?!  My sweet Grant was in our small town Christmas parade riding the float for our campus. The theme was Elf on the Shelf and judging from the pictures, it was amazing.  I was delirious, tired, and not dramatic at all ;)  Ha!

I woke up on the 8th and spent the day presenting to some of the kindest, sweetest teachers in Livonia.  4 sessions back-to-back and i can promise NO ONE wants to hear me talk that long...especially me. 

I ended that night having dinner with Maria from Kinder Craze.  I just adore her.  She is seriously the sweetest and it was so much fun to sit down and just TALK.  We're pretty good at that ;)

I woke up on the 9th and did it all again.  4 more sessions.  More amazing teachers with the most FABULOUS ideas.  I absolutely LOVE being in a room full of educators.  Let me tell you...if you haven't figured it out by now...that I clearly don't have the most groundbreaking ideas.  It's so much fun to listen to other teachers talk about what they're doing in their classrooms...I feel like I learn SO much from them!!!!  

At the end of the day, my sister-in-law picked me up from the hotel and I was able to spend the night with my MI family....the absolute PERFECT ending to my stay up north!!!!  

I flew back to Houston on the 10th and **barely** made my connecting flight from Chicago back home.  Literally running through the airport Home Alone style to board before they closed the gate...no lie...2 minutes later. #STRESSED

I woke up on the 11th and knew I had a full day ahead of me unpacking, catching up on laundry, and **trying** to finish a few projects for January.   I finished the day with the girls enjoying a fabulous dinner party/earring exchange.  #latenight

The 12th was spent at my old campus helping my old team prep one of the rooms for Traditions Around the World.  If you don't know about that, you can check out my post from last year.  Truly one of the best Kindergarten traditions of the year!!!  Here's what it looked like when I left that afternoon...

We scurried home to get ready for basketball practice then spent another hour up at school for that.  We immediately left there, changed into our jammies, and headed to a friend's house to meet Santa!  I was BEAT!!!!!!!!  We barely made it through milk and cookies before I was the lame mom leaving early to put her kids...and herself...to bed :)

We hosted an Ugly Sweater Party here at the house on the 13th, so I spent the day cooking and cleaning...and then Landon had a basketball scrimmage an hour before the party started.  Hello.  He's 7.  Can we tap the brakes on holiday practices?!?!  PLEASE?!!??!

I spent the 14th with my mom and dad in Houston because the boys ended up staying the night at their house the night before.  When I finally got back home, I fell asleep.  At 7.  SEVEN!!!!!!  That hasn't happened since, well...I'm not sure that's EVER happened!!!  HA!

I woke up on the 15th and headed back to school to get the rest of the room ready for Tradtions Around the World.  Here's what we ended up with when the day was done....

I wanted to help out with Traditions Around the World today, but I had already committed to chaperoning yet another field trip for Landon.  This time we went to Moody Gardens in Galveston to enjoy the amazing ice sculptures.  It must be said that I have MAD respect for those of you living where the temps fall...and stay...below 30 for a big part of your winter.  The ice sculpture tent was set to a whopping 9 degrees and if I'm being totally honest, I wanted to walk out as soon as I walked in.  I don't know HOW y'all do it.  My face hurt.  My fingers hurt.  My nose hairs were frozen.  #truth

All that to be said, this month has been a whirlwind.  I'll be spending the day tomorrow catching up and putting the final details on a few projects I've been trying to finish for the last few weeks.  Then it's back to school for holiday parties and Christmas festivities.  

If you're waiting for my January Work on Writing to be posted, look for it to be in the shop no later than Friday.  Yes...I know it was supposed to be posted on the 15th...as in yesterday...but I'm still finishing up.  I had such good intentions when I created that schedule and didn't take into account any of my presenting obligations at the time I set those dates.  #FAIL

I'll also be posting my January Print & Practice Problem Solving as well as the Math & Literacy Printables for 1st & K (by request).  

I'm SO happy to be home.  And settled.  And ready to ENJOY the holidays with my sweet little family of 4.  

If you're not following me on facebook, come on by and press that little blue button.  I'll be giving away a little something every night for the next week, so come on over and get entered to win!  

In the meantime, it's back to work for me!  Have a BLESSED night, friends!!!!