Tuesday, August 25, 2009

If You're Happy and You Know It!

* Edit: Yall are cracking me up with your "spelling" corrections! : ) I love that you are reading that carefully! Thanks for being so attentive to my little world! If I have to time to fix them, I will. If not though, you will just have to live with little ol' imperfect me. : ) The spelling teacher who makes spelling mistakes! Ha, ha! But in all seriousness, thanks for being so sweet in your desire to help me. I appreciate it! Have a good week, guys!



These days, I am really happy.. and feel very thankful! Being back in school is such a magical time for kids. New school supplies, ringing bells, exciting lesson plans, and 75 new faces every day in my classroom, waiting to learn something new just makes me giddy! Am I a perfect teacher? No, not by any means. But I never dread the day and I love my children. They all hold a special place in my heart. I welcome the challenges and look forward to the school year. This 2009-2010 school year, we as a 5th grade team decided to do a cowboy themed hallway, and it has been lots of fun. School has been in session for five days and I feel like I am putting on old, comfy shoes- I know where I belong and it feels good to be "home."

















Decorating my classroom took me a bit longer this summer than in past years. I am still learning better ways to manage my time and having a child has added that extra "element" of surprise. I am really truly a night-owl at heart, but I have adapted to being a mommy that just can't always sneak away every night to work. This year, it took about a week to get my room organized and ready, which may not sound long, but "BH" (before Harbor), I was able to do it in just days. : ) My life is now divided up like a social studies book... BH and AH.. : )

























The one thing I am really proud of that I am going to try this year is a "clothesline" approach to spelling/vocabulary. David (little engineer that he is!) schemed up a way for me to move my vocab vertically and horizontally on one of my big bulliten boards. I love how teachers talk about how big their boards are... because mine are HUGE!! They measure about nine feet high and over 20 feet long! Anywho, this new approach to spelling is really fresh and it makes my left hand bulliten boards interactive, which is always more beneficial when you are considering best practice for students.)


























David's mom has a nice inground pool and only lives about five minutes away. Sadly, neither David or I are really into leisure swimming. I know it sounds crazy, but I have never been a pool girl. I would rather be inside hot gluing something, I guess. : ) Anyway, we have both tried really hard to change our ways and let Harbor experience what most American kids do all summer long- splash and swim! Maybe with Harbor around, we will enjoy it a little more.










Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens · Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens · Brown paper packages tied up with strings ... These are a few of our favorite things! Especially on rainy days.. I raise the blinds for Harbor and he will stand at that window sill ALL day and watch the water splash the sidewalk.









We have managed a few nights out with friends in the midst of "back-to-school" around here. We went out to eat at Shoguns with the Frouds. We brought our two boys and they did really well... incredibly well, actually. Mr. Hudson Grey was working it out with his chopsticks! SO FUNNY!






We also got to have dinner at the Hickman house! Zayde and Harbor play really well together.. Zayde runs and Harbor crawls after him! : )






After Harbor's bath everynight, we brush his teeth in the guest bathroom. Harbor really loves the baby toothpaste and opens his mouth when he sees the brush. It is really just the cutest thing to us. : ) We are hoping he keeps and maintains good habits... When did everyone start taking their kids for cleanings? We have friends that have gone at a year. Is that pretty customary?

















Two peas in a pod, I tell ya!




If you recall from my last post, I purchased some yummy black and white zebra print fabric. Since my dining room is green harlequin (Sherwin Williams Tupelo Tree and Sassy Green), I wanted something that would match, but not clash, and still stand out. Black and white is always a friend to Mr. Green, in my opinion. I took some green fabric I had left over from this project...



a few months back and matched it with the zebra print to make a drop tablecloth for a round side table I had. This little table was originally on the back deck, but since we have new patio furniture, I wanted to move it inside. It has been a fun addition to the dining room and has been a great place to drop the afternoon mail.







A few weekends ago, we all helped Rachel move into her first apartment. She has actually been out on her own for over a year now, but has lived on campus at the KiAlpha house. We are so excited for her and her roomate, Ashley, to have thier own little place to call home. It is such an adorable apartment- brand new, harwood floors, deep cherry cabinets, two full bathrooms... and in walking distance to campus! Yippee!






















"Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the promised land. She prepares a world she will not see."- Abraham Lincoln







Harbor is cruising around the house.. the ottomans in the living room are favorite pull-up places. He has also discovered the window ledges, the jacuzzi whirlpool, and the oven drawer (which at our house houses my Pamperchef baking stones.) He is really at such a fun, adventorous age.







When we custom built our house, I didn't want lots of wasted space. As a result, we have built-ins everywhere.. the bathrooms, the laundry room, the living room, and the kitchen. The kitchen built-ins were originally for cookbooks and picture frames. Now that HW is pulling up, I have replaced them with long, narrow wicker baskets full of books and plush toys. I have decided to choose my battles, and having to redecorate, unfortunatley, is inevetable when the shelving is knee level. : ) It is lots of fun to see a baby playing in the kitchen while I make dinner. after seven years of marriage, it is a welcomed sight.







My mom is so wonderful to capture the memorable moments around here.. when I come home from work, she often greets me at the door, my camera in hand! It sure makes it easy to blog when someone else has been hard at work taking pictures all day. Thanks, mom! I appreciate your desire to help me capture the babyhood of my son.






Cooking dinner is a family affair at the McCash house... never has being at home meant so much to me. Having Harbor, David, and Bichon to come home to is such a cozy feeling.











I hope all is well, friends and family! I'm so ready to wear knee boots that I can't stand it! Come on cooler weather!!

25 comments:

  1. What a joy it is to come to your place, and it so much feels like that a place to call home. I am thrilled that you are filled with such happiness and you are a wonderful person who gives back all the time. We need you in the world. Your little one is looking so adventerous, adorable as always.

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  2. How I love to pop in and visit on your post! Seeing the photographs of your classroom bring back such memories for me. I stopped teaching 14 years ago and I miss it so! What a lovely little family you have!

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  3. Your class room looks so fun and inviting. I love the chairs that you have for the kids to read in. Harbor is really growing up. He looked like such a big guy standing in that window. That is so cute that you have changed your kitchen to meet his new needs of exploring. I took MK to the dentist just this year. She is 3. I know a lot of people who took their children at 2. Maybe the earlier the better. She wasn't having it.

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  4. Love the classroom and school decorations. Looks like things are going well and you guys are enjoying yourself. So glad that you updated. Harbor is too cute! And congrats to your sister on the new apartment...it looks really nice! :) You should sell some of the things that you make on Etsy! :)

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  5. Love the pictures! Your classroom is so bright and colorful, and large! I love the hallway too! I had really hoped I would have had a classroom to decorate but no luck in finding a position. I am still looking and praying that I find one. :( Your house does feel very warm and welcoming! Love the zebra print too!

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  6. Love the pics of your classroom! I really missed starting a new year this year. It was very weird not going back but I wouldn't have it any other way right now!
    Y'all are just the cutest little family! I love all your crafty projects around the house. I need you to come be crafty for me!:)
    I am soooo beyond ready for my fall clothes and boots!

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  7. Your room is adorable & your house (of course) looks fabulous! I'm not kidding--if you ever have any decor you want to get rid of, please call me before you have a garage sale. :)

    I can tell Harbor has grown since I saw him. I'm missing our walks!

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  8. As always- love all the pics! I can't beleive how grown up Harbor has gotten! By the way- I'll be subbing in PG this year (on Tues/Thurs)!

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  9. Isn't BOLOGNE a city in France? I think your sandwich sign in your classroom should read BOLOGNA. :)

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  10. glad to see all the updates! I thought you might have fell off the face of the bloggie earth!

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  11. What a cutie pants that little Harbor is. I love those tub time and teeth brushing pics. So adorable. I also love your new table you did. Very cute.

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  12. Love all your photos and your enthusiasm for teaching is wonderful. Those kiddos are blessed. You may want to change your spelling for "bulletin boards" though.;) Even teachers make spelling mistakes but it's good to correct them.

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  13. Your classroom looks great! Even though it seems like it should take less time every year to set up a classroom, it seems to take more time (even after 4 years in the same building)! Of course this year I'm in a new room so I had to rethink where everything needed to go! Good news is...I have a much bigger room now! Have a great school year!

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  14. Your have a beautiful classroom this year. Looking forward to hearing about your exciting year ahead with ALOT of 5th grades. Wow, you have your hands full. Harbor is getting more handsome everyday. How wonderful for you and your family to have a home that is happy and warm to come home to,especially from jobs you love. I am jealous. I hope to have that " job you love" very soon in my future. :)

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  15. Welcome back to school! This is my 3rd week back already. It's good to finally be in a routine.

    I always love to see your room. So cute! And i LOVE the bulletin board idea!!

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  16. Your classroom is so cute and that little Harbor is even cuter!

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  17. I can not believe that Rachel is old enough to have her own apartment!! I love the pics of Harbor looking out the window. It is raining here today and the boys and I went on the front porch to enjoy it. Cute tablecloth!! Love the zebra print with the green!

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  18. Hey Anonymous....who the heck cares if she mis spells something...geez. leave ur name if u're gonna critique someone!

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  19. I think some people were just meant to be Teachers and you were one of them. Most people want to sneak away from work and you want to sneak away to work.. ha ha. You are such an inspiring person.

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  20. Love reading your blog and what great stories and pictures....the classroom looks awesome....

    Hope you will stop by and visit my new Christmas blog that I launched today.

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  21. I love seeing your pics...you guys have so much fun! My step-son is in 2nd grade at PG...

    Harbor is just getting so big and just so adorable.

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  22. Have I ever mentioned that you are the cutest thing ever?!?! You are the perfect little teacher! I hope Cilla has teachers just like you one day...teachers that love their job, love their kids, and are so super creative and make things fun! I love the zebra table! If I ever move back to NWA I want you to come and make my house as cute as yours!

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  23. Your room is sooooo cute!! You are the creative queen!! I'm so glad your year is off to a good start. I know you are an awesome teacher!! :)

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  24. I LOVED seeing pics of your classroom and new pics of Harbor! He is growing so fast!!! Your classroom is adorable. I did western in my kindergarten room last year, now I am doing jungle. I sure did love my western stuff though! Looks like your year is off to a great start, I am so glad!

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  25. I LOVEEEE THE PICTURES FROM MY APT!!! I love you!

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