My Classroom 2011!

This sign that my brother found when we were in Teacher Tools became the inspiration for my classroom this year. It was a demo but it had my name on it and they sold it to me right off the wall! I decided that since I was moving to a new place, new apartment, and starting a new job that it was just right to start over and buy new things to decorate my classroom. So, here's a look at my new classroom...

I mixed all the safari prints throughout the classroom. I have a leopard print lamp shade on my desk and a zebra one on a bookshelf. I love all the animal print everywhere!

You can't see them in the basket on my desk but I even found animal scissors and pens! I had to put a stop to the animal print madness because I could have literally spent thousands on animal print stuff...it is everywhere right now!

I found these adorable Safari stuffed animals at Walgreens and they were an amazing price!

This is the bulletin board outside my classroom and I put all the kids names on it for the first day of school.

Our classroom rules

These picture frames are another one of my favorite things in the room!

My sweet mom covered my stool with cute zebra fabric. I could not have finished setting up my classroom and apartment without all her help! Love you Mom!

I had extra letters so I decorated the phone list and put it by the phone.

This is what all the third grade teachers put on the students desks for the first day. Another teacher on my team came came up with the idea and it is so cute. It is called the "Third Grade Survival Kit" and the cup has candy in it and each piece of candy means something and relates to the Survival Kit. So cute!

The first week of school so far has been exhausting but my kids are really cute and so much smaller than the fourth graders I am use to. I am loving third grade so far and I know it is going to be a great year!

Graduation and Beach Vacation

Back in May my family reserved a beach cabin at Crystal Beach for the week of my graduation for a family vacation. Little did I know when we booked it that I would be in the middle of moving to Dallas and starting a new job at the time :) It was a much needed vacation for all of us and we had such a good time!

Our cabin was in the Cobb's Cove addition. This was the first time I have been down to the beach since Hurricane Rita and it was so sad to see how much it has changed but also nice to see all the rebuilding.

View from the deck

I love this picture of mom relaxing by the beach

Ross and Stephanie's Anniversary was on Thursday and we went to eat in Galveston to celebrate! I can't believe it has already been four years!

We met my grandparents (Maw Maw and Paw Paw) in Galveston and celebrated their anniversary too...which is the same day as Ross and Stephanie's.

On Saturday we all left the beach and went to my graduation at Lamar. I almost chose not to walk but I am so glad I didn't. It was fun to walk and celebrate with everyone! I give all the glory to God for helping me get through the Masters Degree program. I couldn't have done it without His anointing!

Two of my best friends, Britni and Carrie, came in on Thursday to the beach and surprised me. I had NO idea they were coming and it worked out that they were able to ride in with Glenn and they drove through Rusk (which is were Steph and Ross broke down on their way to the beach and had to leave his truck to get repaired) and pick up Ross' truck and drive it to the beach for him. It couldn't have worked out better.

I was taking a nap on the couch when they walked in and they woke me up. I was half asleep and so surprised to see them I just screamed and kept asking them, "What are you doing here?" It was such a fun surprise!!!  We had so much fun at the beach and they helped out so much with the party...I am truly blessed to have such great friends!

Glenn and Grammy at graduation

Mom and Dad at graduation

Right after graduation we headed back to the beach because we invited family over for a party afterwards.

We had to take pictures with me in my cap and gown at the beach since we didn't have time to at graduation.

 

Ross playing around :)

My family loves to play games and we all had so much fun playing washers all week and staying up late playing cards every night.

Carrie playing washers

My cousin Jeff and his son Jaxon. It was so good to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins at the beach because I hadn't seen some of them in a while and it was good to catch up and get to see them before I left for Dallas on Sunday. I was a little stressed about this vacation being that it took a week away from me being able to work in my classroom and apartment in Dallas, but I am so thankful for it now. It was so much fun and the perfect way to end the summer!