Make Cinnamon Bread with my Dad!

Every year my dad makes countless loaves of cinnamon bread around the holidays. Our friends and family look forward to him hand delivering this tasty treat. Our home is filled with aroma for weeks leading up to Christmas. I have enjoyed this yummy family recipe for many years and often stood by and watched as my dad baked loaf after loaf. However, I never really tried to learn with the intention of making it on my own someday without him coaching me all the way. Until this year! I'm going to try and make my own batch this weekend!

Spend the Whole Day With My Brother!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, my brother and I were able to hangout for an entire day. As always we had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun together!

Make Stuffing With My Mom!

The day before Thanksgiving, my mom and I made stuffing together! It really seemed like a two person job... I can't believe she always does this on her own! We had fun and it turned out great!

Goal #47 Reconnect With an Old Friend

When I went home recently, I was able to spend a lot of time catching up with one of my best childhood friends, Molly.

Molly and I were inseparable from the moment I arrived at my new school in fifth grade. We spent countless hours talking, playing, and planning trips to Camp Ondessonk. Whether we were starting junior high or high school, trying out for teams, or meeting new people.... things always seemed a lot less scary when Molly was by my side.

We made different plans for college. I went away and it wasn't too long before I drifted apart from my hometown friends. Yet, I am so grateful for the friendship Molly and I share. Even though our lives have gone in different directions and we've been disconnected for nearly 10 years, we were able to talk, laugh, and catch up with great ease.

There is something so special about old friends.

Goal #84 Mow Someone's Grass

Yay! Another goal accomplished!

This weekend we visited my parents in Belleville. The weather was really mild so my dad fired up the lawn mower for me! I mowed the grass for the first time in my life! It was actually kind of fun & more work than I thought it would be. It's pretty gratifying to see it when it's the all finished.

I wonder when I'll have a lawn to mow on a regular basis?!

What a Weekend!

After an extremely challenging week at work, this weekend has been just what the doctor ordered. The weather has been amazing and we have nothing on the calendar. I was so stressed after school on Friday that I fell alseep at 4:30 for a couple of hours. I woke up briefly to eat a little dinner and vent to Jeff and then went back to sleep.

Yesterday was fabulous! Jeff and I woke up early, feeling great. We took Millie on a four mile walk and played fetch with her. She was pooped for the rest of the day!

We cleaned our house just in time for some visitors to pop by. Pete, Jenny, Nathan & Claire came by in the afternoon. It was so nice that we were able sit on the patio and enjoy some wine and cheese.

After they left, Jeff and I continued to enjoy the spread and got a little tipsy. We had lots of laughs on the couch and even planned and booked an overnight downtown soon. (Note to self.... hide the credit cards when the second bottle of wine gets opened:)

Today we are just going to relax and hopefully watch the Bears beat the Cardinals!!

A Surprise Visit From Mom!

When I took my students to lunch this afternoon I saw my mom coming into my school with a bag of Portillo's! What a surprise! I knew she was coming into town, but I didn't expect her to pop into my classroom with my favorite chopped salad! It was a total treat! I loved being able to chat and laugh with her during a busy school day. Thanks Momma! :)

New Health Goal

I just looked at my November calendar and set a goal for myself... I am going to attempt to lose 5 pounds by Thanksgiving. (Hopefully I don't gain it all back Thanksgiving weekend)!

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I'm skipping the sob story this time. I am what I am. I never give up on getting fit... it's something I'll always strive for instead of maintain. I've decided that striving for health is a better way to live than not trying.

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So here I go! I'm going to use this "platform" to help me focus & stay honest with myself and you.

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I promise to still blog about other things!

Sunday Fun

Watchin the Bears win with my loves!

Goal #89 October Pictures

Last night we handed out candy to our neighborhood trick or treaters. It was fun to actually know lots of kids this year... thanks to Millie! Then Jeff and I watched Carrie and The Blair Witch Project. I can't believe the holidays are almost here. I hope all of you had a Happy Halloween!! :)

Goal #88 Train Millie to be Polite

This week my class read a story called Rosie the Visiting Dog. It featured a dog that works in hospitals and nursing homes by visiting patients before or after surgery and cheering them up. One of my teammates arranged for 3 therapy dogs from Edward Hospital to visit our students this morning and I was inspired!

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They gave an overview of how the dogs are trained for therapy and told some really touching stories about the impact they have on the patients. The handlers stressed the need for dogs with calm submissive temperaments. Of course I thought of my little Millie!

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She was the most submissive pup in our obedience class and she's very easy to train. So this might just be a new goal! Once she is one year old (in April) we can start going through the process of her becoming a therapy dog. I think it is worth a try... MANY dogs do not make it through the first step of the program (that's why they're always looking for new dogs), so who knows.... but I would LOVE to do this with Millie next summer!

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P.S. One of the dogs showed us how he "says a prayer" for the patients. It was ADORABLE! I already started training Millie to do this! HA ;)

Goal #42 Have an 805 Girl (Mini) Reunion!

Well, 3 out of 5 is better than not seeing any of my college roomies! Last Saturday I was able to catch up with Erin & Amanda. We had a great time. As always, Erin was the hostess with the mostess!

I wish all five of us could have been together... that is a dynamic I crave! I think we'll have to wait until Jayney gets married! :)

P.S. You have less than 9 months Jayne!

Goal #43 SPS Dinners

Last night we went downtown to spend some time with Mike and Kara. Not only did we have a chance to hear all of their mini-moon details, but we also celebrated Mike's birthday!

We decided to do our own little Oktoberfest and had dinner at the Chicago Brauhaus in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. It was a lot of fun.... big beer steins, a band decked out in lederhosen, and yummy pork schnitzel! I can't get the "ziggy, ziggy, ziggy.... oui, oui, oui!" chant out of my head!

Millie and Daley also met for the first time! They were fast friends and played till they dropped! :)

What a Weekend!

This weekend I didn't technically finish any new goals, but I don't want to get out of the swing of blogging! This was a perfect fall weekend! The weather was great and Jeff and I had nothing to do but enjoy it!

On Saturday, we went to Naper Settlement for the Naperville Wine Festival. They had over 250 wines available to taste and some little food samples. Servers were generous about letting us taste without taking a ticket, but they only gave us a one ounce sip. By the end we couldn't wait for a real pour!

So..... we headed down the street to Meson Sebika. I always forget about this great spot. We sat outside and had a real glass of wine (or 2!) and some hot tapas. It was a great day and evening!

We woke up feeling great on Sunday and got all of our chores (laundry & grocery store) done before heading to church. That was a first! Then we went to Cantigny Park in Wheaton and had a picnic under the beautiful trees.

Afterwards we went home to watch the Bears play the Steelers. It was a great game and I'm actually really understanding football for the first time in my life! A little eye candy doesn't hurt! I heart Greg Olsen! :)

comment notification!

If you'd like to receive email notifications when I blog something or when someone leaves a comment on here let me know. It is a feature I just discovered! Jayne & mom.... I took a leap of faith and added your emails to this list! ;)

Goal #55 Be Team Leader

At the end of last school year I was put on my school's leadership team. Yesterday I made my faculty debut in this role. I went from barely saying a word and doodling in my notebook during meetings to facilitating one with half of our staff.

I have been so preoccupied with my group of students this year, that I really didn't even have a chance to worry or prepare for this until a few hours beforehand. I was a little nervous, because while a lot of the people I was presenting to are my good friends, there were a few outspoken people that could have been a tough audience. (Am I right, Eric?)

Thankfully it went well, which makes me feel less anxious about the meetings I'll have to run in the future!

Drive a Boat!

As Kara's matron of honor, I had the responsibility of throwing a fabulous party for a girl who does it for a living. The pressure was on and I wanted to make it great!

I had 9 of Kara's closest girlfriends up to my grandparents cottage in Lake Geneva. We had a lot of fun, but I think the highlight was when I got to take everyone out on a pontoon boat.

I have never driven a boat and I was pretty nervous! It was so much fun! We had the music cranked up and all of the girls were dancing and partying. I loved being the 'captain', but I'm not gonna lie.... we had a couple of close calls where I panicked and 3 men from nearby boats had to manually grab our boat and get us moving in the right direction.... whoops! I've also learned my lesson about having people jump out for a 'quick dip' in the middle of the water when I don't know if they're strong swimmers! Luckily everyone was safe and had a blast!

It was an awesome experience! I'd definitely do it again!

Goal #50 Meet With a Financial Planner

This summer, Jeff and I met with an amazing financial planner! He helped us develop a game plan to pay down some debt we've incurred, gave us a strategy to pay ourselves first and build up a savings, and made us more financially secure by selling us life insurance policies.

I don't think we could have found a planner more concerned with our financial well being and willing to share all of his advice and wisdom..... thanks dad!!! :)

Blog-a-phobe

Ever felt like you've let something go for so long that you don't know how to get restarted?! I can't believe how long it has been since my last post. If I have any readers left.... thanks..... I don't deserve you!! ;)

I have accomplished some fun goals this summer! I'll write about them and post pictures very soon!

Goal #28 Surprise Jeff by Cleaning the Whole House

Does anyone think it is odd that this goal hasn't been accomplished yet, or even wonder why it is a goal at all?!

I have a theory that in every relationship one person is usually more on top of the household cleaning than the other. Jeff is definitely my Mr. Clean. When I hear the mail getting sorted in the kitchen... I know he is getting into his crazy cleaning mode. This is usually my cue to get up and start earning my keep before my own self inflicted guilt paralyzes me!

I love having a clean house and I take great pride in our little home. It is the first place I've lived since I left my mom and dad's house where someone could drop by unannounced and I wouldn't panic with embarrassment. My college house & city apartment weren't always in the best condition!

Oddly enough, that love and pride are rarely enough motivation for me to bust out the cleaning supplies and make every room sparkle and shine. Don't get me wrong, my mom taught me well and I can clean with the best of them. I'm just ridiculously slow getting out of the gate. I know it's pathetic, but it feels like a mental block or something.

Anyway, summer break provides me with fewer distractions (excuses) so it's the perfect time to accomplish this goal. I thought yesterday was going to be the day and I almost got everything done, but didn't finish the floors.... grrrr! What's my problem!?

Goal #99 Go on a Picnic

Jeff and I used to go on lots of picnics at the lakefront when we lived in the city and we've been missing this simple way to spend a Saturday. Today we loaded up Millie and our cooler and headed to Knoch Knolls forest perserve near our house. It is a really neat park that makes you feel miles away from suburbia. Long, woodsy hiking trails are bordered by a flowing river. Millie had a great time sliding through mud puddles and then she washed off by swimming in the water. She was pooped by the time we fired up the grill! This was a really fun goal to accomplish!

July Pictures...... Day Drink with Kara & Jayne....... Get away with Jeff

We went to Boston over Fourth of July. Click the link below to view our pictures (make sure your volume is turned on)!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/w8guP-grmPLInbbz2YSJoA?feat=directlink

Goal # 75 go on a little get away with jeff AND Goal #89 june pictures

When I say "little getaway" I mean little! Last weekend Jeff and I went to my Grandparent's cottage while they were away at a family wedding.

Saturday afternoon we hung out on the driveway so Millie could have some freedom to roam. She loves eating pretty flowers and was determined to explore the outer edge of the deck. After about 5 minutes of redirecting her we opted to move our chairs and cooler and chilled out in the driveway! There goes the neighborhood!

Saturday night was the best! Jeff and I went to dinner at Cafe Calamari in William's Bay. This is a special spot for us because we went there the night we got engaged. We had a fantastic 2 hour long dinner and we savored every minute of it. The food, the wine, and the service were top notch. I love going on dates with my hubby!

Sunday we spent the day at the pier. Millie barely got in the water, but it was pretty cold. Maybe next time. In honor of Father's Day, we dined at the Abby Yacht Club with my parents and grandparents when they got back in town. All in all it was a fabulous weekend!

Goal # 88 Train Millie to be Polite

This goal will be in progress for a looong time. People tell me that until a Golden is three years old they'll be testing their boundaries and learning the rules. Well, three weeks down! ;)

Millie is doing great with sit and stay.... is it the equivalent of "please" in our house.... we make her do it before anything (pet, eat, treat, take her in and out) she has got it down!

"Lay" is a different story she only does it quickly when she is in her crate... we're working on it!!

From 2009-06-26

Goal # 59 Read a Book For Fun

I started off my summer reading with a random selection from the magazine aisle of Jewel Osco. I was hoping for a departure from some of my favorite drugstore friendly authors (John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, Mary Higgins Clark) Well, be careful what you wish for. I got a departure from good writing all together, at least in my opinion.

I read Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult. The back promised to be a behind closed doors look at a glamorous Hollywood couple who may not be as perfect for each other as it appears. It started off wonderfully, I was hooked by the first couple of pages when the lead female awakens beaten and bruised in a cemetery and has no idea who she is or why she is there. I was giddy with excitement for how the story would unfold.

Alas..... the story itself was a snoozer of a let down. The character development and timeline was so disconnected that I found it hard to feel empathetic towards anyone. Chapter upon chapter delved deeper into their boring pasts that I actually skipped ahead to the predictable ending so I could start my next book!

Goal # 87 Get a Puppy

I can't believe how long I have gone without blogging..... My new puppy, Millie, is keeping me very busy! She is adjusting to her new home and Jeff and I are getting used to our new life with her. Here are a few pics.

My Birthday & Goal # 32 Volunteer Somewhere

This was a fabulous birthday! I had breakfast with Jeff and then had a fun day with my students. I met Jeff at the train station after work and we had Portillos salads and a beer in the parking lot because our picnic got rained out. Then we headed to Feed My Starving Children to pack meals for poverty stricken children in 3rd world countries. They cranked up the music and we got a lot done. It was a great experience!!! I ended my day with some red wine while I watched the real Housewives of New Jersey... What a day!?!!?!

Goal # 89 May Pictures

This weekend our house and yard were over-flowing with 45 friends and family members! We had a wonderful time catching up with everyone and kicking off the summer!

Goal #87 Get a Puppy

week 5 highlights

Last week's weigh-in left me feeling pretty disappointed and frustrated. I was determined to work hard and get those pounds back off! I walked everyday at least once and I really watched my food choices. But, I did manage to have a little fun! I had some drinks with some friends after work on Friday and Jeff and I went out for fajitas and margaritas at a new Mexican restaurant by our house on Saturday.

I am thrilled to report that I got those 3 pounds back off, plus another one for good measure! Woo hoo! I hope I can keep this momentum going!

I have some challenges ahead of me this week. Out of town guests will be staying with us and we're hosting a barbecue on Saturday. I have learned that one indulgent night doesn't have to sabotage an entire week's efforts. I just have to be extra focused during the work week and exercise as much as I can.

Okay, so I know what I need to do, now I just have to go and do it! Have a great week! I promise to post some non-weight related blogs soon! ;)

week 4 highlights

I am embarrassed to be writing this update (notice that I've been stalling on this post). Due to a nasty cold that drained me of all my energy last week, I wasn't able to exercise very much. Consequently, I gained back 3 pounds. I'm so frustrated!!!

week 3 highlights

I am doing things a little differently this week. I kept track of everything I ate, what I did for exercise, and my weight in relation to Monday's weigh-in on this colorful chart. If you click on this picture it will show a larger, and therefore readable version!

I did pretty well. The nicer weather allowed for some grilled dinners and more opportunities to walk around our neighborhood. As usual, the weekend was more tempting than the work week. It is especially difficult to maintain control when I am not at my own house. We opened up my grandparents cottage this weekend. That typically involves some cleaning, our favorite local fare, and plenty of cocktails with my family. While I did indulge more than I have been lately, I definitely didn't go crazy. Hopefully my efforts early in the week weren't sabotaged my this fun family tradition!

week 2 highlights

the good

exercised everyday for at least 45 minutes

ate fruits and veggies daily

cooked healthy dinners for Jeff and I every night this week

only had 3 weak sangrias on Friday night

the bad
I can't think of anything I would do differently

the verdict
I'm down 2 pounds

Goal #55 Team Leader Update

The teachers at my school have been buzzing about next year's new leadership format. Every one's theories and predictions were creating some nervous energy inside of me. Luckily, when I walked into my interview last Friday I was able to regain a sense of calm and spoke clearly.

It was a formal interview with the two administrators in my building, which was kind of akward since I've worked with them for 2-5 years. I did almost all of the talking and I felt like I was blabbing on and on, but when we finished and I turned to see the clock, I saw that I had finished my hour-long interview in 20 minutes! whoops! I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing and I got mixed theories from my friends.

My prinicipal called me into her office the following Thursday and asked if I would lead the new Intermediate Team which will consist of teachers from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. That's all I really know so far..... but I've gotten the impression that the formal interview is going to be a cake walk compared to the real work ahead.

Oh well....another goal down!

Goal #37 Read for Fun

Jeff and I started reading this book during lent. It was the perfect time to read it because the book is broken down into forty short chapters that are labeled from day 1 to day 40.

I recommend this book to anyone who believes in heaven. It gave me a new perspective on life and what happens after we die. It made me realize that what happens in our lives here is only the beginning of our story, the cover page, if you will. Understanding that concept makes the daily rigors of life seem more manageable.

It seems to me that most people, myself included, have a great fear of death. After all it is life's biggest unknown and a tremendous source of sadness when we lose a loved one. After reading this book, I honestly understand the meaning of "going on to a better place" and I am comforted by Dr. Rick Warren's perspective on the after life in heaven.

In my opinion, this book is best read with someone. It helped to reflect and discuss the ideas in each chapter with Jeff. I'll admit that it is a lot to absorb. We haven't finished it entirely, yet. There is still more for us to learn, but even reading pieces of this best-seller will have an enlightening effect on any Christian.

week 1 highlights

the good

• skipped some tempting treats in our teacher's lounge this week
• went to happy hour with friends and stayed for 4 hours while only drinking diet coke
• really controlled my drinking at Kara's shower on Saturday... only ONE margarita! And, it was my 1st drink of the week
• did some exercise every day except for Thursday's happy hour

the bad

• ended up having 3 beers after Kara's shower, which is not bad (only one beer and hour), but it exceeded my 2 drink weekly limit
• had some late night snacks with everyone when we got back to my parents house

the verdict

• I'm down 3 pounds.

Goal # 55 Be Team Leader

Being a grade level team leader is not something we usually have much control over at my school. In the past, our principal has appointed the person she wanted for the job. This year things have changed.... a lot. She asked the staff to let her know they were interested by emailing her a couple of paragraphs. At first I thought, this is great.... no one else on my team wants to do it and I stated my case as to why I thought I'd be a good fit for the job.

But, yesterday my principal informed us that team leaders as we have always known them are not going to exist next year. I am scheduled for an hour long interview to see if I will be a good fit for her new vision for next school year. Hmmmmm. I'm not sure what to expect. It sounds super intense. My interview is on Friday, I'll keep you updated on how it goes.

Check Myself Before I Wreck Myself

Although I have several health goals, I never intended for this blog's main purpose to be about weight loss. But those of you who read this of course know that it is something I struggle with. I have the metabolism of a manatee and can put on weight with one bad decision. Thankfully, when I come clean with myself and you, my loyal supporters, on this blog I find it easier focus and live my best, healthy life.

For me, weight loss is all about my mindset. When I am focused, I accomplish great things. When I let my guard down, I begin to unravel. It happens fast... skipping a walk because it's raining..... going out to dinner instead of cooking.... choosing wine instead of water.... before I know it I am back up 7 pounds, which is what happened over the past 2 weeks. Its fun while it's happening and I convince myself I'm still in control, but obviously I am not.

So where do I go from here? Here is what I'm thinking my plan should be:

1. walk everyday
2. shred (or similar) every other day
3. continue eating fruits and veggies daily
4. limit alcohol to 2 drinks a week

This is basically what I did in January and I felt fantastic. I would like to commit to this new plan until summer vacation, which is exactly 8 weeks from today. I know it's likely that I'll have a day when I don't follow this plan perfectly. That's realistic. However, I'd like to confine it to that day and not let one bad decision lead to me spiraling out of control again.

On Sunday nights I'll blog about how well I followed this plan during the week. Knowing that even one of you will read it and hold me to my word will help me make this a top priority again. BIG THANKS to anyone following me on this journey!

Goal # 61 Clean and Organize My Closet

Okay, this is an embarrassing picture to share. I'm hoping that everyone who reads this can relate and has their own messy spot that they like to keep hidden. My closet had gotten so out of control that this picture doesn't do it justice. I spent some time this week pulling clothes that can be donated and organizing the items I am keeping.

I hated realizing that I have 6 different sizes of pants hanging in my closet. I lined them up according to size and tagged the hangers with colored labels so I can easily find the black pants that fit at the moment. As soon as I move down to a new "color" I'm trashing the super sized duds and never looking back! The day I get to yellow I'm celebrating... not sure how yet, but I'll think of something!

Goal #37 Read for Fun

There's nothing like a couple of 8 hour drives to get some good reading done! I read 2 very different, but equally great books this week.

The first one was a collection of raw and hilarious essays about comedienne Chelsea Handler's life. It's titled Are you There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea. This book made me laugh out loud. Is has some shockingly funny anecdotes. If you've ever seen her hidden camera show, Girls Behaving Badly, or her E! talk show, Chelsea Lately, you have probably heard her very dry, raunchy sense of humor. If you like her at all, you'll LOVE this book. It is an easy, fun read!

On the way home I read Mary Higgins Clark's new book called Where Are You Now. She is known as "The Queen of Suspense" and this book lives up to her reputation. Where are You Now is an edge of your seat page turner about a college student that disappears from his dorm room in the middle of the afternoon and is never seen again. BUT, he calls his mother every year on Mother's Day to let her know that he is okay. It is an intriguing story right from the start with layer upon layer of twists and turns and suspiciously creepy characters. I loved every minute of it!

Goal #75 Go on 4 Little Getaways with Jeff

This weekend marked our first anniversary.... a date we share with Jeff's parents who celebrated their 45th Anniversary on Sunday. We went to Kansas this weekend to be with them. Jeff picked me up from school on Friday and we got a couple of hours under our belt before stopping in Davenport, Iowa. After a nice dinner and some drinks we headed to The Country Cabins in Hiawatha, KS the next day. This was a great find! As always, we had a great time with the Meyer Family!

Goal #96 Go to a Play

When I created this goal I didn't think it would be accomplished with my students. I pictured myself going to a show downtown sometime. However, while sitting in a theatre today on a class field trip, I realized, "Hey, I just finished another goal!" Even though it was a simple production, I really enjoyed this play by my favorite children's author, Roald Dahl. I just finished reading this book to my class, so it was a real treat for us to see it brought to life on the stage. Many of my students had never been to a play. It was really fun for me to watch them experience this kind of a performance!

Goal #65 Paint Guest Bathroom

With my mom and her girlfriends coming this weekend there was no better time to accomplish this goal. Our guest bathroom was in desperate need of an update. The quickest and most cost effect way for us to make some improvements was to remove the double border (a very tough job!) and apply a couple of coats of paint. Here are the before and after shots.

Goal #89 March Pictures

At the last minute Jeff and I decided to join the Sullivan crew for their annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration. I'm so glad we did... it was a blast!

Goal # 33 Things I'm Thankful For

I've decided to do this 10 items at a time... it will be easier to read that way too! Here it goes:

1. My body… believe it or not! Even though I don't always love the size, it has kept me in good health so far.
2. My husband who shows me everyday that he loves me unconditionally
3. My incredibly fun & generous parents
4. My brutally honest brother… nobody is better at teasing me and making me laugh at myself
5. Amazing in-laws that are so fun and down to earth
6. Great friends who even as we all grow and change they continue to enrich my life
7. Godparents that take their duty to a whole new level
8. Living closer to my grandparents cottage than ever before… it’s full of great memories
9. My job & always knowing that I was meant to be a teacher
10. A cozy home that’s full of good vibes

Goal # 54 Laugh With My Kids Everyday

Long time no blog!!! Have you missed me?! :)

This is a picture of my classroom. Unfortunately, I don't think I can put pictures of my students on the Internet without parental consent. But, this is where all the laughs happen! I adore the innocent voices and silly giggles of third graders. This is one of the easiest goals to complete. They are always saying or doing something that makes me laugh out loud. Occasionally, however, I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

For instance, yesterday one of my students (Jack) came up to me and said, "Mrs. Meyer, I can't concentrate unless I squeeze my balls!" Of course he meant his stress balls, but I couldn't help but chuckle inside.

I just added this picture for fun... when we finished learning about the bones in our bodies, I let them make an outfit for their skeleton. My favorite was a Southwest Airlines flight attendant! They crack me up! :)