Currently in January 2014!!!

01 January 2014
Happy New Year!!!  I hope your new year is full of love, joy, health, and things that bring you happiness and peace.  I have great plans for 2014 ... and I can't wait to make them all happen!

I do have plans to blog more this year - I was doing well until the beginning of this school year, but kind of lost some of my steam.  In all honesty, I've had a few rough patches this school year which I think contributed to the lack of blogging, but I truly enjoy sharing with all of you, and I have such a passion for blogging and creating resources - I need to remember that .. and remember that the sharing will get me through the rough patches ... and help me focus on the good things and the JOY.

So ... here goes ... a brand new 2014 ... with a brand new post.


I am currently listening to my girls play with the new Christmas loot.  We left on a little vacation just after Christmas, so Christmas isn't put away yet and all their toys are still under the tree ... just waiting to be played with.  I think the rainbow loom was the big hit for my little one this year (can you tell by her excitement in this pic) ... but right now her hook has gone missing, so we're in a mini crisis.  She thinks she solved the problem by taking one her sister's hooks, but I don't think that's the best solution.  ;)
I am LOVING the fact that I still have 5 days off ... I think I'm going to need them to get organized around here.  I have big plans for my house this year ... plans that start with a little organization around here (see NEEDING).  I'm starting in the dining room, then the kids' rooms, then moving on to the living room.  Don't think it will all happen in the 5 days, but I'm on a mission right now (and that rarely happens, so I'll take advantage of it!)  I am also loving my new Christmas present to myself ... my new Coach bag.  Isn't she pretty?  It fits my laptop ... and it was 50% off - couldn't pass that one up!

Lastly, my memory is from our little mini vacation we just got back from.  I have such wonderful memories of the many vacations I took with my family as a child, and I want to make sure I give my own children the same memories.  The vacations don't need to be big, or far away, they just need to be filled with fun and brand new experiences.  This time I took my whole family to see the girls' first NHL game.  My husband is a huge hockey fan, and he's taken us to lots of local games, but this was the first BIG game for the girls.  And I think they enjoyed it as much as my husband.  We also did a lot of sight-seeing, a lot of shopping, a lot of eating, and had a ton of fun.  :)  WIN!

And that's about that.  I'm linking up to Farley's Currently party over at Oh Boy 4th Grade and you've got to grab a coffee and drop by and see what we're all up to ... I can't think of a better way to spend a holiday morning (much better than the laundry piles that are staring me down).  Happy 2014!!!



19 comments

  1. Happy New Year!
    I'm glad you had a getaway this break. Your family looks like they really enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We have so much in common my friend! My husband (originally from Michigan) is a huge hockey fan too. I am not big on watching hockey on TV but love going to games. We also did the same (minus the hockey game) on our get away....lots of shopping and eating and fun! Hope this year brings you lots and lots of blessings!
    ~Lorraine
    Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies 
    Visit my Facebook page

    ReplyDelete
  3. There's nothing better than kids' excitement at Christmas! Looks like you had a great vacation… and 5 days left, wahoo! Love your new bag ;-)
    Happy New Year!
    Colleen
    Fun and Fearless in First

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy New Year! I am so thankful to have found all your resources on TPT and enjoy your blog. I think more than half my teacher friends follow you as I tell them about your great ideas all the time! If I ever teach a grade for more than a year (not happened in the last 5 years!) I want to start blogging as well.
    One of my students reminded me to thank you again for 'Ivan'. We JUST (a bit embarrassed to admit it) finished the book before the break and after break we will review his real life and do a bit work and then move on. It took me way longer than I thought.

    All the best in the new year to you, your family and class.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy New Year my friend! What a nice family vacation you took (I did go to a Kings game once. It was cold. ;) ) and it looked like your kids really enjoyed their time!! I love the look of your little one's face when she got the rainbow looms. Priceless!

    Here's to a good 2014 ahead filled with lots of sharing, joy, and laughter!

    Stephanie
    Teaching in Room 6

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Jen, I'm so glad you planned that little mini-vacation. Those are the things that my kids (now all young adults) remember more than any gifts they ever got. Time with your family is where memories are made! Good for you for taking time to do that.

    I am so jealous that you still have five days off! It's back to school for me tomorrow, and as always, I'm just not quite ready to own up to that!

    Have a great beginning to your year!
    Marion
    MentoringintheMiddle

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy New Year ... and thank you for that JOYOUS post. I'll bet your girls will go gangbusters after that rainbow loom ... once the hook is found, of course.

    Sending warm wishes for new year's happiness from the south!

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like a great vacations! Looking forward to your blog posts in the new year!

    Tara
    The Math Maniac

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like you had a great holiday! We also have a new rainbow loom in our house from Christmas and we all have tons of bracelets now! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can remember making friendship bracelets with embroidery thread as a kid. I would have loved the rainbow loom. I hope you have a great new year!
    Brooke
    Tales from a Fourth Grade MathNut

    ReplyDelete
  12. There is a rainbow loom fan in this house also! My daughter and 2 of her friends had a loom party last night! They have been searching Youtube for new ideas.
    Fabulous Fifth Grade Fun 

    ReplyDelete
  13. You just reminded me that with the new year comes another currently! Your mini vacation sounded fun--hopefully the laundry pile isn't too huge.

    I couldn't find your contact info on here, but I was curious if you ever have guests on your blog. I finally posted a long-awaited picture book to my stores--it's a place value story and I thought it might be fun to be a blog guest and talk about the story of how the book came to be. If it sounds interesting you can email me at kidsmathteacher@gmail.com

    Have a wonderful new year!

    ~Lucy Kids Math Teacher

    ReplyDelete
  14. We are so jealous of all of you that don't go back tomorrow! :)
    Tamra and Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy New Year! I love coming over to your blog and reading your latest happenings! I hope you have a wonderful new year. I'm Courtney from Ramona Recommends, nice to "meet" you! :)

    Courtney
    ramonarecommends.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy New Year! Hoping there are no more "rough patches" for you in your future!

    And I'm TRYING to get organized, too!

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy new year! And boy do I understand about the rough patches. I had several of those last year which led me to teaching in Korea this year. Everything happens for a reason!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy new year! And boy do I understand about the rough patches. I had several of those last year which led me to teaching in Korea this year. Everything happens for a reason!

    ReplyDelete