Catching up and making time

It has been too long since I had a chance to update! Things have been a bit busy as of late, but here is what we have been up to...

We finished up the semester at school! Yay! I got to experience the glory and chaos of my first elementary Christmas party. That was a trip, let me tell you!

We had a hot cocoa party, made presents and watched Christmas movies, what a super fun day! I don't know how I could go back to teaching the upper grades, when elementary is so extraordinary fabulous!

So a few years ago, Callie's teachers gifted her students with some reindeer food and I thought, "Those silly elementary teachers, they must have so much time on their hands." Yeah. I did it, and no I did not have extra time on my hands. Along with a new book and pencils and erasers, my students were the most excited about oatmeal and glitter. It is pretty magical!

We choir-ed it up! I had no idea how demanding the job is for elementary choir students is, we attended not one, not two, but three performances for this little budding singer. 

We had the MOST fun favorite things party with my 2nd grade team! We got together on our first real day of break and had a feast while the kiddos decorated Christmas cookies and we traded the most fun presents! Have you ever been to a favorite things party? They are a blast. I have been to two this month and it is super neato. You decide on a price limit, we picked $6. Then you buy three of your favorite things to trade and you leave with three new things that were some one else's favorite. I think I have a new favorite thing! 

How cute are these little nesting bowls?! They have a bunch of different shapes, shells, hearts, etc at World Market, but the stars are my favorite!

We also spent most of the week finishing our Christmas shopping and getting ready for our big trip to Texas! I really should have been a better planner and used my time in the beginning of the month to plan, shop and pack, but I chose to spend time to my family and friends instead!

It was refreshing to only think about what was coming in the immediate future(I.E that day or the next day) and not stress about what was happening in a week or in the next few days. I think that this is going to be one of my New Year's resolutions, to enjoy the present and the company I am in and worry about what is coming, when it comes.

I had all of these grand plans for travel kits and special presents for Callie's teachers etc and it just didn't happen. But you know what did happen, spending time with my book club girls, my family, my sweet teacher friends, church friends and that was time well spent!

So now we are home after a reeeeally long road trip and mountains of laundry to do and a house to clean and get ready for Christmas #2 and #3, more time to spend with the people I love the most and so far all I have done today is play school with Callie and cars with Kellen. So much for planing and making time!

The Big Reveal!

My little brother (I like to use the term little loosely) and his precious wife are having a bebe!! I am I am SO excited to be an aunt on my family's side! Plus, Callie and Kellen are super jazzed to have a cousin to play with when we have Wathen get togethers! Hurray for babies!

There is a phenomena called a "gender reveal" party sweeping the nation and we are all for partying for any reason big or small around here. So my sister in law's sister and I put together a reveal party so we could find out what this nugget was going to be! P.S Where were reveal parties when I was knocked up??

I am not gonna lie, Becca, my sister in law's sister did most of the heavy lifting, but it was sweet to be included in planning this bash and everything was stinkin' cute!

Let's be real...How adorable are they?? And how adorable is this sign? Love!

I am pretty sure we used every pinterest idea known to mankind for the party and it was super awesome!

                                                 

Team Blue, all the way!

?? Whose team?? What was this kid going to be??

Tee hee! A little play on words....

The XY chromosomes came out perfect! All you do is make hard boiled eggs, like regular (a skill I still have not mastered) Then peel the eggs and remove the yolks. Next soak the whites in 1 teaspoon of food coloring, 1 teaspoon of vinegar (like Easter eggs) and I cup of water, and let the white soak for a few minutes until they are bright and colorful. Then make up the eggs yolks with mustard and mayo. You couldn't taste the vinegar at all and they were so pretty and delish!

Brien and Callie put these little treats together!

Becca made this awesome cake...So funny and SO true!

For the actual reveal, it was the quite the elaborate set up! It was very well thought out and rehearsed 

(we had to do a test run the night before to make sure that the plan would work and I am so glad that we did!) The basic just was that, we would fill balloons with paint the color of the baby's gender. Then my brother would shoot the balloons with a BB gun and everyone would know! After some trial and error we figured everything out and....

This guy wanted a boy cousin to romp around with real bad, but....

Wouldn't you know it?? A sweet little baby girl!!

I didn't get any befores on my phone, but again, with cute signage! Nailed it, Becca! (P.S again...Do you see the canvas in the middle? This was a grand attempt, by Jenn at making a cute little splatter painting, as a memento, but the paint went everywhere BUT on the canvas. Well, we tried!)

Congrats, Bo and Jenn!! We are crazy excited for you!! Welcome to parenthood!

What I wore Wednesday

It has been so quiet around the Wood house. A little too quiet. I am not sure if it is the calm before the storm or if life is finally calming down?!?

We are floating along through December. I am LOVING teaching elementary during the holiday season. We are doing some Elfcapades... and it has been so MUCH fun! My little nuggets will do anything for some time to spread some cheer! So far we have made candy cane ornaments using pipe cleaners and beads for their families Christmas trees and today we made cards for all of the admin and support staff in the office. Why did I not think of this idea?!

It has been FREEZING this week. Yesterday I was so cold, if physically hurt. I am so thankful for my warm house and classroom! So my clothing choices have followed suit! Lotsa boots and sweaters this week!

Poncho: Gift from my teammates

Long sleeve tee: Forever 21

Jeans: Thrifted

Boots: Kohls

Earrings: Gift

This was my Thanksgiving outfit and I wore it again to church on Sunday. Leggings are where it's at!

Top: Target

Lace Layer: 11th Ave.

Leggings: Nordstroms

Flats: Target

Plaid top: Old Navy

Vest: Old Navy

Jeans: Old Navy

Flats: Walmart

Dress: Old Navy

Vest: Target

Tights: Target

Boots: Target

Top: TJ Maxx

Tights: Target

Boots: Target

Scarf: 11th Ave

Sweater: Target

Pants: Old Navy

Heels: Target

Necklace: Walmart

Dress: Old Navy, thrifted

Necklace: 11th Ave.

Tights: Nordstroms

Boots: Target

That's all for this week! I am so looking forward to the things that are coming up, Holiday parties, Christmas break, our Christmas road trip, getting my shopping finished... It might not be too quiet for much longer!

Friday Favorites

Wow! Thank goodness it is Friday! Hurray! We made it to the weekend! It's been a spell since I have done a Friday Favorites and I decided, "Well it's time!" people need some favorites...Here goes!

Make up...

Spider Mascara. Finally! A make up company heard my plea for ridiculous, clumpy eye lashes!

I though this might just be a promo for Halloween, but no, friends. It is still in the store and I love it SO much! You see, I have no eyelashes and I have to compensate by wearing 3-4 different kinds a day to make it look as though I have some. Well, now I am down to just 2. Winning.

Accessories...

Whoa, Walmart did it again! I needed some new earrings and I was already there, so I took a peek at their jewelry selection and found a boatload of super cute and really cheap earring! I mean $3?!? You just can't beat that. I have worn them a few times and they have not broken, which is more than I can say for some other stores more expensive stuff. So $3 Walmart earrings it is!

Games...

Arguably the best and most funny game around, Taboo has done it again! For our annual wine night, Taboo did not disappoint! I am pretty sure every single one of us was in tears at some point during the evening playing this super fun game. It's an oldie, but certainly a goodie!

Books...

Not a book club read, but such a great book! I literally finished this in like 3 days, it's so good! I have been super into historical fiction these days and this one is set in the 1800's at one crazy dysfunctional family's apple orchard. They parents are a mess and end up killing each other (literally) and the left over orphaned children they leave behind are just as bad, except for one that gets away and moves west. Several decades later, a long, lost sister makes her way west as well and the family fun and dysfunction continues in California! Great read, check it out!

Shows...

We have been reality TV junkies this fall! Brien and I have been binge watching Gold Rush Alaska and Naked and Afraid. I know right?!? But when it comes to Alaskan Wilderness and business and surviving without materials, Brien and I, I am  pretty certain, are in fact, experts. We had the funniest conversation the other night about how we are constantly trying to give the people on TV advice, like they can hear us! I mean come on, we have watched like 5 seasons of each show, I am pretty sure I can mine gold and survive in the wild better than these folks!

So that's all for this week's favorites! Try some out, you will not be disappointed! Happy weekend Y'all!

Thanksgiving

This year's Thanksgiving was SO needed and SO nice! And hey, just 3 more weeks and it's Christmas break! I will take it!

I just love my people! I know that sometimes the holidays are rough for some people, but I truly love hanging out with my family and spending time with them!

On Wednesday my children actually slept in! I made my assigned good old pumpkin pies, we went to the library to stock up on books for the next few weeks and then we had lunch date with my precious grandma!
It was a red letter day...

This boy has been so sweet this week! I am really missing summer break and spending all day with my loves!

On Thursday, Turkey day, Callie and Kellen actually watched the parade in their jammies. I think my feedback from last year was well received. There were far less interviews and watching marching bands take drum breaks. Good for you Macy's!

My family always has Thanksgiving for lunch which is nice, because A) Everyone is starving.

B) You can eat and still have the evening to decorate for Christmas. C) Thanksgiving dinner is dumb.

Family pictures went splendidly. Usually it is torture fest, but we got it done in one shot and everyone was happy!

Smiling happy children and hubby=smiling happy mama!

Then they agreed to even more pictures, say what?!? Who are these little people?

After we feasted, we had the most lovely stroll in the park and the kids played outside...It was the best!

After dessert, we hung out for a bit and then headed to my grandma's to help her get her decorations out and by that, I mean my kids went through every box and destroyed her house. She is sweet to put up with us! It was super fun to see all the decorations that have been around as long as I can remember. I have the BEST memories of Christmas as a child!

Then we went back home and got out all of our Christmas stuff! It's happening! Yay for Christmas. I can finally listen to Christmas music guilt free and enjoy my super tacky,white tree... I am ready!

It was such a lovely day and now we are all ready for Christmas! Happy Thanksgiving!

What I Wore Wednesday

Where did November go? Seriously! It seems like Halloween was a minute ago and now people are getting out the Christmas stuff. I love Christmas, looovvvee it, but come on people, let Thanksgiving have it's day!

This has been a strangely warm fall and I am NOT complaining about that, but last week it snowed and I am already over winter. I woke up and I totally forgot how to dress for winter, that first snow always gets me!

I love this dress!!! I got it last year and there is just something about it! The fit, the pattern, I could wear this everyday!

Dress: Old Navy

Cardigan: Old Navy

Boots: Target

I think it's time for a new leopard cardigan, but I can't find one anywhere!

Cardigan: Old Navy

Tank: Target

Pants: Thrifted, Loft

Heels: Target

We had an awesome Veteran's day tribute last week. Since we are so close the Air Force base we had so many military families come to be honored. After the service they came by our classrooms to talk to the kids. Thank you Veterans!

Top: Old Navy

Scarf: Target

Jeans: Target

Flats: Wal-mart

I wore this last Sunday in the nursery at church. Brien was on call so it was just Callie and I and a few helpers from the 5th grade class. I thought I was going to lose my mind! Oh my goodness, there were SO many babies and I am talking tiny babies who can't walk so I literally had my hands full!

Top: TJ Maxx

Necklace: 11th Ave.

Pants: thrifted, Gap

Flats: JCrew

I wore this on the day of the first snow. What was I thinking, ankle boots?? Brrrrr!

Plaid top: Thrifted

Pants: Target

Booties: Kohl's

Necklace: Wal-Mart

These fringy boots, though! I got them last year on clearance and I had not worn them yet this year, they were so cute and comfy!

Dress: Old Navy

Leggings: Nordstroms

Boots: Target

That's all for this week! Happy almost Thanksgiving!

Ready for Turkey?? Me too!

I am beyond ready to "Gather" with my people this week and EAT!

What a strange week it has been! Monday was smoooooth at school! I got like 20 kids assessed in math, we worked on Thanksgiving crafts and then on Tuesday it got all weird!! 

We started the day with a strange storm, it was only raining when we got into the car and drove to school, by the time we started walking into the building my umbrella had been flipped inside out and it was a blizzard!

The morning went fairly well, the kiddos were excited about the snow, but it was pretty uneventful and then 11 am hit! Right at the beginning of specials/plan time I was all checking my email and trying to get ready for the afternoon when, dun dun da dun! The fire alarm started going off!! Um, what?!? 

Everyone was SO confused, middle school was on their way to switching classes, 1st and 4th grade were just getting to lunch, and it was a blizzard outside! (I am actually exaggerating, but it was really cold!)

So there we all were 600 children and teachers all freezing, no coats waiting for the fire department to come and clear the building. So we huddled together like penguins to warm the children for 30 minutes in the cold. I get it, we were trying to keep everyone safe, but wowza, that was a long 30 minutes!!

Turns out bathroom spray, if sprayed near a fire alarm, will in fact, make it go off and force an evacuation!

The rest of the day was a fog, no plan, 15 minutes for lunch and then a long afternoon of kids who did NOT want to do math!

Then I got a call from my mister saying he was having a wisdom tooth pulled?!? This day could not have been more strange! Turns out, his toothache this weekend, was really a cracked wisdom tooth! He is tough, I tell you. He had the sucker pulled and was back to work by 3. Crazy I tell you!

Then, as if the day was not crazy enough we had staff bowling tournament in our hallway with, that's right frozen turkeys... 

While my team, the Cool Whip Mamas, did not win, we were surprisingly good at whipping a frozen turkey down a hallway! 

After all the weird, I am THANKFUL to be home in my warm house, on Thanksgiving break. Bring on the Turkey!

Chapter Chat and Hot Chocolate Dip

Book club, I mean Chapter Chat, is back up and running. We took a little break for about a year because life was just too busy for everyone. Life is no less busy, but I missed getting together with my girls!

At our last meeting, my book reading buddy and I googled ways to keep your book club together, just for fun. One of the suggestions was to give your book club a spiffy name, we chose the cheesy ridiculousness of "Chapter Chat". Done!

                                        
At our meeting last weekend, we read The Girl on the Train. It was a super good read! I finished in like two days a few weeks ago when my kids were sick and I had nothing to do but sit on the couch and watch Paw Patrol.

It is about this crazy lady who rides the train to London every day and at one of the stops she sees a couple that she has made up identities for, like they know each other and are friends. Then it gets complicated... One day she sees the lady in the couple, who she has named Jess, kissing another man. Then some time later Jess, whose real name is Ann,a goes missing.

The main character Rachel, who is mentally a hot mess express, thinks that she has some important information about Anna's disappearance, but was black out drunk the night everything happened. There is also a crazy back story about Rachel's ex-husband and his new wife and they are all linked together by the missing girl.

If you like some mystery and suspense, this book is right up your alley, it is a great read...Now I can't wait to watch the movie!

If you like a sweet treat with your book, I have just the thing...Hot chocolate dip! This could be a game changer for parties in the future!

So easy and yumm-o!

You need:

8 oz cream cheese

1 tub of marshmallow fluff

2 packets of cocoa mix

First, whip together the cream cheese and marshmallow fluff  with a mixer until it is smooth. Then fold in the cocoa mix by hand...

Pop it into the fridge to firm up and chill for about an hour

Then go to town! We ate ours with Chips Ahoy minis and strawberries! I have decided that this would be deliciouso with any fruit! We will be making this again for sure!