Snowmen {freebie} and an Award!

My class had so much fun with the turkey and Santa, that I decided to do a snowman. To help my class with their snowman and to give them ideas, I first read Snowballs by Lois Ehlert.

I then asked if they wanted to decorate a snowman at home and bring it to school. They squealed so loud I think my Principal heard it! (and I am at the end of a very very very very very long hallway!)

Here is the letter I sent home, along with the snowman (I had the students cut the snowman out and glue it to a piece of construction paper. Next I printed out the letter and stapled it to their snowman):

Snowman Letter to Parents

 You could use the snowman I attached, or you could give the students white construction paper and have them tear out circles and glue them on a piece of construction paper (I used blue construction paper). I was short on time yesterday when we did this activity, so I just used the template, but if I had more time it would be so much cuter and lots more fun for the kids to make their own "snowballs" and "snowman".

Speaking of snowmen, have you visited Playing with Pixie Dust? They have the cutest snowman freebie for you! I just love it!!! :)

Now, onto the Awards!  I was graciously given an award from some super sweet bloggers -  Holly from Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade, Julia from Loving and Learning in Pre-K, and Michelle from Inspired by Kindergarten gave me this award:

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I am so honored!

Here are the rules for accepting the award:1. Thank the person that nominated you with a link back to them.

2. Tell 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this award on to 15 newly discovered blogs and let them know that they've received an award!

So, here are 7 things about me:

1. I LOVE to cook! Especially Italian food!

2. I am full blooded Italian (I am 3rd generation American - My great grandparents came to America)

3.  My husband and I have been married for going on 19 years and have been together for going on 22 years! (Yes, I am old! But when I say that to my 6-yr-old he tells me "Mommy, you aren't old, your pretty!" Gotta love the words of a 6-year-old!)

4.  I have lived in Texas all my life! (But I have family all over the US - so I get to visit some fun places!)

5.  I love College football! I have loved watching all these bowl games! Can't wait for the LSU vs Bama game! :)

6.  Maroon is my absolute favorite color! (Can you guess why????)  But I do LOVE Pink, Purple, Blue, and Red! (Although, I wear a LOT of black!)

7.  I am a blessed with some wonderful friends and family who support me and help me get through each and every day! Without them I would be completely crazy right now! (Well... If you ask my kids, I am already crazy! But aren't we all, just a little bit crazy?!!!)

Now, to pass this award on to some other bloggers!

Kindergarten for Teachers and Parents

Playing with Pixie Dust

Time 4 Kindergarten

Little Miss Kindergarten

Eberharts Explorers

Cole's Little Pups

Ok - I know I was supposed to give this to 15 blogs, but my daughter is begging me to take her shopping... So I am breaking the rules! Sorry! :(

Have a Happy Saturday! :)

Awards Galore!

I am such a blessed person! I have so many bloggy friends and everyone is so loving and giving! Thank you!  I have really been blessed with some wonderful awards!

Holly from Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade, Barbara of The Corner on Character,  Lisa from A Teacher's Bag of Tricks,  Julia from Loving and Learning in Pre-K, Michelle of Inspired by Kindergarten, Diana of Cole's Little Pups, Kinderdi, Molly of Classroom Confetti, and Traci of Dragonflies in First awarded me The Liebster Blog Award:

Here are the rules:

1.  Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. Thank the giver and link back to them 
3. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog. 
4. Hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers!!  

To Spread the Love, I am giving this award to:

MelonHeadz Illustrating (don't you LOVE her clip art!)

 KinderKaren

Class Full of "Special" Kinders

Busy in K

Trainin' to be a Texan

Mrs. Egley's Kindergarten

Thanks again to all my wonderful Blog Friends! I love y'all  too! (in my good Texas twang voice!) :)

In other good news.... Thistlegirl had a 12 days of Christmas. On day 12 she a gave away a 50% off coupon! (If you hurry before 11:59pm tonight - Dec. 27th, you might be able to snag one and use it on anything in her store!) I used it to buy my Lifetime Membership and Reseller License! Yahoo!!!! Whoop! :) Super excited! Now, I am getting closer to making items and opening a store! :)
(and FYI - DJ Inkers changed their T.O.U. policy and no one can post their freebies using their products anymore - so sad!) :(

I am hitting the Texas roads to visit family in Granbury! If I don't get a chance to post again, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone has a safe and happy 2012! I know it is going to be a super, exciting and great year!!!! :)

Christmas - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!

Wow! Has this year flown by or what?!  I have had soooo many blog ideas to post, but time is just slipping away! (And my husband says I am a "Blog Addict" and I need an intervention, so he has been hogging the computer or having my children hog the computer, so I can't "feed" my addiction. I manage to sneak in a few minutes, but then he notices and starts shoving  pushing gently moving me out of the computer chair, so I won't "feed" my addiction. Ahhh... to have a husband who understands... That is my Christmas Wish!!!) Anywhoooo.... He is hunting (smiles!) so the kids are eating pizza and watching Prep and Landing and I am blogging! Wahooooo!

I had two wonderful Bloggy Friends bless me with the Sunshine Award! Thank you Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade and Climbing the Monkey Bars! Y'all Rock!!!  Wow! Y'all picked little ol' me! :) Smiles are on my face as I say Sunshine! (I love the song You are my Sunshine and every time I hear the word I smile!)

Here are the rules for this award:

1.  Thank the person(s) who gave this award and if you would like to, write a post about it.
2. Answer the following questions below.
3. Pass the award to 10-12 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs and let them know you awarded them.
My answers:
-  Favorite color? I don't have one, but when someone asks I say either Pink or Purple
-  Favorite animal? Koala bear :)
-  Favorite number? 8
-  Favorite drink? Hot Tea
-  Facebook or Twitter?   Facebook (but as Holly of Crisscross said "blogging has sort of replaced that addiction though!")
-  Your passion? God, My Family, My Love of Teaching, and Blogs!!!!!!!
-  Giving or getting presents? I SOOOO love to give!
-  Favorite day?  Saturday
- Favorite flower? Daisy

Wow.... I can only pass this on to 10-12 blogs? Really???

Well.... If I can only do 10-12, here goes:

Can Do Kinders

Heather's Heart

Herding Kats in Kindergarten

Kinder Kraziness

Kindergarten Korner
Kreative in Kinder

Little Miss Kindergarten
Live, Love, Laugh Everyday in Kindergarten
Mrs. Miner

Mrs. Wills

Ms. Preppy

Now... To talk more about Christmas! (Oh - Prep and Landing is over, thank goodness for Phineas and Ferb Christmas! OK - don't judge me because my kiddos are being "babysat" by the TV while I blog - yes I am an addict! Isn't  admission the first step in recovery? Except, I don't want to recover!)

This week my class read the book Santa's New Suit   by Laura Rader.  Then we talked about what Santa should wear for Christmas. Then I sent them home with an adorable Santa in his underwear and they get to dress him up!  I love this family activity! When I get some finished Santa pictures, I will take pictures and post them so you can see how cute they are! At right is a picture of the Santa I use, but I have no idea where I got it from so I really

don't think I can share it. Anyone have any idea where I can buy some clipart with Santa in his undies? I do have a letter to the parents I send home I could share (if it wasn't at school!).  I will have to post that later!
Teaching Blog Addict is having a favorite Holiday Book Linky party. For more wonderful Holiday books head over there!

Have you visited Oh' Boy 4th Grade's 12 days of Christmas yet? Look at her cute pic?

Isn't she creative? Some awesome teachers! Some awesome goodies!

I do love Christmas! Enjoy your weekend! Rest up! This is a busy time of year! :)

Feeling HOT! HOT! HOT!

Wow! Am I a lucky girl or what??!!!  I was nominated, not once, not twice, but three times for the Blogs on Fire award! Wow!!!! I feel so honored and so special! Teacher Tam's Educational Adventures, Climbing the Monkey Bars! and Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade all nominated little ol' me for this awesome award! Wow! I feel so honored!

Okay, now to follow the rules.... the rules are that I have to tell 7 things about myself and nominate 7 more blogs for the award, so here goes....

1. I always wanted to be a teacher, (especially a Kindergarten teacher, thanks to the fabulous Kindergarten teachers that taught me - Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Burton and Mrs. Medley - I adored them!)  but was always talked out of it by my family. So I graduated with a B.S. degree in something else and when my daughter was a baby, went back to school to get my teaching certificate. :)

2. I adore dark chocolate! YUM! Lindt dark chocolate truffles or Ghirardelli 72% Dark brightens my lunch time almost everyday! I can have just one and I am on the road to a pleasant afternoon (well, some days it takes more than one, but that's a topic for another post).

3. I love hot tea in the mornings! Drink it every morning - it wakes me up! I do love coffee, but it makes me jittery, so I try to stick to Decaf tea - (although, when it is cold, you will see me drink coffee with a peppermint stick - Yummers!)

4. I love the smell and taste of cinnamon! I (Maybe that is why I love apple pie and pumpkin pie!) I put it on my oatmeal or toast in the morning!

5. I am a Texas girl who loves to cook, loves her manners -(I say Please, thank you, yes mam and expect my children to do the same).

6. I love bling! Especially sparkly shirts! This summer someone gave away a cute blingy shirt and now I can't find the website and I so want to order a Kindergarten Rocks shirt! (If you know who or what I am talking about, please help me! Thanks in advance for your sweetness!!!!)

7. I am 100% Italian! My great grandparents came to America - so that makes me 3rd generation American. I went to Italy in 2008 with my family to see my parents renew their wedding vows in the same church my great grandparents got married in! It was very memorable and special.  I lost my mother to Cancer in 2010 and now, my sweet Daddy is bonding with his children by taking us to Italy next Summer to learn to cook! I am super excited and can not wait! My husband can wait though, because he has to stay behind with the kids! (Sorry Honey!)

Now to nominate 7 more Blogs that I think are on fire...... (I adore all the ones that nominated me... I wish I could nominate them again!).....

Heather's Heart

Who do you think is on fire?