New Year's Eve Party Printables for 2015 (Free!)

We had a fabulous NYE party LAST year and I have updated my New Year's Eve Party Printables for 2015. It's a FREE download in case you are throwing a NYE party and need some cute decor etc.

Get the Free Printables HERE!

….here are just a few pics from our party last year...

 Not the best pic but we had little party favors with Hershey's kisses and fortune cookies.

Our Cupcake Countdown Clock!

Saw something similar on Pinterest, of course. The idea was to move the hour hand each hour. Only moved it once before our guests started eating them!

Extra cupcakes had these cute toppers.

We had the mock "Photo Booth" which was quite a hit.

Fun Night!

 Even the little ones had fun with the props!

I had found this app Insta Booth where you can easily do Photo booth type pics. It was a free app and very easy to use. Here are few of our pics!

I liked how I could simply modify the templates to make the strips exactly how I wanted them. 

You can find the FREE printables for all of the cupcake toppers, photo booth props, banner etc HERE!

First Day Pics and a FLASH FREEBIE!

My big girl had a great FIRST day of Kindergarten! Actually, she had a fantastic first week and literally cried that we didn't have school today, on a Saturday. 

Here are a few of her first day pics with my First and Last Day of School Signs. 

Here was the pic I posted on FB that morning. I made it in PowerPoint and saved as a PNG. Super easy. 

Sorry for the over posting of pics but they turned out pretty cute!

If you like the signs...guess what?! They are now FREE in my TpT store Sunday and Monday only! 

EDITABLE First & Last Day of School Signs...

Set includes signs starting with Pre-K all the way to Senior Year!

Just add the year. ;)

That's right...FLASH FREEBIE now thru Labor Day. 

Head on over to my TpT store to download your copy free. Please leave some feedback and provide a rating if you snag it for free!

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Back to the First Day...

Here is my sassy girl posing with her backpack.

We made her teacher a flower arrangement and vase with magnetic letters. 

Thank you, Pinterest, for the inspiration. 

Myla and new friend, Emerson, are ready for school!

Myla with her teacher, Mrs. See. 

She looks so big!

It was so great, I got to see her in the hallway twice during the day and both times she was wearing a BIG smile. Makes my day. 

Crazy how the minute she walked into my classroom after school as I listened to her babble on about her first day (she could've been a bit delirious) I couldn't help but think about how much she has grown up. 

I'm so proud of her and look forward to seeing her in the hallways every day!!

Love you sweet girl and here's to many more "First Days"!!

An Open Letter to my Kindergartener

Dear Myla,

Tomorrow is the big day. Your first day of kindergarten. Wasn't it just yesterday when you made your grand entrance into this world, all tiny and perfect? Wasn't it just yesterday when I held you in my arms as you slept so peacefully on my chest?

Oh, yes, actually it was...

A rare moment treat for us...

JUST.YESTERDAY.

It is hard to believe and without being overly cliche...it's crazy. It's crazy how fast time goes and it's crazy how I love you more and more with each passing day. I didn't know it was possible to love someone so much, so unconditionally.

As you walk into your classroom tomorrow, I pray that you walk in confidently (I kinda think you will, knowing you). I pray that you remember all that we've taught you, so far, and use your manners. I pray that you always keep your servant's heart and show compassion to everyone around you. I pray that you try to include others and find good friends. I must trust that we've taught you well; to be kind, to be honest, to listen & learn, and to be open to new things.

I am so proud of you, Myla. You are resilient, loving, smart, thoughtful and beautiful, inside and out.

I know that tomorrow you may be a little anxious, a little scared. But I want you to remember you are not alone. Look around and observe others around you. Find another child who may be scared too. They might need a friend and a hug. You give the best hugs.

And I am so happy to remind you that you are not alone because I am right down the hallway! I'm ecstatic that I get to bring you to school with me every day! For the past five years, you were still sound asleep when I left for school and I only had the evenings to spend with you. Now, you are my sweet companion on the way to school, my classroom helper, my fellow Highlander. 

Most importantly, you are not alone because you have Jesus in your heart. HE is with you all the time. HE is within the halls of your school and in your classroom. I know you will find friends who HE lives within, just like you. HE is within your teacher, too. 

Myla, you're my angel, my special girl. 

Go on and let your light shine BRIGHT. You have a BIG future ahead of you and it all starts tomorrow.

I love you,

Mommy

(So we cheated and took her 1st Day pics today. More to come tomorrow!)

Timing is everything...but I'M not the one in control, I get it.

So I went up to school yesterday to get just a few things done and this happened. Well, hard to tell but I twisted my ankle. Slipped on the freshly waxed floors on my way to turn on the laminator. I hopped up so quick, brushed it off and thought I was fine. Knew my ankle hurt a little but definitely manageable. I continued to work in my classroom, hang border, stand on a stool to take down my word wall from last year...totally fine.

Once I got home and sat still for dinner, that's when the pain kicked in. Couldn't put any pressure on it at all. Immediately iced it with a bag of frozen edamame and kept it elevated. As I am laying there, I couldn't help but think of how this is NOT good timing. Last full week before we go back to work and I have barely made a dent in my classroom. I had planned to be up there all day today. Plus, we are having family come in town on Wednesday and a BIG family reunion this coming weekend to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. All I'm picturing is how my grandmother and I will have matching walkers. UGH!

Of course, things don't work out according to my timing. I know that. I'm not in control. 

(BREATHE) 

Because if I WAS in control, well, this wouldn't have happened as well as me having to go to the dr the day before for possible bronchitis/sinus infection. (Um, yeah...the dr didn't know what I had but just gave me a Z-pack.)

This is DEFINITELY God's way of telling me to SLOW DOWN. I'm often impatient when I can't get everything done and have a one-track mind until I do. Ugh, just a weakness of mine but I hear ya, Lord...loud and clear!

So, kept my leg elevated for 4 hours straight last night (and hubby loaded me up with 3 Aleve) while I cut out laminating and watched a movie. Like a whole 2 hour movie...don't do that very often. I don't like to be still for that long unless I'm at a theatre. Too much to do around the house...and 2 littles running around.

Anyway...fast-forward to this morning and I'm remarkably so much better. I can point and flex my foot and can put pressure on it. Not 100% but definitely not doctor-worthy. My husband went and got me an ankle brace and I will be fine in no time. I promise to take it easy today but I WILL, I repeat...I WILL be up at school tomorrow. 

I might need to stay secluded in my house just to ensure that no bad luck comes my way. And continued pleading and prayers to the only One in control!

Until then...

Day Trip to OK!

Yesterday we headed to Okmulgee, Oklahoma for Jeff's cousin, David's, wedding!

M is ready for the drive!

 We started the road trip off right with some doughnuts!

The kids were absolute angels for the drive. Of course, it was just a 3.5 hour drive (instead of our 15 hour treks to Colorado) and the kids had every technology device known to man to entertain.

Still they were awesome. Last year, I wrote about Road Trips with Kids: How to Survive. I will need to revisit this post before we leave for our 10 hour drive to the beach! We are so excited! We are going to Gulfport, MS with Jeff's parents for a nice little beach vacay! The kids are thrilled. Should be tons of fun!

Check out my Road trip posts HERE and Part 2 HERE.

Anyway, we got to Okmulgee and went straight to Jeff's parents hotel to change clothes for the wedding.

Daddy doing a terrific job brushing thru Myla's long hair

My crazy man

This would have been cute it Jeff didn't cut off my head...

Cousin Nate showing Myla his games before the wedding

Noah loved running around with cousin Rayvin

Myla with cousins Wren and Phoebe

Noah and Rayvin

 My pretty girl

And my sleep-deprived, silly boy

Jeff with the groom, cousin Chad and cousin Mariah

Myla and Mariah

Jeff with his sweet momma

Family pic!

Noah just wanted to "dunk it".

Heading home with some sleepy kiddos!

He did pretty good considering he played hard at the reception and he didn't have a nap all day. 

We had a great time!

Stay tuned for pics from the beach next week!