Homecoming

Vivianna's Cheerleading team had their Homecoming on Saturday.

 It was ADORABLE.

 

Football is big in Texas...and the mums are too.

 

We start it up at a young age around here too.

 

The girls ride on their own float in the highschool parade:

 

They were announced over the stadium speaker and escorted onto the field by our football players.

 

 

You can see the crowds of people that swarm to see 2nd grade football....HA!

 

One day we will perform for a packed stadium,

Baby Girl...just you wait and see.

 

This face was born for Friday night lights.

 

 

I LOVE being a cheer mom.

It has been one of my biggest motherhood joys.

 

Even Jasmine got in on the action with an itty bitty sister mum made by the cheer director.

 

Look at these sassy, gorgeous girls.

Happy Homecoming 2013, Cougars!!

Give Hope To The Hadens

 

Tomorrow, Thursday Sept. 19th is "Get Up And Give" Day in North Texas. I wanted to showcase a close family of ours who are trying to raise money for a wheelchair accessible van for their 9 year old. 

I was in the delivery room when their daughter, Elise was born. We found out the next day the profound effects that the in-utero virus she contracted caused...blindness and deafness being the earliest known issues. Her family blog is: Life With Elise.

 

Over the past 9 years, her family has seen Elise's health needs increase as she has only gotten bigger. This is a BIG need for the Haden family. I hope we can end Ashley ever having to do this again:

 And I hope you will join with us in making a donation. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/givehopetothehadens

Cheerleading 2013

 My baby girl is back to cheering again this fall.

This time as a Cougar!

 I am cheer team mom and the social events coordinator. So far we have had a season kick off pool party. I am planning a popcorn and pajama party. I also did the spirit sticks. One cheerleader is awarded at each game with a spirit stick by the Coach because of a great practice.

I love my cheerleading babe.

Podcast!

In November, I will be a main session speaker at a Women's Retreat for Adoptive Moms in Maryland. I am very excited about this opportunity...recently I was asked to record a podcast about what I will be speaking on. I thought you all might want a chance to hear my voice. Sidenote: I sooo wish I had a cute southern drawl. But I don't. So just go with it. ;)

Joy for the Journey Podcast.

My Classroom!!!

  I have spent the last two weeks solid fixing up my preschool classroom.
I will be the only teacher in my room of 3's, five days a week...with 12 children a day.

 

I am looking forward to it and wanted my classroom to reflect my JOY in teaching preschool.

It was a bare slate to work with.
Thankfully I had all of the furniture a teacher could wish for at my disposal.

 Lots of space and a split room/ half carpet and half tile. PLUS a supply closet, a sink and a kids bathroom! AND a window...who could ask for more?

With the help of Dollar Tree, Hobby Lobby, Mardel, and Michaels...I was able to get my room ready to welcome young children!

This shelf is what you see when you walk in. It is for teacher touching only and has bins to organize all of my lesson plan activities for the week.

 

The rest of these photos are pretty self explanatory!

I think it is important to offer books in EVERY corner of the room. There are truck books in block center, children's cook books in home living, a class library near the rug, and books in writing center!

 
Next to circle time is a tent I set up as the "calming corner". This allows children to have a little time away from the group if they are feeling overwhelmed. There are activities of a sensory nature to do in the tent to calm down.

 

 

I am very excited to be teaching 5 days a week.

Jasmine will be right next door in 2's preschool.

 

Our first two weeks are themed "Going to school and I make friends at school".
There are lots of apple activities and school buses at the first of a new school year. :)