This Week's Favorites

Today I'm linking up with Andrea, Narci and Erika today and sharing some favorites from my week.

Want to know one of my most favorite days of the year? ...my birthday of course. 

Well, yesterday I entered into a new decade and I'm believing now that it's going to be my most favorite yet. Go Team 30 :)

Another favorite part of my birthday was sharing some of my favorite treats with some of my favorite kids. 

And I can't forget about about all the birthday messages I got throughout the day. Wow! People acknowledging me is my favorite :)

Another favorite part of my week was all the sunrises and sunsets I got to see as a result of early morning drives and a few late night drives, as well. Having to wake up so incredibly early may not be my favorite, but seeing those beautiful skies definitely are my favorite.

Want to know what else is my favorite? Incorporating fun educational games into my lesson plans are my favorite, but mostly so because they're also my kids' favorite too. And let's face it... Any time I can find an activity they'll consider their favorite and I'll consider to be educational, it's a win. Scratch that... It's my favorite :)

Earlier this week, something that is most definitely not my favorite happened. I got a flat tire. I called my mom, semi-freaked out, and then pulled myself together to call for help, since I don't know how to change a tire. I tried a couple of my favorites that live in the area, but no one was home/free. So my uncle suggested I call the local police. Let me just say this... Cops that come out and help me by changing my flat tire are most definitely my favorite. 

And speaking of cops... People that constantly criticize all cops, calling them all "bad" are not my favorite. The cops that really are crooked, that break the law and break the cop's code of ethics (or whatever it would be called), are not my favorite. They are "bad." But y'all... Not all cops are like that. The majority of cops in the world really are good. And good cops rank pretty high on my list of favorite people. Cops like the one that came out and helped me the other night...

And now on a far less serious topic... :)

Coming home and seeing my mom's new favorite wall was a favorite part of my week. Those girls are most definitely my two favorites.

Sonic is my favorite. I often get a large cup of ice water from them. Sonic's ice is my absolute favorite! And their styrofoam cups... Well, they're my favorite because the styrofoam keeps my drink cold. I love that! 

Last Friday, I wrote a post on my favorite parts of my classroom. Since then, I've added a few new favorite things, like updating my favorite reading bulletin board.

And I love getting to visit other classrooms, while working with my kiddos, and getting ideas from other teachers. 

Today's and yesterday's lunch was another favorite part of my week. I had brought all sorts of salad fixings yesterday (my favorite day) to share with some of my favorite people.

Another favorite part of my week was some of these funny 30th birthday memes. 

And now, it's about time to end this post on my favorites from this week. 

While I did have quite a few favorites this week, I'm so happy today's Friday. Fridays are definitely my favorite! And I'm looking forward to this weekend, when I'll get to spend time with my favorite people - my family :)

Happy 30th Birthday to Me

Guess what guys and gals...

30 years ago this chubby cheeked bundle of awesomeness was born in the small town of Greensboro, Alabama...

That's right. I entered this world three whole decades ago. 

So in honor of that monumental occasion, I decided to use today's blog post to take a look back at yours truly over the last 30 years...

Wasn't I just the cutest baby? :)

Apparently, I was quite fond of chocolate icing when I was younger. ...which is actually a little ironic since I could totally live without it now.

I've always had a head full of curly hair.

And oh my word... Look at those bangs. It's just like one curl on top of another :)

How about a few school photos...

1st grade...

3rd grade...

And 5th grade...

And now a few shots with my Bubba...

First up is the Christmas where we sported our matching Precious Moments sweatshirts. Yep. We were cool :)

Or the picture where I thought I was hot stuff buddy. Look at me posing. And oh my goodness, look how cute my brother was :)

Or how about this one? We were visiting my Papa one summer and it just so happened that my birthday happened while we were there. So we had yummy cupcakes (with chocolate icing, of course) and my Papa's homemade peach ice cream. 

Anywho - I don't know which part was better. My brother's almost mullet or the look on his face. I can't figure out if he was excited for me or just trying to blow out my candles. Haha :)

There was my one and only stint at athletic participation. It was just enough to assure anyone around that I, Elisabeth Nichols, have absolutely zero skills in the area of athletics. Yep, I am indeed, quite athletically challenged.

And to wrap up this post of pictures of yours truly...

Here's one of my favorite pictures with me and my Daddy. I was maybe 3 months old.

Y'all, today was so incredibly bittersweet and such an emotional roller coaster. After going through these pictures last night, I started getting incredibly "down," and couldn't really figure out why.

This morning it finally hit me.

Today's my birthday - but not just any birthday. It's my first birthday since my dad passed away. And dear Lord, did it hit me hard. ...as in big, ugly crying before work, all the way to work, and then sitting in the car once I got there for a good 5 to 10 minutes, just to compose myself before going inside. It was just that bad.

But then I got a text from my brother that made me smile.

And then I got to work and all that sadness went away. Not only did I get to see my kiddos again, but I also brought lunch to share with my Special Ed. ladies. And yes, that is a fully-caffeinated diet Dr. Pepper. ...because calories and caffeine levels don't count on your birthday. It's rule. I'm sure of it :)

I also shared cupcakes with my kids. They thought it was the coolest thing ever that Miss Nichols was bringing birthday cupcakes to share :)

Then I got home and was greeted by an awesome birthday present,

a delicious dinner of some of my favorite foods,

and a yummy birthday cake which was topped in only the best, most delicious homemade peanut butter frosting. YUM!

Tuesday's Letters

Dear Summer, You were awesome. ...so awesome! I so incredibly enjoyed you and I'm so sad to see you go. Thanks for being so good to me.

Dear Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper, I bought you the other day. Here's hoping I can drink you and trick my brain into thinking it's getting the real thing. The diet part won't be a problem. It's the caffeine free part is what's going to be a killer for me.

Dear Dieting, You're kinda hard. Just sayin'. But don't worry. I WILL get it done!

Dear Plane Tickets, Guess who's looking for you. Yep, Thanksgiving trip here I come :)

Dear Teaching, I'm so so so so so ready for to start back doing you. This summer was awesome, but God knows I really am ready for school to start back.

Dear Special Ed, I love teaching you. You're my favorite ;) 

Dear Tea and Lemon, You're the scent of the newest candle I bought. I love it!

Dear Faith, You were the topic of the sermon at church this past Sunday morning. What an on time word from The Lord for me!

Dear Full Time Ministry, I so miss you. 

Dear Alarm Clock, You and I haven't spent much time together this summer. I must say, I've really enjoyed that. And I'm not really looking forward to your upcoming presence in my life. 

Dear Pedicure, You're such a nice way to treat myself. 

Dear Nieces, I've so enjoyed being able to spend so much time with you this summer. And I'm going to miss seeing you so much when school starts back this week. Tell your mom and dad to bring y'all over some time :)

Dear 30, You're how old I'll be in just two short days. That's right. On Thursday, I'll enter into a new decade. How is that even possible?! Shouldn't I still be a kid and not an almost 30 year old grown up?! :)

Dear It Really Doesn't Matter, You're how I feel about turning 30. Honest to God, it's just another birthday. I just like the funniness of those :)

Why do I teach?

Why do I teach?

...because I only have to work from 7:30 to 3:30 and get my entire summer off. Ha! 

*Please note the sarcasm in the above statement.

Let's be honest. Very few teachers ever get the entire summer free. There are workshops and conferences and lesson planning and researching and setting up a classroom and so much more...

Anywho - Rant over.

So seriously... Why do I teach? 

I teach because I love working with children. They're fun to work with. They're usually brutally honest. They let you know if they love you. And they let you know if you're being stupid and need to check your attitude :)

I teach because I love learning.

I teach because I love seeing a kid who's been struggling for a long time finally have that lightbulb moment.

I teach because I have the chance to be an advocate/voice for those who cannot be so for themselves.

I teach because I want to help my students find their way in this big, and sometimes scary, world.

I teach because I love a good challenge. 

I teach because I love to prove people wrong when they say a certain child cannot learn. 

I teach because I want to open my students' eyes to the world outside of their often limited view.

I teach because I love school supplies. *Just kidding.* 

I teach because I love getting to know a child, finding out his interests and how he best learns, and then combining those to teach him in a way that gives him the best chance for learning.

I teach because I love to inspire my students.

I teach because my students inspire me.

I teach because I want my students to always feel loved and encouraged.

I teach because I love the thought of impacting the future leaders of our world.

I teach because it's my heart. It's my passion. It's my calling.

Hello August

It's August! 

...the absolute BEST month of the year! 

Why? ...my birthday, of course :)

Little known fact... Did you know (in the U.S.) that August is the only month with no holiday? 

Anywho... 

Here's what I'm planning to say hello to this month...

1. Getting back into a routine.

Y'all, I love summer time and having no need for an alarm clock just as much as the next person. But let's face it. I love a good routine. Give me a classroom, a schedule, and a bunch of kids to teach, and I'm a happy girl.

2. My Birthday!!!

So my birthday is this coming Thursday. I sometimes wonder how it's possible that I'm turning 30. Wasn't I just a kid?! :)

You know what's sad though? I have to work on my birthday. It's the first day for students at my school. Oh well, such is life for a grown up. It's a good thing I like what I do :)

3. My Niece's Birthday

I can't believe that little bitty baby will be 3 years old next week! I'm super excited to be spending the day with her (and everyone else too, of course)! 

4. Less Caffeine

Well, actually I said hello to this last month, but you get the idea... Y'all caffeine does a number on me. So I've made a rule to not have any after lunch anymore. 

Why? ...because I like my sleep :)

5. A New Computer

Sadly my computer decided it doesn't like me anymore. So I'm having to end our 5 year relationship and order a replacement. I had a MacBook Pro and have absolutely loved it. So the question is... Do I get another MacBook Pro or do I go for something else? Hmm....

6. Quiet Time 

And speaking of computers...

Y'all I use the computer a LOT at work. There's lesson planning, note taking, helping kids with activities/games, helping kids with research, my own research, running the Smart Board, testing, IEPs, and on and on and on...

Anywho - Due to all of that, I really am looking forward to a little technological silence when I get home from work. As in, turn off my laptop, leave my phone on silent, etc. 

So there ya go. That's just a little of what I have planned for August.

What about you? What do you plan to say hello to this month?