Super Thankful!

I truly do love how this time of the year reminds me to reflect on all that I am thankful for.  I'm thankful for so many things and feel truly blessed!  When I saw this linky from Primary Powers, I knew I needed to link up!  Not only is it super cute, but it's made me feel super thankful!

Click the Super Thankful Linky above to join in on the fun!

-Liz

Five for Friday

TGIF!!!  Wowza, this week was a doozie!  Here were some of the more positive highlights :)

1.  This week definitely needed a caffeine boost.  What better way than a piping hot Starbucks on a rainy day?

2.  A student brought me the most beautiful tulip!  It opened up throughout the day and brought a smile to my face every time I passed by! 

3.  Date Night with my guy!  We had a delicious sushi dinner out and then saw the movie 42, which obviously had to include Junior Mints. (Great movie, by the way!)

4.  High School students came to visit our class to teach our kiddos sign language.  Not only were my little babies excited to show me all the signs they learned (Ms. Fowler, this means giraffe! Watch this!  I can sign "popcorn"!), but it was also an excellent teaching opportunity about accepting differences in others.  We strayed from my lesson plans to talk about differences in communication, sight, learning and body types and why we need to always look at what is on the inside of a person.  My little ones were so earnest to share their hearts!  I'm one proud teacher :)

5.  One of my little ones who has come soooooo far this year and exceeded my expectations from when he first arrived at our school wrote me this note:

I love my Fowler I got Kookabirds

Apparently I am right up there with his beloved Angry Birds game.  I'll gladly accept :)

How was your week?  Link up here and share!  Don't forget to comment or follow the two bloggers before you!

-Liz

The Noun Game - Linky Party!

I'm joining Flying Into First Grade's Noun Game for her weekly linky party.  Here we go!

Person:
My Man is such a serious blessing to me.  He is absolutely my best friend, my greatest encourager, and can always make me laugh.  He listens to me and supports me through everything - not to mention he comes from a teacher family, so he "gets it" when I have my school conversations!  Ah, I just love him!

Place:  
Lawrence, Kansas, home of the Kansas Jayhawks.  If you have read anything on my blog, you've probably noticed I'm a huge Jayhawk fan (especially basketball!).  I earned both of my degrees from KU.  I spent countless hours camping out for great basketball seats.  I met my best friends through classes, my sorority, and campus ministry groups at KU.  I proudly walked down the hill at graduation and knew I was a Jayhawk for life. I try to visit Lawrence whenever I can, and I still get goosebumps when I drive down the big hill to campus.  So many wonderful memories!

photo by Jen Logan

Thing:  Coffee.  I love coffee and all things that go with coffee!  Whether that means a fresh new day, an afternoon break to catch up with an old friend, or just the warming smell in general, coffee always makes me happy. :) 

Animal:  My Little Man is Henry and he stole my heart from the first time I met him.  I went to the Humane Society "just to look" and this little guy wooed me with his sweet and curious personality (not to mention it looks like he is wearing a tuxedo.)  He brightens my day with a greeting as soon as I get home and is always ready to cuddle.  

What are your favorite nouns?  Link up here and share!

Ending Sunday Funday with this post,

Liz

Five for Friday

Happy Friday, everyone!

Wow, I've had an ah-mazing Spring Break and could probably turn this into 100 for Friday...but let's face it, that just doesn't sound as catchy :)  While not much of my break was filled with teacher related things, I'll still share some highlights!

1.  My boys won the Big XII Championship!  Tonight they play their first NCAA Tournament game and I'm so excited!  ROCK CHALK!

2.  I adopted a new baby! Isn't it beautiful? (Don't mind me in the background - that was a day after traveling and shopping-til-we-were-dropping.)

3.  Another fun purchase:  I snagged these guys on a great sale!  Normally each Stila lipgloss is $8 at Ulta, but these were 3 for $15!  My lips will be ready for spring.

4.  Lots of Family Time:  My mom and I had a Girls' Day Out and somehow managed to make time to stop into a delicious bakery.  These little guys were delicious!!  (Ok, by now are you seeing how much I love March Madness?  Goodness!)

My brother also came for a visit, so the whole family was reunited.  We had lots of dinners out and lots of laughs.  Family is so wonderful :)

5.  YOU!  Last week was the first week I've ever linked up to Five for Friday and one of my first linky parties in general.  I was seriously so touched at the kind comments I received and just how sweet and thoughtful you all are!  It's sometimes scary to try a new thing (in my case, this blog) but so many of you reached out to offer your wisdom and support!  It's the little things that keep us teachers positive and strong, and the kind words definitely kept me in high spirits!

What are your Fives for this week?  Link up here!  Don't forget to comment and/or follow the last two bloggers before you! :)

Overusing exclamation marks as always,

-Liz!

(haha, had to do it!)

Five For Friday

One of my favorite things to read on blogs are the little random bits, like Five for Fridays.  I'm excited to join in on the fun this week!

1.  A rainy weekend made it the perfect couple of days to stay cuddled up inside.  This is how my Saturday morning started out and I loved it!

2.  My Man celebrated his birthday on Monday and was sooo excited about his new shoes I gave him that he had to try them on right away.  Isn't he so stinkin' cute? :)

3.  The Bachelor finale was also a highlight of the week (DVRd to give all celebration to My Man on Monday, of course).  I couldn't help but get a little teary eyed at how happy Catherine and Sean seemed.  I know it's reality television at its finest, but I always hope that one of these times it really will be love...or at least a significant dating relationship!

4.  I had my first sale on TeachersPayTeachers!  It felt amazing!  I truly love creating new classroom resources and it was a little nerve-wracking putting them out there to see if others enjoyed them, too.  Now I feel even more encouraged and inspired!  They like me, they really like me! :)  I have put up a few more items this week, so please come visit!  

I need to get better about taking photos of my students as they work on our fun projects, but I at least did snap this photo of my wall outside the classroom with our March Madness activity (which was also part of my first sale on TPT).  I know, it isn't the snazziest hallway art, but we had a lot of fun working on our skills and talking about basketball!

5.  Today is the last day of school before Spring Break!  Whoo-hoo!! 

Remember in middle school when all of our notes were signed "LYLAS" or "Love You Like A Sister"? Can I sign off on posts that way, too?  Let's try it!

LYLAS,

Liz

Let's Get To Know Each Other!

What a perfect Linky Party for someone just starting a blog!  The topic this week is to list three things about ourselves or three things we like to do using our initials.  Hmm...

Well let me first say that my legal name is Elizabeth but since the beginning of time I've gone by Liz. I'll stick with that for this post, too.

So for L:


Lauging! I know that's not a super unique trait, but I do love laughing and I think I'm pretty good at it (see, even that awful brag just made me giggle!).  I have been blessed by a witty family, hilarious friends and since I teach first grade, I feel like I always have many laughs each day with the kiddos.  This weekend I get to kick off my spring break by a girls weekend with my ol' sorority sisters, so I know we will have a ton of laughs together!

(some of the lovely ladies I'll be reunited with this weekend!)

Y- Uhhhh.... Once again, my strange middle name makes something difficult!  I think I'll go with the YMCA.  Where I'm from, there are Ys aplenty, so it's hard to find an excuse not to get to the gym.  I do love to move around, especially after a stressful day at school.  I've found that it is the best at easing tension and taking my mind off of all those things that keep my brain buzzing.  My favorite type of exercise is Turbokick, a super-fun class the Y offers.  Who wouldn't love dancing and punching away that stress? 

F - Food.  I love eating, I love trying new dishes, I love cooking, and I love FOOD! I feel like I'm always eating.  Let's not forget the beverages that also go with food, such as a strong cup of coffee with a bagel or a nice glass of red wine with dinner at night, which are loves of mine as well.  I've also become a huge Pioneer Woman fan - Ree is amazing! 

Link up to this party too!  Don't forget to read and comment on the last two bloggers who posted :)