I hope I never have to use it!

Second day of PFD was definately a worthwhile Agenda. After a brief meeting, teachers were able to work in their classrooms until 12.30pm. Andrea, Peta, Jessica (Peta's replacement) and I sat down to decide on when we wanted Jessica to work in our rooms and when we would have our teacher aide (Pam). We also have a special ed teacher named Gaye. She is deaf and has an interpreter. She will be working with us as an extra teacher for 5 weeks. So once again that means lots of people in and out of my room, at least for the first 5 weeks.

While we had that time in our rooms I didn't get much in setup done because there was always someone that needed some information from me. I mean to say it is like over 1/2 the early phase teachers are  new. We have 2 new teachers in Prep, and new teacher in year 1 and one in year 2, 1 in year 3. We also have 2 new special ed teachers. But you all know how much I love being helpful, so I have been sharing planning, resources, smartboard activities, offering to help people set up virtual classrooms. So feel free to ask me for anything that you think I could help you with!

I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon session. We were trained in CPR. The presenter was very funny and entertaining. I found it very easy to remember with lots of acronyms. DRABCD - Danger, response, airways, breathing, compressions, defibulator. Easy 2 breaths, 30 compressions for any size person, no more different rates and ratios for different sized/aged people. Makes it so easy - But I really hope I never have to use it. However I would if someone needed my help!

Take care everyone. I'm looking forward to a day of FIRST STEPS IN MATHS - NUMBER tomorrow.

The end is in sight

Once again I headed into my classroom. When I arrived I couldn't beleive that the vinyl was down but the carpet was still pulled back. I thought that another day was wasted. Then the carpet guy turned up and fixed my end of the block. Followed by Dave coming in. He couldn't believe that the concertina doors were lying in the middle of my room. He promptly moved them out and then offered to move my furniture to where I wanted it. Thanks Dave!

My room is beginning to look like a classroom. I went to Kim and asked her if I could do some photocopying. She said yes, so I copied all of the pages for my sight word booklets, my first 3 sight word lists (flashcards -ready to perforate) and my homework for the first term. I feel so organised. Then Kim came and told me that the carpet in my block will be cleaned on Friday! Oh no, I just set up. Now I need to move everything except the big things back off the carpet. But it is worth the clean carpet as it is pretty filthy.

Here are my sight word booklets all bound and the back page in the school colours!

Our little friend was back again tonight. Very friendly and even does my headlice check for me! He is so young, his fur is fluffy and soft!

Surprise Visitor

Wow, what is all that commotion? Tara screaming and Liam yelling and running to try to get into the house. What on earth is going on? Then I see this baby possum trying to grab onto Liam's leg. Liam had long pants on and this little possum was determined  to climb Liam's legs.

We managed to convince Liam to stand still. The little possum climbed up his leg and tried to wrap his arms around Liam bottom. Liam freaked and the possum jumped over to Ardal and nibbled on a carrot until Tara the big brave girl, grabbed a towel and covered the possum. She picked him up and carried him out to a tree.

Now, I can come out of my room. I was hiding behind the door watching from a safe distance. I grabbed my camera and took some photos of our cute visitor.

What do you think? Is he cute?

Here he is hanging by his tail enjoying the carrot we used to coax him, so Tara could carry him outside.

Sea of purple!

Today Jessica was laid to rest. It was an absolutely beautiful service. We were asked to wear something purple as that is Jessica's favourite colour. There were well over a 1000 people present so the chapel was overflowing and as we walked to the gravesite, there was a beautiful sea of purple. My heart goes out to Janelle and Greg and I know I can not fathom the pain they must be experiencing. I know that losing one of my precious children would be unbearable. Butterflies were released as Jess was lowered into the ground.

May you rest in peace Jess!

Cherish the time you have with your family!

Yesterday I received news that my friend Jenelle Roberts had lost her precious dughter Jessica. She died on Saturday night/Sunday morning while sleeping at Jenelle's house with her husband Chris. Apparently it was very sudden, after waking up struggling to breathe she collapsed and died. How tragic to lose your child. My heart goes out to all of Jenelle and Jess's family and friends.

I keep telling my children, my family and my friends - so that means you - that I love you very much and I cherish the time I have spent with you over the years. You just never know when a life may be taken.

Today I spent the morning and a little of the afternoon, helping Peta pack up all her belongings as she departs Caboolture East. She has so much... that I'm grateful she is my friend and is loaning me resources she won't need at the moment and she knows where they are when she needs them. Including her table and chairs. It's easy storgae in my classroom. Thanks Peta!

And the afternoon I spent cutting up cardboard for my sight word flashcards while Daniel and Tara made things out of the scraps. It was time well spent. Sorry no photos today!

Hot Chocolate anyone????

On Friday night I saw on BHG, cute little hot chocolate tea cup biscuits and thought I would try it out. Well, What do you think?

Unfortunately, Tara got empty teacups! At least she got a teacup.

I have also been busy making some resources for homework, so I can have the term's worth already. I decided to make individual flashcards for every child. I know what your thinking - I'm crazy! But look what I did. Each list of my sight words is a set of 10 words. I have printed them with 2 columns and 5 rows. Then I just perforated them. I will start with giving a strip of 5 and the parents can tear them into cards. Then each week after testing, new words will be added by just tearing off the next words.

This matches the sight word booklets I have made and bound with my Christmas present I bought for myself from WOW. This is a photo of my prototype that Declan has loved practicing from.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I'm going to go and clean my mess in the kitchen.

Da..Da..Look what Liam can do!

Just thought I would show off a pair of shorts Liam has made at school. He did a very good job and got a B. Liam is also a very good at cooking. I often wake up to find a mess in the kitchen where he has made chocolate brownies (his speciality) or anzac biscuits. Today I'm going to teach him how to make shortbread. Tune in again later to see our creations.

Hangin with my friend!

What a day! Very productive and rewarding. Thanks to Peta's expertise, Kristie's Inspiration and my Competitive nature, I set out to make some durable pockets for the children's newsletters. I arrived at Peta's at 8.30am and we headed to J.J's at Redcliffe. I managed to purchase 2.5 m of green curtain material, 2.5 m of pink and green material, 2 m of green ribbon, 10 m of stretchy wire, 10 hooks and a reel of pink cotton for less than $50. Very impressed with this.

We decided to do the pockets back to back with the boys on one side and the girls on the other. I intend to hang the pockets on a portable hanger so I can move it out and in each day. (Some of you would have seen what we used last year). It was quite funny to hear Peta saying "I don't think my machine has ever gone so slow". But slow and steady wins the race and look at the pockets! Great team work. Peta pins and lines up and just tells me where to sew. Just like a personalised tutorial only better.

We also made Name tags. Not that I'll need them as I know all the children in my class. But a supply teacher and of course Peta's replacement will need them. I'm very happy with my peg labels too. Thanks to Peta for letting me use her cropadile and eyelet gadgets so the laminate won't tear.

Thanks Again, Peta! Your an awesome friend!

"I need to go to the toilet!"

Well to my surprise I actually enjoyed watching Avatar 3D. Was a bit too violent for Declan, but he enjoyed trying to catch the 3D items that came close to him. I took Declan and Tara to the toilet just prior to the movie, within 1/2 an hour Tara decided she needed to go again. 1/2 hour later Declan needed to go, I managed to get him to hold on a little longer and he managed about 20 minutes before crying out that he was busting. So off to the toilet again. Thank Goodness we took up the entire row and I didn't have to get past other people.

TOTAL AMOUNT FOR A MOVIE OUTING WITH OUR FAMILY - $141.50

Thanks Aunty Virginia!

We're off to see the ...Movies!

Today we are all going to the movies as a family. I can not remember the last time we all went to the movies at the same time. For Christmas, Ardal's sister, Virginia, gave everyone in our family a movie pass. We decided to use them all together so the movie chosen is  Avatar 3D. I would have rather seen The princess and the frog, but majority rules! I'll let you know what it was like.
Enjoy your Thursday!

No internet for a whole week!!!!

So now I'm back home, I can finally get on the net. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!

So where do I begin - Christmas Day was spent at home playing on the wii. Challenge after challenge - Declan is definately talented at playing on the wii. We enjoyed Christmas lunch before takng the Liam, Daniel, Declan and Tara fishing. After fishing we packed our bags to head on our annual trip to my brother's farm just out of Pottsville at Round Mountain.

Dave and Kim had warned us that they were extremely low on water and that we would be bathing in the river. However, we brought the rains with us. Our first night in our tent was fine, but the second we got flooded. On our third day, one of the tent poles snapped and as the boys tried to fix it they put it through the roof. Well, 12 years with all of us and quite a battering our poor tent was laid to rest! And we moved into the lounge room of the farm house.

Tuesday night was a night my children will never forget. Time with their older cousins led Ardal and Liam astray. Emilee too buckled to the influenced of her cousins. But I won't blog about what they did, ask  me when you see me next! They are soooooo lucky I love them heaps. However, their cousins Kendall (19)and Joshua (25) are still grovelling to me!

Wednesday 30th December, saw Ardal's mum remarry. We prepared to leave the farm to travel back to Brisbane in plenty of time, but as per usual our car wouldn't start. We were taking two cars anyway so I headed on, as Daniel needed to be there to give Grandma away. Eventually Ardal got the car going and we arrived just in time.

I tried hard to get  a photo of all my children dressed up but there was always one of them not looking or doing something silly so this is the best one (Sorry Declan! And I'm so glad you can't see that Tara had no shoes!)

The rest of our holiday was very relaxing. We celebrated Cherree's 18th Birthday at the farm as she didn't want a party, but did want to go on her annual hoilday.I can't believe I have an adult now! She is definately planning for the future - Uni, Marriage and Children. Looking at buying a house with her boyfriend Joe. Joe came on holidays with us, so really got to mingle with the family. Spending time with family is soooo nice when you all get on.

I really like these photos of my children.

Oh, by the way I spent an hour today carefully going through Woolworths online, sticking to my budget. When I checked out the check out I was told they don't service my area!!! Aghhhhh!!! They could have said that when I logged in with my postcode. Looks like I'll be hitting the shops once again tomorrow.