Five for Fraturday

Happy weekend! I really wanted to sleep in this morning, but we are getting new carpet upstairs. Finally. And seeing as how the worker men wanted to move my bed, they sort of kicked me out of it.

When we first moved in, we had no money so we paid for virtually NO UPGRADES whatsoever except for a door that would lead from the garage to the side yard and a fan in the half bathroom (the hubby insisted on this because of . . . well . . . I guess sometimes he has to do some business that is of a pressing matter and cannot wait until he makes it upstairs). The carpet was the lowest of the low with the lowest padding ever in the world called CONCRETE.

Foster and Sydney chewed up what little padding there was when they were puppies. And they peed on it when they were puppies. And then they peed on it when they were old. Poor babies.

Then Murphie peed on it when she was a little puppy (she is still a puppy, but she can basically get down the stairs in one leap and then take another leap to the doggy door) so basically our existing carpet is the most disgusting thing you’ve ever seen even though we have rented those carpet cleaners and febreezed it to death and lysoled it and scrubbed it and done whatever else we could to make it look as if it was clean.

And now you know why you were never allowed upstairs.

But now it’s time. Fifteen years later — FIFTEEN YEARS LATER — we are getting the good stuff, people. I told the hubs that we can’t make any plans tonight because my plan is to roll around on the new carpet all night.

And that’s my Five for Fraturday.

Just kidding. But a couple of more paragraphs about our carpet and I could call this a blog post and be done.

Every year, our school has a huge Patriot’s Day on September 11th. I absolutely love it. Our 6th grade Student Council president read a poem that made me so sad. It was extremely fitting and I need to print it out and read it everyday. Click {HERE} to read it.

One of my students was picked up for a special lunch date with her mom and when she returned to school, she brought me a treat!! Yeah, buddy! I will confess that I secretly wished the lemonade was a milkshake and the chocolate chip cookie was a dozen.

Reading Strategy Posters! You can get these from Lori at Teaching with Love and Laughter if you like her Facebook page! These posters are a fan freebie and include seven in all. THANK YOU, Lori!

I introduced Eagle Eyes and Stretchy Snake this week. Reagan at Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits said she was going to order Beanie Babies to go with the posters and so I immediately copied her because I thought that was absolutely brilliant. THANK YOU, Reagan!

I love love love this! The snake beanie baby is awesome. He stretches out to over a foot (I’m guessing. I don’t know. Maybe only 11 inches or 13. I did not measure so do not quote me.) and then he goes right back to his curled up shape. So when we were sounding out words, I was stretching him and the kids were oooohing and aaaahing and the boys were totally intrigued.

I’m telling you. Awesome. I have all the posters and all the babies and I will keep introducing them as we learn a new reading strategy.

THO FUN!

I don’t know how I got linked in or where I got linked in or what the hello kitty is going on, but apparently I need classroom management help. STAT. I mean, I need it so badly this kind stranger decided to email me out of the goodness of her heart with all kinds of different ideas and strategies.

There ARE good people in this world. I love that she wants me to check out Cupcake’s blog . . . I consider Teri a good blogging buddy so something tells me Cupcake might help me out. That’s a relief.

And, as Miss Kindergarten told me, I probably do need some techniques and help since I don’t even USE a clip chart!

And, I mean, I have been teaching for 17 years. I clearly need the help. It’s a wonder I’m alive.

Last night, I dragged the hubby back to school with me to attend a Family Night. Our new principal has boosted our staff morale and we are all “RAH RAH SCHOOL!” at the moment so a bunch of us showed up. The hubs got to see my celebrity status in action.

In all honesty, I really went just for the funnel cakes.

OH MY YUMMY DELICOUSNESS OF FRIED DOUGH WITH POWERED SUGAR.

They had other toppings, as well, but I went the traditional route. We have a family story about funnel cakes that makes us all laugh so hard that I was thinking of my dad the entire time.

Once, on a family vacation in Branson, Missouri (Go big or go home, is what I always say) we went to a funnel cake bakery place. We ordered our funnel cakes, but my dad was having difficulty communicating his particular order to the server. They were going back and forth and we were all a little embarrassed that it was taking so long to order a funnel cake. Turns out, my dad didn’t just want A topping. He wanted ALL of the toppings.

ALL of them.

At once.

On one funnel cake.

The server looked at him very funny and said, “You can’t do that.”

And my dad was left so bewildered and confused and disappointed.

And the rest of us just died laughing. We tend to do that.

Laugh at a family member until we cry and we can’t talk.

Anyways, I’m on the verge of giggles just thinking of this story.

I meant to take a picture of the funnel cake sign last night because it said:

Funnel Cake with powered sugar……$6

Funnel cake with any or all toppings…….$8

Granted, there were only about four toppings, but I seriously wished my dad was there so I could treat him to a mac-daddy funnel cake.

And there you have it.

My Five for Fraturday with a little Carpet Action thrown in for good measure.

What’s your weekend look like?

Comments

Luv My Kinders says

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You are always sooo funny and I love reading your posts. When I scroll through my feed I always read yours first. Sounds like we have matching carpet as a result of my fur babies…lol. Enjoy your new carpet. When you figure out how to do that whole classroom management thing…lol..be sure to update us with a post on how to do it! (I was dying laughing)

~Laura
Sarah Colbert says

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I love funnel cake. I'm so jealous that you were able to have one. 🙂
Table Talk with C and C says

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Love that you are using the beanie babies along with your reading strategies posters! I am going to try and use this same concept this year for my struggling 2nd grade readers. I am hoping the visual will help them apply strategies more independently! : )

Caitlin
Table Talk with C & C
Kim says

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You know how Berber carpet was all-the-rage… especially if it came with flecks of color? I have spilled so much coffee and other things (like lasagne), I can no longer lie and say: "The carpet has colored flecks–it came that way…" Especially when one of the flecks is an entire venti Mocha is the middle of the entryway…
Sigh.
I'm envious, dear Friend. Roll and enjoy!

Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade
Sandy Welch says

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You're a very good writer and I love your sense of humor. I look forward to you posts every week. Thanks for making me laugh after a very tough week. 🙂 What the heck is a funnel cake?
Traci - Dragonflies in First says

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Regarding above commenter… SOMEONE PLEASE SEND HER FUNNEL CAKE! She is SO missing out!

So glad someone has your back and is willing to help you out with management! 😉

Congrats on the carpet!

…and… I'm still choked up over that poem!
jaynescraps says

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I absolutely love when I hear of someone else using Beanie Babies. I love those "Two Sisters" but was so annoyed when they called Beanie Babies a gimmick! My firsties really "get it" and use the strategies as a result of these posters and of course my amazing teaching. Super glad you got the behavior thing down;) Have a great week.
jillm473 says

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Kristen, I love the times that you can laugh until you cry Those are the best!
Loved your "Dad" story! I was laughing out loud too!
Catherine N. says

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Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT order Beanie Babies. Go on Craig's List and buy them for about a buck each. I was able to get all seven animals for the reading strategies AND 20 dog beanies (for Tunstall's "teach your dog to read" unit, for $20 TOTAL. Yes, some people still think Beanie Babies are worth mega-bucks, but many people are just looking to get a little cash for them. Good Luck!
Catherine
First Grade Top Dogs
Suzanne says

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You always make me smile!!!

Hubbz and I tried to upgrade our carpet and padding when we bought our almost-built home. They said no. What? The house wasn't completely built yet. It didn't have any flooring. We were told it was ordered, and we couldn't do anything about it, but how about some free blinds? Ok, we took it. Our neighbors tried to nix their carpet because they have some bad allergies over there. Nope. Too bad. So their house was brand new, no one had moved it, and they uninstalled it! What a waste! They put hard wood and tile downstairs. It's lovely, but not plush and soft like my wanna-be, some day, dream. I'm told to wait until my kids are 12. So, it will be about 15 years.

By the way, funnel cake makes great dinner. One of my coworkers has a daughter who works at Sea World. Our meals equal a healthy lunch, and a splurge, over the top, ice cream sundae covered funnel cake. It's like being a kid and getting to order your dream meal. Our eyes are always bigger than our tummies, and we drag our stuffed butts to the last Shamu show as fast as we can waddle.
Fluttering Through First Grade says

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Ummm seriously the BEST lemonade on the planet!!! Now if they would only sell funnel cakes as well we'd be set!

~Christy & Tammy
Fluttering Through First Grade
Tessa says

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Wait, you posted the name of your school on here? I'm missing something I think!

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