Hot Air Balloon Trip

This is what happens when the hubby-to-be and I hang out at VBS!

Hubs was the games leader all week, and I was only there Monday and Friday unfortunately due to my work schedule. Friday we finished off with a trip to the aquatic center here for time with the youth helpers from VBS. I floated on the lazy river, took a turn down the slide and soaked up some rays. Some days we doubt why Luke has decided to do youth ministry, other days.. like trips to the aquatic center as part of his "work week," we are reminded of all the perks. :)

We really enjoyed the theme this year! We did a curriculum called Sky, where "Everything is possible if you trust God!" The kids got up in front of the church this morning to sing a couple of our favorite VBS songs from the week. 

Looking forward to cake tasting this week for our wedding cake, too! Any suggestions on things to avoid with cakes for the wedding? Or positive suggestions?

Rain and VBS induced thinking..

Tomorrow starts VBS at our church, the theme is Sky. Everything is possible if you Trust God... (the "sky's the limit" I guess?) I am excited to watch the kiddos enjoy the music, crafts, games and big group time.

Luke is the games leader for VBS this year and came home very excited to tell me all about it one day.... so I start looking at his instructions book and notice it says for preschool. Poor guy about had a heart attack when he saw that. I assured him it was probably the wrong book, given to him by mistake. Sure enough it was, but it was still pretty fun to watch him try to figure out the nicest way possible to say that he didn't think he was cut out to be the preschool games leader at VBS. Haha!

The nursery at church this morning was buzzing with mini people, the 1 years and up but not quite 2 years old club as it seemed. (not on purpose but it worked out that way) Of course Elmo came to the rescue thanks to a DVD someone donated and my PBS app on my phone. Elmo (male or female by the way?) seems to distract most of them to be able to have m-o-m or d-a-d scoot out before too much of a crying-snot-running-down-the-face-and-cute-church-clothes scene happens. :)

I enjoy the little ones so much and it makes my heart so happy to have them reach for me when they're sad or missing mom. I'm really starting to get to know most of my regular nursery kids and it's fun to interact with them weekly. I am mostly convinced that teaching and caring for little ones under age 6 is my calling.

Luke and I have been busy talking finances, living arrangements, etc as we are getting closer to the wedding date. I had just gotten accepted to a program at UNF for teacher preparation/certification help and mentoring to start in August. However, I just don't think I feel like spending the money to do the program right now is what's best. We aren't rolling in the dough (who is, i guess..) and that teaching any children over 6 really wasn't where I am feeling led anyways. There is some prospect for me to get a stellar job in St Simons for teaching preschool soon so we are waiting on that for now.

Meanwhile, I'm working part time at a couple places which turns into full time basically and trying to finish wedding plans.

Found this craft to share also.... a gift for you if you happened to read this whole post! LOL :)

On the same note as the Rainy Day art project I mentioned the other day, and the horse races in the past month, is this one that you can do inside on a rainy afternoon. (no link, just notes from me because it's from my brain and a lady's at the nursing home our youth just visited)

Make your own Horse and Race Track
Use clipart online or draw one then cut out the horse, paint or color them, and make sure they can stand on their own. Make a race track on a table with tape sectioning off squares. Then roll the dice and move your horse that many spaces. Take turns, work as a team or just make up your own game. Make sure you give your horse a fun name, too! This helps little people with counting too... see look, always something secretly educational. ;)

Alright, I'll admit to being completely obsessed with wedding plans and neglecting the blog!

Wedding Update: Dress is bought, venue reserved, caterer deposit sent in, photographer and DJ booked, still need flowers and cake plans. Getting together with my bridesmaids for dress shopping this weekend :)

I am loving the fact that Pinterest came about when I started wedding planning! How did anyone plan a wedding sans pinterest, furthermore without internet!? I sure do love it!

Anyways, I'm doing a "rustic" theme for the wedding... mason jars, burlap, purple dresses, sunflowers, lots of southern charm. I can't wait to see it all come together.

I guess I could still post some of my favorite summertime kids stuff for all of you who are used to reading my teacher blog posts. I've found some fun stuff through Pinterest (go figure.) and thought of some ideas I wish I could be implementing with kiddos this summer.

I'll start with this Rainy Day Painting.... we have a rain every afternoon in FL during summer so plenty of opportunity to start your rainy day gallery!

Mrs to be!

I am SOO excited to announce that I will become Mrs. Luke Eckert on November 10,2012!

My wonderful, loving, creative, funny and good-looking fiance proposed to me at our cookout surrounded our family and friends!

Here's how it went down...

Family and friends came to Luke's house for a cookout last Saturday. We ate, lounged around, listened to music and enjoyed having everyone we love all in one place. THEN, he makes me think we are all going inside to play catchphrase or some other game. I see a couple people with cameras out and didn't think too much of it. He pops in a video he says is from his parents and sister up in Tennessee, and says they have something to tell us. His parents say how they wish they were with us, etc...sister says, "later this year we are adding another family member." I knew this was a little fishy because I know her husband and her can't have any more kids biologically. Her husband says, "No we are NOT pregnant" and his two year old niece walks up to the camera with a sign that says "Hurry up and marry Sam, Uncle Luke!"

Cue the tears! I knew immediately what was happening :) He turns off the video, everyone is getting excited and laughing/clapping. I get up, he take my hand and gets down on one knee. :)

I of course said, yes!

We will be getting married November 10!

Next Steps..

Yuck, sometimes I feel like I am the world's worst blogger. Some weeks I am on top of blogging and feel totally inspired to write a lot...others, not so much.

I've been enjoying my kiddos, even though there are quite a lot of them now, 17 to be exact, I am moving on to something bigger!

I applied last year around this time to get my alternative certification in the state of Florida for my education certificate. The state denied me for whatever reasons, but basically because they don't need anyone else applying for teaching jobs and my degree wasn't something that would fit well with the needs that were there in the state.

Which brings me to Primrose School, my current job. I have loved the 6 months I have spent there loving laughing and learning with the young kiddos, however my heart kept telling me to try and pursue a certificate to be able to teach older kids. I would ultimately love to teach K or 1st.

I think with a whole year of experience teaching Preschool and some internships I did in college in schools I should have some built up credibility to teach but I guess only time will tell! I am moving on from FL and applying for my certificate in GA. (The boyfriend does live there, afterall.)

My hope is that I can convince the state of Georgia to approve me! I am finishing up at Primrose this week and next and then moving to Camden county to start my educator preparation class. :)

Much love!
Big steps in the right direction, I hope!

Name Game!

For the past few months (on and off) I have been trying to work with my students on recognizing their name in print. I know most are a little ways off from spelling it all on their own but it is important for them to recognize it when they see it. I've been better about it some days than others, I'll admit that for sure!

We try to take a few minutes during our morning Circle Time to play our name game. I have printed and laminated each of their first names, I spread out two or three at a time and have one of them come up and try to pick out their name from the group. If I know they are a little better at it than others I'll put down all names that start with the same letter as theirs but if they need help I usually give them hints or less names to choose from. I have several students that are starting to remember the name of the letter theirs starts with, too! Very exciting! If they don't get it-- that's okay too because I'll usually try and sneak in time with them later to find their name somewhere around the room or to write it down on their papers when they are paying attention. This way it doesn't seem stressful for them to try and learn it as quickly as others.

My next challenge is to make some printables using this free tracer website I found (in addition to the other one I posted) to send home and do at school to get them to start learning what it feels like to write their name and learn the letters. Two of my girls are spelling their own name without help now and are SO ready to start writing it! I can't wait to watch their progress. One of the many great things about preschool is the ability to take that Montessori approach of challenging them individually and no worries about grades or strict tracking!

P.S. I think it might be fun at home to laminate or put the printable in a clear view pocket, like you'd use in a binder, and use dry erase markers! This would add to the fun and no need to waste paper! :)

Free Handwriting Printables

I had to share this website for anyone who has kids practicing handwriting or just starting out. You can choose print or cursive and make your own worksheets :)

http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/

Cars, trucks and trains, oh my!

The kids and I are talking about all land transportation vehicles this week!

We started today off with a craft using paper plates to make cars..

All you need:

- white paper plates

- circles cut from construction paper

- rectangles cut from construction paper

- paint to decorate your paper plates

Cut the paper plate in half, paint both pieces, staple halves together so there is a flat bottom. Add circles to the flat bottom for wheels, rectangle for doors.

Easy way to talk about shapes and the parts of a car!