Inches and Centimeters

2nd graders love to measure!  I don't know what it is, but every year when I introduce the rulers and they realize they get to handle their very own tool, they go crazy.  We measure everything. I mean everything!  It's fun for me as the teacher as well.  I love seeing their eyes light up when I hand them their rulers.  I like showing them that it has two sides, inches and centimeters.  It's like I told them it's Harry Potter's wand.

 

 One of the first things we did was to just talk about measuring things.  I found a pack of measurement posters on teachers pay teachers for $4.00  Here's the link
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elementary-Measurement-Posters-15-MathScience-PostersHandouts-161647

I put one of the posters up on the SmartBoard and had students copy it into their Math journals.  It was a really good jumping off point and started some good conversation.  We got out the paperclips and measured everything they could think of!

Then we completed this fun little activity in our Math Journals.  They had to use the stripes in the tool box to measure each object.  One was teddy bears the other was paper clips.  This was a great activity to get them ready for inches and centimeters.

I got this from TPT, but can't find the link.  Think it was free though.

(found the link!  here it is:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Math-Foldable-for-First-Grade-865048)

Of course, I have to use books.  I love this author/illustrator:  Brian P. Cleary.  I have his whole set of Grammar books. My fav title is "To Root, To Toot, To Parachute. What is a Verb?"  This is my first Math book of his and I plan on owning all of them.

Check out his website:  http://www.brianpcleary.com/

This book is excellent.  It tells the history of measuring and is beautifully illustrated by Steven Kellog (another of my fav illustrators).

Millions to Measure included this HUGE fold out page of how long a rattlesnake is.  My 2nd graders were super impressed.





Another measurement activity we worked on was a Measurement Garden.  It is part of a pack I bought on TPT. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Can-Measure-using-inches-and-centimeters-238504

First, they color their flowers, then put them in order from smallest to largest then glue them on construction paper.

Then they measure each flower in inches and centimeters and write it above the flower.

They loved coloring but they really loved measuring.  They were concentrating to hard to make sure they got each measurement correct.

All in all, I feel pretty confident that my 2nd graders are sufficiently learning the concept of measuring and how to do it correctly,

Blown Fuses and Timing

I would be such a great mom.
Stewart would be such a fantastic dad.
Maude and Wyatt can testify to this.  But I can't seem to teach them to read, or say "please and thank you" or "yes mam'm or no sir". 

We often feel left out of life a bit.  It sometimes becomes difficult to be around friends/peers with kids simply because we aren't in that club yet.  It's so much easier to be around people going through the same things you are no matter what that is.  Girlfriends of mine have left me behind in this area and are experiencing motherhood and growing their family.
Stewart and I don't begrudge them, but it just creates a divide sometimes.
I don't mean to complain.  These are just the facts of our life.

Adoption.  This is the word floating around in my mind lately.  Then the word Money pops up.  Then the word Timing.  Then Trust.  Then I sigh and just say a quick prayer about letting it go and the time will come when it's right.  But then I think about adoption again.

It's a difficult process to work through.  At first, I was angry.  I shouldn't have to consider adoption. I should be getting pregnant.

It's not fair as I stomp my feet and yell into the air.
Especially the day I was looking around on the internet at a few agencies and what they require.

Stewart kept telling me to stay off the websites because my emotions weren't there yet.  But I insisted I was fine.  I soon realized I wasn't.
 As soon as I came across a few agencies that require you to provide medical records on any pets in your house I blew a fuse!

We are constantly bombarded by crazy news stories about parents doing horrible things to their babies and kids.  And we have to provide every last, little detail of our lives just to be considered?!
Oh boy...I had to take a step back. Several steps actually.

I was super angry, actually livid.  I didn't want to adopt. I wanted my own, biological child.  There were so many what's, if's and but's racing around my mind when it came to adoption.  I decided it was NOT for me.

But then, I started seeing this verse. Everywhere. On Pinterest. On Facebook. In weird places. Driving down the road, in store windows.

Talk about thought provoking!

Then there's this one.

A different version of  Ephesians 1

It got me to thinking.  Jesus adopted us.  Stewart and I sort of adopted each other.  We adopted Maude, then Wyatt...so really, we're all vagabonds and our child really should be too.  It's also pretty cool to think about how God may have a child out there now or waiting to be born that is meant just for us...When I start thinking about it, I get pretty excited. So I guess I'm warming up to the whole idea of adoption.

But it feels like we're a long way off from the actual process. With Stewart in art school, we are just kind of scraping by.  There are financial options, but we need to be smart about things. 

I really like this one...

Maude

Let me preface this by saying, when you don't have kids, you blog about your dogs. Which are your furry kids!! (and take and post lots of pictures. So if you don't want to see a bunch of pictures of a CUTE dog, stop reading NOW)

I love Maude!

We went to Overton Bark last Spring with some friends and their 2 dogs.
Maude had a ball!

I have had a lot of dogs in my life, but I must say, she is by far the sweetest and cutest of them all.
Stewart got her when she was a puppy.  I've seen pictures and she was the tiniest little thing.

I kinda stole her from him when we started dating in 2005.  Maude and I girl bonded.

One of the 1st pictures we took as we began dating.  
With Maude in the middle of course!
Wolf River 2006

But before the stealing and bonding, Maude was our chaperone and made sure I knew she was there first.

Maude was a hoarder in her younger days!

Once, at the beginning of our relationship, Stewart and I were at his townhouse watching a movie, Maude jumped up in between us, looked at Stewart, then me for more than a few minutes and put her paw on Stewart's leg never taking her eyes off of me!  It was like she was saying, "Ok lady, I guess I'll allow you to come around, but you just need to know who runs things here."
I agreed to her terms and we've been a little family ever since.

I also love to tell (and somewhat embellish) the story of how Maude growled, barked at and tried to bite other girls Stewart dated.
But not me!!  In fact, once as I pulled up to his midtown townhouse, they were outside on the opposite of the courtyard and when she saw me, she took off running and jumped into my arms!  I knew I was in!

We just HAD to get some pictures with her during our engagement session.

Christmas 2012

Dogs are just so wonderful and Maude is no exception.  Actually she's above exception.  She has always been sensitive to moods.  Anytime I've been sad, she senses it.  Suddenly, she'll appear from whatever hidey hole at home she's been sleeping in, jump up in my lap and just snuggle. She has been especially sensitive as Stewart and I are going through our infertility journey and is always there to love on us.

Working us for treats with
their best "cute" faces

Maude and Wyatt. Partners in crime.

Dogs in sombreros

Everyone who meets Maude immediately falls under her spell and is in love.

Will, my baby brother, loves Maude.

She's very small for a Boston.  The story I heard was that she was the runt of the litter.  She's just a petite little girl, but has a great, big attitude and personality.  But don't let her sweetness and cuteness fool you...she is hardheaded, very independent,  a little spoiled (one of her nicknames is "The Sultan") and usually gets her way.

Maude relaxing on "HER" bed.

She loves to roll around and scratch her back in the grass. 

Maude relaxing while we're watching tv.

But she's the most obedient dog I've ever met.  I just about think she'd let her bladder burst before she did #1 (or 2) in the house.

She's also a girl who loves her cheese and treats.  You better be careful when you extend your hand giving her one...she's like a shark jumping out of the water!  CHOMP! BITE!

Maude and Wyatt on the Roaring Forks Motor Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 2012

Maude on the Gatlinburg Trail Summer 2012

She also loves her pillows. Rather humping those pillows!!  Sometimes, we have to hide certain ones. I'm talking, she will WEAR her little self out!  Gracious.

Maude loves to ride around.  She doesn't care where as long as she can get in your lap and look out the window.

A trip to the Olive Branch park

Maude just LOVES getting out and about.  Especially at parks!

Maude after we left the Germantown dog park one day in May.

She's our little girl. Our little fur baby.

Maude is also 15 years old.  She's getting SO white. Especially around her little ears.  Her pretty eyes are cloudy and she has trouble seeing in dim and very bright light.  She's been running into things lately and sometimes runs right by us when we're calling her.  She has arthritis and joint issues.  She also has a heart mummer.  Maude is not young anymore.

I love doing doggie photo shoots and this was in our backyard last spring.

In September, Stewart and I were getting all dressed up to go out to eat for our anniversary.  He let Maude and Wyatt out just as were about to leave.  Suddenly, we both heard this terrible, sorrowful crying and we just looked at each other.  I said, "That's Maude!" I've never seen Stewart move so fast.  He ran outside to her, slipped in the grass (doodoo actually! haha) in his hurry to get to her in his nice khakis.  She was lying on her side and was just heaving.  Her eyes were wild and she was crying out.  She didn't know were there with her.  After a few minutes, she seemed to come back around and we just sat there in the grass and petted and talked softly to her.  Stewart picked her up and took her inside.  After a few more minutes, she perked up and was ready for a treat.  We waited a bit and watched her and finally decided she was ok and left for dinner.  We talked about it on our way to eat and just decided her arthritis just got the best of her and she got disoriented in the bright sun and got scared and called for us.

She's a great little poser.

In the following months, she had a few more episodes.  In the past few weeks they seem to have gotten worse.  And one day about two weeks ago, she jumped off of our bed.  (which is kind of high) One of her back legs gave out on her and she fell and seemed to hurt herself.  Stewart said she went into a pretty bad "episode"and just wasn't herself for a few days.  We took her to the vet at that point where we found out her heart murmur has caused DVD (degenerative valve disease). She is now on 2 medications. One of which is for high blood pressure.  Our vet said she may very well been having cardiac episodes.  At first we thought it was seizures, but her little heart valve is just wearing out, fluid builds up and makes things tough for her.

The past few weeks have been  pretty rough for us.  We just haven't been seeing her sweet little personality and we know she's having a rough time. Neither of us have said it but we both are thinking, "Is this it for our sweet Maude?"  As this past week went on, we could tell she was still uncomfortable and still having difficulty, but seemed to begin perking up a little more.  She seemed to be reacting to all her meds fairly well.

We had another vet appointment on Friday, January 31.  We told the vet we felt like most of her problem was her legs.  He watched her walk around (quite well in fact, thank you very much!) and said it was her arthritis and bad knees.  He said corrective surgery would help but that she was so old she wouldn't survive.  He did an EKG on her and took her blood pressure.  He had to use a cat cuff and even it was too big for her petite self and he couldn't get a good enough reading.  But everything looked good and he gave us stronger arthritis medication.
We take her back for another checkup in a month.

From another backyard doggie photo shoot.

So now, we're just trying to love on her and prolong her sweet little life for as long as we can.  We can definitely tell that one of her medications especially is really helping her.  She doesn't dance for treats and run around like a cat with the night crazies anymore.  The vet said to try to keep her stress free and not to let her get too excited.  So we carry her up and down the stairs and pick her up to put her on the bed.  She is still independent and still runs up the stairs and jumps on and off furniture, but she's also realizing it hurts too much and will stand and wait on us to pick her up.

Maybe you're reading this and you're thinking..."good grief!  all this for just a dog."  But she's a family member and has shown us nothing but unconditional love.  She is a blessing to us and we see her as a Gift from God.  As I believe all dogs are.  It's our job to take care of these sweet, loving animals who are a reflection of God's pure love for us.

One my favorites.
Christmas 2010

After this picture, she promptly tore that lei to shreds.

A few winters ago when Memphis actually got snow and ice.  We have the perfect hill in our backyard for sledding.

The same winter.  She hated the snow but loved looking out of our bedroom window and barking her head off!

Stewart and I are going to be unbelievably sad when her day comes.  It is going to be incredibly sad and tough for us.  I am praying we will both be home so that we can both be holding her, talking to her and helping her to not be afraid.  I have tears in my eyes as I'm typing this now.

All dogs go to heaven.

Snow Globes and Adjectives

Christmas break is over.

 It's a new year and the 2nd semester at school.

The first few weeks back are always tough.  Trying to get back in the swing of things in the middle of winter don't really mesh well for me.  But....get back in that saddle I must.

Here are some things Class 202 have been working on during the first weeks of 2014.

A few years back (before Pinterest) I was searching winter writing ideas/activities and came across, "If I Lived Inside a Snow-globe".  I loved the idea and now we do about this time each year.

I start out by reading a couple of books.  I can't remember which books I've used in the past because this year I found this book on Amazon.  It is PERFECT!

And also this cute book.  It's not about living in a snow-globe, but about a little boy who is obsessed with making a snowman. Except where he lives hardly ever gets snow.  It's very cute.
We can SO relate!  We have been experiencing bitter cold temps lately, but NO SNOW!  That's just not right.

I found several craftivities that go along with it that have the students making their snow-globe out of paper plates.  Again, super cute and right up my alley!

Although, one variation of it was to use a ziploc and actually add water and glitter and staple between the paper plates.  I haven't gotten quite THAT brave yet.

Last year, I had the students just do the whole glue and glitter thing.  This year, we used foam plates because I like the way their markers look pastel and winter-y.

In Grammar, we're on adjectives.

I don't know why, but every year, every class has a difficult time understanding adjectives.  They always want to use or choose a verb instead.

We always talk about how verbs show action and they're what you can do and adjectives are describing words.
Adjectives tell you more about how something looks, feels, the size, shape, smell, etc.  Maybe in their little 2nd grade brains, it's just having to change their thinking and trying to recognize each part of speech in one sentence.

But adjective activities can be fun.  Here is one of the first ones we've done.
Of course, I sought out my fav blogger, Amy Lemons.  I can't remember where I got the cut outs, but here's a link to her page for ideas.
http://stepintosecondgrade.blogspot.com/2011/10/adjective-activities.html

I know I went a little overboard with posting pictures of this one, but they really got into drawing themselves and I have to say, they did a great job.  I can look at most of these without looking at the names and know which student it belongs to.  They turned out so cute!

I LOVE how he drew a TMNT on his shirt.

His adjectives describe him perfectly!

This little boy is definitely silly and wild! ha

She drew a perfect version of her hair. And smile!

She totally captured her own likeness!

Class 202 is intelligent, fun, beautiful, handsome and creative!