Praises of a Wife and Mommy

Back to School 2016

A snapshot into my classroom to start the 2016 school year!   Summer so long here come the kids- BACK to SCHOOL! 


Back to school for my kindergartner and 3rd grader!   



We had a bit of a snicker when Titus said he wanted to be a garbage man... No offense to the men or women who come and get our trash.  However, I think most parents would agree they want their child to reach a little higher for a career.... which then brings my daughter who is reaching for a big dream.   I tell you though I do think she could go to the Olympics as a runner one day if she continues to enjoy it and desires to push harder and harder.  
I am one proud mom of both of these kids. 

Be part of the fun and join Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear as they cook up holiday favorites and some unique eats for friends and family with the all-new The Berenstain Bears Holiday Cookbook. Filled with traditional holiday favorites like Frosted Sugar Cookies, Pumpkin Pie, Hot Apple Cider Punch, Cranberry Stuffing, and some unique and fun recipes like Papa Bear’s Paw-Licking Good Chicken Wings, this kid-friendly cookbook will help Bear Country families, and families and friends everywhere, have the most wonderful year of eating ever!
Young cooks and their adult assistants will find recipes for beverages, meals and sides, and sweets and treats.
My Review: COOKING FUN FOR ALL AGES!   Seriously thought my kids got super excited looking at the pictures of the recipes but if I am honest as an adult I got excited for a few as well!
This recipe book has recipes for all major holidays: Valentines Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Fall Festivities, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. 
I al…

Pumpkin Patch Blessings celebrates fall and shows little ones there are blessings all around us, especially in the pumpkin patch! The sweet rhyming text by Kim Washburn and whimsical illustrations by Jacqueline East bring autumn alive for readers young and old as they take in the fun of the fall season and remember how much they have to be grateful for.
My Review: I know no one is thinking about fall and pumpkins yet but  me with school starting next week it is closer then we think!
This book is a nice board book with lots of cute rhymes.   It covers all the fall things from crunchy leaves to pumpkins, hay rides, and so much more! 
Get your library ready with this great fall book for your younger kids!

If you’ve been enjoying the summer but still would like to cross some other fun activities and beauty to do’s off of your list, there’s still time! Instead of making excuses and cramming your day full of other activities, there’s no time like the present to sit down and make a fashion and beauty list entailing a few fun activities you still want to try before the summer vanishes.   So, what will your beauty and fashion list consist of? Well, that’s entirely up to you, but here are some ideas to get you thinking and excited. That way you can accomplish these fun and fashionable ideas on your bucket list before the summer comes to a screeching halt. Buy fun neon makeup, stat! Neon makeup is all the rage this summer, so why not head to your nearest beauty store and stock up on some beautiful shades of lipstick? Hot pink is bold and beautiful and will look perfect with an elegant dress. There are other fun colors too, such as bright eyeshadow. Create an ombre effect on your eyelids and your …

If you’ve been enjoying the summer but still would like to cross some other fun activities and beauty to do’s off of your list, there’s still time! Instead of making excuses and cramming your day full of other activities, there’s no time like the present to sit down and make a fashion and beauty list entailing a few fun activities you still want to try before the summer vanishes.   So, what will your beauty and fashion list consist of? Well, that’s entirely up to you, but here are some ideas to get you thinking and excited. That way you can accomplish these fun and fashionable ideas on your bucket list before the summer comes to a screeching halt. Buy fun neon makeup, stat! Neon makeup is all the rage this summer, so why not head to your nearest beauty store and stock up on some beautiful shades of lipstick? Hot pink is bold and beautiful and will look perfect with an elegant dress. There are other fun colors too, such as bright eyeshadow. Create an ombre effect on your eyelids and your …

Tug Fest 2016 is already done... always makes me sad when it is done because then I know school is about to start...blah!
This year both kids had fun doing tug of war and the 1 mile color run.  
Selah was under 9 minutes and Titus was just over 10 minute!   3rd place for Selah and 10th place for Titus!   GOOD JOB KIDS! 

Think about this scenario. You’ve just arrived at your new home after months (or years) of decision-making. You finished unpacking and begun settling in, preparations have been made for the future – schools for kids, restaurant with deliveries, local service numbers, etc., But what if you can’t get along with your neighbors? Yes, this can happen even though you’ve already scouted the neighborhood before – experiencing the real thing is the only way to fully understand and begin transitioning to the new community. But I’m still deciding on a community to settle in. If you’re yet to choose a community to transition your family in, there are a couple of things to consider: safety, police and fire resources, medical care, schools, and other necessary facilities are some of them. All of these can be found in select communities or projects like the house and land packages in Melbourne, which is a perfect location if you already reside in Australia. How long you can settle into a new community …

I can't believe I am already setting up my classroom and waiting for rosters to be settled!   Summer went a little fast but now the brain needs to start thinking about the school year!   There is so much prep for teachers to do before the first day of school!   I am so thankful that Oriental Trading has many great items that I can get and some of the best prices around!  They have items for your reading nook, crafts supplies, organization, and so much more!  

 A few of the items I picked up for my classroom include some motivational tools such as the bracelets above and the finger hand cheers!  Then I also picked up some posters for my classroom and organization storage items.  
The brain break cards will be used often as a warm up in the morning or between tasks throughout the day.  
These foam finger hands are going to help keep kids thinking positive.  I am currently working on my thesis and it is all regarding positive thinking and words so I will for sure be utilizing these to h…