Classroom+shopping+return of school=a long post!

I survived the first 2 days of school! I rEaLlY like 4th grade. I am so surprised at the difference from 2nd to 4th grade!! I spent hours...HOURS...like 100s of hours on my classroom. I have been so busy I haven't had to time to post any pics. I am trying to get better. I have been busy!!!

First, I work at the best school in the world!!! Our principal does something amazing every year to celebrate our return to school. This year we had a carnival theme including a big top (not pictured) and peanuts, pop, popcorn, etc. We played carnival games and won things for our classroom! (Like that bookshelf in the background!) I didn't win anything big this year but I still won some GREAT stuff. I can't complain cause last year I won a flipcamera! LOVE IT!

New clock for my classroom. It's a painted canvas and clock kit from Hobby Lobby!

Outside my classroom. Our 4th grade theme was Rock N' Roll. Found these records at a thrift shop half off. I got a couple hundred for $7.

Side view of outside. My loving hubby hung my daughter's guitar.

Area above my door.

Inside door.

Car/Bus Rider chart.

To go with the rock n roll theme I used Billboard as a guide to make these charts. The kids HAVE to read 5 chapter books a nine weeks and keep up with homework.

Organized teacher area! LOVE this cubbie thingy! Free from the PE department!

Daily work and weekly material!

Now for the best part.....every year my hubby gives me a gift for my first day back! (WARNING: You will ohhhh and ahhhhh!!)
This year he gave me this box full of stuff. At first I was confused as to why there was a 4 in there since I have taught for 12 years. Then it hit me...4th grade!! He included 4 packages of candy, 4inch fan, 4 diet dr pepper, 4 ramen noodles, 4 pringles, 4 tubs of crystal light, 4 fruit cups, #4, and a meal with 4 entrees.
He is sooooo amazing and thoughtful!!!

These are just a few pics of my classroom. I have changed a lot since
I took these pics so will add more when I take them..Hopefully Monday!

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Bargains Galore on 64 items...
lamp .75
videos $1.00 for both
easel .25
ball jars 1 with zinc lid $1.00
ME salt/pepper .25
fabric for class $1.00
The best find was this working robot. Price was $10 but I got him
down to $8.25. WAHOOOO!!
Free mirror from a friend. From this to.......
to THIS............
More thrifty finds....all in my classroom!! Pics later....
Frames were $1 each
ice bucket $1
lamp $2
Border $1
game $2

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Switching gears.....
Our Walmart was having an open house and we met Chester the Cheetah..

Zak wasn't too thrilled.....
Zak got this helmet for $1 at Bargains Galore and this is how he uses it.
Is he trying to tell me something???????
1st Grade Open House. He was thrilled!!! He kept asking if it was over yet.
His teacher walked by and said, "I can tell I won't have any problems out of
him this year!!" Hubby and I looked at each other and laughed!!First day of 1st grade. Silly boy!!!!!! He did have a great day!
I think he will like 1st grade!

Off to the shuttle bus! Our school provides a bus for the teacher's kids!
SOooooo very nice!!!!!!!!
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Bathroom redo for $35 from TJMaxx...Bench was from a find from Baragins galore. Got 2 for $10..

Rug was $16 and the shower curtain was $8 and not pictured is
a yellow towel I hung as a curtain to close while we shower.

Lost Tooth!

My son lost his first tooth. Let me say...he was NOT happy!!!!! Daddy could not get him to settle down long enough! He tried the string...NOPE....finally (as Zak would say) he "jancked it out".























See........missing tooth!













































Now....how have I been spending my last few days of summer vacation?
Waiting for my room to room to get carpet so I can start organizing my room!

Baby Cohen

I am participating in a moment of silence tomorrow in memory of baby Cohen's Memorial Service. Please pray for this family as they tell their precious baby goodbye! For the full story go here:
http://sendlovetocohen.blogspot.com/

Garage Sales in Kansas AND Thrifty Finds

We went to Kansas to visit family.
While the men went to the Salt Mine the ladies went ShOpPiNg!!!!

Can I just say that Kansas has the BEST garage sales!!!???

...............2 tool boxes, 1 file storage...........

.......robin's egg blue purse, yellow padded stool, white/black checked bag,
2 pepsi bottle carriers, coke bottle carrier, lazy susan,
2 vintage loaf pans, blue stool, money box.......

Guess How Much I paid...............
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OnE dOlLaR fOr EaCh ItEm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you believe that!!! Wahoo!!
I {heart} Kansas Garage Sales


I'm joining Southern Hospitality Thrifty Treasures @
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/thrifty-treasures-once-again/

THEN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Mom and I went thrifting last week.
Marva (a local resale shop) had 50% off everything in the store! SCORE!!!!!

I am moving to 4th grade this year and their theme is Rock n Roll. I was told to be on the look out for records. Well I have been looking but they are not cheap...that is until I went to Marva!!!
I found 100 records for $5.

The pitcher was $4 and 3 birdcages were $5 sized small, medium, and large.
Notice the lazy susan that I bought in Kansas? Pretty blue......

This is my front porch redo for Summer. Thought the stool matched and was a great place to prop your feet up and watch the action.

The other side of my porch with my other stool!
I have already used this stool while watching a thunderhead move in! FUN!!!!

See?? My amazing hubby sitting on our porch watching
the storm with the glow of citronella candles!

Joining: Metamorphosis Monday on
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Addition to Zak's Bathroom

I just HAD to add something to his bathroom!!

I used Wordle to come up with the print and a

cute picture of Zak in the tub as a baby!

First, I had to find a frame. Goodwill here I come. I found this beauty for $2!!

Inside of the frame...........

The finished project.........

I like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer List

Meg from http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/ creates a summer list for her kids. I LOVE the idea so we made one today! Zak, Mommy, and Daddy listed things we wanted to do this Summer! You can tell who wants to do what! :-) It is hanging in our hall so Zak can see it every day! This will help me stay motivated to get out and do stuff this summer in between workshops, classes, and getting a classroom ready!

I can't wait to get started!!!!!! Only 2 and 1/2 days of school left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GuEsT rOoM/cRaFt RoOm/SoN's BaThRoOm

My daughter graduated and moved out all in the same week! It has been a whirlwind! I was able to redecorate her bathroom as a transportation theme for my son.

I made these poster and painted them. (Much cheaper than buying them...and cuter I think!)
My mom suggested putting this above the toilet....Zak said, "Momma...sorry but I had to park"! Ha!!! He's almost six!!!

I thought using floor mats was cute...and it was but not practical! Water was EvErYwHeRe!!! THe basket in the corner was a $5 find at a flea market. It's his laundry basket. The stool is HEAVY and free from my school!

Another sign, lamp, and accessories from his room.
Got the red cup, soap container, and liquid soap container from $ Tree!!!

The shower curtain is actually an $8 flat sheet from Wal-Mart. There
is a waterprrof curtain behind the sheet.

Added some colorful towels and more accessories! Notice the sign on the door...restroom sign!

Added blue rugs....much better!!!!!!!

Now for my guest/craft room!!!!!!!!
Remember all this????


it is now this...............
This is the closet. I added baskets that I got on clearance at Wal-mart! $1.50 each.

I needed a lamp and found this white one in another room It was a little too bland so I added ribbon from $tree! $2 for ribbon.

My craft table! The crib mattress spring was free from my dad's house.
Got the cup holder from a flea market $1, and 4 cups from $tree $1 each!
I had or made everything else.

The shelf above my window holds cute pictures and containers. The pretty yellow ones were from my hubby from Mother's Day.
The curtains are a flat sheet cut in half, again, $8 from wal-mart.

Remember this ugly white cabinet..........

Amazing what a little paint and a wonderful hubby can do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This pink beauty now holds all my magazines, fabric, and ideas!

Closet door with my wooden ladder.

I beautiful quilt and clip boards on wall holds pictures.

My head board! I had to buy the pillow cases for $11. The doors were free from various rooms in my house! Added a clothesline of fabric for color. The dresser is at the foot of the bed and houses towels, toiletries, and wrapping supplies. The canisters were $5 from school!

View from the door! I LoVe my room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well....that's my new room! I did it all for $500!!!!!!
Not bad considering I had to buy all new furniture!

I am joining the following blogs!