A classic Halloween

So, this year our school gave us the wonderful opportunity to wear jeans and a crazy hat.  For one, I don't do jeans.  And second; you give me two choices between a crazy hat and a tiarra....the tiarra is going to win every single time!

So, I went with a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme because 1.  I had all the essential elements...(Thanks to my Uncle who goes dumpster diving and found me four jewelry boxes of treasures!) and 2.  Got to buy a bear claw doughnut!

And since we are talking about dressing up, I might as well throw in a picture of my 'Fun Friday Shoes'.

My students are always asking me when 'Fun Friday Shoe' day is going to happen again...they loved these shoes....my toes...not so much.

Plus, an added bonus to my wonderfully fun dressed up week....the student that I homework coach made the A/B Honor Roll for the first time in his high school career!

Cake and a tiarra.....I'm truly blessed!

Day of the Dead Mask

Today, I got a four hour nap....just what I needed to get the creative juices flowing.  While I was ordering Day of the Dead sugar skull molds, I found this cute idea on how to make a Day of the Dead mask.  So, I borrowed the idea and here's what happened.

Made a mask template.  Layered four sheets of fabric

Cut and sewed the layers together.  Suppose to 'quilt' them together...I just kept sewing around the mask.

Tried getting a feel for what fabrics look good together.

Cut and sewed the teeth on.  This was time consuming and difficult.

Cut and sewed the hearts on....time consuming.  Super glued the rhinestone/flower sticker.

Sewed the flowers on.  Super glued the stickers onto the flowers.

Cut ribbon and sewed on the back of the mask.

End result.

Not quite sure if I like the mask on.  But I definitely like the mask.  It will be a great way to incorporate cultural style, creativity, and fun for my Spanish classes.  We'll have to celebrate Day of the Dead on Friday November 1st since the 2nd is on a Saturday.  Good thing I got the mask done this weekend.  Next weekend, I'll be making 40 sugar skulls....Yikes.

The few times I have remembered I have a camera.

Needless, to say that I have been quite busy with four preps (which is now three because I realized my wonder woman costume didn't give me real powers) and a night time class.  But I need to blog once in awhile because if they ask me to teach Spanish three next year....I need something to remind me to say 'NO'.

So here are some random pictures since I'm now too busy to even remember I have a camera.

The wonderful package I got from my sister.  Unfortunately, she forgot that I don't check my mail very often....and Texas has consecutive days of days of 110 degrees.  :)  However, spooning the melted chocolate in my mouth seem to deceive the calorie intake.  And I have gotten a lot of compliments on the bracelet.  ¡Gracias mi hermanita!

No better way to be stuck in traffic, but to be next to the bat-mobile.  After daydreaming how it could fly me out of the traffic and into a pent house delight...realized I had my camera to capture such a wonderful contraption.  Is the cross between a car and a motorcycle a 'carcycle'?

Spelling closed syllables with cookie letters in SARA class.  Note to self...the students did not like the taste of year old cookie letters.

In Spanish 1, we were learning body parts. Thought this picture was cute.  We did learn body parts below the waist.  And when I was in Costa Rica they did put swans on all my toe nails, for $6.  That story will never get old.

In Spanish 2 we made note-cards for the 'question' words.  Spanish 2 is not nearly exciting as Spanish 1.....but at least it is still multi-sensory.  I have gotten quite good at recording myself rapping conjugated verbs for my auditory learners.

One of my Spanish 2 student's got a Birthday Card from his parents...and it was in Spanish.  How cute it this!  He brought it to class for everyone to see.  Got to remember to give kudos to his parents during conferences.

And I whipped out the Spanish Monopoly for Spanish club.  It was a blast!  I want the Game of Life in Spanish, but they don't make it anymore.  Maybe I could make it next summer...if I make it that far.

Next week we will be playing Spanish Uno with stem changing verbs (for Spanish) and SAT Uno (for SARA).  Hopefully, there will be time (while I'm demonstrating my Uno dominating skills) to take some pictures.  :)

Some special people in my life

Over this past weekend I got to take care of a two and a three year old.  I love being the 'fun Aunt' when kids get to stay at my house for the weekend.  However, these two boys called me 'Mama' from the start....and I have to say that I enjoyed every time it came out of their mouths.  

The weekend started with a football game.  The kids had never been to a football game and since I live in Texas......that was the first item on my check off list.  They loved it so much they kept running to the field so they could play....Needless to say, we didn't get to stay very long.  But long enough to get a picture taken with a cheerleader and to play the drums!

The next day we went to the park......

Got some hugging time in........

And the library.  The library time was cut short because we had a messy diaper and (only then) did I realize that I did not bring the diaper bag.

 After naps....for all of us....we went to my Aunt's birthday party.  It was chaos from the beginning!  My cousin loved having friends to play with and cried when they left.  These boys melted your heart with their sweet gestures and hugs.  I cried as well, when they left the next day.

The two year old loved to brush his hair.

The three year old was the most focused when there was chaos.

The next day we went to church.  Afterwards, we picked up the 90 pictures I took in one night and a full day.  While they napped I made them each a photo album book so they could look back at all the fond memorizes.  When they were picked up the three year old gave me a long hug while I sang 'Wheels on the bus go round and round' for the 50th time.  God knew I needed these boys in my life.  And I will continue to pray, one day in heaven they will come running to me again with open arms and their beautiful smiles.

El club de español; Parte dos

¿QUÉ ESTÁ EN MI BOLSA?

¿Qué puedes ver?

Cargador de la computadora?

Lápiz?

Bolígrafo?

Lápiz labial?

Lazo del pelo?

Loción?

Dulces?

Desinfectante de manos?

Chicle?

Cuaderno?

Tarjetas de Español?

iPad?

Desodorante?
Tijeras?
Mermelada de uva?
Panuelo de papel?

Español del club; parte uno

Hoy tenía tres estudiantes a mi español almuerzo.  Ellos dijeron que ellos querían un club de español.  Yikes!  Entonces, pienso que puedo poner unas fotos y unas palabras de español en mi blog para este club.  Es possible que los estudiantes quien van al club pueden leer mi blog y practican Español.  

Mi sobrina tenía un año.

Esméralda, Alicia en el país de las maravillas, y Blancanieves.

Mi sobrina tenía dos años.  Ella estaba usando los marcadores en suya cara.

Yo estoy jugando béisbol.

Mi sobrina tenía tres años.

Mi sobrino tenía un mes.

Mi sobrina tenía cuatro años.

Mi gato está usando el baño.

My poor backyard

After 8 weeks of neglect, my poor backyard was a sore sight to see.  I thought I took a before picture and sent it to dad...but it's not on my ipad.  It might be on my camera, and if that is the case then I will have to edit this post at a different time.

I have grass seedlings everywhere (bane of my existence) and weird plants that I'm praying won't retaliate against me,  by giving me a rash, for pulling them out of their new found home.  Praise The Lord it rained last night and this morning (to make the wonderful clay Texas dirt soft) so it made the pulling a little more easier.
I worked for two hours and when the trash bin was full, decided that was my cue to call it good for the day.

The garbage truck might have difficulty picking up this trash bin....amazing how many weeds I pulled up, branches I clipped off, and dead leaves I gathered.  My body is going to hate me tomorrow.