Hunting for Treasure, Our Pleasure

Join the celebration 

Hard to believe that we've settled into summer like a tiny dog curled up on it's owner's lap under the gentle breeze of the ceiling fan.  I'm glad for that because I felt like it was never going to happen.  My dad finally came home from the hospital and is on the mend.  It was an ugly experience-sparing the details-just glad he's home.

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of going on a nature treasure hunt with Natalie.  We had a great hunting list to work from and found lots of little details during our walk.  You can see the original pdf list here.  I took a picture of the list and imported the picture into my notepad so we could check off the items digitally as we took the pictures of nature's treasures on our walk.

Natalie and I had lots of great conversations about the beautiful flowers, birds and other things on our walk.  Here are a few of the pictures of items we found from the list, which I captured in a collage frame.

We were feeling disappointed that we could hear the birds but we couldn't see them.  Our ears telling us the birdies were out in full force but were playing hide and seek.  We were feeling sad that we didn't see the beautiful butterfly we were looking for either.  Maybe next time right?  We were celebrating pleasure in finding nature's treasure as we settled into summer.

Thanks to Ruth Ayres for hosting the weekly #celebratelu at her blog, Discover, Play, Build.

Crazy vs Lazy Celebrations

Thank you to Ruth Ayers 

at Ruth Ayers Writes-Discover, Play, Build

for hosting this weekly event!

BTW-Ruth will be celebrating 100 Posts for this Community in September!

Woo-hoo!  Hope you'll join in the fun and learning!

The writer in me felt excited to share all of the happenings from this week but wanted to share them in a clever way...I was thinking and typing and playing...I tried two different apps Piktochart and Venngage as I was inspired by 10 things to Try this Year via Alice Keeler -specifically #8-create and use infographics.  I needed to have a paid account to do the things I wanted to do...so for now I will stick with my pictures to enhance my description of celebrations...

http://neswork.com/logo-generator/google-font

Google Apps for Educators.  I am celebrating all the percolating that occurred in my head as I learned about Google Apps and how they could be used in the classroom.  I can hardly wait to share my learning with the teachers at my school and try things out with the kids.  During our Winter Site Improvement Planning training, I created and shared this emaze documenting our work at Barber.  At our presentation, I ended with-"The world is going Google and you should too!"  Now, I've learned so much more and I'm brimming over with possibilities.

Kam had basketball camp this week at the University of Akron.  He attended with his whole team and they "had a ball"!  I'm glad he got to go.  I decided to make sugar cookies for the little team party they had on Thursday.  I tried this new recipe to make the cookies.  They turned out ok but I didn't have unsalted butter.  If you try it, make sure you don't add the salt if you don't have unsalted butter.  They tasted a little salty...

Another celebration this week was finishing up the building of the book baskets.  I worked closely with my friend Rosemary to get the books sorted into tubs and labeled for delivery.  We are so excited to have the books ready for the Akron Reads volunteers who will be tutoring our students this Fall.  Our next step is completing the training for the volunteers.

The week began "Crazy" and shifted down to "Lazy".  On Friday, we visited the library and checked out some new books.  After we got home, I got a big sheet and laid it out on the grass.  Natalie and I read books together in the shade and laughed and giggled as we read.  We spent time just looking up at the sky too-my favorite shape Nattie noticed was the cloud that looked like a giant hightop shoe.  

My attempt at an infographic using Venngage!

Create infographics with Venngage

A busy yet relaxing week...was yours busy or relaxing?

Celebrating Bug Spray and Itch Cream

Thank you to Ruth Ayres

for Hosting the Saturday Celebration

bzzzzzz

                                                          bzzzz                                    bzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzz

    

                                  zzzz                                     zzz

z

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SMACK!

Another one down, but the bite is worse than the bark!

"Honey where's the mosquito spray?  I can't take it anymore!  These bugs are BAD!!"

pchit,        pchit,           pchit,         pchit,         pchit

Nattie and I were playing out at the play park.  We already had several bites before the bug spray!  I guess I was wrong in thinking that the breezey-flowing wind and sunny-sun would limit the attack going on by the vicious mosquitoes that have come to reside in our yard this summer.  They are biting through clothes now!!  And they swarm you in the garage as you move toward the car!  I find it a little ironic that Nat wanted her giant magnifying glass outside with her so she can study the bugs up-close!

We came back inside after playing and picnic...red bumps on our arms and legs.  

"Momma, where's the itch cream?  I need it bad!"

"ME TOO!  Here it is!  (Let's buy stock in it I think to myself).

I here by declare-"NO Mosquito will keep me from enjoying the fun of summer outdoors!  I have bug spray and itch cream!  Take that Mosquito!  Take that!

Celebrating Defense and Resolve!

"Food-ation" Celebration

That time of year...

Thank you to Ruth Ayers for the Celebration Link up

at her blog, Discover Play Build

Head over there and link up your Celebration too!

This week, I am celebrating "That time of year"...Even though there is preparation, planning and work involved I don't mind digging in and getting my hands "dirty".

The big event to reflect on this past week was hosting Thanksgiving.  Since I had school work up until Wednesday, I decided to keep the menu simple.  Simple worked for everyone else too.  Turkey, corn, stuffing, mashed potatoes, bread, yams, and pie for dessert was all there was to eat.  My celebration is about my three favorite pieces of the meal...

Turkey-turkey-little turkey...I am by no means a chef so I researched the best ways to cook the bird.  I didn't buy a whole bird-mainly the breast-because no one in the family likes the dark meat.  I had it thawing in the refrigerator since Sunday.  Wednesday called for the time to brine.  The mixture was a little white wine, salt, pepper, and apple juice.  I played around with what to put in the mix but these ingredients worked out well as the turkey was so sweet and juicy...YUM!

Stuff in the stuffing...I love, love, love the way my mom always made the stuffing on Turkey day and so I followed how she put it together.  First, I sauteed lots of onion and celery together in butter.  Then I poured in one can of chicken stock.  After that boiled, I added just one box of stove top stuffing mix-then added bread that was cut up and dried.  I mixed it all together and baked it for 45 minutes at 350.  It turned out so tasty...there was only a tiny sliver left (I'll be eating that leftover).

Marshmallow Yams...Yams have grown on me over the years-I despised them when I was younger.  I really like how they taste now.  I'm not sure what changed but I'll go with it.  I put them in the baking pan and added a few pats of butter, sprinkled on some brown sugar and baked them.  At the last 5 minutes, I added two handfuls of mini-marshmallows to the top!  They came out toasty brown (just like when you cook them over the campfire) on top of the yams.  I really could have eaten the whole pan.  They tasted that good.

Now the problem is how to work around the 3 pound weight gain!  Hope your Thanksgiving was bloated with yummy food and fun times with family and/or friends!

Any tasty morsels to celebrate this week?

Opportunities to Celebrate Writing

Special thanks this week, to Ruth Ayers

for hosting the #celebratelu

be sure to head over to her blog and 

link up your celebrations

too!

“If through your workshop, they (students) come to believe in themselves as writers, you have given them a gift that will sustain them for years to come.” 

~Fletcher and Portalupi, 2001

     This week, I celebrate the opportunities to profess the importance of writing...writing with students, every. single. day.  writing to walk in writer's shoes...I felt giddy with excitement over the opportunities to share with teachers what I know to be true as a writer!

1.  Writing is hard work.  Commit to growing as a writer by being a writer.  You can't get better by watching from the sidelines.  You've got to get in the game too!  Write, Write! write...


2.  Writing can surprise you.  I look back through some of my blog posts and feel so much joy inside when I re-read my thinking on paper.  Sometimes as you go back through what you have written, you may wonder...and ponder and feel compelled to write even more.

3.  Writing is for an audience.  Publishing pieces for an audience and thinking about how they might react to your work drives you to be better at it.  Writing can improve with grows and glows!  Feedback sustains more writing.  It's another key to success.

     I cherish the time I had to share with the professional learning communities in APS! Implementing the writer's workshop is truly a new venture for our district this year and I want to make sure we get it right. write. right?

I made suggestions on resources and people to follow...I celebrate the opportunity to link up with many writers here.

I also shared some of my favorite children's book titles about writing too...

You are authors!

You all have a story to tell!

So look closely at the world and notice the details...

I celebrate being thankful for teachers who are teaching kiddos how to write!

Celebrating Celebrating!

Thank you to Ruth Ayers for hosting the Weekly-#Celebratelu at Ruth Ayers Writes

Happy Minion
click the link "Happy Minion" to play 24 hours of Happy by Pharrell

I'm happy!

I'm happy because I have been doing a lot of celebrating this week!  Thus, my post title-

"Celebrating Celebrating"!

A big celebration of this week is that my hubby found a new position with a great company just down the block from where I work.  He sadly said "good-bye" and "good luck" to his colleagues that are moving on to Pennsylvania with PPG but gladly knowing that we wouldn't have to worry about commuting or even moving there...so long PPG, hello new company!  He starts at his new place of employment on Monday!

Another celebration this week was being a part of the Lebron James coming home to Akron Welcome Home Event.  Last Saturday, I helped out with renovation of one of the ten yards of his Family Foundation picked to revive.  It was amazing how the yard transformed in such a small amount of time.  The family was so excited and thankful to be a part of the event.  I hope Kennedy loves her new backyard!  The big event was last night and since I was able to help I got tickets to be on the field with all the kids of Wheels for Education.  It was amazing!  I am blown-away by how generous Lebron James has been with the Akron Community.  Kameron was able to be on the field with me and I know this is a special event he will always remember.

I am also celebrating 18 years of marriage this week with my wonderful hubby Kev.  We got to go out on Thursday to celebrate our anniversary!  We ate at the Burntwood Grille which was delicious!  We then went to hear a jazz band at the Akron Art Museum and finally went for dessert at Crave!  We enjoyed the whole evening outside as it was a gorgeous night with perfect weather!

I am also celebrating my little guy turning 10!  Ten years ago, I was in labor at this moment-praying and hoping that the delivery of my first born would all go smoothly...he was finally born at 10pm that night.  So here's to my little man-growing up much too fast right before my eyes...Happy Birthday Kam!

And, last but not least, I'm celebrating over a week of re-joining the Rec and heading out to exercise-mostly fitness walking (almost jogging) 5 of the last 9 days.  Exercising is making me feel energized...it's been great!  I need to get it into a more routine process but I'm sure that will come with returning to work next week.  Yes, my summer vacation is officially ending tomorrow...it's ok because I've been celebrating celebrating!

Connected

Thanks to Ruth Ayers for hosting the #celebratelu each week...at Ruth Ayers Writes! 

This week I am celebrating being Connected! 

Family Reunion- I had a chance to re-connect with many family members from the Papp family last Saturday at the Family Reunion.  It was great to see family, celebrate over good food, and remember those we loved. I made Texas Sheet Cake to share (everyone brings a favorite dish).  It turned out great!  The highlight of our event was the White Elephant Ticket give-away...We won a basket of Italian dinner items-pastas, sauces, bread, cheese, and spreads.  As a result, I made chicken alfredo last Sunday.  I also shared some of our dinner with our priest-so it ended up being a pay it forward share with others!

Children-I have enjoyed spending time re-connecting and playing with my children.  This I believe is a special part of having the summer off.  We played and did fun things together all week.  We read books, played in the water table (which Natalie tried to treat as a swimming pool :) heheheh).  We trekked out to the Great Lakes Science Center and also the Akron Zoo...

Twitter-Time to re-connect with other Twitter Tweeters and have a little fun as well as learn from the amazing PLN there.  Thanks to all for the favorites, retweets and learning this week.

Mom-I had the chance to re-connect with my mom.  We had an appointment with the Geriatrician this week and got an update on where my mom is with her dementia...she's currently in the mild to moderate stage.  The challenge is going to be trying to get her to commit to going to adult day care so that my dad can get a bit of a break as the primary care-giver.  It's so hard to see this happening.  The day went well though...she was in good spirits as we ate lunch together, shopped and went to the doctor.

The Educator Collaborative-A new website started this week by Super Star Educator Chris Lehman!  The site launched on Wednesday.  Anyone can join as a member and become connected to other educators with like interests.  I hope you'll consider joining as well.  This will be an incredible source for professional growth and learning.  I've already learned about using the "My Library" option on Google to create a record of books read.  Thanks Brian Sweeney!

Hubby!  We got to connect during "date night" last night.  We enjoyed delicious dinner out (just the two of us) and listening to a salsa band at the Galaxy...good times and good fun. 

You can see why my theme had to be "connected" this week!  As I reflect on the week, I am happy with the connections.  Things that I wanted to do and am still working on are participating in the #cyberpd2014 and writing with #teacherswrite.  I am behind on my reading, writing and posting...but it will come.

What connections have you made new or old this week?

Celebrating Authors, Illustrators and Books

Thanks to Ruth Ayers for hosting #celebratelu

at Ruthayerswrites.com

One of the highlights of attending the NCTE in Boston was visiting the exhibition hall.  Within the four corners of the hall, books, authors and writing were the source of celebration.  I went in with a budget limit knowing I had to control my spending habits when it comes to books.

The surprise came when I learned about the books being given away as a advance read copies...yes they give the books away.  Or the books are sold a seriously discounted prices!  I enjoyed chatting with people in line to get a few books (more on this later).

One of the books I landed is A Home for Mr. Emerson written by  Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.  It was signed by Barbara.  You can see more about the book here at Barbara's website.  The end papers are filled with many wonderful quotes and advice for writers like,

"Write it in your heart that every day is the best day in the year." 
or 

"LOVE the day.  Do not leave the sky out of your landscape."  

I have a hunch that when the book comes out, it will sell like hotcakes! This book is filled with little gems about Emerson's life!

In all of the latest conversation about writing, writing every day, reading and building community, I made the connection that these topics are really what the book is all about.  It celebrates Emerson's life and friends who supported him in rescuing and rebuilding his house after it caught fire.  I think in the research to make the book as perfect as it could be, Barbara and Edwin captured just the right quotes and moments of the events before and after the fire occurred to make this an interesting and appealing picture book for kids.

So this week, I am celebrating Authors, Illustrators and Books!  I thank my lucky stars that this pair worked together to create such a beautiful illustration of Emerson's life.  In the author's notes, there is a quote from Emerson..."through his books, lectures, even the conversations in his parlor, Emerson encouraged people to 'look at the world  with new eyes.' and going forward after my NCTE experience, that is just what I intend to do!