Inspiration...

First things first…Halloween was just a week ago.  I don’t usually dress up, except for our Halloween parade at school.  Each year the first grade team spends a substantial amount of time deciding on the “perfect” Halloween costume.  It needs to be a theme that can incorporate all four of us.  We’ve been the four Aces and even the four seasons.  This year began no differently…at a loss for what to be.  However, after some brainstorming we decided to be Pinkalicious.  Check out the picture below!



Now…on to my main purpose for blogging today. It’s been awhile, but what can I say? Life has been busy. I am taking advantage of my extra hour today to relax and write. I have been inspired. The store Hobby Lobby has inspired me and this is why…

I have decided that I like love Hobby Lobby! I could spend most of my paycheck there if Trent would allow. I could also lose hours each week wandering the aisles and envisioning the most wonderful things I could create. Stickers, scrapbook paper, ribbon, flowers, paint all could be used to create home décor and other crafts. Hobby Lobby also has great sales. I went in last week and couldn’t believe everything on my list was on sale! Ribbon, scrapbook paper and stickers were all 50% off.


My most recent craft that I am working on is greeting cards. It is a work in progress and takes a lot of time, but they are a gift from the heart!


 Baptism cards for Lainey & Ellie...

Birthday Cards for Upcoming birthdays...

Until next time…and I promise it won’t be as long as last time!

Back to School...

While many celebrate the New Year in January, I consider August to be the start of a new year…school year that is. I start getting butterflies in my stomach in early July when I walk through the aisles of Target and Walmart and see the well-stocked shelves full of new crayons, binders, pencils and every possible school supply under the sun. It is definitely an exciting time of year. I absolutely love back to school shopping. I carefully plan my back to school shopping list including supplies for my classroom. The trip always includes a stop at the best teacher store, Playtime/Schooltime in Omaha. Although not a necessity, new borders, bulletin boards and stickers are any teachers’ dream! And of course, it’s not back to school without adding a few new school wardrobe additions.

Then comes August…time to get into my classroom and start getting it ready for the new school year. It is really like starting from scratch each year considering bulletin boards are taken down, desks and chairs are stacked and literally everything is moved together in the classroom in May. It is chance to once again attempt to create the perfect classroom ready for seventeen eager first graders that will be joining me shortly. I thought I would include some pictures I took in my classroom as I got ready for the new school year...a day in the life of Mrs. Laune! Now, seven days into school, I can look back with a sigh of relief that I have survived another start of school!

The "blank canvas." Everything is stacked to allow carpets to be cleaned along with a deep summer cleaning to prepare for the new students. Sparkling Clean has the amazing talent of removing crayon from desks and carpet!

Another view of my classroom awaiting a magnificent change.

Organizing is always a big back to school project for me. Sometimes I am so ready for summer vacation in May that I start to stuff things into closets...

Then, in August, it's time to organize! A work in progress, but the colorful tubs from Walmart were a big help. I also moved my big filing cabinet into my closet because my new Smartboard took up part of the space where it use to be.

Lots of name writing to do at the beginning of the year, but an easy task to complete at home while watching Big Brother!

And now, some views of the final set-up!

A back to school survival pack I received on back to school night..I was so excited about it all. They are definitely all necessities in the classroom.

Finally, check out my Daily 5 I-Charts. I am very excited about using the Daily 5 again this year. New to my classroom this year, the Cafe Menu...under construction.

Here is to a happy and safe school year!!!

Colorado or Bust...

Warning...lots of pictures!

Finally on the road and Colorado bound! Bags are packed and car is loaded with way more than we would ever need, but hey, it's vacation!

Trent checking out the snack selection. Mental note...Trent prefers iced not frosted animal crackers!

130 miles left to Denver. However, the GPS failed me on the way home and left a very grumpy driver trying to navigate from Arby's to the interstate in Sterling, Colorado.

Day 2 in Colorado: After telling Trent not to fall in the river with my camera, I proceeded to carefully step on the rocks to get my own view of the river when....SWOOSH! I slipped on a wet rock and fell right in. Thankfully only my foot got wet, but was it cold!

Day 3: White water rafting...I was so nervous, but the Colorado River is actually quite calm in August. By the end I actually could have handled a little more adventure!

Huge rock along the trail of a ridiculous hike...

While most of a were in agreement that this hike was ridiculous, the view at the top was pretty cool. There was a lake surrounded by more mountains.

Day 4: More hiking...Trent likes to choose the most difficult hikes, but again, worth it at the end!

Looking down at the 100 foot waterfall...don't fall in!

Day 5: Per my request...Starbucks in Beaver Creek! My mocha smoothie was delicious!

Day 6: Welcome to the Good Life :)

Home sweet home!

6 days, good times, lots of laughs, amazing pictures and 1,520 miles!

Next, it's back to the real world and back to school.

Getting Older...

Lately I have been noticing little things that have suddenly made me think…I’m getting older. It all started about a month ago when I realized that I did not like Justin Bieber. He was the first teeny bopper type singer that I simply cannot stand. I am normally all over that kind of music…Hilary Duff, Hannah Montana and N’Sync were among some of my favorites. However, even with a valiant effort to relentlessly search his music and listen to it on You Tube, I simply cannot handle Justin Bieber.

My second realization came at Wal-Mart last week. I made a purchase that I was quite excited about. It wasn’t clothes or make-up or a movie…it was dryer sheets! Snuggle has a new brand of dryer sheets out. They are the exhilarations brand and they smell AMAZING! I have never been so excited about doing laundry in my life. Unfortunately, I don’t think that most people would think that new dryer sheets are an exciting purchase…AKA, I’m getting older. My priorities and exciting purchases have taken a drastic twist.

Finally, today I received a letter in the mail stating that I need to renew my driver’s license. It specifically said that it would be expiring within the next 90 days. Then it dawned on me that within the next 90 day I will be turning 26. My stomach dropped when I realized that being 26 would now make me closer to thirty than twenty. Something about thirty just sounds old.

Although several realizations have brought me to the conclusion that I am getting older, I am still young at heart! I may not like Justin Bieber and am excited about my new dryer sheets, but I will still watch the final season of Hannah Montana, play games and eat ice-cream for breakfast. Some things never change!

Sweet Summertime...

On the last day of school, a reporter from the Ashland Gazette came around to each class picnic to interview a teacher on their summer plans. I was the “lucky” first grade teacher to be quoted and pictured in the Bluejay Banter section of the newspaper. The question was…What are you most looking forward to this summer? My answer…Relaxing, swimming and reading. I think I would get bored if I stayed home all summer.

Right now I am wishing for boredom! Until about a week ago, I had not been swimming, had not read a book and definitely had not relaxed! I am still anxiously awaiting a day where I have NOTHING to do. Two days with nothing to do is sounding even better right about now. Days where I am laying on the couch, watching TV and wishing for something to do! Instead of relaxing this summer I have been busy working at Cheri O’s three days a week and taking two summer classes. I love working at Cheri O’s. The people and extra cash are great. What I do not enjoy so much is coming home from work to do homework. On summer nights I would rather be outside than in front of my computer! I just keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the end. I am also sure I will miss taking classes when I am finished. Apparently there is no making me happy.

Anyway…Happy 4th of July! Now that I’m done with my homework for the week I’m off to relax, swim and maybe even read a book!

525,600 Minutes...

525,600 minutes…how do you measure, measure a year? This is a line from a song in the musical Rent…one of my favorite songs to pretend I can sing to (just ask my sister). This year has been measured with many firsts. A year ago Saturday I married my best friend. It was a rainy Friday in June, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We were surrounded by our wonderful families and awesome, but sometimes crazy friends. The girls were able to successfully perform the Hoedown Throwdown for wedding guests and a few of the groomsmen ended the night without their shirt (to the bride’s embarrassment but the groom’s approval).

After our first dance I took it upon myself to measure this past year by the number of firsts that Trent and I experienced together. Throughout the year I pointed out nearly every first, even when Trent began to roll his eyes; first apartment, first Christmas, first date night, first movie, first time watching a favorite TV show, first time grocery shopping, first birthdays and to Trent’s dismay, first cat…literally every first!

Now we are beginning our second year together as a married couple. I am excited, because there are still many firsts to come in the future as well as many new things awaiting us. It will be interesting to see the plan God has in store for us…but regardless of what that is we have a few things to help us along the way…each other, great family and great friends.

Then...

Now...

Happy Birthday Jamie...

Yesterday we celebrated my sister Jamie's birthday. On June 5th my big sis turned 29! Jamie has been my sister, friend, and running buddy. Growing up we were very good at making our own memories...

1. Picnics in the tree house.

2. Popple toss when we were suppose to be sleeping.

3. Jumping on the trampoline.

4. Exploring at the creek.

5. Me falling in the creek.

6. Playroom gymnastics.

7. Watching Home Stretch to "get in shape."

8. Stilts!

9. Whitney Houston voice lessons.

10. Staying up late.

And more recently...

11. Running the Lincoln Half Marathon.

12. Playing tennis.

13. Trips to Wal-Mart and Target.

14. Chick flicks.

15. Sand volleyball.

16. Going for walks.

17. Talking on the phone.
18. Trading cat stories.

19. Borrowing clothes.

20. Laughing...laughing...and more laughing!