Keeping Up With Kirbys

Well, we are not actually “lost” mainly because I’m not the one in charge of driving but we are getting lost like leaving and getting out of here.  We are getting lost in our thoughts, lost in nature and wrapped up in our time with each other without any of the distractions of everyday life. ROAD TRIP LIFE HACK: Before we left Josh, Jenna and I each picked 20 songs each and put them on a Spotify summer playlist.  We shuffled the playlist and it was fun to see who’s song was going to play next.  You were guaranteed to know the words of at least every 3rd song.:-)  We had quite the variety….from Metalica to Snoop Dogg to Teen Beach Movie.    Our first stop was Palo Duro Canyon in Amarillo, Texas.  It’s amazing to me that places like this are just a few hours from my driveway.  It was beautiful BUT HOT.  Seriously, finding shade was like almost nonexistent.  We actually waited until later in the evening before we did any hikes. We enjoyed dinner at a beautiful pavilio

There never seems to be enough time to teach coins and financial literacy in the classroom.  I'm not sure about your kids but my kids seem to struggle with actually adding the coins.  They just needed some motivation......and a job.  We started this fun lesson with a job fair.   I introduced the jobs that they could apply for and then allowed them time to walk around discuss what they were interested in.   Once they decided on jobs that they wanted they filled out an application. Then it was my turn to go through the applications and decide on who to hire for the job.   I LOVED going through these and reading why I should hire them for the job. They were so motivated and excited to start working and earning their money. I created a pay schedule for the week and it made my teacher heart happy when they showed up more excited each day saying "it's nickel day" or "I'm so excited that it's dime day". Oh an

There is ONE. MORE. WEEK.  Just ONE. MORE. WEEK.  Jenna laughed when I told her that teachers always know if there is a full moon based on the way kids act...she didn't believe me BUT if you're a teacher you know exactly what I'm talking about.   Not only was it a full moon but I had the privilege of taking my kids to an indoor swimming pool to teach them pool safety and how to swim.   That sounds fun, you say...  Oh it's an adventure...let me share it with you. First, you must REMIND, REMIND, REMIND kids each day to bring their swim clothes.  Now get them dressed out to swim and onto the bus.  You must remember that no matter who they sit by on the bus someone is going to get upset and call someone else a "juicebag". --You're going to have to be mature and not laugh because by the looks on their face being called a "juice bag" is 10x worse than being called a "douche bag".  You're also going to need to discuss

We've spent the last week introducing the kids to the beginning of multiplication and division.  This is seriously, the best day in a 2nd graders life.  They live to learn multiplication.  No one can add or subtract but everyone wants to multiply--I don't know what it is but they LOVE it. Of course we introduce the beginning of multiplication by using repeated addition, arrays and pictures of equal groups but I thought we could use a fun hands on way to continue to practice the new skill.  {{click here }} Students will use their own fishing poles made from twine, pencils and a magnet.  They will get to fish for their fact to match on their board.  We just placed small paper clips on the fishing cards.  If the students caught more than one fish then they have to pick one and throw the rest back. The first student to complete their board wins....BUT be careful not to catch a shark. You have to throw all your cards back if you catch a shark. I introd

As Jenna gets older I just enjoy my time with her more and more.  She is a ray of sunshine that brightens my day and I KNOW that she has that same affect on others.   One thing that we LOVE to do is shop.  She LOVES to shop but she loves to find great deals <-she is an old soul.  She just cannot stand pay to full price for something or want me to.  Me on the other hand wouldn't think twice about paying full price for Josh, Isaiah or Jenna but when it comes to me...I feel so guilty if I do. Strange, I know. Jenna's latest thing is hunting for great finds at thrift stores.  Which I find so ironic because I remember as a kid I would be so embarrassed when I got hand me downs or if my clothes came from {{gulp!}}.....Wal-mart and I would absolutely die right there on the spot if anyone knew my clothes came from a thrift store.  I couldn't wait to get job so that I could buy my own clothes.  Fast forward to today and for the most part we can afford anything that Jenna

Baby, it's cold outside and something about having soup makes me happy on a cold day.  It's like a meal and drink all in one.  When my family LOVES something they always say "Write it Down, so you don't forget this" - but here's the problem with my recipes, it's always a little of this and a little of that - a little taste here and a little taste there!  So let's try to write this down before I forget.  Here's my little recipe of the Tomato Soup my family loves - even Jenna loved this and it has TOMATOES in it.   Tomato Soup 1 Tbsp salted butter                                                             1 can tomato sauce                                             2 Tbsp finely diced onion -(I don't tell my family about this ;-) 1/2 tsp minced garlic                                             1 can Italian diced tomatoes                           1 cup of heaving whipping cream