Back-to-School Already?!

Can you believe summer break is almost over? Are you ready? My summer is already over. I'm back in the classroom after 8 years. I've been working around the clock putting together a preK classroom. I'm plumb exhausted. 
I thought I'd share some super cute back-to-school ideas/projects I found on Pinterest. Now, if only I had the time to actually make them.... 
Super cute, easy-peasy gift for the teacher for the first day of school. FREE printable on Simply This and That! 

A-DOR-ABLE door hanger for your new teacher. This looks so do-able! Maybe one of my students will make me one?!? Yeah, I don't think so either. I may just have to give up some more sleep and make one for myself. Thanks for the tutorial, Warm & Fuzzy! 

O-Mmm-Gee! Look at how cute these apple pretzels are?!?! I'm not linking it because the link is showing to not be safe. Sorry about that Bake.Bake.Celebrate. I think this could be recreated fairly easily without having directions. 

I know my kids would LOVE this. What a cute way to gear up for the beginning of a new school year! Check out the directions over at Pen N' Paperflowers. 

LOVE, love this idea of a back-to-school dinner night with the family. The decorations would be easy to put together. Check out the cuteness over at Our Family Blog. 

If you're going to have a Back-to-School dinner, you're going to need a Back-to-School dinner recipe. Here's one of my family favorites - Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops. Thanks to One Day at a Time for having a great picture with the recipe. This is recipe I use and I've shared, I just can't find my picture. Bummer. No worries. You'll find other great recipes over at One Day at a Time as well. 

Have you found some great ideas to kick off back-to-school?! If I had hours to spend, I could find so many things to make.... if I had time. {sigh}

When do your kids start back? Ours actually start on the 15th. I, on the other hand, have been working for a week in my classroom. I report for meetings on Friday. Life for this housewife is drastically changing. 

~Mrs. Alright

Wishing I could do it all, like.... 

No Longer JUST a Housewife

Have you ever taken a leave of absence from work and not returned for a long time? I have. I took what was supposed to be a year of leave that turned into eight years. During my year off from teaching, I ended up pregnant so one year turned into two years home. Two years home turned into eight years home. 
At what point do you decide to go back to work? Do you just continue to be a stay at home mom until your kids are grown? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a stay at home mom. I've been pretty pretty spoiled. Blessed, but spoiled. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at home. I especially loved when my youngest went to FULL DAY kindergarten last year. It was great to exercise, grocery shop (doesn't every woman call all her shopping, grocery shopping?!?), catch up on DVR'd shows and, oh yeah, participate in my children's activities! 
Last week my dear friend, who is also a pre-k teacher, contacted me about a new pre-k position that was going to be posted. She wanted me to apply so we could work together. She's been wanting us to work together for years. Well, it finally seemed that it could be a possibility. 

It really did seem to be the perfect timing. My aunt now lives in my small town. She will be able to help transport our children and care for them should they not feel well and be able to take them to doctor's appointments. We will also be helping her by paying for her services.  
Do you ever just feel it's God's timing about something? I mean, really feel his hand over a situation? For instance, I have been home for eight years. I stopped receiving "teacher mail" after being home about four years, but then about a month ago I suddenly started receiving teacher catalogues in the mail again. It was like a sign. And then, my friend called me about this particular position. It really is the perfect position for transitioning back into the teaching world. PreK means I will also have my very own assistant. Can I get a "whoop?!" What teacher doesn't want her very own assistant?!  Plus, I will get to team teach with my sweet friend. And.... guess who is MOST excited about me teaching? My FAMILY! Yes, my family.... both my girls and my husband. With that kind of support, where can I go wrong? 
I interviewed for the position on Monday and Wednesday I was offered the position. I was super excited about the prospect and felt great about the interview. But ultimately, I knew I would be okay with working or staying home. I know God has always had me just where He's wanted me. I guess He's decided it's time to use my extra time to enrich some others' lives. I'm excited to be Owasso's newest pre-k teacher. Go, Rams!  

 

It's time the crazy frenzy of throwing together a classroom begins. Do you realize that when a teacher takes a job, that 9 times out of 10, she walks into an almost empty room, void of anything fun and exciting? Do you also realize that anything fun and exciting usually comes out of that teacher's own pocket? I hear parents complain often of having to purchase this and that supplies. I truly don't think most parents realize how much their child's teacher spends out of their own pocket. Most good teachers never complain about it. They are happy and willing to spend some money in hopes they can make the biggest impact on their students. It wasn't 4 hours after I accepted my new position that I spent $289 on classroom materials. Sadly, that doesn't go very far. I would LOVE to find a corporation or local business that would like to sponsor our brand new classroom. Wouldn't that just be the best?!? If you, or someone you know, is interested in investing in the future of our local children, PLEASE send me an email! Teachers are NEVER too proud to ask for help when it comes to the betterment of their students. NEVER. My new classroom could use some math and science manipulatives, cubbies for their backpacks and papers and some book displays. 

What does taking a job mean for this housewife as far as my position on The RHOK? Well, I'm going to do my best to continue to be a part of this awesome blog. I love my housewives that I work with and the ones I've gotten to know along the way. I think it's important that we continue to support wives and moms in whatever journey they are taking. Some of us are called to be at home full-time, some are called to homeschool, some are called to work full-time and some, to do all of the above. Let's continue to lift one another up during each and every season we are in. 
Wish me luck (mostly pray) as I start this newest adventure. I'm truly looking forward to enriching the lives of other children, as well as the lives of my own children. I'm sure I'm going to have some fantastically wonderful stories to share with you in the future. It turns out that pre-k kids are some funny creatures. 

~Mrs. Albright Happily spending that first paycheck that I don't have yet, like... 

Fall Fun with Kids

My kids have been in school for 23 days for the 2012-13 year and just had their second day out this past Friday. Professional Development Days. Teachers have to get them in, and unfortunately it just doesn't happen with the kids present and on school property. My daughter who started Kindergarten this year told us that she really likes having three day weekends. I bet she does.

I'll be honest I enjoy it also. Can we have year around school with just breaks here and there? Please? I had so much fun with my kids on Friday. It was a no makeup, stress free, craft and full of fun activity day with my kids and a few neighbor friends, whose mom just happens to be one of those poor teachers who had to go get schooled.

We made two of these Candy Corn wreaths. I found the idea on Pinterest, of course!

HGTV Moma here I come! He looks mighty efficient with a glue gun doesn't he?
BTW if anyone has seen my glue gun, please return it. We have a few battle scars from this one.

I didn't want to overload this post with pics, but you can see we had loads of Fall fun and were on a real sugar high between bites of candy corn, sprinkles, chocolate and caramel that was served up. At least the apples were healthy. This is what Fall Fun with Kids is all about until the leaves fall, the pumpkins patches open and its cool enough to get out and enjoy the weather!

On another note of Fall, remember my last post when I hosted the RHOK into Fall Y'all Decorating Contest? We have a winner of the $25 Los Cabos Gift Card! Congratulations RHOK Reader MissPam DanceMom! If you are in the Broken Arrow or South Tulsa area and are looking for dance lessons for your child, I encourage you to look Miss Pam up at Beautiful Feet Dance Company.

Miss Pam's Fall Village. I love villages!

♥Mrs. Hart♥ Celebrating Fall and looking forward to cooler temps like

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7-11, Have You Planned Yet?

I admit it...I started planning and putting together some Teacher Appreciation gifts in January. With Pinterest around these days why procrastinate. One of my favorite blogs for ideas is eighteen25- they always have links for the printables, I am NOT a graphic artist.

Teacher Appreciation week this year is May 7-11, with the BIG Teacher's Day being May 8th. Have you started planning for what you will do for those special people who help our children rise to success day in and day out. Albert Einsten said, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." Wow, that is a good quote, I might just have to pull together some more creativity and put that on a gift at the end of the year.

Here are the items that the Hart children will be giving their teachers, the great thing about these is that they are simple, from the heart, cost efficient and I can do everything times two! (now hopefully this post WILL NOT be seen by those special teachers, fingers crossed)

Monday, May 7- Subway Art Clipboard

Tuesday, May 8- Drink Holder filled with the Teacher's favorite drink & snacks, I found the cutouts/gift tags at It's Written on the Wall-they also have some fabu ideas.

Wednesday, May 9- You Rule, Ruler! (found this idea on Pinterest, but the blog is private, so I just designed my own printable on Word)

Thursday, May 10- Ziploc's, you can find the printable for it here. Every classroom needs these!!!
It reads:
Roses are red,
Baggies are clear,
I'm so glad that you teach here!

Friday, May 11- Personalized Teacher Subway Art. Totally loving this project and cannot wait to give these to the two special people who encourage my children each day! They were so easy to personalize! Thank you Today's Fabulous Finds!

Have you started planning yet for Teachers Appreciation week? Hopefully, I have given you a few ideas and a few sites to visit for the teachers in your lives. Don't forget to include support personnel, administrators, and others that play a role in your child's education. Also don't forget the preschool teachers, did you know that many of them have degrees as well? And to all the teachers out there....
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! 

♥Mrs. Hart♥
Planning, Creating and "TEACHING" like

In Your Neck of The Woods- Teacher Appreciation Week

I just can't believe it. Teachers Appreciation Week. The first week of May already, and for those of you rushing around still thinking of ideas of what to get those incredible, hardworking, snot nose wiping, shoe tying, sock finding teachers, I am going to show you what my nest is sending to the two AMAZING teachers that teach my kiddos! Now keep in mind these are the incredible people that deal with your beautiful and wonderful children that you labored so hard to get into this world only to send off to school for 6-10 hours a day to enrich their mind and nurse their boo boos. It doesn't take a lot to say thank you. In fact my grand total was less than $20, I bought for two teachers and still had supplies left over for my family- yes, we are on a very tight budget around my house these days. Some schools have idea lists, I of course got one of my lists after I had bought all of my supplies so I am trying to match as closely as possible.  Some of my ideas were taken from the blog eighteen25 and 24/7 Moms. The templates can be found at the eighteen25 blog.

Monday

Scented Hand Sanitizer- who doesn't need to fight germs and smell good at the same time?

Tuesday

Personalized  Post-It Notes decorated by the kiddos w/ Sharpies included.

Wednesday

A bottle of A&W Rootbeer for the AW-esome teacher!

Thursday

A packet of Goldfish- who doesn't like a packet of Goldfish to snack on?

Friday

I had to show you both Wordles I made for their teachers, I included every students name and the teachers likes- yes it requires a little homework, but if you have a good PTA or are a bit sneaky you can get this information pretty easy! And of course I included chocolate to end the week!

Now this post is hitting on Tuesday morning- if any of you know my kids teachers or if the teachers themselves are reading this post, don't spoil the surprise for my kids. They are super excited to be giving these gifts each day, they helped glue, write, pick ribbon, colors, gather information and add all of their own special touches along the way! So, that's what is going on at my nest this week. What is going on In Your Neck of The Woods?

Answer the question on your blog (or in the comments sections if you haven't a blog).

2. If you answer the question on your blog, add your name and direct link to our meme.

3. Grab our super cute, new button from the sidebar and post it either in your reply post or on your blog    

    sidebar.

4. If you don't already, follow the RHOK here on our site and on Facebook. 

5. Be sure to visit some or all of the blogs who link up and share some comment love with them. Don't you love when that courtesy is extended to you? 

6. Enjoy and have some fun!

♥Mrs. Hart♥

Did You Know?

Did you know that a few of us here at The RHOK were teachers in our former lives?

It's true. 

So, we might tell you to talk with your inside voice, or use your quiet feet. 

We apologize in advance.  It's just out of habit.

Teacher's are so important...not just because we were once, but they truly help shape the lives of our children. 

In my opinion, teaching should be one of the highest paid salaries.  I mean, they are with our children more than we are during the week.  They kiss boo-boos, give hugs, and teach our children morals and values.  They are responsible for educating the future doctors, lawyers, scientist, famous authors, actors, and even Presidents...but they make a fraction of what those professions pay.  It just doesn't seem right, does it?

Thinking back, who was your favorite teacher in school?  What made them so special?

Also, feel free to write or tell us about an exceptional teacher your child has had.

Mrs. Edwards

...and former teacher