He is Risen Indeed!

It's my favorite time of year! I love Easter. I love the significance of Easter. The possibility of the impossible, and the complete love of Christ. I love the spring and blooming flowers (I can say this because I'm one of 10 people in Tallahassee who don't have allergies), the extension of daylight in our busy days, and fresh starts.

I quickly gathered some things around the house to update our mantle a couple of weeks ago. Used an easy fabric floral tutorial online to jazz up a grapevine wreath. Threw a piece of lime green zebra stripe fabric in a frame, moved a grapevine sphere and moss covered wreath from a bookshelf, covered a wooden cross in scrapbook paper, and finished it off this weekend with the most important piece. He is Risen. The banner was made from scrapbook paper scraps, and letters printed off the computer on cardstock paper. Glue the layers together, get some raffia and mini clothespins. There you have it, a springtime mantle fit for a celebration of life! Start rounding up odds and ends at your home, and you'll surprise yourself!



Mack and I have been spending a lot of time outside lately. He was busy the other day making a masquerade mask for an upcoming post on Simply Sprout. If you haven't visited us yet, please do so! We're coming up with lots of cute ideas! Stay tuned for our first Lil Sprouts book club post coming soon featuring this mask!

Jarrod and his mother have been working hard in the yard. He is a former farmer and she is a plant whisper. Put them together and you've got good things happening. We are so thankful for her help. Mack loves his Meme!



I've been so busy with school and getting Simply Sprout, well sprouting, that I've neglected to journal about our family projects. I will try to do better. Come back soon!

Under Construction

Pardon our dust, but I invite you to take a peek at a site for teachers and mamas that my dear friend and fellow teacher Marcy and I are working on, Simply Sprout. A great simple site full of educational ideas. With Dr. Seuss' birthday less than a week away, we have a give away in the works. Check us out, comment, and like us on Facebook! We appreciate it!

Kids' Valentines - Free personalization for you!

Has Valentine's Day snuck up on you? Email me at awwgator@gmail.com by Sunday at 5 p.m. and I will personalize one for your kiddie to pass out to their buddies! They are super easy to put together. All that you will need is:

*white cardstock paper
*cellophane bags
*animal crackers
*tape
*stapler

I will send you a PDF file, you print, and assemble! What's not to LOVE about that? I trimmed down the baggies, and stapled them closed. Then I folded the cards in half and rolled tape on the underside to adhere to baggies.

If you have an elementary aged child it would be a great activity for them to research fun facts about wild animals. Let them write their fact on a white mailing label and stick it on the back of the card.

Fun Fact: Just like you are unique Valentine, each zebra has unique stripes unlike any other zebra.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Use what you have

I have spent a lot of time pondering recently about how to use what I have. Whether that be in the kitchen when preparing a meal, in my classroom when planning a great lesson, or just day to day when trying to figure out what God put me on this Earth to accomplish. I have been fortunate enough to have two careers already in my "young" life. My first degree in public relations lead me to Washington, D.C. to work for an educational non-profit. It only took a couple of years to realize that I really loved working with children. So I ventured south and got a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. For almost ten years I have been nurturing minds and hearts in room #16. At the same elementary school I attended over 25 years ago.

This small recap leads me to say that I am still asking myself, "How does God want me to use my time and talents?" This is a healthy question to ask I suppose, and I hope that I continue to search for the answer for the rest of my life. I am falling on the verse from Romans 12 that states, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith."

Currently, I feel as if I should be teaching in this season of my life. However, there are a lot of different settings in which someone can teach. I am excited to announce that I will be teaching hands on science classes in the fall. A small group setting where I can teach children through exploration and creativity.

I am just starting to get the word out there to families that have children from ages 4 to 12. Different classes will be set up (depending on ages) and we will be meeting out in the community to see science in action.

I am thrilled at the opportunity to teach in my classroom, tutor one on one, and now offer enriching science classes! So spread the word and contact me at awwgator@gmail.com with any questions.

Ski Lodge Birthday Party

Here in North Florida we don't get to relish in all things winter. We get chilly temperatures (this year has been quite mild though), the occasionally frost, and our share of gloomy winter days, but snow...never. So in true Caroline style, my Goddaughter wanted to go against the norm for her fourth birthday. Her parents have blessed her with the opportunity to travel all around and see many sights. One of her favorite things to do is to hit the slopes. And that is just what we did on a sunny and cool Florida Saturday morning!









Before her pint sized guests hit the Bunny Slope, they decorated tasty trees.



They were served Sno-Cones (remember we are in Florida). Here is the birthday girl with her super creative mommy.


Guests also made their own ski trail mix and hung out by the bonfire (with their Sno-Cones!). What a great way to celebrate this mountain of a milestone for sweet and sassy Caroline! Happy Birthday Little C!

Loving Imperfection

What I LOVE about this Valentine's burlap door hanger...

1. That is was made for less than $5 (essentially free when you have your dear friend Jen pick up the burlap for you!).
2. That it took less than an hour to make (including dry time). This means that it is a nap time project, and those are my favorite!
3. You can using a sewing machine or a glue gun. So everyone can play!
4. That it is stuffed with plastic grocery bags so you are giving the planet a Valentine too!
5. And most importantly, nothing about it is perfect. The heart isn't a perfect cut. I butchered the burlap so badly (trying to cut the heart) that the back is made of our two panels glued together. The white paint used to resemble stitches are imperfect. I couldn't find my candy cane ribbon from Christmas so I cut two pieces of leftover cloth. I could go on and on, but you get the point. I embraced imperfection several years ago, and it is quite nice. I used to be pretty crazy about things being perfect as a child (just ask my mom), but as soon as I started teaching that all went out the window. Hang around kids for a good portion of your day and you will realize that they don't care about things being perfect. They just want to learn, create, and have fun!


Also working on making some Valentine's for Mack's buddies. Going to fill the cellophane bags with animal crackers.



He's wild about applesauce, can you tell? He even uses it as hair product.

You've Got Mail

Since I'm the only girl in the house I think I deserve to do it up for the girliest holiday of all, St. Valentine's Day! Mack and I were home yesterday due to yet another ear infection (surgery is scheduled, thank the good Lord!) and we (I) decided it was time to turn things over to Cupid in our house. Thankfully we are within walking distance to a Target, so we picked up a few things for our mantle.

The goal was to spend $5 or less and we accomplished it. I picked up a package of scrapbook paper and a few mini mailboxes from the dollar section of Target. When we returned home, I rounded up some candlesticks, scissors, tape, and tissue paper.



We used the assembly of paper chains as a counting lesson (Can you tell I'm a teacher? However this student is only 16 months old), and also learned to string together hearts. Easy project for those late afternoon hours !





Hugs and kisses!