May Madness

The month of May is historically one of my craziest months ever. This May is no exception.


It's the last month of school, and that alone means end-of-year projects and parties and crowd control and wrapping up the million things that teachers wrap up at the end of the year. Not to mention I need to clean out my classroom, but one can't just clean out their classroom. There's an order to it. You have to start kind of sneakily by going through files and things, because the second you start ripping down bulletin boards, the kids get a signal to their brain that says "no math bulletin board? The school year must be over! I can go crazy!" And I mean, really. We had a full-on area and perimeter lesson yesterday. The year ain't over yet, folks! Note the perfectly in-tact math bulletin board!


May is also the month of parties when I probably shouldn't be partying. My teaching team and I are skipping out one weekend for a teacher getaway (teacher getaways sound terribly boring to the untrained brain, but trust me, I work with the biggest party animals alive. I'm so stoked). Also, my little brother's getting married this weekend (what!). Family is in town, there are get-togethers to be had, flower crowns to make, missionary brothers to Skype with, and all the crazy goodness that comes with a family wedding.


Not to mention this big squirmy tummy I'm lugging around everywhere with me :) And the many doctors appointments and Braxton Hicks contractions and exhaustion and pure excitement that comes with it. Also I can't seem to suppress the urge to clean things and make things for the baby room, even when that urge comes at terribly unfortunate times, like 10:00pm, which as we all know is way past any respectable teacher's bedtime.

Here's a glimpse of the madness I've already been up to this month:

see what I mean about the late-night crafting?

 One from the baby room. Pictured here is my mother's day flowers and a baby blanket from grandma Morrell.

 Can't believe she'll be my sister this weekend! My brother sure picked a good one :)

A student made this for me to demonstrate the class behavior / teacher mood relationship. As the class gets crazier, I can move the temperature to show that the teacher is getting grumpier. Ha!

You know, making time for the important things like nail polish :)

Trying to keep up with this dude who won't stop growing. (He also played in an awesome band concert yesterday, by the way.)

Celebrating this one's birthday.

The good news is that May is also one of my best months historically. Bring on the next few weeks!

And then bring on June where I can get all the sleep I need and start focusing on having this baby.

PS All pictures from my instagram @brookejanette

upside-down books, and other important matters

My current view: cute pigtails and an upside-down book

First things first: I finally turned on the heater. We've been trying to do lame responsible things like go green and also save on our bills, etc etc., so we'd been avoiding the heater. But it was COLD last night! I kept waking up to pull on another pair of thick socks. In the morning, I spent a few minutes warming my hands and feet with the blow dryer, and that's when I decided. Carbon footprint be hanged! I'm turning on the heater!

So I did. I came home this afternoon to a nice warm apartment and that unmistakable heater smell. It's a heavenly smell, in a weird, is-something-burning way :)

Side note about the cold: today during morning recess duty, I watched a group of first graders stand in a circle and stare at their breath as it came from their mouths in little puffs. They thought it was THE GREATEST THING since Dora the Explorer light-up shoes. It was hilarious. Another kid came up and said "the grass is crunchy!" and then proceeded to stomp around on the frosted field and crack himself up at the crunchy grass.

Whenever I come back from a break, I'm always sluggish. I think everyone wishes for an extra day off or two during fall break. This week, after fall break, I was feeling those post-break blues. I have to start getting up early again, it's a long commute, blah blah. But then the second my kiddos started walking through the door, it all came back. These kids are awesome! I honestly love being with them all day, helping them learn, watching them figure out how to behave and what to say and what's most important in their little ten-year-old lives. Some day, I want to have kiddos of my own, but for now, I'm so so grateful for these 29 hilarious, honest, hardworking, and talented kids I get to call my own.

Okay, the end. Things can get sappy real fast around here when you get me started on children and education. Or Hallmark commercials. Or baby horses. Or freshly-cut onions.

The real reason for this post is for me to tell you about fall break. But now I've already spent my time on my computer, and plus I'm babysitting a cute baby tonight (moms, how do you get ANYTHING done with a baby who wants to be held all the time???). So I'm off to read more upside-down books and play peek-a-boo with a pillow for hours at a time. It's a good life, people.

Here are some snapshots of things I did during fall break:

 we kicked break off the right way with a late-night adventure up the canyon

family pumpkin carving time

 all the sisters reunited! hanging out with them during fall break was so much fun

 a rare lunch date with my husband (in the middle of the work week! go fall break!)

all I have to say is that I have talented sisters. and it was just as delicious as it looks.

Follow along with me @brookejanette

winding down (+ a few blog changes)

^^An evening walk in the park 

Labor Day is one of my all-time faves. I mean, a free day off work for almost everyone in America? (sorry, retail, but not that sorry because your sales are so good...) In all seriousness though, I was raised on hard work, and I'm proud to be a working professional in America. Also, three day weekend.

As promised, this was our official Goodbye Summer weekend. Swimming, hiking, football, sleeping in, finishing up a book, and possibly two rounds of Icees were involved. I even have a weird sunburn line on my chest to prove I was indeed sitting poolside looking down at a book ;) A small contingent of Emery boys came to join us at the last minute, and it's been awesome having them around.

^^I wasn't joking about the Icees

And now, as our four-day work week starts up, I wanted to share a few changes happening around the blog:

1. I won't be accepting blog sponsorships for a while. Now that I'm back to work full time, it's hard for me to give my sponsors all the attention and shoutouts I feel they deserve. (Plus, passionfruit ads, lame.) So, at least for now, I'm putting a hold on button swapping and other blog sponsorship ads.
2. I decided to begin working with a few social media companies, so you'll start seeing some sponsored posts popping up here and there. I'm a huge believer in little to no sponsored posts on a blog (I hardly ever read one of my old favorite blogs anymore, because it's almost all sponsored content), but I will sponsor occasional posts for products I actually like :) 
3. I'm pregnant
4. JUST KIDDING

And before I go, a cool trick Jason learned this weekend. Follow along for more aerial stunts and late-night Icee runs @brookejanette :)

Friday's letters (to russian dancing and immortality, among other things)

To the wedding dinner last night,
It's always fun hanging out with the Covey side of the family, and the russian dancing was something else. As was that authentic Thai. Yum.

To my husband,
You don't get enough recognition for walking 5 miles round trip to work every day so I can take the car. It won't be that fancy porsche you want, but how about a moped? I could see you rocking a moped :)


To myself,
Being a second year teacher has made all the difference. They always say the first year is hard, but it wasn't until this week, now that I'm a second year teacher, that I realize how much more comfortable and easy it is the second time around. I have a good feeling about this school year.

To the summer storm last night,
You outdid yourself. I loved every second.


To my ward of the state,
I'm so proud of you for rocking your first week of middle school! Sam and I are so lucky to have you. Bring on the homework this year!

To this weekend,
You're the sweetest sounding thing I've heard in days. Back to school week is crazy, and I'm pretty sure I only slept at night because Sam made me go to bed. Please be good to me. AKA please let my hours of lying on the couch, snuggling and watching Life of Pi be uninterrupted.


To immortality,
This week my anniversary flowers apparently discovered your ancient secret. They have yet to clue me in.

And to my husband, who deserves five more of these,
I love you.

Happy weekend!

And ah, the weekend never sounded so good.

Follow along on Instagram @brookejanette

awkward + awesome

Awkward:

+ last week someone sent us an anonymous package. Cool, right? Until it was a "how to save your failing marriage" self-help book. No note or anything. So I guess someone out there thinks we're on the verge of divorce? Sam and I looked at each other awkwardly... and then burst out laughing.

+ me doing zumba. enough said.

+ a friend hacked my facebook recently and updated my status. He said he found my facebook open on a fourth-floor computer lab on my alma mater's campus. I haven't been on campus for months...

+ last week I tried to make cookies, but somehow ended up with flour in my hair, one egg splattered on the floor, and a broken kitchen-aid, all within five minutes. And then I burned the first batch. You'd think I'd never baked before.

Awesome:

+ at school we each got an iPad Mini for our classroom. I've been downloading cool educational apps all week.

+ i went grocery shopping and came out $39 under our weekly food budget. What up kids. It felt like stealing.

+ whenever we go on road trips, Sam and I have this magical routine. It's called I fall asleep the whole way there and he wakes me up when we've arrived. Hashtag best naps ever :)

+ new facebook and bloglovin followers. It may seem silly, but it makes me happy.

+ a holiday in Utah celebrating when the pioneers first arrived in the valley. Anything that means a day off work and lots of fireworks is good with me!

_____________________

In other news, I lost a hair-growing contest, we went ziplining, the people at the waterpark practically know us by name, and I grow a little sappy when I realize Sam and I have been married for almost two whole years. Follow along on my favorite form of social media @brookejanette. I usually follow back :)

Happy Thursday!

What's something awkward or awesome in your life?

it's a filtered life

follow along @brookejanette

 desserts: one birthday cake & three sugar-free pudding parfaits

 out and about: crafting & I met the incredible, sweet Stephanie Nielson!

wearing: no lipstick as to get more kisses on date night & the spring sunshine on my legs

going: to the riverwoods at dusk & to my favorite temple

This week I'm going to my meetings (but I may be making spring break to-do lists instead of taking notes). I'm dutifully showing up, but let's be honest - it may be hard to focus 100% on school. My fifth graders have already made it clear that they're ready for a break. Bless their antsy little hearts.

What's on your agenda this week?

P.S. Have you followed me on facebook or bloglovin yet? It's fast, it's easy, it's - a joke I won't finish. Decorum, people. Decorum.

Happy Monday!

I'm alive! And back!

You know it's been a while when your blog friends start texting you to make sure you're okay (blog friends, I love you).

This morning, I finally pressed print and clipped 60 pages of student work together. My teacher work sample is done! I really do feel lighter now. It was a huge project, and because I'm all about education I'll say I learned a lot from it.... . ... ..... . .. but mostly I'm just excited to be done. Done, I tell you! The world is a brighter place with my teacher work sample done. Bring on spring! Bring on anything! I'm done!

To prove that I did not in fact die during those late-night typing sessions, here are some of my latest instas. I may have sworn off blogging for a while, but nothing can make me swear off instagram :)

Follow along? @brookejanette

 fresh flowers // on the sill and from teacher appreciation

outside// running and walking the furball

treats // bacon maple cupcakes and fruit smoothies

reception // in the bride's dressing room and the main entry

sunday best // drives up the canyon and temples through afternoon rain

the crazies // jamba and new haircuts

valentine's // for my friends and from Corina

teaching // fraction flowers and with my new lanyard bling

It's good to be back :)

Who wants to celebrate?

That is, until I go camping with my 5th graders in the snow this week...

when life gets filtered

Around here, we love weekends. This is our first weekend with our little ward of the state, who by the way did such a great job this week. Adapting is kind of his forte, and we like having him around quite a lot.This weekend we plan to slip on the ice, take treats around to introduce Jason to the neighborhood, and go mini-golfing with our favorite Bennetts. Oh, and a bloggers night out with Elisabeth :)

outside:: pretty Cache Valley / a snowy afternoon

around the house:: reading list / in love with my new clock

teacher life:: class pet / guess the your you're lesson didn't stick

date night:: Jazz games / there's a Chinese family in our bathroom

happiness:: girl talk / Red Robin trumps diets

And since it's Friday:

these customer reviews made me laugh out loud

yup... it was slippery yesterday (also made me laugh out loud)

getting to know this cute mama better through a Valentine's swap

and this stunning post

Happy weekend!

Leave me your favorite link this week - I'd love to check it out!

break's over (+ it's a filtered life)

Today I'm going back to my 5th graders.

The end of break is something I always dread, but yesterday I made the life-changing discovery that I can wear leggings under my favorite maxi skirt and no one's the wiser. It's negative two this morning (yikes!) so I'm layering up and getting ready for an inside recess day.

Wish me luck today! And in the meantime -- some of my filtered favorites from the break.

Follow along on Instagram @brookejanette

 smiling // at seeing my two best friends again & at the cutest little sunshine package sent to brighten my day

 wearing // leggings and thick socks on sick days & bordeaux skirts on snowy Sundays

making // snowflakes with my students & Christmas cookies to end all Christmas cookies 

visiting // my temple & festive church parties

Is your break over already?

How do you shake the end-of-break blues?

life through the rise filter

& a few other filters, too.

follow along @brookejanette

the holidays are here// winter sunsets & mint mms

little// sisters & students that give you money

happenings// sick day snuggles & days where school gets out early

snow// threats & beauty

creating// pottery & a thankful jar

P.S. 10  more hours until Thanksgiving Break!

it's an insta kind of life

@brookejanette

fave date night // makes snow okay // lunch date with the pretty // tastes like summer // halloween gifts // missing you // red ribbon week // field trip, walking style // yummmm except the coconut one // what a trendy ombre tree

Yay for weekends!

Oh, and want to be IG friends?

@brookejanette

when life gets filtered

Weekends are the bread of life around here.

This weekend, we're off to a wedding tonight and the Alpine Slide tomorrow. Plus sleeping in, reading and watching football games. It's a cold, crisp fall day and I'm excited.

P.S. What did I do before instagram?

(jump on the bandwagon: @brookejanette)

crafting: paint strips and new decor above our headboard

girl time: shopping with my friend & her cute baby and ice skating with my sisters

main squeeze: a maize maze and Sunday snuggles

this town called Provo: I love the rain and our first live football game of the year

yes, those are as bright as you think and oreo dessert pizza {the best, if I do say so myself}

 What are you doing this weekend?

And let me know your IG name so we can be friends!