Warning: This a long one but there are freebies!

I thought that when I graduated with my Master's, I would have tons of time to blog, make units for TPT,create blog designs, make crafty things, and read.   HAVE MERCY! That has not been the case!

That is my friend Sam and me holding the blue folders.  We are working on a book blog as I type, so be on the look out!  The other two ladies are other first grade teachers and the best team members/friends that anyone could ask for!  I love them!

Anyway,  here is a little rundown of -some- of the things that have kept me from blogging.

This has been the busiest school year in my 5 years of teaching. During a team meeting, our Curriculum Coach walked in and a fellow teacher (one from the picture above:)) looked at her and said, "If you say, 'It's just on more thing' one more time, I am going to scream!"

Home life has been just as hectic. This summer we started remodeling/adding on to the house and are still not finished.

My poor Nana has been diagnosed with late life anorexia and dementia. She has broken 3 bones in as many months. I try to spend as much time with her as possible but my job in the situation has become taking my Papa to the grocery store on Friday night while someone sits with her. Please keep her in your prayers!  Isn't she precious?!?! :)

Silly Nana at Christmas.  She would kill me if she knew I put this pic on here, but I LOVE it!

I had planned on using Spring Break to catch up on all the fun things I love. Well, I woke up Sunday feeling like POO! I went to the doctor on Monday and found out I have the flu...ON SPRING BREAK! Ugh. SO the first few days were spent sleeping.

So Wednesday was the first day I got to check something off on my to do list.

Months ago, Katie King from Queen on the First Grade Jungle, contacted me about creating a blog design for her. She was so patient, sweet, wonderful, and understanding. She never gave up on me and I cannot thank her enough. Her new blog design is up and cute! Go over there and check out all her wonderful ideas. Make sure to check out her TPT store while you are there too!   Looking at her blog makes me want to fix me up a new one.  :)

I have made a few things to use in my classroom, I just haven't gotten around to sharing them. My school is Pre-K-2. Our sister school is 3-5 and is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) School. To prepare our little ones for what's to come, we do some kind of engineering/ inquiry based lesson at least once a week. I wrote about another engineering lesson {here} if you would like more information about it.

One of my favorite STEM lessons we do is building houses for The Three Little  Click the image below to check out the Freebies I created to go along with that lesson.

This next little freebie is a Contraction Word Work Center.  I saw something like it last year but could not find it anywhere this year, so I just made my own.  If you are the original "sharer" of the Green Egg Contractions please, please let me know and I will make sure you get the credit.  Click the pic to get the file.

Well that's it!  Give yourself a brain kiss if you made it to the end!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  I am praying this week goes by quickly, because I cannot wait much longer for THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!!! One week... WOOOO HOOOO!