Halloween!

*Posting twice tonight, so be sure to scroll down and see my post below about our new school playground!

I just wanted to share a couple Halloween related things because time is passing by, y'all! I may have spent my evening putting up Christmas decorations. And, I am not ashamed! I love Christmas and I love Christmas decorations and I couldn't wait any longer. I do still have a pumpkin on my porch, though. Don't want the neighbors to think I'm too crazy. I'll just keep my little secret hidden inside for another week or two... ha! 

Anywayyyyyy....

Halloween. That's what I came here to talk about it. I got Finley a shark costume this year. And I loved it. 

But then, I put her in her cow costume from last year and I added a tutu that I found in the dollar section at Target when he was a teeny tiny puppy. She's never even worn it. And, then I died of cuteness overload.

I wasted my money on the shark costume, clearly. Maybe she can wear it for Shark week? 

My kids brought in their book character pumpkins that week, too. They did such a great job! This was a family homework project.

We had a minion from Despicable Me...

A bunny from Read to Your Bunny...

Minnie Mouse...

Halloween Hello Kitty...

A loooooot of Spongebob characters...

Junie B. Jones...

The Cat in the Hat...

and Bilbo from The Hobbit. 

They're still in my room because I can't bare to send them home, yet! Because the love, it's real. They just make me happy. :)

We had book character dress up day and a few of us dresses up as a fact family...

A few people teased us and said we weren't book characters, but we had a book so wahhhh, wahhhh, wahhh! Ha!

And the best part of Halloween? 

It was her wearing this costume. Hands down.

She wins Halloween. For real. 

Last thing. I'm trying sooooo bad to ignore this mug on Jane.com but I want it sooo bad I can't stand it. Thoughts?!?

I know, it's the best mug ever. You don't even have to tell me. I already know. 

Hope your Halloween was excellent, too! 

Our New Playground

Last week, we got a brand new playground. And, let me tell you, it was an awesome experience to be a part of! 

The playground was sponsored by the Nashville Predators. As you will notice when you see it! Ha! And, we worked with the company KaBoom! You might have seen it on Parks and Rec in season 2. And, yes. It's a real company and they do build playgrounds in one day!

I was appointed as the youth engagement chair for the project. So, I was in charge of finding ways to involve the kids in the build day experience. So, we got a DJ (the husband of a teacher) and we had each class make banners and signs an we brought them outside a few at a time to see the new playground, cheer on the volunteers and dance their little hearts out! I can confidently say I had the most fun assignment the whole day because I spent it with all 850 kids! 

Here are some pictures of the day. I wast able to post many of them because I can't post pictures of kids. But, just know I have tons of them and they all contain huge smiles and awesome dance moves! 

The Preds brought some volunteers, but most of the people building the playground were parents and community members which was very cool to see!

^Their parents don't care if I post this, so I will. These sweet girls were in my class last year.

All in all, we had the best day! And, guys, the kids LOVE their new playground!!! We've already had two falls and a fight over the swings, so they're breaking it in nicely and obviously feel right at home! Ha! 

#FallFun

I'm trying my best to not give up blogging, y'all! I'm sure no one out there even reads this pathetic blog anymore, ha! But, that's okay because that's not why I do it. I love to look back and see what I was up to, so I'm not giving up... 

#promise

Here are some recent things that my iPhone has captured... and a few hashtags to tell you how I really feel. 

#sorrynotsorry

First up, a teeny tiny school update. I just want you to show what a real classroom looks like in the middle of the school year! I always post pictures before school starts and everything is perfect and that's not real life. Not at all! 

Notice our multiplication monsters and area pumpkins on that bulletin board. I love that they are so fun and colorful and "fall!"

#thirdgraderslikecraftstoo

Junky buckets, goals taped to desks and locker tags flopping all over the place. 

#happybutmessy

#nobodysperfect

Our word wall is filling up nicely! 

#exceptscienceandsocialstudies

#notenoughtimeintheday

And, we use these charts daily for guided  reading. 

I may have covered up a cute printed picture with an anchor chart. 

#drowninginanchorcharts

Annnnd, the science teacher borrowed one of my globes off the top of my counter and it kind of broke my heart because I was using it for decoration! Ha! 

#dontjudgeme

My kiddos are making book character pumpkins again this year and this is the first one I got. I was super impressed by her painting and barn background, but when she pulled a duck decoy out of her locker? Well, I was mighty impressed. 

#nowihavepumpkinsallovermyclassroom 

#wouldnttradeitforanything

I'll do a seperate post about those later when they all get turned in.

I let the kids who turn in their homework eat lunch in the classroom on Fridays. And then force them to watch Pippi Longstocking on Netflix. 

#dontevenfeelbadaboutit

Last weekend, Ryan Grace had a virus and was soooo sick. I went to help out so her mommy could get a little break and while I was there, her fever broke and she was a smiling machine!

#icouldeatherup

I finally got my Hogwarts letter. Finally, y'all. 

#dreamcometrue

And, I finally "fall"ified my porch.

#abouttime

I did a little redecorating, too. 

#cantstopwontstop

Two quick school funnies that I want to remember...

While doing research about civil rights, one of my kids brought me a computer and showed me this picture and said "Look, Ms. Ridings! Rosa Parks is getting her diploma from her teacher!" 

#nailedit

Then, I found a wad of paper on the floor. I looked at it and found an entire page of detailed notes about our day. With phrases like "we went outside today for the first time all week!" and "we have P.E. today so don't get in trouble." 

Crazy thing is, I have NO idea when she was writing all this! I never saw her do it. 

#kidsarefunny

We also made our class timeline for te third year in a row! I'm in LOVE with this project! This year, we focused on civil rights leaders and my children are now beyond obsessed with MLK, Jr. But, they insist on calling him MILK, for some inexplicable reason. 

#hardnottolaughwhentheydothis

#okaymaybeido

#probablywhytheykeepdoingit

And, last but not least, we took the cutest baby ever (aka my niece) to the pumpkin patch today. It was so fun!

#pictureoverload

#shesprettymuchperfect

#diva

#idie

#shemakesmyday

#pumpkinbutt

#losinghairdontcare

#gottaframethisone

Okay, are you bored to tears yet? I'm all out of hashtags and pictures, so I better go to bed! As always, thanks for reading!