Vegas, Hawaii, Moving, and More
I know it’s been a little while since I’ve had a chance to blog, so this post may be all over the place.
If you read a lot of teaching blogs, I’m sure that you’ve been reading a lot about Las Vegas lately. The I Teach K and I Teach 1st conferences were during the same week in Vegas and they were AMAZING! Then, it was followed up by the first ever Teachers Pay Teachers Conference, which was also amazing in so many ways.
It was my first time attending the I Teach 1st conference AND it was my first opportunity to present for SDE. What an experience! I don’t think I slept a full night for the 6 months leading up the conference because I was so nervous, but in the end, it was well worth it.
I presented on Monday, so the rest of the week I was able to attend sessions, meet up with other teachers, and meet SO many bloggers!
Deanna Jump, Elizabeth Hall, Deedee Wills, Cheryl Saoud, Cara Carroll, Amanda Nickerson, Katie Mense, Hope King, Rachelle Smith, Holly Ehle
Hadar Maor, Kristin Oldham, Jennifer Kadar, Mel D, Marsha McQuire, Crystal Radke, Maria Manore, Annie Moffatt, Mary Amoson, Jennifer White, Krissy Miner Davis, Kaci Hoffer
{I stole this picture from What the Teacher Wants of Maria, Marsha, Mary, & I from the Blogger Meet up}
Hadar (Miss Kindergarten), myself, Annie Moffatt (The Moffatt Girls), & Kristin (Teeny Tiny Teacher)
Cara Carroll (The First Grade Parade)
Jessica Tobin, Lisa Mattes, & Christina DeCarbo
Cheryl Saoud & Crystal Radke
So then, after an amazing week in Vegas, my hubby and I flew to HAWAII with my cousin and his wife. We were both celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversaries.
We stayed on Maui and it was absolutely gorgeous! We went to an amazing Luau and I definitely recommend it if you are ever on Maui.
We drove the road to Hana, which is 68 miles of curves (approximately 620…yikes!) Thankfully, I took some motion sickness medicine before we went. It was worth doing it once. I don’t know that I have any desire to be on that road all day again though.
We saw rainbows every single day!
We also took a helicopter tour over Maui and Molokai. (Hello motion sickness meds again!) This was absolutely amazing and we were able to see parts of Hawaii that you can only see from above.
So, now that I’m back and getting readjusted to the Eastern Time Zone, I’ve been trying to face the reality of getting back into school mode. First up, moving!
After 12 years at the same school, I decided to accept a 1st grade position at a different school. It is SO hard to leave the place I have called my 2nd home for over a decade, but am excited about a change and new possibilities.
I started moving out of my school this week and am shocked by how much stuff I have accumulated in the last 12 years.
Here is my new room. The pictures are deceiving and make it look bigger than it is. I’m excited to start making it my own, but am a little challenged with the lack of storage space. I had SO many cabinets in my old classroom that I’m going to have be extremely creative with storage solutions in this classroom.
To add to the chaos of the new school year, moving schools, and classrooms, we are ALSO moving houses! We bought a house on the last day of school in June and will be moving in sometime in August. They say change is good, but I may be overdoing it 🙂 Don’t they also say to not make major life choices while you’re pregnant…whoops!
Kudos to you if you have stuck with me this long, but I have also finished a couple of things on my to do list.
I updated my “First Day of School Book” which is an easy go to activity for the first day of school.
Just click on the picture above to head on over and download it from TpT. If you have already purchased this booklet in the past, the update is a free download.
I also completed two more Communication Folders. I have had a couple requests for a CIRCUS theme.
I created a LION theme because this is the one I will be using this year since the mascot at my new school is a lion.
I have MANY more to choose from that you can find HERE. You can see how I use these in my classroom HERE.
Are you in back to school mode yet?

Your trips looks amazing! I'm going to Hawaii next summer! My brother lives there. I can't wait to see what you do with your classroom! I'm sure it will look wonderful!
Rambling About Reading
I have NO IDEA how you do all of this!! I'm sure you've heard it before, but, you're Wonder Woman! Best of luck moving in to your new school. I'm not quite preparing for the new school year yet, as my first baby is due in the next 2 1/2 weeks. I spent a LOT of time at the end of the year last year trying to be prepared for the fall, so now I'm just wrapping up a few things so I can enjoy my new little guy. Thanks for the update!
I know what you mean about losing all of the cabinets with your move! I loved my classroom at Deming and the reduction in storage space was a huge challenge! I'm sure your room will be gorgeous at your new building. They are lucky to have you.
Best wishes for fabulous new beginnings 🙂
New Adventures in Elementary
~Nadya
I'm changing schools too and I have the same problem of no storage. I can't get into the room until July 30. It looks like you had a totally fantastic time in Las Vegas and the pictures from Hawaii were just amazing. Good luck with both of your moves!
Kelly
I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher
Looks like you had a lot of fun. I've actually been to Hawaii & didn't like it much. I'm the 1st person ever. haha.
http://therantingsofadramaqueensmum.blogspot.com
Happy HAPPY Anniversary!!! You are a serious trooper to do the road to Hana and the helicopter trip while pregnant (and you're the cutest pregnant lady EVER!!!)
I still smile about getting to meet you!
Hugs – Lisa
Growing Firsties
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