I Just like to Smile- Smiling is my Favorite!

What a STRANGE first semester it was in public school! One of my favorite things to do though.. is celebrating teachers.  This year our district created a Campus Leadership Ambassador team to help spread even more cheer. I was SO excited that I got chosen for it (along with my partner in crime Mary Anne) Now as a CLA we are tasked with doing a little something every month.. but you know I love to plan! So we helped plan out the days before winter break

Background of our school- we are a middle school in Texas.  We have a little over 100 staff and we are currently a hybrid model.  We have students on campus and students virtual with an enrollment of about 850.

Because it has been such a crazy year... we wanted to bring smiles. If you haven't seen Elf you must do it! It has SO many great quotes... and it is just silly fun. Each day starting December 7th was a different Elf quote with fun to go along with it. I did purchase a life size Buddy the Elf from Amazon... and it was AMAZING (and scared a few people too) At the beginning of the month I also asked staff to fill out a form of their favorite holiday songs- and we created a Lamar Spotify Playlist

At the bottom of this blog is the Piktochart (there is an educator discount.. and this is a program that I use all of the time) that I created for teachers and promoting.

One of the main things when thinking through different ideas this year is making things were socially distanced and safety protocols were followed.  I am going to share just a few highlights from the last couple of weeks. We also created a photo opportunity with Buddy

The first day was Desk Pets- which was an idea that I saw on TikTok (Quote: "So- good news...I saw a dog today")

We had a waffle bar that used Eggo waffles (which was the BEST idea ever) Quote-"We elves try to stick to four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup." Admin served: milk and toppings using gloves and it was spaced out.

All the sweets to go along with an Eggo Waffle Bar

One day we hit on all the staff bathrooms and put nicer toilet paper in them (it was hard to find toilet paper by the way) Quote- "Have you seen these toilets? They're ginormous!"

We did virtual gingerbread houses during the three different lunches. I was worried how this one was going to turn out, but was thankful it kind of worked! Staff picked up prepackaged ziploc bags of 6 graham crackers and prepackaged bags of scoops of regular icing.  Staff stopped by the library and were able to pick out extra items to add to their gingerbread houses (these were also served.. so only one person touching the items with gloves)-Quote- "I thought maybe we could make gingerbread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and maybe even hold hands." 

Covid Style Cookie Exchange- usually we have a potluck during the season, but due to safety concerns, we had to postpone this year.  We made sure to have plenty of prepackaged cookies ready for the taking and then if people wanted to participate and bring their own to share.. it too had to be individually wrapped so staff could come through and grab a bag. Quote-"I'm sorry I ruined your lives and crammed 11 cookies in the VCR."

We of course had a coffee bar where admin created the coffee and added all of the toppings.  Quote-"Congratulations! World's best cup of best of coffee! Great job, everybody! It's great to be here."

I worked on a holiday card done with staff Bitmojis.  I began asking for a Bitmojis at the beginning of December (I also made a few of them) Each staff had a Google slide where they uploaded a few festive photos. I then turned those into a holiday card that we printed off and also sent out through email. "You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card."

One game we played was with the quote- "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." We played music from our Lamar Staff Christmas Spotify play list and the 5th caller would get a prize.

In the work room we also create a new What do you Meme board with various photos from some of our favorite holiday movies and left sticky notes. The memes that teachers created were hilarious!

It was a crazy and ROUGH year.  There was nothing easy about it! But just because it wasn't easy and it was hard doesn't mean that it isn't okay to smile underneath your mask.

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Holiday Traditions

This month has been a tough month of not doing very well at the adulting thing. It has put into perspective (my word of the year) what I find most important/meaningful during the holiday season. Cue the Where are You Christmas

Things that make my heart happy during the holiday season:

1. Crafting. This marked my 16th year of creating ornaments for all the staff on campus. Although this takes time.. it is one of my FAVORITE things to do! I don't know if people keep them.. and I am okay with that. It makes me uber happy to put items in boxes.  I also love crafting and creating in general.  

Ornaments for teachers this year

I created reindeer headbands for our crew.

2. Being around friends and family.

My awesome work crew!

Our little family

3. Being a part of different experiences around the holiday season.

Most of Troop 1810 Caroling 

My first late night in the library in middle school

Walking in the parade with the Girl Scouts

I was even interviewed for the City of Irving short news story.

I am sure you are saying.. Andrea.. you started this blog with you didn't adult very well.. and you are trying to find Christmas.  Because, although I seem to have it together for the most part, it doesn't always happen.  I got everything that I wanted to accomplished this month.. but it felt more like it was just my regular habits, and not really the reason for the season of giving and love. I might have been a little more Grinchy to people.

My plans this week were changed because of my adulting choices.. But because of these changes my perspective shifted.  My perspective shifted back to why I do things.  My perspective shifted to who I surround myself with.  This last week was TOUGH, but I have never felt more love than I do right now. I have also had some things taken off my shoulders, and has allowed me to relax (and required me) to slow down.

I have decided next year for the holiday seasons.. 

I am going Back to Basics! I know I do the ornaments every year.. but growing up my family made things for family and friends. I LOVE creating.. and I am going to create and make items for next year.  I am also going to enjoy the season.  One thing I love doing and haven't done lately is take pictures.  So, next year I am inviting myself to various holiday traditions (parades/cookie making/church services/celebrations) and anything that people will allow me to join and document.  

To those that I surround myself with.. thank you for being there for me.  To my husband that puts up with me.. I love you more than you know. To my parents that are beside 100% This Manys! To my troop that lets me have an extended family.. thank you for allowing me in! 

I look forward to 2019 and all the adventures and perspectives it might bring!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love crafting and creating, but often times I run out of time.  During the holiday season.. even if I don't have time.. I CRAFT!! My first year teaching I began an ornament tradition.  I know that I always love getting things in my box.  I also know that not all staff members get items in their box (custodians and cafeteria workers included!).  I began making ornaments for every person on campus. Does it take me awhile.. sure does.  Does everyone appreciate and like it.. of course not.  It makes my heart happy, and I have a chance to create something!

This year during Thanksgiving I turned our upstairs guest bedroom into a craft room (of course.. it had to be clean and ready when Texas Santa and Mrs. Claus came into town!

Not only is it the most wonderful time for crafting, but also for busy fun schedules that include family and friends!

Just a few of the items needed for all the crafting this year.

This year for ornaments I upcycled books.  I took regular ornaments and mod podged pieces of book around them.. sprayed them with a bit of glitter dust and added a ribbon (thanks to the help of Viola and Amelia!)

125 ornaments 

To celebrate the season in the library, I made my first book tree.  My awesome hubby came and added the fireplace and lights to my tree.

I also crafted my first ugly sweater and headband.  I have a confession.. I LOVE Christmas sweaters. Many of the sweaters and shirts I have for Christmas are probably considered ugly Christmas sweaters.. but I still love them! (Did you see this awesome backdrop in this picture.. Mrs. Gamez made it!)

 I no longer have a Daisy Troop.. but a BROWNIE Troop! I love these girls and it was so great helping them cross the bridge to become Brownies.  Oh how they have grown this year.

I couldn't do troop 1810 without this woman right here!

 Of course my favorite part of this time of year is seeing family.  I know I have mentioned it several places.. but I truly have the coolest parents ever! My parents come down in December and spend one day walking around the Fort Worth Stockyards dressed as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.  This year Elaine Plybon captured some family pictures before we headed to the Stockyards. There were SO many good ones, but I LOVE these 2!

How fun to have some family photos.

Texas Santa visited the library for our Late Night in the Library as our guest reader! Upcoming blog over at Bee in the Bookends about all the fun things that went on during Late Night in the Library December and upcoming events in January!