Since We live in Texas...Our Kinder Rodeo

Big Boot Races

Barrel Racing

Horseshoes

Buckin' Bronco Racing

Roping Lessons

Horseback Riding

Every year, in March, we celebrate the end of our Texas unit with  a kindergarten rodeo!  The kids participate in many events.  They love it!

We Miss Blue Bell!

In our little town, Brenham, Blue Bell has its corporate headquarters.  Blue Bell is very supportive of our community and our schools.  They support everything from scholarships to t-shirts.  Entire families work for Blue Bell and even generations!  Our community had a "Support Blue Bell" day.  It was a day to say thank you to a company that has done so much for us.

"Flip Out" Seasons Version

Another "Don't Flip-Out" book for $2.00 just posted to TPT.  Click here to check it out.

Another "Flip" Short Vowel/CVC Version

Like I mentioned on my previous post, I use these books as part of my station rotation.  I will be creating many more flipbooks throughout the summer...and, of course, more freebies.“Flip Out Short Vowel/CVC Version” is a series of flipbooks that students create. Each flipbook has pictures and common kindergarten sight words. The words in this set are: this, is, little, we, can, get, the, look, at, red, I, want, big, was, it, a, yellow.

Yes..There is a CASTLE in Texas!

As our final thematic unit, Fairy Tales, came to an end, we had the opportunity to visit a real castle about 20 minutes from our town!  Mr. Newman has been building his castle for many years and it continues to be a work in progress.  It has a working drawbridge and a moat!  It was amazing!

The castle's dog rides the drawbridge up and down!

My sweet class of "Knights".

Inside the castle's dining room!

My class welcoming visitors to the castle.

A Little "Flip Out" Freebie

 I posted a free download to TPT.  “Flip Out Fairy Tale Version” is a series of flipbooks that students create.  Each flipbook has pictures and common kindergarten sight words.  I use these books as part of my station rotation.   The students color, trace, write the word in the boxes and cut the strips.  The students stack the strips by matching the stars.  The strips can be in any order.  At the station, I include a stapler and the students staple on the star.  They read their book to their station partner and put it in their book boxes. These books are great for practicing handwriting and sight word recognition. Look for a free "Farm Version" soon.

Look for more “Flip Out” books on TPT.

Click here

My kids...grown up!!

My kids know of my MS diagnosis and they are the best!! I truly hope that I am teaching them to live and love life!  My son is 24 and is employed by our city, my middle daughter is a senior in college and my youngest, just finished her 8th grade year!  Yikes!! Some photos...

Yes...I am a RUSH fan and missed the in the 80's so I took my daughter to see them a few weeks ago!  We had a BLAST!

Life is Full of Ups and Downs

I debated on posting this...One week before the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, I lost the vision in my left eye. An ophthalmologist diagnosed me with a "Marcus-Gunn" pupil, meaning my pupil was not responding to light and that meant it was something in my brain. She ordered an MRI which showed 18 brain lesions typically found in people with Multiple Sclerosis. Because I was not in the typical age-group for MS, it was not definite. On Sept. 3, 2013 I saw a neuro-ophthalmologist at Methodist Hospital in Houston. The doctor asked some questions: Have you ever had any other vision issues, double vision, flashes of light? Yes and yes. Have you ever had numbness? YES. I told him that 12 years ago, my legs were numb for several months and I saw a neurologist and had a spinal MRI that showed no lesions (no MS). And over the years, I had double vision (blamed on dry eyes by the dr.) My arms and legs would be numb for periods of several days to several weeks (blamed pinched nerves). I had chronic fatigue and brain fog (blamed on stress). Dr. Lee gave me the name of the MS specialist at Baylor. He told me I didn't have to call...some people leave his office and don't want to know. Of course, I had to know. Several weeks later, I had a spinal MRI and it revealed 8 lesions, which confirms MS. I chose to inject myself with Copaxone and my doctor said it would be about six months before the medication would be in my bloodstream.
Finally, in March, I could feel the cloud lift. I joined the gym, hired a personal trainer and decided to eat cleaner. I don't want to give MS a reason to come back.
Looking back,sometimes I'm frustrated. For years, I had complained to various doctors about my vision, numbness and extreme fatigue.
However, I know I can not change the past...only move on.
Most importantly, I don't look too far into the future (after all, the future isn't promised to anyone). I take one day at a time...today I can see and today I can walk.
In March 2015, I was featured in an ad for my gym.  It was quite an achievement.  I continue to work out daily and eat "clean".  My latest MRI revealed only one new brain lesion. 
By posting this, I hope my story can help someone else.