The Classics

Growing up, I had an extensive library/ book collection at my disposal and had a love of reading and writing.   The reason being because my parents instilled a love of reading within me at a very young age.  Every night, I'd curl up in my bed, ready for a night's sleep and listen as my mom or dad animatedly read story after story, book, after book.  It was the best part of each day.  Now, I adamantly believe these experiences laid the foundation for my love of learning and successes in education and I want to instill that same love in Jack.  Thus, I have been compiling a list of 'must-have' books as I establish his own library.  Many are favorites, many I absolutely loved, and most I consider classics.  In your opinion, what are "the classics"?  What are your favorites?

Here is what I have come up with as my "classics"/ MUST-haves so far...

(I'd love to hear your suggestions too!)

Drummer Hoff

Written By: Barbara Emberley

Illustrated by: Ed Embereley

This was the very first book I could read at age 3.  I actually memorized it and then "read" it to everyone, everywhere.  I loved it so much, my parents gifted it to me later in life, AND my brother used it within the sermon of mine and Brad's wedding.  It is FAB-U-LOUS!  

The Princess Who Never Laughed

it's a Disney production book - so I'm not sure the exact author

This may seem silly to you and I typically am not a fan of any Disney books like this, but this book is beyond HYSTERICAL.  I remember reading it with my Dad and my brother and laughing until we cried.  It's out of circulation, so I found a random person to buy it from off of a website and gave it to my Dad last Father's Day so he can enjoy reading it with his grandchildren just as he did with his "original" children.  

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

(and all other Eric Carle books)

Written and Illustrated by Eric Carle

I think you could ask 100 people on the street and 98 of them would agree that this is a classic, if not all.  I adore Eric Carle and alllllll of his amazingly, beautiful books.

The Rainbow Fish

By: Marcus Pfister

I love the lesson learned from this book!

Blueberries for Sal

By: Robert McCloskey

I remember reading and rereading this over and over with my Mom 

Where the Wild Things Are

I always looooooved this!

Click, Clack, Moo

Cows that Type

HIL-AR-I-OUS!!!!!

Giggle, Giggle Quack

even MORE hilarious than Click, Clack, Moo!  I  wholeheartedly ADORE these books!

The Pigeon books...

Goodnight Moon

a CLASSIC of the Classics!  Should be a staple in every child's library!

Love You Forever

While it can be a bit creepy, I still love what she says: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, and as long as you're living my baby you'll be"

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

this has a GREAT message about loving yourself for who you are.  I ALWAYS read it to my students

Stellaluna

this book is so precious!

ANY Max and Ruby books

 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

The Foot Book

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

In the Night Kitchen

 

Olivia books

Chysanthemum

If you Give... books

The Story of Ferdinand

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

The Lorax

(and all other Dr. Suess classics)

Amelia Bedelia books

Arthur books

Berenstain Bears books

The Little Engine that Could

Curious George

Winnie-the-Pooh

Corduroy

A Bear Called Paddington

 

Cloudy, with a Chance of Meatballs

Go, Dog. Go!

Jumanji

The Polar Express

The Velveteen Rabbit

Caps for Sale

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Make Way for Ducklings

The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

George and Martha

Miss Nelson books

and while this one is not a "classic" for me, it is MOST definitely a must-have and I forsee it being a classic for my boy...

hmmm...I wonder why?!?  touche, yes?!?  I mean, DUH!  tee-hee :)

What books make up your MUST-have list or are your "classics"?!?  OR, do you have any special memories with any of these books?!?

Heartbreak...

...we've all been there...

We've felt it - that wrenching deep within your gut - it rocks your soul like the pounding tremors of an earthquake, shaking you to your core.  It is an inexplicable feeling, one leaving you with shattered remnants you feel as if you'll never piece back together.  It's volatile.  The world darkens around you and you are melancholy, encased in an entrapment of palpable loneliness.  I have certainly felt my fair share of heartbreak in my life, some more meaningful and extraordinary than others, yet the feeling always resonates the same deep within my soul, rocking my ability to reason sensibly and I'm left with the overwhelming task of moving on.  How can I be expected to move on when every fiber of my being is focused upon the tattered pieces of my broken heart?

With that said, I find that it's easy to confuse being devastated with being heartbroken.  In my opinion, you can be heartbroken AND completely devastated, but you can be devastated and not always heartbroken.  For instance, I was devastated when I had to spend a night away from my newborn baby son when he was a mere 4 days young, but I was most recently heartbroken when I lost my job. 

Teaching is my passion.  It is my heart.  It is my soul.  While my lifelong dream was not always to be a teacher, it is something that has been ingrained within me since adolescence.  Both my parents and both of my maternal grandparents were educators, so I guess you could say it's programmed into my DNA; it's in my blood and it runs deep...very deep.  To me, they are my heroes, education superstars who always taught me the values of education.  Because of them, I had a love of reading and writing from an early age and developed an unquenchable desire for learning, as well as a great interest in art where I have been able to fully express my creative personality.  I have always known that I want to work with children in some capacity, but never anticipated how rewarding and completely fulfilling it could actually be.  I love helping each student develop a firm foundation of knowledge and the same love of learning that I've always held near in order to capitalize on his/her individual strengths and learning styles.  I have high expectations for all students and feel that I provide the support necessary for them to achieve within a nurturing environment that promotes respect, responsibility, and a positive attitude.  I've even made it my own personal education philosophy to continue to think and rethink, enabling myself to constantly create new visions that will hopefully stimulate students' imaginations, create a community of learners, celebrate teaching that ensures transgressions, and enhances the optimization of the growing mind.  After these past several years as an educator, one of the most rewarding experiences I have encountered within the classroom is simply seeing students' eyes light up.   To see my students of all abilities grasp the concepts we are working on, encourages me to continue to challenge them above and beyond with the content at hand.  Solidifying a community of learners that creates new visions and stimulates imaginations to maximize upon greatest potentials is my idea of success in my career.

Thus is why I am completely heartbroken.  How can I be expected to pick up scattered, shattered pieces of years and years of a career that I have wholeheartedly adore?  To think that this could be slipping away is crushing to my soul.  I have yet to get a new job and thus, I have yet to move on.  The heartbreak is still there...the wound is still just as fresh as it was 3 months ago when I was told I was pink slipped with no reason or explanation to justify it whatsoever.  No questions have been answered, no hurt feelings have been rectified and thus nothing has vindicated.  I am still just as shaken as I was.  I am still just as lonely inside as the day it happened.  Teaching had become my whole world; it defined me, and now I feel as if I'm an alien on this planet.  Where do I go?  What do I do?  What defines me now...besides my family?  How am I supposed to wake up in the morning and go about my day if I have no idea who I am anymore as a career woman or what else in the world I should do with my life?  There is no other career that could define me like being a teacher does...nor do I want one to.  I absolutely love it and I am 100% certain that no other job is more rewarding or more fulfilling.  Thinking of doing something else completely sickens me, yet I feel that that is where I currently stand.  I have to do something. 

Truth be told, I have reached out to every possible resource, ventured down many a path, and knocked on every door that I feel could lead to me to continue with a job in education, to no avail.  People constantly tell me to have faith that it will work out and God will never give me something that I cannot handle.  While that sounds amazing, I must admit that I am having trouble seeing the light at the end of this tunnel or keeping the faith when I've had nothing to give me hope or keep the light burning in my soul, nor mend the pieces of my broken heart.  It is easy for someone to say that to me when they're not in my shoes.  That statement alone is almost more defeating and belittling than losing my job.  What you must know is that our reality is I have only 3 more paychecks until we lose one of our incomes and only 3 more paychecks until Jack and I lose health insurance.   How do you keep the faith then?  How do you NOT think worst case scenario?  While I'd love nothing more than to stay home with my insatiably incredible son, one income is not enough...it is simply not feasibly in the cards for us.  Sadly, I may have to move on to a new job as time is closing in on us and that is heartbreak that I am sure, will never fully mend.  I want to be a teacher more than anything and want to continue to inspire kids as they inspire me.  Besides my family, teaching is my life and I'd like to keep it that way and finally piece back together this heartbreak for good.     

 

Look Ma', NO Hands!

Since our Little Toots is 12 weeks old today, I thought I'd share his latest trick...

He has been getting better and better at holding his head up, but THREE times yesterday and TWICE today, I put him on his belly because he was verrrrry sleepy and thought he'd take a little cat nap...BUT then 2 seconds later, he was propped up on his forearms, just looking around the room.  The look on his face each time is so stinkin' precious because he is so proud of himself and just looks so dang cute in the midst of the action!  Our boy is really building up some good strength in those neck muscles and it is so rewarding as his Mama to get to be with him and experience his growth and changes each day.  We are so blessed!  Check out our cutie pie for yourself...naturally, and like any proud and impressed mommy, I have documented this development thoroughly...

Summer Lovin'...

...had me a blast.  Summer lovin' happened so fast....

Touche, yes?!?  

I am L-O-V-I-N-G summer this year!  Well, to be fair, I LOVE summer every year (I AM teacher and get at least 2 whole months off, afterall), but this year is extra super special for several reasons.  


The first and most important being because I get to love on my oh so sensational little nugget all day, everyday, whenever I want, and he is just. so. so. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!  Having him right at the beginning of spring and then having the rest of the school year and then summer off has been magnificent.  I am absolutely LOOOOOVING getting to watch him grow, explore, and learn about the world around him as he develops his own sweet and charismatic little personality.  He is 3 months old next week and I still have yet to miss a moment of his life with him.  By the time I go back to work, he'll be 4 months old and it will be incredibly difficult peeling myself away from him...I forsee many a days of tears, agony, and heartbreak, so for now, I'm going to enjoy every single last bit of his overwhelmingly sensational presence and preciousness.  He is just so extraordinary and I can't get enough of him!  This being a teacher AND a mommy thing is pretty stinkin' wonderful.  As far as career choice goes, well played on my part...very well played indeed!  

he absolutely ADORES his Aunt Priss!

I am also loving this summer because it is waaaaaaay prettier than last year.  Do you remember all the rain we had in Summer 2011?!?  For this tanorexic, it was no bueno... but this summer?  Now this weather is niiiiiice!  Mi gusto! Mi gusto muy, muy mucho!  I know we are in quite the drought with all the lack of rain and whatever that entails, but I do not have a garden, I have a pool...a pool that need lots of extra attention from me, of which I am more than willing to give and give and give some more!  I always joke that I have a "membership" to Mom and Dad's pool (at their house)...Mom even awarded me "patron of the month" for tending to all the household, pool, and gardening needs while they were journeying abroad.  HA!  Take THAT, Bub...NO WAY will you be able to take ME down...it's MY title!  I know you're in from China and all, but that will only get you so far when it comes to your patron status.

you can tell who's holding him by the funny phalanges 

caught him mid-action!

that's 2 peas in a pod right there!

Another reason I am loving this summer?  My big Bub is in from China!!!  I haven't seen him in almost 2 (except on Skype, of course) years and well, I really, reeeeeally miss him!!!  Yesterday (June 24th) was his birthday and we actually got to celebrate with him, instead of sending well wishes from afar.  It has been so, so nice getting to spend so much time with him before he heads back mid-July.

those numbers can be deceiving...it's really the 4th anniversary of his 29th birthday  :)

We also have had or will be looking forward to having some big events this summer.  Jack's Papaw turned 60 on the 15th, Daddy had his first Father's Day, Jack's Nanny (my mom) turns 60 July 14th, Daddy turns the big 3-0 on August 5th, and we get to take our first family trip to Chicago and Wrigley field in September!  Big events happening here and we are loving it too!

pretty girl with a pretty boy!

Here are some (okay, tons) of pics from a few our summer events so far (well, ones you have yet to see at least)...

Shawnee is....SODA-MAN!!!!

Jack finally gets to meet his Aunt Amanda (my Bub's wife)

He's so excited to give Uncle Roo his presents :)

flirt, flirt, flirt!

i love those eyes!

flirtin' with his Aunt Amanda :)

she has that special touch!

he also absolutely ADORES his Nanny!

he has had Mommy's heart from Day1

matching TOMS!  Bub like Dad's we got him for Father's Day so much that we got him some to match! 

like father, like son!

Bob is quite the picture enthusiast...goofy, goofy