Bees

Last week the toddlers learned about the letter B and bugs.

Prep:
Letter B- yellow
Top half of B- black
Black crayon or paper for stripes
Googly eyes or sticker eyes
Plastic circles for wings
Antennas- black paper

We only have 9-10 toddlers on any given day so I usually do the crafts one on one. I want to share a conversation I had with one two year old:
Me: "Okay, here are antenna's to put on the bee's head."
Two year old: "Oh, like an earthling!"
I started laughing and asked him if he was an alien and then he did his goofy laugh and cheesy smile.

Eagle Brook Church

If you are looking for a church and live in Minnesota I strongly suggest checking out Eagle Brook. The church has five locations: Lino Lakes, White Bear Lake, Spring Lake Park, Blaine, and Woodbury. Their motto is real and relevant and their messages hit home every weekend. It's a church where you want to go to church! Try church again, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Snack Idea

Got the idea off Pintrest... Such a fun snack idea for my Pre- K class, you can incorporate learning in everything!

Follow me, http://pinterest.com/lizs07/

Saturday

One week ago, I had a first date at Common Grounds Cafe in Uptown. Highly recommend it, cute little place with great conversation. I just wanted to share a few pictures...

Today I will be happier than a bird with a french fry!

It was cold and rainy day, but a perfect afternoon!

I even painted my nails.

Family Matters

My Story featuring Vicki in Eagle Brook Church's Annual Magazine, CANVAS.
**Click to make picture bigger**

T-Mobile

Just need to vent about T-Mobile!

I have been with T-Mobile for 9 years and never had a problem until now. My contract was up two years ago, but I loved my My- Touch so much I kept for almost 4 years. It started having issues and the battery needed to be charged 3 times a day so I decided to get a new phone.

Friday night I went to T-Mobile and bought the Samsung Galaxy SII (which I love- it's just as good as the iphone)! T-Mobile changed their plans to classic or value. Turns out, you have to buy the phone at retail price and then over the course of 2 years you save money in your payments so after two years the phone will have cost you $199.99. They did a horrible job explaining this and I had to go back last night and get clarification because there is no rebate on the phone or anything.

I also discovered on Saturday texting was not on my plan. They told me I'd get 500 minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited web for 59.97 that's with taxes and insurance. So I asked about that and the lady said texting wasn't on my plan, but would add it. Low and behold this morning I checked and I was over 200 texts and would be charged $40. There was no way I was paying that when I was told I had texting. Since I drove all the way to T-Mobile last night and they did nothing for me I was determined to figure this out over the phone rather than waste gas and add additional miles to my car.

I called and the lady said there wasn't texting, but she could add it for $10 a month. I felt bad because I had an attitude, but no I was told I had 500 minutes, unlimited texting and web for $59.99 a month. She checked things and added texting and my bill is now $57 a month- don't ask me how that works! Then I told her I am not paying for those 200 texts because I was told Friday night and again on Saturday that I had texting. She checked and updated my plan so those charges shouldn't show up. She also told me I cannot text for two hours- that's inconvenient, but whatever it allowed me to write this blog post! I made notes all throughout the conversation so if charges do occur T-Mobile will most definitely be getting another phone call.

I've spent hours at T-Mobile, on the phone with them, on IM with them and even talking to them on Twitter and Facebook. I am so displeased with them! I have told my friends who have T-Mobile about their new plans and all the problems I have and I told them if you can afford another carrier get out! I knew I should've left T-Mobile when I had the chance! I will not be renewing my contract with them after these next two years!!

Sorry for the rant, but T-Mobile has me very fired up!

Quotes

Quotes and Bible verses that I wanted to share:

When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew- William Shakespeare

Be patient. Good things come to those who wait.

Let the Word of God be the background noise of your life- Pastor Jason Strand

The best relationships are the ones that just come naturally.

Teachers are special ... God trusts them with the future!

Boundaries don't keep other people out, they fence you in- Grey's Anatomy

When you feel like you're drowning in life, don't worry- your lifeguard walks on water.

Don't frown, you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

Life is about hanging on when your heart's had enough... and giving more when you want to give up!

Just because God doesn't answer your prayers doesn't mean he's not listening, he's just got something better in store for you.

Relax, everything is going to be alright; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way! Jude 1:2

Love our parents. We are so busy growing up, we often forget they are getting old.

Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character... that is the true goal of education. -Martin Luther King Jr.

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, I'd have the entire night sky in the palm of my hand."

Maybe God wants you to meet many wrong people before you meet the right one, so when this happens, you'll be thankful.

Life is full of friends and lovers, its just a matter of time before you find a two for one deal.

When you fall for someone's personality everything about them becomes beautiful.

Luke 9:48 You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.

If I first believe that I am God's beloved, then I would be confident in my interactions with men, knowing I’m already loved and accepted.

When you meet someone special... you'll know. Your heart will beat more rapidly and you'll smile for no reason.

Time to make God big and people small--Be strong and courageous. Joshua 1

"You have champagne taste and a beer budget." 16 and Pregnant 

I'd like to find a job where I could say I GET TO go to work instead of I HAVE TO go to work.

Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams that you never even knew you had.

"When your life is given to God, it is as if a grain is planted in rich soil, growing into part of a much bigger project." -John Ortberg

John Ortberg, "How much money you make does not matter as much as doing what you love and what creates value."

"One decision can cause years of regret, while another can produce a lifetime of benefit."

Verse every woman needs to memorize: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

Be patient. Good things come to those who wait.

Being someones first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect.


If Twitter was invented by a woman, The character limit would be 10,000 characters.

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan

"Be generous with your time, with your love, with your life." -Mark Greene

It's crazy, right? To love someone who's hurt you. It's crazier to think that someone who hurt you loves you.

Love when you are ready, not when you are alone.

Do more of what makes you happy.

But once you become active in something, something happens to you. You get excited and suddenly you realize you count.

I may not be your first love, first kiss, first sight, or first date but I just want to be your last.

First dates are awkward, first kisses are heavenly, first love is irreplaceable and first heartbreaks are unforgettable.

You can't be a smart cookie with a crumbly attitude.

Keep your head up; you are so much better than you believe, I promise.

Life has many ways of testing a persons will, either by having nothing happen at all or having everything happen all at once.

Sometimes you are delayed where you are because God knows there is a storm where you're headed. Be grateful.

Forget all the reasons it won't work and believe the one reason why it will.

Your value is the profit of your thoughts. Do not miscalculate your self worth by multiplying your insecurities.  (Dodinski)


"You're off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way." (Seuss)


Today I will be happier than a bird with a French fry!

God is with you, don't let fear stand in your way.

"In the end, what a man wants isn’t nearly as important as who you are meant to be." -Dan Bode

"Choices matter. And the choices you make today will absolutely impact your future," Pastor Bob Merritt.


God gave us two ears, two eyes to & two hands. But why did God give us only one heart? Because he wants us to find the other one. ♥

From the lowest label of all God brought forth the savior of the world. Rahab is what the gospel is all about! (Bob Merritt)

"In order for there to be a resurrection, there needs to a death." What sin needs to die in you today? (Bob Merritt)


Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. (Seuss)


Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

"Why do girls always over think things?" "To make up for guys lack of thinking."

"Wow, nothing cool is coming out of my mouth right now!"  (Mike)


Lessons from Rahab: God's plan for you is not to be average, addicted, alone or useless. God made you to be more than you are. (Bob Merritt)


Until you value yourself and love yourself enough... you can't really have a healthy relationship.

If you fight like a married couple, talk like best friends, flirt like first love, protect each other like siblings, it's meant to be.

When you stop chasing the wrong things, You give the right things a chance to catch you.

Love is like the wind, you can't see it, but you can feel it. (Walk to Remember)


No matter how messed up you think you are, there will always be someone who loves you and thinks you are amazing.


One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure it's worth watching.

The best things in life aren't things.

 Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil... there is not point.

You create beauty with your attitude, your behavior, your actions, it's all up to you!

If you're wondering why bad things happen to good people, it's because they are capable of handling it.

I want to be your favorite hello and hardest goodbye.

Forever is a long time, but I wouldn't mind spending it by your side!

I want to hold hands and waste Friday nights with you.

Love is when you look into someone's eyes and see their heart.

There are a lot of people who call you by your name. There is only one person who can make it sound so special.


Love is a condition in which the happiness of the other person is essential to your own.

Love is kind, anything less isn't love at all!

Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will.

Life is better with your best friend, that's why I married mine!


Don't date the most beautiful person in the world, date the person who makes your world the most beautiful.

Someday, someone will walk into your life and make you realize why it never worked with anyone else.

Talking about swimming and he says, "I'm not the greatest swimmer. I spend a lot of time flopping around like a fish." (Mike)

Me: "Here are antennas to put on the bee's head." Two year old, "Oh, just like an earthling!"

A worker came to the house today he starts saying what his going to do and a two year old says, "Good God!" These kids are cracking me up!

One of the toddlers passed gas and yelled: "The cheese, the cheese!" He's been so funny today and usually he drives me up the wall!

Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.  (Elizabeth Taylor)


Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. (Rumi)


That awkward moment when talk to yourself and you start smiling like an idiot because you're just so hilarious.


Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out. (John Wooden)


I don't need to flirt, I will seduce you with my awkwardness!

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everything.

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just gotta find the ones worth suffering for. (Bob Marley)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

A real man never stops trying to show his woman how much she means to him, even after he already has her.

Life is relationships, the rest is just details.

If your partner isn't bringing the best out of you, then you are in the wrong relationship.

Relationships are about two individuals who maintain their own lives and create another one together.

Find someone who will change your life, not just your relationship status.

A relationship doesn't need promises, terms & conditions. Just two people who love each other and want to be together.

8 billion people in the world and he's the only one I want.

* Sorry not all have authors I put these on Twitter last night and ran out of room!

Sunshine Bag

At work we do a "Sunshine Bag." Each week a teacher or two gets the "Sunshine bag." At the beginning of the year teachers write their favorite candy bar and their favorite drink. If people notice you are having a bad day they may give you the "Sunshine bag" to make your day a little bit brighter. I had this waiting on my desk this morning, made my day!

Mouse

This week my toddlers are learning about the letter N and Nursery Rhymes so on Monday they made a nest out of the letter N.

On Tuesday they made Humpty Dumpty.

On Wednesday, the boys made mice.

 On Thursday, the kiddos made buses out of egg cartons. Unfortunently, I have no pictures of that.

On Friday they made "The cow jumping over the moon."

N is for Nest:

Letter N

Bird

Circles for eggs

Brown strips of construction paper

Humpty Dumpty:

Don’t remember where we got this craft idea…

It’s all made out of construction paper  

Mice prep:

2 medium pink circles for ears

1 small black nose

1 large brown triangle

Cow jumping over the Moon:

Yellow moon

Yellow stars

Cow (we let the kids add spots if they wanted)

Movie Audition?!

Yesterday, a dad whose kids I babysit for called me. He said he is on an audition committee for his friends movie. The movie is called "The Current." It's a religious movie about a 13 year old boy who is uprooted from his hometown and brought to rural Minnesota. The dad told me to try out for a college girl. I decided to do it.

Today was the audition. I hardly slept last night and cared WAY too much about how I looked today. Auditions went well. It wasn't over the top terrific, but it wasn't horrible either. They asked me a few questions, handed me the script and on we went. My voice could've been better, but the character I was reading was a nurse she's gotta be serious and professional right?! I don't know they said I did good however, I think they say that to everyone!

After that they did an improv question with me. I was not prepared for that! My question was about going to the mall two days before Christmas. I have a specific gift in mind for my mom. I get to the mall and the table has 4 people and two gifts. I made up a whole story and other than my shaky voice it was good! I'm not used to being in front of a panel of people and a camera, next time I'll do better!

I'm curious to see if I get a call back. It would be fun, but the audition experience in itself was fun! I want to try auditions for TV commercials- I could eat soup and say, "Mhmmm."

I really liked my make-up today so here are a couple pictures:

** Click photos to enlarge!