Read Across America Week

Naples Elementary School LOVES Dr. Seuss. I've celebrated Read Across America Week in many schools, but no one holds a candle to NES!  We had dress up days all week.  I grabbed the camera a few mornings on our way out the door.

Emma on Crazy Sock Day

In honor of the Grinch, Thursday was Holiday Day

 Friday was pajama day.  Orion let Emma borrow her hedgehog hat and I couldn't resist this picture of her before school.

 Emma's AMAZING teachers organized a Readers' Cafe.  Chris and I had reservations at 9:00. Here is our server, Emma, reading her menu of books. 

 Emma reading I Can Read With My Eyes Shut

 Many guests readers from the community came in on Friday. My class had the honor of hosting Captain Gray reading The Cat In The Hat.

 After lunch, my class went to to the Readers' Cafe. Emma was now a hostess. Here she is marking off our reservation.

 Figuring out the seating arrangement with her teacher, Mrs. Sharp.

After school we threw a BIG birthday bash in honor of Dr. Seuss.  I was on Book Walk duty again this year.  Here's Camden enjoying the game.

 After a few rounds of playing, Camden became my lovely music assistant.

 Emma spent most of the party doing Zumba ;)

 Oobleck photo booth

 Emma and Camden LOVED playing in the Oobleck!

 An after party picture (Camden is hiding behind us-little stinker).

Women's Retreat to Assisi

Last weekend I enjoyed a wonderful trip to Assisi with the Catholic Women of the Chapel. The Franciscan Sisters of Rome, who come down to our parish once a month, set up this retreat with their Sisters in Assisi.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to learn about Saint Francis and Saint Clare!

We stayed at a quaint hotel in lower Assisi.  This is the view from my "penthouse" balcony.

 The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi

 On Saturday morning, we had Mass in this beautiful chapel connected to the basilica.

Statue of Saint Francis with a live bird in his basket.

 Cafe' Happy Hour with some of the Sisters and Father Dennis.

 Sunday morning we traveled up to the mountain near Assisi where Saint Francis spent a lot of time. This church has been built into the side of the mountain.

A photo op with 3 wonderful women: Sister Judith, Nicole, and Sister Rafaella.

 The whole group

 Mass on Sunday morning was held in this quaint chapel in the crypt of the church on the mountain.

 After watching Pope Benedict's final Angeles on TV, we visited the Basilica di Santa Chiara before heading home.

100th Day of Kindergarten

It was the 100th day of Kindergarten!  Camden had 2 projects to accomplish over the weekend: filling a Ziploc baggie with 100 objects (he picked Legos) and making a display of the number 100 (he made 100 circles).

It was a rather hectic Tuesday morning in my classroom teaching fractions, so when I peeked into Camden's room just before lunch time and saw him looking like this, it was  the highlight of my day! I had to run back up to my room and get my camera to take a picture of him.

 This is what Camden thinks he will look like when he's 100 :)

Monday Morning Run

The kids informed me that they were going for a run this morning.

Lap #1, Camden's in the lead.

 Here comes Emma with her music.

 Lap #2, Camden comes in for a pit stop...

 ...and he's done.

A Happy 34th Birthday!

Let the birthday celebrating continue!  On Monday afternoon my students surprised me with a birthday party.  Tuesday afternoon was our school's Carnevale Parade, so they moved the celebration to the 11th.  It was a wonderful treat!

Monday evening I had a performance in my honor...

Tuesday Chris started feeling down in the dumps so we had a quiet evening at home.  Camden read to me...

1 sick cake baker = Little Debbie Fancy Cakes and Klondike Bars

It was also Fat Tuesday and we had to get in our final sweets indulgence before Lent started!

Snuggling with my favorite little guy watching a movie

A Little Birthday and Valentines Fun

Emma and Camden spent a quiet Saturday afternoon working on valentines for their classmates

 Chris and I always like have a little celebration the weekend between our birthdays, so we enjoyed a delicious dinner at our favorite restaurant, Dom's.

 Emma & Savannah being goofy...

Someone else was being extra goofy, too! 

 and then quickly fell fast asleep!