Photo Shoot!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from my photo shoot the other day!

It was so much fun and I kept thinking to myself that this would be the best job in the world!

What do you think? :)

Sneaky Cookie Eater and Loose Tooth

This afternoon I had just pulled a few students to practice counting to three when I heard, 

"Hey! What are you eating?" 

I looked up and noticed nothing out of the ordinary...probably some child eating a wood chip from the playground.  I continued on with the counting bears.

"How many yellow bears?"

"1, 18, 14, quatro."

oh boy. 

Suddenly someone ran up to me yelling in hysterics that one of our friends had lost his tooth!

I walked over to the student who was building a castle out of wooden blocks. 

"How exciting! Where's your tooth?"

"Oh, I stuck it back in the hole so I could eat my cookie."

"WHAT!?"

"Yeah, I put it back 'cause I'm eating my cookie."

Yeah, I got that part.

"Friend? Why are you eating a cookie during class?"

"It's left over from lunch."

He sort of looked a me like, "Duh, Mrs. Wolfe, what else would you do with your left over cookie?"

After putting his cookie back in his backpack he was able to proudly walk to the nurse to get a treasure chest to put his tooth in. 

Remember how exciting it was to lose a tooth?  My knees still get weak every time a student shows me how flexible their loose tooth is. 

"Look! I can bend it all the way back with my tongue!"

e w w w. 

Round of Applause

My students applaud at everything. 

When I read a story they applaud at the end.

When I sing a song I made up they applaud.

When a student answers a question right...you might even hear a "Truck Driver" applause.

When I say it's time for recess...yup you guessed it.  Applause.

It's really cute.

Today as students were getting drinks and resting after recess I began to play one of my favorite songs on the piano...Un Sospiro by Liszt.  It's beautiful and calming.  

When every table had had a drink at the drinking fountain..."ONE, TWO, THREE! THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME!"...my students burst into applause! I couldn't stop smiling and was actually sort of embarrassed so I stupidly curtseyed.  Then I heard "Mrs. Wolfe! That was superb!" "I love that song Mrs. Wolfe!"  Superb?  I didn't know they even knew that word! 

One little boy came and stood next to me as I played.  I was about to tell him to sit down because he hadn't raised his hand for permission to leave his seat, but I stopped myself.  He's probably never seen someone play the piano that up close and personal before.   He had a huge grin on his face and kept saying, "That's so cool how you're fingers are movin'!" 

Today is why I love teaching so much.

Banjo Billy's Bus Tour...YeeeHAW

Last night, to celebrate my friend Marlena's birthday, we all piled into a decrepit old bus for our grand tour of Denver!

A booze cruise if you will. 

It was a lot of fun!

Our tour guide told us some interesting stories with his added flare and raunchiness...it was quite amusing.

Beautiful Marlena...aka Ms. Angle.  We used to be 4th grade teammates before I left for the world of Kindergarten :)

Larimer Square...Downtown Denver's historic district

Inside the Banjo Billy Bus

Denver's Capitol Building

My co-workers Brian and Heidi

It was exciting to spend a night on the town.  Even though Martin and I live five minutes from downtown Denver we rarely make into the actual big city. Maybe we'll have to get all gussied up one evening and wine and dine like grown-ups. 

Happy Birthday Marlena!

I'm so glad I could help celebrate your special day! 

Just Hanging Around

(impressive, no? But seriously, he can do like 50 of those things)

It's a typical lazy Saturday.

I've eaten my noodles with parmesan cheese, got my sweat pants on, and have a load of laundry in the wash. 

Martin took me this morning to the car wash..exciting I know!

This evening I'm heading into the big city to help my good friend celebrate her birthday!  I should probably do my hair and change my clothes, maybe after I take my typical Saturday afternoon nap.

I'm so excited because tomorrow morning I'm off for my second official family portrait session.  I think it will be a lot of fun! 

Hope you're having a relaxing day as well :)  

For Me?

A very gracious reader awarded me with this! 

Thank you Amelia! 

When I started blogging last year I didn't think anyone would want to read what I had to say. Well I knew my mom would...and my two sisters :) But lo and behold a few of you have stuck by me reading every blog entry I write!  I love writing.  Blogging is a way for me to show everyone who I really am...a way for me to document my life.  So thank you to all of you who continue to read about my life as a Kindergarten teacher because I love sharing it with you. 

I Think It's Finally Here...

Fall is my most favorite season!

I love the smells.

I love how it feels in the air.

I think my twin sister is really missing fall.  This October will be one year since she moved away to paradise.

Fall and Florida just don't go together...although my Kindergarten students would tell you that they both start with the letter F, so in that sense they are the same.

When I walk to my car in the morning it brings back so many memories of when I was younger. I always walk a little slower so I can breathe in the air. It smells the exact same as it did way back when. 

Cool, crisp.  

I loved walking to school during this time of year.  We never knew if we should wear shorts or pants...it was so chilly in the morning, but then blazing hot in the afternoons.  I usually wore shorts when everyone else wore pants and pants when everyone else wore shorts...the story of my life.

I loved planning for our Halloween costumes that my mom sewed from scratch.

I loved that our piano teacher would let us start learning Christmas music even though it was usually only October. 

ahhh memories.

(Mmmm pumpkin spice cookies sure sound good right about now :)

A Little Obsession

Hello, my name is Jessica and I have an obsession with buying nail polish.

I may have 15+ bottles of nail polish ranging in varying shades of pink, red, and purple. 

Today I am sporting a very luscious red on my fingers hoping that the act of being a Kindergarten teacher won't destroy it too much.  It undoubtedly will--from washing tables and hands, tying shoes, cutting and gluing-- and I'll have to keep repainting them all week until I get tired of it and take it off. 

I should never go to the grocery store unsupervised because I almost always come home with a new pretty shade that I can't wait to try next. 

I guess there could be worse things to spend $3.00 on...

Checklist Sort of Day

Must be saturday...

Shhh Don't Say It

When you tell five year olds not to say something...they're probably going to say it. 

Everyday at 3:45 the buses pull up outside of our classroom window.  The first few times it was tolerable when you would hear, "OH WOW! LOOK! The buses are here! Does that mean we get to go home?! YEAH!"

Now... not so much.

I finally told my students that I did not want to hear any mention of the buses pulling up because I could hear when they arrived without 23 voices telling me. 

Today right on the nose...3:45

I could hear the idling engines and our classroom suddenly turned a shade of yellow from the reflection of the bus.  I was reading Where The Wild Things Are during our last few minutes together and had just gotten to the best part where Max calls for a "wild rumpus".

"Hey everyone, don't tell Mrs. Wolfe the buses are here, she just know it cause she's smart!"

(Well that's true)

"SHHHH we're not supposed to say the buses are here!"

"Don't say it!"

"Mrs. Wolfe doesn't want us to say the word bus."

"whisper...bus...shhhh...whisper whisper whisper."

"Guys! Stop sayin' it!"

 It was like a late night sleep over when the parent comes in to tell the children that it's lights out and they don't want to hear a "peep" from anyone.  

So what do the kids do?

"PEEP!"

I've got to find a new strategy. 

Apartment Update

What do you think?

Thanks to my sister and her electric drill we were able to surprise Martin with his very own music wall.  Now he can start playing his instrument of choice at a moments notice and serenade me in a variety of ways :)

I love a home filled with music...and I love a home filled with creative art work.

I found these posters on Etsy.com.  I love them!

I got Martin this one for his birthday

very fitting huh?

As Martin said yesterday, our little castle is slowly coming together.

A Day For Martin

(At one of our favorite Denver breakfast spots...Snooze.)   

(Enjoying lots of carbs, good things to drink, and Peach Beehives) 

Here's to Martin for another year of wonderful!

26 Years of Loveliness

(baby Martin 1984)

Happy Birthday to my sweet husband!

Dear Martin,

Did you know that I have known you for almost a decade?  Everyday am so amazed at the man and husband you've become.  We are all so proud of you!  I'm the luckiest girl in the world to help you celebrate another birthday.  I love you more than words can say.  Get ready because this next year is going to be filled with so many great things, new adventures, and me by your side. 

XOXO

Love,

Jessica 

7 Things I Lovingly Do For My Husband

1.  Eat protein (sort of)

2. Clean the apartment

3. Shave my legs

4. Wash the clothes

5. Brush the cats

6. Wake him up for work

7. Love him unconditionally until my heart bursts 

It's Friday!

Hooray it's Friday!

This weekend will be jammed packed with sleep...because those lovely children above have exhausted me to the bone and I have to get rested up for Martin's Birthday celebration!

Have a great and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Life Decisions

I'm thinking I would like to live in a Disney movie instead of going into work.

This week has been a little rough...does unruly parent mean anything to anyone?

I pulled out my Disney CD and popped it into my car on my way to work (don't judge). Track four began to play and suddenly I was in my happy place.

What I love most about rivers is:
You can't step in the same river twice
The water's always changing, always flowing...
To be safe we lose our chance of ever knowing

"That is so true," I thought to myself.

Those Disney writers sure get things right sometimes. 

Should I choose the smoothest curve
Steady as the beating drum?
Should I marry Kocoum?
Is all my dreaming at an end?

I told my steering wheel that I wished my biggest problem was whether or not to marry a handsome Native American or a handsome Ken lookalike. 

As I drove my twenty minute commute to work passed strip malls, gas stations, dollar stores and family owned Mexican restaurants, I seriously started to think about my life and where it's heading. Is this what I want to see outside my car window for the next twenty years? I know what the safe choice to make is, the easy choice, the one that won't take much effort.  But is that really the choice that will make me the happiest?

I'm starting to think beyond my comfort level...to really look at myself and know what I'm capable of accomplishing.  I don't want to live this one life I have stuck somewhere because it was easier.  

Oh wow. That Pocahontas and I sure have a lot in common.

Except she has awesome long flowing hair and a whole forest full of animals that adore her.

Happy 18th!

Pepper

The family cat.

I love you and I always will...even if you never really loved me back.

I've watched you grow from the time I was seven years old.

And even though you're old and sometimes grumpy you still have so much spirit left in you that makes us smile.

Happy Birthday to my beloved Pepper.

I'll come visit you soon :) 


(our family must have a thing for black cats...but not in a creepy Halloween black cat sort of way)