Special Delivery

We had a special delivery from the North Pole today! Each year I try to make the experience just a little more fun than the last year. I'm not sure why I get so excited other than the fact it is fun to see their expressions when a package comes from the REAL North Pole! 

So... last night I hid our little elf in the classroom and then went home to wrap up the package containing a letter from Santa and the Elf on the Shelf book. I always wrap the book in separate paper so that it is even more exciting. I found Elf on the Shelf wrapping paper last year for 50% off after Christmas. I'll be able to use it for years to come! After I carefully place everything in the box surrounded by tissue paper I wrapped up the entire box in fun wrapping paper and ribbon/string. Then I add our address and, most importantly, the return address of "THE NORTH POLE". You can't forget that step! I took the above picture before I brought the package to school. Once I arrived I sprayed a little spray adhesive and added translucent glitter to make it look frosty - this is something that the students never miss. They love the sparkles, and so do I! Then it was time for one last step... I placed the box into the freezer and waited. 

When the students went for a bathroom break I quickly ran up to the office and dropped off the freshly chilled box with the secretary. She called the room a few minutes later and announced that we had a delivery. I sent our Star of the Week up to the office to pick it up. The first thing he said when he walked back into the classroom was, "I don't know what it is, but it's really cold!"

The kids were so excited!

After we all had a chance to touch the box and the "frost" on the top, we decided it was time to open it up. There wasn't a noise in the room as I carefully unwrapped the parcel. You could have heard a pin drop! I took out the note from Santa and read it aloud to my kiddos. Then we passed around the book wrapped in the adorable Elf on the Shelf paper. They all commented on how cold the book felt. It must have really come from the North Pole if it was that cold!

 After reading the note and the story we looked for our elf. He was hiding up on top of the cabinets in the wagon with two new friends. He seemed very friendly. We decided that it was time to name our elf. We shared our ideas and after some silly and some nice suggestions we narrowed it down to a smaller list. Our choices were Elfie, Buddy, Cool Man, or Donut. We left a note for him and asked him to choose which name he liked the best. We can't wait to see which name he picked! I think he looks like a "Buddy!"

Stop by again soon to see what other adventures we have with our new little friend!

Halloween Happenings

Halloween is always a busy time. It is my daughter's birthday so we have craziness at home and at insanity happening at school. This year my Kindergarten team came up with a cute, but easy, idea for our costumes. We always love to have a theme and this one was perfect for school! 

What do you think we did with these items? 

Any guesses? 

Well, here's a hint...

When you add us all up we are worth 18 points! 

There are twelve of us (6 teachers and 6 paras) so KINDERGARTEN was the perfect 12 letter word!

Here we are with all of our little super heros, princesses, cowboys/girls, wild animals and more! 

Friday evening we took my daughter to the ECFE Fall Festival at our school. She loved it. We have the most amazing Early Childhood program in our district. It is always fun to attend their special events. Here a few pictures of my little monkey's adventures. 

Slime Time!

Shaving Cream Painting

We could hardly pull her away from the corn pit!

Pumpkin Pounding

She said it was the best day of her life... until the next day which soon became the best day of her life. She woke up singing Happy Birthday to herself and wanted to eat lunch at 9am so that her party could start. Ahh, to be three four years old! 

All she wanted for her birthday was an elephant cake. We aren't sure why, but that was the only thing she asked for. Ask and ye shall receive. :) Didn't it turn out amazing?!

I have a "thing" with people blowing on cakes. So she gets a cupcake each year to blow out the candles. 

If you're going to carve into an elephant cake, you need to have a little fun with it!

After a busy day opening presents and eating cake a girl needs to take a nap, right? Wrong... we went Trick-or-Treating instead. My little monkey and Wonder Woman snuggled up together in the wagon as we collected treats. Everyone slept really well that night. And even though it poured rain on us halfway through our adventure it was a great day!