Dear Vacation...A Love Letter!

I bought these cute graphics from From the Pond!

For Valentine's Day my owlets made free hugs! They had to
estimate how many hearts it takes to make a hug. I
traced around their arms. They cut and placed the hearts
from fingertip to fingertip. 

Dear Vacation,
I have missed you so much. I love the way you let me sleep in late and let me play dumb  games like Candy Crush Saga without feeling even a tiny bit guilty. You give me lots of time to catch up on laundry, dusting and school work. I get nice long chunks of time to read awesome books like Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott that make me think, laugh and grow.  I love you, vacation, even though I know you'll leave me again. Thanks for coming at just the right time. You are helping me recover from Valentine's Day, 100's Day, a 14 year old's birthday bash and a weekend long church retreat. I can't wait to see your sister, Spring in a little over a month.
Love,
Jenny the Tired

Are you on Mid-Winter Vacation? I needed this extra two days to recover from last weekend and to rest up from all the excitement that has already taken place this month. It may be the shortest month, but I think it is the biggest month for special learning opportunities!

A long time ago I was lucky enough to receive an awesome package from my dear friend, Kimberly. The blueberry jam is long gone, but the other goodies are a reminder of her friendship. I am finally ready to Pay it Forward with 3 packages of my own. Here is a picture of the gifts that I'm paying forward to three lucky recipients. Keep your eyes open, Barbara, Maria, and Dinah and  don't look at the pictures if you want to be completely surprised. I love the handmade candlemats a friend made for me and the Michigan ornaments I found in a delightful Etsy shop that is just down the lake from me. The Paper Marriage is a great shop for custom wood and paper products! If you like owls, you must go to the shop just to see the awesome owl they have up for sale! You can help Ashley grow her business HERE!

Now I'm off to take a nap...After one more level of Candy Crush Saga and a visit to your blog, of course!

Pay It Forward

I got a package from my good friend Kimberly in Maine. You know her from 1st in Maine. (If you don't know her, go introduce yourself and find out what she's reading. She always has great recommendations!)  It wasn't just any package. It contained special items that were chosen to represent her beautiful home state of Maine. Take a look at all this awesomeness!

Raise your hand if you want to meet at  Nonesuch Books for
coffee Saturday morning!

I didn't have Blueberries for Sal in my classroom library...Now I do!

I love this moose sun-catcher. I wish we caught more around here in
the winter!

Kimberly got a package, too. Her package came from Sandy at Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes. Sandy blogs from Canada.

Sandy had gotten a package from Greg at Males in Early Childhood. Greg is from Australia.

Greg got the package from Kerina who is a blogger at Learning for Life in Northern Ireland.

Kerina got the package from Karen at Flights of Whimsy in Australia.

She got the package from Maureen at Strongstart who is from British Columbia, Canada.

Maureen's package came from Sherry and Donna at Irresistible Ideas For Play Based Learning in Melbourne, Australia.

Their package came from Tennessee...Scott sent it to her from Brick by Brick.

Scott had the package sent to him from What Do We Do All Day in Brooklyn, New York, who got it from Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns in California, who got it from Our World Classroom who got it from Pink and Green Mama, who got it from... well I don't know where it even started! I don't even know where it may end. At this point I don't know where it will go next!

Would you like a package from my corner of the world to share with your classroom? I get to pick three bloggers to Pay it Forward to. I would love to send it as far as possible! Across the country or across the world would be great!

If you would like to receive a package from Muskegon, Michigan and would be willing to pay it forward to three others, this is what you do...

Leave a comment below telling me you'd be willing to pay if forward and I'll get things rolling. I have some ideas of genuine Michiganness things to send you, but it will be a surprise until it arrives at your door! Don't forget to leave your e-mail address!