Another New Year!

 

I can't believe it’s New Year’s Eve AGAIN?! And with New Year’s you know what comes with it: New Year’s Resolutions! For the New Year’s resolution I will become a stronger person and give myself more credit! I think – no, I know- I am very hard on myself and never feel my ideas or activities are good enough therefore I stay in the background. Well 2014 – here I come. It’s taken a lot out of me to create this blog and set up a store – The hard work aspect is the easy part for me! But the part – that makes you put your heart and soul out there - well that’s the side of me I will work on both professionally and personally! I promise that I will do better. Here's to an awesome new year!

As we close out 2013, I just want to say thank you to all – real and virtual! This has been a remarkable year for me. Beginning this blog in late May and creating/selling units, attending my son’s wedding, flying back to the states to care for my mom whom I love so dearly, supporting my beautiful friends – one whose husband is deployed and can’t drive and another who means so much to me, AND driving an hour each way to teach my awesome kids! You have ALL inspired me, made me a better wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, friend, colleague, virtual friend, and teacher. I have met so many amazing individuals that I call friends even though I have never met them face to face. Thank you, thank you, for all of this!!!

Enjoy the last few hours/seconds of 2013.

PS: I hope you all have a wonderful but safe night celebrating the old and ringing in the New Year 2014!

 

 

 

Getting kindergarten children to understand what New Year's is all about is a challenge!  But it’s also difficult to get them to understand the concept of a resolution AND setting goals for a new year.  Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution is a very simple story that explains the concept.  This book does a very good job explaining how setting goals is for the better of an individual! I hope you enjoy my new product!

 

 

On another note, check out my fun Twitter video by clicking here! Love Vizify.com! 

https://www.vizify.com/lct/twitter-video# 

 Have a safe New year!

 

Thirteen in 13!

Happy Holidays!
I am linking up with bloggers Miss Kindergarten, Dragonflies in First, and  A Teeny Tiny Teacher to share my 13 favorite things about the year 2013. Ok, here it goes:

13. My son’s wedding!! This was probably the most memorable event of 2013!  What mom wouldn’t choose this milestone! He married this awesome gal from Michigan and our family gained the daughter we’ve never had! We are so proud of them!

12. This blog is a favorite accomplishment of 2013! I started blogging in June and I have met so many outstanding teachers all over the world!

11. The Las Vegas Conference was awesome!  What an event that felt like fun and play yet in reality was a learning event!  Cannot wait until next summer’s conference!

10. Discovering a quaint little island – Mackinac Island! What fun!

9. Opening my TpT store!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Thebeezyteacher 

8. Meeting up with awesome bloggers and picking their brains!

7. Vacation in the Southwest part of the US!  Wow!  Different!

6.  Driving up to Belgium with my best friend to meet the most incredible woman who has been designing, building, loading (the truck AND driving it) to deliver furniture pieces to us in Germany and still maintains the most beautiful hands!

 

5. Favorite restaurant:  Thanisch Restaurant on the Mosel where they serve an incredible knobloch Suppe (garlic soup)

4. Favorite movie:  The Desolation of Smaug (The Hobbit)

3. Favorite /comfy item:  My house shoes!

 

 

2. Picking grapes! :(  Did you notice how far down on the list?  This is a popular activity that Americans like to partake in when they come to Germany.  I’ve been here over 25 years and I just did it! (think the basket looks better on my floor than on my back)!

 

1.  A Favorite quote: “Character is what you are. Reputation is what people think you are.”
― Henry H. Saunderson

 

Click on the link to read about other bloggers! 

 

 

Have a wonderful New Year!

Weihnachtsmarkt in Germany!

One of the most memorable experiences for anyone in Germany is savoring the winter holiday season at one of the country’s numerous Christmas markets.  These colorful outdoor markets are held in most towns and cities during the four week Advent season leading up to Christmas.  The markets consist of decorated wooden huts that sell toys, jewelry, dolls, ceramic dishes, scented candles, and so much more to choose from! Not only is shopping an activity to enjoy, but there’s traditional foods and drinks to savor. You’ll find German sausages, Belgian waffles, crepes, hot roasted nuts, fries with mayonnaise, and the menu goes on!   As you walk through the crowded aisles, holding a glass of hot steaming gluhwein, you smell the scents of Christmas which for me would be the combination of roasted chestnuts, steaming gluhwein, and the spices of gingerbread and lebkuchen.  Certainly not to be missed are the sounds of Christmas music which fills the air.  One thing you can be sure of at a Christmas market – you’ll never be bored!

The following pictures are some of the items we have found at Christmas markets over the years!

For more information about Christmas markets all over Europe click on this link!

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=50e19f68-3e49-4d5d-8839-5f7e5477ba4b

Check out my Interest board on some of my favorite Christmas markets (have to say Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Strasbourg are my two favorite).

 http://www.pinterest.com/thebeezyteacher/christmas-markets-in-europe/

Time for a Weihnachtsmarkt freebie.  Follow me on Bloglovin to receive it!

Have a wonderful and restful holiday!   

 

Gingerbread Week!

 

Hello!  One more week before Winter break!  This week we were in a baking mood and decided to pull out the Gingerbread Man Unit and add a little Voki introduction to it!  Have you guys used it?  It’s absolutely great!  Voki allows you to create a customized avatar by changing the voice, animating it, and so forth….. It’s free and allows you to post onto blogger or any website.  Check out this Gingerbread Voki!

 

Some more activities:

 

Review activities from The Gingerbread Unit:

 

Follow me on Bloglovin to receive this freebie!  Just click on the button on the right.

Have a great week! 

 

Our Smiles Will Continue On.

We are joining with some teacher's blogs to remember the one year anniversary of Sandy Hook. The mayor of Sandy Hook is asking people to honor and remember the lives taken by performing a random act of kindness on the 14^th of December.

We are linking up with blogger Greg from Kindergarten Smorgasboard to showing kindness in remembrance of Sandy Hook! Thank you Greg!

 

Picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox