Good-bye Winter Break...

Well, I have been SUPER spoiled this past 9 days... Now, back to reality - work! We do not have very many school days left, so I have to get the final bits and pieces ready to make sure my Kindergartners are ready for 1st grade - even my little Kindergartner, Chloe! She is definitely ready, but there are a few most standards that I have not introduced. We are nearing the finish line... here we go!!!

Chloe had a fun time with granny (spending the night & a movie). She is rarely away from us, so we missed her like crazy... just isn't the same around here without her. She had a great time, which makes a mommy happy!! :) In addition to a movie, she learned how to sew (will post pics if granny sends them to me - hint, hint, granny!).

Since I am posting, I will also include some of my latest Pinterest finds!!



Super Cute Owl garden flag!!

Source: google.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest

Use a coat rack for towels/house coats.

Source: bhg.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest

Organization for my new Thirty One teacher bags.

Source: ateacherandablog.blogspot.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest

Cute owl change purse by Thirty One!

Source: fashionvulpix.blogspot.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest

Remember the Little Things

Shannon, Chloe, and I headed to Greenville Monday. Chloe played for 3 hours at Monkey Joe's and had a blast! Later, there was some shopping & dinner, but nothing was the same after we learned of the ordeal a little girl was going through. We met a mother and her little girl at Monkey Joe's - the little girl's name was Kendell. During small talk, we learned that Kendell was due to have surgery the very next morning due to a large sized hole in her heart. I immediately began thinking of some of the problems that family members have had with heart conditions. During the night, she has to be hooked to a machine because her heart stops beating during her sleep. The machine gives her heart a jolt when this occurs during the night. The mother said that it happens every night.

This precious little girl (4 y/o) never stopped smiling as she was playing. She was full of life and joy! She helped to remind me of happiness, the importance of little things in life, and how truly blessed I am. We take so much forgranted, but this was God's way of reminding me of these things and to remember to pray for all in need. You truly never know what others are facing and dealing with... Shannon plans on calling the hospital within the next few days to check on little Kendell. In the meantime, please join us in praying for this child and her family. :)

A few photos:

Lights...Camera...Action!

Yay! We went to two more antique stores today & as I was making my way through the last store, there it was... 'THE' lamp!! I had not seen one just like this online or in any stores. It was love at first sight!! Not sure what style this is, but I was so excited when I saw it sitting on a mantel from afar...

Browsing antique stores is not only fun, but I find it relaxing. You can find so many great ideas - some I have even seen on pinterest! Shannon has found a few things along the way too: a rod, a reel, a Coca Cola stool that he plans to cover with a Fender logo (for playing his guitar), a faux plant, a candle holder that is like pieced together glass. Oh, and we cannot forget Chloe... she got a beenie baby pup & a Veggie Tale movie.

Some time this week, we are heading to Greenville to Monkey Joe's (for Chloe), Old Tyme Pottery (for me), and Guitar Center (for Shannon)...LOL! A little something for everyone... we will see what that adventure has in store for us!

Wonderful Weekend

Our Winter Break began Friday evening. So far, we managed to have a game night with Sam, Nick, and Marlee, which lasted until midnight (I am already getting off my sleeping schdule...uh oh). Nick won Headbands (this was pretty hilarious), and I won Logos (yay, me). Chloe almost lasted the entire time, but knocked out around 11.
Saturday Chloe and I were going to head out shopping, but Shannon decided he wanted to join us. He was supposed to go do something with his boat...but we had a great day. I got some great teacher finds - found some lunch trays that I am using as a CVC blending mat & will also use as a math mat center! We also went to Goodwill where I found a three-divided container for the same use as the trays I found.

Goofying around...we have to do a serious shot, a normal shot, then a goofy shot.

I have been looking for just the right lamp for my new shelf beside my bed. We looked in Apple Dumplin' Antique store in downtown Anderson & I saw several I liked, but wanted to look around a bit more before making a final decision (although I am swaying towards one I saw there - hope it doesn't get gone too fast). We then took a peek in Hobby Lobby. I saw one there that was very unique, but wasn't 'in love' with it.

Sunday was a LAZY day... I found tons of great things on Pinterest; then we watched a few hours worth of Scare Tactics... LOVE that show!! Chloe calls it Scare Tactins...lol - she will go around and pretend to prank us and scare us..lol!

Today, we plan to visit more antique shops!!! Yippie!!! Then, Chloe has baton this evening. Currently, she is playing her Animal Corssing game that she cannot get enough of... there is a Festival going on in the little town she lives in on there.

Winter Break...here we come!!

Yippie - today begins my long winter break!! I am so happy to have 9 days with my loves. Plus, 9 days to recoup from the excitement from this week!!! I think the kiddos may have had a little too much candy this week - maybe that is where all the hype was coming from...phew!!! We survived & I have a new (well, not so new, as he was in my class at the beginning of the year for 4 weeks) student arriving when we return!

What are our plans for break? Relax, relax, relax.... (I hope). You never know with Shannon - he is so spontaneous, we might end up anywhere!!! LOL :) Chloe is outdoors playing with her new pointer she got at the book fair (okay, okay... I also made her get books - it's the teacher in me yanno), and I am relaxing for a bit watching Judge Judy. Sam, Nick, & Marlee are coming later on & I am hoping for some great GAME TIME!!!! This should be interesting....lol.

Love is in the Air...

Well, yesterday was Valentine's day & it was wonderful:) I was with all 17 of my little ones by myself yesterday, but it went better than I expected & we survived, as V Day the children are usually more wired than any other holiday (weird, huh?). Anyway, we gave Chloe her Valentine items that morning before school. I picked out a baby Lalaloopsy doll (that she had said she wanted when they came out). Daddy got her a silver necklace with a purple and pink butterfly charm. Daddy took his girls on a 'date' later that evening... it was very relaxing:)

Chloe with her Lalaloopsy.

Tried to get a little closer to see her necklace.

Daddy & Chloe @ the class Valentine celebration.



Today, was a typical day. I am so thankful that it warmed up a good bit today. Shannon piddled in the yard and on the back porch, while Chloe played on her playground & around the yard. I sat on the back porch writing in my 'Chloe' journal & reading my Bible. It was peaceful, except when Chloe was pretending to be Rapunzel and screaming about letting down her hair & when Shannon clanked things together doing 'this & that.'...LOL! We did mention to have a brief disagreement when I began telling him of my plans to add curtains to the back porch...haha! I believe I won that one... ;) There WILL be curtains out there soon!!!! What kind of evening would it be if we didn't at least fuss once? Not a typical one, that is for sure! Moments like that (I think) bring us closer together:)

I just got Chloe out of the bath & had her read her AR book to me - she is reading very well right now... She is almost on a 1st grade level! She read several minutes over the past month, so she was able to earn a Six Flags ticket - so proud of her! Hope this sets her up for a lifelong love of reading (as I never had). Currently, she is singing her little heart out (usually an every day occurance)... but I love the sweet sounds!!

I FINALLY did it!!

I finally did something that I should have done a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time ago - I deactivated Facebook!

Reasons why:

1. It can be consuming.
2. It radiates negativity.
3. It was becoming weird to know ALL about everyone else's business (sometimes a little To Much Info., honestly).
4. It can be dangerous to post too much information about yourself and your family.
5. I cannot STAND DRAMA! (really... I get tired of reading or hearing about FB drama - I want NO part of that).

What will I miss?

1. Connections with family & my handful of friends. (that is why I have this BLOG  - problem solved!)

So, what has been going on with the Fulbrights lately:

Not much, which is the way we like it! We take life as it comes and make the best of the moments we have together. As each day goes on, I learn more and more about people and life in general. Many things that have happened to me, have made me who I am, and for that I am very grateful. I am very thankful that I have someone, like Shannon, that I learn so much from. He keeps me grounded and helps remind me of important lessons in life - all advice he has given me has been right on the money. (shhhhh...) It is not easy to tell him he was right all along...lol. He amazes me in his knowledge about people, situations, and how to handle oneself. I have and continue to make mistakes along the way with people, as I am super trusting and very naive. My trust level has gone down drastically as I learn more and more about people & I hope my naive ways will soon leave me. I am praying that wisdom will replace that...

God sends just the right people to you if you place all your trust in him - it is really not as important that we trust others, as long as we know we can trust in God. I received that from a Charles Stanley message last night! (had a great time & learned a lot about myself last night Erica, Bethany, & Mary)

I used to listen to a song "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica (which has a different perspective than I will share right now) - but nothing else does matter when you have God the Father guiding your path. Now, if only I can focus on him and not the negativity that seems to show its ugly face so clearly each day. In addition, I pray that rather than speak of the negative things I see, I begin pointing out the good I see. I had the opportunity to do this yesterday, and I am saddened because I did not take that opportunity that was given me. This is another lesson to be learned... that I am hoping I will get better with over time.

Enough about me - what about Chloe, Samantha, & Shannon:

Chloe is learning so much in Kindergarten and it is wonderful that I have the privilage of being a part of molding her educational foundations. Of course all parents think their child is smart and beautiful, and I am no different :) I began a journal for her last month and write in it occasionally to share some of the little things she does... She and I decided together that I will give her all the journals I write on her future wedding day. I read them to her occasionally, so she will remember some of the special moments we share <3

Samantha and Nick are once again a couple. I am a very forgiving person, and welcomed Nick back with open arms... With Shannon on the other hand, it will take some time...LOL! (typical daddy) She is also in her 2nd year of college and performing wonderfully:) She will enter into the School of Education very soon!! I know how relieved she will be, as I was there not too long ago... Oh, and she will be going to her Kelly Clarkson concert in Feb. (we bought her 2 tickets for Christmas).

Shannon is Shannon - keeping up with our home... keep us all grouded and solid... he is the foundation:) He is super excited, as he went to Greenville yesterday to get a new motor for his boat - it doesn't take much to make him happy..LOL! He has been needing to do this, but always puts it off. Other than that, he enjoys sleeping in and snoring...haha (Chloe actually made a text-to-self connection in writing the other day where she wrote about how her daddy snores just like the character from our story - I cracked up when I read it...LOL).

Other than spending each possible moment together and working, we enjoy our time together at home. I must say when you love someone and are around them so often, you tend to fuss all the time about stupid things. Regardless, the peace that being together (usually) brings, is refreshing! Just like the peace I feel now as I am watching the horses gallup in the fields across the street, the snoring I hear coming from the man I love, and the giggles and laughter I hear from my precious little girl:)

Pin Perfect

Well, I have neglected to update in a month, so now is the time to show off some of my faves from Pinterest:

Cozy chair - making a reading area in my room - this was perfect:)

Source: stylepath.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest



Cute Clemson lunch tote from Tickeled Orange in Clemson - Cute!

Source: Uploaded by user via Kimberlee on Pinterest

It is one this to talk about this or even post this - you must DO this!!

Source: weheartit.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest

Love, love, love these old scripture related cartoons! Powerful!

Source: biblebelievers.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest



Cannot wait to add drapes to our back porch!

Source: google.com via Kimberlee on Pinterest

I will try my best to post these great finds often:)