Lots to share but a finicky internet is working against me.

xo, jill

3-5 lbs on Ms. Jill’s hips.

Behold the activity that caused my jeans to no longer fit!

Word sorts using juice bottle caps.

(It might not be obvious what’s happening here to the non-teacherly type. Students study a “family” of words during the week. In this activity the students sort the words. For example, putting this week’s words “sat, cat, hat…” and last week’s words “man, can, ran…” in the appropriate column.)

Let’s just say that for approximately 5 weeks I was drinking a lot of juice. I organized my English class into centers while we were studying word families. The word sort center required 15 – 20 bottle caps each week! A few students, friends, and my shadow teacher contributed caps… but overall it was my buns that felt the repercussions.

Considering my girls can now read… totally worth it.

xo, jill

I love my post box.

A few weeks ago I took my weekly Saturday morning trip to the post and found “adorable” in my box. A handmade card from Liz and Taune!

You see, they found a card they liked at a shop and decided to plagiarize it at home. Naturally, this lead to a kitten drawing contest.

Lucky me they sent their submissions. Obviously, both are equally cute and charming. I would have to assume that the official judge leaned towards his wife’s kitten, seeing as he has a lifetime ahead of him with her. (Liz won.)

Included in the card was a bonus Billy Brontasaurus and a depiction of me in the desert. Love.

Not to mention a little plea from Liz… everyone wants to be famous, don’t they?

And I almost missed this hilarious feature on the back!

Thanks ladies!

xo, jill

Mark your calendars!

Flying into rainy Portland, Oregon on July 9th!

I’ve been hemming and hawing over travel plans this summer… but really, when it comes down to it… the only place I want to be is in the Pacific Northwest with my family and friends.

So get ready. There are adventures to be had.

Returning to Abu Dhabi August 19th with an undetermined excursion to happen between then and my report date of September 5th.

xo, jill

Shauna!

Congrats to my dear friend Shauna… she won the Square Crisps GIVEAWAY!

I’ll be carefully stuffing as many packets as I can in a box and sending them her way shortly.

Today I sampled a new flavor… cheese and onion. Not bad… but no salt ‘n’ vinegar!

xo, jill

Really close to the end of the Thailand blogging.

I’m looking forward to it.

Then I can update you on the news of the desert.