The Angel Forever

2012 School Supply List – Grade 4

Posted on July 9, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

If you have been to Target, Walmart, Staples, or pretty much any other retailer recently, you would see a trend. Back to school aisles and sections are popping up and have been since late June. This is especially alarming in New York State, where most children and teachers are in classrooms through June 22.

As someone who used to have a classroom of her own, I remember sitting with the ads making a list of what sales I wanted to get to for my room supplies. Now, I sit here as the parent of a soon to be fourth grader and kindergartener. As of today, I only have a school supply list for NHL who is going into the fourth grade in September.

Showing the list has become a tradition that I have done on my blog since he started school. So here is NHL’s list for the 2012-2013 academic year:

2 Black and White Composition Notebooks
Red, Green, Yellow, Purple, and Blue Composition Notebooks
Red, Green, Yellow, Purple, and Blue Poly Folders
Take home folder
2” 3 ring binder
Wide rule paper (will keep supplying throughout the year)
Pencils (no specific number mentioned)
Erasers
Scissors
Ruler
2 Highlighters
Colored markers, 24 box of crayons/pencils
Pencil Pouch
Glue Sticks (no number again)
2 Boxes of Tissues
2 Rolls of Paper Towels
1 Box of Wipes
2 Dry Erase Markers
1 Clean/old sock
1 Bic four-color Pen
$$ for classroom magazine and agenda book

Like last year, the kids are starting to color code by subjects as they get closer to middle school. This is a smart move that will help them to become more aware and responsible. Everything looks relatively typical in the scheme of things. I am very intrigued to see how they utilize the binder since that is new to fourth grade.

My first step will be to raid my classroom boxes like the one above. I know we will not need to buy pencils, glue sticks, highlighters, or erasers. NHL’s scissors, ruler, and pencil pouch still look like they are brand new and will be recycled as well. Update since I started drafting this post: I went to Staples and Target and began shopping. There are some great deals out there and I wish I had the list for the kindergarten kiddo.

I will definitely be watching the sales flyers to get the composition notebooks, folders, and coloring supplies. As I have stated before, I am a Crayola snob. Sure the other brands are cheaper at the start, but they do not last nearly as well. I learned this one the hard way in my own classroom.

So what are on your school supply lists? Have you found any really great sales yet? Please share below. The teacher in me is always a geek when it comes to school supplies.

Categories:
looking back nhl photos school shopping

Looking Back at Grandparents

Posted on July 8, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

My boys are very lucky to have all four of their grandparents living relatively close to us. They typically see Nana and Papa several times a week. They have also gone with us to Walt Disney World twice. Since TechyDad’s parents live several hours away, the boys do not see Bubbe and Grandpa as much during the winter months.

Growing up, all of my grandparents lived in the same city. I have so many memories of going to my Nana and Papa’s house as a child. They had a giant in-ground pool. We would often walk to their house with neighborhood children to spend hours in the pool, eat watermelon, BBQ, or just hang out until it was time to swim again.

I really need to find some of photos that we have from the times spent there with family and friends. So many amazing memories that I want to share with all of the boys. TechyDad never met either of them and I want to let them know more about the people that they are named for.

We also spent a lot of time with my Mimi and Poppy. They lived close to us as well. I remember the swing set that was in their old house, playing with their dog Snoopy, and having countless Shabbat dinners with them. TechyDad was able to get to know Mimi and Poppy. A few months after we were married, I remember heading up to Saratoga to the track with my parents, Mimi, and Poppy. We had an amazing time in the sun. We were able to relax, enjoy the time together, and watch the horses.

When NHL was born, he had three great grandparents. Jason’s grandmother, along with Mimi and Poppy were important parts of his life. As the first great grandchild for all of them, we made sure he visited them often. NHL still recalls going to see Poppy at the nursing home where they would eat Dunkin Donuts and ice cream together. JSL met Great Grandma a few times before she passed away, but never met Poppy. Instead he proudly carries on his name. I smile each day knowing that the boys are named for Nana, Papa, Poppy, and Jason’s grandfather.

Today we will be spending time with Mimi. She is a special part of our lives. The kids adore being with her whenever possible. She honestly spoils them, but that’s what great grandparents are for. I know today we will be making more memories together that the boys and I will always cherish.

P.S. Mimi – this post was not meant to make you cry (though I am sitting here with tears in my eyes as I type). I know you read this and wanted to do something special since I just found a lot of great photos from years ago.

Categories:
Disney family jsl looking back nhl photos TechyDad

Making Wind Chimes

Posted on July 7, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL & JSL,

This week we went to the library for one of their summer projects. They were going to make wind chimes and it was a two part project. We had to sign up for it since they only had supplies for so many people.

When we arrived, all of the supplies for the painting day were set out for project. You had paint brushes and small terra cotta pots. The librarian explained that you would be painting these on the first day. Lots of paint options were set out for people to select from. NHL, you wanted all warm colors. Your selections were red, orange, and yellow. JSL, you immediately wanted blue and then gold. The gold was not working right, so you opted for green and yellow.

It was fun watching your techniques. JSL, you wanted to cover the entire pot in one color and then add some stripes and dots of another. NHL, you were going for a more bold tie-dye effect. Both of you were done rather quickly, so we brought the clay pots to the room for them to dry over the holiday.

Since the next step was VERY time consuming, the librarians helped you out. They had baggies set up with fishing line attached to a bead and the chimes at the end. There were five of these, the clapper (which was missing a string), key ring circle, and latch to hang up your creation.

Both of you had a lot of fun creating all of your beaded sections. While you worked on those, I tied them onto the key ring.

We had to leave the clapper off since it was getting knotted up with the string they had left. Not a big deal since the chimes and beads were producing a nice sound on their own.

Now we just need to figure out where to put the wind chimes. I think we may get some hot glue to make the key ring stay in place. It was a lot of fun to make a new craft with both of you during a summer fun event at our library. I can’t wait to see what we do next time.

Love,

Categories:
arts and crafts Dear Kid Saturday fun jsl local event nhl photos summer

Favorite Summer Ice Cream

Posted on July 6, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Yes, I am one of those people that will sit under a blanket or two in the winter eating some ice cream. Of course, in the summer ice cream is a splurge and fantastic treat on a warm day. Most of the places around here have soft serve in the summer months, but also hard ice cream.

For me, the choice is a no brainer. There is nothing like soft serve vanilla and chocolate twist ice cream with rainbow sprinkles in a cone. This takes me back to my childhood when my parents would take me to the local Carvel store. On our anniversary, I told TechyDad that I wanted to get ice cream for lunch. It was late, warm, and nobody felt like eating anything extreme. We went to a local place and my lunch is seen below.

So my question to you this week is inspired by the photo above:

What type of ice cream is your favorite in the summer? Do you prefer soft serve or hard ice cream? Be sure to let me know if there is a certain flavor that you prefer (there are so many these days) and splurge and let me know sprinkle or dip preference as well.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #210

Categories:
Aloha Friday food glorious food me moments photos summer yummy

Making Mini Golf Memories

Posted on July 5, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

There is something extra special about going back to a place that you went to as a child with your own children. Add in going with your parents to watch them with the grandkids, and it is even more magical. On the fourth of July, TechyDad was working to move his office to a new location. Nana and Papa decided to surprise the kids by taking them to a Golden Pond Miniature Golf in Clifton Park.

The place has not changed much since I went there as a child. They have kept it clean, in good condition, and possibly even made some improvements. While walking around, I had visions of my brother and I learning to avoid the water hazards, getting a hole in one in a certain location, and bringing our neighborhood friends there to enjoy.

On the flip side, I watched my father assist the kids with holding the golf club the right way. I saw my mother smile as I recalled certain items. Then, there was the laughter, running, and smiling from my boys.

Although we missed TechyDad, we had a great time beating the heat on the shady golf course. I know the kids will definitely want to head back here again and I am sure we will. For me, it was not only about making new memories with my boys, but also reliving some special times from my childhood. It is always nice when a location from your past lives up to your expectations of years gone by.

What did you do with your family on the 4th of July?