Merry Christmas to Us!

This year for Christmas, Sean and I decided that we needed a new comforter set. So, with part our Christmas money that we received from the Ortega's (thank you, thank you!), we decided to purchase a comforter. Our primary reason for going to Mervyn's was to look for an ugly Christmas sweater for my work party. While we were unsuccessful with that, we did find our new comforter and we LOVE it! Our old Walmart comforter needed to go... Luckily, our gold and brown pillows still match!

It's hard to tell, but the colors are gold and and light blue-ish color. It definitely looks better in person...too bad we can't have a big party in our room. jk We have always wanted a bedspread that looked rich and elegant (if that makes sense).

Sean also surprised me with this jewelry armoire. It was well overdue and exactly what I needed. All of my jewelry was in a hat box and scattered about. Now, I can actually organize it! Yeah!

Of course, I had to have my Scentsy warmer that matches the room. I can't wait to go to Kirkland's with my gift card and redecorate everything! Woo hoo!

Gingerbread Houses!

The Ortega's got together for family night to decorate gingerbread houses! We started the tradition last year and feel like we are improving! Last year we couldn't even get the houses to stick together. This year, we realized that a hot glue gun would do the trick. P.S. Frosting is only good for sticking on candy. It does not work when you try to put your house together with it. I promised the fam that I would post each picture so everyone can vote on the one they think is the best. Angelica and Stevie (her dad) created one, Sean and I created another, and Britta & Henry created one. Which do you like bettter?? :)

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Enter your vote in the comments/posts! Here is one more picture of them all together so you can really compare. :)

Scentsy Party!

*You're Invited to a Scentsational Event!*

Need a present for a mom, sister, grandma...or even yourself? Scentsy is the perfect gift that everyone and anyone will love. Scentsy is the newest and safest way to burn candles. Many of you may not know what scentsy is all about. For more information about the products, please visit www.scentsy.com/staciortega. You can view the latest catalog and products available. Come join us for a fun scensational night!

When: Tuesday, December 16th

Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm (Come and Go)

Where: The Hart Residence
2745 E Lynwood Cir
Mesa, AZ 85213

Click here for a map:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Mesa&state=AZ&address=2745+E+Lynwood+Cir&zipcode=85213


If you have any questions, feel free to call me!

Staci 480-275-0868

Anyone is invited to come! Bring a friend!
I understand this holiday season is extremly busy! If you are unable to make it but would still like to order any products, let me know! There will be some products available to purchase and bring home right away. See you there!

I HATE LIARS!!

So, I have this little boy in my class...(he's one of those children that you have to pray for everyday in fear that you might do or say something that you shouldn't). Anyways, it was early release today and we had to hurry through math because we were cut short by about 25 min. Anyways, I told the kids that they were going to have homework on the skill that we were learning in math. This one little boy decided to express his feelings towards having homework by saying the "s" word, if you will. I looked at him and said, "Excuse me? What did you say?" (A little side note, it's not the first time kids have used this language. Some of them don't understand that it's bad because they use it at home all the time.) I bent down to talk to him figuring that it would be a little teaching moment and asked him if he said what I think he said. He came back with, "I said sheets." Hmm...now does that really make sense? I tell them they will have homework and he replies with, "sheets." I know that's something I probably would have said if my teacher told me I had homework. In fact, I used to say that all the time. :) Of course I made him change his card to a red light (he was already on yellow due to sitting in time out during music) and told him that he shouldn't have lied to me because now his consequence is greater. Moral of the story...children, don't lie to your teacher...and if you are going to lie, please come up with a way better excuse or story. Telling your teacher that you said, "sheets" instead of the real word makes no sense and he/she will see right through you.

That's all

I've Been Tagged!

Tatum tagged me!

10 years ago...
1. My ward was split and I was really sad to leave my BFF's! (Can you tell it has scarred me for life? jk)
2. Started 7th grade at Brimhall Jr highand realized Laura Millett (Udall) had every class with me! It was so fun!
3. I was obsessed with playing my violin. (Call me an orch-dork)
4. Hung out with my cousin Jenna like every day.
5. Had a best friend ditch me to hang out with the "cool" girls who made out with boys. ha ha ha! Wow! This one makes me laugh!

On To-Do List... (Do you really want to hear this?)
1. Make next weeks lesson plans and make all copies
2. Figure out what I am going to do with a few problem children
3. Clean my apartment
4. Go to the store to purchase a few items
5. Go to the bank to deposit a check...who has time to go to the bank? Apparently I don't because the check has been in my wallet for a while!

Snacks I enjoy...
1. Fruit Snacks
2. Popcorn
3. chips and salsa
4. Strawberries
5. red licorice

Things I would do if I were a Millionaire:
1. Stay at home
2. Travel the world
3. Purchase a nice home
4. Pay off student loans and car...maybe buy a new car? :)
5. Save

Places I have lived:
1. Phoenix
2. Tennessee
3. Canada
4. Mesa (85206)
5. Mesa (85204)

My dad played pro baseball before I was one, which is why I lived in Tennessee and Canada. Do I remember them? NO, I wasn't even one yet!

Jobs I Have Had...
1. Bread Store
2. Violin and Keyboard teacher at charter school
3. Customer Service Rep
4. Lab Assistant at Charter school
5. Teller and Member Service Rep
6. Teacher

People I tag... (I totally don't have 5, but oh well)
1. Courtney
2. Laura
3. Sierra
4. Amber A.

Mrs. Ortega, can I go to the bathroom?

This phrase is a common phrase I hear in the classroom several times within a half hour period! Usually it is accompanied by the pee pee dance and a face that looks uncomfortable. Standard restroom procedures for my classroom are the following: You go at recess and lunch or you go when I take you (before or after specials). I do allow kids to go to the restroom during class as long as I am not teaching and it is independent work time. We get in from recess and I have starting teaching reading and a little boy ask if he could go to the restroom. (This kid asks SEVERAL times during the week. At least once or twice a day.) Of course I said, "No, we just went to recess and I am teaching." The kids are pretty good about telling me if it is an emergency, so I didn't think anything of it and continued. About 20 min. later, I hear him crying. (He sits in the front row and I was at the overhead.) So, while I am teaching, I tap on his desk and motion for him to go. Then he stood up...and lo and behold...there was pee all over his clothes!!! I couldn't believe it! I felt so bad because he didn't say it was an emergency and the little stinker just peed his pants without telling me he had to go really bad. Luckily the reading specialist was in there testing a few kids so I was able to get the kids started and I ran to find him. He had already made his way to the nurse. As I was thinking about the situation, I came to the conclusion that he has peed his pants before. How else would you know to go to the nurse when you pee your pants? I wouldn't know...would you? I would probably hide in the bathroom not knowing what to do! Basically, I am the worst teacher and make kids pee their pants.

That's all.

Okay...Really this time...What was I thinking?!?!?!

So, let's just say that this last week was ridiculously crazy! I have been an emotional WrEcK! Like, crying over stupid things and not being able to think straight. Day 1 was great and then the rest of the week went downhill. It's not even that my students are bad...because they are not. I was going through some out of body experience and it was so stupid! I guess I jinxed myself last Saturday (before school started). Sean and I were over at Benson and Sarah's house (which is really cute by the way) and Sarah informed me that her friends said they came home crying everyday their first year of teaching. I replied with, "Oh, I'm not worried. That probably won't be me." HA HA HA HA HA! That's a joke! Let's just say I cried on Tuesday after school, Wednesday DURING school (let's just say someone had to take my class for the 2nd half of the day because I couldn't stop), and the 3rd day before school. I had a little girl ask me why my face was all red and I replied, "I just have really bad allergies." I love the naive-ness of little kids. ha ha! I am pleased to say that I haven't cried since last Thursday. People keep asking me if I am pregnant and I can assure everyone that I am NOT!
On a better note, today was a great day! The kids keep asking me my first name and I tell them it is "Mrs.". It's too bad I have all of the staff members' kids/family members in my class so they all know my first name. It's all good though. I know this week will be a great one!