Nicholle: June, Move Kids to their own bedrooms

June was an awesome month for us. I love it when my kids are out of school and I get to spend time with them. After school let out we spent our time trading bedrooms around. After "retiring" from preschool, we had a couple of bedrooms open up. I don't mind my kids sharing bedrooms, and they really didn't mind either, but it seemed like they were over crowded. So, I moved my oldest and my third downstairs. I didn't take any pictures, because quite frankly it was just a huge mess and I didn't really want any pictures of a huge mess. I have tried taking pictures of the after product, but I can't get a good angle and it just looks funny. They transition has been really interesting, especially for my two youngest who are just 16 months apart. For the first few days my 10 year old didn't want to sleep downstairs, and my 9 year old didn't mind. They said they felt "lonely". Oh, music to my ears. They actually like each other and liked chatting while they lay in bed. They have adjusted pretty well now, but every once in a while they like to have a sleepover in each others rooms. I really wanted to paint their rooms and have a whole new look for them, but time and money just didn't allow for that to happen. I included a picture of my kids and I at our annual trip to Lake Powell in June. We had a fantastic time and made some fun family memories. The picture has nothing to do with my goal, but I love seeing all of your pictures.

My July goal is to take my 12 year old son to the temple with our own family names!

Nicholle Slocum-May Goal/Retire from preschool

From the time that I was very young I knew I had a gift with children. My parents divorced when my youngest brother was four years old. I watched his behavior change almost over night and as a young girl I did not know how to help him. I graduated from High School and watched him struggle with school. I watched him have behavior problems with teachers and friends. I did not like the way teachers treated him, but, all I did was watch from a distance. When I decided to enter the teaching profession it was because I wanted to help children like my brother that I was never able to help. My goal as a teacher was to love kids un-conditionally. I felt like I did a pretty good job at that. I taught Special Education and when I had my second son I decided to quit teaching. The next year we moved into our new home and I started a preschool business. I fell in love with four year olds. I have loved teaching for the last 10 years and to be honest I don't really know why I felt like it was time to be done, I just did. In May I held my last Preschool Graduation. I was so lucky and thankful to have my dear sweet sister in law Cathryn help me this year and have my brother (who inspired me to be a teacher) son in my class.

My June goal is to move my kids bedrooms around now that I have extra room in my house. 

Nicholle Slocum-April Project: Organize Recipes

It feels good to have this project completed and behind me. I have needed to go through old recipes and throw out what I just don't use anymore. Honestly, I have most of my recipes bookmarked on my IPad and like looking at the recipes online as I make them.  I do have a few printed recipes from friends that I love, but I mostly look on my iPad. As I looked through my printed recipes I tried to keep it simple and tried to only keep the recipes if I had used them in the last year. I told myself I couldn't keep recipes just because I was emotionally attached. I had several cream of chicken crap recipes from when I was first married. I love the memories with the recipes, just can't stand the recipes. So, I put on my un-emotional panties and started tossing recipes!

I organized my cookbooks (that I NEVER) use. I put my printed off recipes that I do use behind some dividers and wa-la! 

I had to top off all my hard work with a recipe from my favorite site called ohshe glows.com. Her recipes and deliteful and beautiful and to die for yummy. I made myself this delicious cake batter smoothie!

Next month I plan on "retiring" from teaching preschool, having my last graduation party and begin packing 10 years of preschool accumulation! 

Nicholle Slocum: Food for 72 Hour Kits...

I knew when I set this goal, it would be a big stretch. I was right. It was beyond my reach. I don't know why, but when something seems too hard for me, I tend to ignore it. I don't know why buying food for 72 hour kits overwhelms me. I guess I don't know where to begin. If someone were to take me to the store and say, "buy this, and this and this." I would do it and everything would be totally fine. We would have food for our 72 hour kits and I wouldn't stress over it like I have for the last 10 years. So, I guess I am going to have to fill in this goal later in the year. I did keep myself busy. Nothing important like 72 hour kits though. We have lived in our house for 10 years now. We still have the original paint throughout the house. Buttercup Yellow! Blah! So, my sister in law came and helped me paint. Versatile Grey. We also painted a coffee table that I found at the DI for $25 and an end table for $10. I also painted my TV stand. I would like the accent colors to be a light sea foam green and light blue. I painted an old window frame and made a wreath out of cupcake liners, but I am still looking for other decorations. We need family pictures done. I would love to hang those in white frames. It's a work in progress.

Nicholle: February Goal: Register for College...AGAIN and Read a Book...

I have been very humbled and inspired with all of your posts! I am such a procrastinator and have loved having the feeling of a little light under my tushy. It has pushed me to get some things done that need to be done! This month I decided to have two goals. The first was to register for College...AGAIN. I graduated from SUU with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. I taught in Cedar City for a few years and also in Mapleton, UT. After my second child was born, and my husband was more secure in his job, I really wanted to stay home. I happened to visit PD one day and she inspired me to start a preschool in my home. I have been doing that for the past 10 years. I have loved every minute of it, but I feel like it is time for a change. I let my teaching license expire and something has been nagging at me to get it current again. I thought that the only possible way for this to happen was to enroll in some college courses. One day, I was talking with my kids' elementary school principal about it. I have volunteered countless hours at the school and know her quite well. She asked me if I would be interested in teaching Kindergarten at the school. She just so happens to have a half time Kindergarten position opening next year. She told me about a program called Returning Educator Re-License program. Apparently, a school district could hire me, I would have to move from a level 2 license to a level 1 for one year and of course be closely evaluated and monitored by an administrator and then be re-licensed. Two days after speaking with her another friend from the district called me. She asked if I would be interested in working with her in the district Special Education Preschool department. So, my February goal has changed. At the moment, I won't be enrolling in any college courses. I have some big decision's to make. Kindergarten would be half time (with tons of prep work). The other job is a full time position, but I would not be in a classroom and wouldn't have prep work. It would be a more relaxed setting. So, I just don't know what to do! I don't NEED to work, but have just felt the desire to make sure my teaching certificate is current. Both of these opportunities would help me get my license current again. But working outside the home is not something I had really considered. My current state of mind is stress. Stress about what decision is right for me as well as for my family. I will have to report back my final decision.;

I was able to do a little reading this month. It felt so good to turn off social media and feel a good hearty novel in my hands. I was able to read two books. I decided to read for pure enjoyment. No self-help or diet books for me this time. The first book I read was called, Dancing on Broken Glass by KA Hancock. 

 

It was about a young girl who falls in love with a man with Bi-Polar. It made me laugh and cry and made me want to squeeze my man a little more! I really enjoyed it.

  

 The second book that I read was called, Love Anthony by, Lisa Genova. It too was a good easy read. It's a little hard to explain without giving it away, but it is about love and Autism. I liked this book, but didn't love it. But, also didn't feel like it was a waste of my time. It was a little hard to get into, but once I was there, I couldn't put it down.

Nicholle Slocum-January 2014: Print off Blog from 2013

     Hi! I am so excited to be a part of this awesome project connection. I have loved reading about all of your projects and have really been inspired. When I read about this project, I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of it. I have a lot of things that I want to get done and always have a million reasons why they don't get done! Nora and I were roommates at SUU. Although,I don't know her as Nora. When she first moved in to our apartment, our roommate made a connection with Nora to Pete's Dragon. From that time on at SUU she was knows as PD. Big "P" Big "D". Like all of you, I instantly fell in love with PD. I learned to eat ice cream with cocoa puffs and melt chocolate chips over banana's and freeze them for a tasty treat! I never saw her cross or upset while I lived with her. She taught me what a Christlike person is really like. She helped my testimony grow in the gospel and I will forever be thankful for her for that! 

      Last year, I made a goal to write on my personal blog once a week. I really feel like keeping a journal is important, but am terrible at it. I felt like this is a good way to keep a journal and family history all in one place. I wasn't perfect at writing once a week, but I feel like I documented things that were important to me. As I got ready to print it into a book I really hesitated. I didn't know if I wanted my writing in a book for more people to see/judge. I only have one follower on my blog (well, maybe two now with PD). I usually post pretty quickly and make quite a few mistakes in my writing. However, I decided that printing was more important. So, I did it. I used a company called blog to print. I used this company because my sister in law had used them, and I love her books. I also had a coupon. I have heard that blurb is fantastic as well. I was surprised at how simple the process.  After you create an account you will then give permission to access your blog. Then, you will give them the dates that you want published. For some reason, I had to extend my dates a few days because it wasn't picking up where I wanted my book to end (only frustrating part).  It will also ask you if and where you want your page breaks. I chose not to create page breaks, only to save me a little money.  You will also be able to choose where you want your text.  I was able to choose a front cover and a back cover and what I wanted on the binder as well as the size. I chose an 8x10, so that it will fit nicely on a book shelf. I wondered I'd I would want larger, but I am quite happy with the size.  The only thing I didn't like is that I couldn't change the font or size of font on the cover and binding. My book has 106 pages and it cost mr around $55.00. It is beautiful and we have all loved sitting down and looking at it! Thanks for inspiring me yet again...PD!

Here is the front cover...

Inside page layout (you can choose to have your text under each picture, I will probably do that next time). You can see the continuation of one post on the top and the start of two more posts.

Front and Back Covers...

Here is the beginning of my table of contents. I also have a dedication page.

Nicholle Slocum's Goals & Projects for 2014

January-Get my blog printed into a book from last year. It was my new years resolution last year to keep my blog updated. I had a few months of catching up to do, but I did it. I need to finish December and get it printed. I want this done by the end of January!

February- Two goals this month! Register for College AGAIN! I let my teaching certificate expire and want to renew it. Read a book from start to finish. I know this sounds silly, but since social media and “I” everything, I can’t remember the last time that I read a book. I find myself browsing everything rather than relaxing with a good book.

March- Get food for 72 hour kits. I’ve got backpacks for the four boys, with clothes in them, but no food or water. Hello, who can survive on that? It’s time!

April-Organize recipes

May- Retire from teaching preschool. I have taught preschool in my home for 10 years. I have loved every minute of it, but it is time to try some new things. I hope to throw a fabulous Graduation party for myself and for my cute class this year.

June-Pack up preschool and move my kids bedrooms around. We will have two bedrooms open up, so each of the kids will get their own room this month!

July-Take Kyle to the temple with our own family names.

August- Try Solom water skiing again. Turns the hubs on even if I can’t get out of the water.

September- Let go of being a control freak. I check my kids' grades and assignments every day. I nag them about every assignment. I am sending my first son to High School and my second son to Jr. High. I need to teach them to be responsible for themselves in their school work.

October- Still Thinking

November- Still Thinking

December-Find Joy this Christmas. I usually hate the Holidays. I don’t like the pressure, the stress or spending money. Find the true meaning of Christmas for myself and my children!