Happy Birthday!

Yesterday morning it looked like Lily (our ewe at school) was getting close to the birth of her baby.

I went out to the barn in the afternoon to check (and hope to be the one to find the lamb), but what I found was a laboring ewe. That was good also.

I could kind of tell when she was having a contraction. She got really still. And neither sheep made any noises. 2 small grunts from Wooly and one small grunt from Lily in the 20 minutes I was there.

We went out again after school to see if anything was happening. And to prepare for today (a no school day due to the snow and blizzard-type conditions we were having). Nothing, and still no noises. 

Noises are very common for these ewes. They baaaaaa a lot. 

30 minutes ago my phone was buzzing off the hook with texts about the lambs that were born over night!

And then I checked Facebook and saw the cutest picture since 2002 (the year my younger son was born).

The boy was in my class last year. He and his mom (sheep ranchers that live a mile away from school) came to the school this morning to check our ewes and this is what they found. So exciting. They were able to do the "newborn" stuff that needs to be done. So thankful.

Now I have mixed feelings. I would love for this blizzard to continue throughout the night and give us another snow day tomorrow, but I really want to go see these cuties.

Wonder what our kids will name these additions to our school family. Mom is Lily. Last year's baby was Lucy Belle (born 2-15-12). This year we have 2 ewe lambs, born on 2-21 (or 20) -13. 

Here is what is keeping my husband and younger son busy this morning. Shoveling and playing. Can't see younger son, but he is out there with his good friend from down the street.

The news this morning said this may be our biggest snowfall in history! 

I Knew It (Finally)

Two years ago this month I started working at my school. Yep, I was the crazy one to start a teaching job in January, after being home with my kids for 7.5 years.

These last two years have been amazing. I love my school. 

We dance (line dance that is) during homeroom when it is too cold, snowy, or icky to be outside. So I figure that is a lot of days for me to learn to dance. But, I'm really slow at learning.

Today was a break-through for me. When the dance was announced--The Electric Slide--my head started doing the steps. The correct steps! First time that happened. Ever.

I enjoyed dancing it today, because I could dance and not have to "think" about what I was doing. Yep, a "slow" dancer.

Next song was Cupid Shuffle, again my mind knew what to do! This was amazing.

The last song was a no brainer. I have been dancing that one for many years. Macarena.

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The ewes are coming in at night now. Today when we brought them in we checked them. Lady Town is changing. I saw it. The bags aren't really doing anything. But it is so exciting. 2 1/2 weeks away from the first lamb date. I hope they are on time.

I will keep you posted.

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

We have been back for 5 days now. And we are digging in for loads of learning.

I am enjoying reading The Little House in the Big Woods to the kids. Personally I find the book a little long, and sometimes it is difficult for me to follow, but somewhere I saw that it was on an exemplar list, so we are going for it. I knew it was a good choice when I was reading it on Monday and at a very appropriate part more than half of the class started laughing. Wow, that surprised me. They were listening, comprehending and communicating their understanding. 

It was at one of my favorite parts. Charles' pa was coming home through the Big Woods, without his gun and a panther was following him. He described the way the panther sounded--like the scream of a woman. Oh, how they laughed. It was a great moment for me.

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Cloverbuds rotations today. But no pictures. Sunflowers was the commodity. One group made sunflowers out of coffee filters. I showed a short video (2 minutes) about the life cycle, and then they created a 4 part drawing of the life cycle. Another did pig stuff (cuts of meat I think). And finally a cooking group, peanut butter balls with sunflower seeds. Good times.

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One sweetie made my day when he came in after recess and saw supplies on his desk to make the January quilt. He said, "oh, a quilt, I LOVE this!" Thank goodness it was not as difficult as the December quilt, but it did take some doing. Cutting a 3 inch square into 4 triangles is tricky, but they are certainly getting better. I got the quilts off of TpT. Check it out here.

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My good friend Julie has been at it again. She created a January alphabet chant, along the lines of The Phonics Dance. I printed it while the kids were at PE and Music, and had it hung before they came back. I wasn't going to say anything, but they noticed. :) So, with our coats on (we were just heading to the buses) we went through the new chant. Score. Two times through in one day. That is called repetition and exactly what my firsties need to become better readers. 

Julie is giving this away this week for her followers. It is amazing. Check it out (at First Grade Critter Cafe') if you want a cool January alphabet or if you want to read an inspiring blog.

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It is time to start checking the sheep. We did this last year also. Feeling for a bag, looking under their tails, looking for changes. We always ask permission, and feel sort of weird doing it, but that is what our sheep expert told us to do. Please, Lily and Wooly (the ewes), lamb during the day, so that I do not have to sleep in the barn. This is especially important, because there is loads of evidence of critters living in the barn. I think you know how I feel about mice.

Sheep

What a big day at school today. So much for easing back into the school zone. Nope, not us. We tore right into it today!

This sight made me sooo happy. Know what it is? It is our sheep coming back!

About 9:30 this morning.

They went right to their pen. It was like they remembered. I wonder if sheep can really remember.

Currently Lily and Wooly are sharing a pen with the little goats. But I heard that our sheep were head-butting the goats. We don't encourage bullying at our school, so, soon the goats will move to their new pen, right next door.

Lily (wool faced) is the one marked blue, and Wooly (plain faced) has been marked red. And... We are expecting babies in February!

They have not taken a pregnancy test, or had a sonogram. So, nothing is certain. But Mr. Harris (the nice man whose place they were at), knows what he's doing when it comes to breeding sheep. It's his job, and the paper was written by him. So, I'm saying, yep, they are pregnant. 

I feel like such a pro. Having the sheep last year, but I think I am just kidding myself. 

Hopefully they will lamb like last year...in the middle of the night, needing no assistance. Let the waiting begin.

Tell Me Something Good

Jennifer over at
is having an awesome linky party. Focus on a good thing from home and school. A great way to start the week. I love it.

Here are mine.

Something good at school: Our sheep are returning tomorrow. They left last May. They went to their happy summer home. Then they went to the breeding farm. Tomorrow the nice man whose farm they were at is bringing them back. And he wants a tour of our school. And if we are really fortunate, we will have pregnant sheep and lambs in the spring. Exciting times.

This was Lily and Wooly last May. I wonder what they will look like tomorrow. I am worried that I will not be able to tell them apart. Will they remember us/our school?

Something good at home: I had a great 3 day vacation so far. Time with my boys. Time with my boys and my husband. Movies. Netflix. Downton Abbey. And I have today as well, with a possible road trip  with my family and in-laws to see more family. Even if that doesn't happen it has been fun to think about it.

Your turn. Head over to Rowdy in First Grade to read other's good things and add your own.