This & That... {updated with winners!}

{I used the random number generator to choose 3 winners: Sandra, Marlana, and Kristen check your email!  Also, thanks to everyone who gave feedback for a Valentine's exchange.  We are planning it right now and will let you know when all of the details are worked out!  Can't wait to do it again!}

I'm finally home from the annual Christmas Extravaganza.  I think I had about forty Chistmases, saw two movies: New Years Eve {great!} and War Horse {aka a 2 hour and 45 minute NAP.  Very seriously the longest, slowest movie ever.  I think I only laughed 3 times.  That's not good.  I like to leave the movies nearly peeing my pants from laughing.}, ate about 30 pounds of my mom's infamous chex mix, won one out of five games of dominoes, and had fun eleventy million different times with my family!  We also had family pictures made for the first time in for like ever.  Some of just the five of us, then the rest of the gang came along and suddenly the photographer was trying to squeeze all 15 of us into a picture.  Fun times!  I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas with your families!  I've been slowly catching up with everyone.  Being out of town and not constantly connected can get you way behind in blogland.

Before break, I posted a new pack in my TpT store but I don't think I ever told anyone about it!  Crazy, I know.  It's just a wonderful Wintry Mix of Math Fun!  You'll have to check it out; several winter themed math activities that are perfect for a K-2 classroom.  Especially since I'm having a 20% off sale from now until January 1st!

A few of you party people have requested more gift exchanges.  Mrs. Miner from Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business suggested a Valentine's exchange and the sweet girl even offered to help Sarah and me!  And if you guys are up for it, I'm up for it!  I never miss a party, because I keep them going constantly... 

I would love your thoughts on a few things:
-Do you just want one partner or would you want to send a homemade valentine to a group of grade level partners?  How many people would you be willing to send a card to?
-Do you want to do just cards or a gift along with it?  {In which case, you would only be assigned one partner.}
-Would you like to involve your class in the project and exchange valentines with a fellow blogger's class?
-Other suggestions?
I'll hang on your every word and do my absolute best to make it something everyone totally hearts.  {Get it?  Hearts?  Valentine's Day?  Yeah, I'm cheesy.  What of it?}

There are a hojillion linky parties out there that I'm itching to participate in.  So I'll be back tomorrow with something brilliant to say, for sure.  But in the meantime, I'm in a giving mood... I will give away 3 copies of my new Wintry Mix of Math Fun unit!  All you have to do is comment on this post about something {make sure you leave your email in the comments}!  The giveaway will end at 9am on Saturday, December 31st and I will use a random number generator to select 3 winners. 

Deck the Halls {a confession}

I have a confession to make.

I never took my Christmas tree down last year.  It's been up almost a full year.  Sometimes I turn on the lights.  Even in July.  Do not judge.  It makes me happy and it's always nice to have some extra lighting.  Plus it made me feel like I was living in a Pottery Barn holiday catalog every single day.  And you just can't beat that feeling.  And it made me hopeful for snow days even in the heat of May.  Hey, it could happen.  You know what they say: Christmas ain't over til the crazy lady undecorates.  Wait.  Do they say that?  Well, they do now.

You see, last year I got a fabulously huge Christmas tree.  It's absolutely gorg.  It took me about two weeks to get it up and decorated to my liking.  And I liked it so much that I couldn't just take down all of my hard work a few weeks later.  That's the worst part about Christmas.  I love all of the decorations but they have to come down so quickly.  So I intended to leave it up until the end of January.  The end of January came and went and I planned to turn it in to a Valentine's tree.  Well...the hearts never made it on my tree so I decided I would give a spring tree a shot with butterflies and flowers.  Spring sprung and before I knew it I was out of school for the summer and my tree was still up.  At that point, I saw no reason to take it down only to put it up again in a few months.  Right??

Throughout all of this, every single family member and friend thought I was an ABSOLUTE NUT.  But guess what?  Here I am, relaxing on the couch looking at my beautiful tree while all of my friends and family rush around, climbing up attics and dragging decorations out of basements and garages because it's suddenly socially acceptable to deck the halls.  Chances are, I'm the smartest one in my crew.  Sure, the tree may have been a bit out of place in July but really, the way time flies these days, the season came 'round again before I knew it.  And now I don't have ANY holiday decorating to do.  I am beyond brilliant.  Beyond! Brilliant!  So THERE!  I'm totally onto something.  I imagine I'll be starting a trend here pretty soon. 

Whew.  Feels so good getting that off my chest.  Maybe that helps some of you understand exactly why I was planning a Christmas gift exchange in October...

I want to know...when do you put up your decorations?  When do you take them down?  Have you ever left yours up all year-or known anyone who has?  And will you still be my friend even though I just shared some of my crazy with you?

Here's a little Christmas tree teen numbers freebie for those of you who will continue to be my friend, even though I'm slightly to moderately crazy.

PS: Don't forget that I'm running a sale over at my TpT store!  20% off everything, including some of my new holiday products!  Use the code CMS28 on Monday for an additional 10% off!