Author Roni Schotter Visits

Inspiration for All

Back in October I attended the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival. I have been wanting to go for years, but never worked out. When I realized I could go this year I was BEYOND excited. I went with my mom and 5 year old daughter. I brought books to be signed by authors I knew were going to be there. I was like a kid in a candy store, I couldn't contain my excitement!! I walked from author to author, searching for some of my faves... Jane Yolen, Ron Barrett, Bernard Most & Roni Schotter. Little did I know, after meeting Roni and having a conversation about a possible school visit, that she would become a friend!

Below are some pictures I took at the book festival

Ron Barrett
(Illustrator of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs)

Roni Schotter
(Author of  Nothing Ever Happens on 90th street,
 and many many more)

My daughter and me with Biscuit! 

Jane Yolen
(Author of Owl Moon,
 and many others!)

Myself and Jane Yolen

Roni Schotter Visits...

After leaving the book fair, I couldn't wait to email Roni Schotter about a possible school visit. We exchanged emails for a few days and I got the ball rolling. My principal was thrilled and excited to bring an author into the building. After many email exchanges and phone calls, Roni's visit was scheduled. Over the weeks, our bond began to form, and I couldn't wait for my co-workers and students to meet Roni. 

Roni presented to our entire 4th grade, over 200 students, over two presentations. She reviewed her  writing process and reiterated how long it takes to write a book... not just 30 minutes and done, like some of our students like to claim!! She explained the importance of imagination and how it helps her develop story lines. The students, and teachers alike, walked away inspired and eager to get writing. Roni met with teachers for lunch and we asked questions about what inspires her to write and what it's like from her side. She asked us about what it's like to teach writing, the new implementations of common core, and was even surprised to know that NYS used her books as one of their 4th grade mentor texts. Roni so kindly signed books for teachers and the school, with personal messages. She then signed over 200 books that the we sent home as holiday gifts. The students were thrilled to have signed copies of a book they loved from an author who inspired their new found love of writing. It was a wonderful day for all involved!!

Celebrations Galore!

 Gianna's birthday celebration!

We went to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for Gianna's Birthday!
 First trip to NYC, first train ride, and a fun day had by all!!

Move over Carvel... this mommy made a
homemade Super Girl ice cream cake!
Mint Chocolate Chip & Chocolate Fudge Brownie!! 

Dream Big, big girl!!

 

 Thanksgiving

Their annual Turkey Fry picture!

Our first Thanksgiving without Grandma.
This candle is her candle, she was with us in spirit

Our cute little pumpkin and pilgrim girl!

My antipasto platter... remember, our family did own a
deli for years! Gobble Gobble!

At the Frosty Parade

Frosty Parade in Armonk

One of our favorite traditions is celebrating the Frosty Parade with our family. The town has a variety of winter themed activities, hot cocoa and fun! It ends with a parade, featuring Frosty!!

Frosty!!!

Tommy's 4th Birthday

Tommy and his homemade dinosaur cake!

May all of your wishes come true!

Cupcakes for school celebration!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow... Gianna & Tommy's birthday party 2017

Wizard of Oz Birthday

We're off to see the Wizard... the wonderful Wizard called Mom!! This crafty mama had so much fun creating a Wizard of Oz inspired birthday party. This party was filled with Oz themed food & drinks, treats galore, and even a photo booth complete with props! Children and adults alike had a blast following the yellow brick road! 

My cuties enjoying their birthday celebration!

The kiddos (and some momma's) somewhere over the rainbow!

The adorable cake!

My "famous" pretzels...

Look at the adorable ornaments I made for the favor baskets! I created the ruby red ornament by using floor wax & glitter. I used my Cricut to cut out the character silhouette and added some Dorothy inspired blue gingham ribbon! 

Some cuties with their favorite props!

Favor Baskets filled with the ornament, tin man hat kisses, witches slime, yellow brick road rice krispie treats, and lollipop guild lollipops!

Nail polish covered pumpkins...

Halloween 2017

Happy Halloween from Sleepy Hollow

The 4th grade team as idioms & word play...

Our Celebration Stations...

1) Smart board Spooky Math that concentrated on place values

2) Pumpkin Decorating

3) Slime making... this was their favorite activity! The children took turns adding each ingredient, stirring, the mixing and kneading the slime until it formed. Each child brought home a bag of slime!

 

 

SLIME!!!!

I'm happy to say that I finally joined the SLIME CRAZE of 2017!!  My kids have been asking for a few weeks if we could make slime. Since today was a rainy afternoon I figured it was a perfect time!
Thank you, Elmers, for playing the commercial basically on replay, Tommy could repeat the entire supply list!!!

So off to Target, my second home, we went and bought some glue!! Tommy made sure I had "soda, baking soda!!" and "contacts, solution" hehe! He must have asked every 10 minutes when we were going to make slime.... "AFTER BATH" I told him for what seemed like the one millionth time!!

Bath time came and went and my kids COULD NOT WAIT!! We had a blast making slime, it was extremely kid friendly, and they loved that they could be involved in the entire process. I helped mix the contact solution portion because that took a while! They watched as I kneaded the slime, it was fun to watch come together. If you know me, you know I went the extra step to add...... GLITTER, of course!!

Final Product- Green & Purple Glitter Slime

The recipe we used is as follows:  (This can easily be made into large batches)

3- 4oz Elmer's Glue
1 1/2 TBS Baking soda
Food Coloring
3 TBS contact solution





Directions:
Empty glue from containers into bowl then mix in baking soda. Once mixed, add whatever food coloring you would like until you get your desired color. Finally, add in contact solution and mix, mix mix. I kneaded a little in the bowl to soak up the last amount of contact solution. Remove from bowl and knead for a few minutes until slime forms to the right consistency.

** If adding glitter, you can add before contact solution or when kneading. BOTH WORKED WELL**

Some more pictures of our slime making adventure.... these kids loved every minute and have been playing with the slime for over an hour!! MOM WIN!

The Tooth Fairy made her debut..twice in one week!

I can't believe it, but my baby girl lost 2 teeth within a matter of days.  We started off May with two less teeth... wow! What an adventure it was from the moment we found out her teeth were loose. Gianna quickly announced "I'm not eating anything crunchy or hard!!" Well, my dear, let's see how long that lasts..... she quickly learned to chew on the sides of her mouth because her two front bottom teeth were on their way out!

Gianna avoided those crunchy foods, and Grandma D brought over some munchkins as a treat, and BAM! the first tooth came out... she was so nervous it would hurt and this was the best way for her to loose the first tooth. She was now a pro!! She couldn't wait for the tooth fairy to visit.. but if you know her, she did  NOT want her to come into her room. So, mommy decided we would have the tooth fairy enter the front door and left a note there. She left some sparkly money, gold coins, a couple of books and a tooth fairy pillow for future visits! She also left some glitter from her wings.. hehe!

 

This crafty mom couldn't let the tooth fairy come and go without creating some sparkly money!! I had seen on pintrest a few weeks ago an easy trick for Glitter Money... wow, super easy, and made my SPARKLE LOVING girl very happy!!

Want to make some of your own?? Simple.... Get fine glitter and some spray adhesive. Spray the money with the adhesive on a paper plate/craft cloth/paper towel and then sprinkle glitter all over. Do both sides!! Let dry overnight or at least a few hours!! ENJOY!!