Cruising with Mickey {A 40th Birthday Surprise}

You might have noticed that I haven't blogged in a while.  I also haven't blogged since my birthday, either. 

Let's just say it has been a whirlwind of a week or two.

I have to tell you, getting old has it's privileges.  I can always say it's my old age when I forget anything, right?
Yes, I'm going with it.

Yes, I turned the big 4-0 this week! 

That's me with all of my get-ups from my teaching buddy.  She actually shares the same birthday, but she's a year older-ha!

My pod buddies went all out for my birthday and I felt so special.  We had food galore in our pod workroom.  It was delicious! 
Here's a little bit of the surprise I stepped into on Thursday.
My door looked even scarier than it needed to because our skeletons from Halloween were still up :)

When I opened my door...oh my word!

Next to my door you will see the number of the day.  Several times....oh, and yes, that's my room number just in case you didn't recognize ;)

(I just love the "Over the Hill" poster, too...it's staying.  See, I can pull that one out whenever I forget things.  I'm telling ya', I'm going to work this!)

Behind my desk there was huge puddle of black balloons. 

They stayed there for two days, too.  It was rather fun to see how long they would last without being popped.  Not a single one popped! 

Finally, above my Smartboard, one more "Number of the Day" posters.  It's staying, too.

Oh, the love, the love.  It was a memorable birthday to say the least.  So many special treats were brought to me all day long.  And at lunch, my birthday bud had arranged for the whole 4th grade to sing "Happy Birthday" to me in the cafeteria.  Other grade levels joined in, too.  As a payback, I had them all sing to her, too.  It was great!

So, why is my post titled "Cruising with Mickey"?  I bet you can guess.  {I know many of you already know of my love of anything Disney.}

My sweet, sweet husband, my parents and friends all surprised me with a trip for my birthday!  I'm heading on a 4-day cruise next week!  Then, we are traveling to "The World" for a day. 

The best part....it's a Girls' Trip!  No kids!

What-the-what?  I know, I know....I couldn't believe it either.  I am so excited.  I can hardly stand it. 

Off to plan for my time away.   Any suggestions about what I should plan for my students to do while I'm away?  I'm up for anything that's easy to prepare in only a week :)

What's the best birthday gift you've ever received? (Obviously this is mine...)

When I get back, I promise to get down to the business of posting classroom ideas to this blog.  Please bare with me until then...