Live Out Loud

Where has the summer gone???

2010-07-21T05:51:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure where my summer has gone. I know I've spent too much time sitting at my laptop working on a research paper. I can't wait to be finished with this class! Next week I have in-service training for school. I have to start getting my room ready. It just doesn't seem like it should be time already. We already bought back-to-school supplies!

So, I made this album quite awhile back for Ryan. Sometimes, I can be hard to deal with (yes, I will admit it) and I wanted him to have a reminder that I DO love him very much!

Brotherly Love

2010-06-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

My first official layout for Elsa Belle! It took less than half an hour. For some reason she has loved Austin from the start. He can crack her up like no one else!

Summer is Here!!

2010-05-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the last day of school!! Today was the last day for the kiddos. It is a very crazy time for our district. We are now grouped by grade level. I teach reading in a 3rd/4th grade building. Next year we will have four elementary schools with grades K-5. That means basically everyone in our district is moving their classroom to a new building. Everything has to be loaded on pallets by tomorrow afternoon. Fortunately, I am staying in my building and moving right down the hall. I will return as a 1st grade teacher!! I am so excited! I have really missed being in the classroom and I feel like 1st grade is a good fit for me.

So, one more day and then I can relax... right after the wedding. And the week of professional development in Arkansas. And the four graduate hours I'm taking. Yes, relax.

Going to spend some time with these precious faces:

My beautiful daughters!

2010-05-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if anyone is still reading my blog. It has all but died. I miss posting, but I just feel like I have nothing to talk about. Here are my beautiful children! Oh, yeah...and here they are again! Fascinating to me, yet I realize others may not be as captivated as I am.

What else can I say? Ryan and I are getting married in June. Exciting as it is, I am not into weddings and such. I am exhausted with three children. Even as I type this the oldest is saying something about not have A SINGLE pair of shorts clean to wear tomorrow. I am only hearing half of it. Just taking 5 minutes to update this is making me feel like a bad mama. Thank goodness those other two little ones are in bed!

I have been making a few things for the wedding, so I will try to post those soon. Since I will always be a scrapbooker at heart there WILL be handmade flowers with button centers on the tables at the wedding reception. Even if we are having fried chicken and beer! The buttons will class up the entire event. I am sure of it.

Happy Thursday!

We Got Snow!

2010-02-03T18:18:00.001-08:00

I guess that's all I have to say about that. We didn't manage to get a day off school, but we did get to go sledding. And wear our cool sock monkey hats!

Go Pack Go!

2010-01-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, wait! After that loss last weekend, they are out of the playoffs! Bahahahahaha! Oh well, at least the pictures are cute.

I Finally Scrapbooked!

2010-01-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

So, after a year of not scrapbooking at all I finally did a project. I've been trying to get my daughter to scrapbook with me since she was 3. She has never had an interest. Now that I haven't been she has been asking me all the time if she can scrapbook with me. So, she has been my inspiration and motivation. My mom wanted me to change out the pictures on her frame. It's her birthday present! Hope she likes it. The pictures aren't that great because it is 2 degrees and my deck is snow covered. Had to take these in the house. Almost everything on it is Creative Cafe!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

So, I think this might be the last year Austin believes in Santa. He was hesitant when Santa showed up at Ryan's family Christmas dinner. When Santa knew his name and had a present for him I thought he might wet his pants. I thought we had won him over for sure. After we opened presents on Christmas morning he said, "Mom, I think you might have been the one who filled the stockings." Me: "Why do you say that?" Austin: "Because you really like the kind of cookies we left for Santa, so I thought you might have eaten them. If you are the one who ate the cookies you might have filled the stockings too." Hmmmm....way to put two and two together! It actually doesn't break my heart when they stop believing in Santa. I think it confuses them when we tell them Santa is watching them, the tooth fairy comes and steals their teeth in the middle of the night, a giant rabbit brings them eggs and chocolate, and THEN that Jesus lives in their heart.
My two beautiful daughters! Elsa is finally starting to grow a few eyelashes. People still think she is a boy when we take her out. Even with pink hats and binkies.

The baby who looks nothing like me.

This is her favorite look. She does actually smile, but it's hard to get on camera. When she sees the camera she just stares.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

2009-10-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

So, I cheated and took Christmas pics before Halloween...

My first baby looks so grown up next to the last baby.

My favorite picture of the two of them.

My beautiful girl!

My other beautiful girl!

What he was thinking about doing the entire time we were taking pics!
You would think all these pics would inspire me to scrapbook. I haven't done anything in over a year now. It makes me sad just to walk by my stuff. Hopefully soon..... Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday
season!

New Pics

2009-08-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of the little one. She has grown so much.

She Is Here!

2009-08-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

Okay...So she has been here almost two weeks. This is little Elsa Belle. She arrived July 22nd at 2:43 am. She weighed 7 lbs and 6 oz. I will skip the scary birth story. She is perfect and we think she is beautiful. We truly feel blessed to have her.

Grandma and Grandpa Rhodes brought daddy peaches from Belleville in an Eckert's peach basket. Elsa's nickname has been peach since the kids found out they were getting a sister. (Austin loves Baby Peach on Mario Kart). So...when the peach box showed up shortly after the baby came home the kids insisted we take her picture in it.

Some Scrappy Love

2009-05-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I'm actually getting in 2 posts this month. What a record for my lazy self. Anyway...I made these onesies for the little one. This material was a lot harder to sew on then I anticipated. They will probably fall apart when I wash them. They didn't quite turn out like I envisioned. Cute Boy thinks they are adorable. He made me feel much better. I used Creative Cafe felt, buttons, puffy flowers, and felt letters. Pretty much everything I guess.

We are finally out of school as of Friday. I am teaching summer school later in June, but for now we have been having a good time. More pictures at our favorite park!

We also enjoyed a beautiful day at the zoo. I felt like the fattest animal there. Geez...every time I see a picture I can't believe how big I've gotten!

Random Pics

2009-05-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the hideous Easter pic as promised:

Ashley got a new baby for her birthday. Just thought with all the other changes in our family right now, might as well throw in a new puppy.

My best bud came all the way from Illinois to celebrate Ashley's birthday. I somehow managed to forget for the first time ever it was National Scrapbook Day. We celebrated by going to Elsie's Red Velvet Art store.

Geez....I am round.

Annika was all about the underwear album.

Austin had to spend some time outside due to behavior issues, but I distracted him by taking his picture a billion times.

The weather has been beautiful in between days of rain. We have been playing outside all we can.

My beautiful girl who is growing up too fast!

Hopefully I will have a scrappy post soon. I am working on a project for my momma and she has really been whining. (By working on...I mean I started the album cover :)

Holy Cow

2009-04-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize how long it has been since I posted. There is not a lot going on here. Just mostly being fat and grouchy. Or both. Every time I think about blogging...I think geez ... what am I gonna say. Nobody wants to hear that I've had to buy undergarments in sizes I didn't even know existed or about that weird stripe that's making it's way up my huge, round, ever growing belly. Or any of the other weird/gross pregnancy symptoms I am having. I'm sure you would go to one of those pregnancy chat boards if you wanted to hear that kind of info.

We did find out what we are having. Ryan's family isn't supposed to know yet. They want to be surprised. So, I probably shouldn't be blabbing all over the Internet that we are having a GIRL!!! Even though they don't know I have a blog. It still probably isn't fair to say we are THRILLED that we (I) get to buy little dresses and hair bows once again. Ashley is already feeling sorry her little sister and the torture that awaits her with the frilliness. Anyway, I am 27 weeks (already met all expectations for weight gain) and am due at the end of July. Here is the little chicken chunk at 19 weeks. We already have a name, but I won't spill on that yet. We will just call her baby E.

And I haven't really scrapbooked at all and I think I would feel better if I did. Here is a project for Creative Cafe that I did back in January. Sad, but true.

And a project for Creative Cafe/Hampton Art Stamps:

That's all I am up for tonight. I will try to post more later this week. I have some Easter pics of me looking pretty hot in a maternity dress. Stay tuned for those gems :)

Finally....

2009-01-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

I am back. Wow. I have never neglected my blog for this long. I feel like I am behind on everything. So, I will share a couple of things that are going on.

There was this:

and then this. Which has made me sick and really tired.

and a couple of Creative Cafe projects. The owl is a new AccuCut die!

Hopefully there were enough orders at CHA to save these cute little felt butterflies.

and of course, my favorite two little people in the whole world.

Some Things...

2008-10-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

that have been going on around here....

I finally took pictures of a couple of Creative Cafe/ Hampton Art layouts I did two weeks ago.
My favorite Belleville girl came to visit. Enjoyed ourselves a little thrift store togetherness.
Captain Amazing turned 5!!!!
This one managed to get more beautiful.
We had a Halloween themed birthday party. Fun for all!
Got to visit with cousins and hang out at the park.
This one let me know how he feels about all the picture taking.
And last, but certainly not least, we spent some time holding up trees.....

These are just the photos. The little guy has been sick and can't seem to shake it. I thought he was better, but I stood corrected after his lunch reappeared in my car. Yuck. I swear he licks the toilets at preschool. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Scrapbook Love

2008-10-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

I get so busy with life I forget how much I love scrappy stuff and actually scrapbooking. Sometimes I just have to kick out projects because I have to and that is just not the same as really rolling around and enjoying the stuff. I got a box stuff full of new Art Warehouse goodness tonight. I almost peed myself. I have so many ideas...and well, if you are a scrapbooker you can understand all that. Never enough time. My migraines are back and I have gone back on Topamax for awhile. Hoping I don't have to do this too long. Trying some things with my diet for once. I hate to admit it might be all the crap I put in my body making my head hurt. Anyway...I have a ton of stuff I would love to post about, but that would require taking pictures and putting final touches on layouts. Also, downloading and editing pics. Just going to settle for these little projects tonight and hopefully I can catch up tomorrow!

Another topiary like the 4th of July one I made with Creative Cafe goodies.

A Little Creative Cafe goodie bag with Hampton Art stamps.
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Last, but not least a little layout love with New Class Act and Candles and Cake Collection. The scalloped paper is Class Act...the rest is the birthday line...such fun colors and the layout has nothing to do with school or birthday, so there you have it! Have a Super Tuesday!

Fortune Tellers

2008-09-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Remember these little guys? Very popular when I was in elementary. Apparently these things don't die. I'm sure my daughter has the coolest Fortune Teller at school. All Creative Cafe goodies!

The biggest news of the week. Notice Captain Amazing here. He picked the t-shirt out himself. When I read it to him he replied, "That's SO ME!" The real news is the footwear. He is NOT wearing boots for once. He finally agreed to get some shoes if we could find some Slimers. He thinks he is REALLY fast in these. His sister thinks they just up his Dork factor. I think it's adorable.

Lotsa Things

2008-09-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

So hard to keep up with everything during the week, I thought I would just do one ginormous post.

First up, we have grandpa and Austin fishing. Little hillbilly in training. Grandpa also got a new horse and she has a cute little colt. All the kids could say for the first 5 minutes was "Baby Horse! Baby Horse!" I'm sure it was exactly the reaction grandpa was going for.

We went to the park in Bolivar today. I think it is the best park evah! They have all this old metal equipment instead of the brightly colored plastic stuff you see everywhere. They even have teeter totters! We ate some Burger King and then tried to make each other sick on the Merry Go Round. Good times! Ashley was so sweet pushing all the younger kids on the witch's hat. I tried to tell her to go faster, but she said it was fast enough and the little ones could get hurt. Ahhhhh. So, I started chanting, "Faster, Faster, We need a new MASTER!" Then a little 4 year old girl caught on and made her own version, "Faster Faster We need a new PASTOR!" Ashley was very disappointed in me for starting the whole chanting bit.

Grandparent's Day was Friday at school. Look how happy Little Bit looks with her grandparents. She had just come in from recess. Her head is usually not tomato red.

Last, but not least a little layout love. Had this thing done forevah and even had it in a scrapbook frame for her bedroom. I haven't managed to hang the frame, so I took it out to photograph it. She hasn't said much, but I have a feeling she is not too keen on having a layout hanging in her room.

Some Photo Love

2008-09-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Not much to post about. I know my girlfriend has been wanting to see the photo wall I finally put up after I painted. It was kind of hard to get a picture of since the hallway up the stairs is so narrow, but here it is. Also, a couple of pics of the 9 year old I adore. Also, the 9 year old who is embarrassed to speak to her mother at school. These were from her birthday pics back in May, but I just never got them posted. I have also scrapped them and never posted the layout either. Hmmmm...a little bit of a slacker. Seems to be my theme right now. Hope you are having a wonderful week!

A Post

2008-08-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Finally having a little time to blog. I didn't realize what a baby I was until school started again. I need to woman up a little. I just feel exhausted in the evenings and there is never enough time to get everything done. I also had five small children at my house all night and that was quite the way to end my week. Their parents assured me they would also be pooped and want to go to bed early. At midnight there was total mutiny and I had to lay down the momma smack down. Too bad they were back at it at 6 am. Oh well, it is a three day weekend. I'm sure I'll get to sleep at some point. So, here are some pics and a couple of layouts. They are in pretty random order. One is my best girl I got to see last weekend and of course the mecca we have to visit each and every time I come to town. The layouts are Creative Cafe. A couple random pictures of Austin being a boy and the only decent first day of school shot I got of Ash. She refused to let me take her picture and I had to threaten to walk her all the way to class and kiss her in front of her classmates before I could even get this much. Happy Happy Saturday!

A Little Creative Cafe Love

2008-08-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

for this beautiful Sunday morning. I used chipboard cut from the new scalloped circle ribbon die, a die cut word and butterfly. The circles are new punch outs, and of course some delicious felt ribbon and twill. I put the white behind it so you could see the transparency better. A little hard to photograph, but I always say that. Anyway...I'm off to church...hope you have a Wonderful Sunday!

Pink Paislee

2008-08-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

Finally getting my Pink Paislee pics up. Love those silver rub ons! Kind of hard to photograph, but they look really pretty with the silver in the paper.

Sweet Things

2008-08-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

My house is still quite this morning. Two little boys are still sleeping and I have threatened two little girls to stay quite (and they have also been fed chocolate donuts, so that should hold them for awhile). This is a little album I made just for me. Sometimes I get in such a slump and I have definitely been in one lately in more ways than one. I get caught up in trying to make deadlines for things and I end up laying on the floor in my scrapbook room wondering why I have all this junk. I decided making something just for me would help me kick it. I couldn't think of anyone who made large apple chipboard, so I cut the stupid thing by hand. Then I go to the AccuCut website and see they do make a jumbo apple die...oh, well. I don't know anyone around here who has it anyway, but I would love to have one for my very own self. My bulletin board at school could definitely use some jumbo apples, but I'm sure not hand cutting any more. So...I am rambling now. Anyway...I also heart green paper, so I used a bunch of my favorites and also some random scraps of fabric. My grandma gave me that red polka dot stuff over a year ago and I have been hanging onto it. LUVVVVVV it, but it was just a few strips. So, I used some of my random favorite stuff and some pics I adore and I feel like I'm outta my funk. Just in time to go back to school on Monday :) Happy Happy Friday!

Pink Paislee!

2008-08-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

Finally, here is one of my projects. The two layouts didn't photograph well, so I'll have to take pics tomorrow again. Have 4 little children in the house tonight, so I'm not getting a lot done.

A Little Post

2008-08-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

What is new here? Austin just learned he could pick up the other line while his sister is on the phone. I know it has happened when I hear delightful 4 year old giggles and maddening 9 year old screams ...well, I actually hear that combination a lot. Then I hear 4 year old little running feet and screams and still more 9 year old screams. I try to catch the entire thing before she injures him, but she is really pretty quick when on a mission. When the whole episode is over and she's off the phone he insists he gets to call a friend. Luckily he only has one and they are both short on attention so the conversation doesn't last long.

I got the Pink Slip from Pink Paislee this month. I am super excited and have some layouts finished except for the journaling. It's hard to get computer time to journal when the kids are fighting over who gets to play Webkinz. Hopefully today or tomorrow I can get my projects up. I am posting a little Hampton Art Stamp Art Bar project. Hope you are having a Fabulous Thursday!

More Photos

2008-08-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

of the park today and one of Dr. Austin and I at another park last week. Happy Monday!

My Scrappy Space

2008-08-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last month I finally got around to painting my scrap space. The white walls were driving me crazy. I can't say it has helped with the creativity, but I love it none- theless. My space is a bonus room and it is VERY hot all the time...good in the winter, but I keep the downstairs fairly warm anyway and it will be 90 degrees upstairs sometimes. I'm going to blame the lack of scrapping on that. Anyway...it looks a little cluttered in these photos, but it is actually pretty clean for me. I love all the bright colors and baskets of junk everywhere. Not the best pics because there's not such good lighting either and I didn't want to use the flash, but I promised Lyd I'd post these eventually. I love it. I feel blessed to have a space of my own.

St. Louis

2008-08-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun in St. Louis. Lyd and Annika came in to hang out with us. We got to go to the Arch at night. The kids had never been at all before, so they were super excited. It was so pretty at night. The next day we went to the City Museum. That is the most AMAZING place. So much dang stuff to crawl through though. We were pooped after that and had to immediately visit The Spaghetti Factory ...yum. I'm leaving out the picture of me wearing the balloon crown at dinner. Let's just say when you end the evening with balloons on your head, you know it was a good day!

Creative Cafe and Hampton Art

2008-07-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

Bucket and stamps are from Hampton Art...I love these little guys. They work great to put gifts and candy in. Also, they come with some delicious chipboard like the flower on the top. Papers, felt flowers, buttons, and tag are all Creative Cafe.

Super Fab Picture Post

2008-07-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

We are having a great summer! Lots of water balloons and hanging out with friends. Look at that sneaky little guy with the water balloon. Wonder who he is hiding from? Grandma even got in on the action. Check out the look on her face...that woman means business! We also went to some friends' house to swim and ended up with another water balloon fight. I think Austin enjoys being the only boy in this group. I can't believe how big my Sweet Pea McGee has gotten this summer. She looks so grown up. Breaks a momma's heart. The last pic is grandpa and Austin on a trip to the zoo. That is rotten x 2!

We are off on a mini vacation to St. Louis tomorrow ....just as soon as we get that horrible, stink pink cast off the little one's arm. Happy Tuesday!!

New Creative Cafe and AccuCut Dies

2008-07-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

New Creative Cafe paper and AccuCut Die! Yummy stuff. You can check out the other projects on the Creative Cafe blog.Happy Saturday!!

Fabulous Friendship

2008-07-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

We all know I'm a Fab Friend....okay, well that may not be what my girlfriend is thinking. She loathes this picture of us in Jr. High and somehow I scrapped it and got the baby published in the new Fabulous Friendships book. She knows I love her! Thought I would post some cute photos of us as well to balance things out. A fun shoot in a photo booth on our trip this summer to Vegas. Love those photo booths!

New Art Warehouse

2008-07-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

So, CHA is right around the corner. Danelle has come out with a new Class Act line for Art Warehouse. She has sneaks of the line on her blog. Along with all the other new amazing lines. However....the best part for you is that she is giving away good stuff today, Saturday and Sunday. So hop on over there and try to snag some for Your Very Own Self!

Summer Flowers

2008-07-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

I love summer flowers....the ones that grow wild in huge fields. Just makes my heart happy. So, I altered some small vases to put these little beauties in. Everything is Creative Cafe, except for the polka dot ribbon. I tried to take a close up pic, so you could see the stamps on the side. Happy Wednesday!

Early Morning Packages and Such

2008-06-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

So....I awoke to a package on my doorstep from UPS. You know you are sleeping to late when UPS has already been at your house before you roll outta the sack. Anyhoo...if you are a scrapbooker you know THE BIG SHOW is coming up. Which means the companies are going crazy trying to get ready and so the early morning package...from AccuCut!No, I can't share yet, but these are just darling! Also, in the box were 6 bottles of Creative Cafe glitter glue. So, being all hopped up on the smell of scrapbook paper in the morning, I took their picture by my sock monkey (who scares my 4 year old, so he scraps with me). The other picture shows you how enthused my dog was over the entire situation.

Taking the kids to see Wall E
today. Can't wait! Happy Friday everyone!

Today

2008-06-23T10:44:00.001-07:00

Today I am all alone. Buried in Creative Cafe projects...I guess that is something good to be buried in. Pledged to stay in my jammies and work on this stuff until I go to dinner tonight with a friend. I figure if I'm going to promise myself something it should at least be achievable.

Thought I would post some pictures from my favorite place in the house...a place for naps :)Kind of looks like Rainbow Brite threw up, but I love it. Also, I heart the green dresser. One of my coolest, sweetest friends donated it to me when I moved out. It was brown with some older hardware, but in great shape. I painted it green a couple of months ago....Allbymself I might add. Hope you are having a wonderful sunshine filled Monday!!!

Weeds

2008-06-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

I know my ex-husband has a list of things he never thought I could manage without him. A few of these things would be emptying the lint trap on the dryer, getting the trash to the curb before pick-up and returning movies ON TIME. However, my lint trap is currently clean as can be and even though the trash fairies have yet to make their appearance, somehow I have managed to drag that big blue bin out to the curb once a week for months Allbymyself. The latter I am still working on, although it seems to be a better plan (if I actually have any adult time) to invite a friend over and ask them to rent a movie on the way. This way I am not responsible for The Return. Who needs to rent movies for children time because they would rather draw with sidewalk chalk in the driveway or find another way to harass tired mom.

I'm sure his list is much longer than this, but these are prolly at the top. The one thing neither of us thought about was Gardening. I'm not talking about yard work, which was prolly on The List. I have somehow been able to work the mower and the weed eater and my house has not been overtaken as of yet. I'm talking about all the purty things I used to have in my yard as a married gal. You know...rose bushes and that sort of thing. Turns out I can't grow anything green that also Flowers. I realized I do need these things though. So....I started a small flower bed and planted lots of miscellaneous things....things I dug up from my dad's, things people who did not know I could not grow things gave me, and also some seeds I sprouted Allbymself. As in flower bed I mean...this row of grass I dug up along the back of my house. Too lazy to even put those wonderful stones along it to make it official or anything. It is a start.

So I had few things growing and a few things dying, but overall just proud of myself that I am trying. All of a sudden I think I have hit the mother load because I have green things growing knee high. After all the randomness of planting I'm not exactly sure what they were, but just praying for some flowers any day.

I have to say deep down in my sad little heart I knew these were not actually flowers, but Yippee-Yee-Haw I am growing something. Then my disappointed gardening mother shows up and informs me I have a monsterous crop of weeds going on. She put on some gloves and pulled those babies up. Just chucked their weed corpses onto my freshly mowed lawn. Also babbled on about did I not know the difference in a weed and a flower....yada yada...well, apparently not. So, I was a little sad as I looked at my very naked flower bed with only a few sweet little Actual Flowers left. Very nice and all, but left such an empty space. The ones left are recovering well after their near death battle with the weed canopy.

I just started thinking after seeing all that empty space that maybe I have been growing some weeds in my very own personal life. And all the time I am telling myself...At Least I Am Growing Something. Actual Flowers take time and care to grow, but weeds are quick. Weeds can make you happy if you tell yourself things like....I know any day these babies are going to BLOOM! Then, eventually, you have to admit they are weeds and do the painful thing of pulling them. Then you have to deal with the empty spot they have left and be thankful for the flowers still growing and start nurturing those. So, now I am growing Flowers...in my backyard and in my life. Going to keep those weeds pulled. :) So Happy Happy Saturday! Enjoy your weekend!

Oh Brother!

2008-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

First, there was this....sweet little four year old boy with a broken wrist. Apparently, he thought riding the tire swing with one arm was a good idea. He is taking it like a champ. Big sister is a little miffed since she broke her finger during her sleepover birthday party and little brother has gotten lots more attention over this shenanigan. Of course it had to be his right arm, so he thinks he can barely feed himself or do a whole slew of other things. It has apparently affected his feet, since he needs carried a whole lot more now.

It doesn't seem to matter how long I am on this design team...every time I get a box of goodies in the mail it is like Christmas. This time I got some of the new Creative Lifestyles stuff from Creative Cafe. Getting a new box is also so inspiring. These bracelets are sooooo much fun and super easy to make. My daughter could have done this one easily. These would make great gifts. I found them available at A Million Little Things. Also, one of my favorite on-line stores. They always have a great selection.

Here is another project I made for fun. I'm not usually big into 4th of July decorations, but my house has just seemed so boring lately. Also, super easy project to make. I just painted the Styrofoam ball and started adding Creative Cafe buttons, chipboard, and brads. I also used stick pins to hold some of it on. I painted a regular $0.67 pot from Wal-Mart to put the little guy in. That is all for now. Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!!

The Start to Our Summer!

2008-06-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

Not a great picture, but my little girl is going off the diving board for the first time....the high dive no less.

We went to the zoo with friends this week. It was a beautiful day!

A Creative Cafe Hampton Art Layout!

Another Hampton Layout.

A quick Creative Cafe layout!

These captions will not line up, but I'm sure you can figure it out!! Happy Monday!

Creative Cafe Chipboard

2008-06-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Creative Cafe has a new blog! You can check out great inspiration from all the girls here.

Holy Cow!

2008-05-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. Having a crazy week, but tomorrow is my last day of school this year!!! Missing my babies tonight. Just a quick post of our new play set and our new bunny. Also, half of sweet Austin's freckled face.

My Two Favorite Girls

2008-04-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Trying to get these two to hold still is like trying to herd baby kittens, but here they are...in all their beauty!

I Think...

2008-04-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

the world is a better place with these two little girls in it. They just make me so totally happy to see them like this. Had a great time on our girls' weekend in Illinois.

Creative Cafe Layouts

2008-04-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

is about all I have to show these days. My blog and my life are pretty boring right now. I had a cold for a week and my 32nd birthday since my last post. I also have a ginormous (yes, I am positive that is a real word) swing set going up in my backyard. Can't wait til that baby is up! I would promise you something exciting soon, but probably wouldn't be able to deliver.

Magic

2008-04-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

I think my daughter is one of the wittiest, most insightful 8 year olds I have ever met. I am not biased of course. She said she loved this picture because it looked just like Magic. I agree. She woke up very sick this morning and wanted me close all day. She is with her daddy tonight. Hope this will send a little mommy magic her way.

Creative Cafe Cupcake Apron

2008-03-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

We have a cool new place to play

2008-03-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Right down the road! The kids have been so excited about getting to play here. Unfortunately, these were the best pics I got. I'm sure there will be more to come. So happy to have my babies home!

More pics

2008-03-21T17:20:00.001-07:00

From last weekend. I really do have a scrappy post, but it needs to be ironed and I'm pretty sure a little gnome has run away with my iron. Flying solo this weekend, so hopefully I can get it fixed and a photo taken. I am officially on spring break! A weekend to myself and a week at home with my kiddos and no school. Can't get much better than that!

A Yellow Wall...

2008-03-20T17:53:00.001-07:00

A cute little girl and my rockin' polka dot coat.....ahhhhhh, the goodness!

Guess Who Was Here???

2008-03-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

My BFF! I love calling her that. Makes me feel like we are in junior high again. So...we had sushi twice and even some fried tacos at Maria's. Also, a visit to the STD flea market and some time at the mall with 7 and 8 year old children. I did manage to take quite a few pics and as usual a couple of good ones, but no spectacular take my breath away photos. Hate that. Those children are just not agreeable to photos when they get together. I'm exhausted, my house is still trashed and despite getting about 5 hours sleep all weekend (okay, well that's what it felt like) my kiddos seem to have more energy than they did before the weekend. I am going to try to post some of the weekend photos during the week after I catch my breath and maybe even a scrappy post! Hope your week is wonderful!!

Pinwheels

2008-03-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

Feeling kind of bad about not posting this entire weekend. Could have taken some pics of finished layouts, but feelin' kind of lazy. I was waiting to post these until I got a better picture...but again the laziness...so I'm posting them anyway. Kind of hard to see them against the cheesy siding of my house. All Creative Cafe stuff. Sewed some felt and buttons around the basket....yummmmmmm...felt and buttons. I managed to do nothing productive all weekend. Now it is late and I'm thinking I should at least run to the grocery store and get those darn cheese sticks I promised the kiddos. Almost out of diet coke and twinkies anyway. What will I have for lunch??? Hope you had an awesome weekend!!

A Little Out of Season

2008-03-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

considering there is 7-9 inches of snow in my back yard today. Staying home and kicking it with all the half finished projects and one scruffy little dog who whines every time I suggest he goes outside to do his business.

So Nice Yesterday

2008-03-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

I tried to get some good pics while we were playing at the park. It was 70 outside, but it is currently 26 and supposed to snow all night. Anywhere from 1"-12". They have really nailed this forcast.

Not too thrilled with the pics. I am blaming it on my camera, but I think probably operator error. Love the one of Austin leaning over...nothing says I'm a 4 year old like a Wal-Mart sticker on your hand and a finger in your nose....Happy Monday!

Scrappy Post as Promised

2008-03-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

I know not everyone is not into owls as much as me, but I do love them. I altered this frame I got for a dollar at Goodwill with a little felt owl love. Haven't decided where to hang it yet.

The other is a pair of flip flops I used Creative Cafe/Hampton stamps on and Creative Cafe flowers and buttons. TFL! Hope everyone had an awesome weekend!

What's a Single Girl To Do

2008-03-01T20:27:00.001-08:00

on a Saturday night?? Take pictures in the bathroom! Yeah, baby! I got this new print from an etsy shop called The Dreamy Giraffe. Such a cute shop. I'd like to have a dozen of them, but the budget only allowed one. I also got this little metal Hers hanger from Hobby Lobby. NO his...just Hers...hee hee. Tired of all my necklaces ending up in one big knot. Working on some Creative Cafe projects tonight. Hopefully I'll have a scrappy post tomorrow!

More New Creative Cafe...

2008-02-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Love the new butterfly dies! So fun!

My Roots

2008-02-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

A little layout love for this sunny Monday morning. My "roots" have me at home today. They both have high fevers and one is throwing up. Good times I tell ya!

Creative Cafe and Hampton Arts

2008-02-12T08:13:00.001-08:00

Some layouts I did with the new Creative Cafe additions and new Creative Cafe/Hampton Arts stamps!

Movies and Scarves

2008-02-11T04:59:00.000-08:00

So, my I went to see Juno on Friday night with a couple of my girlfriends. We loved it. Here is a clip:

Also got nothing done this weekend. Thought I was going to wake up with creativity busting through my orifices, but to no avail. I would've had a better chance of getting struck by lightning square in the bum on a clear day. I have also come down with a cold, so I'm blaming that.

This is me yesterday. My day of Sitting Around With No Creativity. Really the picture is to show you my new scarf. My friend Loretta made it for me. I don't think she realized what she was doing handing this beautiful, warm, neck warmer over to me. Loretta is my teaching partner, which just means we share a room the size of a cubicle together with our two assistants. When they interviewed me for this job, they asked if I would be willing to work collaboratively with another teacher and share a room. I said I would LUUUUUUUUUV that. And I was being honest. The students are best served when teachers get along and colaborate. What I didn't say was...Yes, but Puuuuuleeeeze don't put me in a room with someone who is crazy, obsessively talks about their period and who also drives me BAT TURDS. Let's just say I prayed A LOT about this. So, that is where I got Loretta. She is a true blessing. Not everyone looks forward to seeing their coworkers like I do. She is smiling every morning I walk in the door. Except maybe on Fridays...she has a Friday Affliction where she sometimes can't make it in, but all the other days are good. Anyhoooooo....wouldn't you know it she has a hobby too and like scrapbooking it can be quite the obsessive crazy sport. Also, like me she is leery of bestowing the fruits of her labor upon others as gifts. However, a couple of weeks ago, she shuffled over to my desk, dropped this beautiful scarf and mumbled something about a late Christmas gift. (She bought me a beautiful bracelet from Cold Water Creek for Christmas, so I did not see this coming.) I immediately put the scarf on and proceeded to wear it...ALL DAY. I think she thought I was putting on a show of politeness, but when I wore it the next day I think she started to get a little frightened. So, here I am wearing this baby around school all day long because it is now my favorite WHATEVER...that I wear with my other favorite WHATEVERS...that match not WHATSOEVER. I am a cold girl. I needed this. Loretta said if she thought she had enough years left she would knit me a body stocking. She may need to make another scarf though. This one may wear out because I will surely still be wearing it in June.

Note: I am only posting the photo to show the scarf. I'm realizing there is REASON I do not take lots of pics of myself. My nose is not seriously that big in real life and who put all that make up on me?? No idea. I will draw your attention to the Rockin' Owl T-shirt. Matches the scarf, eh?

What's Going On

2008-02-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

Found some reading goodness today. Can't wait to get my hands on this book.

My teaching partner is really into books like I am. I think she may actually be a little crazier. She found this book today and we looked it up. The author also has a blog: Crazy Aunt Purl: About Me
We were howling with laughter after reading some of her posts. She's a knitter like my friend, which makes it all the more funny. She says what is hotter than a divorced woman with 4 cats. I could probably contest that...maybe a divorced woman with a scruffy little dog from the pound and two adorable, yet wild children. So, my daughter sees the title of the book and says, "Oh, well, you are a little crazy mom, but not drunk or covered in cat hair." Love that little girl.

Also been reading the Spiderwick Chronicles. Got book five in my hot little hands today! My daughter is on book 3. We can't wait until the movie comes out.

The kiddos are off to their dad's tomorrow. Looking forward to some quiet time reading and catching a movie with some friends! Hope everyone has a fabulous Friday!!

New Art Warehouse Patriot

2008-02-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Really love the new die cut paper!

New Art Warehouse Birthday!!

2008-02-06T17:13:00.001-08:00

New Art Warehouse birthday release for Creative Imaginations! You can check out the full line on Danelle's blog

KI Memories Color Theory Album

2008-02-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

Been hoarding this thing for a year and a half. Only one small page made it into the Idea Planner, so here are the others!

Yes...Another Mini Album

2008-02-02T06:38:00.001-08:00

Using up misc. pages from all the chipboard albums I've collected. Lots of Love Elsie, Scenic Route on this one!

New Creative Cafe!!

2008-01-31T20:13:00.001-08:00

There have been a few new things added to Creative Cafe! I think the Accucut dies are my favorite! The scalloped edge paper is from one of the new dies. Also, the butterflies and the arrows or house die. I loved them all so much I bound them into one album. Danelle has some sneaks on her blog! Stop by and check them out!!

It Snowed!!

2008-01-31T19:35:00.000-08:00

Finally, some actual white stuff. I don't think we got quite as much as they were calling for, but enough to make the kids happy. No school tomorrow! I'm kind of bummed. We have now lost Good Friday off and if we miss another day they add it on to the end of the year. Snow days are fun, but let's hope this is the last!

Finally...

2008-01-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

a post. This is kind of an old layout. I did it at the end of last summer. I love it because I used up an entire package of MM metal alphabet charms. Not that I think that using a ton of supplies is what makes a layout, but that I'm using up WHAT I HAVE! That's the important thing of it. So, had a great day catching up on some projects. Have lots of stuff I will be able to post soon. Looking forward to a great week at work!

Random Bits

2008-01-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

about my friend and I. Really loved this layout while I was working on it. When I took the picture the color really washed out and then I started thinking...dang this thing looks wonky as can be. Oh well, I still love the sentiment behind it.

You can catch a glimpse of this again in Scrapbook Trends June issue!

Creative Cafe

2008-01-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

Love the Creative Cafe chipboard....yummy stuff. So Danelle is giving away stuff on her new blog all month long at random... Check it out!!

You can see this again in Scrapbook Trends July issue!

A Little Sunshine

2008-01-14T04:55:00.001-08:00

for this cold Monday morning

Happy Birthday and other stuff....

2008-01-13T17:38:00.000-08:00

I had an interesting week. Last weekend it was in the high 60s and low 70s here, which is really odd for January. On Monday night we had an outbreak of tornadoes. The district I teach in lost the roof off the 5th and 6th grade building. We didn't have school Tuesday or Wednesday. I had to go in Tuesday and check for damage in my room even though our building wasn't hit. The end of the building I'm in flooded, but my room only had one wet wall. I guess that is one benefit of having the small room with no window. The big classrooms with windows had water standing in them. I'm really thankful we weren't in school when it hit. Some of the kiddos I work with had damage at their houses. Thursday one of my kids lost his house in a fire. Makes me think twice about complaining about my life.

Today is my mom's birthday!! I won't tell you how old she is except she is old enough to have a 31 year old...oh, and she had me when she was 23. :) I worked all day on finishing up projects and I even managed to take pictures of a few. I'm such a slacker when it comes to that.

A Little Love Elsie For My House

2007-12-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

Hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas! I opened presents with the kiddos this morning and then they were off to their dad's for the day. Can't wait until they come home tomorrow and we can play with all of this new stuff! The first picture is right before they tore into all their gifts. The second is Austin with one of his many new guns he's gotten so far. He even got a cap gun from grandpa. Let me tell you...that makes a SWEET noise in the house. I couldn't say much though, I got him a drum. Speaking of gifts....that cute little tote was my gift from my BFF (aka BEST GIFT GIVER EVER!!). I love it, love it! It has pockets on the inside and everything. It also came with a matching coin purse. She got it from this Etsy shop: Blue Planet Creations. The other picture is of jars I made for gifts this year. The first batch turned out lots cuter, but I didn't manage to get pics. That's all for now! Have a wonderful day!

Some projects

2007-12-22T05:31:00.000-08:00

I did the layouts at the end of the summer ... really slow getting them uploaded!

What's Going On....

2007-12-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

So, I've had a few emails and calls from friends about my blogging...or lack thereof. They want to know what's going on. Lots and nothing all at the same time. So, here goes the most random post ever. ...I have lost 12 lbs since school started. ...I switched from regular soda to diet, which I said I'd never do, but now I could never go back. ... I got a whole lot of my hair cut off the back and only one person noticed. ... I took my kiddos to the Christmas parade last Saturday. First time ever we didn't stay til the end to see Santa. It was freezing! ..... The kids and I saw Mr. Magorium's Wonderful Emporium and Alvin and the Chipmunks. Both were really cute, but I am dying to see Enchanted...... Yesterday, was a sad day for me. I have been going through a divorce since August and yesterday was my wedding anniversary. He actually remembered this year. He had the kids, which made it even harder. My daughter called last night saying her tummy hurt. She was crying and wanted me to bring her some Sprite. The roads were really bad and her daddy said he would take care of it. I called later and she had thrown up and then gone to sleep. Not being able to take care of your babies when they are sick is at the top of the crappy list when it comes being a mom. I moved out in October, so I'm still getting used to shuffling the little ones back and forth. They seem to be adjusting well. I'd love to show you pictures of my new scrap space, but everything is a wreck. .... I had my first formal evaluation at work and it went extremely well. I'm blessed to be at such a wonderful school and work with such amazing people.....I tried to finish my Christmas shopping yesterday and some girl hit me in the ankle with her cart while standing in line. I hate going out this time of year .... The Christmas tree is a Creative Cafe project. I am sadly behind on my projects. As usual. If you don't have an Art Bar near you there are some on-line places you can snag some of the goodness. I know Scrap Lovers has a few things in their store. Danelle added some new girls to the team! I want to say Congrats to all of them! Lots of amazing talent.....Also, my friend Rebecca has sold CMK . She is starting a new manufacturing company with Holly McCaig. The company is called Pink PaisleeI'm so happy for her! I wish them all the best! .... I guess that wraps it up for now!

Creative Cafe Holiday Frame

2007-11-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

Inside wtih a flash...not my idea of the best way to take pictures of this stuff, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's got to do. I can't seem to make it home during daylight hours.

Creative Cafe Photo Album Crate

2007-11-20T15:40:00.000-08:00

Lucky

2007-11-17T17:51:00.000-08:00

We got a dog. Actually, we got him quite awhile back, but I just didn't post about it. Part of me thought I might actually return him and he ran away once, so who knew if it was going to work. I didn't set out to get a dog really, but when the local dog catcher came to school to collect on a little dog someone found wandering around she mentioned they had this cute little Yorkie who needed a home. We checked him out on loan for the weekend and now he's all ours. I'm not sure he's actually a Yorkie. He's a big whopping 12 lbs. Of course we named him Lucky. That's what everyone names a dog they get from the pound right? His full name is Lucky Jack. The kids don't like that, so Austin calls him Yucky and Ash calls him something different every time she calls him. I won't tell you what I called him when I came home and found he'd chewed a hole in the screen door to the garage. Or the words that spouted from mouth when I found he had pooped a pile bigger than himself right beside my scrapbook table and then hiked his sweet leg on a crate of scrapbook supplies. He does have the right name. He is Lucky to be alive.

Friends

2007-11-05T15:01:00.001-08:00

My friend came from Illinois this weekend to keep me company. Going throug some rough stuff lately, so it was really nice to hang out with her. Sunday we had lunch with her brother Willie. Okay, so he goes by Will now, but since I've known him since he was 9 or 10 it will always be Willie to me. He takes awesome photos...you should check out his work. Hope you all had a wonderful Monday!!

Super Late Super Awesome Halloween Post

2007-11-04T18:45:00.001-08:00

Seems like I got a whole lot more pics of Austin this year. Ashley avoids the camera any chance she gets. Oh...and the super weird make up job on the little guy...I am maybe a little responsible for that. :) Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!

Lots Going On Today...

2007-10-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

But no time to chat about it. Here are some projects made with Creative Cafe goodies! Have a super weekend!

Happy Saturday!

2007-10-20T04:43:00.000-07:00

The days are getting cooler here. Going to miss these warm summer days at the park with the kiddos, but I cant' wait for the leaves to start changing colors. Had some pics I wanted to share, but looks like I left my camera at school yesterday. Ugh! I hate when I do that. Hope everyone has a super Saturday!

Helloooooo!

2007-10-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

I am still here. Just trying to get by. So much going on in my life. So many changes. Just updating with some pics of the kiddos. A couple from a fun afternoon at the park and the other of little spidey! He got this costume for his birthday from grandma and grandpa and didn't want to take it off the first 3 days. Look at that tiny barefoot hanging out. Melts a momma's heart.

Look Who's 4!!

2007-10-03T02:25:00.001-07:00

Can't believe I've had my sweet little guy for 4 years today! We are blessed to have him in our lives. Happy Birthday Austin!

Happy Monday!

2007-10-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the day off. Finally got a few pictures taken of some older layouts. This one is so heavy it doesn't stand alone very well. It's leaning on one of my albums.

Creative Cafe Projects

2007-09-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

I heart the new Creative Cafe Spirit line. So much fun. The puffy felt flowers are my favorite...or maybe the thick sheets of felt...or the colorful rub ons. Can't go wrong with this stuff!

What's Going On....

2007-09-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

Here's a little glimpse of a happy moment in my week. These two love to ride bikes. The little guy has been insisting on wearing my sun glasses. I think he looks pretty cute in them. Work was good this week...we are out of school today! We are also out on Monday, which next week is a good week, too! I really need to get caught up on a bunch of stuff. I have a little bit of sad news. I have resigned from CMK. My term was suppose to end in November, but I have a lot of things going on in my personal life right now and I didn't feel it was fair for me to take up a spot on the team that someone really dedicated could fill. Rebecca has been wonderful to work with and she picked some awesome talent to fill my space. I don't have a single complaint. The other girls on the design team have been amazing. I will still be posting there as often as I can. It is truly my scrappy home on the web.

A Little Layout Love....

2007-09-16T20:02:00.001-07:00

Finally took a pic of something! Hope everyone has a great week!

Good Times!

2007-09-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

It is almost Friday! I am excited about that. I am blessed to have a job I love and wonderful people to work with, but when Friday comes, I am still as excited as the kids. Besides that I have an extra long recess duty on Friday! It's a perk of being a special teacher. I don't mind too much. The classroom teachers need the time and I've been there.

So tonight I went jogging with my friend Katie. Well, I guess that's stretching it a little. What I mean is I jogged slow and Katie jogged really fast so we weren't together, but I could see her from the other side of the track at all times. It was inspiring to jog with a friend. We decided, by our own calculations that if we keep this up we should be Olympic runners in a week or so. Katie is a lot younger than me, so I think she has higher expectations. We did go 3 miles and I actually jogged 2.5 or so of it. I don't even think my ankles are going to break anymore, but I do worry that some part of my anatomy might actually come loose and fall on the track. Nothing yet!

I guess that's all the excitement for tonight. Hopefully there will be some projects to see this weekend! (If I'm not too sore to photograph :)) Have a SUPER Friday!!!

Oh...the pics are from a family reunion in Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago. Those kiddos crack me up. That's my momma in the last one! Looks like me only older. Kind of scary. Real Scary. Okay...Like I said....Have a Super Friday!!!

Hamton Art Chipboard

2007-09-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

is seriously yummy stuff! Sorry for the blurry pic, but it has been raining like crazy and my camera didn't like the lighting. Hope you are having a super week!!

Creative Cafe from CHA Summer 2007

2007-09-10T16:18:00.001-07:00

Check This Out!

Just Me

2007-09-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Dropping in to say "HI!". My friend said she was "sorely disap- pointed" when she came to my blog to find it had not been updated again. I started trying to jog yesterday. Trying is the key word here. I'm trying to get in better shape so I will have more energy. So far it just feels like I my ankles may snap like twigs. I had to go get a new pair of shoes because I think my feet have spread from the extra weight. Well, maybe not, but it does feel like my shoes are chewing on my toes when I run. It has been raining cats and dogs here so hopefully it will stop soon and I can take some pics of some scrappy stuff. Have a great weekend!!!

Up Against a Wall

2007-08-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone must think I've been scrapping away lately, but most of these layouts I did at least a month ago or more. I am so tired with adjusting to working full time that I just haven't done much. It is almost 10:00. So proud of myself for making it this long today. Not looking forward to the morning routine I will start at 5 am. Love my job, but I am pooped by the time I get there. Between 5 and 7 am I wander the house realizing all the things I should have done the night before. Drag myself into the shower. Get out and wander around the house some more seeing more things I need to do. Get a crazy hair to fold laundry. Realize I need to leave in 30 minutes and wake the kids. This is where it really gets crazy. They are like chasing two wild baby squirrels. One is jumping off counters or anywhere he can get height onto our backs. The other is stomping around because I asked her to comb her hair. I mean...come on! How dare I ask such a thing? Then I am throwing granola bars or some other nutritious substance (like donuts) at them and herding them to the car. When we reach the car one of them insists I go back into the house for something important...like a toy they want to store in the car for the next week without touching once. Yeah, good times I tell ya!

Always Look Up

2007-08-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite pictures of my daughter!

Serious Addiction

2007-08-20T19:32:00.001-07:00

To the icicles. Used half my hoarded jar making this (which I lifted from Shannon Tidwell). Then my friend called and said they had icicles at Big Lots for a dollar a pack. Yeah...um....run don't walk! Let's just say my jar is full again.

Good Sunday Morning!!

2007-08-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Scenic Route is the August sponsor at CMK!! How awesome is that! Here is one of my projects for this month! We are off to Silver Dollar City with company in from Michigan. Can't wait to get there! Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

My Favorite Girls!

2007-08-15T21:05:00.001-07:00

The colors didn't turn out that nice in the pic, but this is one of my favorite layouts.

Spring???

2007-08-15T03:52:00.000-07:00

okay, it's not spring, but a girl can dream. It was 110 on the parking lot where I park yesterday. The air is out in my classroom, but it doesn't bother me too much. I'm glad I won't have the kids in there for awhile. I survived my first open house last night. I guess no one visits reading teachers on the first night. Today is my first official day. Hope your day is wonderful as well!

Smiles

2007-08-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to thank everyone for your kind remarks and emails about our daycare trouble. I enrolled the little guy in the Early Childhood center at my school on Monday and it has been all smiles! He didn't even cry on his first day. He still has trouble letting go, but his teacher gives him important jobs and he's off. It will take some time before he leaves my leg voluntarily, but I believe it will happen this year. He even showed me around his classroom when I picked him up. They have a pet frog. Good Times! Such a burden off my heart as I start school.