-4.8 is a glorious number

Who would have thought I was brave enough to go weigh in at Weight Watchers on Christmas Eve? Last week I had my first gain and I tried to be good this week and track points as best as I could. Well I was expecting another gain, but low and behold I lost 4.8 pounds. So I lost what I gained last week and then some. I'm still working towards my first 10% but so far i've lost 14.8 pounds.

I'm finding that with extra support at work, 4 of us do weight watchers, and Don trying not to buy junk, that I'm doing pretty well. I like that I can eat what I want but have to make choices. I'm finding I love spinach salad and I'm trying to be creative with chicken breasts.

I also realize that this really isn't a diet but a lifestyle change. I am going to try to hit the Y more these next two weeks and make the boys come with me.

I know I still have a long way to go but I heard this quote at my first or second meeting. Loosing 100 pounds 1 time is hard but loosing 1 pound 100 times is easier.

That is what keeps me going. I'll go weigh in on New Year's Eve too and let's hope for another negative number!

Kept Resolution

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Are you good about keeping them or are you one of those people who start but then stop within a few weeks? Well I always was one who was sort of stopped after a few weeks so I'm really proud of myself. I've actually kept my 2007 resolution. On December 31, I had my last can of soda. My resolution was to give up pop; all forms of it. I wouldn't switch from regular to diet, I was just stopping. Now realize I didn't say give up caffine but since I've never been a coffee drinker I've given up a lot of caffine. I do splurge and have a chai tea frappachino from Starbucks and that's just enough caffine to keep me going.

So now that I've kept this resolution I'm going to try to make another one and keep it up. I haven't quite yet decided what I'm going to pick this year but I just hope it is a rewarding experience with another positive result.

Trying to be a better person

I know for those of you who know me pretty well, I'm a pretty good person. I try my best to accommodate everyone, I want all people to be successful, I want to instill solid morals and values into my kids and those I teach. I just try to be my best. Somehow when I reflect upon what I do and what I've done in the past I see there are still areas in which I still need to get better. I call stupid drivers idiots, I drive too fast, I have a habit of using my dining room table as my desk and dumping ground. I can't be bothered to put things away that are on the top of my dresser. I have a table at school that seriously needs cleaned off so when we come back from vacation we can get down to some serious reading. My desk is a mess. But to my own defense I read somewhere that a messy desk is a sign of a creative and imaginiative person. That I do feel is true.

But where this post is headed is in a rather new direction. I have been trying to cut down on my internet time and trying to figure out who I am and what do I want to do with my life. No I'm not talking about drastic changes. Well maybe I am. I think it has some to do with losing weight. I think that as I work to lighten up I want things around me to be less cluttered and more organized too. If I do this the right way then I may just become a bit more of a simple person. I have been trying to work on being more happy and appreciative of what I have and not to focus on what I used to think I want; I mean in a materialistic way. God has given me so much, I'm so blessed and now I have to make my life work within the bounderaries of what I already have.

So I know the changes must come from inside, but I can't help to also give a little bit of credit to an amazing person. I've been reading her blog off and on and as I've been digging into some of her archives I find that she not only inspires me want to be a little more creative in a more simplistic sort of way, but she has posted some incredible links to some organization and zen sites. I need to find a zen in which I can live in a more harmoniously with what I have, who I have in my life, and more in a way that God directs me.

If you haven't figured out just who has inspired me to just try to be a better person, I'll tell you, it is. It is Ali Edwards.

You can find some daily inspiration here at her blog. I can't believe all this lady does. She write, she creates, she travels, she's a mom, she's an advocate for autism, she teaches, she inspires, and she even has her ups and downs just like all the rest of us. She finds pleasure in simple things. I loved how she blogged about setting up a block castle where they bowl it over with a big green ball. There is something about her that is so creative, so inspiring, yet so down to earth. I don't want to be just like her, that's not the point of all of this. I am not her stalker, I just read her blog and her newsletter just as thousands of others do. I just find her style and her way with words speaks to my heart with a bit of optimism and passion. I find that she makes me want to be a bit more of a better person. Not to impress anyone, or to say look I do what Ali Edwards does; but for me to say look I'm just a bit more of a better person because I've been inspired to be.

I know this is a long, rambling blog post. Who knows, maybe it has to do with the fact that today's my graduation day, the day I'm recognized in public for being someone who's earned a master's degree. For someone in the field of education to be recognized as a life-long learner. For someone who has been given a gift from God to be able to teach others. For someone who has the potential to help students be better readers by being a reading specialist. For someone that has set goals and achieved them. For someone that I hope my own boys are proud to call mom.

With my winter holiday only 5 school days away, I am going to take that time to finish preparing for Christmas, to spend time with and enjoy my boys, to exercise, and to find a way to start to organize my dining room table and take back my space. It is my way to start to be a better person. So I close by saying a quick thank you to Ali Edwards for posting some amazing pearls of wisdom and zen links that have made me look inward to become a little better for everyone else who sees me from the outside.

Some Merry Decorating

Just a little bloggity banner update for the winter season!

I've got to get some new photos out of my camera and onto the computer. I've also got to get up-to-date with Val's photo a day blog challenge.


If you can't read the credits on the banner, the paper, journal box, stitched snowflake & pin are by Ashley Olson's Like Winter kit. The tree templates are by Valerie Fowler and are a blog freebie at her blog When Val sits Down. The glitter bracket is by Brenda Kempf, and the pink ribbon is by Christine Smith's Ribbon Lover's set in pink.

I'm hoping this blog update will last a bit longer than the Christmas season. I tried to go a little wintery.

My FAVORITE Christmas video

Last year I couldn't tell you how much I watched this video. I confess I sing along to it too! The original website is gone this year but through the miracle of youtube it reappeared!

Bahhhh Humbug

Bahhhhhhhhhhh Humbug

It's an Elfed Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Here is our animated Christmas card!


Click here to see it!

A little December fun

Here on Valerie Fowler's blog is a really interesting Photo A Day challenge. I really like that she's making it so laid back and easy. The concept is to take a photo a day. Wow, hard right?

I think this is a cool idea and I can envision a really great scrapbook layout, mini album or a photo collage in a cool frame that could turn into a really wonderful holiday decoration.

I'm really going to try to do this each day in December and then post the photo in my blog. Today I'll have to hunt for something to take a picture of. I might do two tomorrow when I try to get my Christmas decorations out.

I hope that you are having a lovely weekend and try this daily photo challenge.

Now I've got to get back to a little advent calendar project I need to finish. Yes, I'll post a photo of that too.

It's Thanksgiving!

Remember in the last post I said I'd be glad that it was almost Thanksgiving?? Well you'd never guess how difficult it was to get our family through to Thanksgiving. Remember I said I'd be glad to have Doug home for a few days?? Well he's been "home" but getting him here was quite a roller coaster ride? Let me give you some of the details.

Sunday night Doug called and said he'd had a stomach ache since Thursday. I said it was about 10:00 pm on Sunday night when he called, didn't I? Well he described the pain, I found a "kids health" page on the appendix and we basically diagnosed that probably had appendicitis and I told him to get up early and get to the clinic first thing Monday morning. So I give him a wake up call and our Monday starts rolling. On the way to work, I call our pediatrician to find out "my son is 18 but in college will you still see him" details. Then I called my mom to let her know what was going on and to see if he needed picked up immediately if she could go since Don and I were 45 minutes further east from her house. So by 9:00 Doug called and said it was appendicitis so we moved into action. Mom went to go get Doug, although the clinic didn't want him to go any further than the local hospital. We wanted him home closer to us. I started making plans to leave school early. I met them at the hospital at 11:30.

Once at the hospital we waited for a while although he'd already been diagnosed. He had to drink some contrast for a cat scan and that took 2.5 hours before he could have the test. Then it was confirmed so we had to wait for the surgeon. So finally at 6:30 he went into surgery. We got word he was doing well at 8:30 and he would be going up to the peds floor. We were the only people up there, then things got crazy for them.

Finally we were resigned to the fact that the doctor was pretty adamit about 3-5 days and he was really firm about 5 days. Well Doug was progressing pretty well and we had the nurses on our side ;) The surgeon today was not the operating surgeon and he gladly released us to come home today. What a great day to be home. We had a little turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie or as much as you can call it that. I've felt ill after each time I ate the "meat" from the hospital so who knows what they cook it in. I'm just so thankful we're all home today.

There won't be any home cooking here today. No turkey and all the fixins. It's not about the food anyway, it's about all the things you have to be thankful for, and today there is a lot to be thankful for. The appendix didn't rupture, but it leaked, but Doug's on the mend and we were able to get him home.

I hope you've enjoyed your family and friends. I hope you've reflected upon what you are thankful for. I hope you've checked the sale ads and wish you luck in getting to the big deals early tomorrow. I think we'll be heading to Northern so that we can pick up some things for Doug. I am not sure when he'll be going back to school so we need his computer for him to finish that term paper that was due Tuesday. I'll also be washing his laundry he couldn't get together to bring home either.

Enjoy your weekend!

I'm a blog slacker

or am I a poser blogger? That is one of Brian's favorite words...poser. Somehow it's starting to slip into my vocabulary too.

I'm so glad Thanksgiving is almost here. I'm looking forward to having Doug home for a few days. I'm also looking forward to having 5 days off. I do need a little bit of a break and I think that will be just enough time. I'm actually in a bit of a Christmas spirit this year. Last year I just wanted to get away. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to go back up to that cabin again this year but Doug needs to work over break and we're trying to save some money. I am in the mood to start some simple decorating. Our house is really small and putting up our old Christmas tree is out of the question. I'd have to move large furniture and block my front door and I'm choosing not to do that.

I'm trying to think of some "winter" decorations that will last a bit longer than just through Christmas. I'm thinking of getting some star lights and icicle lights to hang from my front curtain rod. I'm going to use a smaller tree and I think it's going to have star decorations. I've been trying to collect star ornaments for a few years now to collect in a basket and have my family put on a smaller tree as we all do thoughtful things for one another. I know I don't nearly have enough star ornaments to cover a tree, but I think with a few simple ornaments, a few of my favorites, and the star ornaments I do have it should be a very special tree.

I'm also looking for some other simple but interesting ideas. I found these white birch decorations at crate and barrel They are way too expensive for me to buy but I'd really like to find something similiar. I'm also looking for some little dorm sized decorations to throw into a care package to send off and have there when Doug goes back to school.

I saw these really cool button trees on Ali Edwards' blog and now I'm kicking myself because I gave a ton of buttons away to the art teacher at school, otherwise I'd try to make one of these myself.

I'm really interested in seeing what cool holiday decorations you are making. Give me some cool inspiration! I'm in a creative mood!

Caio!

A Big Ole Pat on the Back

Today is the day that I can get my unofficial certification test results. These were the two tests I needed to take and pass to get my full state credentials to get my Reading Specialist teaching certificate. T.his will be my second teaching certificate. It is a specialized certificate that will piggy-back onto my K-9 certificate that allows me to teach and do more administrative jobs in a K-12 setting. Now if I want to move up to the big money...I'll have to go into the high school.

I'd been having dreams that were waking me up each morning that I had failed one or both. Usually it was a big time failure, sometimes by one point or two. These dreams really freaked me out. I don't know how I could have dealt with having to take one or both of these tests again. They cost me a good hunk of money to register and a big hunk of time. That day the first test took 3 hours and the second test took me 4 hours. That Saturday was emotionally draining. I don't know how you are about taking tests, but I complete all the problems I can and flag the ones I skip that I don't have a quick answer or need deeper thought and more intricate detailed thinking. The second test had a 2 essay writing component and very little room. It had to contain about 7 different requirements in the one constructed answer.

Well anyway I went online and got the test scores. I was sweating bullets and wasn't sure I wanted to look. How could I not look after those dreams??? Well I looked. I have to say, not perfect scores, which everyone seems to think I strive for, but really I don't. I didn't even want perfect scores, I knew I wouldn't get perfect scores, I just wanted to pass.

Well I PASSED BOTH TESTS!!! I wasn't even close to the failing score. Minimum passing scores were 240 and I both my scores were over 275. Hey...passing is passing, right???? Now I have a bit more leg work to do. I have to send some documentation into the university, then they have to send some things to the state, then I have to officially apply for my second certificate. Oh all of that and dishing out a bit more money for the new certificate.

So with that great news I'll end this post. A little happy dance and a big sigh of relief! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Updates

This post is all about updates!

Big update is about my son. He miracleously got rid of the headache as mysteriously as he got it. He went home (his home, the dorm room) on Sunday night. After having such heavy doses of pain meds all day Saturday, he took only 2 Advil on Sunday.
He will follow up with the doctor but as of now we (mom, dad, grandma, etc) are figuring it was the smell he smelled or a migraine. He's got a history with headaches now so getting migraine meds should be easily attainable.

Weight Watchers update. As of this past Monday I've lost 5 pounds. I'm so proud to be a LOSER! It is getting easier to judge portion sizes, and the good vs. bad foods. I'm really becoming a label reader. I still struggle, especially today with Brian's Halloween candy sitting there glaring me in the face. I've had some candies but I logged them in and counted their points and I still have 1.5 points left for today. I think I'll just forget that I didn't eat them.

Speaking of updates, I saw my good friend Angelina came by and left me a message. I wish she'd update her bloggy so we know what's going on in her neck of the woods. I also wish she's drop by the message board and give us the 411! Ange if you read this...girl get over there and give us a proper update!

Continuing on the update train...today I updated my hair! I went with a cute and very short easy style. I also updated the color to all one color again. I'm not a bi-color any longer.

I think I'll end my updates here.

Oh one more thing, I've finished Stargirl and have moved on to Love, Stargirl! Great young adult books by Jerry Spinelli! The sequal doesn't seem quite as good but a new book club I'm in is reading it.

posting from the "get well :) network"

in other words that means I'm sitting here posting from my son's bedside in the hospital. We got a call last night around midnight that he was feeling horrible. The worst headache he's ever had. 45 minutes later the phone rings and he says he headed to the ER. Remember that Doug goes to college 45-60 minutes from home. I get up, get dressed and get out of the house for that long drive to the ER. He looked terrible and he said his head throbbed with every heartbeat.

He's had a ct scan, lumbar puncture and now a mri. He's on high doses of pain killers and it is NOT killing the pain. They are ruling out serious things such as tumor, meningitis, brain infection but they don't know what's causing this. He said there was a noxious odor in his dorm room for 2 days and that could very well be it. Don and I went today to check it out but I thought I smelled something faint but Don and the dorm lady didn't.

He's on iv's and is hardly eating. He throws up more than he takes in. If he doesn't improve, he'll be transfered to one of the university hospitals in Chicago. I pray he starts to recover overnight.

I've been going almost non-stop since 1:30 this monring and I'm quite tired. I did read a little bit but now I'm about ready to doze off in the recliner for a while. Thought watching the world series would be fun tonight, but Doug's sleeping and the tv seems to only have no sound or loud.

luckily we are in a brand new hospital with a private room. They're all private! This hospital opened 3 weeks ago, it is beautiful, sorry I can't supply you with a couple of pics.

Please keep Doug in your prayers.

A new layout

credits here

This is my crazy Brian. You can never guess what this kid's going to do next. These photos come as a result of my camera being hijacked! I have about 30 of these pictures. I have to say I have one unique kid here.

This great photo frame is by Valerie Fowler. There is a girly frame and a boyish frame included with the set. There are one,two, three, and four photo frames included. They can be purchased here. Run don't walk because they are on sale on Thursday!



There is also a fancy frame set by Val too.

Val has some of the cutest stuff. She's having a chat on Sunday night at The Digichick. Val and the team will be chatting from 8:30-10 eastern. I hear there are going to be goodies and a special prize given away at the chat. I hope you'll stop by.

Now the fun is over. See that kid above in that layout, well yesterday he was one of just a select few who was given an invitation to not attend school for the next 3 days. Ok, in layman's terms the kid was suspended. They call it harrassment, but I call it stupid. He was caught video taping different things at school and supposedly he was showing people when he shouldn't be and got caught. UGH, I'm telling you, things are never simple with this kid.

Until next time...toodles

Did I mention I joined WW

Yep I did I joined Weight Watchers. I've got a big goal but have to start little by little. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. I have to be consciencious in what I eat. I can technically eat anything I want, I just have to think and use moderation.

I'm happy to report I've officially lost 2 pounds. Slow and steady wins the race. I walked a mile on Saturday. Easy Peasy! I think I'm going to look for some counter that tracks how many miles I walk. Unfortunately the weather is not getting cold and bad and darker earlier. I will really have to put my Y membership to good use.

Well just a short post to celebrate my success! I hope you acheive a small goal that helps you reach to a larger goal!

SPINNING LADY INTELLIGENCE TEST

SPINNING LADY INTELLIGENCE TEST


Is is amazing! I can literally sit and watch and one minute she's spinning clockwise and within seconds she's spinning counter clockwise!

It says if you see her spinning clockwise you are using your right brain. If she's spinning counterclockwise then you are using your left brain. If you can see both it says your IQ is supposed to be 160 or more. I don't know about that but it is interesting.

Here is what side of the brain does what.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe


RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

New header credits

I only know enough http edits to change the post colors and add a new header and a few tricks to change or add links to my sidebar but I don't know how to post a permanent credit so I thought I'd give it it's own post.

The items I used to create my spooky new header are from Jen Wilson.
The paper is from her Whoo's Halloween paper set. The webs, spider, fence, and house are from the Accessory kit from the Halloween Holiday Collection.

I also bought another set by Taran at Scrapbook Graphics so I can work on a "haunted Hearse" album for Don.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband

Today is his birthday. He thinks he's old but he's not. He's done things in his life he should be so proud of. He's wonderful, supportive, and makes me laugh.

Doug came home from Northern to spend the day with his dad. We'll be going out for dinner later, probably for ribs. That is one of Don's favorite meals. I don't know if we'll have any dessert, Don's not a big dessert guy. He does love pie so maybe we'll stop for pie.

I'm going to go get some things done so I can make some pancakes and scrambled eggs for a special breakfast.

Hope my wonderful husband has a special day.

Gotta love those extra "holidays"

As a teacher, I love those little extra holidays. Today being Columbus Day, my school district recognizes it as a holiday. It's a little break that teachers can so use to relax, unwind, and catch up on posting grades. I love these holidays, but sometimes I think it would do more for students if they were actually in school learning about the holiday instead of being home. I believe that students should know the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria; and that in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But what we don't touch on is the horrible side of Christopher Columbus and his men who killed the Native Americans. So we keep celebrating the man for "discovering America."

I remember this holiday as being so much more when I was a kid. Of course it was a REALLY big deal when I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. There was a huge parade and there was a huge statue of Christopher Columbus standing outside city hall. I used to see that a lot because my dad worked for the city.

I guess I've become such a cynic with holidays. I think I'm turning into my father. He never has really had an affinity for holidays. I think Valentines Day is too commercialized and gives the floral and candy companies a reason to jack up prices. I think Halloween has become a let's decorate as much as Christmas kind of holiday. I know Don totally disagrees with me on that one. I think it's redicilous that the department stores set up their Halloween and Christmas displays in July or August. I don't mind at all handing out treats to the kids for trick or treat but please everything is too commercialized and is all about the mighty buck.

Ok I'll just end this by saying it's nice to have today off.

Going "dark" this halloween

Some of you may know that my husband owns a hearse. Yep I'm sure that if you didn't know that, your jaw just dropped. It is his "toy". He's always wanted to get into the funeral business and this was his first step. He actually bought it from ebay. Guess you really can find anything on ebay!

Well he's had it just over a year and he's been competing in hearse shows and contests. I've only gone to one that was in our town because some of the things these people do are a bit "darker" than I choose to be. I guess Don and I are ying/yang, light & dark. Well I decided to get a bit involved in his "dark side"

I told him I'd make him a hearse album. These are some of the kits I've found that could just work. What do you think??

busyizzie's Wish List by busyizzie

A trip to...

Some of you may know that 2 years ago for Christmas I got a little gold box inside of a purse. Inside the gold box was a lovely letter from my mom. She wrote that she was giving both my sister and I a trip to anywhere in the world. They could be two seperate trips too. With finishing my master's degree and getting my son ready for college, I just felt I couldn't go yet. Not only was I not ready to go, but another part of the problem was that I just could never decide where I wanted to go.
I have considered a trip to Hawaii, Australia, Germany, Finland to meet a friend face to face finally, and even an African Safari.

Well I've been doing some serious thinking and I think that I've finally decided. I think that I will be going on an Alaskan cruise early next summer. I just checked out books from the library about Alaskan ports and two people who worked at school went last summer.


I think it would be so amazing to see glaciers and whales. The land for some reason just seems to be calling me. I can't wait to do some research and book this trip. I don't know if it will be all cruise or if there will be land and cruise both. I guess it depends on the prices and how long my mom wants to be gone. I'm getting so excited to finally have made that decision. I am so torn about not going to Finland or Germany but I've wanted to go to Alaska for so long.

If you've ever been on an Alaskan cruise please leave me some comments about what was best about it and which cruise line you sailed on.

should this blog stay or go?

I know I'm a really horrible blogger. I just already know that but I am wondering if it is really worth putting the time into my blog any more. I know that in about the last month or more there have been only about 2 comments on anything I post.

This blog takes me extra time, I know my family doesn't read it, and I really don't know who else reads it. Since I've put my blog counter on, which was in the spring, I've only had approximately 300 views. I am not highly sophisticated to be able to go behind the scenes and figure out who comes and goes. Apparently not too many because I guess people find what I write to be boring and probably self-centered.

So I think I'm going to let my blog go idle for a bit. I've got 100 different things going on and I'm really trying to start to make things more simple. I read something really interesting on Ali Edwards blog. It was about saving time by touching things once. I couldn't find the post but what she talked about was her mail. She is trying to open it up then deal with it immediately. Either putting it away, throwing it away, or taking care of it right then and there. It really made sense to me. I think she said she read it in Real Simple magazine, which I've subscribed to and still waiting for the first issue!

So that is one thing I'm trying this year. I don't know why it is working a little bit at home, but not at school. I'm so far behind this year at school it is unbelievable. Partially because I have a difficult group and partially because I got caught behind the 8 ball with 7 training days during the two weeks we could get in and work on our rooms. A third reason is because I've undertaken such a enormous project of leveling all my books. I'm looking up the lexile levels, color coding them, and putting a library pocket and note card for check out in each one. I purchased a box of 500 library pockets and I'm worried I might have to purchase another one.

Until I update again, read, comment, and enjoy life!

A second layout with Falling Over

Here is another layout I did with Valerie Fowler's Falling Over. Today, Thursday it is available here for 20% off I think I also read in Val' blog that there is an extra $3.00 off coupon in the kit too.



Credits are here

My days have been super crazy and super busy. I wish I could make it to my friend's scrapbook day on Saturday but I'm headed to Northern tomorrow for an early family weekend and dropping B off there to stay over with D for the night. Then on Saturday I'll be cooking and cleaning because we're having 8-10 friends over for the evening.

So it's an early night for me. I'm really cold and can hardly stay awake. Have a great weekend everyone!

Great Kit Giveaway!

Did you see that Val Fowler was giving away a free kit for commenting on her blog?
Her new kit is called Falling Over. Run and check it out!

It's an awesome kit that is getting ya into the fall mood. Those warm fallish colors and the great journal and grid paper are really cool. You can enter for Val's free kit givaway here on her blog

I have used it already and I'll share it with you now.

Crazy busy!

I'm getting really bad about updating my blog. It's just something I don't know that I want to make a mandatory, daily event. I'm enjoying being able to come home, fix dinner (yes you read that right) and enjoy just doing whatever I want. One night this week I was so hot from being at school all day that I did a quick foil dinner to throw on the grill and washed my car. I never wash my car but somehow just being close to the cold water from the hose helped cool me down.

I've got a doozy of a class this year. I can't say much publically but a lot of them are nice kids and want to learn. I've even gotten a pretty note from one girl telling me I was the best teacher in the world, and a coloring book page that a boy took his time and colored for me. On the other hand, I have some kids who need to realize that school is about learning and not fighting. One boy brought a squirt gun to school and took it out to recess without me knowing about it and was suspended for 3 days. I've had two boys who are working well together inside of class as partners but yesterday they were fighting on the playground after school. UGH, even the custodian told me last night that he's heard that my class is the worst in the school. I know he was joking around with me, but I've got to try really hard to not let that happen. Another incident yesterday had one boy writing with blue marker on another kid's shirt because a third kid use the non-writing end of his pen to act like he was drawing on the kid's back. Needless to say when he got punished he cried like a baby begging me not to send a note home. Then at the end of the day when I wrote the note, he begged and pleaded and cried again.

So between all of the all of these little "fires" that need putting out, I have a boy who has bad behavior and will also shut down and not work. The heat of my room, which is about 85 degrees by 9:00 am and the beginning of the year pretesting I'm coming home exhausted.

I've also undertaken a HUGE project at school. I've decided to put library pockets into ALL of my books, then look up their Lexile level or reading level, put notecards into the pockets,which involves writing the title of each book, then putting colored dots onto them so my kids are reading books at the correct level for them. I only got about 35 book pockets, and cards done yesterday. I looked up about 10 book levels but none of the books got dots. I can tell this is going to be a long term project because I probably have close 400-500 books. I wish I had a parent helper who could come in and do some for me.

Other than that, Doug's shoulder is hurting again so he's coming home monday night for an appointment with a new orthopedic surgeon. Don's been busy getting ready for another Uhaul auction, and Brian is going to tryout for the volleyball club again tomorrow.

Hope you are having a great weekend. I'm working on taking pictures for ebay listings and working on stuff for Val Fowler's creative team!

It's been a few days

I know it's been a few days since I've updated my blog. Bad, bad blogger. I've just been a little busy. School started and not only am I trying to adjust to going back to work, but I'm also trying to still get the room put together. That and juggling having one gone to school and the other trying to get on track with school too.

I've not really been doing much more that that. I come home and practically pass out from the heat. It was sooooooooo hot in my room yesterday. It was so hot that I really thought about having ice cream for dinner.

This weekend I've decided to do a little cookout. It will just be both boys, Don, and my mom and dad. If things change my sister and bil might try to stop by. An easy meal of something on the grill, corn on the cob, pasta salad, and some desert.

We're all fighting itch mite bites and I'll tell you they're so much worse than mosquito bites. They are big, red, blotchy spots that don't go away too quickly; two weeks minimal. I've also heard they won't go away until the first frost.

Ok, it is a long weekend coming up so make the most of it. Enjoy and don't labor too much. Our weather should be surpurb!

Did you see Val's CT is having a contest???

Did ya...huh...huh..huh???
Come play join the contest and have a chance to win one of these two sets of Val Fowler's quick pages.

They are so easy to get a couple of pages done!

I'm here to report...

I only cried a little bit when we took Doug to college today. We were rushed because since tomorrow is the official move in day they wanted the routes cleared from cars starting at 5:00. I did help get a couple things in his closet so he could put away his clothes tonight and we got his bed totally made. We got him the cables he needed to hook up his computer and his tele. We took a fan and bought him a second one. He's on the 5th floor, no elevator, no airconditioning.

While I was there I felt he was going to be ok. He told his dad he really had a lot on his mind which I'm interpreting into nerves. I made him a list of about 5 essential things I wanted him to try to get done in a week. You know, pick up books, give the bursar some information, drop off immunization records, put the late night ride service number into your cell phone, those types of important things.

I took pictures and Don took his own pictures. I can't wait to start to use them on a couple of scrapbook pages.

Ok it's been 5 days of training and 2 more to go. I went to school after training yesterday and tried to get my bulletin boards done but it seemed to be 1 step forward and two steps back. I got my alphabet up with the border strips on that board. I got the borders on 3 more bulletin boards. I still have to get up the calendar and the important information on that board and the border too. I also have to unpack the shelves and get the new books in order. Rearrange the desks and tables, put up a welcome bulletin board with all the students' names, make name tags and put them on desks, and then probably a ton more. I've got 3 afternoons left, I don't know when I'll stay and get it all done. I'd stay all three days but it's been so hot and humid and the sweat just pours off me. One window, no airconditioning, second floor.

On other things going on...Brian is registered for school and if his schedule is rearranged like I think the counselor was telling me, he'll only have to make up one semester at summer school next summer. That will be 3 weeks and then he'll have caught up on all the missed credits. Please pray for a successful year!

I also don't think that I've mentioned that I've accepted a digtal scrapbooking creative team position with Valerie Fowler. Val sells at here at The Digi Chick. She's really wonderful and I think you need to check out her store. She's also got some great stuff being added to the store tomorrow. Again, check it out!

Well I think that's all for right now. I'm feeling much less emotional and stressed now that we've got Doug out at school and we've missed the rush of move in day by taking him out a day early.

I've got to scoot and download AIM so that I'll be able to communicate with Doug when needed. I want that up and running in case he needs something in the next couple of days.

As Brian says, "Toodles".

How do you get rid of a bag full of baseball cards

yep you read right...baseball cards. I have tried looking up the value of some of them. You're thinking how much??? Well not too much, really. But there has got to be someone who loves the thrill of the hunt. There are some rookie cards in there, some famous people who I'm sure aren't worth as much as they think they are, and some people whose 15 minutes of fame are up.

I'm also trying to decide if I should sell my driveway...yep my driveway. I live a block or less from the highschool and the older kids who drive pay to park in local driveways. My mom has a prime spot...you know location, location, location. For the first in years my mom is going to sell a side two. Know how much her neighbor across the street gets....$350...CASH!!! If I can get out of the house early enough, I could actually sell two spots. That would be a helpful chunk of change for the tuition payments. I've got to decide in the next day or two. Doug's friends are already calling or emailing him about a parking spot.

I have been staying up way too late and getting up way too late. That has got to stop tonight. Early to bed and early to rise. I've got a week to get myself into the groove before school starts, and only one more morning before the drudgery of 7 days of training before school starts.

So here is one thing I worked on last night...way too late. This will go into my all about me album one day.




all of the credits can be seen here.

A busy blogger

I know I've not updated this site for a while, but I've been just a tad bit busy. Not only have I been trying to relax and enjoy the last few days of my vacation, but I've been trying to get my older son ready for college, and I've had some extra doctors' appointments and a surgical procedure. I found out today that all things were good and the test results were good from my procedure and after a few weeks of healing time I should be as good as new.

I've been relaxing and trying to decide when I should go into school to set up my classroom. I've decided that since I have 7 days of training that I'll go and spend an extra hour or two there a couple days next week. Either that or get up really early and get in there for about an hour before my training starts. That might actually be the very best because I have a classroom with one window and no air conditioning.

I have decided to apply for a couple of new design teams. I was then asked to join Valerie Fowler's creative team too. I've got to do a couple things with her stuff. I have been creating a few pages for Scrapquick.com My newer pages are not up yet but there is a cute girl and boy birthday page. Creating pages for Christine Smith's website is so different than creating my own pages. I do enjoy the idea of creating for someone else, and wondering...do other people enjoy what I create?

Ok, I offically have 2 more days of vacation. I need to have my dryer fixed,(yes this is the Maytag Neptune double dryer that I got when I was on Oprah) and yes it's only 2 years old! We are running low on clean clothes so I have to make a decision whether or not to dry at my mom's or at the laundry mat.

Ok chinese carry-out is here so I'm ending this post. Toodles as Brian says!

An Archiver's Day

Yesterday I wasn't online at all. I decided that I would take a day to myself and head to Archivers (the scrapbook store) to work on a project for a friend. I have made these little folder books before and I love the small project. It allows me to focus on something small enough to get done quickly and lets me use a bunch of my stash. I made this as a way to tell my friend Chris how great of a friend she is and how much I admire her as a collegue, friend, and sister in Christ.

Happy Birthday Big D

Big D is what we call my oldest son. Today he turned 18! Was that a gasp you just let out? I know you can't believe that I'm old enough to have an 18 year old son. Sometimes I can't believe it. Where did that time go? We're counting down the days until he leaves for Northern. He's excited, but also is hesitant because he's not too excited when I drag him places to look for dorm schtuff.

Here's to your life and to your future! You've got so much to experience. Make it exciting and worthwhile. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride.
Happy Birthday Son!

The not so busy life

It seems that it's either feast or famine in my life. Either it's so crazy busy that your head spins or there's nothing. It seems that my life is about to go into famine, here's why.

I'm finished with school. I won't have any weekly classes or homework. I do have the certification tests to take but other than that, nothing classwork related.

My oldest son is leaving for college in about 3 weeks so there won't be too much stuff for him. I think I might go out to a football game or something but he's now on his own.

My youngest is 15. He's always on the go skateboarding or something. He still needs his taxi driver, so that won't end for another year or more but things slow down a bit more with him when school starts. I bet we'll be running to volleyball tournaments and practices, but that's not unusual.

My creative time seems to be changing too. I've been on three really great digital scrapbooking creative teams. About a month ago, Cindy Simon decided that she wanted to spend more time on family things and decided to stop designing for a while. I envy her for that. She's got her priorities straight, wtg Cindy!


Christine Smith another awesome designer stopped selling her stuff at The DigiChick. She's putting her existing digital designs for sale on her own site. She's focusing her efforts on her amazingly creative storeScrapquick! I am so lucky to be a page creator or artist there for the sensational designers who associate their kits with Scrapquick so that the page artists, like me, can design unique pre-made pages for the ease of digital scrapbooking.

Then I just heard that my third creative team was disbanding.
Tracy Rivera has been busy with life and now her design team members have no requirements any longer.

I'm sad and I was thinking of applying for Jennilyn designscreative team call but was gone almost all day yesterday and missed the call. Darn!

So I'm free to create for me and my family now. I'll miss working with some very talented designers and very talented, creative, and inspiring creative team members. I think I'd like to be on some creative teams as guest designers. Fun and short term committments with a bunch of very talented people. If anyone is looking for guest creative team members here is the link to my digital gallery at The Digichick.

So for now, I'll try to be happy living the not so busy life. How does one learn to go from a hectic, go...go...go lifestyle to a little more slow and a little mundane lifestyle? If you know, or if you've done it let me know how you learn to adapt.

Happy Monday everyone!

From trash to treasure

I told you I found a cute little chair in the garbage at someone's house. Well it wasn't really "garbage" because the people didn't put a "garbage sticker" on it for the garbage man to take. So I picked it up, found some funky fabric at Ikea, and my mom and I recovered it. It even has the spots in the legs for casters. I'm going to pick up some replacements and take this little baby to school to roll around on.

Here it is before:


and here is the after:



So what do you think? Was it a good grab to save it from the garbage man? Every time I've done that, I usually wind up keeping it for a long time or selling it. I remember picking up an easel from the neighbor's who used to live across the street. I had been painting something else blue so I painted the easel blue. Then I sold it at a garage sale for $15. They came to the garage sale and didn't even recognize the easel.

You know my chair, my sister was at my mom's today and saw the seat and asked if that was the chair she saw when she came to the graduation party. It was and it sat out on the curb for 4 days before I picked it up. She was going to pick it up but I got it first!

739 pages....

Done!

That's right I finally finished reading HP. It took less than a week, I know many people sat up and read, read, read; but life and my ability to stay awake at times interrupted that.

It brought tears to my eyes several times. there were a few surprises thrown in there at times, but as I was reading, and thinking about the foreshadowing back from the other books, I figured out some of the subplots.

I'm really sad about a few of the deaths. Knowing my son has met the Phelps brothers, it's going to be hard to watch movie seven. There is a spoiler in there, hope you don't figure it out if you're not finished reading.

Don got my sink fixed. I guess my garbage disposal and brocolli don't work too well together. Thankfully it is fix.

I'm feeling a bit like finishing projects. I feel like I'm known for starting projects and not finishing them. I have a puzzle swap I started, got all my sent away pieces back, but never did my own. I wrote a grant for my final project, got it back and thought I should make a couple corrections and mail it and I never have. I've still got time, I'll get it into the mail on Monday, PROMISE!

So today I've 3 things I want to accomplish: finish HP...Done, clean the kitchen because of the stopped drain I couldn't, and recover the chair.

What's on your weekend list?

splurged on myself

Today I got up and got some of my jobs done. I decided to take my boys to the mall after Brian got home from school. I should say I decided on going to the mall and the boys took me...Doug drove! But we couldn't get to the mall without picking up friends. 4 teenage boys and me, I'm sure it was a sight driving down the road.

I mainly wanted to go to look in Coldwater Creek. They were having a sale so I thought I was in luck. No luck, I couldn't find anything to spend my gc on. It seems a little too "formal" for me although they are not really formal.

I decided to go into Bath and Body Works to get some bodywash and foaming handsoap. I gotta say, I love that the manufacturers have created foamy hand soap. Well I was a bit disappointed when I found my favorite scent,White tea and Ginger, has been discontinued...WHAAAAAAAAAAAA

So I only got foamy handsoap and some lip gloss. I went on the advice of my cousin who was up for the graduation party who said, "B&BW has the best lip gloss." I'm really not a lipstick/lipgloss kinda girl, but decided to give it a try.


This is the Mentha-lip gloss. I loved that it was infused or made with peppermint oil. I'm so the peppermint girl. I HATE spearamint...only peppermint for me. Not only does it give me a little lip tint, it is very thick and glossy, smells good, and has a yummy flavor.

Of course, since this mall has 4 Starbucks within a half-mile radius, I had to get my caffine boost. My drink of choice there is a No-whip, chai cream frappachino. Quite the mouthful but it's my favorite.

We stopped in at Lenscrafters to see what could be done with Doug's glasses. He's got a pair of frameless Ray-Bans with transitions lenses. Well the lenses have started to seperate and crack. I hoped we could just replace the lenses. I found out that when you have the mounts drilled for frameless lenses that the frames should really only be used once. Well the manager walks over and picks up a new pair of frames, just like the ones Doug has. I asked if they needed his glasses or something and she said she'd send the new frame in. I said oh then you'll switch out the lenses when it comes back. She said, "No, he's getting a brand new pair of frames and lenses." I asked about the price and she said, "Free!" Obviously the problem is with the lenses and it's their problem, and nothing Doug has done. What an awesome relief that I don't have to pay for Doug to get new glasses before the college tuition bills start rolling in!

Then, after leaving the mall, I told them to take me to Best Buy. Today was the day I upgraded to this...



My new pink nano. It's name is officially "mom's pink pod" but we'll just call it mom's ipod. I've had Brian help me understand the whole..download music, set playlists, and docking it. I managed to buy 1 song tonight. I've grabbed some songs from Doug's library, got some from some cd's I had loaded onto my old computer and will raid Brian's i-tunes library tomorrow. I also have a Bonnie Raitt and 10,000 maniacs cds that I'll load into my i-tunes library. I'm sure there are a ton of songs I'd love to own. My brother is the king of i-tunes songs. He's got over 10,000 songs and I'll tell him to bring his laptop next time we meet up. That's one music library I can't wait to raid! ;)~

Ok I need to get ready for bed. I'm just having fun sitting here listening to my lil pinky while typing here. If you got any good itunes "gotta have" songs let me know, ok?

I'm not here...

because I'm in here!



Got a start on this 739 page beast on Sunday. Today I'm to chapter 13. I'm actually turning pages faster than I normally seem to read. I'm hoping to be finished before the end of the week.

I've got party stuff to talk about but not today. I'm not here...this is my away message!

Some fun projects

Believe it or not, I got out my paper, scissors, and glue and did some fun little altered projects.

I DID IT!!!

I DID IT! It took 3 lonnnnnnnggggggg years but I turned in my final project and received my letter stating that I have finished all the courses and all of the requirements to receive my Master's Degree from Northern Illinois University.

Although the grade for this class and the degree won't be posted for about a month onto my transcript, I'm finished and as far as I consider it...I've got a Master's degree! I won't receive my actual diploma until the graduation ceremony until December. By then I'll have already had my pay increase for 3 months, but I can wait for the diploma. It's the paper saying I'm degreed again, the knowledge is already in my head and they can't take that away!

Tomorrow is the BIG day!

Tomorrow is my LAST day of Graduate school!!! It has been three long, I mean Loooooongggggggg years but tomorrow is the last day and the last assignment.

No formal graduation until December; they say too many people faint because of the heat in August. Hey the pay goes through before the diploma is in my hands and that is all I care about at this point.

I have about 5 weeks before I have to start school stuff with seven days of training so I intend to make the most of it! I do have a big party coming up. I scheduled Doug's graduation party after I was finished so I could have some down time and a little celebration myself.

I'm so glad tomorrow is almost here! It's a day I thought would never come!

A quick post of my pages for my friend Ursula

Hey, I know I owe a major update and redecorating of my blog but I've been busy with loads of things. I literally have 2 more master's classes. Two Tuesdays and I'm done!!! I've been running Brian back and forth across town to summer school. 1st semester final is next Friday; please say some prayers! Last weekend I went to a weekend scrapbook crop. I actually did 25 pages with paper, scissors, and glue! We also had college freshmen orientation. Hard, hard day there! More about that later.

While at the crop, I put at the top of my list to get my friend Ursula's baby pages done for her. Each of us in my Tipster's group signed up for a 2 page layout. It was to be pink and girly. A bit challenging...I don't do pink and girly.

Anyway here is the pages, I know she's dying to see them. They went postal yesterday. They are for the 7th and 8th month...isn't Harper about that age now??? Sorry so late Urs!

Crossing off things on your to do list feels so good!

Today I made myself get a few things on my to do list done. They weren't the hardest or the most fun, but when I teach all year long, some things just get put off. Also when you have a husband who has been working buku hours and had a seizure that affected a bit of memory, things get just get lost in the shuffle.

Each summer I make a to do list. I start with things I want/need to get done and then as I do other things that weren't on the list I add them and immediately cross them off. I save the list on my computer because then I always have access to it. I also put things back on my list that I didn't get done from the previous summer. Sometimes those are just the frivoulous things that sound fun or aren't the most necessary. For three lists now I've had "make daring dice of transformation" on there. See I found these kewl dice by Keri Smith and could just print off this page onto some cardstock but for some reason I have it in my head that I need to make them out of wood and paint them myself. I don't know why, I guess I could print these out and modge podge them onto my wood blocks but somehow I feel that is settling for less.

I also am quite the procrastinator. I owe my darling friend Ursula two baby pages and because I've not been scrapbooking with paper, glue and scissors I just haven't gotten my stuff out. Well next weekend I go on a scrapbook retreat and I've added it to my list that I'll get them done. You know, all sorts of things and projects that procrastinators never get done. I swear if I finished all the projects I want to get done or that I've started I'll be amazed. I'll also have crossed off a bunch on that to do list. Right now there are 39 things on that list and about 6 are crossed off. That's good considering I've been on vacation for 4 days and these have been put off for weeks and months, some even years.

Well 2 entries in one day is amazing, but I must go and cook dinner. See that is another thing on my list...make dinner more often. Toodles!

I've been avoiding my blog

But I've been reading those of others. I've even been trying to leave a few comments.

I've been avoiding this because I've wanted to update with graduation pictures and they're still sitting on the disk in the digital camera. I've not wanted to dl them because I want to have time to edit them first. Today I've got plans, the bank, the post office, the accountant, and I should get some homework done today.

Tonight Doug is hosting a bonfire. The goal is to burn their Advanced U.S. History books. It was even mentioned by the speaker at graduation that this is a time of change and you have to keep some thing and make changes about others and they said get rid of Degler. So that is what the kids are going to do tonight, come and burn their Degler books.

I promise I'll upload some graduation pictures before the weekend is over.

goofing around

I've got the knack for digital scrapbooking but I've felt very lacking in my photo editing. I've surveyed a couple of my good friends for what they do when they photo edit. Ursula Page who does some great photography has given me some editing tips. But I guess without sitting down and actually trying them consistantly, I've just not gotten that good at it.

As I begin to plan out my summer, I want to really get my photos edited and organized. The only problem is that my computer isn't reading my cd/dv-r's. Hmmmmm I really need to back up photos badly too!

Well today I found Everyday Digital Scrapbooking website. They had a photo editing tutorial with a link to a website for a free effect. I tried it and really seemed to understand what I need to start doing with my own photo editing.

Well after I finished with their tutorial, I started playing a bit.
This was the original


It took several different photo correction steps, I think I remember them
1. Adjust Levels
2. Adjust Brightness and Contrast
3. Remove Noise (
4. High Pass Filter radius set to 10
5. Layer Pallet set to hard light
6. Opacity slider suggested between 20 and 70) mine was 59
7. Applied a mid-tone sharpening that was a freebie offered at this website, lonestar digital
8. Then I was continuing to read the lonestar site and saw their unsharpen mask, fade tutorial but PSE4 doesn't have fade so then I was looking for some filter that may be like fade and found Halftone Pattern
9. Then I selected (I think, this is when I was goofing around) underpainting.

Anyway, this was the outcome.

Remember the cow album I mentioned?

Well Friday night I got the urge to pack up a bunch of my stash and head out for a Friday night crop. I still had the urge yesterday too, so I went and spent the day by myself working again on that album. Had to leave when they closed and I still had the urge so I discussed dragging all my stuff out with Don and we decided that the coffee table in the living room would work for a bit. Now that I've sorted out stuff and have packed and unpacked twice I'm getting good. It won't take much time at all to get ready to scrapbook.

So that cow album...it is 7x5. Each cow has it's own page. It will have the cow number and the title the artist gave it. Each page will have a little tab at the top that sticks out. The tin that is holding all of the pages will have some fun little cluster of something on the front, but I'm not altering the can too much. Hey cows don't need an altered album, they are altered! Here are a few pictures of the pages. They may not be completely finished but I decided to give you a sneak peak.



Now I should go clean up the sb table and get going on some homework I have to do. I also got this sinus infection almost overnight. UGH I can't be sick the last 9 days of school, too much going on. I also bought plants so I have some planting to do. We also roped off the section where we are going to be putting down paver stones for a small little patio. Don has these stones at work that they haven't used for years so we are getting them. Big project that needs done before the graduation party.

The weekend

Today I got some little urge to start looking for the outside or the container for my Cow album. Not just any cow album, but all the Chicago cows from Cows on Parade. These were cows that were painted, decorated or exquisitely covered with all different themes. I've had these photos for quite a few years now. I had thought that I wanted this dinner break tin and still might have to break down and order it and have it shipped because I can't find it around here. In the mean time I found a new sb store and Don just happened to have to drive right by it and picked up what I think I might use instead. I got this one because it had a clear front.
They also had this one, called Jack, on sale and I thought it might work too. I just hope that either of the two Don picked up will be the size I need. The Maya Road one will hold a 5x7 album.

So now that I've got my container on the way, I've decided not to put these in an album. I'm going to leave the pages loose like you would get files out of a drawer or something.

I'm going to really try to clean out a bunch of my scrapbook stash. I'm finding that I'm much happier creating when I do pages digitally. I love there is no mess and things don't need to be left out. I really do have a lot on my plate lately and just don't know how soon I'll be able to work on this album.

I have two really important sets of papers to grade before Thursday. On Friday we have our institute day to split up classes. This is happy but yet painful day. Happy to know you are sending kids off, especially the ones who just happen to drive you a bit batty. Painful because you've bonded with them and you want them to take what you've helped them learn and grow up. I always wonder did you really learn everything I've tried to teach you, are you ready for this? But on a happier note, the year is almost over. I've got tons to do before then. I have to finish my action research, plan and video tape me teaching a professional development lesson, finish my next portfolio before Tuesday and class again starts on Tuesday.

I got my 2007-2008 assignment yesterday and I'm staying put. I'll be teaching English, 4th grade next year at the same school. I don't know yet if I'll have to change classrooms or not, but if it's to a room with more windows than I have now, I might just be happier. That means though that everything will need packed up moved and unpacked.

I just can't wait until I start having free time again. Time that I don't have to worry about the pressures of homework and deadlines. Time for a walk, to read, or crafts. Time to update my blog a little more often.

Well my laundry is about to be finished and I need to get another load going. I should get up, get dressed and wash off the patio furniture too. Bunko group meets tonight and tomorrow my friend Mary Beth is having a southern living party.

A Cicada Invasion is about to Happen

It happens every 17 years, like clockwork. How do they know when it's been 17 years, heck I don't even remember everything that's happened in the past 17 years. What I do know is that it is predicted that on May 22, the cicadas will arrive just like they did 17 years ago.


I used to work in a old town. By that I mean an old established town with big, old trees. It seems the more trees, the more cicadas. Well it's almost like experiencing them again for the first time. See my oldest son is 17 and will be 18 on August 1. The last time they arrived, he wasn't old enough to know what the heck they were, he wasn't even 1 yet. I guess we tried to keep him away from them as much as possible. I do remember going for walks at lunch and the only things you would hear is the cicada sounds, which are actually locust sounds, and the crunch, crunch, crunch you heard with each and every step. You couldn't help but crunch their shells. They were everywhere.


Fastforward 17 years and here we are in 2007. Now I live in an older house with big old trees. Guess what I'm expecting??? CICADAS. Those big green bugs with red beady eyes. They still have 9 days before their predicted arrival, but obviously some don't understand the concept of the mass emergence. Some are digging the big holes and getting an early start. We moved the trampoline and the basketball hoop and we found these. All four of us were truly mesmorized by them.
















These two are out with their dried shells. They will grow and crack out or molt out of their shell and will become these huge flying creatures.















Finding these two were truly more interesting because they are clear/white and they are trying to get themselves out of their holes. It looks quite laborous. They move and stop and move and stop. There are holes all around there and when most emerge, there is a huge clod of dirt all mounded up with a hole through it. It is like they create a cave and bring the cave out with them. I have no idea how an insect can sleep for 17 years and still know when to come out. Heck I hope they don't strip our leaves completely from the trees. I want my shady yard to enjoy this year.

I'll try to capture some of the beady-eyed monsters when we see more of them.

Mother's Day let down

and today is just not a happy day. I went to church with Brian. He went to the student group and I sat in a crowded church alone. How can I say alone when I have friends there and they had to set up extra chairs...well I truly felt alone. Don wouldn't go. He's doubting his faith. Now when things are happening when I truly need God, and have been turning to him, my husband doubts his faith.

I started folding laundry and Brian comes and asks if he could help. I politely say, I've got it and that it had been sitting there for a week. I got it. I put it away and take the basket into my room to start sorting laundry and Don is like did you see your cards? No, we'll apparently they were sitting on my computer, along with a bunch of other stuff. I'm supposed to find my cards. I break down crying saying that no one wants to spend time with me and it's clear how upset I am and he couldn't even put his arms around me to say he was sorry he'd been working so much. So I'm working around the house. Don's working around the house. Brian's doing homework, Doug's doing a thesis paper that was assigned 2 months ago and he's still not finished and it's due tomorrow. So on a day in which I should be enjoying my family, I'm walking around alone in my house full of family.

I hope this is far from the joy and love you are experiencing. I know so many people have lost mothers and mothers' who have lost a child and today is probably a sorrowful day. I hope that all mothers can find some happiness today. I wish I could find a bit of happiness, but I'm truly expecting nothing more than what I have already. Some days I doubt my usefulness as a mother. I have self-doubt that my children appreciate what I've tried to give them and do for them. My own self-absorption in school and work I'm sure is part of the reason my kids feel neglected. I guess if they feel that way, then there should be no reason that I feel neglected on Mother's Day.

Finally back around the blog scene

I've made it through the end of the class. I've started collecting data and journaling for my action research project. I made it through the prom weekend and now I find out I'm going to have to have someone video tape me doing one of the big projects for next semester. I'm dreading it starting because I have loads and loads of stuff to do.



You know the end of a school year is almost worse than the beginning of one for a teacher. Files to organize and maintain, post tests, end of the year stuff, packing up, all that good stuff. I guess we are also finding out our placements in 10 days. I can't think that far ahead, I can only go day by day since there is so much to do.



I thought I'd come by and calculate how many more days until the last day of grad school...47 weekdays.



I also thought I might add a few prom pictures for your viewing pleasure.



I can't believe this kid is going to graduate soon. The announcements went postal yesterday.