Quiet Morning

Gosh, I didn't realize that it had been so long since I had written. My "me time" has been slim to none lately, but it is quiet now. Jay and Christina spent last weekend with us. Christina had to take her P-CAT for pharmacy school and Jay brought her to town. They spent saturday night with us then we headed to Bill's family reunion on sunday. MAN, it was seriously cold and windy. Here is one of my favorite pics from last sunday . . .

I don't care if I am his Mom, they are pretty! We were at Oak Mountain and the wind was just plain wickedly cold. I worried about Bill's Mom getting too cold, but she left early.

Bill and I have his daughter and her husband with us this weekend. Got to love football season, we have guest. We have had a lot of fun. We all went to eat at Mexican restaurant on friday night to celebrate Bill's 65th birthday. Here is my absolutely most favorite picture, I call it "Birthday Bill"!

Typing is no longer fun

Since I started working another part-time job where all I do is type, I am not enjoying the computer blogging as much as I once did. Everyday I rush home from school and start working on entering data. The money is fun but the total lack of TIME is not fun at all. There seems to be no time to breath and with the holiday season fast approaching, I'm not sure how I'm going to do everything.
Okay, enough complaining, the money is good and Bill is definately helping by doing more than his share of data entry.

The rain is still falling and more is in the forecast for through the weekend. The sun is actually out with now but I think that just irritates the rain.

Bill's daughter and son-in-law are coming up for the weekend. It is weird having people in the house. Bill and I are use to it just being us.

Got to head off to school. More later . . . .

Busy, busy, busy!

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I wrote. The start of school makes a huge difference in my computer time. Bill is the computer whiz at our house and the only time I have to write is early in the mornings and that time is short and precious with the start of school.

Speaking of school, I have survived the first two weeks. The first week is always one of two things; (1) a lot of children screaming or (2) dead silence. This year I was lucky to have #2! It seems most of my little ones were scared (seriously, no one is ever scared of me!). But unfortunately, week 2 started and now the fun has begun. I am extremely lucky this year, all my students speak English and they all love to come to school. I would love to post photos of them but it is against all the rules so you will just have to believe me when I tell you they are dolls! I have a big class this year, 4 girls and 6 boys. I may add another student (a girl I think) in a week or so. They are very energetic and the best part is the parents so far seem really great. I only have one who may turn out to be a handful, but I think it will be okay.

Bill and I spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend at the lake. We arrived on Friday afternoon and worked in the yard. After dinner a neighbor came by and we all went out for a sunset cruise in their boat. Saturday was a total wash out with all the rain but Bill and spent the evening watching Alabama football, so it was perfect. Jay and Christina joined us on Sunday along with her Dad, Jerry. It was so much fun. Jerry is a wonderful, down to earth guy. He is really easy to talk to and everyone seemed to be very comfortable with each other. Jay is nuts about him, which is great. It seems the three of them have dinner a lot together. Jay's puppy, Trooper, enjoyed his trip to the lake, he spent most of his time in the water.

The last few days have been kinda yucky for me. September 11th is hard for me to handle. Not only with the anniversary of the bombings in New York, but also because that is the day we buried my Dad. Two of the saddist incidents in my life, both on the same day and year. I will never be able to handle this day. Mom was sad yesterday too. She wants to talk about it and get sympathy. Me, I'd just as soon not.

Tomorrow is Bill and my 24th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe that we have been married that long. August and September are always big months for me, first my birthday then our anniversary.

I found a sketch that I really like over at http://unscriptedsketches.com and I'm going to try and do a card for my sweet friend Lottie. Her cancer is reoccurring in the fluids around her lung. Hopefully, my silly cards cheer her up. Okay, downstairs I go to create. I will post my card in a bit.

SCHOOL!

First day of the 2009-10 school year!!! Wish me luck!!!

Sunny Monday

I woke up feeling much better but Bill is still sick. I hope and pray that he didn't wait too long before he went to the doctor. I'm really afraid that pneumonia has set in. His doc didn't do a blood test, so I worry.

Looks like I will spend the day getting ready for school. I've got a few more things to print off and I need to organize my clothes so I won't be such a wreck in the mornings. I really want to clean out the basement today but I don't think I have the energy for it, I will see.

Soggy Sick Sunday

Looks like today will be a very rainy day. On a happy note, Bill and I are feeling somewhat better. Good thing I don't start school until Tuesday. I don't think I would make it tomorrow. This is the first time Bill and I have been sick at the same time. I don't like it. I can't be nurse maid and patient at the same time. Yesterday I literally spent the entire day laying on the couch. Today I am determined to do something, not sure what, but something.

Meet the Teacher Day!

All is ready in my classroom and I will be heading out for the big "Meet the Teacher Day". This is an exciting day for most of the students but truly it is mainly for the parents. We changed our hours for the big day. Today I will be there from 11-1 so that more of the working parents can participate.

Bill is still very sick. I am pretty sure he is battling the swine flu. He doesn't have a really high fear but besides being grumpy, he has all the other ucky symptoms. I've tried since Tuesday to go to a doctor but he won't hear of it. Hopefully, things won't get worse.

I'm off to do some silly stuff before I head to school.

Almost school time!

I am finishing setting up my classroom for the new year. I've been busy over the summer finding new ideas and getting ready for my new class. Speaking of class, I've got a big one! Since I teach Pre-K and I do not have an aide, our class size is limited to 10 but there are so many on the waiting list this year I agreed to add one more AND I've got a mess of boys! I'm really excited because I have always enjoyed a large class, there seems to be less fussing with more students. Our "on the clock" hours have been reduced this year. That basically means we get paid 1/2 hour less each day. Many teachers, including me, are not happy. To be honest, I'm not a volunteer, I'm an employee. I personally don't see the situation staying this way for long, I think it will be changed. Okay, off the school. I hope to take some pictures of my classroom when it is all done and I'll post them.

Great Day!

What a wonderful day this has turned out to be! I was having my very own pity party yesterday (yes, turning 50 does that to you) and then this morning I wake up to this . . . .

My layout was voted Design Team Layout of the Day over at Treasured Scrapbooking!!! http://treasuredscrapbooking.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22345 I know it is not much to some people, but this is the FIRST time that it has happened to me!!! Oh, I am doing the happy dance!!

Here is the layout they picked

Bill also treated me to an amazing dinner last night at the Bonefish Grill. It was so very good. Turning 50 looks like it might be okay after all!!!

I can't be 50!

I seriously cannot be 50 years old. That is 1/2 of a century YUK! It's just me and the dogs up this birthday morning. Trooper greeted me with a good morning "pee" in my floor. I guess he really did need for me to get up at 5:45 this morning. Oh well, I'll clean the carpet (again) when Bill gets up. Jay called and wished me a "Happy Birthday" this morning, that was nice. I have totally mixed feelings about today. On one hand I wish Bill would make a huge fuss over me and on the other, I wish no one would say a word. OMG! I sound like a total idiot. Maybe I need more coffee? Who knows! Bill's Mom sent me money for my birthday so I may try to run by Old Navy and Hobby Lobby today. There is a huge sale at both places and of course I want more scrapbooking stuff. Okay, I need to get busy and start my 50th year.

New Blog to Play with!

Oh my!!! Look at the blog I just found http://thecraftyden.blogspot.com/
This woman is seriously talented. Looks like I might have to stop work and just enjoy computer time.

Yikes, it's Monday

I've been away from my blog for much too long. It took us a few days but we finally got the lake looking good again. Then home in time for me to clean up the front and back yards on saturday. Jay arrived Sunday with Trooper. The first couple of hours were "strained" to say the least, then poor Trooper decided he wanted to play with Maggie. Maggie is eight years old and not use to a puppy. She has put him in his place many times, but bless his heart, he keeps trying.

I was very disappointed that I didn't get to work on any of the challenges during the crop at http://treasuredscrapbooking.com/forum/ this week. I was really looking forward to joining the on-line crop. Oh well, there is always next time and I am happy to say that this crazy scrapping hobby is not going anywhere.

I'm heading off to the "dungeon" (a.k.a. know as my downstairs den with my scrapping desk) to work on this week's challenge at http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com/ Do a layout using scraps!!! I can do this.

Tuesday!

What a day already! I got up with a bee in my bonnet and a raging headache. So, what to do??? I know, let's go outside in 100+ degree heat and wash and wax the van! Yep, that should do it. Well it did for a little while. Bill is down at the social security office trying to get all set up for his retirement. When he gets home he wants to head to the lake for a couple of days. We really need to, we haven't been up in over a month and I am sure that the yard needs a good cutting and cleaning. Here is the main reason I love being at the lake. . .

the view. These were taken at about 7:30 p.m., right before sunset. I love it up there. Very peaceful and quiet.

We will be home by friday so that we can keep Jay's puppy, Trooper, while he is at the beach.

Cleaning up the mess

Monday again. I've got to get moving and get the downstairs cleaned up. I have made a lovely mess down there this summer. You can really tell that I have done a lot of scrapbooking and card making. I can't let it be like this any longer and there are no more excuses. Down I go to clean and I can't come back upstairs till it is done.

I'm a busy scrapper!!

Here are a few more challenges that I completed over at http://treasuredscrapbooking.com/

My first is my sweet girl Maggie . . .

Next is really one of my favorites. It is an altered frame I did for Jay's girlfriend, Christina. She is moving into a house with several other girls. The frame was plain unpainted wood and then I spray-painted it gold. Yes, I mistakenly painted it a bright gold then after a small panic attack, I started adding all kinds of ink and paint. I love the way it turned out but the picture doesn't really show the small hints of blue and green.

And of course, no postings of my work can be complete without a layout of Jay. This is by far one of my favorite pictures, it was taken last summer at one of his friend's wedding.

I'm now off to do another challenge. Whee!

Here is my submission to this week's challenge at http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com/ . The cleats are paper pieced from a clipart picture I found on the internet. I hope they like it.

First time project

I'm so excited! I am waiting on my first altered frame/scrapbook page to dry. I've already made the page and the frame is SLOWWWWLLLLYYYY drying in this humid place. I am doing it for Jay's girlfriend, Christina, and I can hardly wait to post it. Okay, got to run to check on it!!! But, I have to remember to keep my fingers off of it. . . . keep my fingers off of it . . . . keep my fingers off of it . . . .

Tuesday

I just finished registering as a follower of http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com/ I'm so excited! The first assignment . . . eyelets!!! I have to use 5 on a project. HMMMM . . . now where are those eyelets????

Quiet Sunday

Hopefully, this day will stay as quiet as it has started out. Not much happening but I am very excited to start a few scrapbook challenges over at Treasured Scrapbooking. Looks like I'm going to finish Jay's scrapbook on time with their help. Oh, and I found another great blog http://practicalscrappers.blogspot.com/ is a blog that helps me use up my old scrapbooking supplies. I desperately need this!!! Off to work on my layouts.

Saturday!

It has been a few days since I actually posted anything, but I have been very busy. I actually have been scrapping some of Jay's baseball pictures!!! YEAH! Hopefully, this trend will continue so I can make my December deadline. Here is my favorite picture.

Every now and then I actually do a layout that I like, okay, in this case LOVE. I didn't take the picture, that credit goes to my favorite photographer James Harkins http://jsufan.com/

He takes alot of pictures at Jacksonville State University and he does it for the love of sports and photographer. Truly, the guy knows his stuff.


Here is my other favorite layout that I completed this week.
Again, it is a picture that James took and it is fabulous. My layout is simple and masculine but that is pretty much the way I like to scrap Jay's baseball pictures. When you are as big as Jay, you don't want or need fussy/girly stuff around your photos.