how I spent my vacation

If you could not tell by now, I really love felt. And, the Ladybug really loves the Disney Princesses. I think it made for a good combination.

12 days of school until Christmas holiday !

and this game was called "get on Gay" for some odd reason. I hope Gay has recovered.
The youngest children at the smallest table - how cute are they ?!
Not sure, but we think Gay likes her late birthday gift - and you can see the Ladybug's owl purse
Red Rover. One of the most dangerous games. Ever. And Ladybug could not figure out why no one broke through her arm.
Meme and all her grand-daughters. All beautiful.

Wow ! Only twelve days of school before another fantastic holiday ! I think we all had a fun Thanksgiving - my brother, all my sisters , and all the grand-children were together. That was the first time in a long time, I think.
The monkey and the ladybug had fun , and it will be hard to be away from them tomorrow. It does help to know that they will only have three weeks of school before another break. Actually, we have a 70% chance of snow tomorrow - so I would love to think we will have one more day away ! [I am only kidding myself, because it has rained for days - no snow would stick.]
Right now the ladybug and I are all about the felt projects. She is loving her felt owl purse, and she is constantly checking on the progress of her nesting-doll one. [yes, I am almost done.] We are also making finger puppets, coasters, and little softies, all for the food-pantry fundraiser dinner and shop this weekend. Lots to do, I can tell you. Lots !
Have a wonderful week - stay warm and dry, and remember all of those things you gave thanks for !

Tom, Tom the Turkey will be here soon

Okay , it is that time again. A fantastic week off of school. Actually, I choose to think of it as nine days off, and count both weekends. Lovely. Divine. Quiet [ at least, it is now, because I sent my family away for a couple of days so I could be productive and get things done]
My list of things to be thankful for this year -
1. Healthy and happy family members
2. Good friends
3. Gainful Employment
4. People who care about me and mine
5. More really good students than ever before. [did not say they were good at art - just well behaved]
6. A great church family
7. Pez

I am sure there are more, and when I think of them, I will add them . All in all, this has been a great year - and there are many things to thank the Good Lord for. While you are making your list of thanks, please take time to actually give thanks for them . Sometimes we forget that part.

Happy Hallowink

Well, She is ready.

Birthweek? Who has a birthweek?

Yesterday, a friend sent me a message telling me "Happy Birthweek!" I can honestly say I have never, ever heard that before, but I am thinking I like it . A lot. It sounds so festive. So, this is my birthweek. We do not have any big plans for it, since we are taking the Ladybug on her first big adventure the next weekend - and the man has already given me a gift [ listen, he can tell you all day long that I am bad about gifts - but he is the one who always wants me to open them first. Always.]
Our school had homecoming last week - and the Ladybug was asked to be in the parade with the cheerleaders. Oh. My. Stars. She was the cutest thing. [but I am partial] it was so much fun .
Today was a large church celebration , and she had another opportunity to be the cutest one. The monkey was an acolyte, and he made THAT FACE when he saw the outfit I had set out for him to wear to church. After he put it on, he strolled up to me and said "You know, I am rockin' this sweater vest!" Bless that sweet boy's heart!
Now we are getting ready for Trick or Treating - Ladybug is fired up about the candy and the Snow White dress, and Monkey is complaining about not going on the adventure with us. [he has big plans of his own, so do not pity him.]

Praise you with the dance

Well, she finally did it. The ladybug has been in this little choir for some time now, and this was the first time she actually sang during the service. Not only did she sing, she did the motions. Amazing. Ah- maze-ing!!!
I love Sundays - have I said it before ? We have already been to church, it is a wonderful day, the weather is great, and I cleaned house yesterday, so I don't have to do that lovely task today.
School is still great, home is still wonderful , and every one is happy. Life is good.
Hope you have a great week. Ours will be busy, but that is what makes it fun.

get into the groove

We are loving school around here. Ladybug is really getting into her class - she learns a Bible verse every week , along with the Pledge and the Lord's Prayer. She is amazing. The monkey is hanging in there, as well . He is not as vocal about loving school, but I have a feeling he likes it . A lot.
And as much as I hate to say it, I am still having a really great year. I don't know why it is , but this year I have so many really well-behaved students. What a difference it makes. All those prayers have finally been answered !
The weather has been just beautiful here, and that makes us all happy - now we just want to play outside as much as possible .
Hope you all have a wonderful week - be nice to someone!

September 1 is not my favorite day

Not long after we got back to the states with the monkey, my parents and I took him to Cleveland, to visit old friends. I think I took this photo outside our old church - Cleveland First United Methodist. What a happy time . Look how sweet and happy every one is! This is the way I remember my precious father. Gosh, I miss him. Eight years have seemed so long without him. I promise, I am not going to stay on this pity wagon - I just miss him today.
The monkey has mono - MONO. The husband says that the doctor told him that monkey was exposed to it 45 days ago - do you think he meant 4 to 5 days ago? I am not sure, but I do know that monkey cannot do any physical activities for a while, until the doctors say his spleen is back to the normal size. Poor baby - he is supposed to be checked out of school today, and go to the State game with Uncle Dale. I hope he is up to it.
Have a wonderful day - count your blessings. I read a quote the other day [ on pinterest - my new love] that said 'what if you woke up today with only the blessings you thanked God for last night?' it has certainly changed my prayers, I can tell you.

Tell me why the road turns?

It is almost here . Again. And I hate it. I also hate that I hate a day . I know it does not make sense. This September 1 will be eight years that my father has been gone. I miss him every single day. I mourn the fact that Ladybug will not get to know him, and that Monkey has already forgotten just how awesome he was. He could do anything. I love him , so much.
I don't mean to write such a depressing post, really. I want it to be happy and light. Every year around this time, I start feeling the dread that I know is coming. I don't want my students to see how much it bothers me, and I don't want to spend the day crying. I just miss my daddy.

summer breeze, makes me feel fine

I love the summer. I do not love going back to school in the summer, but what else can we do? The monkey is now a sixth grader, and mighty proud. Strutting around the house proud. Big smile on his face, and dancing to Bruno Mars songs proud. He is a man, I can tell you.
The ladybug is now in the three-year old class full time. Big fun in there, and she has made several new friends.
The man and I started back to school last week - and I have to say, it was the best start to school I have ever had, in all my teaching. I did not have to call the office for an escort out, I did not have to break up any fights, and I did not have to clean up any body fluids. Good times ahead. I do have an afternoon full - and I do hate first period planning. That is for the birds, I can tell you.
I have to say, life if pretty good around here. We managed to keep the house pretty clean all summer, I accomplished everything on my summer goal list, and now we are back in the school groove. We are ready to start the countdown for our first adventure of the school year , when we take Ladybug to China Town. She is going to love it.
I hope you have a great week, and I hope your transition to the school year is a smooth one, as well .

Good day, sunshine

wow - it is hot. Africa hot. Really and truly hot.
We had a long day yesterday - after church, we went to Sissie's home in Collierville. She is preparing to move to Florida , and sweet Julie and Addie were there for a while. Ladybug loves loves LOVES her baby Addie. [if you are ever within hearing distance of her, you would know that] This was the second time she was able to visit with Addie, and she could barely keep her hands off that sweet baby.
The monkey was able to hug and kiss Addie, too. Great time !
After that lovely visit, we went to Kirk's birthday party - another fun time, with some good friends. Ladybug loves Kirk , and his wife, Fifi . Monkey played ball, swam, and had a long chat with his buddy , Bailey. We were all four worn out by the time we made it to our home.
Only one more week of vacation for us, then back to the grind. We are going to squeeze as many adventures out of these last seven days as we possibly can. Monkey was up and dressed and out the door before 10:00 a.m. , which is pretty early for him.
It looks as if it is going to rain all day - not a bad way to start the week !
Have a great day , and count your blessings!

It's that time again -

Of course I mean one of my favorite things in the whole world - Vacation Bible School ! Ladybug is officially old enough this year, and she is loving it all. I think she gets that from me, really. She sang, she danced, she snacked, and she played games. Tomorrow, she comes to my craft station, and we will work on our mission project. The monkey is too old for VBS, so he 'helped' which seems to mean run around, eat lots of snacks, and act totally silly with other boys that are just too cool for Bible School. Bless him.
Tomorrow will be Ladybug's first full day in the three year old classroom. She was promoted friday afternoon. Not sure why it happened then, but I am not judging. She is very excited about the fact that the big girl class has "assignments" and they say the Pledge every morning. Love. Her. Utterly.
I am watching the end of 'Celebrity Rehab' - I love watching this show, because it reminds me that I REALLY do not have any problems. I might think I do every now and then, but looking at these train-wrecks just reminds me of how good my life is. The Lord has been good to me, and I am thankful. Daily.
This is the week I am teaching at the Art Museum down town - gonna be fun, I can tell you. Combine that with VBS, and it will make for a great week. I hope you have a great week, as well. Count your blessings. One by one.

slow down, you move too fast

It's Sunday, and we are home from church. We don't have anywhere to be until 3:00, when we go to the Food Pantry building dedication. I really like the idea of having no plans for a good part of the day. So many options -
This season of baseball is finally over for us. Yesterday was the last of our tournament in Columbus, and we are out of the finals. We are also out of the World Series this year, and that is okay by me - it is so unbearably hot .
This summer is winding down - we have done most of the things on our summer list - just a few more to get to in the next three weeks . I am determined to get them all done!

Knee-pits, baseball, and candy

During the ball game , it is more fun to slide down the hill than to watch the game - just saying.
This little girl was very sweet to share her sled with the Ladybug.
Before the Texas Two left, Ladybug gave them some paintings we worked on this week - I think she was sad to see them go.
The Monkey just knew he would catch a baseball at the game - maybe next time.
Can you see the "crown" I had to make her hair into ? She was very serious about it, and wanted everyone to know about it. This was after she announced that her favorite body part is now the 'knee-pit' - I like those on her, too.
The Monkey's All-Star team - getting ready for the next tournament. How did he get so serious? What are those other guys looking at?

Saying goodbye to the Texas Two - Ladybug and Monkey love them, and do not see them often enough. Ladybug kept calling Lance "Daddy", and we all thought it was so funny - she thinks he is Tracy's father instead of her husband.
Just posing and being sweet in 'Dream Berry' in downtown Memphis .

This was the Ladybug's second Redbirds game - she did better sitting on the hill than she would have in the seats, I think. Monkey was just happy to be there, so it was a great day for all of us.

Hello, July ! Stay a while, won't you ?!

Some one helped me make and hang a banner for the weekend company . She worked very hard.

She seems to be quite proud of herself, don't you think?

Fodder's Day

This photograph is from our first summer with the ladybug . I know I should post a more recent one, but it is my favorite for Father's Day. Everyone looks so happy ! Hot and exhausted, but happy !
When we went to pick up the monkey from summer camp, we happily ran in to an old friend - Allie had never met the ladybug before, and she was in for a treat ! Lady bug let us all know that she was going to 'have that day, and she did a good job of it.
We all missed the monkey while he was at camp, but I think she missed him the most.
We made the rainbow popsicles , and I can tell you that I do NOT have to do that again. Two days, I say ~ two days of going to the freezer and pouring another flavor..... but they are really good. The pineapple mix that I bought at the International Market is really good!
I think they all had a good time at camp - and somehow, the monkey managed to bathe every day and not open his own bar of soap.... hmmm.
Only two more games in the regular ball schedule, then on to just All-Star games. I hope we can pack up and go to Me-Me's house for a few days, now that she is back from her jaunt up the East Coast. We just love to go visit our family !
I hope you have a great Father's Day, and a great week ahead ! I am looking forward to hearing about the mission trip some of our church family is taking this week - they are going to have such a life- changing experience, I just know it.
Stay out of the heat - or come over for a nice, cold rainbow!