A busy one!

Em came home for the Bill's birthday, and we've been going nonstop since yesterday morning. We had coffee at mom's yesterday a.m., came home and edited photos from my last shoot, headed to soccer (and Jen scored another goal!), to Community Day at Bill's school, to dinner at the casino with Bill's aunt and uncle Fred and Max. We got home at midnight. And no, I didn't win the big bucks and I won't be quitting my day job. Woke up and made pancakes, bacon and eggs for breakfast, shot some pics of the girls, did a quick edit on them, and now I'm preparing for the family to arrive for Bill's bday, round 2. Check out more of the girls on my photo blog. Hope you had a good weekend!

More photos!

This time all boys.Could they be any dang cuter? They are all unedited, but I knew the moms would want to see something. Head on over to my photo blog and check them out!

I shot some seniors today!

With my camera, of course! Click the link to my photography blog and tell me what you think. Thanks!

She shoots, and she

SCORES! Jenna made her first goal, and her team's ONLY goal, at her soccer game yesterday morning. Safe to say, she was thrilled! I was so excited, I got a really crappy picture of the shot, mainly because I was crying. She will only have one "first goal," and it brought tears to my eyes. But the celebration continued throughout the rest of the game, so I got some of those shots. And so it begins. Mia Hamm, watch out!

Went to a fun engagement party last night. The picture is from the party. Yikes, do I really look like this? I swear I don't. I handed off my camera to the bride's niece to take the pics, and she did an amazing job. Except for this picture of me, of course. It's not her fault I look like this, I guess.

Have a wonderful week!

WHEW. I made it.

First week of school, DONE. All of the stressing, and mourning the end of summer is over. I can settle back into a routine and just deal. It's time.

Isn't J just the sweetest? Look at that cutie. Notice how far away she is in the second picture? That's because she was running up to the school. I thought it was eagerness to start. Instead, sadly, it was because she didn't want to be seen with me. It started the night before, when Bill and I were talking about her first day. He was telling her that we would both be dropping her off to school. She replied, "It's OK! I'll just ride my bike!" I don't think so, my girl. Didn't think anything about it until we walked into school (or should I say I was running to catch up with her), and we were standing outside the office waiting for Bill to arrive from work. Out of the corner of my eye I see her slowly, sneakily, taking steps away from me. SERIOUSLY. I looked over at her and said, "Um, Jen, am I crowding you or something?" She gave me a sneer, and an eyeroll. It speaks volumes about the teenage years. Yikes.

But she's happy when she goes to school, and when the daycare provider picks her up at lunch, (although she's really tired), and she's happy when she gets home. Her teacher is AMAZING. It's such a relief to know she's happy and confident. Emily had a really hard time going to school, so it's a big change. Fall soccer has started too, and dance starts up again next week. Busy, busy, busy.

I have the most amazing students this year. Every year I think about going back to school, but I picture having the students from the year before. And I get a little sad that I'm not going to have them. That is until I meet the new crowd. A lot of them (the juniors and seniors) I have had before, and it's so much fun to hear what they've been up to all summer, and see how they are evolving into young adults. As a bonus, my freshmen are so cool! And to top it all off, I'm coteaching with Elaine who keeps me laughing. The best part of this week though was having my former students stop in before school, at lunch, and after school just to say hi. They have no idea how much that means to me. And it's the perfect motivator to be the best teacher I can possibly be so this batch takes the time to come in and say hello next year. I have the best job in the world. Seriously.

Have a great weekend!

Labor Day Sharing

Here are my projects for the awesome Sept. kit from A Million Memories. It was mostly from Fancy Pants, one of my all-time faves! Add to that fall colors, which I adore, and you know I had fun with this one. I have fun with kits, trying to find a way to make each layout look a little different in style and color scheme. It's a little challenge I issue myself, and it keeps me working on my scrapping skills.

I'm watching a lot of tennis now. For me, it's the best thing about the Labor Day weekend. (I know, how many ways can you spell nerd?) Tennis and hockey are my sports . . . mainly because they are SO SIMILAR, right? I can't explain it, but it's true!

Hey, if you have a minute, there is still the "So You Think You Can Scrap?" contest going on through Scrapper's Bliss. It was so fun being a part of it, but it's down to the last two people, the fabulous Amy Coose and Dena Coe. I love these ladies, and their talent will knock your socks off. They could use your votes. So please visit here to vote!

OK, I'm off to cook a big breakfast for the fams. I don't do that often . . . but it's fun every once in a while. I'm hoping to get in a little scrappy time on this Labor Day, but highly doubt it will happen. Tomorrow is Jenna's first day of kindergarten, and my first day with kids. Summer is OVER, baby!

Happy Labor Day!

It's been a while!

I've been holding on to the last days of summer. Had two teacher workdays on Wednesday and Thursday, and start with kids on Tuesday. I love my job, and the people I work with. I was glad to see everyone. And the reality is Jenna is ready to move on. She needs more structure and activity, and school will be perfect for that. I'm not gonna lie, I love my summers. But the excitement of fall, and starting another year . . . that's cool too!

Speaking of cool, I finally get to announce that I made the design team of Scrap Supply. I am so excited! The current team is AMAZING, and I can't wait to work with everyone. You can see the announcement here, and check out the picture Jenna took of me yesterday. She did pretty well, no? I had the camera on the tripod to start, but she rotated it and focused and shot. A budding photog, that one!

Speaking of the picture, does anyone else freak out when they see themselves in a picture? These are the things that went through my head. "What up with that haircut? Maybe Elaine was right, and I do have a "Jane Fonda" look, whatever the hell THAT means! And did I not read the memo that women of a certain age should stay out of the sun? The fact that the crows feet are white stripes from squinting while playing outdoors . . . NICE. And isn't my nose fatter at the end, a la Jimmy Durante? It sure looks like it to me!" Thankfully my roots had been colored, or I would have had a field day on the totally grey look I've got going on. You see, I don't color my hair to make it lighter, I color it DARKER to hide the grey, mainly because I don't want to be mistaken for Jenna's grandma. After I photoshopped the picture to death, I think it turned out like an Olan Mills glamour shot. Ridiculous. But if you have the technology, why not use it? WINK.

Other news . . . Jenna is back in spring soccer, and will start dance again next week. Emily has a really hard schedule this fall, but is looking forward to attending the football games. She may even visit us soon! I'm still in the process of redoing the living room/scrap area. The furniture came yesterday, and a whole posse helped me decide where everything should go. Today the job is to hang the frames. I will try and post pictures this weekend. It ROCKS. That's all I'm sayin! And have I finished prepping the hallway for paint by scrubbing the wallpaper residue? Well, no I have not. Maybe that's a Sunday job. (or maybe not.)

Peace out, and enjoy your Labor Day!

She's flying solo, people!

It started with a pep talk. The ins, the outs, the stops the starts, the basics if you will. Then dad running alongside the bike, saying "slow down" every step or two, as if she was listening. Gradually, dad hangs back and lets her go on her own. Is it because he is winded from all of the running? Perhaps. This is a big moment for both dad and daughter. (And mother, who is snapping pictures furiously a la paparazzi.) And an occasional crash whilst stopping? No problemo. This girl has found her wings. And somehow Bill and I have grown older in the process.

Taught Photoshop Elements last night. What a great group again. I hate to be a teacher geek, but it feels good to be teaching again. Will I think that next week when it's time to go back to school? Hecks no.

Went to a work gathering/barbeque for Bill's school district. Met some more amazing people who were involved in a work camp that takes high school students from around the country and has them visit communities and do work projects for those in need. They stayed at the Creek, bunking in the high school. The people at the dinner are the organizers of the event, and the passion they feel for the work that they are doing? Inspirational beyond belief. We could all do more, couldn't we?

Have a great Tuesday.

I'm back!

Another weekend getaway. This time to a lake near home, staying at my cousin's log cabin. It was COLD, but fun! Woke up to rain this morning so headed out a little early. Uncle Fred and Aunt Max came and spent the day yesterday, as well as Scott, Jami, and Maggi. We cooked out lunch and dinner, and had s'mores and hobo pies last night. It started to sprinkle just as we all decided we couldn't possible eat one more thing. Went on a pontoon ride, saw a mink, some turtles, and a lot of ducks. The guys caught a few fish right off the docks. I could get used to cabin living, I tell ya! Here are some pics of our weekend.

On Friday before we left for the weekend we went back to Emily's to see the final room and to go shopping. There was no time on the day we moved her in, and this time she got to take Hayley on a tour of state. We went scrap shopping, school clothes shopping, and had a fun lunch at Johnny Rockets. We were gone all day, then jumped back in the car and headed for the lake. Wish Em could have come with us! There is nothing she loves more than sitting around a campfire!

Came home to some good scrappy news. First, I moved on to the next round of So You Think You Can Scrap. Didn't expect to after scrapping for my life again. Go vote if you get a chance!

Also got some cool congratulatory emails from people who noticed my layout in the BasicGrey August Newsletter. I was so excited when Kelly Goree, one of my all-time favorite scrappers, emailed me and asked me to participate. Well, HECKS YEAH was my answer! LOL! Thanks to those who noticed!

Got approached to do another fun little project. I'll share more when I can.

OK, off to switch the laundry. It's raining cats and dogs, so maybe I'll even scrap a little something this afternoon. What else is a girl to do?

ONE MORE FULL WEEK OF SUMMER. But who's counting?

Fun news!

I got this in the mail yesterday. I needed a little boost, and it appeared at my doorstep! It's my first time in Simple Scrapbooks, and I'm excited! I haven't been submitting much this last year, due to the four-letter-word in my life . . . TIME. I forgot how much fun it is to open a layout and see your page. I wish I had more of my little swear word, but I don't.

Sat in the dentist's chair for almost three hours today. Now that is a good time, I tell ya! Came home and took a nap while the numbness wore off. Do I lead an exciting life or what? LOL!

Plans, plans, and more plans. I'll share them when I return.

Peace, people!

Sugarland ROCKS!

OK, I have to admit. I'm a little late to the country world. I have just started to enjoy some country in the last few years. And one day while channel surfing I came across a show on CMT about the group Sugarland. I loved them. They seemed like such humble, normal people. So I downloaded the entire album Enjoy the Ride. That's my first time choosing an entire album using ITunes. A song here or there? Well sure. But I've never picked an entire album. When I found out they were coming to Midland, I was excited. But didn't expect to be able to see them. Was I surprised when Emily bought me 4 tickets for Mother's Day!

It was an AMAZING show. The warm-up band was Emerson Drive. They were really good! But I was anxious for Sugarland. Especially since Em couldn't make it to the concert at the last minute due to studying for her Calc III final. So I asked my brother and SIL. Not a lot of real country lovers in our group.

To be honest, it's been a lot of years since I saw a concert, (think the Reagan era), but I'm telling you this was my FAVORITE! Jennifer Nettles is amazing. Truly a bundle of adorable, southern energy. She never stopped moving! And when she sang "Just Make Me Believe" she just about brought the house down.

Thank you, Emily. Wish you could have been there with us to enjoy it!

OK, I'm feeling a bit better now.

Let's see what's new. Sunday we went to a family reunion for Bill's side. Jen had fun playing with her second cousins, and spent hours under the swingset picking (and selling) wildflowers. Remember those days when you got immersed in play like that? The girls went and had the adults "go shopping" in their store, using imaginary money and credit cards. She didn't even come out to play ball, which was a first.

Yesterday was a busy one. First, took Jenna to the Dr. for two immunizations (ouch). Then off to swimming lessons, then to the local fair. Yesterday was the animals day, where we walk through the barns. I think Jenna touched every single species present. She is afraid of NOTHING. One of those sweet looking cows almost kicked me as she moved out of the ring. I was standing talking to a student, and she just about got me. I'm such a city girl. Didn't even see it coming.

Have I mentioned it's a busy summer? LOL. We have something planned every day and evening until next Thursday. I'm telling you, I need a vacation from summer vacation.

Peace out.

Well, she's moved in.

Emily is now in her new home, at college. It's an old house, and she will be living with four other girls. We spent all day on Saturday moving her in. We had a huge trailer, thankfully, and a lot of help. My brother and Jami came with, and they are both workers. Plus Maggi came with, which entertained Jenna. The house is, well, a college house. But the excitement in Em's eyes? Priceless. She and her roomies shopped for a long time to find the perfect house, and I guess this one is it. I saw a horrible paint job which led to windows that don't open, slanted floors, and general disrepair. I guess it's official, I'm old. And I never led that college life, living on (or slightly off) campus. I drove 45 minutes to college every day, then back home. I was mom to Em when I was in college. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

When I dropped her off her freshman year of college, it was ugly. She was struggling to say goodbye to Jenna, and coming to terms with the changes her life was taking. And I was keeping it together because I felt I needed to be there for her, emotionally. And trust me, I can be an emotional wreck at the drop of a hat. But once we got on campus, spent some time wandering around campus, Emily, with her amazing wisdom, said "mom, I don't think I'm going to cry when you leave. No offense, but this is amazing." And it was. The people, the energy, the whole nine yards. COOL. Made me wish I would have experienced college life without a newborn. The fact that Bill cried like a baby? Well, that's a whole 'nother story.

Last year, dropping her off at the dorm again, felt like old hat. No emotional turmoil, I know that's where she belongs. She was bored at home, which was kind of hard . . . knowing she needed her wings and we were holding her back.

Fast-forward to this year, and moving her into her house. Hearing about the house for almost a year, the trip to IKEA picking out the right desk and comforter, planning for this experience . . . it was exciting! And moving her in yesterday, then going out for dinner to celebrate, looking at how happy she was, well it was a good day!

That is, until I got home. I walked into her now empty room, and it hit me. Here's the next phase of her leaving, the empty space she left behind. And while I know in my heart it's the exact place she should be, and what I always wanted for her - to be able to go out on her own with joy and confidence, it made it somehow so much more real to me. So much more final. My baby is gone. It's bittersweet, that's for certain.

Love you, my Emily.

Look Mom, two layouts!

Amazed? Me too. It's been a while. That's all I'm saying. OK, time to face the day. Make it a good one!

So last night . . .

the photography group went and shot pictures of this amazing sunflower field. It was a drive and a half, but well worth it! We shot for an hour and a half, until we lost the sun. Hit a deer on the way home. Good times! See my photo blog for more examples. I was working on aperture and it's effect on exposure. There was a lot of bug love on the flowers, that's all I'm sayin'!

Project: Scrap Area

The goal? Get the stuff out of the dining room which I couldn't use, and make a spot in the formal living room for my scrap stuff. The before pics weren't really before, because at its ugliest everything was piled onto two sofa tables in the dining room. Then I moved it all into the living area, and worked in two rooms.

Last weekend my sis and I painted, and put up the Expedit shelving.

Phase three (coming soon) is to clear out the old furniture when Em takes it to school (which is not in the photo), hang the black and white pics in black frames with white mats, and get the new drawer and door units for the Expedit so I can once and for all be free of the plastic bins. I want most things closed/covered so the room appears neat. Also, Bill is going to add crown moulding to the room to give it a little character just like he added to the dining room.

The great thing is we are getting use out of this room instead of it being empty and collecting dust.

Before:


After

Seriously. Enough already.

Still busy, and it's bringing me down. Let's see. Went to IKEA on Thursday of last week, and took Em so she could get some things for her house. She's living off campus for the first time next year. So by the time we loaded her stuff, my stuff, and my sister's stuff, you couldn't see out the back window of my (white trash) van. YIKES. It's easy to create needs in that store, for sure. That killed Thursday.

Then I decided while Bill was gone for the weekend to paint the formal living room, which is now becoming my scrap area. It is the most unused room of our house. It is the dust collecting room. Once Em decided to take the couch, chairs, and tables for school it was decided to make a scrap corner. So I bought the Expedit bookcase. And to put it up, you have to attach it to the walls, which needed to be painted. So my sister Beth came over and we jumped in. Friday, I stripped the rest of the wallpaper backing off the walls. Why? I don't know. I just wanted to get it done. Saturday was the first coat of paint and Maggi's bday (see picture.) Sunday was the final coat of paint, and a trip to Urgent Care. I fell off the ladder, spilling brown paint on my off-white carpet. Hurt my wrist but kept painting. Then later when putting together the bookcase, I did the real damage. I thought I was going to throw up it hurt so bad. Not broken though, thank goodness.

There goes my weekend! But I feel a sense of accomplishment. Once the old furniture is out, I'll go look for the remaining pieces to finish the room. I'm excited, and I think it will look nice, as well as be functional.

I spent the day yesterday moving all the scrap stuff back in the room. A friend came and visited last night. Had an inservice this morning, and went shopping all afternoon for lamps. Another day bites the dust.

I'm starting to feel the end of summer. No matter how much I love my job, I love my freedom too, and I'm feeling it slipping away. I have this list in my head of things I haven't done enough of this summer, and it's bumming me out. I wish I would have read more, taken more pictures, done more scrapping . . . and the days are slipping away. Oh well, there's always next summer, right?

Peace.

Tag! You're it.

Well, I've been tagged by one of my friends from ScrapMuse, the ever-talented Donna, and it's my turn to tag five more people.
First, Miss Amy, who is contestant with me in the SYTYCS contest is a constant source of inspiration, as well as being one of the kindest, most supportive people I know. And her talent? Wow.
Another person whom I greatly admire is the famous Torm.Not only is she a terrifically talented scrapper, she has such style in her writing. I look forward to seeing her pages and reading the stories behind them. Gorgeous stuff, I tell ya!
I have been a fan of Alecia for years. She has been true to her style, and was doing her version of "Freestyle meets art" before it was the new trend. Check her out!
Then there is Shaunte. What to day about her. In one word? HILARIOUS. I think she should be a writer. I go to her blog often to read her take on life, as well as see her gorgeous family and her amazing pages. Love her.
OK, I''m out for now. I'll add one later.
Peace!

Nine down . . .

NONE TO GO. I just finished my 9th layout in the last three days. I am creatively pooped. But almost completely caught up. WHEW. I may even have time to do a layout of my own choosing . . . well, maybe not. The laundry room is calling. That's it for today!

Catching Up

Jen and I went to the Detroit Zoo last week on Wednesday with my SIL and niece. We had fun, the highlights being seeing this adorable polar bear swim around us, and feeding the giraffes. We then headed to the airport to pick up my niece from her trip to Paris. It was a fun day!

Also last week I took a few former students out to dinner and for a coffee. They are both seniors, and one I have known for 5 years, the other was my student for three years in a row. It was great to catch up with them. I am so fortunate to have a job that puts me in contact with so many amazing people. I miss my kids!

Then we went for the weekend to Elk Rapids and hung out at the beach. It was TERRIFIC. The weather was perfect, and it was very relaxing. I even read a wonderful book called Broken For You. It was wonderful. Plus we went out to lunch with my nephew who is a deputy up north. He took us to a wonderful restaurant called Pearls. It was New Orleans fare, and Bill tried alligator. And no, I did not taste it, thank you very much. Jen is truly a water baby, and is so tan, despite the SPF 50.

Now it's back to reality. And laundry. I actually scrapped today in between laundry, swim lessons, and a nap. (And that nap was for both Jenna and I! LOL!) I finished my entry for So You Think You Can Scrap. I will probably be scrapping for my life again since my layout is near the bottom again. Oh well. I love a challenge! Also got five layouts mostly done from the August kit from A Million Memories. Now tomorrow I can focus on my ProvoCraft projects, and maybe, just maybe, get a layout done just for me! Wish me luck. Off to fold another load of laundry.