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!