Happy Valentine's Day

We did a little impromptu photo shoot so

I could make Amberly's Valentine cards for school. 

She was so cute and came up with the idea of 

I ♥ U all by herself.  

She told me what poses she wanted and planned out what she was going to wear.  

It was the easiest photo shoot ever!

I can't get over how my baby is no longer a baby.

Where did the time go?  Do I sound like an old lady?

I'm not...it's just that yesterday she was running around learning how to walk and 

saying things like "bustard" and "skam-ich".

Now she's planning out her Valentine cards and playing volleyball and making up nicknames for the boys she likes so they don't know who her and her friends are talking about.

 

I sure love this girl and am so lucky to call her mine.  

Happy Valentines Day from our house to yours ♥

P.S. Cassidy was too old and cool to have Valentines cards this year. (teenagers - wink)

Back to School 2012

School has started back up.  I can't believe how fast the summer flew by!  We had so much fun this summer.  I loved not having a schedule, sleeping in, swimming everyday and staying up late.  My girls are at a really fun age where they get along so well and we can just be together without a lot of fighting. 

I love taking a picture of the girls on the first day of school.  Looking back over the years it floors me how fast they grow.  Cassidy grew an entire inch from July- August!  One month!  She is now a half inch taller than I am!  Both my girls will be taller than me I just know it.

I won't lie and say that the last week was hard and I wanted school to start ASAP.  The excitement that these girls had for school could not be contained in their little bodies.  They were bouncing off the walls and couldn't focus on much of anything (chores).  It was hard to give up our easy breezy summer schedule but since they were ready so was I.  The first day went off without a hitch and both girls are loving school. 

And this picture is why I don't buy school pictures.  No school photographer could capture the twinkle that's in her beautiful brown eyes like her mama can.  Do you see the love? ♥  So remember, when it's time for school pictures......save you cash and take your own.  It will be worth it.  

Summer is Here

Today was the last day of school.  7th and 3rd grade DONE!  I don't know who was more excited......me or the girls.  I am ready for a relaxing no demand schedule.  Don't get me wrong.  I have things planned for us to do but there is NO homework involved and that is what makes me happy.  The girls have been saving their money for these snorkel sets they saw at Costco.  After school today we went to lunch, then to buy their new summer toy.  They swam all day happy as mermaids.

This year flew by.  I seems like the girls just started school.   My nephew Garrett's birthday was last week and I completely forgot.  When my brother texted me a reminder I thought to myself......."it's his birthday?  But he already had it this year."  I promise that's what when through my head.  It has been an entire year since he tured eight and it feels like it's been a few months.  What???

I took a break from blogging.  I wasn't happy about it but I just couldn't seem to find the time in our busy life.  It makes me sad that I missed so many little moments and I vow to try and catch up on some of them (the ones I can remember) and keep track in the future.  Since time is moving so quickly I need to make sure and keep track of what's going on around here even if my pictures are from my phone or I just pop in to write a little blurb.

What are your plans this summer and did this school year fly for you as it did for me?

Back to School

We have survived the first week of school.  I was a wreck...the kids were perfectly fine.  It literally took me a full week to come to terms that I have a child in Jr. High.  I still vividly remember walking out of Cassidy's kindergarten classroom on the first day of school crying that my baby was starting school.  Tom and my Mom were crying too by the way.  We were a mess!

Cass is the cutest girl.  I have asked her everyday how her day was, did she get lost, who did she sit with at lunch and if she is loving Jr. High?  Her response...."It's just school Mom".  Not only do I have a daughter in Jr. High but a typical teenager as well (wink).

Miss Amberly is a BIG third grader.  She loves her new teacher and even though her bestie isn't in her class this year she is in the classroom right next door and that is just as good.   She has told me a few times that "she's lonely without her big sister at the school with her" but is being very brave and loving it.  I am loving her with no front teeth!

 

Thankfully my little poser was in the mood for pictures....she's such a cutie♥

Summer School at Home

We here at Gradenview Cottage will be doing Summer School at home.  I want my kids to be ahead of the game when school starts so they can enjoy school and not feel lost or intimidated.  I'm sure that will still happen a little (it always does) but if they go into school feeling confident in reading, writing, typing and math well...all the better.

So some friends and I have asked around, done some research and found some amazing sites that we will be using Monday- Thursday mornings to keep our brains in tip-top shape.  Are you ready for them?

Khan Academy.  I just learned about this site last week.  Oh how I wish I had know about it all those nights Tom was at school and I was helping Cassidy with her homework!!  It would have saved me many times over.  Watch the video and hopefully you will be as impressed as I am.  It can teach you anything and everything in short 12 min videos.  Perfect!





Book Adventure-This is a reading program like we have at our school.  You read a book then take a short quiz on that book and earn points.  This site says you can win prizes once you have earned enough points.  Things like e-books, activity books, a candy bar, Highlights Magazine Etc.    I need follow up on the directions and start this with my kids next week.  I told my girls about it today and they have already picked out a book to read.  Yippee!  it's working already!

Here's a fun thing to make for your early readers.  It's a PVC pipe telephone that you read into very softly so you don't disturb those around you yet....you can hear yourself perfectly!  I know that my Amberly loves to read out loud but sometimes.....well we would rather her not.  This is perfect!  (of course these are her teachers but they are on the list for me to make for my kids and my nieces and nephews).  p.s. this picture was taken on the water party day.  i would never let Abby wear this to school.

Dance Mat Typing - This is Amberly's favorite site to play on.  Well she likes Webkins but this is her favorite learning site.  It has typing games to help her learn to type.  I've got to tell you, for a 2nd grader and only 7 that girl can type as fast as I can and can text faster than I can. 

My neighbor told me about an Art School here locally that I am going to go check out next week.  Cassidy loves art and can draw like nobodies business.  I want to see if we can't find someone who can hone her natural talent.

We are also going to continue voice lessons and piano lessons which should keep us pretty busy around here.  If you have some other learning sites that you love please share!

Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Today:
Highlights of the End of the School Year

1)  The 2nd grade water party (I already posted about it but it was THAT awesome!)
2)  Cassidy getting an A on her Country Report (Japan)
3)  The 6th grade (Cassidy's class only) Awards ceremony and potluck at the water park.
4)  Cassidy's teacher this year was phenomenal!  I will be requesting her for Abby for 6th grade.
5)  The 6th grade vs. Teachers Kickball game on the last day of school.  The whole school went out to watch (it's tradition) and when I saw Cassidy's teacher right before the big game she had: her hair up in pig-tail-buns, shorts, knee high socks, a jersey with her name on it (the teachers have matching jerseys with their names - the 6th graders didn't) and she had black stuff smudged under her eyes.  When I saw her she said, "do you see this face?  It means....WAR!"  Alrighty then.
6)  The 6th Grade High 5's after the kickball game.  They start in the front of the school go all around up and down the halls high fiveing every teacher and student as a BIG Goodbye Send-off to Jr. High.  I have to admit, I got a little chocked up. 
7)  Amberly's tender hearted Teacher who loves those kids as much as her own.  The very last day it was a bawl fest in her classroom.  The 2nd graders were bawling, the teacher was bawling, the parents were bawling.  Amberly was sad for the rest of the day knowing she won't have her again.  And so was I...Sniff
8)  The girls wear t-shirts to school the last few days of school to have the kids/teachers sign.  Then they use that t-shirt as P.J's the rest of the year.  This year they had matching red ones.  They looked adorable.
9)  When I stopped in to Amberly's class to drop something off on the very last day all the kids were signing away with the teacher on her piano.  Pure bliss and precious memories.
10)  Seeing my kids faces at the end of the last day.  Cassidy with a HUGE smile on her face because a new chapter is about to unfold and Amberly with red puffy eyes from crying because sometimes ending one chapter to start another is hard.

Summer...Summer...Summer

Today is the last day of school.  Cassidy is leaving our little safe haven elementary school for the BIG Jr. High (sniff).  We brought in our teacher and office staff gifts and I will admit I got a tad teary when she was delivering and saying her goodbyes.  I was really teary yesterday when we gave Amberly's teacher her present.  We have been so blessed with amazing teachers, principal and school! 

After I left the school I was feeling sad so I went over to Target.  I needed to return a shirt and thought a little retail therapy would perk my spirits.  Just walking around Target puts a little spring in your step wouldn't you say?  

I love every single dish on those shelves (in picture below) melamine is my favorite because it's light, easy to hold a whole stack (great for arthritics like me) and come in such fun colors and shapes! I had to take a picture so I wouldn't fill my cart!

Have you seen the lemonade stand area? Everything you need to make some money.  I'm going to have to take my girls and see if they want to buy some of this darling stuff.  Those yellow and white striped cups came home with me...I couldn't resist.  I'm now going to get my toes done in my last two hours of freedom without kids. Happy summer!

Questions:
Are you sad that school is over?
Do you take in teacher gifts?
Does target put a spring in your step?

Water Day!

This morning I went to help at the school in Amberly's class (as usual on Monday mornings).  I typed up a letter, ran copies, got artwork ready to be laminated, took the kids to music, picked up the kids from music and helped get ready for the end of the year water party.  Now this isn't some boring ol' "let's play in some water party" this was top notch I tell ya.  I wasn't going to stay but some of the other Mom's talked me into it and I couldn't resist seeing how excited the kids were to get out there and get wet.

The day's activities were:
Lunch in the Classroom - hotdogs, chips, carrots, water bottles and rice crispy treats.

Water Kickball - each base was a kiddie pool filled with water and home base was a slip n' slide.
Man did the kids have a blast with that!

Water Relay Races - 3 buckets for each team that they had to do all sorts of different things while taking turns and of course...getting wet.

Bubbles and Slippery Slides - We put the hose on the curly slide on the playground and poured dish soap on the slide to make a slippery, foamy, fast slide.  At one point our awesome teacher climbed up to fix the hose and the kids were chanting her name so she dramatically slid down the slide and splashed in the pool at the bottom getting completely wet and sudsy.........talk about an amazing teacher!!!

Throw Wet Soggy Balls at Each Other Out of a Feed Trough - because the real name of this game is not politically correct anymore and if I wrote it on the blog I might get hate mail (lets just say it's called Smear the........) and call it good.  The kids had a blast getting those balls dripping wet and then pummeling eachother as hard and fast as they could!

Snow cones - this caused me grief and made me realize that I am not meant to be a teacher for any length of time.  I have a very hard time with greed, obnoxious behavior, disobedience, rudeness and complete lack of respect.  Why is it when you put a limit on something (in this case extra snow cone syrup and ice) it makes it more desirable?  Man, I had to take all the snow cone stuff away and go inside to calm down.  We were being completely taken over by greedy little monsters and I was about to lose it!  If Amberly's teacher had seen how those kids were acting I'm sure the whole water party would have come to a complete halt!

It was hot today (98ish) and we were outside.  However, with all the water, games and fun it was worth every minute!  The kids had the time of their life and I'm so thankful to have such an amazing teacher for Amberly and a wonderful school that lets the kids have rewards and fun for meeting their goals (in this case it was a reading goal). 

Now to get ready for summer around here.  Wonder if I can plan a fun water party for the cousins or neighbors or something.  Hmmmmmmm.........

p.s. sorry for no pictures.....still having computer issues.

Walk Like an Egyptian

Cassidy has been studying Egyptian Gods and Goddesses in school.  Don't get me started - I will say the kids had a blast. I wish they would have studied American History instead but like I said...don't get me started.  The night before we had my cute neighbor come over and do a trial run on the make-up.  I'm not a dramitic make-up wearer so I don't have a lot of knowledge in that department.  We had so much fun playing in the make-up but I'm pretty sure Cassidy had the most fun of all.

We only did one eye that night but the next morning I went to town with my new mad make-up skills and we got her all Egyptian worthy.  She was Mut The Goddess of the New Kingdom and Queen of all Gods.  She had wings like a vulture but that was a little boring so we made them fancy and fun!  

We got her 100% silk dress at my favorite thrift store for $.99 and embellished it with ribbon.  I wish I would have taken a picture of her shoes.  They are the new favorite thing around here.  Oh wait...I'll go take a picture right now.  Hold on a sec............

Cute huh?  She loved wearing high heels to school.  These were also $.99.  

I ♥ thrifting.

They had a wax museum for the entire 6th grade.  You went into each classroom and the desks were lined up in a maze so you could go listen to each student.  Our dear, sweet, amazing Principle listened to every..single..6th graders..presentation..at each of their desks.  Amazing is an understatement.

Cassidy did an awesome job and even though she doesn't look it in this picture, she had fun and will always remember this day.  As will I. We are so proud of her!!!  6th grade is awesome so far - (except I still wish this would have been about our Founding  Fathers instead.......)

 Some of the kids really went all out and got crazy with their costumes. I had to snap a picture of this kid in a different class.  Can you believe that head piece?  WOWZA!!

so much better.........

Ahhhhhhh......can I tell you that my new blog look is giving me warm fuzzies inside.  That 4th of July business I had up for July was too bold or something.  Every time I opened my blog I was like, "eeek!"

Don't get me wrong, I love the 4th and all it represents, our freedom, the colors, the festivities and I especially loved the saying I had on my blog banner - "In God We Trust."  I'm just giddy about my new banner.  Funny how the little things bring me such joy.

Summer is officially done.  The girls have been back in school for one whole week.  Sad.  I have to admit that I wasn't ready for them to return.  It just seemed like it wasn't time yet.  And no it wasn't the 116 weather we are having.  Summer flew by and then was over before I knew it.  I still feel like they are just away at Grandma's or a friends.  It's not real yet.    

I have a lot of catching up to do.  I haven't blogged in weeks and am going to pay for it when I try and upload all my summer pictures.  Boy Howdy this will take me awhile.  Even without my good camera I seemed to take a lot of pictures of what we did around here. We didn't go on vacation, we didn't do anything spectacular we just.had.fun.

The saddest part of our summer was that the day Tom finished up his Masters Program at ASU (which he spent the entire summer going M-Thur at night) the girls went back to school.  Very little Daddy time was had around our house this summer.  It was just me and the girls.  Maybe that's why it seemed to go by so fast.  I loved spending time with them everyday.  We had a great summer together and I enjoyed every second.

I'll be updating soon.  I have pictures to sort and then WHAM!  Before you know it there will be 200 new posts on here (kidding - only kidding).

Talk soon,

Cara

Teacher Gift Ideas

Right now I am in the middle of planning a going away party for Amberly's amazing teacher's aide and planning my end-of-the-year teacher gifts for Cassidy and Amberly's teachers.

I am the room Mom for Amberly's class and next week we are having a party for the aide, pizza, drinks and cookies.  Each child is bringing in a new or used book for her soon-to-be-classroom-library and $5 for the pizza and gift.  I'm going to go and get gift cards for her to use next year when (and if) she has her own classroom.
I'm hoping it will look something like this:  From HERE

The girls over at 2 Clever Blog always have something amazing going on and they are cute and funny too!  I have gotten a lot of great ideas from them and I promise - I always give them the credit!

Anyway, I thought I would share what I have done in the past and which I hope to do again this year.
I already have in the works for Amberly's teacher the 101 Things We Love And Will Miss About You gift.  You can read all about it HERE.  It's the best teacher gift I have ever seen! (1st photo-Cassidy's 2nd grade teacher gift - 2nd photo Amberly's kindergarten teacher gift)

We also make a t-shirt for the girls to wear to school on the last day.  They love having their friends sign it and then they get to wear it to bed at night and feel the love of their friends and remember what a fun year they had.  You can read about that post HERE  (I wish I knew how to re-post a post so you didn't have to keep clicking off this page!)  And yes...that IS a picture of Cassidy surfing on a surfboard!

Here's what I did last year for the girls in the front office at school, the school nurse, the cutest bus driver ever and all the aides, helpers and Principal.  

Cassidy's teacher this year is such a DOLL I want to do something extra special for her.  I'm not the room Mom so I'm not even going to attempt to to the $$$ idea.  She loves gum so I'm trying to come up with some cute gift that has TONS of gum in it.  And not gumballs, real minty gum!  Any ideas for me friends?

Here's a link with cute sayings and gift ideas: skip to my lou

I guess that's it for now.  After trying to find all my old posts I have realized that I need to organize my labels really, really badly.  Seriously, I almost gave up on this post.  And I'm sure there are more ideas but...I can't find them.  Sorry about that. 

For now - I'm going to bed!  I'm so tired♥

Field Trip with Amberly

I got to chaperone for the 1st grade field trip to the Desert Botanical Gardens.  I had never been and was very excited.  The desert is in full bloom right now since we have gotten so much rain.  To start things off Amberly and I took a self portrait on the bus as we were heading out.



























1st off let me point out the three teachers in this picture. Two of them are wearing black shirts with one of them wearing a green shirt.  This is the 1st grade walking into the park with our guides.  Here's the funny part: as soon as we Mom's were paired up with 5-6 students each and a guide the teachers......disappeared!  I'm not kidding!  We thought they must be with a different group but nope...we ran into the three of them at one point and they were all alone.  Sneaky wouldn't you say?

This is one of the guides talking to us , telling us the rules and what we were going to do and see while we were there.

Amberly listening to the guide.  Do you love her matching pink water bottle?

We were told to wear good walking shoes which I did.  I should have worn shorts since it turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far - 95! and I was wearing my jeans!  Yuck!

If you go to the Desert Botanical Gardens I highly recommend getting a tour guide.  She was wonderful and taught us all kinds of fun facts about the desert.  The kids learned that each desert animal has a plant buddy.  The Gila Woodpecker and the saguaro cactus are buddies for example.  Very interesting.  There was an older couple that walked by us and said to eachother, "we need to hang with the kids!  Look at all the info they are getting!"  I thought that was funny.  (I also love the little boy in this picture that's picking his nose.)
One more thing: the guide was an exact twin to my SIL Cami.  It freaked me out a little how similar they were.  

I think Dr. Seuss got his drawing ideas from desert plants.  

Doesn't this look like it should be in one of his books?

This one too.  Isn't it so funny!

The kids (and my) favorite part was the butterfly exhibit.  We went to a butterfly farm in St. Thomas that I thought was the coolest thing ever!  And here we had one right in our own backyard.  Amazing!!  The kids had so much fun trying to get the butterflies to land on them.  Amberly was sad that one didn't land on her but we had fun looking at them all.  And...they had the misters on full blast which was a welcome relief from the heat!!

On the bus ride home - which was very LOUD Amberly took her own set of pictures.
1) her shoes 2) the LOUD boys behind us 3) her self portrait.
There were about five Mom's that sat together on the ride back and we had fun talking and laughing while the kids went a little crazy.  All in all it was really fun and we will defiantly be going back so we can walk around the gardens and see everything it has to offer!  I loved it!!!

100 Day of School

I never posted pictures of the 100 Day at school!  I'm so sad.  I thought to myself..."Oh well, it's too late..." and then I thought, "NO!  I'm going to post them so I can remember for next year and do it again!"

So here is what we did for the 100 Day of School Party.

I had a couple of Mom's come help and we did stations.
1) Making a paper chain that's 100 rings.
2) Counting out a snack in 10's.  10 goldfish, 10 fruit loops, 10 gummy bears etc.
3) Making a card with 100 things on it.
4)  there's more we did but I can't remember what.  See why it's important to blog right away on stuff like this?

And my favorite thing was making this 100 Things That We Love board in the classroom.

I went a day early and asked the kids for some things that they loved.  I can't tell you enough how fun this was.  I thought they would sit there looking at me clueless and I would have to help them.  NOPE!!!  They had no problem telling me all sorts of things.  You will have to enlarge the picture to see but some of the answers were sooo creative!

I did the words in five different fonts and sizes.  That way they were all a little different.  

Then I stapled the words around a large sign I made that said:

100 Things we Love

Mrs. Haydens

1st Grade Class

Then we hung the 100 paper chain around the board. 

SO DANG CUTE!

Have you ever made one of these for you or your family?

We have one that I did that's on a  12x12 cardstock. 

I need to do another one because I did it when Abby was a brand new baby 

and Cassidy was 5!  Alot has changed since then.

I will try and do this again for Abby's class next year.  

If I get the 2nd grade teacher I want I know she will let me.

Fingers crossed!

Here's a link to my 1st post with more detailed party info: 100 Day Party

100 Days

The 100 day of school is coming up this week over here, not sure if it’s close in your neck of the woods but thought I would share some ideas.
My kids think this is such a fun day – they look forward to it from say……..day 15 - I’m serious.  Not sure what the teachers do or say to make it so exciting but I’m glad that my kids are excited!
I am in charge of the 100 Day Party in Abby’s class and here’s what we are planning:
We will have four stations and rotate at about 15 min. each.
Some of the ideas we came up with and I’m still not sure how to narrow these down to four!  They all seem so fun!!!:
Take the kids outside for some fresh air and exercise:  Have the kids do 100 Hops, 100 Jumping jacks, turn in circles, hop on one foot, touch your toes...etc.  Or break it up and do 10, 20, or 25 of each.
Design a coloring page of how I celebrated 100 days of school and have them color it. – 1st graders L-O-V-E to color.
100 item snack - 10 different items that they get to count out in 10's and then eat as the snack – have them put them in a quart size Ziploc bag or lunch sack
Make a paper chain that has 100 links
Measure the volume, in cups, of 100 kernels of popping corn. Pop the corn, measure the volume, and eat the results.
Put together a 100 piece puzzle – they have these at the $1 store
I am also going to make a collage called "100 things I love". I will be asking the kids some of the things they love on Monday and then I will put it in a frame and have it ready to hang in the classroom on our party day.
The family fun magazine this month has a whole page worth of ideas for a 100 Day party.  There is nothing on their website but the magazine is better anyway.
It should be really fun and I have several other parents willing to help.  I’ll be sure to take pictures so you can see the chaos fun!

Memore Monday - Last Weekend

Last weekend was very busy. Thursday night I had book club here. I didn't realize how stressful having book club is. I haven't had it at my house for two years so I had forgotten how much work goes into it. I decorated for Halloween, did a little rearranging of rooms and vignettes, got a little snacky-snack for us to munch in. (I ordered a BIG cake of the yummy one we had for lunch the other day. It was to-die-divine!) We had a grand time and I picked The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I haven't started it yet but plan to this week.

Friday I helped in Abby's classroom. We made spider cupcakes, (they were so cute! good luck finding black string licorice - there isn't any to be found, I used black pipe cleaners instead)spider webs on a black paper plate with a hanging spider, (i don't have a picture)and spiders that hang from a string. They are learning about spiders this month. How fun is 1st grade? My word, to be a kid again!

After I got done from helping in the classroom I hurried off to help my neighbor decorate for a bridal shower. Blue and brown were the colors. I love a party that's for sure. I then hurried home and changed and got ready for a night out with the hubby.

**funny story alert**funny story alert**funny story alert**funny story alert**

Last year Monica and her hubby went to Time Out for Couples on Friday night then a bunch of us girls went to Time Out for Women on Saturday. It was so much fun we thought we would do it again. So Monica bought the tickets months in advance we got a posse together and off we went. We decided it would be fun to eat dinner downtown before we all (husbands included) went to Time Out for Couples. As we are walking up to the conference center people are staring. I looked GOOD but come on why all the stares?! I know my hubby is handsome but I was starting to get a little self conscious. We get up to the door and find out it's..............

NOT TIME OUT FOR COUPLES THIS YEAR!

What? The guy that sold Monica the tickets specifically told her she only needed one ticket per couple for the Friday night session. We decided to go in anyway and found seats on the back row in case we needed a quick escape. Our friends Annie and Aron were already there and boy was Aron worried we weren't going to show up. He was sitting with 1800 women and no other man in site! Talk about a brave hubby!!

We had fun listening to the speakers, laughing at all the people staring at us and laughing harder when Jarrod came back from using the restroom. He sat down and said, "there are NO men's bathrooms ANYWHERE! I finally went into the 15th women's bathroom full of nursing women and said, sorry ladies but I've got to go!" Oh my was it funny!

At one point during a break this older couple came up to one of the guys and said, "boy am I glad you guys are here I was feeling out of place!" Wouldn't you in a room full of the opposite sex?

We had a great time even though we were out of place. Tom said he has never been so motivated by "such fluff" before. I though that was the funniest part of the night!

Thomas the T-Rex

Tonight we had to make a T-Rex dinosaur for Amberly's school project. We found a fun site that had a template for us to print, color and cut. Perfect for a 1st grader. It's even 3-D!!! She say's her's is the best because it can stand up all by it's self. It's the little things that matter.

So...if you are in need of a dinosaur project for your 1st grader or little boy who loves all things dino. Here you go!

T-Rex Dinosaur Project

Enjoy♥

Employed for Free

I started my new job today.
I didn't want to get a job until after January.
Let me fully enjoy the holidays and all.
But the opportunity presented it's self so agreed.

My new job is working in Miss Amberly's classroom.
Everyday I go in for a couple of hours to help the teacher.
I'm hoping this will accomplish two things:

1) Help Amberly feel secure so she doesn't cry anymore.
2) See what her classroom is like so I can find out why there is so much crying.

I'm crossing my fingers that I can get to the bottom of this.
I don't think my heart can take much more sadness from my little sweetie♥

We Survived........

The First Day of School.

I didn't even cry.
I even kinda sang George Micheal's "Freedom" song
as I was dancing out of the school this morning.
Tom was laughing at me.
I then had a very busy morning getting my hair done, grocery shopping,
making dinner, looking for a fabric store and stopping off at the ribbon store.
I even found time to make some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
for my girls to come home and eat.
When I went to pick them up at the bus I couldn't believe how fast the day zoomed by!
Tomorrow I better be a little more productive -
this will take some time to fine tune I think.
The best part?
They were happy to see me and I was overjoyed to see them!
The first day of school,
I would say,
Was a success!!!!

Weekend of Learning

I'm still recovering.
But it's a GOOD recovery.
A recovery of BLISS

I got to go to a Professional Photographers of America conference this past weekend. Hours and hours of photog tips and tricks. I learned about posing, lighting, photo shop, babies, backgrounds, branding, albums, pricing and selling. Most of these things I won't be using but it was fun to learn. Did I just say it was fun to learn (gasp!)

My cousin Lisa who IS a professional photographer came into town for the holidays and to attend this conference. Lucky for me she could bring a friend and I got to be her friend. (grin) Now as you know I am not, nor do I claim to be a real photographer, but I do want to take cute pictures of my kids and the occasional friend or family member so this was very helpful. I came away with a lot more knowledge than I had, and realized that my brain could never own it's own business. Leave that one to Tom or Lisa. Thank Lisa I had a blast!!!

I can't say which one thing was my favorite. I had several. I loved hearing Anne Geddes talk to us for a whole hour & a half. She told of her life and story of photography. I was impressed with her when she showed a picture of a baby she told us the name and the story of that baby and the photo shoot. She did this with each picture! She was a very humble speaker and I enjoyed her the most.

I also liked Hansen Fong. He taught the posing and lighting class. I learned how to post people to make them look big or small, or if you are big how to make you look small. Very easy tips. I'm sure I will use them.

At one table I was asking about these cute camera straps this lady was selling. I asked her if they were longer than normal. She hands me her camera and says "why don't you try it!" O.k. yay! I got to put the camera on in a very crowded squished area when this girl that is practically smashed up next to me says, "she....just....gave....you...her...camera" she said this very slowly and with eyes as big as saucers. Then I realize I am holding a very large and very expensive camera. I try the camera on and give that camera right back as fast as I can. Can you imagine what could have happened??? But I guess I can say that I have held a very expensive camera huh?

I loved the trade show. Tom goes to these for his business (he goes to dental conventions) so it was fun to walk around and see what he would be doing at one. I also loved all the booths. There was a jewelry booth that was fun, someone selling very cute camera cases called jill-e - oh I so wanted the pink one. But which one? They are both so cute!And I totally stalked the Totally Rad Actions guy while he was giving demos. Since I have these actions I thought I should learn as much as I could so I kept coming back. A lot. It was a little embarrassing. But who cares - now I know what do do with those actions! There was also a booth that had the cutest frames EVER!!!! Wild Sorbet Frame Company Oh I wanted every single one. But then that would look funny if I had all those frames up in my house. I think I might have to get one for over Abby's bed. One to frame her name maybe. They were sooo cute. Oh and maybe I will get a polka dot one for the bathroom. That's an idea. Oh the possibilities.

I might just have to re-do my bathroom now that I have seen this picture. I m dying over how cute it is!!! I want it, I NEED it! How do I get it?!

But I think I have to say that my favorite part of the weekend was when Lisa and I were sitting at Anne Geddes waiting for it to start. I whip out the camera and decide we need a self portrait picture. After many attempts (many is an understatement) with no luck we had to ask the guy next to us to take our picture. By this time we are laughing so hard along with everyone around us. Here we are at a professional Photography seminar and we can't even take a decent picture of ourselves. Freakin' hilarious!Yeah, we know what we are doing!Such winners! And see the guys behind us trying to get in the picture?

Almost - but my head isn't looking right. Notice the people behind us?

The picture below is the one the guy next to us took. He was joking that he would send us his bill since you know....he is a real photographer and all.

The guys behind us were getting in on the action and trying to get in our picture. So we had to turn around and take a picture of them. We were all laughing at this point!

I had so much fun and learned so much. Thanks Lisa for inviting me to be your friend (even though you have to be my friend in real life since we are related). If you lived here I would apply to be your employee - we would have a blast!