I'm Back!

I haven't posted anything since school started, and it's because I've been so busy. Things are slowing down, and I'm getting first grade figured out. Here are some pictures of what we've been doing.

Here are the shoes of my students.

J made cupcakes for the fellowship meal at church in September. His October cupcakes were "bagels with lox" on top of a carrot cake cupcake.

At school, in science, we watered one plant and didn't water the other. Guess what happened.

B had her birthday. here are cards she got from family and the lap desk she had really wanted. I've already used that thing, and it's a great help!

B had a party with 4 friends. She's doing some charades here.One friend made a paper sub sandwich for her. Her favorite!!

They did crazy hairdos.

They decorated their own cookies for the birthday dessert. At school, we are making Bible projects. This first one is Noah's Ark, and the one below is the Tower of Babel.

So that's what's up around here. Leave me a comment!

First Day of 2009-2010

Since everyone else was doing it, I had to post our first day pictures as well! It was kinda dark---it was about 6:55 when I took these.

Here's B going to 5th grade. We found the BEST backpack (originally $50, for $20!!) in the colors she likes. We got a big lunchbox this year so she can put her nifty new cereal bowl in there. It keeps the milk cold in a special freezer compartment. Yes, cereal with milk for lunch!! Not that keeping things cold will be a problem---lunch is at 10:45. Geeze! Last year she was at the other extreme: 12:50. Here's J with his orange and black outfit he pulled together. The laces were not original to the shoes, but a good touch. He's going to 8th grade. He will be taking these classes:
Computer (BCIS)
P.E.
Spanish 3 for Native Speakers
U.S. History
Biology
Algebra
English
Band
S

He did not take a backpack today, and will get his computer about a month from today. (Someone's birthday!) J is riding a bus home many days.

I got a Sonic drink today that didn't have sonic ice in it!

To be or not to be

J and I started watching Hamlet on the Ovation channel Thursday night, and I was excited to see it was back on this evening. I had to miss the last 30 minutes! So now I'm finishing it up.

It has been 17 years or so since I've studied Shakespeare, but I still love it. I don't understand all of it, but I like it! I took two semesters of Shakespeare---one at Texas A&M and one at UNT---and I still have my BIG Complete Works of Shakespeare (somewhere). It's best watched, not read.

I'm glad J was interested in watching Shakespeare with me. He's an actor, so maybe he'll get to perform it one day. At Christmastime, he will try to get in a school production of "A Christmas Carol." He is not getting to take drama this year after all---he has to take a technology class instead because of the program he's in. Jamie wants to see "Twelfth Night" tomorrow, so we're setting the VCR.

This version I'm watching now was made in 2000, and is set in NYCity. Ethan Hawke is Hamlet. I'm enjoying it!

Here are a couple of pictures from the last few weeks.

When I top this hill, and start down this long stretch, I know I'm almost there. (Do you know where?)

I did a beginning of year activity in my classroom using this book. Each child brough a rock, as did I, and we will keep them here as long as we're in the class.

This is me on the first day of school. One of my students took it for me.

Here are all the new shoes! and legs, and knees, and khaki shorts.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, August 22nd

Today's theme is ripples. I'm waxing philosophical!

I couldn't think of any shots I have of ripples on the water. I should have looked or some this week and got a shot, but have been busy---my school has already begun. We're well on our way into the 2009-2010 year!

As I woke this morning, I thought about the ripples our decisions make, or the ripples the circumstances make in our lives and again in the lives of those around us.

This is my paternal grandmother and her brother. They lived in Tennessee and grew up during the depression. Their circumstances---including a father's illness with tuberculosis---led to certain attitudes and personality traits I can see in me.

This is Larry's family. I can't think about the ripples unless I think about the "looks" of people, our genetic heritage. Larry's grandmother is the third woman from the right, and seated are her parents. There is a certain body build in all the men on Larry's side that are descended from Larry's Dad. Another ripple was that Larry's grandmother was the one who taught him to read at an early age.

Both Larry and I come from stock that's not so tall! While our J has passed me by and already has feet bigger than his daddy, I still think he won't get over 6 feet tall. This shorter genetic heritage ripples on by . . .

Here is my short family. I'm the one in the white skirt in the front. And I am only 5'2". Even our men are only about 5'7" or so.

And another choice that's rippled down for the benefit of me and my kin---that my grandparents on my Mom's side even got together. None of his other 3 siblings ever married. I'm glad he made the leap to do it!

Life is full of these ripples, both good and bad. I hope my own actions are rippling into my children's lives in a positive way.

Check out more ripples at TNChick's website. Next week's theme is Surprise!

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, August 15th

This week's theme is artificial. Check out more photo hunters on TNChick's website.

Last Saturday morning, this is where I was. It looks like a resort, and I guess for some it is a vacation spot. But this is my Granbury, my hometown. I went back for my 20th high school reunion. The reason this picture is artificial is that this is on the lake, and it used to just be the marina. It was the turnaround spot for "the drag." But now, they've made a nice beach there, with pretty sand and the Tiki Hut (for snacks). It's right next to the Hilton. Granbury with a Hilton? A nice beach, on Lake Granbury, artificially trucked in.

J reminded me of his artificially altered photos. He has made a picture of himself look like the Joker. Kinda creepy! He altered this photo to give me artificial colors (kinda like Kool-Aid colors?).

Next week's theme is ripples. I'll try to keep up, but I've already started back to teaching school, so I'm busy with all that beginning of the year stuff. Have yourself a great week!

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, August 1st

This week's word of the week is Entertainment. For better or worse, my son has always been an entertainer. I'm highlighting some good entertaining he's done in the recent past.

This is his latest role in a BVTroupe production: Peanuts' Schroeder. This is the end of "his" song, Beethoven.
This is J in a skit where he's a sportscaster. It was "extreme," man.

This one is from last summer's BVT production of Annie. J played Rooster, Ms. Hannigan's shady brother. Here he si reading a note that says, "The jig is up." He was very good at playing the mischievous part, and I still think his rendition of "easy Street with Ms. Hannigan and his girlfriend was top notch. Great entertainment!

This week's theme was SO easy for me to come up with. J has been entertaining us his whole life, but his time spent on stage (which he loves) is entertainment others seem to enjoy as well. I need to remind him every once in a while that he's not supposed to be an entertainer at school in the classroom!!

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Go by TNChick's site to see more entertaining posts. Next week's theme is low.

Suppertime!

What we've eaten lately. (I see Mrs. H's weekly menus and get inspired.)

this week:

Monday: Beer Battered fish (I know, frozen from a bag, but, some nights are just this way!!)

HEB Edamame, broccoli, red pepper (that was delicious!)

Tuesday: (Lar not home) Make your own nachos---Jamie had some leftover shrimp and made his shrimp nachos. very interesting! Mine was more like a taco salad.

Wednesday: (tonight!) Enchilada Bake (Granny's recipe) It's something like this picture, and a recipe you can use what you have on hand. Start with a bag of Doritos crunched on the bottom of the pan. Add on in layers: taco meat, can of corn, can of black beans (or any kind), can of Rotel, cheese. Bake until heated through.

Also, a green salad

Thursday: Stromboli and some zucchini, steamed

Friday: Taco Salad (old school kind with ranch style beans, Fritos, and Catalina dressing) Mrs. H has a recipe! We have gotten out of the habit of making this one (I can blame it on the kids.)

Saturday: J's Paninis---or possibly another Rachael Ray recipe. His choice!

Sunday: Sandwich supper @ church. I think J might make his Turkey/Provolone sandwiches and some panda cupcakes!

Monday: Ham hock/bean soup

I've been waiting for this one!!

The afternoon is quiet (except the gong sound that happens when J's txt message comes in). I told the kids no more computer or TV until they practice their instruments! heehee! All I'm asking for is 20 minutes. Is that so hard? But I have kept them busy with learning a new game, too---Mexican train. Or as one friend of Mexican heritage calls it, "Train." ;-) I just learned it at a teacher gathering last Thursday night.

I about have all my ducks in a row for getting B taken care of when I start back to teacher days and they don't go back for 2 weeks. It's hard being a working Mom!!

I've been good and walked twice this week. I was fast walking today with no walking companions, but was glad to have B with me yesterday morning. We walked all around the neighborhood on the other side of the park from me. I'm feeling good! I started my cholesterol medicine this week, too. Bleh! I'm high blood pressure, high cholesterol and overweight. Bleh!!! Maybe I can stay inspired even when school starts back up.

Walking on Wednesday

A lot of songs on my playlist are from the A section!

Cowboy Take Me Away (Dixie Chicks)
Ain't No Other Man (Christina Aguilera)
Pride (In the Name of Love) (U2)
All You Need is Love (The Beatles)
Velvet (Fergie)
All for the Best (from Godspell soundtrack)
On the Last Night (Rockapella)
Play That Funky Music White Boy (Wild Cherry)
Always on my Mind (Pet Shop Boys)
Kiss From a Rose (Seal)
I love that song!
American Woman (Lenny Kravitz)
An American in Paris

I'm coordinating the lunch for my first teacher workday---it's coming up in one week!! We are pot lucking a baked potato lunch. I love it!! I'm bringing dessert---just need to decide what it's going to be! Lemonade cake? Eclair pie? Cherry Dump Cake? Chocolate Chip Cookies? (leave your opinion.)

Today holds a trip to Wal-Mart. I'll be looking at paint samples with Jamie. We're painting his bed!

And for anyone who doesn't already know, my Mom's surgery went well. She came out of the anesthesia much better this time, and she was up making her own sandwich and iced tea as soon as we got home. It was SO much better. She has another surgery on the 22nd. It could be the last one or there might be another one. This time, the bottom of her nose---the part around her nostril---is starting to look like a regular nose. And it seems like it's staying healthy and coming together the way it ought to. Whew!!

Have a great week!!

Songs to Walk By

Mad About You (Sting)
Love Me Do (The Beatles)
Love Song for No One (John Mayer)
Love Shack (B 52's)
Look What You've Done (Jet)
Long Time Gone (Dixie Chicks)
Locked Out (Crowded House)
Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
Little Wing (Sting)
Linus and Lucy (Vince Guaraldi)
Light in Your Eyes (Cheryl Crow)
Lift Up (Rockapella)
Life is a Highway (Rascal Flatts)
Life in a Northern Town (The Dream Academy)
Let it Be (The Beatles)
Let Love Rule (Lenny Kravitz)
Last Train to Clarksville (The Monkees)
Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer)

This is in reverse order. I think My player must be on a "play through all the songs in alphabetical order" mode or something, which works for me. I started where I left off yesterday with "Kiss Me" and worked through my Ls this morning. Some of these at the end---I was sitting in front of the computer uploading photo sot Wal-Mart! I just kept liking the songs, so I kept listening. I did actually walk a good 45 minutes.

Enjoy your day!

I'm Walking . . .

Today I walked alone. J is at church camp, along with little sis B. I had gotten used to his company along those neighborhood streets. But my music keeps me company, and often inspires me to walk faster. My years marching to band music always give me the urge to keep my steps in time to the music. It's more so when I was walking at the track. It's smooth, flat and even. Out on the streets, I almost always have a slant to the side. And rocks and sticks to maneuver around.

Here are my musical accompaniments:

If I Fall You're Going Down With Me (Dixie Chicks)
New Year's Day (U2)
Back to You (John Mayer)
Can't Buy Me Love (The Beatles)
If I Needed Someone (The Beatles)
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over (Lenny Kravitz)
Bali Ha'i (Charlotte Church)
Jesus Take the Wheel (Carrie Underwood)
From My First Moment (Charlotte Church)
Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer)

Larry and I were at dinner when that storm popped up over us last night. We were eating out for our 18th anniversary, and I wanted it to be kinda romantic, so we went to the restaurant Larry took me to the night he proposed. Its' Cenare, on University Drive near the A&M campus. He didn't propose there, but under the Century Tree on campus---a traditional spot.

We sat right up front by the windows, so we had a real great view of the wind, rain, and little bit of hail we got in that part of town. The really bad stuff was south of us. We did not see the funnel clouds! Our view was looking east. We waited at the restaurant about an extra half hour for the weather to calm down enough for us to drive in it. Nothing much more to report!

Dinner was yummy---we started with stuffed mushrooms and both had a salad. I ordered the Pollo Carciofi, and Larry had Tortellini Toscana. We finished by sharing a chocolate dipped Cannoli (there's a picture of one from our restaurant on the top of this page!). I really enjoyed eating the delicious food and enjoying my delicious company. I even did the healthy thing---I brought about half of my entree home with me. I can't wait for lunch!

Have a happy day!!

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, July 18th

These are all mixed up chronologically, but I am late enough as it is. Today's theme is ROCKS. I went with a literal, concrete term, and pulled out many from my files. My rock collage:
When we took our spring 2008 Girl Scout trip, we crossed the Paluxy River during our breakfast time. On the rocks!

Here's our B on a rock in the river. Look how long her hair was!!

The year before that, we took our Girl Scouts to . . . Natural Bridge Caverns! It was inside some underground rocks. B is the 4th from the right.

This is a honeymoon picture of my Mom's parents. It was 1947, and they are near Fontana Dam, sitting on the rock wall.

This is my Mom by another rock wall in East Tennessee, circa 1950.

I took a trip to the Grand Teton National Park with the church youth group. These are the biggest rocks!! This is Jenny Lake. IT IS SO PRETTY THERE!!

These are the rocks on the seawall in Galveston, TX. On the rocks are my hubby and my two kids. They were 2 and a half and 5 and a half in 2001.

This last pic is my college friend and I near a rock riverbank. I think this is at Camp Hensel.

I hope you enjoyed my rocks! Check out more rocks at TNChick's website---follow the comment links.

Next week's theme is Utensils. I may not get to it---I'll be going to my Mom's to be there after her surgery, which happens on Saturday. I didn't even know they scheduled surgeries on Saturdays!!

Everyone have a great week! Hi Kelly!

San Antonio #2

Guest writer---our B!

In this picture, Bananas is in front of a building that we thought looked cool in downtown San Antonio.

This is Bananas in front of a sign at Mission San Jose.

Bananas and me are park rangers at the mission!!!!

In this picture Bananas is sitting by a hole in the wall that people who were fighting there would stick their guns through.

Me and Bananas are sitting by some baskets in a fireplace thing in the corner.

This is me and Bananas sitting in a window behind the church part of the mission.

Bananas is sitting in the opening of an oven.

Now Bananas is sitting on the oven!

Bananas is in the corner of the mission.

That's Bananas in front of the church dome.

This is Bananas on top of a well.

In this picture, me and Bananas are sitting in a window.

This is a little water bowl in the wall in the church.

This is Bananas in the back of the mission.

This is me and Bananas sitting in a different window.

Bananas thought this mission was kinda big.

Bananas really liked how we rode back to the hotel---we rode there on the bus.

Summer Photos

This summer has been full of activity! The Troupers sang a parody at the airport for Stanley Wayne Mathis as he came into town. J is the one in the scarf. (Don't ask why)

We went to the Granbury parade. J was loud and crazy enough to get people to squirt him with the water. It's been SO HOT this summer.

On the square in Granbury. Strike a pose, J!

J and my dad are Vannah White-ing the BIG ice cream cone.

Me and my dinner. I went to the square hoping I could find this stand with the Shepherds' Tacos. They're pork, and you squeeze all that vegetable goodness with lime juice before you eat it. Under there, it's 3 tacos. Yeah, it was messy.

Dad's Big Band---they're cool!

B keeps herself busy during the break in the concert. She has finished TWO library reading charts already, and is on her way to finish #3.

The band played into the night, leading up to the fireworks show. We all wanted to just leave after the show, though! It was hot, and we'd had to leave my Mom at home. She's recovering from some surgery on her nose.

The new-to-us car. I didn't know this was blurry until I got it on the computer. I really am enjoying it!

It's been a Charlie Brown Summer. Get on the bus!!

J is Schroeder. He's frustrated here with people disrupting the peace he needs to be his artistic self. A role J has embraced.

The song---Beethoven Day. The crowd surrounds Schroeder as he sings about his love for Beethoven and the holiday he looks forward to the most.

This is my favorite song---The Book Report. Schroeder likens the book Peter Rabbit to one he likes, Robin Hood.

The song---The Baseball Game

These three actors also sang last summer in "Easy Street." J was Rooster, the girl in the left was his girlfriend, and the girl on the right was Mrs. Hannigan (Rooster's sister).

The end. The blur on the left is someone's hands clapping! J is the one with the blond-haired mask.

It's been a good summer---but it's half over!! :-(

Jamie and I walked for about an hour this morning. That's three times this week so far!! GO US!!

My song list this morning:
Song 9 (Rockapella)Hello, Goodbye (The Beatles)
When You Come (Crowded House)
I Want to Tell You (The Beatles)
Sh-Boom (The Chords, from the Cars soundtrack)
Shape of My Heart (Sting)
Don't Tell Me You Do (Rockapella)
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2)
Clumsy (Fergie)
Phantom of the Opera (Sarah Brightman)
She's Too Good for Me (Sting)
Sweetest Thing (U2)
3x5 (John Mayer)
Blue Canary in the Outlet by the Lightswitch (They Might Be Giants)
Doctor Robert (The Beatles)

I haven't compared the list here to what I wrote on that other post---to see if they're the same. I have about 250 songs on my little off-brand MP3, and I keep it on shuffle. It's funny how often I get the same artists on the same trip. Of course, what you see here repeated---Sting and The Beatles---that's pretty well represented in my collection.