It's beginning to look alot like Christmas.

Ok maybe not quite but with the little bit of snow on the ground and the fog it just seems like Christmas is just right around the corner. Of course it is just really right around the corner. I'm really in the mood to buy presents and make things. Too bad working gets in the way of all my fun time. I need to get out my planner and make some lists and put down all my ideas before they fly out of my brain. I used to remember everything. Now I need to write things down or off they go into neverland.

Today was a strange day. We had a substitute today which in of itself isn't a big deal. But one of our students was gone and that usually isn't a big deal either. This student though is the one that effects my day the most. Two periods of the day another EA and I change and lay this student down. We go to another room and it's just the three of us, nice and peaceful. After we lay her down we have 30 minutes that we sit and visit and knit or do something useful. It is really a treat after all these years of constant going and doing. Anyway with this student gone we couldn't justify going and just sitting in the room but we really didn't have anything to do either in any of the other rooms. If we would have had our regular teacher she probably would have found something to keep us busy. So we felt like lost souls with no home. I know poor us but it really is harder to not have anything to do than to be really busy. I'll take really busy anyday. Hopefully things are back to normal tomorrow.

After many months of missing Hello.com and chatting online with Haley, we finally connected on google talk this morning. It used to be so nice to chat a little with her in the morning or later at night when she couldn't sleep. I think I'll still miss hello but this will be nice. Even though I see and talk to my grandchildren more than most grandparents it's nice to have a little daily dose of conversation with them.

I finished my sleeves last night. Woohoo!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm on the front which shouldn't take too long I hope. The neck instructions seem a little tricky but maybe once I'm that far it'll make sense to me. I'm worried most about the hood and sewing the thing together. I really hope it turns out well because it's fun to see a skein of yarn and watch it turn into something wearable. I have always loved crafts and needlework just for that reason. You take virtually nothing and turn it into something beautiful. Feeds that creative spirit.

Can you believe I'm on Facebook? When Steve's brother was here he said he was on Facebook and how he had reconnected with some of his classmates. We talked and I said I didn't think people my age were on Facebook but he is only 7 years younger so I thought who knows it might be worth a try. Well I was more right than he was. I put in my high school and year and what do you know. 3 people from a class of over 300 were there. Yep we're a happening group, keeping up with all the latest and greatest. But I did discover some of my coffee friends and who knows, maybe the word will get to my classmates yet. I'm not holding my breath.

I love this quote.

"Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you'll be grateful that you did."

TTFN

Ice, Snow, Poppies and Sleeves

How's that for a title? I woke up this morning to a nice coating of ice all over everything when I let the dog out at 5:30. I was so grateful that I didn't have to go to work today. I've driven to work so many times in bad weather that I didn't need to add another one to my belt. Now within the last half hour or so it's turned to snow. Very pretty snow I might add, nice big flakes coming down so soft and gentle. If we have to have snow already then this is the kind of snow I want. What would be great is if this snow only lasts a few days and we wait another month or so before we get any more. Like that will happen.

I was watching the CBS morning show this morning while I was knitting my sleeves. They are doing a decade a day for this week and today was the 60's. It was so fun to see some of the old commercials and clothes and all the footage of things I so remember. But one of the hosts had a paper poppy in his lapel and talked about when he was younger they always sold these paper poppies as a way of making money for the veteran's organizations. I had totally forgot about those! They were such a part of my childhood and young adulthood. Most of the men always sported a poppy in their shirt buttonhole and sometimes even as a kid we would buy a poppy and thought it was so cool. I wonder when they stopped doing that. At least I think they aren't selling poppies anymore.

So I'm finally seeing the finish line with these sleeves I'm knitting. After ripping them out about six times I'm almost to the end. If I wasn't such a perfectionist I might have been done much sooner. Since it's a sweater that hopefully Will will wear, I want it to be able to hold up and not fall apart and to look halfway decent. My goal was to finish the sleeves on these 4 days off and I think I'm going to make it. Next is the front and the hood and then I can try and figure out how to sew it together and my first sweater will be done. Yeah!

Well today is my last day of my 4 day weekend. It was so nice to have 4 days with no commitments tied to it. So many times during the school year there is a holiday involved with our days off that I never feel like they were truly days off. Like Thanksgiving (which I totally love). We have 5 days off. Wednesday I'll make pies and whatever else for Thanksgiving. Then of course there's Thanksgiving. Hopefully we'll shop on Friday. Saturday and Sunday I'm planning on putting up my tree and decorating. So see I really enjoy these days that are mine to do with as I please. Not that I always get done everything that I plan. I did accomplish quite a bit. Today I'm hoping to put some order to my den and figure out how I can keep everything I need in there and still use the space. I really need a big closet for that room. Since that's not happening I have to figure out some way to make it work. I can't scrapbook if half my stuff is downstairs and half is upstairs. What I wouldn't give to just have more space. As much as I try to get rid of stuff, there is so much stuff that I know as soon as I get rid of it I'll wish I still had it. I work with two diversely different people. One keeps everything. If we have hat day at school she can pull out a cool old hat she's had for 40 years. Her house is anything but neat but she is a most interesting person. The other person is a neat freak. If we decide to go out to eat some Saturday for lunch, she can never make it because she has to clean house. Trust me her house is always clean and she doesn't keep anything that isn't necessary. She's a nice person but not nearly as interesting because her life is so structured. They always buy groceries on Thursday. She plays bingo always on Tuesday. Anyway my point is I would like to fall somewhere in between these two. I want enough structure that my life doesn't get out of control, but I also don't want to get so tied to how my house looks that I miss out on things. So my den needs to find that balance today. It is totally out of control. Hopefully I can get rid of enough stuff that I can do what I need to do in there. Wish me luck. I like my stuff!

Well goodness I've rambled quite enough. I need to get to work on a few of those chores and finish those sleeves.

TTFN

What a difference a week makes!

Last week it was 70 degrees and a picture perfect day. This week this is what is greeting me in the morning when I step out and get the paper. Nice huh? And man is it cold, a bone chilling 20 some degrees. I kinda like the snow but it's going to take some getting used to with the cold.

So how is my four day weekend going you ask. Pretty good. I spent most of it yesterday shopping. Amy wanted to get up early and get to Walmart by 8:00 to grab a special on a laptop she had seen online. I'm always up for a shopping trip so I said sure I'd love to go along. Well after much confusion from the Walmart staff. (Like we were just standing around the electronics area with a few other people waiting for it to hit 8 o'clock. Two minutes before 8 they say oh you need to get a number from the customer service area. Great, a line is forming with people who already have numbers.) Long story short Amy got a number and while waiting in line I decided that it was just too good a deal to pass up and I got a number. So by 8:30 both Amy and I had laptops for $298 each. I thought Steve might not be happy because we really don't need another computer but luckily he was ok with it. So after that we went home for awhile and waited for Kyra to get ready and then we headed out to the mall. Both Kyra and I wanted new winter coats. I found what I was looking for right away but Kyra wasn't quite as easy. She has definite ideas of what she likes, just like her mom did at her age. Amy says it's just pay back. I guess I go along to say uh huh, yep that's right. But I got a coat, some tarts from Yankee candle and a new top and jeans. Not bad for a days work. And hopefully I helped the economy too. Haha.

Yesterday I spent alot of time thinking about something called project 365. The only way I knew about it was in the photography area, where you take a picture every day for a year. I think that is such a cool idea and would love to do that. But then I read about this couple who took Rachael Ray's 365 No Repeat cookbook and decided to make a recipe from that book every day. They started at the beginning and worked their way through to the end. All this made me think that I need to start some 365 projects of my own. Particularly in the cooking department. Realistically I know I couldn't cook something different every day. There's only 2 of us and we would have too many leftovers, but I could try and cook about 5 meals a week. Sometimes I have to make something a project before I can get excited about it. Especially things that have become quite mundane like cooking. So I started another blog called Colleen Cooks 365 (there's a link to the left side of my blog). I'm hoping by blogging and documenting it will give me that nudge to actually do it. Time will only tell, but hey nothing ventured nothing gained right.

Less than 3 weeks until Thanksgiving my favorite holiday. I love Thanksgiving because it's just about getting together and enjoying your family with food and traditions. There's no pressure to find the right gift or any of that. This year I'm particularly excited because Wendy is hosting it. It's like passing on the torch. I thought maybe I might be sad about that but heck no I've done it for so many years like 30 something that it will nice to be mostly a guest. And the best part is I still get to make some of the food. (By the way Wendy I hope you got my email, outlook was being weird this morning)

Well I've rambled on enough. I should go knit on a sweater. I've only attempted the sleeves about 6 times but this time I think I've got it.

TTFN

Blizzard Warnings???

Yes that's right. There are blizzard warnings for the western 2/3 of the state. We just have a winter weather advisory here. Gotta love living in South Dakota. Why just Friday. Amy, Wendy and I sat outside handing out Halloween candy. We didn't even need coats. And now they are talking about 32 inches of snow in the Black Hills and 1 to 2 inches here. I don't think I'm ready for winter yet. I remember the first 2 years we were back in South Dakota after living for 3 years in California. Both years 1976 and 1977 we had Veteran's Day blizzards. And if I remember correctly it was terrible weather the rest of the winter. Maybe it only seemed terrible because we had been away from all the cold and snow for 3 years but I do remember there being snow on the ground all winter. We really have had such mild winters lately and especially it seems they haven't started until later in the season that a "normal" South Dakota winter might be really hard to take. But there is nothing we can do about it but enjoy what ever comes our way.

Well election day is over. History was made, the first black President for the US. I loved listening to Whoopi Goldberg on the view yesterday. She put it so well when she said she could now put her suitcase down. Unfortunately I think there is still a portion of this country that doesn't share that feeling. I think Barack Obama will make a great president. All great presidents have been great orators and Barack is one of the best. When it's all said and done it isn't as much about what his policys are as it is about how well he makes us feel as a country. If ever our country needed a great cheerleader it is now. Enough with the politicalness.

I could probably post more but I must get ready for school. Two more days this week and then a 4 day weekend. Yahoo!!!

TTFN

Where did October go?

Wow here it is the 3rd of November already! Can it only be 3 short weeks until Thanksgiving and only 53 days until Christmas? And in just 2 short weeks is the Festival of Trees which always starts the holidays for me. The weather has been so nice that it seems surreal that the holidays are so close. Though I have to say my mind is wandering towards Christmas all the time lately.

It was a very quiet weekend here. Saturday I cleaned some and did some computer things. I should put my computer somewhere else so I could get my den cleaned. I come into to clean and next thing I know I'm sitting at the computer. Guess it could be worse. Later in the afternoon Haley called and wanted to know if I wanted to come with them to Looks Meat Market. Of course I would love to go. I don't get to do many things with Wendy and kids because of their busy schedule so I jumped at the chance to hang out with them for awhile. After Looks we hung out here for awhile and then went to Perkins for supper. It was a very pleasant day. Yesterday was about as lazy as a day could get. I should have spent the day outside since it was about 75 degrees. Could be the last one of those we get to enjoy. But alas I spent it in the house doing odds and ends. I finished the back of Will's sweater and started working on the sleeves but realized after a couple of rows that one sleeve had 26 stitches on it and the other had 28. Oops. Ripped it out and will start over today. I'm excited to get it done because I have never made a sweater before. Hopefully it will be one he can wear at least once and not be one that has arms done to the floor or something.

I almost forgot to talk about the Halloween party. Friday was the Halloween party. It was so fun to see all the kids and meet some of Haley's friends and Hannah's friend. Both Scott and Wendy wore costumes. It was just eerie to talk to Scott in his. He had a mask that was just hard to look at it. I think it creeped me out more than it did the kids. And Amy she could hardly even talk to him. I think I took pictures of it but they are still in my camera which Kyra has. I'm not doing a very good job of getting pictures on my blog. Goal for November more pictures and more entries.

Well this is a full week of school, one of the few in November. Next week only 3 days. Yeah!!!!!!!! Tomorrow is election day. I will be glad to have that over with. Maybe we can find out what else is going on in the world after Tuesday. I really want to start dieting again. I know I wasn't going to talk about it anymore but I still do need to get it under control.

Guess I should go get ready for school. I don't have to pack a lunch because we are cooking with the kids today. That's always a challange but fun. I need to clean out my knitting bag a little too.

TTFN

Weekend Recap

Why does time on the weekends go so much faster than during the rest of the week? Even when I have an extra day off it still goes flying by. Friday Amy, Will and I hit the mall in search of a few items to fill in my fall wardrobe. We got home in time for Wendy to pick of Will and then we left again for KMart. I bought 2 pairs of shoes and a couple pairs of pants. Saturday Steve and I hit Sams and Walmart before going to Hannah's last soccer game. She was really aggressive and played well so it was fun to watch. Then I went and picked up Wendy and the kids and took Haley clear across town to her Lego league. I hadn't been that far west for a long time. This town is amazing. Then Wendy,Will, Hannah and I went and found Halloween decorations for their Halloween party. Then back to pick up Haley and Valentinos for supper. Yesterday I spend the day in the kitchen cooking. I made meatballs, 3 casseroles, cooked a pumpkin and froze 4 cups of pumpkin ( I had never done that before) and made barbeque pork for sandwiches, and taco shells to freeze. I have pictures of the mess I made but no time to post them now. Maybe I'll post pictures tonight. Needless to say my kitchen is still a mess because I filled my dishwasher up once and its ready for the second load of dishes. What do them by hand! If there's one thing I've learned well over the years is that messes will wait. It was a fast and furious weekend but productive and thats what counts. I will post more tonight and with pictures if I remember. I want to get my blog numbers up for the month so twice a day posting should do it. Off to get ready for the day.
TTFN

I want summer back!

I had today off because of a middle school conference. Grade school and high school still had school today just us lucky middle schoolers were off. It just made me long for summer vacation. This was the first day off I've had where really nobody else was off. Steve was at work and there was no where I had to be at any particular time. Made me long for those summer days that were carefree. I did accomplish a few things like pay bills and transfer my summer clothes into storage and bring out some of my winterish clothes. I wonder what it would be like to have enough closet space that I wouldn't have to put half my wardrobe away every season. I digress. I realized this week with the cooler temperatures that my last years fall clothes look pretty tacky. In my job with wiping dirty faces and noses and other sundry body parts my clothes take a real beating. So Amy and Will and I hit the mall to find some new tops and things. All I really wanted was some crew neck long sleeve tee shirts. I have lots of jackets and vests that still work but shirts to go underneath are what really get abused during the course of the year. It would seem that that would be an easy undertaking, right? Well maybe it would be if I was a size 6 but in my size everything seems to be mock turtle necks. YUCK! I'm not ready for that yet! I might not be ready for those even in January. I did buy a few things to update my wardrobe but I probably would have saved money if they would have had crew neck shirts. The best part of today was taking Will with us. That's what made me miss summer. He is just a hoot. The things he comes up with and says like "I don't want Coldstone I want Warmstone!" they just make me laugh. I say this everytime but I so wish I could just turn him on slo mo so he doesn't grow up too fast.
I also realized by looking back on my blog that I'm not doing a very good job of updating it. Another reason I want summer back. I had more to write about. I can't really write about work with confidentiality and all and the rest of my life is rather mundane. Or at least not much is blog worthy. So I sit down to blog and go hmmm what's there to write about. So I'll have to think of some interesting things that might be blog worthy that might get me back into blogging more.
I went to Kyra's chorus concert last night. It was very good. There was some music that was a little dull but overall it was terrific. It really made me realize though how much times have changed. The kids all had on blue jeans and their chorus tshirts. Even the director had on jeans. When Amy was in chorus everyone dressed up even the parents who went. I'm not sure which I like better. It's nice to know that you don't always have to dress up to attend an event, but I miss getting dressed up to go to things too. I wonder if we aren't getting just a little too casual. Maybe it'll turn around. They always say what goes around comes around. For whatever that's worth.
See I've blabbed on about nothing for long enough now. I should see whats on tv and crawl into to bed to warm up. I'm not sure I'm ready for cold weather.
TTFN

What's not to love about this face?

Don't you just want to smooch those chubby cheeks? Two year olds are probably my favorite and this one just grabs my heart. From "Grandma, Grandma" "Grandma Grandma" to responding to your answer of his question with " Oh I didn't know". He is just the best. I love all my grandchildren but at the moment I want to stop time and keep this one little just a wee bit longer.

Lots to get done today. I need to make some food and use some of the vegetables I seem to be collecting. Of course all the usual household chores still have to be done. We have to go to Great Grandma and Grandpa's for Grandma's birthday. I think she might be turning 78. I also want to go to an open house down the street from us. They completely gutted it and redid it. So that should be interesting. AND I hope to get some scrapbooking done too. I wish I had a week off about now. I think I could get alot done.

Well I need to get at it.
TTFN

Where's Friday when you need it?

Today was a stressful day and the fact that I have one more day of school this week doesn't help. If I tried to explain what made this day so frustrating I don't think anyone outside of school would even begin to understand. Lets just say that even though we have way less kids we have to jump through so many more hoops and between demanding parents and teachers who act first and think later it's frustrating the heck out of me. Let's just leave it at that.

On to more uplifting subjects. The weather has been gorgeous. Perfect fall days and nights. Last night they predicted a light frost so I picked all my basil. Tonight I'm going to make pesto to freeze. I don't think it really froze but I did see a little frost on the rooftops this morning on my way in to work. It won't be long before scraping windows will be the norm. Can Christmas be far behind? I love this time of year. I need to get out and get some pictures before all the leaves are gone from the trees.

The vice presidential debates are on tonight. I doubt that I will watch. I have had my mind made up for quite awhile and I don't think it will change so I don't want to watch. Isn't that terrible? It will be interesting to see how all this economy thing plays out. Unfortunately no matter who gets in office I don't think much is going to change any time soon.

Well my pizza just got here so I think I'll go eat. I really didn't have much to write about anyway.
TTFN

Not three days in a row!

Hard to believe huh? See what not having anxiety attacks can do. Changes your life I tell ya!! I even came home and changed clothes and made supper. Pretty damn amazing. I made a recipe out of a cookbook I stole back from Wendy. She had this amazing cheesy pasta chicken stuff one Saturday as leftover. Having not had lunch I stole a few bites and thought wow this was really good. (Not that I didn't think it would be Wendy! I just thought it was a really good dish and one I would like to make.) When they came home I asked where she got the recipe from and she said one of my cookbooks she had borrowed. So I obsessed over this dish for a couple of weeks and finally one Saturday babysitting I ransacked her cookbooks and found the recipe. Took the cookbook back home and had planned to make it that next week. Well it didn't work out that way but I made it tonight. It's a chicken veggie mixture that you make and then you use some of it for these other recipes in the book. I made the Portuguese frittata tonight and it was amazing. Amy you could so do this without the chicken for Kyra. It would still be yummy. Anyway thank you Wendy. I may have never gotten around to making this if hadn't been for you. Come take more of my cookbooks and share what's really good to make out of them.

I let Kyra use my camera last night. She's going to photography club this coming Saturday and she's borrowing my camera. It was fun to see the images she got. She's got a good perspective and captured some cute images. Like my crazy grandsons. Yeah they're just a little goofy.

Steve just took Grady to the pet store to pick out new toys and some new bones to chew on. I hope if there is such a thing as reincarnation and I have to come back as a pet that I'm owned by somebody like us. Grady definitely has it made in the shade here.

Glenna is back in town. Actually they are staying in a cabin on Oakwood lake but close enough. We're going to supper tomorrow night. It'll be nice to reconnect and visit. I really miss working with her. She was one of a kind.

Well since there isn't much on tv I think I'm going to read for awhile. I started Gossamer by Lois Lowry. It's a middle school book but it's quite fascinating so far.

TTFN

Another weekend bites the dust!

Wow what a fast weekend this was! I feel like I've only really been home just a little bit. Even less than when I'm babysitting. But I actually got a lot done today. What a difference it makes not to have anxiety attacks all day. I've actually not had any big ones all week. I sure wish I knew what brought them on. It sure makes a difference in my energy level that's for sure.

I really cleaned this morning for awhile. Did my refrigerator, cleaned of my counters swept and

mopped the floor, ran the dishwasher, you know just the general kitchen cleaning stuff. Then I moved on to the living room and bathroom before I stopped for the day. Amy called and wanted to go get Wendy something and I needed to do that to. Nothing like waiting until the day after her birthday. So off we went to the mall. Had lunch and proceeded to shop. Unfortunately Kyra was having pms issues and was just not pleasant so we quit early and went home. I came home made a grocery list and went to the store. Then I came home and made a salad and deviled eggs and went to Scott's for supper for the girls birthdays. So even though it wasn't the weekend I

had envisioned I got alot done and had a good time. It's all good.

I promised pictures of the kids from the apple orchard so I better get them on here before I leave. There's thunder in the distance so I better make it quick.

Grandpa and Will sharing apple turnover with ice cream.

Haley and Hannah on the hay bales.

Will riding the train. He's one serious driver.

The kids on the ponies. Look how big Haley looks.

Well the weather is booming and blogger is having some formatting issues so I think I'll call it a night.

TTFN

Happy Birthday Amy and Wendy!!!!!!!!!

It's my daughter's and daughter-in-law's birthdays today. My son had the good sense to marry someone whose birthday is the same day as his sisters. No excuse for not remembering either one huh? All I know is that of all the women in the world I have the 2 best to be my daughter and daughter-in-law. My daughter is my best friend, the person who I can always count on to go and do fun things together with. She also is the person who keeps me up to date on whats in vogue and in style. That doesn't mean we're style mavins, it just means she always knows whats in and cool. She knows the hottest books and music and what colors are the in colors. She's also very creative and talented. Like today we hit thrift stores so she could find old wool sweaters. She wants to felt them and make purses out of them. How cool is that!

Wendy is just the best daughter in law anyone could want. She is such a great mom and always has everything so organized. She's my idol in that she gets up every morning to work out and still has time to get the kids and herself ready for the day. I barely get myself out the door in one piece. I wish we had more time together to do the fun things that Amy and I get to do. We would have a blast. Unfortunately their time together as a family is so limited that I hate to suggest we go shopping on a Sunday, but we should try and do it once in awhile.

Amy and I went to the farmers market again today. After that and Starbucks I went home to what I thought would be a very productive day at home. Well I hadn't been home for more than 10 minutes when the phone rings. It was Kyra ( though at the time I thought it was Kirby). Could I get Mom out of the house from 10 to 12? I thought she said that Cameron was going to paint the wall in the living room as a surprise for her birthday. So I called Amy and said that I didn't feel like doing anything yet and would she like to go out and do something. We decided to go thrift store shopping. Man why does anybody buy anything new anymore when thrift stores have everything? But anyway we got home about 12:30ish and there sitting in their living room was a piano. Cameron had arranged for a piano mover to come and move his parent's piano to their house. I know Amy was probably a little disappointed because she had decided she wanted an electric piano and had even picked one out at Schmidts. I'm sure his parents said why spend the money when they could have theirs. I know how getting something from the in-laws isn't always the gift it should be. My mother-in-law gave me an electric frying pan one year for either birthday or Christmas. Well after a year or two I had hardly ever used it so I sold it on the rummage sale. I don't think she ever forgave me. So I hope that down the line somewhere her inlaws don't either yank it out from under her as in "oh Chrissy needs the piano now". I just know that Amy and Kyra will really enjoy having a piano in the house.

I've started decorating for fall. I did a little bit a couple of weeks ago and I hope to finish today. Honestly it has just felt too early for fall things. Even when the weather was cool and fall like I didn't feel like it should be fall all ready. Well fall is here whether I'm ready or not and I need to get the decorations out. I am ready for soups and apples and pumpkins so I guess I'm ready for fall.

I must blog with pictures that I took last week with the kids at the apple orchard. Maybe I can do that tomorrow. I have been such a terrible blogger lately. Work is really quite stressful lately and I come home drained physically and emotionally. Though I have to say I didn't have any big anxiety attacks this week so maybe that's a good sign. I am really sick of them. They zap any energy I may have and make it impossible to keep up with all that I need to keep up with. I'm really not one who wants to take more drugs than necessary so I'm not sure I want to go to an everyday drug. I keep hoping that I will "outgrow" them. They came on suddenly maybe they can go away the same way.

Well I've written enough for one day. I really do need to get things done.
TTFN

No More Talk of Dieting

I was going back and reading some of my old blog entries. Every other one was about dieting and how I'm not doing it. Well jeez, shut up already. There's more to life than whining about how pathetic you are in the dieting department. So there. No dieting talk. No more negative talk period. Of course that means I must figure out what else to talk about. Could be kinda slim pickins.

I do know that I love my Saturday mornings. Going to the farmers market even if I don't really need anything is still a great way to spend a morning. We get Starbucks and hit the Breadsmith and sometimes other places that are on our list. It is so great to have an adult daughter to enjoy all those things with. I could always go with a friend but I don't think it would ever be as much fun as I have with Amy. Actually when it's all said and done there really is nothing better than spending time with the people you love.

Tomorrow I watch the kids again. A Sunday this time. I don't think I have the kids for the next few weeks. I will definitely miss them. Spending a whole day with them is just the best. I don't know what we'll end up doing. I'd like to take them to the apple orchard. I think their festival is this weekend. Will would like it I think. We'll have to see how it goes.

I bought a soup cookbook magazine this week. I know, surprise I buy a cookbook something!!!LOL. I can't wait for soup season. One of my favorite things to make especially on a cool Sunday is soup. This cookbook has some great looking recipes.

I have had such major anxiety issues this week. Even if I take a pill or two I still can't seem to shake them off. Not only do I feel funky with them they make me feel like I can't do anything. If your heart beats weird the tendency is to just sit and rest. At least for me that's what I feel like doing. I really don't know what sets them off. I don't think it's the usual fears or things like that. I really think it's more a chemical imbalance of some sort. Whatever it's no fun.

Well that's about it for the night. I took a break from writing this to go out to eat with Steve's dad. I should probably get a few things picked up and done tonight since tomorrow will be a washout.

TTFN

Phantom blogger strikes

I wish I could get into the habit of blogging everyday, but it aint happening I guess. Well it was a fairly uneventful week last week. School is going fine. I went to CCHS to observe a student who might be coming to us. Sweet kid and we would do fine having her, but so medically fragile. I'm afraid that being exposed to so many germs on a daily basis would be a nightmare for her. Even the doctor doesn't want her to go, but of course money is everything and that is what will eventually determine if she comes or not. In a perfect world we would do what's best for the student not what costs the least.

Lets see! Dieting you ask? Well it's going as well as the daily blogging. BUT TODAY IS MONDAY!!! Try, try again right? Wonder if it would work better if I started on a Wednesday or something. Nah. I do know one of these times I am going to make it a whole week or more and then look out.

Amy and I went to the Farmers Market on Saturday as usual but since I didn't have to watch the kids we decided to go to Kohls and Gordmans. I needed some new after school wear and wanted to look for some new fall decorations too. Scored on both. The weather was very fallish all weekend. Rainy on Saturday and cold and windy on Sunday so I'm definitely in the mood to decorate for fall.
Sunday Amy and I again went out. We went to the parade of homes. We just went to the ones close to us on the east side here. Amy found a $300,000 house she just loves. With Cameron making more money and no child support and most of the bills paid off they have more money and would like to look for a different house. Kirby though said he's not moving, he's just staying with the house. Hope he likes the people who buy it. LOL Amy said they probably won't move until both boys are in middle school. Living across from the grade school is just too convenient.

I don't have to take Kyra to school this morning. They start later on Mondays for some reason. But I still should start to get ready anyway. Hope your week is a good one and wish me luck on the dieting front. I'll probably need it.
TTFN

Where do the weekends go?

Seriously we need to find a way to make weekends last longer. Just when I get into to the swing of things the weekend is over. It seems like all I get done is get ready for the week ahead. I think I have forgotten how to be organized. I know I've become lazy the last few years but really it shouldn't take me all weekend to get a few things done. I did go to the mall with Kyra and Amy. Kyra wanted a new backpack and I wanted to get some 3/4 sleeve tops. Kyra didn't find a backpack but I did get quite a few new tops. I really need to find a new style of pant that fits better too. Just because I'm fat doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to find some pants. I see lots of other fat people in pants that fit and don't droop and sag. The trouble is I hate to try things on so I never grab a bunch of pants and see if any fit well. I really think men have it so much easier. At least Steve can always grab a pair in his size and they always seem to fit. That's not always the case with women's clothes.

I am so loving this cooler weather. I put a Autumn Wreath tart in my tart warmer today and it smells like fall at my house. Love that one! It's cinnamonny and fallish all in one. I even made brownies today. I should have made some soups for the freezer too but I went shopping instead. I'm sure I'll have lots of other cool Sundays to make soup. I'm really struggling with cooking these days. I'm craving comfort foods like casseroles and soups and such. Unfortunately with just the 2 of us casseroles are not always the best choice. Even if I cut them in half, I end up eating them 2 or 3 days in a row. But if we eat chicken breasts and fish and that sort of thing, there isn't any leftovers and I end up taking frozen meals to lunch. They aren't always that good and it's easy to get sick of them in a hurry. We had this one EA who lived alone and always brought the most amazing lunches. She loved to cook and would make herself these really great dishes and freeze some of it and bring some of it for lunch. She really knew how to do those things. I'm sure it was because she had done it for years and really loved to cook. I "like" to cook but I don't like doing it everyday. She would look forward to going home and cooking supper, even if it was just for herself. I wonder if I could have that passion if I just did it every day and pretended there was no other way. Unfortunately there is too much already made food out there that is just too easy. And remember I said I've become lazy!

I also have to figure out a time that works for blogging regularly. You wouldn't think it would be that hard. Do it in the morning before school or after supper and before bed. Somehow I can't get on a regular schedule. Do you see a theme here? I think laziness has taken over my life. Time to take it back.

A couple of Willism's before I go. He was going "Yum, yum delisioso!" alot yesterday. Grandpa asked him if he knew what it meant. Will replied," I'm trying to figure that out".
After I jammied him, I asked if he wanted to sit out in the living room and cuddle with me before his mom and dad came home. He asked if he could bring his hammer. I said," You want to cuddle with your hammer?" He replied, "No, that would be too weird Grandma". What a goofy kid. I love hanging out with him though and wish he wouldn't grow up quite so fast.

monster spray and other thoughts

I made Will anti monster spray today. Last night when we were at their house he came up from downstairs crying that he was afraid of monsters. He's at that age where they start to have unexplainable fears and monsters are usually the first thing they become afraid of. I told him I would make him monster spray to keep the monsters away and he got so excited. I couldn't let the poor kid down so I made a label and attached it to a spray bottle. Add some water and peppermint extract and viola -monster spray. I don't know if it will help his fear of monsters but he was so excited to get his spray tonight. By the way there is a little caution sign on the spray. It says "Caution- Do not spray on sisters or moms. May be sprayed on dads." HeHe

Well I'm trying to get back to dieting seriously again. So far today I had a Weight Watcher breakfast sandwich, a Lean Cusine lunch, some grapes, a few almonds for a snack and a chicken stir fry for supper. I hope I can get back on track. I hate how fat I feel, like I'm not even comfortable in my own skin. How many times have I started at the beginning of a week and not made past day 2 or 3. I'm hoping this time is the charm. I know watching Wendy do so well is definitely an incentive. That and to think I used to weigh what she weighs now or even less. I wish I had done what she has done and not let the weight creep up too much without getting serious. Back when I first started working full time and not doing aerobics 5 days a week the weight just crept up a little at a time until here I am. So my goal is to make a full week and take it just week by week and not worry about the other stuff. If I make it dieting this week, next week I'm going to start adding exercise. I know Weight Watchers lets you get used to dieting for 2 weeks before you start exercising. I think one week will work for me.

After a incredibly hot and windy couple of days, it has turned cool and very fall like. I love fall. It has to be my favorite season. Cool crisp days and chilly nights, great stuff. I wish we had had todays weather on Sunday. The fair would have been much more enjoyable. I can't wait to break out all my fall scented tarts and start burning them. And soup - I love soup weather. Might be another thing that helps me stay focused on dieting. Soup is usually low calorie and satisfying so eating more soups might help.

Well it seems like jammie time and a little reading.

TTFN

Weekend Recap

Well it's the first of September. I didn't do to well blogging in August. I think the summer lazies hit me because I really didn't accomplish too much the whole month. So here it is the first of September and a chance to do better in all things. School has been in session for 2 weeks now so I should have a routine in place. Blogging hasn't been a part of it but I hope to remedy that in September.

How can one weekend go by so fast? Friday actually seems a long time ago but the fact that tomorrow is Tuesday doesn't seem possible either. So what did I do with my 4 days off you ask? Well Friday I felt just wasted. I had been fighting a bug all week and by Friday it had the better of me. I think I finally relaxed and it hit with a bang because I had absolutely no energy all day. Hence I didn't get much done. Saturday we babysat for Haley, Hannah and Will. We went over to great grandpas to see Bill for awhile. We got to meet Stella the cockatiel. Will was quite the daredevil putting his hand out for Stella to sit on. Haley of course was into it too, but Hannah was not too sure and didn't want too much to do with the bird. After that we went to Royal Fork for supper. The girls were wanting not "healthy" food. Haley wanted 5 cinnamon rolls but settled for one. I think they're not adjusting to eating healthy at home. That change thing is hard. Will is always giving me a hard time about something when it comes to food. Things like offering me a bite of something and after I have it in my mouth and half chewed he wants it back. Well Royal Fork was no exception. Only this time I tried to cut the meat off his chicken leg for him. He cried bloody murder. " put it back, he cried". Goofy kid.

Sunday we went to the fair. While it was fun to spend time with the whole family, the weather was horrible. It was so hot and windy that poor Hannah even collapsed at the midway. It just wasn't a pleasant day in the weather department. I've always loved the fair but next time I'm only going if the weather is better.Will and Kirby had a good time on the helicopters.

Scott and Hannah on a ride before she got sick.

Will taking a break in the horticulture building. It was cool in there!

Of course there are lots of cute animals who seem to be immune to the heat and wind. I didn't get a picture of the golden retriever puppies but it would have been too easy to come home with one them as a souvenir

Today was Labor Day. Since we didn't get much accomplished all weekend we had to get it all done today. We cleaned and did laundry and went to the grocery store. All those chores that have to be done even when you don't want to. Luckily Scott and Wendy invited us over for a Labor Day picnic tonight. A nice way to end the weekend. I envy their house and having the room to have everybody over. I always think I would like to too, but we just seem so cramped here that I never do it. I think I have to get over that and just have them over anyway. The grandkids won't have any memories of going to grandma's house if I don't.

Well I think it's time to call it a night. There isn't anything good on tv so I think I'll just read a book.

TTFN

1st day recap

No matter how many years I have been going back to school, I still get nervous that first day. You wouldn't think a 57 year old would still get those jitters but I do. I wonder how many kids know that teachers have the same feelings as they do. If they did, they probably don't believe it anyway.

The first day went as well as can be expected. It is designed not to be a normal day in the first place. I always remembered school as just starting. Going to classes or having all my subjects that first day. But maybe we had assemblies and activities that were only for the first day too. I think too that it is a middle school thing. Try and make everyone feel welcome and get an idea of how the schedule thing works. I think for alot of kids it is a good thing, but our kids could use a stricter schedule and a just plain normal school day. But it went fairly well, better than some years anyway. We only have 19 kids this year, down from 33 last year, so most of the day I kept thinking where are all the other kids. Woops this is all the other kids. Those 19 are some doozies though. I've never seen a group of 6th graders that are such wanderers. Hard to keep track of them when they all go in different directions. And we have one little girl who is definitely opositional defiant. Not necessarily confrontational but more a just stand there and not do what is expected of her. Hopefully we can get her turned around fairly quickly. The sixth graders consist of the oppositional defiant one, a downs, an austistic one, two are non-verbal and one with md in a wheelchair. It may seem like we have all 33 at times with that mix. We got a call from Roosevelt this morning. They were already having problems with my little Bernini. Seems she plopped herself down in the hall on her tummy and wouldnt' move. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. We put up with that for 3 years and only had slight success with her. It will be interesting to see if high school can do something with her or if they will ship her off to an alternative site.

The cutest thing this morning, and I wish I had had my camera handy, was Will. Kyra and I were leaving for school when Scott came so we stayed an extra minute to say hi to Hannah and Will. Well wouldn't you know it Will came ready for school too. Here he comes walking down the sidewalk with his backpack (with wheels no less). It's a Diego back pack and he has new Diego shoes and a new Diego shirt. What a smart mom he has for getting him ready for school since now it will only be he and Amy and things could be kind of lonesome for him. If he wasn't the cutest little student you ever saw I don't know what was. I wish I could just freeze him at this age for an extra year or two. He is just so blame cute.

Well I haven't blogged much because the Olympics are just so good that I haven't wanted to be at the computer in the evening. It is going to be sad television when it is over. And with that I think I will go and watch tonights events.
TTFN

Happy Birthday to Me

57 How in the heck did that happen? We were asked today in an inservice how old we felt. Immediately I said 21 because really that is all the older I feel. Oh the body doesn't feel like it did at 21 and it definitely doesn't look like it did at 21 but in my head I am way more like 21 than 57.

Birthdays are strange things. I really truly believe that every day is a celebration of life and that one day isn't anymore important than the next. I truly try to appreciate every day and every moment but I don't think I celebrate near enough. And when it comes to birthdays I definitely have mixed emotions. On one hand I don't want any big doings and would like to just make my birthday like any other day. But then something happens like today. We all went out to lunch today at a Mexican restaurant. Most of the people I work with knew it was my birthday but this one teacher didn't realize it until the end of the meal. So when she went up to pay her bill she told them it was my birthday. Pretty soon the owner of the restaurant came over with a big plate of fried ice cream and gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished me a happy birthday. You know it was pretty nice to have my birthday recognized. It made the day feel special. Now isn't that what a birthday is supposed to be. Remember when we were kids and birthdays were big deals. For that one day we felt like the most important person on the planet. I've decided that we shouldn't give that feeling up once we become adults. If anything it's more important that we feel special for at least that one day out of the year. As adults we shoulder all the weight of the world and for one day we should get the royal treatment. Isn't it amazing what one simple act can do? An act that I wouldn't have done for someone for fear of embarrassing them because I thought I would be embarrassed if that happened to me. Well I wasn't. And I'm going to remember that and try to do a better job of celebrating moments whether they're birthday moments or just plain because moments.

Well one more day of inservice. I'm always glad to get to the school part of school. As nice as it is to have days we can go out to eat and work in our rooms, I miss having the kids around. At the inservice today the speaker (who was totally awesome) said you have jobs, then careers and then if you're lucky you have a calling. Well school for me is definitely a calling. I know I would do it for free most days. And I can't imagine doing anything else. Of course that's probably not what I say come about March, but deep down it's still there and that's what counts.

I'm still enjoying the Olympics and wish I could stay up past 9:30 to see it all. When am I going to hit that age where I don't need so much sleep. You know they say that as you get older you don't need as much sleep, well I must not be that old yet.
TTFN

Good bye Sweet Summer Freedom

Well today is my last day of summer vacation. It is definitely feeling unreal. I have to keep telling myself that tomorrow I will be back to school. I'm not sure I'm ready. I know I don't have things done that need to get done. I need to go through my clothes and figure out what I'm going to wear this week. All summer I've just thrown on a tshirt and capris and hit the road. I probably need to put a little more thought into it now. I don't have to worry about lunches this week but will next week, so I should think about that. Amy and I are going to the mall today. I am going to buy new underwear. I pitch my old ones and get brand new everything at the start of the school year. So that's what I am after today. Maybe I'll check out the summer clearance stuff (if there is anything left). My summer clothes feel a little tired.

Have you been watching the Olympics? They have been some good tv watching. Too bad I can't stay awake past 9 lately. I did wake up to see the mens gymnastics team win the bronze. That was cool. And Michael Phelps and his swimming. He didn't even feel well last night and he still broke a world record. They are all so inspiring. And then there is the little bits and pieces they do about China. It's really quite educational.

Boy did it rain last night. They said we had about an inch and a half. Everything is so green and nice. Quite different than it has been in years past.

Guess it's time to hit the shower and get a few things done.
TTFN