He Calls Me KatyPie

Veterans Day 2011

2011-11-13T16:37:00.000-05:00

I must be the worst blogger ever. My apologies!

Last week Westin mentioned that they were going to be having a recognition for the Veterans at his work. He told me how HR had sent out an email listing all of the Veterans and that there were 22.

What a kwinky-dink!

I have 22 students this year!

So, being the sly one I am... my students made Veterans Day cards for him to take to work on Friday.

I used my Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge for my Cricut to cut out bodies. They made all of the "gear" for them. This was my sample... that Westin confiscated and hung up on the outside of his cubicle on Friday!

They are SO cute!

I tried to get them to rotate... for some reason they didn't upload the way they are on my computer. Thanks, Blogger!

This one was my favorite:

Just look at that camo!!!

Later in the day Westin sent me this email from one of the gentlemen he works with:

Wes, please forward to your fiance.

(Hmm... maybe he knows something I don't?!)

Miss Laser,
I would like to thank you and your 3rd grade class for all the cards we received today. This kind gesture meant a lot to me and I am sure many others here at Parker!

I think they were well received!

A New School Year

2011-08-19T07:14:00.002-04:00

Hello!

Since I last updated I have NOT found a full-time teaching job. But that's okay! I am covering a year long leave of absence at my old school for the teacher I carpooled with all last year! So, since all of my stuff is in storage (aka: boxes in a trailer in Westin's mom's barn!) I'm really trying to go with the minimalist approach on decorating, or use the other teacher's stuff that's in the room already.

I went in this past Monday for about 5 hours, and here's what I've gotten completed so far:

(All of these pictures were taken from the doorway.)

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

So there you have it! One day's worth of work... doesn't look like much, does it? :-/

Don't worry... I'll be there ALL next week!

A Thirty-One Bag? Yes, please!

2011-07-07T06:53:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Owens is giving away a favorite of mine... an All-In-One Organizer!!

Go check her page out!

It's Summer... Take a Break!!

2011-06-28T07:54:00.000-04:00

I'm going crazy with all of the fun teacher blogs I've found lately!

(If you're interested, they're in the list on the right...)

Westin told me last night I need to stop because:

A. It's summer, and I need to take a break.

B. It's summer... and I need to take a break.

C. IT'S SUMMER, AND I NEED TO TAKE A BREAK!

At least he didn't bring up the fact that I don't have a job for next year...

2010-2011 Classroom

2011-06-22T07:00:00.004-04:00

When we were down in Georgia over Memorial Day weekend my cousin Bubby's wife Cathy asked me if she could see pictures of my classroom. I have gotten a new phone since I took pictures of the room, so I wasn't able to show her them at the time. I have decided to put them up here. I may have done this at the beginning of the year, but I can't remember now... Oops!

So, first... pictures of how my room looked at the beginning of the year:

(Spelling & Vocabulary words of the week)

(Word of the Week - this was something MY 2nd grade teacher did when I was in her class!)

(Since we are the Southeast Pirates I tried to incorporate pirate things into our classroom. These cardboard swords were found at Michael's on clearance last summer. I spray painted them and wrote students' names on them. After I was done with them being on the wall in the hallway I put them on the fronts of their desks in the classroom.)

(Attendance at a glance)

(Partner poems & file folder games)

(Mailboxes & Math Manipulative Boxes)

(Weekly Homework - I ended up taking this down once I had an interactive whiteboard to use)

(Buckets for my Language Arts Centers - didn't have room to keep them set up in places, so these were portable. In keeping with the Pirate theme, I called these Pirate Centers!)

(Drawers are numbered and hold extra supplies students bring in so they don't have to clutter their desks with them. Supplies on the right are extras if theirs go missing.)

(Again, got these Skull & Crossbone clipboards at Michael's on clearance... 2 summers ago! Spray painted them and put stickers on with group numbers. I printed off lists for my Language Arts (Pirate) Centers and posted them here.)

( View of my whiteboard.)

(Birthday graph)

(Calendar)

(Classroom Jobs)

(Student of the Week)

(View from front right corner - yellow cards are to help organize supplies and papers brought in at Open House.)

(View from door, back right corner.)

(View from back left corner)

(View from my desk, front left corner)

My "Christmas tree", since I didn't have room for a tree in my room:

Other random pictures from the year:

(Mother's Day Tea)

(Not in my classroom, but in the main hall by the office... LOVE this!)

(Encouragement for the 3rd graders who were my 2nd graders last year before they took the state assessments!)

(Spring Chicks lining our hallway!)

(Popcorn whole class behavior chart - won a popcorn/movie party when it was filled!)

(A real stuffed turkey visited us at Thanksgiving!)

(My Halloween costume - SICK!)

A Much Overdue Catch-Up!

2011-06-20T14:03:00.001-04:00

WOW! It's been awhile!

Hi friends! (If there is anyone still left!)

It's been a busy 4 months since I last posted... (in no particular order...)

*I was RIF'd... which means my school district had a Reduction in Force. 3 positions were eliminated, including mine. I'm currently "stalking" 38 school district websites on a daily basis trying to find a new job for next year. I am at the top of the "call back list" if anything should open up at my school... but I'm not holding my breath! I've been trying to look at this as an opportunity for me to find a job a little closer to Westin's job and our families. So far no luck. I've applied for probably 20 openings and finally got my first interview last week at North Ridgeville for a long-term 5th grade teaching position. The principal doesn't think the teacher will be back at all and it could turn into a permanent position. She said I should hear something by the end of this week... so I'll keep you posted!

*I planned "Westin Day" for Westin's 30th birthday in February! We did all things we've talked about, but hadn't done (together) before. We ate at Melt Bar & Grilled as well as the Hard Rock Cafe. We went to the Auto & Aviation Museum, Tower City, and a Lake Erie Monsters hockey game!

*My original Little Buddy, turned Big Buddy, (aka Sean!) graduated this year!

*During Right to Read Week my class read the most minutes (at home) and won a Pizza Party from the principal!

*School ended. I was doing really well about the end of the school year... until the day before the last day! Campus K & 1 classes made me cards to say how they would miss me. I BAWLED! It wasn't pretty! The last day fell on my birthday (due to an overabundance of snow days... we had to make up 2) and I cried 3 more times that day!

*I packed up my classroom... and it's all sitting in our dining room now! I have realized that I have WAY too much classroom stuff... but it's just so hard to get rid of stuff when there's a possibility I might need it again someday. I did decide though that the next time I have a classroom to set up (hopefully soon) I will be investing in plastic storage shelves/containers that have wheels on them. Anything that is my personal stuff will go in these... then I'll be all ready the next time (if there is a next time) I have to pack up!

*We had Cousin Camp 2011 the weekend after school was out. I forgot to take pictures. Sarne, Sean, Tess, & Ben all came and hung out Saturday. Sarne was the only one who wasn't able to spend the night. We played games, watched movies, ate pizza, and got ice cream! Successful evening, if I do say so myself!

*We went to a Cleveland Indians game in April with Brandon & Amanda. Tribe won!!

*Memorial Day weekend Mom, Dad, Westin and I took a road trip to Atlanta for my cousin Kyle's wedding. We had a BLAST! My first "southern wedding!" It had all the bells and whistles... including being at an old plantation! The wedding was on Friday night.

Saturday morning Westin and I went flying with my cousin Kris in his airplane.

That evening we had a Low Country Boil at Kris and his wife Janet's house. SO FUN! Westin and I are planning to do one soon with friends up here!

*Westin traded in the Escape... for a 2011 VW Jetta TDI! We LOVE it!!!

Hopefully I'll be better about posting! So much for that New Year's Resolution of mine!

Snow Days!

2011-02-02T09:40:00.000-05:00

It appears our Snow Days happen in 2s this year!

Now if only the state government would pass the House Bill that will give us all 5 of our calamity days back!

Or off to school on my SUMMER birthday it is... again!

I have been slightly productive (of sorts) the past 2 days though!

Yesterday afternoon/evening and this morning I traced the genealogy of my Mom's Dad's family all the way back to Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower!

I have always known that our family line went back to the Mayflower, but I actually traced it myself!

Elder William Brewster was my Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather! (Yes, that was 10 greats!)

I was also able to find the draft registrations of my Great Grandfather (GG, as I called him!) for WWI and WWII:

Hope you're enjoying your day wherever you are and that the weather is nicer than it is here!

FAIL!

2011-01-17T09:53:00.000-05:00

It's the 3rd full week of January and I've already failed at my New Year's Resolution.

It's been 11 days since my last post.

11.

That's more than 7.

7 is one week.

Ugh!

I'm still trying though!

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day... which means - NO SCHOOL!

So, as always on days off of school, I'm being super productive!

No, really! I am!!

My to-do list:

~~Wash shower curtain~~

~~Vacuum seal frozen mushrooms~~

~~Fold laundry~~

~~Empty dishwasher~~

Take down Christmas Tree (Yes, I said Christmas Tree!)

Scan some important docs

Clean out my closet (low on list of things to do!)

Go to dentist (1:00)

Finish grading pile of papers

Report Cards!

So there you have it. That's what I'm doing today!

And because I forgot to share before... this is what I did on our first snow day, back in December:

A new lunch bag!

Have a great Monday Blogger friends!!

You Capture - Top 10 of 2010

2011-01-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

My top 10 pictures of 2010

(in no particular order)

Of course, ones of Westin and I made the cut:

Westin completing the Warrior Dash in Georgia:

An "artsy" shot from New Year's Eve 2009/2010:

Westin playing on his iPod at his cousin's wedding:

(I don't think anything important was happening yet!)

The morning after the Cousins Only Sleepover:

(Renamed Cousin Camp for 2011 - stay tuned!)

Westin being goofy at the park in Huron:

Uncle Wes and Makayla:

My special ice cream sandwich from Westin:

You can play, too! I Should Be Folding Laundry

I Heart Faces - Best Face of 2010

2011-01-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

New Years 2009/2010
sooc

3 Year Anniversary!

2011-01-01T09:00:00.003-05:00

Today is Westin and my 3rd anniversary!

Can you believe that 3 years ago I thought we could do the long distance thing for 3 years?? HA! I never would've lasted! (I guess in reality I didn't last - I moved!)

A photo look back at us:
(Warning: Photo heavy!)

Halloween 2010

Westin's Graduation - May 2010

Kim & Ro's Wedding - January 2010

New Year's Eve 2009/2010

Halloween 2009

Mikey & Emily's Wedding - April 2009

Mindy & Brian's Wedding - March 2009

Myrtle Beach - January 2009

3-D Super Bowl Commercials - 2009

Laura & Phil's Wedding in Wisconsin - Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Jeff & Holly's Wedding - Fall 2008

Turkey Bowl - November 2008

@ Mom & Dad's - Spring 2008

Cavs Game - Spring 2008

Jeff & Holly's Wedding - Fall 2008

On the DR at his Mom's - Spring 2008

Hermes Winery - April 2008

My Classroom in Arizona - May 2008

Grand Canyon - Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Mount Rushmore - Memorial Day Weekend 2008

New Year's Eve @ Office Bar - 2007/2008

Phoenix International Airport - February 2008

Surprise, AZ - February 2008

Columbus Airport - January 2008

New Years Resolution!

2011-01-01T08:00:00.005-05:00

Ok, I'm not usually good at these... but ever since I started this cute little blog, I've wanted to make a blog book of it... kind of like a digital diary turned into a hardcover memento! I just tend to really slack at writing on here, so never feel like I should spend the money to print it off.

2011 is going to be different! I mean it!

My 2011 New Year's Resolution is to write on here more often.

At least once a week.

Hopefully more.

And on that note... Happy 2011!!

Snow Drift Candles!

2010-12-20T19:44:00.000-05:00

I can't take credit for this idea... totally got it from Living with Lindsay.

I needed a pretty much last minute gift for the teachers at school buying for me so I didn't feel like a shmuck for not getting them anything.

It's SUPER fast (+ drying time) and relatively cheap!

Epsom salts

Candle holders (or glassware)

Mod-Podge

Tea Lights (I used the flameless ones.)

Sorry for the yuck pictures - took 'em with my cell phone!

All snowified:

With the lights:

So cute!!

Picture Tour of my Classroom

2010-11-09T06:53:00.000-05:00

Only 2 months later than promised!

My wall outside of the classroom ~ welcoming all my new kiddos!

Daily check-in apples and restroom cards!

File folder games ~ hadn't been delivered yet when I got set up!

Math boxes, mailboxes, etc...

Homework board.

My whiteboard. I should update this picture. There's a LOT more on it now!

Pirate Centers (Language Arts Centers) tubs.

Extra supplies.

Who is in which center?

Birthday chart.

Calendar

Job board.

Student of the Week!

View from front right corner.

View from back right corner.

View from back left corner.

View from front right corner (my desk).

This is one of those things I got from my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Germond, when she retired.

Spelling and Vocabulary wall! (All of that paper is held up with masking tape! Oh, cement walls...)

Coming Soon!

2010-09-02T06:14:00.000-04:00

Pictures of this year's classroom!

And yes, I know I still need to put up pics of the new apt. We're still in the process of hanging pictures on the walls and deciding what needs unpacked right away (we've been here 2 months!) and what can stay packed til the next move. (End of July 2011 - who wants to help??)

More soon!

You Capture - Summer!

2010-08-05T20:08:00.000-04:00

So, I thought I set this up to post at 7am today...
And I just double checked it...
Yup, set up for 8/5/10 at 7am.
That is today, right?
Stupid Blogger...

********************************************************************

I haven't participated in You Capture in awhile... oh, how crazy life gets!

And summer is supposed to be my vacation!!

Here is summer to me:

Working at the Ducati shop...

Going out on Lake Erie...

Being goofy w/ Westin at the park!

And ice cream sandwiches shared with my honey!

(He ate the outer edges that were cut away and gave me the heart!)

For more summer photo fun... check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Monday, Monday...

2010-08-02T09:57:00.000-04:00

So good to me!

I've gotten to spend last Monday and this Monday babysitting sweet little Makayla!

Makayla belongs to Westin's best friend, Mikey, and his wife, Emily.

(Remember them from this wedding last spring??)

Makayla's a little Monkey with her feet!

Uncle Wes even got to watch her a couple of weeks ago - BIG step for him!!!

Makayla loves her Uncle Wes!!!

FINALLY!

2010-07-26T11:53:00.000-04:00

I think I got my kinks worked out!

I have a new background up...

I got Blogger set up so my signature is automatically on the right, where I usually put it anyways!

But onto the update that's been "on deck"!

Since my last good sized post:

*We had a "Cousins Only!" sleepover!
(Oh, yeah... Cousins Only +Westin!)

*Westin graduated!!!!

*We went to GA for Warrior Dash!

*School is out! Yay summer!

*Westin got a job!!!

*I'm working at the Ducati dealership again.

*We moved! Woo hoo!

I LOVE our new apartment.

It's bigger,

it's more open,

it's gorgeous!

And did I mention, I LOVE it?!

We're really enjoying living closer to friends (yay Mikey, Emily & Makayla!!) and being a *little* closer to Westin's job!

Ugh!

2010-07-23T22:12:00.000-04:00

I'm having major blogger issues right now...

First, I see that my background has disappeared...

I'll have to find a new one now.

It'll probably have to wait til Monday.

Then, I try to make a quick post about said background going missing...

and I can't get it to type anywhere.

Now, I've finally gotten it to type...

and my cursor keeps jumping around -- BUT, still typing in the right spot!

I give up.

Good night!

I promise...

2010-06-28T08:27:00.000-04:00

An update is coming soon. End of school year was CRAZY. The last 2 weeks have been CRAZY. We moved. And once I get the old apt cleaned up and handed over... well, then I have to start unpacking the new one! But I will be back to do some updating and (hopefully) more timely sharing! Thanks for sticking out the wait!

Field Trip Day!!

2010-04-01T07:00:00.003-04:00

That's right! Today I'm off with 2 classes of 2nd Graders, 2 other teachers, 1 aide, and 10 parents!!

Where are we going, you ask?!

Hmm... some clues...

That's right! We're off to

and lunch at

(We NEVER had lunch at McD's when we went of field trips as kids!!)

Then a little Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when we return.

Pray for my survival... would you?

Don't worry... I'll have pictures soon!
(Apparently cameras are NOT allowed in the factory though... BOO!)

You Capture - Feet!

2010-03-31T21:00:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I KNOW the point is to go out and take new pictures...

but I had the PERFECT picture in mind as soon as I saw this week's theme.

Only problem?

Can't find it.

DRAT!!

So, instead... you get Sean's shoeless CC race from this fall...

He set a new Personal Record that day!

For more FEET... check out You Capture at I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Highlighting Another 2nd Grade Class!

2010-03-26T17:11:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take a moment and help spread the word about a college friend's class of 2nd graders down in North Carolina.

After the earthquake in Haiti, her class wanted to do something to help show their support. They began selling paper hands at their school for $0.25 each. In all they raised $549 to be donated to the American Red Cross, specifically for disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

They aren't stopping there!! They are inviting people from all around the world to help them out with showing support. Check out Classroom 708's blog (Diary of a Not-So-Wimpy Classroom!) to see how they're doing and how you can help. I'm planning on spreading the word at my school!

Aren't they such a sweet looking class?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Image from Google Images.

Boxer Puppies...

2010-03-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned a couple of days ago... Mom and I went to Findlay a week and a half ago..

The first reason was for Gay's 50th Birthday Tea Party!

The second reason was to see these adorable 3 week old puppies:

There are 5 pups.

1 Boy, 4 girls.

Here's the Mama pup...

I want Boomer's niece who looks like him!! (Well, is white like him!)

LOOK AT THAT TAIL!!!

Today...

2010-03-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

is a day off from school! Due to spring conferences Wednesday night we get today off - woohoo!

Westin and I are off to the Akron Art Museum!! I'm excited about this because... well, I love art! Westin's not as excited, but he has to go... it's for one of his classes!

Have a great Friday! :0)

(Pictures are from the Akron Art Museum Website.)

You Capture - Hopeful!

2010-03-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

I am so hopeful that this little cutie will someday be mine...

But I'm also trying to be realistic and remember that now just really isn't the best time for us to have a puppy in our lives... in due time!

For more hopeful images, check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

A Good Old Fashioned Tea Party!

2010-03-03T07:00:00.002-05:00

Last weekend Mom and I took a trip to Findlay... it was a two-fold trip.

The second reason we went was to see some new puppies... more about that in a few days!

The first reason we went was for Mom's good friend's 50th birthday.

Mom and Gay have been friends since my parents started dating. They've been through a LOT together the past 30+ years and are an inspiration as to how a true friendship lasts over time and distance no matter what.

When Mom had breast cancer Gay called and checked on her everyday. She really is one of the best people out there and I was very glad to be included in her 50th Birthday TEA PARTY!! Here are some pictures of the day...

The top of our dessert tower:

We ate the rest before I remembered to take a picture! It was all so tasty!

The birthday girl:

Her four beautiful daughters:

My Momma and Gay:

Happy birthday Gay!!

(Today's the big day!)

I feel...

2010-03-02T19:06:00.000-05:00

like such a slacker the past few weeks!

Please accept my apologies! I did really good back in January and got a lot of posts lined up at once and then just filled in the spaces here and there as they came up... and eventually the pre-planned posts ran out. Oops! So, here's to doing better! :0)

Happy Birthday Westin!

2010-02-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

29 today... and always acts his age!

You Capture - Work

2010-02-10T17:00:00.008-05:00

Nothing too exciting today. I've taken some pictures at school this past week... but they're all on my camera at home and I'm at Borders (yay snow day!) doing lesson plans (boo!)... so that's what you get to see!

For more You Capture goodness, check out: I Should Be Folding Laundry!

We Heart Kisses!

2010-02-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

This week's I Heart Faces theme is We Heart Kisses.

I don't think I need to do much more explaining!

At least I think she's kissing the baby!

And apparently I was too late on getting this out. I never realized that you could only "link up" on Mondays and Tuesdays. Oh well... we can still enjoy it here! Next time I'll be more on the ball!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-02-10T00:00:00.003-05:00

(Happy birthday to the Mommy of this little cutie!!)

Happy Anniversary!

2010-02-05T00:00:00.002-05:00

Mom and Dad!!

Hermes Winery ~ Sandusky, OH ~ April 2008

Grand Canyon, AZ ~ May 2008

32 YEARS!!

You Capture - Faces!

2010-02-04T20:11:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite SILLY faces!!

Seriously... we have too much fun together!
I LOVE IT!!!

For more faces... check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-02-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

My Story in Photos: "Places I Love"

2010-02-02T22:23:00.002-05:00

This week's I Heart Faces theme is "Places I Love" (the most romantic places you've been). While these may not seem like romantic places... they both hold special meaning to me and in my relationship with Westin.

The first is at a duck pond in a neighborhood near where I lived in Surprise, AZ. Unfortunately I never actually got a picture of the duck pond! But I did get a picture of Westin and I... right after we'd said "I love you" for the first time to each other!

The second is at Phoenix SkyHarbor International Airport. This was the end of Westin's trip to AZ in February 2008 (same trip as above). We thought it'd be really funny to take a picture in front of the airport chapel and send it to everyone we know! Over the next 4 months I had a lot (and I do mean A LOT!) of trips through this and the Cleveland airport... all bringing me closer to moving home again to be with Westin full-time!

2010-02-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

I don't usually use this for these kinds of posts... but I really need some thoughts and prayers sent this way. The next couple of months are really up in the air... Westin graduates on Mother's Day... He's job hunting and has a couple of really good prospects... I have a really good chance at getting in full-time at the school I'm at now... Unfortunately only 1 of Westin's prospects is in a relatively close proximity to my job. I'm trying to be really understanding of his job hunt, but I just keep feeling selfish... and I know I need to stop.

So if you could spare a few minutes... would you please keep us in your thoughts and prayers? I just want what is the best to happen for us, and I don't want to feel selfish about it anymore.

Thank you...

Kim & Ro's Wedding

2010-01-29T00:00:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend we went to Columbus to attend Westin's cousin Kim's wedding.

There was definitely a feeling of love between these two!

All you need is love...

P.S. I spent a whole day this week in Google training for the classroom... so now I'm playing with Picasa. I figured out how to get collages from Picasa to my blog... now I'm trying to figure out how to get edited pictures from there since they don't change in the folder I downloaded them to. Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated!

You Capture - Color

2010-01-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

Color shots from Westin's cousin's wedding in Columbus this weekend...

Top - My new Vera Bradley purse (Christmas present from Westin's Mom), the chandelier at the reception (it sparkled with all different colors), the bride's bouquet, and my dress (and feet).
Bottom - A part of the "flyer" (as the bride's brother called it when handing it to me), the front of the sanctuary, and the outside of the church (with Westin and his brother standing in front).

For more color, visit I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Dad Got Bored - Wordless Wednesday!

2010-01-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

You Capture - Love Around Your Home

2010-01-21T19:00:00.000-05:00

This has been such a long week without my laptop! Sadly, the charger bit the dust on Sunday. THANKFULLY, I'd ordered a new one Saturday night! (It was sparking at me... bad sign.) For the past 5 days I've been jumping on Westin's MacBook whenever I got the chance.

Now, let me tell you... I have never been one who wanted a Mac. (Okay, maybe I did back in high school when they had those colorful ones that were pretty sweet looking... remember those? But that infatuation was purely based on looks... not how they worked.) Now I'm rethinking that... I want a nicer camera (understatement)... and his Mac has AMAZING graphics... a new DSLR and MacBook would go perfectly together! Ok, ok... I'll come out of my dream world now!

So, without further ado... my You Capture entry for the week...

Love Around My Home!

On the fridge...

(I put these red hearts with sayings on them all over the apartment for Valentine's Day last year... this is the only one still up! No worries... the others were saved!)

My Teddy (from Westin when we were first dating) and his Hulk...

Our toothbrushes sharing a spot...

The sign over our bed...

A message Westin left me just after we moved in... a year and a half ago!

For more You Capture goodness... check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Wordless Wednesday - Cupcake style!

2010-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

A Learning Process...

2010-01-18T00:00:00.023-05:00

I took this photo of Westin on my snow day about a week and a half ago.

We'd decided to venture out and wound up at Best Buy in Strongsville.

Apparently they're the only Best Buy in the state of Ohio to have a Musical Instrument Department.

It was really cool!!

I decided to play around with the photo-editing program (paint.net) I downloaded a few weeks ago...

and am still very intimidated by.

Here's what I came up with:

Cropped and sharpened.

Sepia.

Ink sketched.

I think that one's my favorite.

After showing Westin my handiwork he looked closer at the original picture

and asked me what camera I used to take the picture.

"My point and shoot," I told him... what other camera do I have?

(Oh yeah, cell phone...)

His response?

"My cell phone takes better pictures than that!"

I think he's finally agreed that I need a nicer camera!

Emily Shares!

2010-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Emily LOVES her Cheerios!

And she LOVES her Aunt Abbe!

And she even LOVES to share with Aunt Abbe!

"Kiss me all you want, I'm done sharing my Cheerios!"

Drink Break!

Lurk Much?

2010-01-14T22:10:00.000-05:00

So, I'm pretty sure no one lurks on my page...

but after hearing about Delurker Day, I can't resist asking...

Is there anyone out there?!

I mean... besides my Mom?

And Mama Diana?

And occasionally Roxi?

Come on... show yourself! :0)

I'll help you get started...

If you could be any cereal, what would you be and why?

You Capture - Your Winter

2010-01-14T00:00:00.002-05:00

Winter = SNOW DAY!!

A peek out the windows...

A trip to Best Buy...

An old favorite for lunch...

I think snow days are more fun as a teacher!

For more Winter pictures... check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Wordless Wednesday - Belated Halloween version!

2010-01-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

I Heart Faces! (My First!)

2010-01-12T19:03:00.002-05:00

New Year's Eve 2010 - Our 2 Year Anniversary

See more faces...

Emily and Her Baby!

2010-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Emily just loves her Baby!

She even shared Baby with Benjamin!

But eventually Baby had to have a Time Out...

On a cold concrete floor, outside the bathroom, at the local produce distributor!

Poor Baby...

You Capture - Your Holiday! Part 2

2010-01-07T00:00:00.001-05:00

**You Capture Disclaimer: I thought I read that we were carrying over our Holiday post...
I didn't see the "Year in Review" theme. Please enjoy anyways!**

I was playing around with photo-editing...
I've still got a lot to learn!

Original picture:

Edited picture:

My original Your Holiday post.

New Years Post one and two!

More holiday pictures on I Should be Folding Laundry!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday!

2010-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Shoeless Sean! He had a personal record for Cross Country that day!

Mom got the dog drunk...

2010-01-04T00:00:00.007-05:00

New Years, just after the ball drop!

(No worries... he's legal! He turned 21 [in dog years!] a couple weeks ago!)

The aftermath...

Emily Cuteness!

2010-01-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

A collection of pictures my *sister* Jenn has sent me via picture texts the past few months...

She got new shoes... and carried the (empty) box all by herself:

She colored for me at Thanksgiving:

She did a little light reading:

Got a new big girl carseat:

Tried to wrap herself for Aunt Katy:

And tried on Mommy's delicates while playing her recorder:

Isn't she just so cute!?

More to come from Christmas!

Traffic...

2010-01-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

A few days after Christmas Westin helped move his cousin to New York City with his best friend's help.

I got this picture about the time they were supposed to be arriving at the house (in Queens!) to be dropping off her stuff:

They went 10 miles in 2 hours.

Thank you Ohio for not having (this much) crappy traffic!

Our annual picture...

2010-01-01T11:39:00.008-05:00

January 1, 2008:

January 1, 2009:

January 1, 2010:

We're very comfortable around each other now!

HAPPY...

2010-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

NEW YEAR!!!(Taken by Dad - July 4, 2007)

AND...

2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!

School Christmas Party!

2009-12-31T19:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas Stories...

Beanbag Toss Games...

Gingerbread House Decorating...

Belated Thanksgiving Pictures...

2009-12-31T11:00:00.000-05:00

2nd Grade Fall Concert:

Turkey Centerpieces:

Thanksgiving Celebration with K-2!

You Capture - Your Holiday!

2009-12-31T00:00:00.017-05:00

(Disclaimer: Please be gentle... I took these with my cell camera and haven't figured out picnik.com or paint.net well enough to make them look nicer yet. That's what I get for sending the point and shoot to New York with Westin! I should just ~~steal~~ borrow Dad's dslr!)

I made ornaments with my students from old Christmas cards:

I made a wreath out of ornaments...

(One of my "shatterproof" ornaments, straight from the box):
All lined up (because I'm OCD like that):
Wiring them up:
My glittery hand:
The finished product!(That didn't even fit between the door and the storm door... so it's been sitting on my floor!!

We put up our mini-apartment-sized tree...

I made Mom an ornament wreath too!

We went Grocery Shopping for some (31) needy families in town:

And the cashier was a nutcracker!

Abbe wore a delightful holiday sweater...

We were our silly selves!

For more You Capture goodness... check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

**Watch for 2 more "catch-up" posts today... school Thanksgiving and Christmas ones!
I'm trying to get a few posts in before the end of the year!**

Wordless Wednesday!

2009-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

In May...

2009-12-29T00:00:00.004-05:00

we went to Chicago!!

In December, Abbe (finally) sent me pictures!

All of us:Back row: Me, Westin (smirking??), and Abbe
Front row: Nate, Jennifer, Emily, Mom, and Dad

Just my sisters, my niece and I:

And a close-up:

More of adorable Emily to come...

On another note... you can probably see I've been playing around with the look of my page. I "pre-posted" a bunch and they still have the "old" signature in them... I redid it to be transparent so the background color shows through, but I'm not going back through and redoing all of the posts that I planned ahead for the next few days. (That's my new plan for keeping somewhat up to date!) So you may notice some more changes the next few days/weeks... I'll get the kinks worked out eventually!

On another another note... or p.p.s... my header is making me mad, so I think I'll give up for the night. I can't seem to get it to be transparent so you see the background color instead of the white without pixelating my strawberries. And we can't have that!

M.I.A....

2009-12-28T10:22:00.002-05:00

Seriously, I had great intentions for Christmas break and updating this thing.

Then I sent Westin to NY with my camera... Silly me!

I've got a bunch of pictures off my cell phone to tell a few short novels...
so I'll work on getting them up.

Another post with no pictures. How sad.
Don't worry... that'll change!

Our Christmas Card!

2009-12-07T20:20:00.002-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Finals Week... Things to Do...

2009-12-06T21:00:00.003-05:00

Ok, so it's not finals week for ME.

I'm past that (until I do my Masters anyways...)

So while Westin is studying like it's his job,
Oh wait, it IS his job right now!
I'm going to get the following things done:

*~~Put up Christmas Tree.~~
*~~Decorate Christmas Tree.~~
*~~Finish ornament wreath.~~
*Hang ornament wreath.
*~~Laundry.~~
*~~Take off old nail polish.~~
*Re-paint nails.
*~~Clean up kitchen.~~
*Work on Westin's stocking fillers.
*UPDATE THIS BLOG!!!

Ok, now that I have it all written down, I'll hopefully get it done!

From the looks of it, I actually got most of it done today.

Go me!

Have a great week!!!

VOTE FOR BOOMER!!!

2009-11-23T18:00:00.003-05:00

I entered my parents' dog in a contest.

If you know my parents, don't tell my dad... we'd like to surprise him!

Anywho, go HERE to vote for the cutest ~~reindeer~~DOG ever!!

Oh, and more bloggy goodness to come soon... some cute pics of my kiddos at school! Sit tight!

Marshmallow Lollipops!

2009-10-31T11:06:00.007-04:00

This isn't going to be a long post... I've been a blog slacker lately.

This month has been crazy...
conferences...
being observed by my principal...
just trying to stay afloat (and so far doing so successfully!)...

So anywho... here are the treats I made for my 2nd graders for our Halloween party.
I got the idea from Grace Violet when she made these ones last Valentine's for her daughter's school party.

They were SO easy and SO cute! The only changes I made were that I used the pre-colored chocolate melting circles instead of almond bark and I put 2 marshmallows on a stick.

The supplies:

The marshmallows on sticks:

The first few dipped:

All packaged and ready to go to school:

I am sooooooo doing these again for Christmas!

Happy (School Day) Halloween!!

2009-10-30T07:05:00.003-04:00

This pic is from my school in AZ... but I'm wearing the same costume today - new crowd!!

Happy Friday!

Slow-Cooker Lasagna

2009-10-04T19:00:00.005-04:00

This was pretty good. I found the recipe in a cooking magazine (I can't remember which one or I'd give them credit!! I just pulled the page out and saved it!) and thought we'd try it out tonight since I had to go to Huron today for a baby shower.

Sorry, no pictures this time. (It burnt a bit around the edges and wasn't very photogenic!)

Here's the recipe... with some thoughts at the end on how to make it even better next time!

*******************************************

Slow-Cooker Sausage Lasagna

Serves 8
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Total Time: 25 min + Slow Cooking

This meat sauce starts quickly on the stove, buy hours in the slow cooker add depth.

1 lb Italian pork sausage, casings removed
1 lb ground beef sirloin
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes in puree
9 lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1) In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, cook sausage and beef over medium-high, breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 4 to 6 minutes. Add onion, carrots, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook until onion has softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, then tomatoes; bring to a boil, and remove from heat.

2) Spoon 2 cups meat mixture into bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Layer 3 noodles (breaking them as needed to fit), 2 cups meat mixture, and ½ cup cheese; repeat with two more layers (refrigerate ½ cup cheese for topping).

3) Cover slow cooker, and cook on low, 4 to 6 hours. Sprinkle lasagna with ½ cup cheese. Cover until cheese has melted, about 10 minutes.
Per Serving: 376 cal

*****************************************
October 4, 2009: We omitted the carrots and used ½ Italian/½ Zesty Hot Sausage.
Changes we’d make for next time:
Less meat in each layer.
Add mushrooms.
Add ricotta? Or more cheese between layers.
Thinner layers, more noodles.
Cook on LOW – 8 hours?
Stick with just Italian sausage.

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday!

2009-09-23T00:01:00.001-04:00

Mrs. Germond (my 2nd grade teacher) and I!
(If you recall, I explained how she impacted my life here.)

You Capture - Up Close

2009-09-17T18:23:00.008-04:00

These aren't as "Up Close" as I'd planned...

but I already had them from the week of "Old Signs"...

and since school is back in session I haven't had as much time to take pictures as I've wanted to.

Hopefully once I get things settled that'll change.

Second grade is turning out to be so much easier than fifth and even third...
easier to teach...
easier to grade...
so once the routine is going I'll do more picture taking.

In the mean time... here are my up close shots:
Not taken by Dad, but with Dad's camera!

For more, check out I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Wordless Wednesday!

2009-09-16T00:01:00.000-04:00

I want this car...

2009-09-12T21:54:00.004-04:00

We saw it at Race for the Cure today...

or I'll take the white Escape with this pinstripe...(Actually, I told Westin he needed it on his. He didn't agree...)

I'd even drive this Fusion Hybrid!

The reason I am a teacher...

2009-09-11T22:46:00.007-04:00

**Warning - You may need a kleenex for this one... I definitely did by the time I was done typing!**

In 5th grade I'd go to her classroom every morning and practice spelling words or give timed tests to her 2nd graders.

At the end of every school year I'd help her take everything down and put everything away for the summer.

She'd "pay" me with a hot fudge sundae from McDonald's afterwards.

Through middle school and high school she welcomed me back to her room to visit and share what new things I was involved in.

When I graduated from high school, she retired from teaching.

For my college graduation she gave me a rubber stamp that said "WOW!" to use when I grade papers.

It was the same "WOW!" stamp that I gave her as a gift when I was a student in her 2nd grade classroom.

She's faced cancer.

Twice, I believe.

Now it's back again... and the outlook is not good.

This year her last class taught will be graduating.

When I was in her class we made these beautiful butterflies:

(This was her sample from many years ago.)

We probably used these same templates:

The templates are just one of the many things in the many boxes of classroom items she gave me when I started teaching.

My 2nd graders made her some butterflies this week to cheer her up.

Adorned with quotes to help her keep smiling,
I'm giving her the butterflies on Sunday when I go to visit her.

That and a hot fudge sundae from McDonald's.

**Thank you for everything Mrs. Germond!
You really are the reason I am doing what I love!**

Wordless Wednesday!

2009-09-09T00:01:00.001-04:00

You Capture - Old Signs

2009-09-03T00:01:00.000-04:00

This week's You Capture theme was Old Signs.

Some of these don't really look old... but they're old to me!
I was home at my parents' house when I took these this weekend.
I really was going to try to stick to just one or two pictures this week, but I couldn't do it!
Enjoy!

Mom and Dad's front porch:

Signs in the garage:

On the front door:

The common theme around the house:(Can you guess our favorite family movie by this?)

Not really a sign... but kinda? Made of old barn siding:

This one is definitely old. Well... older than me anyways!
Dad painted this one shortly after they got married:

And this one I actually took a few summers ago, but I love it.
Not far from where I grew up, a road with my family's name:

For more fun old signs, check out I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Wordless Wednesday!

2009-09-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

You Capture - Food!

2009-08-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

This one was almost too easy.

Seriously, I LOVE FOOD!

Last Thursday afternoon Westin and I went to Norwalk.

We had said we were going to go to the Fair,
(how fun would pictures of Fair Food have been???)
but by the time we got to town it was DOWNPOURING!

So we decided just to visit with his Mom, and have dinner with my parents.

After dinner we Mom and Westin were cutting watermelon, freezing blackberries, cleaning cherries, and cooking/cutting corn.

I, ofcourse, went and stole Dad's camera to capture the action.

Westin skinning the watermelons:

and slicing them:

Frozen blackberries:

Helping Mom pour them into a freezer bag:

Yummy cherries:

The trash pile for Dad's compost pile:

And Boomer had to see what was going on!

For more You Capture foodie goodness, go to I Should Be Folding Laundry!

Just about done!

2009-08-26T21:16:00.017-04:00

More of the classroom...

From each corner of the room:

Labeled cubbies:

Word ~~Wall~~ Cabinets:

Word Work:

Birthday chart:

Desks set up:

Behavior Reward:

Tablecloths again:

Center choosing:
(They get to choose whether to stay in my room, go to the 1st grade room, or go to the kindergarten room. All 3 classes mix - how fun is that?!)

Behavior and attendance chart:

My OCD:

My AWESOME summer deal! $1 for each Pirate Clipboard in the Michael's clearance section! (We're the Southeast Pirates.) I'm going to use them for Centers or other groupings.

My messy desk:

Hopefully that'll be straightened up before Open House!

Wordless Wednesday!

2009-08-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

I cooked...

2009-08-25T11:39:00.005-04:00

for myself last night.

Westin's on this "eat a big lunch and have cereal or something else small for dinner" kick lately.

It's driving me nuts because I've always been a small lunch eater and a HUGE dinner eater.

So last night I made my favorite meal from Kraft Foods and split it up into 5 serving bowls and put it in the fridge.

(Picture from KraftFoods.com)
So now I have lunches for the next few days and can eat a small, healthy dinner with him.

If you want the recipe, it's Italian Chicken-Pasta Skillet.

SO EASY and SO YUMMY!

****************************************************************************

On another (food) related note...

We had to buy (another) new microwave yesterday.

Apparently the one we bought a tad over a year ago was CRAP because it shorted out and kept tripping the breaker.

So here's the new kitchen addition:

...along with the Best Buy 4 YEAR microwave warranty!

It's getting there...

2009-08-24T10:22:00.007-04:00

Some more of my classroom...

Mom came to school with me on Saturday and helped me cover a few eyesores...

Before:

After:

All put together!

Note to self... time to learn how to put a watermark over my pictures.

Anyone know how?

You Capture: Peace.

2009-08-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

This week's You Capture challenge theme was Peace.

When I first saw the theme my thought was, "I don't even know where to start with that one."

My second thought was, "all the Mom's who participate are going to have pictures of their sleeping children."

I kept thinking.

Saturday morning I went with my parents to the funeral for the father of my Dad's high school best friend.

I've been to cemetaries millions of times, so it wasn't anything new to me... but for some reason it had the most peaceful feel this time.

It was so quiet... aside from the locusts chirping. But that added to the peacefulness.

My mind was made up.

I decided that the next morning, while Mom was at work and Dad and Westin were golfing, I was going to take Dad's super-sweet camera and go visit my grandparents' gravesite.

Off to Milan Cemetary I went. Camera in hand.

I took some pictures of just the view.

I saw where the Mayor of Milan will be buried someday... joining his wife and son.

I saw where my *sisters'* great grandparents are buried.

I saw a bunch of just cool looking headstones.

And finally, I found my grandparents',

my great-aunt and great-uncle's,

and my great-grandparents' grave sites.

Apparently they've cut down the tree that used to be my guide for finding them!!

But now I know where they are again. And I spent a beautiful morning thinking about Papa and Nanny.

And listening to a chainsaw in the background. Oh well, I still enjoyed it and blocked out the chainsaw as much as possible!

For more You Capture! goodness, check out I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Wordless Wednesday - Sarne's Graduation Party

2009-08-19T21:10:00.002-04:00

Those pics from Dad...

2009-08-14T17:24:00.004-04:00

It's beginning to look a alot like...

2009-08-13T17:43:00.004-04:00

SCHOOL!

My math bulletin board... and colors!!

Recognize these Mama Diana??

I just can't find the brown one. BOO!

More to come... set up my desks today!

You Capture: Motion

2009-08-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

This week's theme? Motion.

I took these about a week and a half ago over Mom and Dad's backyard.

They were close enough that we could see the flames when they lit it up... but still far enough away that the zoom lens was perfect!

Dad was supposed to send me a bee picture and a hummingbird picture he took last week. I was going to add them to, but he didn't. Oh well. Maybe I'll add them another time!

Check out I Should Be Folding Laundry to see more!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-12T15:42:00.000-04:00

You Capture: You! (Well, really... me!)

2009-08-06T10:15:00.010-04:00

Ok, I didn't *completely* follow directions again... but these are just some favorites of mine. I don't know where people find time to take pictures of specific things during the week - but I'm trying!!! Here are my pictures from this week's You Capture, brought to us all by I Should Be Folding Laundry!

This one is from Spirit Week at my Arizona school...
Here I am in my Arizona classroom... my board was COVERED then, unlike here.
My puppy Boomer and I! This is the background pic on my mom's cell phone. It says "HI MOM!" on it too!
In my dining room in Arizona... I was talking to Westin online and snapped this one!
One of my trips to Ohio before I moved back. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor and when she saw me in my pink ribbon shirt decided she had to give me the mug she bought me then!
This one is from Westin's best friend's wedding in April. I was watching my honey give his best man speech and the photographer caught me in a proud moment!And here the photographer caught us watching the bride and groom dancing their first dance together!
P.S. I do have some NEW pictures to use for next week's theme! I even took them with Dad's really nice camera! Just need him to email them to me now! :0)

(Probably Not) Wordless Wednesday!

2009-08-05T08:59:00.008-04:00

Birthday Cake I made for one of the guys I'm working with this summer:Wendy's thought it'd be a great idea to give me a fork to eat my Frosty:
In my unexpected extra time in Norwalk I went through this box:

It was full of these notes from middle and high school. I'd guess 85% were from McKenzie... 10% from Brooke and the other 5% from others! They've all been trashed now (trying to declutter!) except for a certain few I'm going to use for a "memory project". More on that later!Also on my extra night home Mom, Dad, Sean and I picked blackberries. Mom and Jessie made a pie out of them yesterday!
I babysat my cousin Eric's son Nate (with the glasses not making a face) and his two cousins Jonathan and Joey on Saturday! So fun!

Give a woman...

2009-07-30T11:00:00.001-04:00

This was the bottom "Quote of the Day" in an email fwd'd to me by my mom... I like it!

'Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.'

Monograms anyone?

2009-07-29T13:52:00.004-04:00

Check out Monogram Chick's page for possibilities to win a super-cute travel mug or adorable tote bag -- PERSONALIZED FOR YOU!

And if you do, be sure to tell her you learned about it here... then if you win, so do I!

******************************

And I'll post my Wordless Wednesday later...

when I can get my phone to send the picture to my email!

Had my last class for Course I today in cake decorating!

Aside from my crumby base layer of frosting it turned out BEAUTIFUL!

This little guy needs some thoughts and prayers...

2009-07-24T14:18:00.002-04:00

He's heading back to the hospital again...

for more info, check out his MckMama's page - My Charming Kids.

Overload on school supplies!

2009-07-24T09:17:00.003-04:00

I really have the best Mom ever.

On Sunday night I emailed her a request.

Meijer has school supplies on sale this week.

2 pocket folders... 10 cents each... limit 30.

1 subject notebooks... 5 cents each... limit 30.

I don't have a Meijer within 50 miles of our place.

So I asked if she would stop once or twice this week and stock up for me?

I know have...

90 of these guys...

and 75 of these!

(Not these brands... just Google Images I found!)

But, I think I'm ~~overloaded~~ ready for school!
And it's only going to cost me about $12! Woohoo!