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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Catching up from the week...

So you may have noticed with all the lead-in that this was a busy week for me! Here are a few pics from the week...

Monday

Peter was here and we went to a very cold, wet, short Memorial Day parade... sans jackets. We are tough though, we survived the 17 minutes in short sleeves in the frigid 57 degrees.
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Tuesday

I worked at an elementary school where the kids who sold at least 30 items for a fundraiser got to go to lunch in this... a stretch hummer. Later some of the teachers took turns combining classes so they could go for a ride too. (Substitutes were not included in this.)
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Thursday

I introduced Peter to the BEST ribs anywhere in the whole world... Rib Shack is awesome. YUM!



















Friday
(Yep, that's the day we went to the drive-in, but this was earlier)J took us out for lunch since it was my brother's last full day in town. We went to Hungry Hobo's for some baked potatoes and sub sandwiches. This sweetie-pie stole my pop once we got home.














Saturday
Sadly, my brother went back to California... but I still had a ton to do. J and I mowed his yard and then headed over to mow mine. If I had taken the picture fast enough, there would have been a beautiful butterfly here. Instead, you just get some flowers from J's bushes.















J and I had a wedding to go to that evening and since I have lost 30 pounds so far this year, I decided it was time to get a new dress. This is the one I wanted... but it was too expensive. I'll have to post a pic of the one I got another time. Still, I loved this dress and the fact that this one (and the one I actually bought) were a size 14!!! (I haven't been in a dress that small in several years.)



















This is the bouquet I 'caught' at the reception. Actually, all the singles were gathered and the bouquet was handed to me. The same happened with the men... and after a quick fake throw by the groom the garter was put right in J's hands. :-)
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Sunday
Kids came home. Ran to the store. Saw this pup with his whole head out of the window. He didn't growl or bark (he didn't act happy either!), but it was a little disconcerting to have to squeeze between this dog and my van to get into the driver's seat!





Now... who is ready for some 'Not Me Monday?"

Friday, May 29, 2009

Let's Go To The Movies...

The kids and I are at our first drive-in theater experience with Peter before he heads back to California in the AM.

He likes taking pictures with his cell phone too!

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

A little graphic...

Limited time only! Free keychain with any riding mower purchase. Courtesy of Sears & Craftsman.

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Not Me Monday!



Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not spend so much time preparing for my brother's visit that I barely slept for a week. Which most definitely did not lead me to an eye infection that made me too light sensitive to do everything I left until the last minute. (Because, of course, even when I don't sleep when I should I ALWAYS take my contacts out before bed).

I did not hold my brother's party at a bar in the early evening, and while I was there I did not sing karaoke in front of most of my family. I also did not (and would not ever) let my three-year-old take the mic after me for an impormptu rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, (and if I did, I would never forget my camera all the way across the room so I don't have it on video).

I also did not spend a large part of the week trying to get word out about Lauren's fundraiser (which is up to 11 whole comments!) only to give up and just hope people will find it. I'll still give out the gift certificate, but I'm done promoting!

Lastly, I did not cheer with glee when my stories pushed me to the 2nd ranked author in the "Education" section on examiner.com.

Oh yeah, I will totally not be checking MckMama's blog every five minutes so I can be one of the first to use Mr Linky to link you all to me!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

It's Always Better Crunchy

Anyone else up for a hotdog, cheese, chips, and ranch chip dip?

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Peter is here!

Didn't post much yesterday. Was too busy enjoying my big bro.

Here he is singing one song @ karaoke. It was great and great fun!

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Blinded by the light

I have barely been sleeping for a week as I prepare for a visit from my brother who I havent seen in person in 7 years. Yes, I've seen him many times: Here is a list of sightings

(You should see his Demo Reel too!)

Anyway, I woke up with an eye infection. I can't handle light. I can barely handle the computer. I had so much to focus on getting done today... good thing I'm pretty sure he'll love us whether the house is perfect or not!

I started concentrating so hard on my vision that I lost sight.
Robin Green, Northern Exposure, Burning Down the House, 1992

Friday, May 22, 2009

Amen!

In case the pic isn't clear. This truck has men in their camo gear inside of it.

The window says: "If you can't stand behind us, feel free to stand in front of us."

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tradin' Paint Stories

IJ comes in to see the progress of his new room and is excited to see the first coat of paint on the ceiling even though I didn't get to the edges yet.

He's so excited, in fact, that he says, "Mom, if you don't want to do the edges you don't have to. I don't look up very much anyway."

See?

Working on ceiling now...

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Train

We're on our way home from church and this train is all that stands between me and the last 20 min of American Idol!

ARGH!

Olive Juice

Nearly every day I drop the kids off at this corner a 1/2 block from their school. 11YOG (11 year-old-genius) gets out first, helps everyone else out (including two neighbor kids) and folds the seat down so I don't have to deal with it when we get home and the little girls need to hurry into the house to wait for their bus.

I always told her Thank You, but on one grouchy day I said "I LOOOOOVE YOU!" and she grumbled back the same in reply. Now all three of the girls and I yell it as embrassingly loud as possible every day.

She would be embarassed if it weren't a)half a block from school and b)making her smile to widely to even fake a frown.

Sometimes, just to make myself giggle, I yell "Olive Juice!" (She's a smart cookie, she'll call me on it one day).

Whew! My fingers are tired!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A man paints with his brains...

Two years ago, when L was in transplant, many members of my church came together to make this old house safe for her to come home to with a compromised immune system. Some of the supplies were donated, including 9 gallons of white paint.

Almost every room in my house has been painted with this over the last two years. I don't have an all white house though... I spend a few minutes with some acrylic craft paint and a cup of white. I mix this and that together until I get what I am looking for.

My closet has grey trim. My bedroom has one blue wall. The new room will have a green wall (light sage in the upper right hand corner of the 'pallette') and a tan ceiling (I think... it hasn't been mixed yet.).

A man paints with his brains and not with his hands. ~Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Wow.

We ran a 1-month-long contest at our elementary school collecting pop-tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. To my amazement, the total weighed in at over 225lbs!

Four classes brought in over 20lbs each and one of those classes brought in 43lbs!

Not Me Monday!



Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I most certainly was not happy to send the kids to their dad's house and spend an entire weekend sans children. I did not spend Saturday night stuffing myself eating with the world's best BBQ take-out at J's house and watching the All-Star race without interuption or having to share.

I did not convince J to go to "small group" Sunday night at a house down the street only to find that they had had to cancel due to a family emergency. And when he gave have his most honestly sincere disappointed (fake) sigh, I did not say "That's okay, our assistant pastor has one at his house too, and he just lives three houses that way." I did not have any fun whatsoever while I was there.

At small groups my asst pastor's wife did not look out the back door to check on the children and see my three year old running around her yard with her pants and panties pulled around her ankles. Because of this I did not want to ring my 11yr old's neck (who was supposed to be watching her) and I did not whisper-yell that she had better run home and back (half a block away) and get L some clean clothes. I did not listen to the next ten minutes of Bible-study from the bathroom while waiting for said clothes (and I did not whisper-sing "If you're happy and you know it" six times to keep L from running out into the livingroom half-naked).

I look forward to reading what all of you did not do also! Have a great Monday!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Git 'er done...

Well, we are getting there... Justin took a 4-day weekend, and spent a large portion of it over here at my house putting up the paneling in Isaac's room. We have one more piece to put up, and the rest will be up to me... (cleaning, sweeping, moving furniture, etc.)

I can't wait to get it all done!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

National MPS Awareness Day

Today I tell Lauren's story while we pray for a cure.

Today is in honor of those precious children living with this rare disease and in memory of all of the MPS angels who were taken to Heaven too soon.

German

Guess what I'm teaching today?
Thank goodness the teacher's expectations were low. I mean, I've told you about my success with foreign languages!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

This could be fun...

We made it inside just before the rain hit!

Early

I'm not sure how it happened, but I am actually the first one in the classroom for church tonight.

In case you ever wondered, this is what the projection room at a movie theater looks like once all the equiptment is removed.

Abandoned

Despite the fact it is 60 degrees outside, putting the winter stuff away yesterday made the two youngest beg for gloves to wear to school today.

Thankfully, when the bus came they left them on the table with the last bites of pop tart.

Fruity Squirrel

This squirrel opened and finished off an abandonned bag of fun fruits. Then he scampered back about 6 feet, wiped his hands in the wet grass, rubbed them together to make sure the evidence was gone, and headed up the nearest tree!

He is under the swing.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Learning a new skill

Priceless.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Not Me Monday!

This is a break from my normal cell-phone blogging, but it looked like fun. I learned the phrase "Not Me Monday" from MckMamma's Blog. Stellan is doing so much better and the family is back together now. I had to participate today... if you don't know what Not Me Monday is, keep reading:

I did not, upon finding out that KFC was having a problem fulfilling their coupons for free dinners, bribe my children not to whine with their choice of completely nutrition-less Lunchables on Saturday. Also, I did not eat leftover BBQ ribs with a ceasar spinach wrap for lunch yesterday while my kids ate lunchmeat turkey sandwiches. I am very concerned with the food my children puts into their bodies, and would never let them eat junk to make my day go more smoothly. Nope, NOT ME!

I did not run errands in my slippers this weekend because I was pretty sure I wouldn't need to get out of the van while I was out. I always put fashion above comfort so I would never do something so embrassing. I especially would not get out of the van and go into Family Dollar because I remembered something I needed while wearing the aforementioned slippers. NEVER! Not me!

Lastly, I did not spend any extra time on the computer this morning instead of doing the things that are on my list and I definitely did not contemplate skipping swimming lessons tonight in order to get more stuff done. Not me!
(I am definitely doing this again... hopefully next time with pictures!) :-)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Creativity

I told the kids to do whatever they want with the wood in the garage. I am now the owner of the easel and the table you see here as well as the 'bridge' to nowhere that Alex is sitting on.

She was Palin for Halloween... guess I should have seen that one coming. ;-)

This is what silence looks like...

Happy Mothers Day!

Alex learned to arrange flowers and brought these home for me (hiding them in her room for 2 days!)

Isaac made this pillow at school... sewed part of it and everything!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Comparing Labels

Isaac suprised me by actually comparing labels on two dinners at the store today.

Unfortunately, there was little to compare in the nutritionally deficient Lunchables. (A treat, not something they have often.)

Puppy

This cutie waas in the car next to me at the store this morning. It is a cool day, so he should be fine... but the poor babe doesn't even have a cracked window!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Early Mother's Day Gift

I came home from work to a special mother's day present from Ella & Lauren.

So sweet! (The girls and the cake!)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Project Update

Ceiling scraped. One coat of paint. Not the green I was going for, but Isaac said it will do.

Exceptions?

American Idol would be one.

A Clean Desk Can Be A Scary Thing...

A clean desk can be ascary thing when you are a last minute substitute teacher with no instructions.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

I'm at church...

in a movie theater. It is a good thing that I love a God who will meet me wherever I am!

(New church opening in the fall.)

Little Girls

They love to pose for pictures.

We are waiting for their school bus.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Diciduous Forest

... right in the classroom. I love it when teachers take the time to make their rooms fun.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Grocery Day!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Lost

It is never a good thing when the city you came from, the city you are going to, and the city you are in make a right triangle on the rest stop map.

Awesome Morning

After breakfast, prayer, shopping, hands, feet, and hair... we picked up our items from the garage sale (all were free, chosen by us, then bagged and tagged and carried to the front of the church for us) and loaded it into my recently washed, fluid filled, van.

Then we drove home, eating the boxed lunches they prepared for us.

What a blessing this event was!

SuperJessi

We've eaten, prayed, shopped, had our hands exfoliated & lotioned...

Now, onto our nails...

(It's easier to carry a sweatshirt this way.)

Single Mom's Morning Out

Food, car care, spa treatments.

Just got here, but this is going to be fun!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Dodgeball Coach

Today 6 high school boys at the alternative school played dodgeball.

I ref'd from here.