Seriously Sweet

I mean really now... does it get any cuter? :)

Feelin' the Love

Spending Sunday in the craft room....

Happy Campers

Working slowly on a mini about our spring break trip to the White Mountains.  It's been a while since I've created a mini-album and I'm loving it! 

Easter Blessings

I'm not a religious person.  In fact, I struggle with my faith constantly.  However, as this Good Friday draws to a close, I cannot help but reflect on the wonderful blessings in my world right now.

1. An afternoon adventure with my best friend.  She and I spontaneously took a mini-road trip to a restaurant we've always wanted to try, Bad Ass BBQ in Black Canyon City.  The weather could not have been more ideal for an hour's ride in her new convertible; spring has definitely come to the desert.  And inside BAB, the beer was cold, the sawdust on the floor was fresh, and the BBQ was tasty.  Not a bad way to pass a few hours...

2. My dad is healing from his surgery.  At 70, he had lots of saggy skin, which had begun to limit his field of vision, removed from his eyelids earlier this week.  He's feeling better about it and the sutures look great.  He's still a bit bruised and swollen, but he's coming along great.  Here are a few before shots.  When he's all healed up, I'll post an after. Seriously, how cute is this guy?

3. Zach and Kenzie are sleeping over right now.  We had a super fun night dyeing eggs and eating a big family dinner with Mom and Dad.  I adore those two kids so much it hurts.  I love knowing they are dreaming in the next room.

4. Kristen. Tomorrow I am traveling down to Yuma to visit one of my oldest and dearest friends.  I haven't seen her or her family in a while, and I miss them all terribly.  I can't wait to hug them all, smooch her son, and have an all night laugh, guac, and Yahtzee fest!  Cheesy good stuff.

5. Our bean.  Our family could be growing, beginning right now.  Hoping and wishing with everything I've got...

 Happy Easter.

Seeds

Today, we watered our seed.  Praying it sprouts.... :)

  www.jamesrick.com

Awkward much?

I teach sixth grade, and twelve year olds are delightfully entertaining.  They are just developing a more adult sense of humor, though they are still, appropriately, immature and prudish.  Gotta love em.

So today was marked by not one, not two, but three awkward moments in class....

We began our study of Greek Mythology during Literature, and while we read the story of Father Sky and Mother Earth creating the race of Titans, numerous students had to read the word "Uranus" out loud.  Chuckle chuckle, giggle giggle.  After the third round of it, I figured I may as well address the problem head on.  "Ok, ok.  They said anus.  Let's all laugh at the butt reference, and move on, shall we?"  We did, and we did.

Later during Social Studies, we were coloring and labeling a map of Ancient Greece.  The directions on the map said to label far more details than I deemed necessary for our study.  So I was instructing students on what not to label, including the cities of Ephesus, and the islands of Ithica and Lesbos.  "Lesbos" created quite a murmur of shy giggles around the room.  "Ok, ok. I hear you laughing.  Look, Lesbos is an island and a woman poet named Sappho came from there.  She wrote emotional poems professing her feelings of love for another woman.  So....that's where the word you're all thinking of comes from.  You learned a little something.  Cool?  Get over it."   And they did....

However, the ultimate in this trilogy of embarrassment happened during Language.  Students were working on a brainstorming activity, prewriting for an essay assignment when William raised his hand.  I approached him to offer help, when he said, frustrated, "Why is my handwriting so awful?"  As a former kindergarten teacher, I was able to explain to him, "Well, it looks like you learned to write using the ball-and-stick method.  The problem is your balls are too far from your stick."  After a second's shocked pause, the entire class, myself include, busted up laughing.  I walked away, wrapped up the lesson, and proceeded to speak as little as possible for the remainder of the day.

I'm kind of afraid to check my school email in the morning. "Dear Ms. M... Could you please explain to me how the topics of lesbians and balls were discussed in your classroom yesterday?!?!?"

Spring Break

It's Friday night, our week off is coming to a close, and I don't want to spend too much time on here right now! :)  So here's a quick update.

We spent the first half of the week at Lake of the Woods rustic cabins in Pinetop. Crazy - we ran into not one but two people we know.  Small world.  Discovered a delightful little scrapbooking store called Embellish, and spent lots of sweet time just resting.  Quiet, peaceful, wonderful.

Yesterday we had a doctor's appointment for more family planning, shopped a bit, and CRAFTED.  Shannon spent hours wondering through iTunes and finding some fantastic new musicians while I created this.  I gotta admit, I LOVE it:

Today was an eye doctor appointment for me, shopping for the parents, cooking a delicious dinner together, and more scrapping.  Had to showcase this photo I took up at the cabin.

And tomorrow we'll be on a pontoon boat on Roosevelt Lake celebrating Kori's 40th.  I will be at least...Shanni's a bit under the weather.


And that's that. Movie time!