Snow days...

 Maddie always wants to play...

 "Uh, mom?  Let us in.  Please?"

 "Anytime now...We're cold!"

 Man alive, it was really coming down!

What's going on (because I feel compelled to blog, but I don't really have any one thing to talk about):

• School is great.  I love my kids, my coworkers - the energy is so positive.
• We still don't have any word on when we might be leaving WA or where we might be going.  I'm getting the itch to move, but because I love my job so much it's going to be hard.
• It's sunny today!  However, it's bitter cold and windy, but the sun has the whole neighborhood out and about.  Maddie, Dixie and I spent an hour leisurely walking around and it was nice to see so many other people out enjoying the day.  Some crazy dog almost ate us all - the dog nearly pulled over the tiny gal who was running with it, but luckily she got it under control just in time.  Scary.
• I can't believe I'm so close to being an aunt for the 5th/6th time - Charla's twins are due mid-April and I seriously can't wait.
• I also can't believe that my sweet niece Hannah will be 3 in April and my first ever nephew will be 1.  Um, time?  Can you slow down a little, please?
• Monday is day 1 of the Biggest Thriver competition at the gym.  Think Biggest Loser but based on points.  You can earn points by going to the gym and by making progress on weight, BMI, waist and hip measurements, one-mile time, sit-ups, and push-ups.  Our fitness test is Monday and it's a 7-week competition.  My team is awesome - 4 of my co-workers and then another gal who needed a team.  My bet?  We're going to win.
• I need to:  hire a housekeeper, take photography lessons, update esty with a few more items, start cleaning out closets and working on the garage, use the crockpot more often.

Happy holiday weekend, y'all!

We're writing poetry in my Literary Arts classes - apology poems, to be specific, based on the poem, "This Is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams.  My students are exploring the art of apologizing poetically.  To take it a step further (and copycat the book, "This Is Just to Say:  Poems of Apology and Forgiveness" by Joyce Sidman) they are giving the recipients of the poems/apologies the opportunity to respond, also via poetry. 

I told them I was writing a poem to my sister to apologize for hitting her on the head with a hammer. 

Well, the shock value worked and they were hooked!  I gave them no more explanation and told them they'd have to wait for my poem to hear the rest of the story.  When I told them that my sister would respond in the form of a poem, they were skeptical..."You really think she'll write you back?  You think she'll write you a poem?"  They were probably also thinking, "You think she'll forgive you?"  Ha!  So, because my sister is awesome, she played along and wrote a response.  I thought our apology and response were too fun not to share, so here they are:

To my sister, Alicia:

Hammer

We were little then

and I was littler than you

(not like now, when I’m the “little” sister in age only)

and our world consisted of a great big backyard

and the basement of our split-level house.

I don’t remember hating you

or harboring jealousy

or any of the dark and stormy feelings that normally lead

to such an act.

But still, in the basement, it happened.

Playing as you were in the My Little Pony tent

happy as a lark

probably singing (and recording yourself on cassette tape)

your moment of happiness, of cozy content,

crashing down with a single blow

to

the

head.

It hit you with the hammer from the tool belt

that was left for me under the tree that year

(I can’t imagine why mom or dad thought that would be a good gift)

and I still don’t know why I did it.

Maybe I really was just pretending to build the tent.

Maybe.

I’m sorry.

I’m glad that you are my best friend now.

(I guess I did manage to knock some sense out of you.)

from Amy

To my sister, Amy:

Re:  Hammer

As I sat in my tent on the brink

With a book and a juicebox to drink

I didn’t know I should dread

A hammer blow to the head

Butt thairs know lastin’ dammige (I thinck!)

I forgive you for you were a child

And your hammer wielding was still wild

Along with your tools

You were given no rules

So in hindsight this really was mild

from Alicia

Christmas 2010, how are you here already?!?

I thought we might skip decorating altogether, but after a cookie exchange at a friend's house (beautifully decorated), I just had to do something.  Better late (and just a little) than never...I knew that I definitely wanted to put up our stockings, and that box was easy enough to access.  I found a few other things in there to put up and out around the house, brought in the front porch mini-tree, added some garland and ornaments, and voila - Christmas.  My Scentsy warmers are filled with Christmas scents, and I'm putting up Christmas cards as they come in the mail.  It feels good.  Now if life would just slow down a bit so that I can get a few more things made for gifts!  Doesn't look like we'll get any more snow days in 2010, though, so I'm just going to have to find time elsewhere.

Hopefully I'll have some pics of completed Christmas gifts to post (after they've been given, of course) - so, I'd better get to it!  Can't wait to see our families in just a few weeks! Merry Christmas, y'all...

Isn't Skype the best?

 

Love it.

Fall Wreath...it started off as an experiment, just trying out a few things, but I really love how it turned out!  My first foray into the world of burlap and rosettes!  I think I'm going to make another wreath for inside that is wrapped in burlap with a ruffle on the front and back, and I'll just pin on rosettes, flowers, etc. seasonally.  Fun, easy project (with only one hiccup - a blister from the glue gun).

Had to show off my wreath hanger - whoop!

I wish I had used a darker burlap so that it had a little more contrast with our house, but it's as good as it's going to get for this fall!  Next project - decoupaged pumpkins!  I might get one done yet tonight, and I'll post when I can...that's pretty much all that's going on around here - crafts, and playing with my camera.  What better to do on a rainy day? 

 More blanket love...

I loved the sweet pink with this modern fabric!

 

 

 

My first time attempting binding - made this bias tape using a fabulous tutorial.

Finally finished - this wasn't a difficult project, but I used techniques that were new to me, and the embroidery took some time (but was my favorite part).

This is a standard sized crib blanket - 32 x 42 inches.

More crafting...

This Wednesday I'm hosting a craft party for some ladies at work.  We're going to make some fall wreaths, some tile coasters, and drink a little wine.  I'm going to try to get a sample wreath done before then, and hopefully we'll all wow each other with our craftiness on Wednesday!  I'll post the results...

Happy 10-10-10, y'all!

Okay, I'm blogging not because I have anything interesting to say, but because I'm tired of seeing the same OLD post every time I log on!  So, here's an update by way of a list:

• I had a fabulous summer - Peru was amazing, we camped with my in-laws and did a pretty great hike, I spent time with friends, unpacked my classroom, and had fun hanging out with my husband.  We had another successful garden - this is slowly becoming something I truly enjoy and I can't wait to have a yard that's more suitable for growing our own food.
• The school year got off to a great start.  I love meeting the new 6th graders!  I have a fabulous student teacher, and so far things are going really well.
• My dad had open heart surgery and I flew down to OKC to be there for the surgery and the recovery time in the hospital.  It totally sucked that he had bypass, but it was awesome to see my family.
• Will turned 30!  We are in such a good place right now and I can't wait to see what's next - I am so blessed.
• It's really starting to feel like fall around here.  I'm looking forward to getting the yard cleaned up and winter-ready, canning some of my abundant green tomatoes, buying pumpkins, and making meals in the crock pot.
• I'm slowly learning to use my new camera - Will bought me/us a Rebel T1i for our anniversary, and I LOVE it.  It's so familiar because I learned to use an SLR on a Canon...I just love it and I am having fun experimenting!
• I've been crafting a lot more lately and trying new things.  Alicia and I hope to have our new etsy store up and running sometime next month - just in time for Christmas shopping!  We'll email out when it's open.

Okay!   Now I feel better.  I really do have things to say and document, but I need to get back in the groove.  I'll make an effort!

Recapping what I didn't blog about this year...

 Rang in the New Year with my crazy family...

In February, we surprised Alicia for her shower-that-never-was (but we got in some great girl time!).  I don't know why I have crazy eyes in this pic...

We had some sun in March, but then it left...we're still waiting for it to come back and stay a while (on the news they are calling this month, "June-uary"...

We had the Goolsbys (and Matthew) up for a visit - we crammed in a lot for a short trip, including a visit to the market, the coast, and a cupcakery just for Marla!

After the quick visit from our Georgia family, we headed to Texas to meet our new nephew, Parker.  Amazing - these pictures say it all!

 As timing would have it, Parker's birth coincided with a Dabney/Smylie Mini-Reunion and Charla's birthday!  I was able to get in a few snuggles with Mr. Ian, too.

So, there is a lot more, but this whole blogging thing is a bit overwhelming, and I have some cleaning and packing to do - Peru, here we come!  In just 3 days...

Maybe one day I'll be a good blogger...don't hold your breath!  Happy summer!