I am thankful for

Paper and elements are from Vinnie Pearce freebie kits Today_I _freebie_no2 and I Live from_freebie and Thank you kit

Palin for Vice President

What the heck? Just wish they would leave her alone and let her continue the great job she's been doing here in Alaska. I want her to be the governor of Alaska, not the running mate of John McCain...

This is hilarious!

Mainly because I am there at least a couple times a day emailing or calling our tech person with a question!

In fact it's so funny I don't know how to make a link so you can get there so just cut and paste!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ

Satisfied

I got home from school tonight and managed to get the salmonberry jelly made. I am a happy camper!
paper I used for blending-Naturesown-FoxyDesigns and Veronica Spriggs from http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com
Alice Koh for APRIL TEMPLATE CHALLENGE @ www.pickleberrypop.com

salmonberries

Naturesown-FoxyDesigns and Veronica Spriggs which I got as a freebie from http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com

Finally got out and got enough picked. Stay tuned for jelly!

Goodbye Summer?

papers and elements are from Naturesown-FoxyDesigns and Veronica Spriggs which I got as a freebie from http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com

Decided to scrap the picture I took of Mt. Eccles the other morning. Sure feels like fall although I don't think it ever really got to be summer here. I'm still hoping to get a few more salmon berries to make some jelly. They are so late here. Usually they are gone by late July or early August. They are still trying to fully ripen.

YOUnique

Ninascraps - YOUnique smoochie#3

Here's Cadi wadding in the lake on one of those rare sunny days this year!

Back To School

Tilted Template Challenge-Brittney at britt-ish designs
paper and elements:
SchoolRocksDAK-Pillowgirl, aka Elizabeth Blust
Corkboard-Pillowgirl, aka Elizabeth Blust

It could be a country song...

My butt is dragging and my dogs are barking. Can't you just hear the melody that goes with it? Actually it was probably the easiest first day I've had in a very long time. I'm sure the honeymoon may end sometime, but today was great. Just wish my feet knew that...

If it's Wednesday it must be pizza...

Today is the first day of school. I'm sitting here at the computer charging up with my big cup of coffee of the morning. I will not see a chair or a cup of coffee for the rest of the day so I better drink up and sit cozy for a few minutes. I'll go get the girls up in a few minutes, but for right now, this minute is only mine and I'm going to savor it for a few more minutes!
So the routine of school will replace the spontaneous summer. There is something comforting in that not only for our family, but also for all those kids who maybe don't have the level of routine in their life that they crave. As a teacher I want to create a classroom that has consistency and routine. A safe place for them to spend their time. A place where they can take a chance to learn something new and not be afraid. I think our entire school does that. We do have a remarkable school and I think every single person that passes through the doors of our school as an employee knows what an enormous task we are given. We are entrusted with the lives and minds and spirits of children. Lord, help me do the job I need to do today with each of the children who will walk into my classroom today.
So now I go to wake up the kids, get our morning routine going a little earlier today. The backpacks are filled with the new supplies and the clothes are already selected. We don't need to pack a lunch though because it's Wednesday and if it's Wednesday it must be pizza. Another one of those comforting routines about our school.

Paper, ribbon, and flowers Shabby Poppies Kit ©2007 by Shabby Miss Jenn
Frame, grass, rafia, and bolt-By the Sea-Phuong Ton



So these are 2 more layouts I did of our summer vacation. We got to spend some time on a little farm. It was very cool to pet llamas and feed cows.

Speaking of summer vacation...Today is the last day for children here to run free. Tomorrow school starts for kids. I guess I'm pretty much ready, but it there is always so much that needs to be accomplished. Last night it was coloring 24 monkeys as I sat in the recliner and watched the Olympics. Thankfully the girls got into coloring too. Tonight I cannot stay up late and watch. Instead I will go to bed early and toss and turn thinking about the things that probably didn't quite get finished!

Off to another exciting morning of meeting. Mandatory training stuff I could recite in my sleep, but the State of Alaska feels that it is vital I sit through it for the 26th time...Gee I wonder where that perky attitude went yesterday...

We are finished...

with Betta fish for the time being. Cadi's was dead this morning so now I have a lovely bowl of colored glass and bamboo. That whole pet experience took less than a week and about $50 dollars!

Today I get to go sit in meetings. Not my favorite thing to do, but I'm going to take my laptop and my perky attitude. It will be hard since it looks like a nice day...the first since we got home at the end of July. Maybe the girls can get some time outside at least before they go to school on Wednesday.

The good news is that my computer is not broken. It has been acting up the last several days and this morning when I just had a black screen I almost went into panic mode. I finally said a prayer and asked for wisdom and then I decided to check all the cables. The big blue one was lose and when I tightened it up, SURPRISE! it was working! God is always faithful in answering when we take the time to ask. What a relief since I really didn't have time to deal with this today.

As I look outside this morning it's already looking pretty fallish. The lady on the mountain is pretty skinny and the bear has eaten the fish.

News from our house.

Nathanial Michael Phelps II died last night. Not quite so sad this time, but we decided that the little tank we got at Salvation Army maybe wasn't such a great idea. So far Cadi's fish is hanging in there.
I decided after getting the allergy reports back on Josi that the old carpet in the living room had to go. So with the help of Uncle Bud and both girls we got the carpet, pad, staples, nails, those gnarly carpet strips, and all the mess out of the house in 5 1/2 hours. What a great feeling. I think I'm going to paint the floor a deep red color and that will do us until after the winter. We'll see if there is any money left after the winter fuel bills.
After working with my two as they pulled staples, moved furniture and gross old carpet I am again reminded of what amazing kids I have. I had told them I thought we should do something together as a family today and then changed my mind and decided to do the carpet. Cadi said, "This is together as a family stuff and it's actually fun." During the entire time I didn't hear one of them complain. I am blessed!
I'm heading to the shower, pajamas,and the recliner. I may just sleep there tonight because I might not be able to get out of it!

Back to school

This is one I did of Josi on the beach this summer. There's always so much Joy at the beach!
Paper and elements-Happy as a Lark by Paislee Press
template-http://elina-designs.blogspot.com/

So today was my first official day back to school. Why do I feel like the story If You Give a Mouse A Cookie? Seems like everything I tried to do led me a different direction to some other project. I always have so many little piddly chores to get done before the little darlings arrive. But all being said we did get an amazing amount of stuff done and I am not going in this weekend.
There's something about the beginning of a school year that will always excite me even after 48 years of beginning school! This is my 26th year of teaching-22 in kindergarten. There is still something exciting about the new pencils, the new books, and all the possibilities that a year of learning holds. Tonight we will go through the school supplies here at home and get things in order for the girls first day of school on Wednesday.

Explore Discover

Here's a LO I did with a template from http://elina-designs.blogspot.com/ . The girls had such fun exploring the tidepools on the Oregon coast.

We got back from Anchorage last night. Had a good trip and now it's time to face the music. School starts tomorrow for me. Am I doing anything to get ready? No. I got a new Bamboo Fun while I was in the city so I'm playing with that. It will be quite awhile before I feel comfortable using it, but I did put this Layout together using nothing but PSE5 and the Bamboo pen. I like the effect on the photo.

Now I really do need to go do a few things around the house(like find the floor!). I'm planning on parking my rear end in the recliner and watching more of the Olympics tonight. The girls both got a new betta fish in Anchorage. Josi's was dead this morning, so we went to the local pet store and bought another one. I tried to convince both of them that a good name would be Michael Phellps. Josi went along with it and hers is Nathanial Michael Phellps #2 aka. Junior.

Some more Layouts from our summer and ramblings

Paper and element-Dreamy Daisy page set Ake Harini Pangestuti
Joy Latice from the Journey of the heart kit KaMhart


So I got up early this morning before the kids got up. They are going to have a hard time adapting to school time if things don't change around here soon! I had time to do these three layouts before Cadi finally appeared. Josi is still in bed!
Finally got a few repairs done around the house that needed to be done. One was replacing the garage door. (no I didn't do any of them) My car is now happily back in the garage. I wanted to get that done before the snow came because I can't stand to scrape the car in the morning. Anyway the garage door is finished, a window casing has been replaced, the fence that one of my neighbors hit is no longer leaning. So much for those few extra dollars in the savings acount!
I am trying to get two rooms ready at school since I am going to be teaching kindergarten and preschool special ed as well. Most of the room stuff is done, but I'm waiting for part of the floor to be waxed so I can move the rest of the furniture. The kids went and helped for a couple of days. They are both great helpers and are willing to pitch in and do almost anything. Sure a lot different than the old days when I took them to work and they tore up the room as I tried to set it up!
We head to Anchorage tomorrow to do a few medical appointments and to load up at Costco before winter. Milk now is over $7 a gallon here and gas was $5.56 yesterday. I put in $20 worth and figured that would get me from Whittier to Gridwood so I can fill up on Anchorage prices!



Frame-Frame up-Jessica Alger
Brush-KHM-WebChallenge-060908\KHM-WebChallenge-060908
Font_ Shortcut

Template-AD Challenge 6 July 2008 (PSD)By and © Anna Aspnes 2008-Designer digital
Font-Horse Puke

Overlay-Hot-MWise Designer Digital Ad Challenge080308

Long Beach morning

Paper by Southern Charm
Cluster frame- Gunhild Storeide

Took this one early morning on the beach at Long Beach, Washington It's so much fun to have a little morning adventure while everyone else is sleeping!

So I'll try it again...

Basis Black Paper Pack-Mandy Koontz
Acrylic frame-Feistuff
The flower comes from something called Doodle Garden, but I don't know where I got it.

So, I guess I will try this blogging thing again. Seems like I start and go great guns for awhile and then life takes over and it gets put on the back burner. Now that I'm into digital scrapbooking I will at least have pages to post because I'm always doing another page.
We've been back from our month in Oregon and Washington for 8 days now and tonight is the first time I have seen anything that even resembles the sunshine. I guess it's been a long, cold, wet summer. Can't complain though because we did have a beautiful month "outside".
Guess I'll post a few more of our vacation layouts and then I'm going to go watch "America's Got Talent". Cadi already has plans for a night of popcorn and t.v. I'm thinking we should go outside and see if we can get direct sunlight in our eyes, but I'll probably end up sitting in the recliner and eating popcorn too...

Summer-Lincoln City

This is a layout I did of the girls in Lincoln City, Oregon. We had so much fun on the Washington and Oregon coast this summer!