She's gone...

I really can't believe she's gone.

I heard her name announced on the morning news... 47-year-old, female died in a car crash. I heard her name, the name of the street, the type of car and looked at my husband. He said... It's not her, it can't be her. I called another friend... she picked up the phone and we just listened to each other breathe... I said her name and she confirmed that it was true... our dear friend, B, was gone.

It was a tragic, horrible car accident. It took her life and the life of the other driver.

I am so saddened by this event.

An incredible teacher, a friend to all, a supporter, a cheerleader of people and skills... she worked tirelessly to help students. She made EVERYONE she came in contact with feel that they were the most important person around.

She was a mentor for me early in my career.

She was part of my life when my boys were very small. The memories with my boys I will cherish forever. The memories with students I will hold onto forever. The memory of B I will hold close to my heart.

Goodbye B... You are so missed and you are so loved.

It's raining...

in my house!

Not a good way to start the day.

I came down the stairs, all was quiet except the drip, drip, drip. My first thought, was that we must have a clogged gutter... and I must have left the window open because I can really hear that drip, drip, drip. I decided to investigate... I found it as the drip landed on my head and I realized I was standing on a wet area rug.

My first thought... ummm... inappropriate... my second thought... "NOT the hardwood floors!" I threw the couch out of the way, grabbed towels to soak up the water on the rug and underneath. The floors look fine. I placed a dry towel down and put a bucket on top. Now I hear...

drip

DRip

DRIP.

I have a plan. (Did I mention I called my husband on a business trip and woke him in a dead sleep.) I searched for a roofer and found a thousand choices. I remembered that a friend just had her roof done. So, when it is a respectable hour I will be calling her for the number, then I will call the roofer and then I think a call to the home owners insurance company is in order.

YUCK!

Do you 'do' sleepovers?

To do or not to do?

Up to this point, most of the sleepovers that have happened with our kids have been our of necessity (traveling, early meetings, health concerns, etc).

The boys are getting older and want to have friends over... I've always said I'd like my house to be "the place"... the place to hang out, play the wii, pinball, watch movies, shoot hoops, etc. In order for my house to be "the place", friends need to come over.

The boys are in basketball camp this week and we leave early each morning. Two friends are joining us each day and it just made sense to me to have the boys spend the night... and a little friend for baby girl. This was also somewhat out of 'need' as two of the kids are siblings and mom and dad wanted to go to a concert so I asked for them to stay the night... made sense to me.

Now, here is the tough part. One of the friends got really nervous. I think it was a combination of over tired (3 hours of camp, 2 hours of running at our house, 2 hours running/playing on the soccer fields) and the nervous factor. Anyway... the little friend finally cracked. After trying to calm him down, I called Dad and he came to get him. Before they left he had worked himself up terribly. I felt horrible. So, the boys are 7... was it too soon? Phinneous has stayed the night with them twice... once our of necessity (Pepe was in surgery) and once for a family vacay they invited him on. I wonder if it was because it wasn't his idea. I called and asked Dad if he could spend the night and then told the boy later. We'll pick him up for camp this morning... I hope he is okay.

Then, during all of that fiasco, the little girl staying the night fell apart. Ugh. I've known her since she was 6 months old, she's spent the night with my kids several times, so I talked her through it and put them to bed. She slept great all night... I didn't call mom and dad. They were out having fun, and I KNOW this child. What do you do?

After all was said and done everyone was asleep by 11 (I started putting them to bed at 9:40) and they were up by 6:15... should make for a cranky afternoon. You know what... they've all had a great time and I'd still do it again. I'm not a fan of random friends staying over, but the friends we know and love or are getting to know and love I like having over. It's fun for the kids and well, fun for the kids. Did I mention I'm tired? Time to flip the sausages!

Clark County Fair

It is time once again for the Clark County Fair! I look forward to the fair every year. I love to see the animals, drink a milk shake from the Dairy Women, see familiar faces, chat with my girlfriend (we go to the fair every year together) and people watch. Oh, the people watching is the best! I was not let down one bit.

This year is the first year ever that I've worked at the fair. I am working along with the rest of the preschool and play park staff to promote our programs. It was certainly an adventure. I met many nice families that I would love to have join our programs and I met some families that our programs may not suit as well. All in all, it was a good day and I hope that these families find their place to be.

Tomorrow... the fair with the family... can't wait to see those cows and pigs!

Done, done, done

Let summer begin!

I finished my class this morning and I now have 4 weeks off until my next one begins.

I have many projects to start and complete, but I can do it.

I am thrilled to take a break... first project... Costco with the kids!

What Not to Wear...

I'm sure you've seen the show... Clinton... Stacey... the fashion police.

My wardrobe is not so good, but fine for me. I teach preschool... a t-shirt, my dockers and I'm good to roll. My teaching partner Miss S (whom loves all things fashion), volunteered to go through my closet and help me pull things together.

Now this is where I am so sad that I didn't grab the camera!

She had a hard time believing me when I'd tell her how small my wardrobe and closet is. She saw it with her own two eyes tonight with the comment... "What do you mean you gave your husband the biggest part of the closet?!?!"...

What can I say... he has more clothes than me.

So, first I had to pull everything out of the closet and we went through all of it with a big, black garbage bag (it really felt like What not to Wear). I got rid of everything that didn't fit or that I didn't love... I mean everything!!!! I filled the entire bag.

Then, we organized into piles... casual/preschool clothes, dressy clothes and sweaters/jackets.

Next, everything went back into the closet. This is where I had to think. I had to decide how it made the most sense to hang my clothes. I've always hung everything by color, but decided to try something new. I put all of my casual clothes together by color with my casual jackets/sweatshirts next to them. My fancy shirts by color with my skirts next to them. I hung my pants and dresses together.

It looks really great and I can see everything. Miss S has a list of a couple of basics that I need to add back in... or in other words... go shopping!

When we get together again, we are going to put some outfits together, including accessories.

I am so thrilled with the time she gave me. But, I was even more thrilled with her honesty. She wasn't afraid to talk about the shape of clothes that work best on me. EVERYONE should go through this process... it was great.

Now... when do I get hair and makeup?!?!?!!

Goodbye

Goodbye old printer...
it's been a good run, but you just can't keep up with the new operating system.
I won you... you were free... you've been by my side for years. Now, we say goodbye.



Hello, new friend.
There you are with all your bells and whistles.
With the first picture printed you took my breath away...