Got those post-CKU blues

Had such a fun time hanging with my PeaGirls this weekend. Even when classes were disappointing and album tracks were WAY disorganized, my girls were there to keep me smiling. Overall, I'd rate my weekend an 8 out of 10. I had one class that was supposed to teach me more about chipboard techniques. Instead, it was a page kit. Hello! I know how to make a scrapbook page. My album track was sooooo disorganized. No instructions. No teaching. No new techniques. Fortunately, I love my album and the papers. And I got to spend the day cropping with my friends. But, I would not recommend that album track to anyone ever again. Nope. LOVED my classes with Tim Holtz. Made some damn cool stuff. Enjoyed classes with Ana Cabrera (what a hoot!) and Emily Adams ("Hey, Wedding Singer! Is that you?")

And now... Some fun pictures to share:

Our incredibly messy table.

Sheila, working hard. Oy!

Laura with her Indigo Girls Happy Thing page.

The Graduating Virginia.

Laura... doing what she does best.

Mara, with her bird page.

Oh! Almost forgot a fun story…

I decided to stay up with L to work more on my album. Everyone else went to bed (losers). Well, lo and behold some random lady walks in and says “Do you want to make a cool Rusty Pickle album with Mr. Pickle himself?” L’s head popped up and her eyes got wide. Why, yes! We’d love to. Sooooo, at midnight, L and I packed up all our crap and hauled it across the hall to do the Rusty Pickle Midnight Bootleg class with Lance Anderson. SOOOO much fun, and a great altered chipboard book. Well worth our 2:30 A.M. bedtime!

Who's tired? Not Laura!

So CKU's a great start...

Some fun pictures from the Campus Crop last night. Don't have any of our dorm performing yet -- will post those soon. We WON the SONG competetion! We have video, too, so once that's on youtube, I'll post it!

Hump Day

It's Wednesday and the bulk of my first week back is over! Hallelujah! I'd forgotten how tough it is to manage 16 little people: their bodies, their needs, their MOUTHS, their minds. WOW. It's sad to say, but I'm refreshed to be teaching regular, run of the mill kids. I have a passion for helping children who need it, but after three years of having the neediest children hurled at me from all directions, I'm enjoying your "average joes." I have one child who hasn't learned impulse control yet. Another who doesn't really talk, unless your force her. Yet another who wants to please so badly, but he just hasn't found his way. Needless to say, I'm in love!

The best part of this "back in the classroom" gig is getting to revisit all the fun things I do every year. Rereading old books is like putting on an old t-shirt. They fit me just right and are so comfortable. I know I'm home.

I hate that there has been such a heat wave because my original intention for working 3 miles from home was to walk home everyday. It has been too hot to take the kids out to play, let alone walk 3 miles home. Enter my fitness hero: MG! Thanks to her and Kate's life merge, I am the proud new owner of a treadmill. I've named him George. We have a 45 minute date together everyday. He calls to me and forces me to run my ass off. Run! Okay. I walk mostly. But he entices me. And I do run.

What more can I say in this uncharacteristically long blog post? Oh yes! Getting ready for CKU. Soooo excited about Nashville. In fact, this time next week I'll be driving there. Our dorm was picked to perform, so that's going to be a blast. I get to create all weekend. Yay!

This totally cracked me up, though: I put in my leave form and in the "reason" section for my absence, I simple wrote "convention." On the leave form signed by my principal, she also wrote, "Bring back lots of great ideas!" I had to giggle. I think I'll share w/my grade leve the benefits of using chipboard when teaching children how to read.... =op

So much to do and so little time. This is me answering George's call so I can get some other things done this PM......

Spongebob says, "See ya, Sucker!"

These women..I just love 'em. With MG relocating, we decided we neede to get together with these crazy women for a night of revelry, excitement, karaoke, drinks, food, pinatas and, of course, games. These ladies are just so much fun. You never know what's going to come out of anyone's mouth or who Susan is going to grab next. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long while.

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, empatically: I love these girls!

Please, make my mojitos.

Rockin' out to karaoke.

A love song, obviously.

Baby. Got. Back.

It doesn't really hurt.

Loser.

DeadBob.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things to be Grateful for:

1. My husband. I mean, really, what an amazing guy!

2. My career. What more could one ask for? I get to help children learn. The rewards are endless.

3. The world of scrapbooking because it has helped me find:

4. Creativity. I can sit down and make shit. Out of paper and pictures and glue and paint. Oh yes.

5. Good friends. Life would be so BORING without them.

6. FurKids. There is nothing like being greeted at the door by a wagging tail and 2 meows.

7. Books. Anothe way to get away from the stress in life. Also keeps my brain active.

8. The Wide Wide World of Web. This way I can stay in touch with those I care about when they're far away.

9. Music. HolyShit. Music. My lifeblood. If I'm not singing it out loud or humming, I'm relating what you're saying to a song I heard. My memories are connected to songs. Yeah. Music.

10. Shoes. The inventor of shoes knew what s/he was doing. I can never have too many pairs, and shoes bring me such joy.

11. Family. There is never a dull moment when it comes to being part of a big family. Sometimes you just strap in and hold on for the ride. Other times, you feel like Atlas, afraid that one wrong move will alter the universe. Either way, I wouldn't be who I am today without those wacky folks I call family.

12. Calendars. Honestly. They rule my life. Keep me sane.

13. Flattening Irons. Okay. A bit nuts, but my hair looks so good when I use a flattening iron. Trite? Yes. But a girl has her priorities, no?