Taking things for granted

Several new students, two calls for an ambulance and a couple of student meltdowns... All before lunch.

I've earned my glass of grape juice today.

The picture is of one of my husband's kaleidoscopes. I love the colors in these things!

The body of a goddess... the brains of a rock

When my husband and I first moved into our house, my father-in-law (may he rest in peace) was so intrigued with this statue in the backyard that he tripped down the steps.

I think it was the flowers in her hair that captivated his attention.

Hidden

Underneath the bush, Mr. Rabbit was hiding. How fascinating that one can live in a suburban area and still find wild rabbits in the yard.

He was so scared as was evidenced by his trembling.

To help calm him down, I went inside and left him alone.

Finally fall

Fall weather has come to south Georgia and I am loving it! My husband and I took a drive out into the country just for kicks. The pecan orchards are gorgeous right now!

A pair of pears plus one

Finally, a day to relax and be lazy. So far, I've gotten a pedicure and watched two movies.

A third movie sounds tempting....

By the way, the picture is just randomness and me playing around with the flash. No deep thoughts for me today.

The Littlest Guest

Who could say no to those sweet eyes? She could totally eat desserts first if she wanted.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Must return to my food induced coma....

Tank Top Thanksgiving

I cooked and baked all day wearing capris and a tank top. This afternoon, the sun was streaming in the front window making the entire house feel warm and golden.

I love Thanksgiving!

Indian Summer

The weather in Georgia has been quite perfect over the past few days. And this just makes it hard to work inside to get the food and house ready for all the guests on Thanksgiving.

He may have outgrown my lap, but never my heart.

I went to pick up the youngest son today. It has been almost 3 months since I last saw him.

And boy does he need a haircut!

And the season of eating with reckless abandon begins....

Went to some friends for our annual "Friend's Thanksgiving" meal. Our contribution were these basil rolls (and a pumpkin roll and rice dressing). There was so much food and it was all great. We topped off the night with homemade wine ice cream.

I should have run longer this morning to burn more calories. Maybe I should just go ahead and set a goal to gain a few pounds. I'm on my way to being successful....

Happily Ever After

From helping to make peanut butter and jelly sushi to working with the bartenders, it was a great day! I love when I get to work with my husband at a fun wedding reception.

This one was one of the best!

The reception was held at a beautiful lodge in the middle of nowhere Georgia. There was a fabulous deck where the bar and dance floor were set up. I love watching inebriated people dance!

Sunshine

One of my favorite, quirky students got on the stage to sing at the Thanksgiving Dance today. For a minute, I was worried that the other students would make fun of him. Instead, those students gathered around and cheered him on.

It made my day!

It was a great way to end a busy, busy week and begin a week long vacation.

Don't cry over split milk

Just let Mili take care of it for you.

Oh, my

Just a few minutes ago, it was morning.

Where did the day go?

Differently-Abled

Some of you may know this already but I am hearing impaired and I wear hearing aids. About two months ago, Thelma (my right hearing aid) died after nine years of loyal servitude. It was too difficult to wear Louise (my left hearing aid) without Thelma. Within a few days, Louise, too, was put to rest.

Thus began the quest for a new pair of hearing aids.

The first place I went kept fitting me with aids that emphasized high pitched sounds. Everything sounded tinny and sharp. Within minutes of wearing them, I would be in tears whilst wishing the dog would choke on her own piercing bark.

I went back to the audiologist. Again. And again.

She kept telling me that I'd have to get used to the new technology. She had me convinced that it was me. It was all me and I was being difficult. In the meantime, simple things such as cranking the car would have me feeling as if there was an earthquake of sounds going off in my head. It was unbearable.

Finally, I took the hearing aids back and set out to live without much sound.

A few weeks went by and I made an appointment with another audiologist. After another round of proving that I indeed could not hear, I was fitted with a sample pair of hearing aids. I could hear!

Tears sprang to my eyes. I know it totally confused the poor audiologist but I had convinced myself that I would never hear again. And I had missed hearing over the last two months.

As of yesterday, I officially received my new pair of hearing aids.

Please welcome Thelma and Louise to the family.

Paint your own reality...

Sweet Mili is home from the vet after another back relapse. She was all pitiful when we got home until we got some food out. Then the real Mili came yipping and yapping right back on the scene.

We've been told to keep her contained. No running. No stairs. Just time to heal.

The reality is that at some point, she may seriously need some wheels to take the place of her back legs. Until that day comes, we'll continue cheer that sweet slinky dog on!

And we'll clean up her piddles.

Sunrise on Sea Island

Spent the weekend with some friends - 13 adults and 6 small children - in one beach house at Sea Island, Georgia. The sunrise this morning was breathtaking! There was no one on the beach besides me.

Just me and my thoughts....

A perfect way to start a day.

Bubbles

I love watching children playing with bubbles. It was the perfect afternoon for being outside!

Loaded

My son and I loaded up the car as the sun set and drove through smoke and darkness to an island. The beach will be ready for us when we awake!

Thank you

Thanks to all the veterans out there! The program we had at school was just for you. We appreciate your service to our country.

Armistice Day / Remembrance Day / Veterans Day 2010

Under Pressure

Some days I feel just like this orange. Today wasn't one of those full of pressure days. In fact, it was a GREAT day!

I just liked the visual for fun!

Dare to be different

Spent the day at a training and I learned some things about myself. According to the survey the trainer had us complete, I'm an "ideas" person and there are few "ideas" people in school administration. Most of the people fell into the decision making and data analysis group.

This makes perfect sense because decision making and data analysis usually involve math. And math is hard!

But let me tell you about some of the ideas I have rolling through my head..... I could talk all day!

Never pass up an opportunity to make fun of yourself

Although I'm not sure if I'm making fun of me playing the part of the screaming baby or my mother who looks like she is gritting her teeth.

She was probably pinching me.

Fall back

Oh, daylight savings time... how I love thee in the fall. An extra hour is such a gift. And I squandered it so while I was lying about in the yard.

"Even the most beautiful days have their sunsets." ~ Unknown

The weather was perfect today. Perfectly cool. The sun was shining. A cool breeze was blowing. It was perfect!

The end

Tonight, the temperature is suppose to drop to 37 degrees (3 degrees for my Celsius friends).

Finally, there will be an end to the gnats that have plagued us this fall.

"The ideas that have lighted my way have been kindness, beauty and truth." ~ Albert Einstein

Nothing beats when you get to see a child "get" a concept. Today, after a lively demonstration and explanation a student raised his hand to share his understanding of the importance of the skeletal system.

Student: "It's kind of like why I wear a cup when I play soccer. The skeletal system keeps the organs safe."

Yeah. You've got to love how they build connections.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a funny word that you can't say ten times fast with a mouth full of leftover Halloween candy.

Conversation of the day....

Teacher: "We are going to work on learning how to read facial expressions to determine the emotion being expressed. What emotion does my face show?" Teacher makes a mad face.

Student (really excited about answering): "Oh, oh, oh! It shows that you have to go to the bathroom!"

I could sit in Social Group all day long. Best. Part. Of. The. Week. Seriously. :)

Bad Dog

Really she is a good dog. Even if she does bark incessantly at lizards. And airplanes.

Part of the iPhone challenge. Taken with the Cross Process app.

Don't let the sun go down on me...

Just survived one of the roughest days in my career.

I don't have thick skin. I don't even want thick skin.

The stinking headache from trying not to cry - from crying - can just go away now.

I want it to be tomorrow already.

Picture from the iPhone in my backyard, taken with the Hipstamatic app as a part of iPhone week.