We Be Sewers

Check out what we did in one night! Sara and I busted out some snazzy PJ's as a starter project for Sara's first round of her new sewing skill. With the exception of one tricky part, she did the whole thing! First Sara whipped out her pair:

Then I did mine!

I must admit I thought the stripes would be super tricky but they turned out SO cute. And comfy! Amazing.


I even learned a few new things myself. I had never actaully sewn a buttonhole before, nor had I made a tie waist so...cheers to us and taking on a new skill. Next project? Prom dresses for the girls. :)

Mum's Birthday

Mom's birthday was just a few days ago and Mark and I were able to be there to celebrate. It was beautiful weather so we went to the store and got a bunch of fixin's for a delicious BBQ in Mom's perfectly manicured backyard. We had Pork, corn on the cob, peppers and onions grilled, some delicious sourdough french bread and a fresh fruit salad. I themed it all with lemons just because it was that kind of weather. Delightful

Mom is the best at gift opening. She gets so excited it makes you feel like you've chosen the perfect gift regardless of the expense. This year we replaced her 30 year old wooden spoons and peeler. Although it was bitter sweet to dispose of the set that Franklin Covey gave her for her wedding; we figured 30 years was a pretty good tribute to a wedding gift from a famous calender guy.
I am really wishing I could take really glamorous pictures like some of the blogs I see with their perfect shots every time. But this is as artistic as I can muster. I was loving our tablescape!

So happiest of Birthday wishes to my mamma dear. We are so excited to live closer and spend so many years and milestones together. What a blessing family is!

Speaking of moving: here is a picture of what our backyard view could be--if we ever close on the house!

Pretty great eh?

I could eat the whole bag!

I am currently in the Chex-Mix-Bold-flavor-phase. These things are so good. If I didn't give myself a little bag worth for lunch, I'd eat the entire bag. I'm just saying: when I'm in need of a good snack fix, these hit the spot 100%!

**For the record, my bag reports 60% less fat then potato chips. Which actually doesn't really matter since I don't like potato chips. I'd like to know the comparision to fruit roll ups or ice cream. That would be a valuable measurement for me.**

STAR testing

I struggle with state standardized testing.

Downside:

--most students don't care enough. When the first question is "will this hurt my grade?", its a sure sign that they'll be off task soon.

--anytime 33 Language Arts questions are done in 5 minutes...that's not so good.

--I think they make students feel more stupid. The directions say you will be tested to see how much you learned, then they ask a series of questions that can sound foreign; making kids feel like they have learned nothing. I just don't like that.

Goodside:

--I have 3 hours to catch up on grading.

--I have 3 hours to post grades and clean off my desk

--I have 30 minute class. 30 minutes of 4th period is totally do-able.

**Sidenote**

I've conducted a study.

I have working on being more "available" in my classroom to my students. Rather then giving them the assignment and checking every 10 or 15 minutes on them, I am now continally "roaming" during the entire class time. I have noticed a difference immideatly. I feel a closer connection to my students who are off task. I also feel like more kids get at least through the first question where before the wouldn't. I can look at what they are writing as they are writing it and catch corrections right off the bat. I also find that the kids ask questions more frequently.

Intresting. So although now I have more after school work to do (bummer), my 4th period class doens't drive me crazy (of course problem child has been absent both days) and the other classes seem to be cheating less. **I realize this is a confession of what could be seen as a purge of my lazy teaching style, but it sounds worse then it really is. I promise I interact with the kids and really do teach**

Being Healthy

We've taken a turn for the better. After a year of eating whatever we felt like, it was high time we put our sugar desires aside and be a little more healthy.

So for 3 weeks now we have been living off of protein shakes, fiber bars, eggs, beans, rice, fruit/vegs, and lots of water. We've also increased our physical activity by 100%; going from nothing to 3-5 days a week.

It amazes me how much better your body works when it has the right stuff in it and is physically active. So-cheers to us, we've done our bodies good. Maybe we will shed these few extra pounds we've been carrying. That would be a delightful extra bouns.

A few catch up posts

CAN'T IT JUST BE A MYSTERY: Mark is really into surprises. He just loves to plan them and keep me in the dark. Our anniversary was no different. Mark successfully kept me guessing until we were halfway to the Winchester Mystery House! I have wanted to revisit this place and to take Mark for a while now so it was wonderful to get the chance to go.

The best part of the trip was when I ripped a whole in the seat of my pants mid-tour. That wasn't awkward. At least I got a new pair of jeans out of it.

SAC-TOWN: While taking a week off before our jobs started again, we took the chance to run up and visit family. Joe made the perfect breakfast feast of crapes and strawberries and chocolate sauce which can not be refused. Clearly. We then ventured to old town Sacramento where we ate chocolate covered crickets, visited the train station, and toured the old school house. (and got my hair done which I've already posted.)

A NEW LIFE: Mark has officially started working in the pool business. And on his first day: chlorine stain. We are so excited to be starting this venture in owning our own business and the freedom we will feel from the corporate monster. It is such a blessing. We are so blessed. (and I have no idea why blogger posted this picture the wrong direction, but whatever)

HANDY MAN: We were in desperate need of a computer overhaul. Since my roommate from days ago freely used my computer for her Internet chatting and such, it had contracted something fierce that I couldn't clean. So we decided to start from scratch and rebuilt our own computer. So-with the help of my brother, Mark has built our desktop computer. And from the way it is explained to me, it is capable of everything just shy of doing my laundry. So we're set.

Happy Tax Day.

For Fun

- Yesterday at the gym I laughed my guts out. We were watching the news on the TV in front of the machines. They don't have captions so you sort of have to guess. The story was on some lady who won the national soccer league and now we think she helps sick and neglected horses. Sara says "sad with all those emancipated horses." I respond, even worse when they are emaciated. Followed by laughing and almost falling off the treadmill.

--Why is it when I watch "The Biggest Loser" I am drawn to eat junk food. I eat more junk food during that show then any other TV program. weird.

--I'm that friend! The one that makes plans with you then bails for being too busy, tired, sick, or dead. Its all true. I really am busy and do get tired super fast, and have really been eating too many strawberries. I apologize! Don't hate me.

--A kid fell asleep during 1st period notes this morning. How do I know? Because he woke up yelling "no no, I don't want to"...I kinda felt bad in joining the class in laughter, but it was really funny. Never had a sleep talker in class before.

--I am realizing that nobody really needs multiple pairs of shoes. Boys sort of have the right idea. Living away from my closet, I now only have 3 pair. Running shoes, slip-ons, and flip-flops. Four if you count the black Sunday shoes. This could be a new revolution for my closet.

--I've had a few good days of 4th period. Very unusual. I think I've found the culprits who ruin it for the entire class. Although there are still a handful of hard kids, there are 2 that I am thinking may stir up the whole class. They've been ditching these past few days and class has been managable. That and I have been super mean. My angry voice has worked pretty well too. 30 more days.

--We paid off my little Edna. The car I purchased when I graduated college. She's now fully paid for. That's sort of a fun accomplishment. Cheers to us.

--We're having a home inspection today. The house buying process continues with no real answers just yet. It is a very long waiting game and a frustrating cycle of documents, signatures, proofs, agendas, property laws, taxes, and more legal jargon. Tough stuff. Hopefully the outcome is positive and worth it.

Weekend One - Check

Mark and I have to spend 7 weekends without each other. Seven! That's almost 2 months. Wow. I realize that people have husbands that are in the military and go months and even years without their loves; but for me these SEVEN weeks may never end.

Mark

• Fixed his first sweep and is troubleshooting his second.
• Cleaned and serviced 120 pools (during the week).
• Brainstormed a new idea for sweep repairs and customer satisfaction.
• Saw the movie Clash of the Titans with moderate reviews.

Kaylinn

• Scrapbooked 4 new pages
• Visited Grandma and lost terribly in 5 rounds of Rummikub
• Baked a delicious rendition of spinach stuffed chicken
• Ate herself sick with strawberries.
• Secured a job interview for next school year.
• Picked up running again. First time since the Half Marathon.
• Plans to post the anniversary trip as soon as I get internet access on the laptop.

So cheers to completing our first weekend. Only 6 more to go!

Strawberry Season

I simply LOVE this season. When strawberries are less then a dollar a pound. And I can eat them until I overdose on my fiber intake. They are simply the best. You can Guarantee that I will be planting strawberry patches in my future garden.

Perhaps I should have a strawberry party one year. Yes, done and done!

Disconnected

I apologize for the lack in blogging recently, I've just been so busy with life. Mark and I have successfully moved and are currently waiting to see if we are going to rent or buy. It is an interesting part of life while we wait on the sidelines as others have our life savings in their hands. We shall see. Mark is learning the business one day at a time and loving not working with the daily drama that Disney was known for. I am finishing the school year teaching the kids what I can about these last chapters in our History class.

And as a side note, I don't get reception on my cell phone at the house I'm living at. This has proved to be an interesting situation as evening phone calls come in and I don't know about it until the next morning. Dear friends, just know I am not ignoring you. I just don't have reception on my phone when I have time to call.

New Hair

While visiting the Morrell's in Sacramento, dearest Amber did a number on my shameful hairdo. Now I am fun and flirty with shorter hair and a fabulous do. Now if only I could learn to do it the way she did that day.

**Please disregard my shameful skin tone. I need to see more sun! **

52 weeks and counting

8,765 Hours.

365 Days.

1 Year.

How can you measure how much a person grows and learns in one year? We've travelled together, moved together, lost a loved one together, invested together, drove many hours together, almost lost jobs together, got job promotions together, celebrated birthdays, weddings, honors, and milestones together, ran 13.1 miles together...

Its been a busy year. But very worth it.

We are living happily ever after.