lesson in photography

After getting my new camera last week I knew I would need a few lessons to learn how to use it!! And I knew just the right person...Ken Doll! He was a great teacher and it was fun to spend the afternoon with him! And a major bonus...his wife (and one of my oldest and bestest friends) came along with us! She's pretty darn good behind the lens, she just came for practice before the upcoming wedding season and to hang out with me!

These two are so much fun to hang out with. Not only did we laugh a lot while hanging out at the park, but we also learned a few things.

My first homework lesson from my teacher, Mr. Doll, was to take a picture of a flower in focus and the rest out of focus (in manual I will add). I think I did pretty good on my first assignment!

The best thing about these teachers, you get to go to a wonderful dinner at Melting Pot after class with them. Can't wait for my next lesson Mr. and Mrs. Doll!

Proud Teacher

I have said many times that I love being a teacher.

I have also mentioned several times that I have an awesome class this year. I also had most of these kids last year as 2nd graders.

They are so special to me and love spending my days with them.

As 3rd graders they have to take the big Kansas State Assessment. Along with the 4th and 5th graders, their scores determine whether or not we make AYP. Pretty important stuff.

Several months ago as we were prepping for the assessment we talked about a goal. I set their goal at 91% being proficient. They came up with some ideas on what I would do if they could do it. Ultimately, PJ day (with me wearing KU pjs) and a pie on my face was chosen. I agreed and they worked their tails off!! When it came down to it I had 95% proficient!!! I was so proud of them!! So, today was the day they had been waiting for!!

This is what I was wearing when I greeted my 23 3rd graders at the door this morning! They didn't like that I had powercats on, but I had to do it!!

I also had a sign on my back so everyone would know why I was in KU pajamas!

Last week I pulled 2 sticks, one girl and one boy. Those two students got the pleasure of throwing a pie in my face! One said he was going to smear it in my hair (advice his mom gave him!!). He got me good. Wish I had a hair net!

The other went right for the face. And she really made sure every bit of whipped cream got on my face. Good team work on their part, one went for the hair and one for the face! As you can imagine there was a lot of cheering from the others along with one of the 2nd grade classes that watched!

With my 2 pie throwers. Two students I will never forget! My entire class. I have a sign on the door that says "World's Best Class" and I think they are!!

What a day it was. One I will always remember sharing with these special kiddos. I just hope next year's class doesn't ask to do the same!!

daddy

In the past month Seth has had to go out of town for work a few times. It is something that we deal with for his job. He has a good job and enjoys it. It is tough, but we get through it. He has gone a couple months with being out of town every week. He has gone 6 months without going out of town at all. It comes and goes. It is hard on me. I hate playing single mom. It is hard on him. He misses all of us. It is hard on Dylan and Saylor. They miss their daddy. I always tell Seth that if he wasn't a hands-on daddy and hubby that it would be easier when he leaves. But he is hands-on. He helps during the week. He does baths. He cleans up dinner. He picks up kids from grandma. He rocks crying baby. He plays. He reads night time stories. He cuddles (with me and the kids!). He talks to me. He listens to me. He takes care of me. When he's gone, it is all ME! I have to do it all. And get no down time with Seth. But we manage. We get things done. Not as well as how they'd get done if he was home. But it works. We miss him like crazy, but know that he will be home soon. And a bonus for me, I almost always get a date night with just Seth when he returns. I love that!! Hurry home daddy, we miss you!

Menu Chalk Board

One of the things on my April To Do List was to continue writing on our menu board. A couple years ago I ordered this menu wording from Uppercase Living. I used it for a couple months then stopped. I am pretty sure the same menu stayed on there for over a year. A couple weeks ago I decided to start using it again. I really like it! I write out the weekly menu on Sundays when I am making my grocery list. I even started adding those extra meals that we have on hand. That way when we are in a crunch and think we need to run through the drive-thru we can look on this and see what we have on hand! We don't always eat the meals in the order they are up there, but when deciding what to eat we know what our options are! Not only is it practical, but it also looks good in my kitchen! Especially the bottom part that has art from my own and only Dylan!

zoo!

We took full advantage of the beautiful weather Saturday! After Dylan's soccer game we headed to lunch and then the zoo. The Topeka Zoo isn't fabulous, but the kids sure do enjoy it! It works for us and it is small enough that we can get through it in less than an hour so in the summer we go quite a bit! Saylor is like her momma and has to haver her phone all the time!! She chatted away during some of our visit! She is really getting into the zoo and points and watches the animals. It is fun to watch! The main event of the day was Dylan getting to feed the baby giraffe! They do feedings every Saturday during April and Dylan loved it! I didn't think he would do it (he's not the bravest thing!!) but he did!! And, the giraffe has ALWAYS been his favorite animal, so that made it even more special!

I love Saturdays with my little family of 4! Especially when the weather is nice so we can enjoy the outdoors!

cross it off

I can cross one thing off my April to do list!! Monday my bestie Tiffany and I bought tickets for Sugarland! We decided Saturday over dinner and margaritas that we would go to our concert this summer along with our hubbies!! When we realized that Sugarland was going to be at Sprint Center the day before my 31st birthday and the weekend before we go back to work, we knew it was meant to be!! So excited to spend an evening at Power and Light with some of my favorite people!!

Other updates on my to do list...I haven't been very good about keeping piles off my table, but I have lost 2.8 pounds this month!!! Yay for me!!!!

April To Do List

I love making lists. I make them at school all the time. Things I need to do. Things to have my student from Washburn to do. I make them at home too. Grocery Lists. Things to get done. Things to remember. This month I decided to make a to do list for the month of April. Just some things I would like to accomplish this month. I am going to keep it right in the kitchen, where I will see it several times a day. As a reminder of what I set out to do for the month. Some are simple and will take 2 minutes to get done. Some I will have to work on all month long. Some will take a weekend, an evening, or an hour or two. Some will be fun to cross off. Some will be more difficult to cross off, but those will be the most rewarding. Here is to April, and hoping it's a great month. I will keep you posted as I cross things off my list!