We Rocked the Block

Here is a quick rundown. The boys performed for well over 2 hours- nonstop. It rocked. We stood and danced for well over 2 hours. We (I) will be feeling it in the morning. It was so fun to watch all the girls (30 something soccer moms)...on the light rail complete strangers were talking about which was their favorite and how many posters they had as a kid. Some girls actually wore original t-shirts AND brought their NKOTB lunch boxes and dolls. Thank goodness for these people because they made me look very normal!


Floor seats are ALWAYS possible. You just gotta be persistent. Crystal at Ticketmaster finally hooked us up! I traded in our so/so seats for AWESOME 10th row center floor seats 3 hours before the concert! Between Buble and now NKOTB I am beginning to think this ticket deal is a secret talent I never knew I had.

Maci had soooo much fun and Stacie and I had so much fun watching her. More to come....but tomorrow is actually today and I have to be at scool in under 6 hours. Sit back and enjoy the pics....I'll add more catptions later too. Be sure to refresh the page to make certain you see them all. ;)

PC? No. Funny? Yes.

Happy Day for You

Ok Tresher. Here is your "paragraph." But just so you know, I was planning this blog long before you requested it!

We had an awesome Mother Goose themed Literacy Night for our kids and parents last night. Tresher (who is our almighty grade chair this year) planned, prepped, and executed the entire event. She did everything including selling the idea to the team, preparing ALL the centers, ordering the cake, getting fabulous goody bags for parents, sending out a feedback survey today, and presenting each teacher with a "Great Job Certificate." It was AWESOME. We had more than 150 people attend!!! She even got Chip to make a guest appearance for family pictures.

Tresher rocks. She is truly one of the best teachers I know. She treats her kids with such kindness and respect. She loves on them. She works her hiney off for them. And to top it all off- she knows her stuff. Sardis is lucky to have her as a teacher and I am lucky to have her as a friend. With all the changes happening next year, I pray that wherever I am and whatever I am teaching Tresher will still be right next door to me. I can't imagine it any other way.

Tales from Kindergarten

If you are offended easily- skip this entry. It's just too funny not to post. Tresher came in my room giggling like a little girl this afternoon. It was that evil giggle that I knew meant she had a good story. She did. Here is the jist of it-

Tresher always gives her kids a pack of Smarties candy when they bring back their homework. Today one little man lost his and came up to Tresher all frantic telling her that he wanted his Retards back! :) Smarties....Retards...close enough.

These are the kind of stories we really need to have published.

What's That Saying?

What is that saying about a bird in the hand being worth 2 in the bush? What if the the bird is in the HOUSE? That's what happened over here this weekend. We were all at the door as our friends were getting ready to leave. Brad opened the door and in flew a bird! Apparently he had been sitting in my wreath on the door. What followed was pure craziness. Debra, Angela, and I screamed and ducked like girls getting attacked by...well...a bird I guess. Harry and Brad swatted and eventually *strongly tapped* the bird until it finally flew back to wreath. Once there, Brad slammed the door and I choose to believe the bird happily flew away. Let's just say he is now a special needs bird. However, being the dedicated blogger that I am--I was able to grab the camera and get a couple pictures.

I know this poem is really old and we've probably all heard it before but I came across it tonight and think it is still worth reading. And for my fellow grad school buddy-- Don't get overwhelmed. Don't think too big or too far ahead. You are on the right track. Keep it simple. Your instincts will carry you farther than you know. Trust them.

Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain,

but there in the sand pile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life.

Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing

and dance and play and work everyday some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.

Be aware of wonder.

Flush.

My Kind of Recycling

I am a phras-a-holic. Seriously, I am bad about picking some random saying and stashing it in my head to use years and years from now. I often don't realize I am doing it. If I've ever ripped off a phrase of yours, here is your credit- minus the formal APA format.

*whatthecrapever*- to my knowledge I made this one up all by myself. If I ripped you off with this one, please let me know because I truly believe I made it up myself.

*sad day for you*- clearly this one came from Tresher. I heard her use it on a kid a couple years ago and it's been mine ever since. I probably say this at least once a day.

*multiple*- I got this from Erin. I never used to use "multiple" as an adjective but now it seems to be my adjective for mulitple situations.

*hippy chick*- I don't know where I got this but I've had it a loooonnng time.

*working up a mad*- That's another teacher saying. I got it from Barb.

*that's right*- I got this from my hair stylist. I use it to make you feel better. For example, you say, " I know I shouldn't eat this but it's just one huge box of cookies..." I will respond, "that's riiiight" to make you feel good. Listen for it...I use it without realizing it.

*a hot mess*- This I got from Ashley but I've heard other southerners say it. Apparently it means that you look horrible.

*Freaking A*- Believe it or not this one came from Brad. I know it isn't very nice but he says it. Alot.

*Tresher also taught me another one that isn't very polite and I don't use it...although I think it often times and wish I could.

I think that's it....any phrases you've learned from me?

Countdown 4 NK

We are entering the final 10 day stretch before the long awaited (in my world) New Kids concert. Just so you know, I will be featuring music from their long awaited (in my world) new album entitled, "The Block." If you aren't a NK fan you may want to have the volume down for the next several days...

As I prepare for the concert event of the millennium (yes, in my world) here are some thoughts I ponder-

I am slightly regretting not getting those floor tickets. I held back because Maci is coming and I was slightly concerned about her safety. Now I'm thinking having an 11 year old on the floor may have earned us some extra attention from the boys. Oh...did I say that out loud?

Secondly, I admit that I am a little annoyed that this concert appears to be one of the very few that Natasha Beddingfeld isn't opening for them. I would have liked to have seen her too.

Lastly and most importantly, please don't burst my bubble. Yes, I have heard the *rumors* about J-o-n being g-a-y but I have been in denial this long and it's a happy place to be. Leave me in my denial for at least the next 10 days.

Second Guessing My Hair Stylist

Yes, those ARE pinking shears she was planning to use. Her color job was a bit questionable too...I had various steaks and dots of brown in my blonde hair!

Here are some more pictures from the costume party last night...What a fine looking group we were.

Stealing Barbs Floor

This blog should have been written months ago. Seriously. Months ago.This is how it should have been written- last May.

My friend Barb has the best kitchen tile. Brad and I both always loved it and hoped to replicate it someday. Finally that day has come. From the first time we walked through this house we loved it- loved everything except the kitchen floor. It was ugly vinyl flooring. Yuck. Once we got serious about replacing it we started talking about Barb and Kevin's floor again. However, although Brad had laid tile in our last house (2 bathrooms and the kitchen) this project was going to be a little more advanced. Not only was this design on the diagonal but a two tone diagonal. I'm no math whiz but apparently diagonal means quite a bit more computations and cuts. So we pushed it off awhile longer. It was strategically planned for a weekend Brad would have a helper- not just any helper but the helper of all helpers- my dad.

After many hours (or days...hard to remember which) of blood, sweat, and tears the floor was finally finished. Finished and fabulous! I LOVE it. Here are a few pics of the process below. I will have to take a better "after picture" to post as well. This is by far some of Brad's best handywork. Sometimes a stolen idea is the best idea. Love it!

o

Loving the Village

Last night Maci and her friends danced the night away at the concert on the lawn following the Lake Park Fall Festival. How amazing it must be to grow up in this neighborhood. I love being a part of a community that has events like this. The kids of Lake Park will remember these days forever.

Last night we watched Andy and Carter roll down the grassy hill over and over and over. We called in Chinese from the park across the street and laughed because she recognized us by our orders. We painted pumpkins, browsed through the craft vendors, and saw strangers turn in various electronics like blackberrys and cameras. Upon retrieving his lost item, one man was so impressed with the honesty of the crowd, he told us "he knew what where his next move would be." Smart man.

Jana Rana

Just a brag on my niece...Read about her awesomeness. Jana, Good thing Gentry took care of the tshirts...I think if I had designed them they might have looked more like the banner above. ;) The Horners are proud of you girl!

Lazy Days

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon. Brad is sick and sleeping next to me as I type. Andy is sleeping, Aaron is playing Lego Indiana Jones, and Maci is creating another masterpiece of art. I just finished watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding and am now starting Titanic. These are the days. Now while I wish Brad felt better, I love these lazy days. By the looks of our October calendar, these days will be few and far between for awhile. So the key is to enjoy each and every one.

Commentary

Just to add slight commentary on the video below...I think this will explain why we tend to cause such a ruckus at the gym. Coordination isn't a strong point for either of us. I may not have kept the high score but I kept my dignity!

PS- sorry for the shakiness...that would be from my uncontrollable laughter. :)

This Isn't You Tube

I promised this wouldn't show up on YouTube. Promise Kept.

And the night is young so stay tuned...