tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61101070589985987372024-03-12T22:44:06.899-04:00my crazy real lifeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-26797666768874529712009-07-05T17:45:00.002-04:002009-07-05T17:55:01.219-04:00facebook has taken my life!Well.....since I have been on facebook I haven't been here....it's even taken the place of email.....since i see most of my friends on facebook i forget that not everyone is on there and that some are still reading the blog. My apologies to you....<br /><br />Let's see....since i last wrote school is over as are my training classes. I learned a lot and they got me all geared for the fall. I am enjoying my summer too. I have been playing board games with my girls....we normally have game nights and they are always fun....Dave isn't into games...he watches tv and we are normally laughing up a storm. I like making memories.....<br /><br />I have been saddened by the loses we have shared this past month. Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden all have left the earth. They were people who were part of my growing years. As I write this I am listening to VH1's tribute to Michael Jackson. I felt as if I lost a peer.... i remember growing up with his listening to his music and watching him grow too and change. My only thoughts are with the families of these people and that their hearts are soon healed. No matter what your thoughts are of these people they have changed the face of the earth and no one can replace any of them!<br /><br />My 31st class reunion is on the horizon and i can't put into words how excited I am to be going to this event. I have been helping the committee and its been great fun seeing friends from a long time ago and renew old and make new friendships...<br /><br />I will try to write more often.....hope you have a great summer in case i don't get back here!!!<br /><br />Happiness,<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-47616475209393315022009-06-11T22:48:00.002-04:002009-06-11T22:52:46.524-04:00Where Have I Been?Well, to make a long story short I had a virus on my laptop! It was in the shop for about a week and when I got it back it only had the basic stuff on it. Outlook Express and Internet Explorer! I can do email and browse the net but there isn't anything else on the puter!<br /><br />I have to start all over again. Right now I need to get things on here so that the girls and I can use this for school when we start again in the fall. Oh Joy!!!<br /><br />Right now though school is out for the kids. I have training next week for two days and more training the following week. I get paid for it so that is good. I also have lots of sewing to do this summer so that is even better. I would like to sell a quilt or two but not sure if that will happen or not.<br /><br />I also have some work to do over the summer to get ready for the kids in the fall. I brought lots of stuff home to work on this summer....i just hope i get to work on it....right now everything is just dumped in the studio. I will work on organizing it all this weekend.....<br /><br />Talk to you soon!<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-20163333787750385302009-04-25T23:06:00.007-04:002009-04-26T09:43:38.058-04:00Prom Dress pictures<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQg5JxUyI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/dyr7gQqTnDE/s1600-h/the+redneck+pose+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328832047625622306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQg5JxUyI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/dyr7gQqTnDE/s200/the+redneck+pose+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQbOrXmmI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Mnghu9lPyQY/s1600-h/my+redneck+girl+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328831950324472418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 118px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQbOrXmmI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Mnghu9lPyQY/s200/my+redneck+girl+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQSUYp40I/AAAAAAAAAMA/etlZ486AAh4/s1600-h/back+of+prom+dress+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328831797237769026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQSUYp40I/AAAAAAAAAMA/etlZ486AAh4/s200/back+of+prom+dress+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQMSiBHYI/AAAAAAAAAL4/Vgf1dFZCeOk/s1600-h/Desirae+%26+Mack+Truck+A+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328831693660953986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQMSiBHYI/AAAAAAAAAL4/Vgf1dFZCeOk/s200/Desirae+%26+Mack+Truck+A+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQr8Kn61I/AAAAAAAAAMY/XeDQYYbQUhA/s1600-h/DVC01515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328832237413067602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SfPQr8Kn61I/AAAAAAAAAMY/XeDQYYbQUhA/s200/DVC01515.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>Hi! Ok I finally finished the prom dress. I posted some pictures on my facebook account but I know not everyone is on facebook. SO I am posting them here too. Desirae looks so beautiful and the dress came out really nice. I can't wait to hear how it all went tonight and find out what her friends thought of her dress. What do you think?</div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div></div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-85360554591847915152009-04-23T22:50:00.004-04:002009-04-23T23:11:27.453-04:00A Week in the Life...WOW! What a week. Monday started out normal and was a good day! This was the week the kindergarten to second grade kids were tested on the things they have learned this year. It was mostly about Reading. The kids did a great job and I am so proud of them.<br /><br />Tuesday night after school I volunteered to help out at the concession stand at the baseball stadium. It was a college baseball game with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU the college I graduated from) and University of Florida (UF GO GATORS!) It was a long game and we sold lots of beer. The kids from JROTC run the stand, they cook the food, run the registers but the adults have to pour the beer. It was the 3 instructors and myself. I didn't find out about it until the day before. So I was on the run after work to get home, change clothes and get to the stand by 5:30pm!! I didn't get home until about 11pm and I was beat. We did have fun and it was a lot of fun and I think they made a lot of money too!<br /><br />On Wednesday, our students watched a play rehearsal of a typical day at our school. Our 5th graders wrote the play and they did a great job! The students and teachers really enjoyed watching the production. Wednesday night I helped after school to grade the science fair projects. Our students turned in 132 projects. That is the most we have ever had and our science teacher was overwhelmed! It was lots of fun. Desirae even came to help out. We left school at 8pm when the custodians were closing up. We had to go to Joanns and Borders for a few items and then headed home. I got home at 9pm and did two loads of wash.<br /><br />Thursday (today) should have been an easy day! It was the last day of our testing and we were lucky enough to have a child's author come to our school and give a presentation to our K-2 kids. It was a lot of fun and a nice way to end our last day of testing. I had a training class to attend tonight and we had a showcase of talent at my school. That is when we have the art projects on display for our parents to see. We also had teachers presenting the interactive white boards and how we use them during the day in our lessons with their children. I was going to do one of those but was scheduled to attend a training class. Then Desirae came to my school after she got out and told me I needed to attend the county JROTC awards. I was planning to attend to watch her get an award but she told me I was presenting an award to her school. I had no idea! Needless to say I had to leave the training class early and drive to her school. When I got to her high school I had to report in to the head honcho and he told me I was presenting 2 awards! It was fun but I would have liked an email to let me know more info in advance.<br /><br />It was a great night and I love being with these kids. I am hoping that tomorrow will be a nice normal day. I am totally exhausted and plan on going to bed. Now you know why I have this name for my blog and the reason I don't post every day. I am not always here. Right now I am waiting for another load of laundry to be put in the dryer so I have clothes to wear to school tomorrow! I love my life and wouldn't change it for the world. This running around keeps me young and my mind sharp! (At least I keep saying that! LOL)<br /><br />Have a good rest of the week.<br /><br />Tiredly,<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-80563538902950087692009-04-06T19:26:00.002-04:002009-04-06T19:32:21.744-04:00The new WASHER!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yesterday we bought a new clothes washer. We got it from Sam's Club and it's wonderful. It only has 7 wash cycles and there are 2 knobs on it. I guess you could call it an old fashioned washer. No computer to go bad from a power surge (which we have lots of here in the summer time with the crazy storms), 3 water temps to choose from and a smaller basket then I had before but that is fine with me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I have done 2 loads of wash so far and I love it. And when the knob breaks I can still wash clothes using a pair of pliers!!! LOL.....</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Today I did some customers quilts, 3 of them. They were really pretty and it was fun working on them. I also did one load of laundry and then folded and put away another load from last weekend. I still have one more to do but I will save that for tomorrow.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">We went back to Barnes and Noble today and returned a book because Carol bought a book that she already had. Then went to the library and a quick stop at the grocery store for a loaf of bread. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">After I worked on the quilts I played gamecube for a while. I am hooked on Animal Crossing and played for about an hour. It was very relaxing. Then I cooked dinner, put clean sheets on the bed and now I am ready to watch Dancing with the Stars while I do some sewing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This was my first day on Spring Break and I am sure I will be really busy for the rest of the week too! </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">What are you doing this week?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Marie</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-39566445682281615032009-04-01T21:34:00.002-04:002009-04-01T22:17:41.085-04:00Wonderful kids!My girls are the best! We have a washing machine that has been on its last legs for a while now and it finally died this past weekend! So my amazing girls went to the laundromat for me and did 9 loads of wash! Then they brought it home and I spent the rest of the day drying those 9 loads.<br /><br />They could have done many things but helped me out. I was upstairs working on quilts for my customers. Thanks to them I was able to get a lot done that day.<br /><br />Carol my youngest comes to my elementary school every day after her high school gets out. Today she helped me put up my bulletin board in the hallway. She is a great help to me and when I am not in school she comes and helps out the substitute teacher that may be in my class. Desirae use to come to my class to last year before she got her job so now she only comes in once in a while. I like it when she comes in because then all my filing gets done! Carol helps the kids pack up at the end of the day, she records their behavior in their agendas (whether they were good or bad during the day)...and helps them with Reading or sometimes Math. Now in the high schools here the kids needs a certain amount of volunteer hours before they can graduate so this will help both of them in that area.<br /><br />Carol also does my art work for my bulletin board. I will take some pictures of the one that is up now. She has made me a duck (that you will see in one of the next posts) and the gingerbread house that I had up at Christmas time. She is very talented. She also created the lady bug drawing that the kids colored and glued spots on for the bulletin board this month. I wouldn't know what to do without her.<br /><br />I know there are lots of people who have problems with their kids but I am proud to say that my girls haven't really given me any trouble. They aren't perfect but we always talk and when something is bothering them we do talk. I like when they come home and we sit in my studio and talk about their days. It reminds me of when I use to do the same thing with my mom. Of course it makes me miss my mom too. She would love to sit in on these chats and be a part of their lives. I really miss my mom alot.<br /><br />Well that is all for now. I have two more days of school and then it's spring break. I can't wait. This week I have been tutoring kids afterschool getting them ready for the Stanford 10 test. This is a state test to see how well the kindergarten thru 2 grade are learning the skills they need in each grade. We have one more session tomorrow after school and then two more after we get back from spring break.<br /><br />Tomorrow we are having an Easter Egg hunt at school for the kinder kids and that should be fun. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough for my class so I bought some plastic eggs at the store and some candy and filled about 30 eggs tonight. I hope more kids are bringing stuff in tomorrow. I will let you know how we make out.<br /><br />Later,<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-32864385319835120702009-03-21T16:04:00.002-04:002009-03-21T16:12:27.684-04:00A good Day!!<em><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#000066;">Today was a good day.I finally got some quilting done. I did 4 quilts for customers and it was nice making some extra cash. I also didn't have to wash any clothes today and that was great too!! While I was quilting I was able to listen to my iPod and some great oldies....</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;">At lunchtime my daughter bought me a chicken sandwich and that was cool too. Dave then told me some great news. He was able to find the leak in the roof on the motor home. That is really good news and we are going to get them fixed, we just have to save the money for that. And I thought we were going to need a new water heater for the RV too but he said it was just the knob that needed to be replaced. So that was a good thing to hear as well.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;">My boss called me this week and she has more sewing for me to do over spring break and that is good news too. I have been busy this week sewing for her and I need more money so it's good to be hearing this from her. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;">I just got back from the grocery store (ALONE!) and was able to get some things we needed and save some money since I didn't have any teenagers or husband with me. LOL...Why do we spend so much more at the store when one or all of them are with us I will never know. </span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;">So what wonderful things have you been up to? I still have to finish this baby quilt for my friend in Canada. She had her wonderful son and I want to get it to her before he outgrows it. </span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;">Later folks,</span></em><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000066;">Marie </span></em>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-42602064277880973712009-03-15T20:22:00.004-04:002009-03-15T20:32:00.776-04:00We have returned!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/Sb2d6bCXldI/AAAAAAAAALw/dztDJ50io48/s1600-h/Spring+Camp+ROTC+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313576762382718418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/Sb2d6bCXldI/AAAAAAAAALw/dztDJ50io48/s200/Spring+Camp+ROTC+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/Sb2dnTCqXKI/AAAAAAAAALg/2TbGjWGk_8U/s1600-h/bus+ramp+at+Camp+Miles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313576433818950818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/Sb2dnTCqXKI/AAAAAAAAALg/2TbGjWGk_8U/s200/bus+ramp+at+Camp+Miles.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000099;">We just came back from another successful camping trip with JROTC from the Lee County schools. What a great time! It brought back lots of memories and we had a blast. The kids had time to chill for a while and then the fun started. On Saturday we got up early, 6am and raised the flag and had revely. Then breakfast and LET THE GAMES BEGIN! We had a volleyball competition, tug of war, relay race that consisted of the barrel race, canoeing and sprinting between all the schools. The end of the day brought a dinner catered by the County and it was great. I got to help serve ice cream to all the cadets and cadre! I loved it and got to see lots of my new friends and friends kids who are now going thru the program. Then it was back to our campsite for a night of movies! The CSM (Command Sergeant Major) of our school (South Ft. Myers High) brings out a generator, movie screen and sound system and we watch movies. The kids bring out their c<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/Sb2dzTm1yvI/AAAAAAAAALo/2dz9Xn9qW0Y/s1600-h/kids+at+ROTC+spring+camp+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313576640129125106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/Sb2dzTm1yvI/AAAAAAAAALo/2dz9Xn9qW0Y/s200/kids+at+ROTC+spring+camp+09.jpg" border="0" /></a>amping chairs and sleeping bags and we all sit and watch. It's fun and the kids love it. We have fire watch because we are in the dry season now and can't have fires so we watch to be sure there aren't any. I am adding some pictures here of the amphitheater in the front of the campground and also of the bus ramp. Tomorrow I am going to add pictures from when WE were there and you can see parts of that place haven't changed much in 30 something years. Tell me what you think.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000099;">Marie (ROTC ROCKS!)</span></div></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-63196355179735454112009-03-01T19:09:00.002-05:002009-03-01T19:16:59.708-05:00Fun Day!Today was a fun day for me. I got to spend most of the day with the JROTC kids from South Ft. Myers HS. We were at the Red Sox and Twins game running a consession stand. The kids cook and prep the food and run the cash registers. The adults pour the beer. We have the best time and the kids earn tips toward their program at school and also a portion of the sales go to the JROTC unit.<br /><br />I can only help out on weekends and I have another game in April I can go to. It's a blast and we have fun doing it to. The kids are awesome and do a great job.<br /><br />This coming weekend is the state competition for these same kids in Lakeland Florida. We leave on Friday ( I asked for the day off so I can go) and the competition is Saturday. We have a great time on the bus as well as at the competition. It's a busy weekend and we have late and early hours but another fun time. We leave around 10 am on Friday and get there a little after lunch. We settle into our rooms and the kids start practicing in the parking lot. After practice we wash up for dinner and head to the local mall for some shopping and dinner. Then back to the hotel for some swimming, (the kids not the adults!) and then to bed after we make sure the kids have everything ready for the next day's competition. Sometimes I help the kids iron their shirts and make sure their boots are shined and the uniforms look good.<br /><br />We get up early (430am) on Saturday and make sure the kids are dressed and all packed up. We board the buses and head to George Jenkins High School for the day. After the competition we board the buses and drive for a while then stop for dinner then continue home. The kids will be dead tired by then but it's great. There will be one instructor going and 3 chaperones. We have lots of fun and I can't wait. It's like a mini vacation for me.<br /><br />I will post again next week after the competition and let you know how we made out. Most of this week I have to get my lesson plans ready for Friday and also next week.<br /><br />Talk to you soon!<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-77826445442460236132009-02-20T19:44:00.002-05:002009-02-20T19:51:50.911-05:00Time is the enemy!Well I have found facebook.....I kinda went into it kicking and screaming because I was having trouble with my computer and the virus....now its all fixed....so facebook is working again....I am having lots of fun meeting up with my friends from ELEMENTARY school......what a blast.....I am loving it and also meeting up with friends from high school.<br /><br />We are also in the middle of planning our 31st high school reunion....it was for last october but the timing was off so now we are shooting for this summer....I am on the committee to help out and I am looking forward to it......We have a conference call next week to talk over some of the details...<br /><br />I have been very busy at work and even brought stuff home this weekend to get done. Tomorrow is a busy day...we are going to a meeting to see how to finance college for my two girls and then we have the big Edison Pagent of Light parade tomorrow night. I use to march in that parade when I was in ROTC in high school and now my daughter does it and I am a chaperone. I love doing this. So we have to be at the high school at 2:30pm tomorrow and the parade is at 7:30pm at night. I will tell you all about it tomorrow or Sunday.<br /><br />I have been fighting a migraine tonight and not winning. I took some aspirins at school before I left but I still have a pounding head. I am going to get more to take a little later and then head to bed.<br /><br />Hope you all have a great weekend.<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-76882130332811008322009-02-08T19:08:00.002-05:002009-02-08T19:16:04.028-05:00SICKES!!! ALL SICKES!!!!I am so sick of being sick AGAIN!!!! Desirae missed school all last week because she had the flu....like I had a few weeks back....Carol got it yesterday and is running a temp of 101.2, so no school for her tomorrow....right now Dave is also coughing.....and I have a temp of 100. Now I have to go to school tomorrow so I am going to be heading to bed pretty soon with a dose of nyquil....i just need to get thru the day and get home fast at the end of the day....<br /><br />Of course all the kids at school are sick, 2 teachers on my team are sick and with the stupid temps being from 31 to 50 here in COLD SOUTHWEST FLORIDA! It's no wonder we are sick....I can't wait for the summer....I would rather be warm than this cold....We have had more fires in the fireplace this winter then all the years we have lived here which are 8 years.<br /><br />Desirae went to the docs on friday and got some meds so she is doing good. If Carol doesn't get better tomorrow I will have Dave take her in also.<br /><br />Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.....we need to get over this once and for all!!<br /><br />Pass the tissues!!<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-24452831067856630432009-01-29T21:59:00.002-05:002009-01-29T22:06:48.061-05:00Where am I?I have a confession to make.....I am addicted to gamecube!!! My daughters have Animal Crossing and I was bored a few weeks ago and got hooked on this game......I come home from work and just play until bedtime.....and I do take time out for dinner but that is it.....<br /><br />I haven't been reading email either....or playing and finding stuff on the computer....I think its because work is getting stressful. I have 15 students who don't speak English as their first language...most of them are doing well but I got a new student today who only speaks Spanish. Its a good time for me to practice my Spanish. Plus the kids are just wearing me out....LOL....but I am enjoying working with them.<br /><br />So other then that nothing much has been happening......I have been working on some quilts but nothing serious.....I will get better at the blogging again...<br /><br />This Saturday is the JROTC countywide competition and I will be there to help out. I get to help the girls uniforms to make sure they are ok and all the same....then I get to cheer on my high school kids....I love hanging out with them....they are the ones that keep me young....I will tell you how they made out....<br /><br />Hugs<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-19945105402062912262009-01-04T21:33:00.002-05:002009-01-04T21:42:27.388-05:00Out with the Old and In with the New!<em><span style="color:#660000;">Well today was cleaning day....I started right after breakfast. I didn't do much but I did get lots of junk thrown out. I cleaned out two shelves on a bookcase. Now you may say that isn't much but we can pack a lot of garbage in 2 shelves. I had almost all of my college papers still there in the binders. So out all the papers went in the recycling bin and I am taking the binders to school for my kids to use when theirs break or fall apart. I have 18 binders to bring to school. Once I was done with that I put the other items from another bookcase into those two shelves and cleaned out the other bookcase so I can sell it. I never did like it much but I needed it and it was free. It served us well and now it's time for it to move on.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;">I still need to do more in the dining room but this was a great start. I also took down the quilts and washed them and rehun them so the are all clean now too. I dusted the living room and rehung those newly washed quilts for that room too. I don't know how to paint but I quilt up a storm so I hang my quilts in my home. I love how they look. Then I moved into the kitchen and cleaned that. Then I quit for the day because I was pooped!! LOL</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;">I played on game cube for a while and the computer, cooked dinner, took a shower and played gamecube again. It was a good day.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;">Tomorrow we all go back to school so I wanted to rest up. I still haven't done any scrapbooking like I wanted to. I might tonight yet. It's too early to go to bed.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;">I hope you all had a great weekend. Talk to you later.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#660000;">Marie</span></em>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-24775920318539298922009-01-02T18:07:00.002-05:002009-01-02T18:12:01.475-05:00How I spent the day!<em><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#990000;">A few years ago Santa brought us Nintendo gamecube.....and the girls stil play on it and they have been playing a game called Animal Crossing. They have done this for years......and I am always too busy to play...but this Christmas break I didn't bring anything home so I have had lots of time on my hands.....so I learned how to play the game and its a lot of fun.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;">We asked Santa for a Wii but he couldn't find any in time for Christmas so we are still waiting....LOL.....I am going to get one but I also have to wait until the stores stock back up with them here in town because they sold out for Christmas. There is also an Animal Crossing game for the Wii so I thought I should learn the easy one first. LOL....well now they have me hooked on it...I played all day today and didn't do anything else. It was great.</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;">Tonight though I think I am going to scrapbook for a little while....and then I might go play again.....LOL...</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;">What wonderful things have you all done in the first 2 days of the new year?</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#990000;">Marie</span></em>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-19474486203993192982008-12-31T17:58:00.002-05:002008-12-31T18:09:15.973-05:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!<span style="color:#000099;">Before the night gets away from me I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Today is the last day of the year and a time for memories and some new plans for 2009.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">This year was defintely different. My hubby went from working daily to maybe working weekly due to the economy and the downfall in the construction industry. But that is ok because we made it thru the year and that is all that matters. My girls had a good year and that is GREAT. Their grades are up and one is working and paying on her truck so all is good there. I have a good job and I hope to keep it for a while. </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">We are very blessed. We have clothes to wear, food to eat, a home to give us shelter, dogs and a cat who think we are wonderful, job to help pay for our needs and wants, and friends who make it all worthwhile and our families.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I hope we can continue this in the coming year and remember how much we have to be thankful for. I know its not Thanksgiving but the new year does make you thankful for what you have.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I don't make resolutions anymore because I can never keep them. I make simple plans and ideas that I would like to carry out throughout the year. This plan has served me well in years past. This is going to be the year of cleaning. I am not going to kill myself cleaning my house but I do want to make it a little more presentable and not so dumpy. I work many hours and don't feel like cleaning when the weekends come around. So this year I am going to use the FlyLady techniques I learned years ago. Do something for 15 mins at a time. If you set a timer for 15 mins and just work you can't imagine how much you can do in that time frame. Try it and let me know what you think.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Have a wonderful New Year celebration tonight. My children and I will be staying up and eating and playing games and waiting to ring in the new year. Not sure if my husband will be staying up or not but that is ok. The dogs will since we will have food....LOL</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Hugs and happiness to you all!</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Marie</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-75685090449720915732008-12-28T14:43:00.002-05:002008-12-28T14:57:07.681-05:00Cleaning up (finally LOL)<div><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="color:#330033;"><em>Today I started cleaning out the house.</em></span> </span><span style="color:#330033;"><em>Now I am not talking steady cleaning until something is really clean....LOL....that isn't my style. I cleaned out the foyer. I had this holder thingy leftover from one of the girls rooms. They used it to store their beanie babies. So I cleaned it out and its in the back of my car. I also got rid of the junk that was on the holder thingy! So now the foyer almost looks normal. I still have some boxes in there but I am getting ready to ship out some quilts and other things so they will be gone in another day or so. </em></span></div><div> </div><div><em><span style="color:#330033;">The girls have been cleaning out their rooms for a while and the stuff was piled in the hallway upstairs. So today I started bringing some of the stuff down and putting it in the car. I know you are probably saying to yourself, Why doesn't she have the girls help her? Good question but I like to see what they are getting rid of. Not all the stuff needs to go to the Goodwill store. In their baby clothes for their dolls I found some of their baby clothes that they played with. Those need to get cleaned and kept for their little ones someday. I just kept a few things but I can't get rid of them. It's slowly getting done and all the stuff upstairs won't fit in my car anyway. I think it will take me a while to get it all to Goodwill but that is ok. </span></em></div><div> </div><div><em><span style="color:#330033;">My goal for '09 is to also finish the house. I asked Dave to put the motor home in the driveway tomorrow and take off the door to our bathroom closet. That way I can stain it and it will be done. When we moved in 8 years ago the crazy inspector said we had to have the doors on all the closets even if they weren't finished. So now that I am not too busy with school and everything else I am going to start doing a little on the house too. Starting with the 3 doors that need staining. I am hoping to get these done before January is over. That is a reasonable goal to reach. </span></em><br /></div><div><em><span style="color:#330033;">That is my<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SVfZ2pJZ6zI/AAAAAAAAALI/RbkoGqI72gw/s1600-h/cleaning.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284932220524030770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 96px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SVfZ2pJZ6zI/AAAAAAAAALI/RbkoGqI72gw/s200/cleaning.jpg" border="0" /></a> only resolution for '09. To get the house cleaned up and straightened out and organzied. Plus get some sewing and fun stuff done for me too!! LOL</span></em></div><div> </div><div><em><span style="color:#330033;">So what are your plans for '09??</span></em><br /></div><div><em><span style="color:#330033;">Marie </span></em></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-83843995456680955902008-12-26T14:41:00.002-05:002008-12-26T14:51:17.128-05:00The Day After...<span style="color:#330033;">I hope everyone had a great Christmas yesterday. We slept in and that was a nice feeling. I actually had to wake up the 17 year old so we could unwrap the gifts. LOL That was a first ..I remember when they used to wake us up. The rule in our house is that you have to wait until everyone is up and we have eaten something before we can open presents. Well that was easy to do this year. Hee Hee!!</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Carol handed out all the gifts and we opened them. It was fun and the dogs had the best time. They loved their cookies and got to eat them right away....they also open their own presents and if they weren't too busy eating their cookies they would help open ours!</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Everyone loved their gifts and I started cooking right away with my new pots and pans. I know that is a strange gift but I really need new ones and was thrilled to get them!</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Santa brought us the new Monopoly game without money but with the debit cards! WOW! It is so cool. We stopped playing and then started again a few hours later and the machine remembered how much money we had. We stopped for the night and recorded what properties we had and where we were on the board. If we get home early tonight from dinner we will finish the game. I don't think I have ever finished a monopoly game before. We now have 4 versions of it, the original game that my parents bought me a thousand years ago, the here and now version with the millions of money, the dog version of it, (really cool to play) and the here and now world version with the debit cards....I think we are starting a trend to get all the monopoly games we can find. I am still looking for the peanuts version....LOL</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">We also played Don't Forget the Lyrics. That is a riot because all the songs are oldies and some are really oldies and my girls don't know that many of them. So they got mad at me because I knew the words to the songs. But they knew some too and it was great watching them try and remember the words. We like playing games but its only the 3 of us, dave doesn't play the games with us.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Tonight we are going to dinner at a friends house from high school. I am looking forward to seeing her and her family. It's been a very long time since we have seen each other. </span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Hope you all had a great holiday.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Marie </span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-78960371125815025012008-12-23T14:25:00.002-05:002008-12-23T14:34:28.532-05:00Two days before Christamas!<span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000066;">Well I finally finished my Christmas shopping today. Now I have to make some cookies. I am only making peanut butter and Chocolate Chip cookies. I will do those tomorrow morning while I am wrapping the final gifts.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">We are all still sick here. I am going to church tomorrow night but it might just be me that goes. I don't think hubby will go since he is sicker then the rest of us and needs his rest. I might be able to get my daughter Carol to go but not sure. Desirae will be working so she won't be able to go.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">We were to see my new nephew today and my sister in law but with us being sick we are just staying home. We did take the dogs out to Petco this morning to get thier gifts. They got to smell everything and got lots of treats from the manager. He has 3 shepards at home so he loved gretchen and then who can't love daisy who gives tonz of kisses to everyone. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">We got home and made lunch and couldn't find daisy. We thought she was in the back yard but couldn't find her. Looked upstairs and no luck there either. I went out the front door and there she was in my neighbor's yard sniffing around. Not fun at all. Seems the back gate was blown open by the wind and she took off. I opened the car door and she came running across the street right into the car. Then I grabbed her and we walked into the house together. I then took a clothes line from the motor home and tied the gate door shut. Not a perfect job but it won't blow open again and she won't escape. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">If you go see the movie Marley and Me this season that is pretty much my labrador. She wasn't as bad as he was as a puppy but she came awful close. She loves rides in the car and if the window is open and you don't hang on to her she will walk or more likely run faster then the car can go. She is something else. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">That is about all our news from here. Of course hubby is sick so he has had work the last two days. I don't think he will work tomorrow but he might for a half day. I hope he stays home and gets the rest he needs. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">I hope you all have a great Christmas. We are going to be quiet this year. Nothing going on...just chilling at home and trying to get better faster.</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Marie</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-22136633330433297872008-12-19T18:12:00.003-05:002008-12-19T18:16:19.616-05:00Sick Days!Good Evening all!!<br /><br />I have been sick for the last two days. I hope now that I am on Winter Break I can post more. Last night my temp hit 100 and I took my trusty old Nyquil and went to bed at 8:30pm!! I never go to bed that early but it felt great. I am going to bed early tonight too but not that early.<br /><br />Today was the last day of school and I didn't want to miss it. I will post more this weekend. I still have to do my Christmas shopping. I haven't started yet!<br /><br />Hugs,<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-11085527911798224282008-12-10T20:52:00.002-05:002008-12-10T21:10:23.345-05:00Christmas Traditions<div>Hi Everyone, I didn't realize I haven't posted in a while. It's been a nutty place at school. The kindergarten classes are performing next week and we have been practicing every afternoon for 45 minutes. The kids are singing, Jingle Bell Rock, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Up on the Housetop, Feliz Navidad, and We wish you a Merry Christmas. There are also hand motions that go along with it. Today's practice was great. The kids are really learning the words and the hand motions. In between the songs are poems that some of the kinder kids are reading and they are just too cute for words!</div><div></div><br /><div>Tonight our 5th grade choir sang the same program and they did a great job. It was at the local Barnes and Noble store so my daughter and I went. We also had dinner at McDonalds as that was a fund raiser for our school. So we had to eat fast and get to the book store. These 5th graders are very special to me because they were the first class I ever taught. They opened our school 4 years ago and were my second graders. I love these kids. They are so grown up and I can't believe they are going to middle school next year. They did a wonderful job. Of course we couldn't leave without buying books. I didn't see anything I liked but Carol was able to find 5. I am sure she would have liked more but I had to keep her on my budget! She is trying to read one now but I am watching Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.<br /></div><div>I love watching these old shows. I remember watching them every year on TV as a child in my PJ's. And having to go to bed when they were over. Remember about 10 years ago they even quit showing them on TV for some reason. My kids were little then and I remember telling them about these shows. Then they finally started showing them and I would watch them every year without fail. Then they started coming out on VHS and DVD and I have them all. It's just not Christmas until they show them on TV and even though I have them on DVD it's much more special when they are on TV. I feel the same way about White Christmas. They don't always show that one so I bought it and now have 2 copies of it, (VHS and DVD). I never heard of or watched It's a Wonderful Life until I met my husband. We used to watch it after Thanksgiving each year (with the kids) and then it disappeared from the TV. I finally found it and bought it for my husband. So now when it's not on TV we can watch it whenever we want to.<br /></div><div>I know I might offend some folks here and I don't mean to but we can't stand to watch The Christmas Story. I have never understood what was so great about that show. Can someone tell me? I think some really great new shows have come out over the year. I like watching Ebbie with Susan Lucci and A Mom for Christmas with Olivia Newton-John and the movie with Dolly Parton and Lee Majors....I can't remember the name but my daughter has those DVD's....oh yeah the other one I like is with Mimi Rogers, the Christmas List....GREAT!!!!<br /></div><div>ok time to get back to sewing. I got some work in and that is another reason for not posting. I will be posting more this weekend. One more week of school and then we are off for two weeks. Can't wait!!!</div><br /><div></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SUB2aJJD6EI/AAAAAAAAALA/sWrpJohwtDg/s1600-h/rudolph.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278348954780821570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 75px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 75px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/SUB2aJJD6EI/AAAAAAAAALA/sWrpJohwtDg/s200/rudolph.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Marie <a href="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bHO3dUBJgFkBtMCJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBpdnJhMHUzBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1tniq3b78/EXP=1229047607/**http%3A//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3Fback=http%253A%252F%252Fimages.search.yahoo.com%252Fsearch%252Fimages%253Fp%253Drudolph%252Bthe%252Bred%252Bnosed%252Breindeer%2526sp%253D1%2526fr2%253D%2526y%253DSearch%2526ei%253DUTF-8%2526fr%253Dmy-myy%2526x%253Dwrt%2526js%253D1%2526ni%253D21%2526ei%253DUTF-8%2526SpellState%253Dn-1578343115_q-O2bDXMF1quv33HFKgUX7OgAAAA%2540%2540%26w=500%26h=375%26imgurl=static.flickr.com%252F125%252F329661925_2145b320ec.jpg%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252Fbparton92%252F329661925%252F%26size=168.2kB%26name=Rudolph%2Bthe%2BRed%2BNosed%2BReindeer%2BTV%2BSpecial%26p=rudolph%2Bthe%2Bred%2Bnosed%2Breindeer%26type=JPG%26oid=ac1518698d143eca%26fusr=bparton92%26tit=Rudolph%2Bthe%2BRed%2BNosed%2BReindeer%2BTV%2BSpecial%26hurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252Fbparton92%252F%26no=1%26tt=10,053%26sigr=11h8qcf6l%26sigi=11e5cg4no%26sigb=164101nau%26sigh=1175jna99"></a><a href="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bHO3dUBJgFkBtMCJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBpdnJhMHUzBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNzcgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1tniq3b78/EXP=1229047607/**http%3A//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3Fback=http%253A%252F%252Fimages.search.yahoo.com%252Fsearch%252Fimages%253Fp%253Drudolph%252Bthe%252Bred%252Bnosed%252Breindeer%2526sp%253D1%2526fr2%253D%2526y%253DSearch%2526ei%253DUTF-8%2526fr%253Dmy-myy%2526x%253Dwrt%2526js%253D1%2526ni%253D21%2526ei%253DUTF-8%2526SpellState%253Dn-1578343115_q-O2bDXMF1quv33HFKgUX7OgAAAA%2540%2540%26w=500%26h=375%26imgurl=static.flickr.com%252F125%252F329661925_2145b320ec.jpg%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252Fbparton92%252F329661925%252F%26size=168.2kB%26name=Rudolph%2Bthe%2BRed%2BNosed%2BReindeer%2BTV%2BSpecial%26p=rudolph%2Bthe%2Bred%2Bnosed%2Breindeer%26type=JPG%26oid=ac1518698d143eca%26fusr=bparton92%26tit=Rudolph%2Bthe%2BRed%2BNosed%2BReindeer%2BTV%2BSpecial%26hurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252Fbparton92%252F%26no=1%26tt=10,053%26sigr=11h8qcf6l%26sigi=11e5cg4no%26sigb=164101nau%26sigh=1175jna99"></a></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-34116566656766363422008-12-02T19:27:00.003-05:002008-12-02T19:38:47.402-05:00Face? Space? Blog?<span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">Ok So what is the difference between facebook? myspace? and blogspot? Isn't the main reason people have these items to keep up with folks? I like this one because it's easy and fun to use and change around...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">A friend asked me to join facebook and I did but I have no idea what that is all about...and I can barely remember to add stuff here let alone at another location....HaHa! So I am just going to stick with what I know and here I am.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">We have a fire going tonight. I know you are thinking we are nuts to have a fire in Florida but the temps are really going down tonight ....into the 40's and that is cold. I am so sure that one year we are going to get snow again...its just a matter of time...we have had cooler weather since right before Thanksgiving and I know its going to happen soon. The temps will warm up for a few days and then turn cold again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">I have Christmas songs running through my head already. As I have mentioned before I teach kindergarten and we are practicing every day for our Holiday concert. The kids are singing 5 songs and learning the hand motions that go along with them. We practice for about 40 mins a day and also have the music playing in the morning and during the day while they are working on other projects like coloring. They are learning the words to the songs but now we are working on the hand motions....When they get it all together (all 147 of them) they are really cute to see. They are performing this on 17 and 19 December during the day so their parents can come. Should be interesting. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">I finished another older cross stitch project last night. It was a birthday bear that I bought someone for a gift but have no idea who it was for. And now I am not sure what I am going to do with it either. But right now it's on the cutting table waiting for a frame. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">Well I have some school work to do and maybe some sewing. Not really sure. But at 8pm I am going to be watchi<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STXUlhoep4I/AAAAAAAAAK4/Cru4qZrGt7k/s1600-h/mom%27s+honeymoon+cottage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275356279682803586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STXUlhoep4I/AAAAAAAAAK4/Cru4qZrGt7k/s200/mom%27s+honeymoon+cottage.jpg" border="0" /></a>ng Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I have it on DVD but its more special to watch when it comes on TV!! I love those old shows and watch all of them. I have already seen the cartoon version of the Grinch 3 times. I love it...not the movie the original...can't beat it!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff0000;">Marie P.S. Here is another part of my village. This was from my mom's village. It's the honeymoon cottage. I just love it. Hope you do to!!</span>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-83527942439069175062008-12-01T19:58:00.005-05:002008-12-01T20:06:46.669-05:00<div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJTQjttEI/AAAAAAAAAKY/U5nydZ0kOZQ/s1600-h/Gingerbreat+BB+K3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274992027512976450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJTQjttEI/AAAAAAAAAKY/U5nydZ0kOZQ/s200/Gingerbreat+BB+K3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000066;">OK I took my camera to work today and got pictures of my bulletin board. I think this is the best idea I have ever had. The kids loved doing it and it came out so cute. My daughter Carol drew the gingerbread house in the upper corner and colored it using construction paper. She is wonderful and a great artist! </span><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;">The background is covered in tin foil and the kids wrote sentences about the story then colored the gingerbread man. The main hallway in our school is the kindergarten hallway and it's through this hallway that all the visitors pass so it must look good. I try and show the student's best work. This is the first time they wrote sentences and I am so proud of them. When they first came to me som<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJaRd9GVI/AAAAAAAAAKg/kxZMXaGe6QM/s1600-h/Gingerbread+Bulletin+board+K2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274992148016339282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJaRd9GVI/AAAAAAAAAKg/kxZMXaGe6QM/s200/Gingerbread+Bulletin+board+K2.jpg" border="0" /></a>e didn't even know if they were left or right handed! Tell me what you think??</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;"></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJieVYk6I/AAAAAAAAAKo/-e3zVtWwYkg/s1600-h/Gingerbread+bulletin+board+K1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274992288909005730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJieVYk6I/AAAAAAAAAKo/-e3zVtWwYkg/s200/Gingerbread+bulletin+board+K1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000066;">The words say "You can't catch us...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000066;">We're the gingerbread class!"</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJ3Ev9HJI/AAAAAAAAAKw/x8NeslK9N0E/s1600-h/Gingerbread+BB+house+close+up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274992642818382994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STSJ3Ev9HJI/AAAAAAAAAKw/x8NeslK9N0E/s200/Gingerbread+BB+house+close+up.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000066;">This is the great house my daughter made for me!<br /></span><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#000066;">Till Tomorrow!!!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000066;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000066;">Marie</span></div></div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-38696729590034633622008-11-30T10:36:00.010-05:002008-11-30T11:35:41.262-05:00a busy Friday!<div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK1UEn8R5I/AAAAAAAAAJo/Sn7guFkYMmM/s1600-h/sampler+garden+cross+stitch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274477470047553426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK1UEn8R5I/AAAAAAAAAJo/Sn7guFkYMmM/s200/sampler+garden+cross+stitch.jpg" border="0" /></a> I got lots to share today. Not sure if I can get everything in here in one post but if I can't I will finish it tomorrow night. First, I finished a cross stitch project that I have been working on forever. Here is a picture of it. Now all I have to do is get a frame for it. I will get that the next time I am in Joann's. I know it's not a quilt UFO but it's good to get something else done. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK6hNpo5xI/AAAAAAAAAKI/x453K2uZpQA/s1600-h/our+stockings+are+hung+08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274483193367029522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK6hNpo5xI/AAAAAAAAAKI/x453K2uZpQA/s200/our+stockings+are+hung+08.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />After we went shopping for a while we came home and set up the decorations. Here is a picture of our fireplace. We put up a stocking for all the people that live here (4), the older kids out on their own (2), and the dogs (2) and Desirae's new boyfriend (1). Here is how it looks!! I love it. We didn't have a fireplace up north and I just love how it looks. Of course our temps will be dropping this week and then the stuff on the hearth will come off and we will have a fire going...the dogs love laying in front of it.... :)<br /></div><div>While I was growing up we always had a village at Christmas time under the tree. We had houses, people, cars and ice skaters and of course our nativity set. As the years passed the houses and items started falling apart. When we moved to Florida my mom started working with plastic canvas and made a whole new village for her and also for me. She made me a gingerbread village and I just love it. I am posting some pictures of the villages and also some of the gorgeous handmade ornaments we put on the tree. We used to put up 3 trees but with the dogs we only do one now. The great part is that I had enough ornaments for them all!!!</div><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK53ZSOMOI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/gQ6hpZdwdqI/s1600-h/blue+and+gold+ornament.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274482474935529698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK53ZSOMOI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/gQ6hpZdwdqI/s200/blue+and+gold+ornament.jpg" border="0" /></a>These are ornaments my mom made many years ago. The circle one is a tuna can. I just love it. She designed some of these on her own and some were kits but it's been so long I can't remember which ones are which. But they are beautiful aren't they?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STLAen52YRI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/WAiFKMXxlU4/s1600-h/in+front+of+gingerbread+store.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274489745944502546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STLAen52YRI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/WAiFKMXxlU4/s200/in+front+of+gingerbread+store.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274482748712090674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BszZ7FwBU6M/STK6HVLo_DI/AAAAAAAAAKA/k-EaH0mw1KU/s200/inside+the+tuna+can+ornament.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div> </div><div>OK I will post more tomorrow. I am going to take my camera to work and get a picture of the bulletin board and will post that too!!</div><div> </div><div>Happy Holidays!!</div><div> </div><div>Marie</div></div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-13355912229097776542008-11-27T16:50:00.003-05:002008-11-27T17:08:35.974-05:00HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!I want to take this time to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope you are spending the day with family and friends.<br /><br />Today my daughters and I woke up at 830am and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I just love watching it and we have been doing this since they were little kids. We have a blast doing it too. Of course the turkey was in the oven cooking and was smelling sooo yummy we were getting hungry.<br /><br />While we were watching it I was crocheting a scarf for my younger daughter Carol. She bought this great yarn and it's been challenging to work with but it's coming out so great.....I know she will like it. I am going to fnish it early so it will be an early Christmas present.<br /><br />We ate early today so my older daughter Desirae could eat with us before she goes to work. It was nice being together. It was just the 4 of us and the dogs. A very quiet day, but we managed to eat plenty!!! And now we are waiting to eat our pies but I think that will come much later tonight!<br /><br />Daisy our labrador is in my room as I type this waiting to eat dinner. Mind you, she and Gretchen (the german shepard) have already sampled the turkey we had and now they are wanting their dinners. And the cat is waiting too!!<br /><br />I finished another project last night while watching TV. It was a cross stitch that I had been working on for about 3 years. It feels good to finish something. Now I have to find a frame for it so I can hang it up in the house.<br /><br />We have 5 days off from school for the holiday and it feels good to get some rest. We have been really busy at work. I had to get my bullentin board done in the hallway and it is awesome. My daughter Carol, the artist, drew me a beautiful gingerbread house. She used construction paper to "color" it and then I laminated it at school. I read the Gingerbread Man, the Gingerbread Baby, and the Gingerbread Boy to the kids at school. Then I had the kids color a Gingerbread Man and they wrote sentences. We covered the bulletin board in tin foil so the gingerbread men looked like they were coming out of the oven. When I go back to school I will take my camera and take a picture and post it here on Monday night. It's really cute. I love how it came out.<br /><br />I am going to spend the rest of the night working on a mitten wall hanging and keep working on the scarf!!<br /><br />Have great night!!<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110107058998598737.post-1473702679937054742008-11-16T19:00:00.002-05:002008-11-16T19:12:50.993-05:00Quilt Retreat WeekendWOW!!! I had fun this weekend. I belong to the Stashbusters group and this was the weekend for the at home retreat. The object is to do as much quilting as you can. I started the day making the backings for 3 quilt tops that I assembled this weekend using leftover blocks. Years ago I belonged to AOL and joined every block swap there was. I have so many blocks. I made most of them into quilts for the house but I can only use so many quilts living in Florida. So most of the quilts I make I donate either to the Breast Cancer Society or the Quilts of Valor. I finished 4 tops using blocks that were left over from swaps and who knows where some of them came from. I also used fabric from my stash to make the backings. And I used strips and squares left over from other projects to assemble the tops.<br /><br />They are about lap size quilts and I loved working on them. I have another one on the design wall but I am done for tonight. I found 3 blocks that had parts ironed on and now I am going to satin stitch them down before they go into a quilt. Then I am going to be making more baby booties. There is a place in South Dakota who needs help with all sorts of items to help their citizens get through those rough winters. Here is the link <a href="http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/Sewing_Supplies_for_the_Kateri_Circle_Sewing_Group.shtml">http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/Sewing_Supplies_for_the_Kateri_Circle_Sewing_Group.shtml</a><br /><br />I think they are a great charity and if you can spare anything please send it to them. I might send the 4 UFO quilts that I put together to them once I get them quilted. So I am going to be making some baby booties and hats to send them. I found some baby yarn today in one of my baskets.<br /><br />We have a full week of school this week and I am going to be out 3 nights this week in a class. It's a great class, it helps experienced teachers mentor new teachers and we can also work with college students who need classroom experience teaching. I am looking forward to doing that. The class is great and I am really enjoying it.<br /><br />I have the turkey in the freezer and the week after next I will get the rest of the items for our dinner. It's just going to be the 4 of us this year. I hope the older kids call their dad, that always makes the holiday better for him.<br /><br />Keep sewing!!!<br /><br />MarieMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375954480197640355noreply@blogger.com0