Some work but mostly play

Since summer vacation started I’ve done a few paintings and projects, but if we aren’t at a baseball game or practice, we spend most of our time just hanging out.  That is what summer is for!

Living in Cicada Hell

If you are like us and living in the midst of cicada hell, you have my sympathy.  If you are not, you are very, very lucky.  Here in Central Illinois, we have our once-every-thirteen-years visit from the cicadas.  They are disgusting creatures.  There are billions and billions of them.  They are huge—about 1 inch long and extremely ugly.  They don’t bite or sting (thank God!) but they are terribly loud  and they fly right into you.  They come out of the ground, mature, mate, lay eggs and die.  Then their rotting carcasses start to stink.  Yuck.  Just yuck.  Mowing the yard is a little step into hell for me.  They are attracted to the hum of the mower and they just go crazy.  I walked around my yard and took some pictures.

These are the shells.  They come out of the ground and shed their exoskeleton.  There are piles of them everywhere.

I promise to do better

It is a pet peeve of mine when bloggers drop off the face of the earth.  That makes it that much more ridiculous that I did that very thing.  Except that I didn’t exactly drop off the face of the earth, I just dropped into summer vacation!  I lose all sense of time.  The kids get up at 9:00 and don’t go to bed until 11:00.  Lunch is at 2:00.  Dinner is….well, if there is dinner it’s a hot dog at the ball field.  I’m never the most structured person, but summer is absolute chaos! So….in an effort to get back on track, I’m promising to be a better blogger!

I have to wear lipstick.  Have to.  I feel naked without it.  However, when I’m just going to the pool, it seems a little ridiculous to wear it.  And I MUST, MUST wear sunscreen on my lips or I am practically guaranteed to get a cold sore.  That’s why I am thrilled with this find!

It’s really lightweight, but has good color and sunscreen built right in.  Walgreen’s had Buy One, Get One 50% off and I had a $5.00 off coupon on two which made my grand total $7.00 for both. 

Sometimes, simple little things like this can really make my day!

Be back SOON!

I'm sorry to be such a bad blogger. Life has gotten in the way of documenting life. I will be back soon!

Teacher Appreciation Week…Day 4 & 5

I didn’t take pictures of our activity on day 4 but I brought in sugar cookies and gave each of the kids a little container of frosting and a plastic knife.  They frosted their own cookies and added sprinkles.  We also told Mrs. Cravatta all the things we liked about her.  Total cost $5.00 for the cookies.

On the last day we presented her with a book of notes that I had the kids write to her earlier in the week.  I also took individual photos of the kids.

I keep things pretty simple by just adding some punched out stars and their name.

Their note was on the back.  I had them come up one at a time and read their note to Mrs. Cravatta.  Most of them gave her a big hug too which melted my heart (and hers.)

When they finished reading their note, I put them all onto this binder ring tied with ribbons.

We also were able to give her a gift card to the Nike store (one of her favorite places to shop) and a gift certificate for a one hour full body massage!  I am soooooo lucky to have generous parents who can make this kind of spoiling possible.  I am even luckier to have such a wonderful teacher that I WANT to spoil!

Total cost for the book: $3.00 for the pictures

Teacher Appreciation Week…Day 3

Today was our Hawaiian theme.

The kids each got a lei and we drank blue Hawaiian Punch with umbrella straws.  One of the lei’s had a tiny ribbon tied into it and that child got to give Mrs. Cravatta her gift.  After two days of this, they are catching on—I saw a bunch of the kids looking for something “different” about their lei!  Cute!

We gave Mrs. Cravatta a decorated sand bucket filled with flip-flops, a Fiji water bottle and a gift certificate for a pedicure.

I downloaded Hawaiian Roller Coaster and Limbo Rock onto my ipod and we danced and did the limbo—including Mrs. Cravatta, which the kids LOVED!

Total Cost: $39.50

posterboard $.50, lei’s $4.00, umbrella straws $2.oo, Hawaiian Punch: $2.00, Fiji water: $2.00, flip flops: $1.00, pedi gift certificate $28.00

I didn’t include the cost of the cups and bucket because I already had those, or the songs because we will enjoy those this summer.

Teacher Appreciation Week 2011…Day 2

I used shipping labels to make stickers for each child.  I put little dot in the center of one of the flowers and that child got to give the flower gift to Mrs. Cravatta.

I bought annuals—enough to represent each child and just made quick little sticks with their names.

I told the kids and Mrs. Cravatta that she could plant these in her garden and she will remember each of her first graders all summer as the flowers grow.  Anna said, “And when they die, you will forget all about us.”  Hysterical.  Mrs. Cravatta assured them that they were unforgettable!

Total cost: $9.50  ($9.00 for flowers and $.50 for the posterboard)

Teacher Appreciation Week 2011…Day 1

Today we did a Rock Star theme. 

I painted this posterboard and hung it outside Jack’s class.

I used an old cd case and made a paper “cd”.  I used glue dots to affix the itunes card.

Then wrapped it in a bow.

I gave all the kids a “backstage pass” and told them to wear it all day and show EVERYONE in school and tell them that Mrs. Cravatta rocks.  One of the passes had a star on the back and that child got to give her the gift.

I also brought my ipod and we danced to Dynamite by Taio Cruz which was the least offensive dance song on my playlist. 

Total cost: $10.50 ($10 for the itunes card and $.50 for the posterboard. I already had everything else.)

I really like to include the kids in teacher appreciation gifts—that way it’s fun for everyone!

Stay tuned for the rest of our week!

Ugh….Dying Easter Eggs

I hate dying Easter eggs. 

It is one of those things the boys want to do every year.  I know…it is an Easter ritual.  It should be fun!  But it is just sooooo anticlimatic!  We don’t do any crazy artsy egginess, so it’s basically dropping an egg in dye, waiting 5 minutes for it to get enough color and then taking it out.  Whoohoo!!!!  It’s like watching paint dry.  Or watching grass grow.  Or, well, dying Easter eggs.  I know…I’m and Easter Scrooge or Easter Grinch….whichever. 

Just getting started.  Fun!

Parker having fun.

Jack having fun.

Fun is over….eggs just sitting….waiting.

And….the same thing happens every year.  During egg retrieval, something gets knocked over.  Not fun.

Off the table and onto the floor. Really not fun.

The guilty party….not having fun anymore.

Dying Easter eggs.  It’s fun….or not.

A Toast to Jodi

My sister, Tracy, sits on the board of her children’s preschool with a friend named Jodi.  Last year, Jodi found out she had breast cancer.  Her sister suggested that during her weekly chemo treatments, she should have a “theme” and have as much fun as one could possibly have during such a stressful time.  Jodi and everyone around her ran with it and she became known in the St. Louis area as The Crazy Chemo Lady.   Click on the link to see the news story that KSDK did on her.  Very inspiring!  She is still fighting her battle but winning a little each day!

The preschool board wanted to pay tribute to her (she was still an active member throughout her treatment) so they had a little surprise party for her last night.  In keeping with Jodi’s spirit, they had a Dr. Suess theme.  My sister composed this poem for her in Dr. Suess-ish rhyming.  I can’t read it without crying, can you!?

Congratulations! 

Hooray for you!

You made it through chemo

And radiation too!

Let’s jump up, let’s shout

Let’s have a party and let it all out!

From the beginning, your story we’ll tell

And what a great story!

A story good enough to sell!

Things started a bit rocky back in June

Cancer they said, could it be true?

Would you have to change your life so soon?

Would you have to start marching to a different tune?

No need to be glum your sister said

Let’s celebrate life, let’s paint the town red!

She had an idea to spread joy to others

It would take lots of work and plenty of druthers!

So take charge you did and what a blast!

We’ll recap it right here, we’ll make it real fast

Sixteen weeks of chemo

Wow that’s a lot!

A different theme each treatment,

Every week a new plot

A beach party started it all—what a hoot!

In good ole’ Texas style you gave cancer the boot!

There were pirates and princesses and clowns

Even the fun of Mardi Gras came to town

You had two parties, a birthday and garden tea

And did everyone have fun at the fiesta? Si! Si!

You decked out in red in support of our Cardinal birds

And had a safari with hats, but thankfully no elephant herds!

You took a bite out of cancer at the Halloween party

Your friend sent kimonos and fans for a Chinese soiree

Who could forget the luau with fruity drinks and lei’s?

And to finish it all off? Of course it was Pajama Days!

In the midst of it all, you organized a collection

Can you imagine their surprise when they saw the selection?

Over 400 jammies for kids in need

What an amazing person you are, what an awesome deed!

Your spirit was contagious, you helped others heal

You met interesting people, their stories so real

You touched so many lives in your own special way

Mike Bush even did your feature on KSDK!

Next stop was surgery to remove that stubborn lump

Just a kink in the chain, in the road a small bump

Recovery was tough, but you were a champ

With friends and family, life continued like a smoothly run camp

When the results came back with a spot on a lymph node

Would that get you down? Nope! Just another curve in the road

So what was up next, where was the next detour?

A chance to become a Super Radiator!

Once again you astounded us all with your spunk

When you’re around, happiness and joy are a slam dunk!

You saw it as 33 days to spread cheer

And encouraged others to do nice things far and near

Finally the month ended at long last

And you can now say cancer treatments are a thing of the past!

Now that part of your journey is over

I bet you feel like Horton after he found that special clover!

But we are the ones who gained the most

It’s all because of you that we throw up this toast!

You taught us how to look at our life

You showed us how to see good in strife

We learned from you that each day is a gift

No need to get down, someone’s always there for a lift

Watching you, we appreciate everything more

Every day is a blessing, life has so much in store

You leaned on God and he took care of you

We see His face in all you do

We don’t always understand all His plans

You told us don’t worry, He’s the Man!

Your journey will come full circle at this year’s Komen race

You’ve led by example, you’ve shown only beauty and grace

They are honoring you as this year’s Team Leader, and we all think

There is no one more deserving to be wearing all Pink!

You are lots of things and all of them true!

A wonderful mother, wife and great friend through and through

You’ll have lots of labels as you go through life

From “Crazy Chemo Lady” to Emily and Mia’s mom and Jim’s wife

A preschool board member, past exec and minivan driver

But best of all, you can say…

I

AM

A

SURVIVOR

!!!!!

Old Navy Haul

I have been taking a close look at my summer wardrobe to figure out what I needed to shop for.  One thing I knew I HAD to have regardless of price, was shorts that fit, that I like and that won’t look like I am wearing a diaper by the end of the day.  Am I the only person with this problem?  I attribute much of the problem to sitting on my behind in a bag chair or bleachers for hours on end watching baseball.  All my shorts from last year are too big now (a blessing and a curse) so I was on the hunt.  Luckily, Old Navy seems to have come through for me.  I bought these in every color.  They may seem short, but I AM short, so they are perfect for me!  Hopefully they will hold up to the rigors of baseball watching!

I also hate to wear sleeves in the summer.  If I’m going to be outside…I’m going to be wanting some sun.  I bought this, but I think I’m going to take it back.  There is something a little grandma-ish to me. 

Now that I said, I don’t like sleeves in the summer, I show you this purchase!  This is for the rare times that I’m not actually at the ball fields.

Funny story….I tried the one below on first.  I loved the orange.  But when I tried it on, all I could see was a traffic cone.  I just really felt like a construction warning sign or something!  I’m not kidding.  I have found that when I put something on, if anything negative pops into my mind, I will fixate on it and never be comfortable wearing that article of clothing.

I have a bunch of other purchases that I am anxious to wear.  Here’s hoping for some warm weather!