Sunday, September 30, 2012

homecoming and 20 year reunion

This week was a busy one! It was homecoming, and all the festivities that accompany a small town homecoming. And it was also my 20 year class reunion.

Thursday night was the community pep rally and powder puff football game (senior girls vs. underclass girls). Bri and Allison both played but I only managed to get a picture of Bri.

IMG_2832

It doesn’t look like she got too physical during the game!

IMG955458

Friday night was the football game. Allison had a couple of fans come from out of town to watch her dance.

IMG_2835

Saturday morning Delaney and I went downtown to watch the homecoming parade. She scored big time when it came to candy!!

 IMG_2836 IMG_2838

And that candy must have given her all the energy she needed for her soccer game, because she was on fire. Which really just means she kicked the ball a few times. I was just glad I brought my camera for proof!

IMG_2843 IMG_2847 IMG_2850 IMG_2855 IMG_2861

After our busy morning, I went home, cooked lots of pasta, meatballs and chicken alfredo sauce and helped set up for our reunion. We had a great time.

IMG_2867 IMG_2880

These were some of my very best friends all through middle and high school.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

high school football

At last night’s football game, all three of my girls participated in the half-time show. The dance team sponsored a clinic for elementary girls, so Delaney got to dance with the big girls.

IMG_2502  IMG_2511 IMG_2513

Warming up before their performance.

IMG_2514 IMG_2517  IMG_2521IMG_2524 IMG_2525 IMG_2527 IMG_2528 IMG_2529 IMG_2533

Our football team didn’t win, but the halftime performers were winners all the way!!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

arrrrr matey

Did you know today is “Talk Like a Pirate Day”? Our school celebrated our monthly reading goal with Pirate Day activities.

Many of the teachers (and some of the students) dressed up. Sorry, no pictures, but I will tell you that I had an awesome (and quite uncomfortable) parrot on my shoulder along with my pirate garb.

The students in my class made a treasure map for their kindergarten reading buddies. They counted how many paces it would take to get to each destination and drew their map. Then they took their kindergarten friends on a treasure hunt. The kids got little trinkets (gum, a feather, a jewel) at each stopping place. Then they got a Pirate snack (snack mix) at the end.

IMAG1016

In the afternoon we went to 5 different stations:

1) Pirate Ship Races (scooter relay race)

2) Pirate Training which included  swabbing the deck (using a broom to move a beach ball around cones), walk the plank (balance beam), Peg Leg race (hop on one leg) and untie knots

3) Talk Like a Pirate (they learned sign language for pirate phrases)

4) Make Your Own Jolly Roger (flag)

IMAG1020

5) Make a Pirate Hat

IMAG1019

Here’s my pirate modeling his pirate hat (and pirate shirt!)

We had a great day!! The kids loved it and I think most of the teachers and staff did too!

Then after I got home from work, I found my own Pirate’s booty (that’s pirate talk for loot).

IMAG1021

This summer I entered a drawing at the Intel website for teachers. I submitted a response to the question “How has technology bridged the gap for students with special needs?” I used our experiences with Nate in my answer and my name was drawn as the winner. I was told I would receive a flip video camera and a mini tripod. The tripod arrived a few weeks later, but not the video camera. I emailed the contact person and he said I should have gotten the camera and he would look into it. Well, after 2 months or more went by, I had pretty much chalked it up as a loss. Then out of the blue last week I received a follow-up email and then another email stating that my prize had been shipped, along with some extra goodies as an apology for the glitch. So I got a waterproof case for the flip video and a $50 Amazon gift card!!! So exciting!!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

gymnastics

Delaney went to a birthday party last weekend at Funtastics (a gymnastics studio/birthday party venue). She had a blast and looked forward to going from the moment her invitation arrived in the mail.

IMG_2447 IMG_2449

Even the adults had a great time!!

IMG_2451 IMG_2452 IMG_2457 IMG_2458

Future gymnast?

IMG_2459 IMG_2461

Uh oh. Probably not going to be an Olympian!

IMG_2462 IMG_2464 IMG_2465 IMG_2467

IMG_2468 IMG_2469 IMG_2470 IMG_2471

Happy belated birthday, T. And thanks for the funtastic day!!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

apples

I love cooking (could be part of the issue with my recent weight gain!!) And two of my best friends when it comes to cooking are my crock-pot and Pinterest. I’ve been seeing lots of yummy fall recipe pins on Pinterest and I decided I really needed to try one of the crock-pot applesauce recipes.

Today was the perfect day. Chilly temps. Overcast sky.

And while we were at it, we had some fun with the apples.

 IMG_2483

Yes, I’m ready for fall. Not quite ready for Christmas, although it appears that somebody is!

IMG_2492

She built towers with the apples.

IMG_2495

Sorted them.

IMG_2493

Put them in pairs.

IMG_2497

And made patterns.

IMG_2487

And then she helped chop up the apples.

Here’s what you need if you want to try some crock-pot applesauce:

IMG_2480

I combined a couple of different recipes.

8-10 apples
2 T Brown Sugar
1 t cinnamon
1 t. lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 strip of lemon peel (I used a vegetable peeler)

IMG_2499

Cook on low for 6 hours. Yummy!