Saturdays and cell phone pictures....

Saturdays.
You know they are my favorite day of the week.
But it's not until I'm back to work those first few weeks that I really appreciate them.
The first week back was a little rocky, the first weekend "off" wasn't much better. This past week had it's "bumps", but after being in my classroom for 12 days in a row, I was ready for this Saturday. (So were the mounds of dirty clothes in the laundry room....)
I posted on Facebook that I had one thing on my "to do list".....I never really have one thing on my "to do list", but I liked the way that sounded.....and it was to paint.
I've discovered that I play with paint because it helps me feel better.


I share my paintings cuz' I like to see the "from here to there", but not because I think they are good.
When I share my photography, I hope people think they are "good",
but I share paintings because they were fun to do.....

 Inspired by something I saw on Pinterest:

 Painting style inspired by artist Karrie Evenson (her blog link is listed on the right)

I call it, "the girls"

Doodling and stamping inspired by artist Christy Tomlinson, (her blog is listed on the right too).

I was getting ready to work on this owl that I started weeks ago, and found it interesting how I use my Nook for a resource of inspiration and thought how it was a sign of the times.....

before.....

after.... :o)

I took the above photos on my cell phone because it was handy, while downloading those I found a few more pics I meant to share:

McKenna officially has glasses now,

and of course they include her signature color of green!

And then, I found this photo,

I don't like to include photos of me, but I took this on the first day of school 2012....I don't know why we all were looking the same direction, but I thought it was an okay photo.....yes, I edited the teeth. I wish they were really that white (for all of us) but this is a whole lot cheaper!

Night, night ya'll, wayyyyyy past my bedtime.
Love,
Melle

First Day of School 2012!

I post this every year, and every year I'm just as surprised, overwhelmed, shocked, grateful, overjoyed and in awe......
I can't believe how much my little girls have grown!

 Andrea's 5th grade year and McKenna's PreK-3.....

 

McKenna's 5th grade year and Andrea's Senior Year!

I know I've had 13 years to get ready for this, but I just can't believe it is Andrea's Senior year!
I am just one proud momma!
Although her studies and lessons in school have always been a challenge, she is carrying a load that I never could have imagined. In my day, she's carrying a load that I thought only really, really smart kids did!! :o)
She still has her interest in Fine Arts (whoopwhoop), and has two hours of that, plus Anatomy and Physiology, Economics, British Literature, Pre-Calculus, Spanish II, PLUS Swim Team! :o)
So, so very proud of the young lady she has turned out to be.

It's been a rocky road this first week back, mostly for me, and the weekend was not much better. I still ended up at school both days.....hopefully the next week will be a little smoother.
The good Lord has me here, in this place, for a reason, I only hope I don't let Him down......or the 400 sweet little sweeties that come through my doorway every week.  (not to mention my own "babies")

Love to all,
Melle

....summer's eve.....

All is right with my little world again, and it's a good thing too because it is the eve of  the "First Day of School 2012-2013"!
How?
Well, lesson plans were done by lunchtime today so I then had time to tweak the long range plans and have all 37 weeks planned out, but mostly, because
I got to play with paint!
This summer, June got off to a great started with me checking things off of my "to do" list quiet rapidly.....but when July hit, it seemed as though nothing was going as planned.....that whole "one step forward two steps back" really seemed to fit.

We did visit a few art schools for Andrea;
We did get everyone to the dentist, some of us more than once;
We got some of us to the doctor and the rest of us have appointments;
Got some of us to the eye doctors and one even gets new glasses next week - McKenna picked out a pair with her favorite color green on them;
McKenna swam and swam, morning, almost noon, and night;
Andrea drove and drove morning, noon and almost night in driver's ed;
Scott and I traded spaces: man cave in garage and studio in old man cave;
If that's hard to follow, that's okay, just know our "spaces" must be the secret to our 20 year marriage we celebrated this summer.

McKenna starts middle school (5th for us),
and Andrea starts her Senior year.
I knew this day was coming, but I still find it hard to believe.

 Summer 2012, although you were a roller coaster ride, I am so grateful for my blessings!

PS
Inspired by this on Pinterest:

(I searched for original artist....couldn't find :o( )
I finished this little guy:

I'm certain my kinders can do this for Fire Safety Week :o)

Night night all.
Melle