Saturday R and R

"R and R" means "Really, Really tired" which is why I needed some Rest and Relaxation!
Yesterday, as I told my mom, we 3 girls were hermits.

Hermit - as defined by:
1. A person who has withdrawn from society and lives a solitary existence; a recluse.

Not to be confused with Herman's Hermits the British rock band from the 60's, of which who have a website for their adoring fans. You can click here to visit it.

Also not to be confused with Kermit the frog....it was not a typo....click here if you'd like to see the trailer for their newest movie set to come out in December.

By Friday I was so exhausted that I even canceled hair appointments for McKenna and I. All I wanted to do was order pizza and tackle the stack of Netflix videos that had piled up on my dresser. Of course the ripple effects of canceling hair appointments will be felt for weeks.

So Saturday, we did nothing.
So, if you called me.....
If you emailed me.....
If you knocked at my door....
I am so very sorry that I didn't respond.

Today, we started to assimilate into society again, so by tomorrow we'll be ready to hit the road in full speed. None too soon either as it promises to be another long week with late nights. McKenna's Open House is Monday, Tuesday is mine and Andrea's swim team has their first meet on Thursday. However, the 3 day weekend is on the horizon....and Friday is jeans day.....that makes it all worth while :o).

Just two more things to mention before I close and finish those grades I need to enter....
Procrastinate?
Who me?
Nope.
You know me better.
No, you don't need to bring up the post I wrote a few months ago (okay, it was exactly a year ago...that's weird).....are you sure I wrote something about being a Master Procrastinator?
No, you really don't need to go HERE to remind me!

On Saturday, I did do lots, I means loads and loads of laundry and I did finally get to play in the studio. It had been FOUR weeks since I sat in there. I was going through withdrawal!
(I didn't actually draw the flowers....plz! Those are stamps, but I did paint w/ watercolor and acrylic. It is extremely relaxing for me.)

These will eventually look something like this:

And most of you know, but I am so psyched that The Lion King is being re-released in theaters for two weeks in September!!!! It'll be in 3D....that's cool, but not as cool as getting to see The Lion King on the big screen again.


I can't wait!

Have a great week ya'll.
Love,
Melle

Bustin' a button!

This momma is so stinkin' proud, I can hardly take it!
Today, August 15, 2011.....first day of school.

Did ya see it?
Andrea sportin' her new Fine Arts Academy uniform shirt and McKenna sportin' a Safety Patrol Belt (on the first day of school.....hmm, hmm).
Andrea has only one more "first day of school";
McKenna still has 8 more.
Thank you, God. ;o)

I don't know why I do this to myself every year....but let's reflect together, shall we?
Ready?
This was Andrea's first year at The Villages Charter School:

It was the year 2003 and she was in the 3rd grade.

This was McKenna's first day at The Villages Charter School:

It was the year 2005; McKenna was starting PreK - 3 and Andrea was starting 5th grade.

If you squint your eyes and blink 3 times like me, you can almost still see those sweet little girls inside of these two lovely young ladies. Go ahead - squint! Pleeze, for my sake. Tell me my sweet little girls are still in there somewhere.

And this was just last year......

MOMENTS before Andrea's new backpack strap broke and McKenna's giant bottle of hand sanitizer's pump nozzle shattered into pieces.....

Yes, indeedie.....this year was off to a much better start.
Amen.

It's {almost} summertime!!!!!

It's that glorious time of year when the girls are all done and I have just a few work days left.....school's out and let summertime begin!

(quick note: I clearly have fallen right into this "got nothin' else to do" state of mind, 'cuz I have spent hours and hours trying to redesign the blog. I've spent hours looking for photos to create a new banner and can't find them. ARGH! Frustrating. I hope I don't piddle away the rest of my summer like this.)

My grandpa liked tell the story of the first time I said grace at a table of some, apparently very important people. He would say that he was so proud when I was done, that when he sat up he "popped a button right off of his shirt".

Well, I don't remember that moment that way, I was scared to death and certainly don't remember any flying buttons!

But as a parent I can relate to feeling so very, very proud of her young-ins this week that I could just burst!

Our high school only invites underclassmen to awards ceremonies if they are receiving an award...fortunately this is Andrea's second year of high school and her second award. Last year she received an award from her science teacher. This year, an award from her art teacher! Scott had to work, but he was quick to text back "fixed, rigged" when I texted him the news! :0) teehee.

(Sorry, this pic was taken on my cell phone, but I like the blur....sort of expresses the excitement in the room.)

Grandma and Grandpa could be there and we are grateful.
That was Monday night.
Thursday was McKenna's awards, of which every student gets something, but oh my little one; she got some biggies...

Citizenship all year; A/B Honor Roll all year; Principal's List all year and Perfect Attendance!

Watch out, buttons might fly!

Grandpa had to work this time, but daddy could be there and we are grateful.

However, the girls weren't quite done with their accolades; Andrea won a candy bar wrapper design contest and came home with a gift card for $15 to our local ice cream store. McKenna comes home with not one but two letters. The first one is inviting her to participate in a new Video Production Club and her second letter was from the Rotary Club letting her know that they have awarded her with a $50 savings bond for her Principal's List and Perfect Attendance!
And finally, on Florida's FCAT testing, we know Andrea received a 5 in writing (6 is the highest possible score) and we are still very anxiously waiting for Andrea's reading and math scores. In the meantime, we do know that McKenna received a 4 in Reading and a 5 in math. (5 is the highest possible score.)

On the last day, McKenna took one final gift to her classroom teacher Mrs. Rohn and one to her aftercare teacher, who was phenomenal, Mrs. Spencer. We filled a summer beach pale with sunscreen, flip-flops, a magazine, a cool new cup to drink from, some favorite candy and a Beach Boys CD. I thought they turned out cute.

And so, on this long Memorial weekend, I have crafted some, slept some and blogged some. We swim tomorrow and hopefully begin to look like a Floridian instead of an Eskimo with my white skin!
Have a wonderful Holiday everyone.
And here's to one wonderful summer with you!!!!!!!
Love Melle