Stuff.....

Dare I say it?
So sorry for the absence.
Actually, not near as busy as I usually am, but just seem to run out of time and energy.
There is some "stuff" to catch up on; not sure where to start, so I'll just use a list.
Not in any particular order:

1. I never posted a follow-up to McKenna saving up her own money for the American Girl Doll named....."McKenna"!

McKenna saves up $109.00 (inc. s & h) of her own money

Well, it did arrive in less than a week and she was thrilled. I made a very short video, but oh so cute, enjoy.
(shhh, she said I could post a photo, but didn't want to me make a slideshow.....but it's so cute!!!)


 


2. THE YEARBOOKS ARE HERE!!!!!
13 boxes, over 650 books!
I can't show it to you yet, I have to wait for the "big reveal", which actually just means, I can't share them until the day they go home w/ students.....which I hope is Monday, May 14th.....
I am so happy they are here and aren't printed upside down - my greatest fear....
I did find a few "boo-boos" but I think they will be forgiven, 'cuz wait until you see!!!!
So, so pretty :O)!!!!!!

3. I've been working on some owls.

Teacher Appreciation Week is this coming week and I've been workin' on a few ideas.
Inspiration from the Pinterest website is no secret now (more on that in a minute ...hmm, those Pinterest project photos might have to wait until another post....), but I was hoping to take that inspiration this time and give it my own twist.
I like to give a little somethin' - somethin' each day of the week and lead up to the "biggie" on Friday.....
I made two owls, McKenna made two owls and here's the plan:

Monday - inside the tag says,
"Whoo is the highlight of my life? You are!"

Tuesday - inside of tag it says,
"Whoo deserves a break today? You do!"

 
Wednesday - inside of the tag it says,
"Whoo has the "write" stuff? You do!"

Thursday -  inside of the tag it says,
"Whoo keeps me "sharp" You do!"

Friday - "Thank you for making me a whole year wiser!"
Okay, so Friday's isn't actually ready yet.  This entire idea was inspired by a brown paper gift paper lunch bag decorate like an owl that says, "Thank you for making me a whole year wiser!"
One of the culminating gifts will be a set of four note cards, each w/ an owl from above.  
Click HERE for the link to the original idea.

4. Saw The Avengers twice this weekend!
Loved it.

5. I got to craft yesterday.
I hope to give a gift this week of a photo album, photo frame and a Shutterfly gift certificate (since we can't give film anymore). I wanted a tag w/ a camera on it.
Saw this IDEA on Junelle Jacobson's blog, so I created this

I cropped it down to just one for the tag.

I admit, I kick up the color saturation and contrast on the new photo editing site I found Picmonkey, which I like very much.

Okay, between dinner and laundry tonight, this post has taken a few hours to create.....
But it's a post.....
Three weeks of school left w/ students.....
Wow, so much to do......
Wow, I know it will pass quickly.....
I will try not to keep you waiting for the next update......
TRY! :o)

Melle

Just finished a book for my teammates and shutterfly says I can post it here....
No way!!!!!!
That is awesome.
Enjoy this sneak peak you "Special" Ladies!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly allows you to customize your photo book just the way you want.

Stellar week for McKenna!

It was a good week for McKenna; and not bad for this pretty proud momma either!
She has been working hard and practicing her speech for the Tropicana Speech Contest for weeks now. Her topic was about Mr. Disney and the Magic Kingdom. It was a precious speech and it got her 3rd place in her classroom competition. Wow! I could not have talked in front of my classmates like that when I was 10 years old!!

Then, also for weeks now, McKenna has been saving up her money for this year's American Girl Doll. This doll is an important one for so many reasons, but mostly because it is a "McKenna" too!

We deposited her money this week and placed the order online. It should arrive by the end of the week. I'll be sure to post the update. :o)

Well, I didn't want to let this post go with out a shout-out for my other beautiful, talented and amazing daughter {wink}.....
So while enjoying some creative time this weekend at SHE Scrapbooks, a friend mentions Picmonkey as website for photo editing.....well, I love it! I can't wait to play w/ some photos this summer, but I couldn't resist just one photo. This is from a series taken of Andrea this swim season; photos I've been meaning to post.....I didn't take them, by the by, wish I had! Awesome!

And while feeling creative from my time on Saturday, I was inspired by yet another post on Pinterest. I (and some good friends) are hoping that our school goes w/ a western reading theme next year. I found this sample from an art teacher ( mrspicassosartroom.blogspot.com ) who just finished a Wild West Themed Unit.  I took the idea and played.....

McKenna helped me with the final touches - I love that!

I so know my students can do this!

FCAT this week for McKenna, I know she's got this!
Keep you posted,
Love Melle

March Madness!

Well, I had always heard this past month referred to as "March Madness" and was vaguely familiar that it had something to do with basketball, I think.....
But for me, "March Madness" has a whole new meaning, unique and personal, referring to the schedule I've had over the past few weeks.
Now, a younger person might roll their eyes at my complaining,
and many other mothers might dismiss my whining with a quick, "that ain't nothin",
but for me, for ME, this past month, just about killed me!

It started with me meeting the yearbook deadline.

That's me, submitting the very last page of this year's 104 page yearbook.
Notice the clutter; the remains of sticky notes; container of peanut butter M & M's.....
This year, M & M candy company sent me a thank you letter,
This summer, hopefully Weight Watchers will too.....
My girls hoot-n-hollered to have their mommy back;
I just started to throw-up and cry and smile all at the same time.

We celebrated that night, but by the next day, sights HAD to be set on the student art show.....

This year I was even further behind then usual which meant hundreds of people helping me matte, label and hang....okay, I exaggerate just a little, but it did take the help of some wonderful volunteers, friends and family members to get it all done - next year, Melle Broaderick you better take those student photos by November!!

Some new favorites this year include,

 Hidden Mickey in watercolor by Kindergarten;

 Hidden Mickey in tempera by First Grade;

Lions in tempera and crayon by First Grade;

and Birds on a Wire by Kindergarten.
All the above totally inspired by the new-ish Pinterest website craze.
With results like this, I figure my addiction is justified.

Then, with no time to breathe, as soon as the art show was up, I truly left a parent still in my classroom hanging up Lions, my mom McKenna and I were on our way to Salt Lake City for the weekend. My mom had a HWA (Horror Writer's Association) conference to attend, w/ two of her poetry collections up for a Stoker award!
The slideshow that follows is quickly put together and McKenna took most of the photos, but it's still a fun little summary of our really short trip.



We arrived home safely, thank you God, but now the week ahead brought the biggest Arts in the Park event our school had ever seen! Two nights of sidewalk chalk, storytelling, Spanish dances, art show and song.
(There is a video on my webpage on our school website, I'm just not aloud to post it here.)
The weather cooperated and both nights were wonderful.

After set-up, Andrea worked the chalk station,

and McKenna passed out programs.

Without their help, the event would not have run as smoothly as it did.
Thank you Girls. Mommy loves you!

And so,
all that.
Oh with tennis matches; tennis districts which left school at 5:50 a.m.; AB Honor Roll report cards; and 70 Thank You cards for our Community Volunteers.....

after all that, I can honestly say, I am so grateful for this glorious three day Easter weekend.

McKenna still left the Easter Bunny some carrots and a glass of water,

Thankfully he still came, leaving DVD's, art supplies and lots and lots of candy!

With my new found free time, this weekend I have been to the movies with my hubby and played video games with my kids.
I did think I should probably put away the rest of the Christmas decorations, but I have to leave myself something to do next weekend, right?

If you are still reading this, thank you for hangin' in there and I'll try not to make it so long in between posts!!

Love to all.
Peace and blessing,
Melle

"Melle, you've just submitted the yearbook and you've hung (w/ a lot of help) the student art show, what are you gonna do next?"
"Well, why not fly to Salt Lake City for the weekend!"

 You can take the girl out of the mountain; but she sure is happy when she gets to come back!

I sure like seeing my youngest in the mountains too!

We are here to celebrate my mom's (Nana's) nomination for not one but two Baum Stoker Awards!

This was just before breakfast this morning....you can see that McKenna found the Build-a-Bear Workshop in no time!

....and where I am today.....

Well,
I am still in front of a computer working on yearbook, but now I'm down to only the laptop.
And, because it's the laptop, it is portable which means, it is out in the studio, so I am in the studio! 
The weather has been PERFECT for it and the garage door has been open letting in all that glorious light and Spring air! (Yes, I have one of those screens across the front of my garage for those who didn't know, otherwise, I'd be sharing this glorious Spring weather with all of our  not so glorious  Florida bugs!)

So, while I wait for yearbook pages to load, I am cutting, and cutting....
Next to accomplish this week are 70 thank you cards for our community volunteers.
I thought of the "Our Hearts Leap for You" theme because I knew we'd already done frogs at the beginning of the school year to go w/ our Reading Rainforest theme.....

Well, the powers that be, dropped the "heart" part, which I'm just as glad because I didn't really want to figure out how to make a heart shaped lily pad, however, they have taken off w/ the frog part. The other art teachers will make other decor. I just get the cards....hmmm wonder how that happened {wink}!
And so, I picked about 6 different little froggies :O); the students will sign the lily pad part that says "thank you"; and they will lay flat for storage, but fold up and stay in place with a paperclip....this is the prototype.....only 69 more to go!


So where I am today......is in the classroom for a little while. My mom will be kidnapped this morning in order to help me begin matting the art pieces for the student art show - yippee!

Then back here for more....yearbook and cards.....

I can't believe in a week, the yearbook will be all turned in....
I can't believe in two weeks the student art show will be hung up....
I can't believe at the end of the two weeks, Nana, McKenna and I will fly to SLC for the weekend (go Nana!) (oh, did I not mention THAT yet....more to come {wink})
I can't believe in three weeks, I will get to enjoy the week long event that has grown bigger than ever this year that will include all special area departments, better known as "Arts in the Park"....
And I can't believe in four weeks, I will be on the downhill slide to summer!!!!!!!!!

OMG! I am filled w/ emotion.
crazy.

Love to all.
Melle

Where I am today....

okay, the title might be a little misleading (would I do that)...
It's not really a literal "where I am today",
it's more of a mental "where I am today",
so caution, you might not want to read; the following might only be intended for mature audiences people who are really bored and need to find something else to do! {teehee}


 I can't believe when I last posted, I left you w/ a hint of what I was working on for McKenna's teachers' Valentine gifts.....

Well, they weren't exactly how I'd like to have done them, but I was still happy enough with the end results: a mason jar filled with Hershey's "Hugs and Kisses". Certainly not an original idea. I've done the hugs and kisses for Valentine's several different ways  over the years. The stamp is from Stampin' Up (years ago).

But I saw this "hug" idea on Pinterest, and it was a twist I had never seen before.

I wish I could give credit to the original site, but it was before I knew much about Pinterest.

In an ideal world, I would have filled the jar completely with Hershey kisses, but with 10 jars to fill, I just couldn't afford it!  So, I used filler, but I had to make my own with some paper scraps I've been saving and my paper shredder - *light bulb* we should market a shredder that has adjustable widths; just sayin'.

The little bling ring, I think was my idea. :O)

Okay, STUDIO

Well, it's been clean before;

and it's been messy.

(circa Christmas 2009)

However, since returning to school in August and several birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's and 6 months of neglect, the studio was a mess again...

(circa Saturday)

Thanks to a day and a half of p&p  (putting away and purging)....

the studio is reclaimed again!

(thank you Lord for Spring Break)

Okay, I've still got that pile in the foreground and there is some "stuff" to the left of the photo, BUT, I can see the floor, sit in chairs and work at the table. {happy, happy dance}

and finally,

"where I am"

"where have I been"

HERE.

YEARBOOK.

("its not only a job, it's an adventure")

(it's not only fun, it's all consuming!)

This is exactly where I have been every Saturday or Sunday (sometimes both) for about the last 6 weeks.

That's two computers in the photo.

(Never mind the clutter in background, shish.)

I'm hoping today's 10 hour block will be just about the last one.

and so, with blog updated, here I go

send help if you don't here from me on Facebook

Melle :O)