birthdays and miscellaneous....

September always seems to kick of our busy time of year, and then it quickly blends into Christmas - so hold on.....and here we go.......
Well, with Andrea off to collage, we aren't as busy with high school events, but with McKenna in the middle school, there still is some school spirit to share. Homecoming at the high school was already this Friday, so McKenna's school had 3 themed dress down days. Each day was carefully planned and accessorized over the weekend. For example, she crafted all three pairs of shoes,

And splatter painted in the studio,

The first one "Patriotic Day" (9-11 - yep, my birthday),

The second one "Super Hero Day", and Secret Agent Perry the Platypus 

(from Disney's Phinius and Ferb cartoon), is her favorite,

And the last day was "Spirit Day"!

It's been crazy busy at work with more than 475 Kindergarten or first grade students either creating their first painted paper collages or trying watercolor crayons for the first time! However, I still get to see the students for a full hour once a week and in my own beautiful classroom. So many of my fellow art teachers in this area can't say that anymore. 

Now that my birthday falls on a national day of mourning and with a husband who is a firefighter and 

bagpipe player,

we can be sure that he and his brothers will be honoring those who were lost on 9-11. So, we just moved my birthday to Friday the 13th instead!! (These photos are awful, but I give up.) We started with a traditional dinner at the Japanese Steakhouse, Kotobuki's,

Then we headed down to Orlando for the night and woke up and hit my favorite Disney Park, 

Animal Kingdom! 

We visited Pooh,

and Tigger, too!

And of course a visit with Simba and the Festival of the Lion King show!

And although it was really weird without Andrea with us, we finished the day with a delicious dinner at the Yak and Yeti! A favorite Asian restaurant there in the park.

 All in all, a very nice way to celebrate my 49th year on the planet! Still thinking about that tattoo to commemorate my youth....'cuz starting next year, I'll be VINTAGE!! LOL!

And finally, what you really might be reading this post for......an Andrea update!! :o)
The best I can tell, she is doing really well! There have many activities that she's participated in and an archaeology club, too that she says she likes a lot. She's won a VERY nice pair of headphones from the bookstore and a gift card to Target for 3rd place during gaming night on the Wii for Just Dance! She sent a photo of the "screen". I couldn't believe it!  

Scott, McKenna and I visited last weekend and I couldn't get over how amazing she looked, older and more confident. I still had to resist the urge to stay with her!  I just like it there so much and I hate missing out on making these memories with her. But I'm thrilled for her all at the same time; hard to describe. She says the classes are about the same as her classes in high school, so not too difficult yet, but none to easy either.
We'll bring her home for a visit closer to her birthday in October and you can bet it will include our traditional visit to Kotobuki's......'cuz this little girl of mine misses it!!

Andrea's

 first birthday at Koto's and her first kimono! 

Oh how I miss you sweetie, but we'll see you soon!!!

Moving-In Day!

Eurika!
My computer and Blogger have made up and are talking again!!
And good timing too, because in all the things I have attempted to blog about in the past few weeks, none are more blog-able than Andrea's move to college yesterday!!!
So here they are, a few photos and commentary:

"The Moving Crew"

I am certain we have many more friends and family who would have gladly helped us out yesterday and all we would have had to do was ask, 

but Aunt Debbie and Uncle John's "Flagler know how" were invaluable. (Their pick-up truck came in handy too!) Their daughter, our cousin Devin graduated from Flagler and she lived all four years there in the dorm. John knew exactly where to pull-up for unloading and knew exactly where the prime parking spots would be.

The love and support from Grandma and Grandpa, 

and from Aunt Lisa,

was also invaluable. It's a special kind of love that can either wait with your piles of belongings in the hot and steaming breezeway or to carry those belongings up the several flights of stairs! Andrea's room is on the second floor, but the first floor is called the lobby, so, in my mind, it's really like she's on the third floor!

A little history about the building: these photos are all taking in the courtyard at Flagler (pretty cool that it looks just like Hogwarts!). This was built by oil and railroad tycoon Henry Flagler 125 years ago. At that time he would bring his wife to Florida for her health and there wasn't a place to stay. His hotel was state of the art, with electricity throughout by Edison himself. The hotel was gifted to Flagler College in 1968, originally as a women's college, but became co-ed in 1971. The girls' dorms are the original hotel rooms (the boys and coed dorms are separate buildings). I find it especially fascinating that Flagler wanted his guest to have a different experience each time they visited the hotel, so each dorm room is unique. There are a few rooms that hold only one student, but some as many as six!

Andrea's room holds four girls and for now, their beds are bunked and she wanted the top one.

I just realized that their room doesn't have one of the cool (closed up of course) fireplaces, but it does have a really big window. Andrea wasted no time placing some of her prized photos in it. :o)

My camera just can't capture the beauty and grandeur of this place, although I still have hopes of coming one weekend to try, I thought this photo was kinda cool. As I mentioned, the bottom floor is the lobby, then the "1st floor" and Andrea's is the 2nd. Looking straight across you might be able to make out some steps. Her room is the room just to the left on the landing before the last set of steps (and boxes). 

The Parent Orientation meeting was filled with tips and advice for first year college parents,

but the underlying theme that came through loud and clear was, that as much as I may want to do things for her, (after all that's a parents' job), she is now ready and very capable of embarking on this new adventure on her own. 

So, go forth by first born child, make lots of unforgettable memories and know that I love you with every fiber of my being. Just please remember to call me, write me or text me to tell me all about your adventures!! :o)

....but I've tried.....

Well, my absence from the blog isn't due to neglect.....well, not completely.  I've had the darndest time get Blogger to work correctly. I've tried to trouble shoot this now for at least two weeks. It seems to be working now, so I'll keep going - keep your fingers crossed.  (I love when I told students that this week, that they still cross fingers literally....do you remember doing that as a child; crossing everything, fingers, legs, arms, everything!)

Catching Up....Part II

 Well, Andrea's graduation day ended with a party and a surprise gift from Grandma and Grandpa!

 Although, she still needs a little more practice, I'm sure she's going to really appreciate her scooter when she's off to college!

Thank you Grandpa!

But we weren't quite done celebrating yet....
One more treat from Grandma and Grandpa was fulfilling Andrea's wish of seeing The Blue Man Group!

It was a great show! And Andrea picked Bubba Gump's to eat at:

The following night, McKenna got to pick the restaurant (Pizza Hut, which we had a heck of a time finding) and she picked Putt-Putt as the activity.

 Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!!!

Even though McKenna made a-hole-in one, Grandpa and I tied for first place!

I know the above photo angle is a little odd, but Scott had to head home for work the next day, so our "photographer" was my camera's 10 second timer resting on my purse....I just wanted to be sure to include the waterfall and the pirate flag!! :o) By the way, that cute red-head next to me was "Aunt" Lisa...the girls are so glad she could join us to celebrate!

Our four weeks into summer break also means at least one of my youngin's back in the pool! Which I love!

 It was one of McKenna's good friends, Jillian and Miss Deb who got us to the Y (finally) and we really are enjoying it so far. McKenna even got signed up in time for a "meet" this past weekend, which was really.....

just a big ol' party!

Nite, nite for now ya'll.

Part III.....our return to "The Happiest Place on Earth".....

Catching Up: Part I

As my summer break winds down to only about 4 weeks left, I admit I already feel a panic about the "things" I haven't gotten done.
Why do I do that?
Why do WE do that?
Why don't we celebrate the "things" we have accomplished?

So, how about my return to blogging tonight be just that; a celebration of the last few weeks. They have passed quickly and I am grateful for this time to reflect!
The following video has been sitting in my Animoto queue waiting to be finished, and even though it obviously isn't done, I liked the way the photos fell and I decided to leave it the way it was.....enjoy.... (may I recommend you watch in "full screen", just click the rectangle in the bottom right hand corner)






On May 25, 2013 our first born, graduated from The Villages High School. Both family and friends were there to help us celebrate. Thank you family and friends!! Love you so much!!!

 Andrea's Aunt Sue, Uncle David and Cousin Donnie came up from Spring Hill. The day just wouldn't have been complete without them there!

 The day also wouldn't have been complete without two of my closest teacher friends who have literally watched Andrea grow from Kindergarten to graduation day!

 As is true for all of us, some of our high school friends will come and will go, I hope these sweet girls have a friendship that lasts a lifetime!

And my mom, so grateful that three generations could be together on this special day. I only hope we all still look this good in seven more years when it's McKenna's turn!

McKenna too, ended her school year with some major accomplishments. Her 5th grade awards night included a certificate for ALL "A" Honor Roll  (wow! just amazing to me!). Also, each teacher chooses one student out of the entire 5th grade as their "Shining Star" and McKenna received one in Spanish!

 By the way, I thought I'd include this; McKenna's first day of 5th grade and her last....there was a whole lotta growin' this year! She's pictured here with two more amazing teachers to add to her list.
 Thank you Mrs. Fort and Mrs. Canon for an amazing school year!

Most of the "family gang" were all there! So very, very grateful......

Okay, Part I of "Catching Up" has taken a very long time on this end, so, I won't promise, but please check back tomorrow for Part II..... ;O)
Love,
Melle

Summing up Spring Break 2013 and then some....

Even though we were sick this week and I didn't get to check off as many items from my "to do list", all in all, I feel good about the things I got accomplished. For one, a blog update is probably pretty shocking.
Hello, hello, anybody out there? {insert cricket chirps here}
Well if you are here, thank you, and I'll try to keep it informative if not a little entertaining!

One of the perks to being away from blogging and slideshow making at Animoto.com is the nice surprise of some new designs to the websites when I returned. So, so happy with this little new addition to Animoto -
enjoy....





I didn't want to leave McKenna out so I created this slideshow for her :o)
I didn't get to go on her 5th grade field trip to Animal Kingdom, but her chaperone, a professional photographer was almost the next best thing!



Now, getting sick, I might mention started with Andrea cutting her upper lip which resulted in 3 stitches (the first ever in my lifetime). About the time she was doing that, Daddy was down for the count with a stomach virus........and we all know what happens when one brings home "the virus". Andrea got it next and finally me. Thank goodness, looks like it skipped McKenna - whew! However, the fact that Andrea was so sick also kept her from finishing the tennis season. Which was really too bad. She was having a really good time and made the newspaper more than she has in the 9 years since we've been here!

But, I started to mention that I still managed to get some things accomplished.....two goals: one - plan Andrea's graduation party/announcements, etc. and two - fill out the financial aide paperwork......whew! Check.
Best of all, I did manage to put some paint to paper. Although it only in a journal and only watercolor, but it helps to put me in my "happy place". I find it relaxing and portable. I've got my supplies down to one little bag which worked out great while stuck in bed!
(Sorry for another animoto video....I got a little carried away.)
{**all the following drawings were inspired by other artists who have posted to Pinterest - none of these are ideas of my own**}



 never explained my absence from blogging.....
well, really, it was this year's yearbook. Even though I made several "creative compromises" near the end, I'm still happy with what I submitted. It truly was a labor or love because this one about put me under.
It was a western theme this year, which was a lot of fun but the website didn't have any pages that matched our theme. So, out of our 114 page book, I designed....well, about....110 of 'em!! Again, I want to stress how much I do really enjoy doing it, but "it" doesn't pay the bills and I really needed to focus on the job that does!!

The books arrive the 2nd week of May....the response from the students, parents and staff are always the true test.  In the meantime, imagine my shock when the wonderful gals I work with pulled together and surprised me (I mean, REALLY surprised me) with a beautiful necklace for all of my yearbook efforts.

Suddenly, things were "all better" after that. :o)

Alrighty then, it's Sunday night, just a little while before bedtime and work in the morning. Posting at this time was the usual routine. I'll try to stick with it and post next Sunday. I mean, don't stay here and wait for it, {cricket chirp, cricket chirp}, but there is always hope.

Love to all.
nite, nite.
Melle

The next BIG project....

Well, at work the New Year brings of course the yearbook and student art show deadlines for my "next big project".......
But personally, now with kid birthdays and the holidays behind us....what's next?
Here's a clue....

A certain young lady will be graduating from high school in only 5 months!
I just can't believe it.
and....
Well, I wrote my first check towards her college tuition today:

I LOVE Flagler College and am so excited about the possibilities that lay ahead for Andrea!

This picture from Google doesn't do it justice (I'll have to take some :o)), but this is the view just as you walk into the courtyard. It so reminds us of Hogwarts. McKenna likes to say "you can almost see Harry & Ron running by the balcony because they are late for class".

Originally the building was built in 1888 and was the Ponce deLeon Hotel built by the millionaire and co-founder of Standard Oil, Henry M. Flagler. Another tidbit: it was wired for electricity from the onset, supplied by Flagler's friend Thomas Edison himself!

This is a picture of the dining hall where all Freshman are required to live on campus and all Freshman are required to have a meal plan. From a mommy's point of view, that's alright by me!

This is a photo of one of the staircases that leads to the girl's dorms. (So like Hogwarts!) The girl's dorm rooms are on the inside. The boys dorms are a completely separate building. (also alright with this momma)

Stay turned everyone....it's gonna be a bumpy ride!  (Also from Harry Potter {wink, wink})
Love,
Melle