Thank you Lord for a 3 day weekend!

From car breaking down on Friday and then again Saturday to starting a new personal project idea that was inspired by my mom and getting a lot done related to work, it's been a roller coaster type weekend, but oh so very, very grateful to have had the extra day off for the Labor Day Holiday!!!

Making the "all done" list:
 - a beautiful prom dress for Andrea...couldn't help it....only $39.99 (that's what it rung up AFTER I thought I got it for a steal at $79.99!).
-pretty little silver shoes for McKenna...she is in a wedding in two weeks (also picked up the headband to match - her purchase totaled more than Andrea's dress!).
-bought part of the wedding gift for the wedding that is still two weeks away (that's early for me!).
-Grandpa fixed the broken car
-worked in the classroom for about an hour and a half
-painted and crafted mostly classroom projects, but still felt good to get them done
-started a new dragon project for me (3 canvases) inspired by my mommy :o)
-groceries, all laundry and cooked a meal or two (well, with daughters helping)
-lesson plans done for another week
-classroom blog completely updated with a slideshow I really really like

Making the "not done yet" list
-grades

Thanks to a friend:
Thanks to Facebook:
Thanks to a friend who has "friended" be on Facebook:
And thanks to the internet, I have now found a website I love!
(okay, okay, another website I love, but that's not the point)

Enjoy the next 3 music videos from  http://thepianoguys.com/newstore/   The Piano Guys







 and then I'll say, "good-night John Boy".....sigh, does anyone even know what that means anymore............
Sweet dreams......
Melle

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

There's more?

Well, "Scott's Cold" ultimately knocked ALL of us on our backsides and changed plans for all of us; most notably our 20th anniversary in St.Augustine and a weekend visit with Aunt Sue :o(  all of which will be rescheduled, but still disappointing at the time.
However, in the last 24hrs. I must be feeling a little better 'cuz I mustarded up some energy for some more creative play. Well, truth be told, the standing to paint was still making me feel dizzy, so I got the idea to photograph the artwork and then play with it in PicMonkey.
(PicMonkey - I love! I've mentioned it before and you may be familiar but if not, it's an easy-peasy to use FREE online photo editing site....and they have just added new borders that i LOVE! click HERE to take you there)

So here's what I've done for now:

 

 

 

And so, now the question I keep asking myself is, "what to do with it?" Notecards are always safe for me, so I will probably send these off for prints and you might see them in a gift bag near you....{wink}!

So then I answer, "you don't have to do anything with it, it's just for fun".

Yes, I know.

But I still long to be original. 

The above ideas are right from the blog pages of my favorite gals, Christy Tomlinson (house), Karrie Evenson (cat) and Donna Downey (red flower).

I keep thinking that maybe these will be my learning years, like what I have my own students do and then after lots and lots of practice maybe I will be........successful at my own originality.

In the meantime, i am open to suggestions! :O)

Thought I'd share this original before editing.....just in case you thought it was all me....

after....

cool, ugh?

 

stay tuned!

Melle

What's this? Another post?

I know, I know.

It's not that I didn't want to post, I just didn't know where to start.....

Well, besides working on scanning and documenting family photos, the other thing that was consuming all of my free time away from blogging was me playing with paper and paint in the "studio"...(which is the garage space that has been temperarily reclaimed by Scott with his renewed interest in his model trains....this of which I am not disappointed at all; it keeps him home more; something I understand a little and that we can conversate about; and he's gotten Andrea involved in painting background scenary on the wall.....which has also temperarily consumed my creative space.....of which I'm not disappointed at all.....did I say that....and you shouldn't be either....see, it allows this time for catching up via these blog posts....while they are only temperarily in my space.............)

Sorry.

I digrese.

Okay, where was I?

Aw yes, through Pinterest I'm sure, I came across an artist who was painting in a style in which I like

and then I discovered she has posted many how to videos on YouTube. So I watched. and watched. and watched again when I ran out, I signed up for her online acrylic class. Her name is Karrie Evenson and if you click this link, it will take you to the page on her website where she has her artwork for sale (point: it's a super place to see her work).

So, I played:

Karrie does adorable cats and dogs. I have a long way to go, but since this was my first...I'll keep it and won't paint over it.....for now :o)

first, this.....

then this....

got to here.....

then finished here....

I don't think this one is done yet....but I'm not sure what else to add....

Well, the weather is beautiful today, I think I can even open the garage doors for a little while, Scott and Andrea are too sick with chest colds to be in my creative space and after this post I'm feeling a little inspired to go paint!

(Incidentally, I'm also found with some extra free time I wasn't planning on. Scott and I were planning to leave on a two day trip to a very fancy bed and breakfast in St. Augustine to celebrate our 20th, but as I mentioned, he is sick as a dog! I'm lucky too, because he is not one of the needy sick types...in fact, it's better I stay out of his way....I feel terrible that he is so sick....in fact, I'm sure I'll get it before it's all said and done....but for now...perhaps I'll go paint!)

I'll keep you posted.

Melle :o)

Well....it's about time!

I'm sure I've said it before....well, I've certainly thunk it before....when I fall this far behind on my blog posts, I ultimately put it off because I just don't know where to start in order to "catch up"....

So, yesterday was Daddy's Day and that seems as good a place as any :o)

I got to post this photo to Facebook yesterday:

and left this comment: "It may not have been God's plan to give me the daddy I always dreamed of, but I am very grateful I married the man I always dreamed my children would have for a father. Happy Father's Day - I love you so much!"   hmm,hmm pretty much says it all :o)
This photo was taken this past Saturday night at a friends 50th Wedding Anniversary and affirmation of vows. It was very nice and I'm glad we got to be there. Scott was asked to play his bagpipes, which was pretty cool.

The girls helped out with the dollar dance.

Other photos I found that I thought I'd post in honor of Father's Day are these:

Taken in The Villages at the International Music Festival in January of 2012

Taken in The Villages at Church on the Square Christmas of 2010

Taken while visiting daddy one day at work in Palatka (photo says 2006 - hope that's right!) WOW!

If you can detect a slight change in my tone while documenting my photos....you do know me well!

Part of my recent absence is because of my work with our family photos.

It's a two part project;

1. I have millions of photos saved on this computer, but they are barely organized.....I've spent a few hours on that this morning.....

2. I have this desperate yearning to scan old family photos and document their stories...a task I've attempeted before through scrapbooking, but alas it was taking so long, I'd never get it finished. So now, I've just jumped to the Publisher program in my computer and seem to be getting some of the task done. 

Here are some favorites from the past few days:

This is a photo of my Great-Grandfather. Our family name on my mother's side is "Ballif"; ain't it cool that he owned his own store? This was in Whithey, Idaho. Yes, I come from a strong line of Mormon background. No multiple wives, that we know of though. {wink} We even have street signs with the Ballif name on them in Salt Lake City, Utah!

And this is Scott when he was only a few weeks old. This is four generations of Broaderick men - so cool!

(Pictured r to l: Grandma Dorothy, Scott's Dad Charlie, his Great-grandfather Charles Calvin and his Grandfather Charles Grant)

And this photo, I forgot all about it and I just love it!

It was taken on my wedding day with my closest friends who stood with me, (Pamela Griggs Cunningham and SueAnne Feener Messieo). We were all putting on our mascara and Sue's son, my "nephew" Donnie was taking a peak - so sweet!

Speaking of our wedding day....I can't believe in two days, we celebrate of 20th anniversary - can't believe it! So grateful to be married to this man!

Okay, back to sorting photos, but stay tuned....'cuz if you've hung in with me this long....I promise, I'll post more :o)

Melle