tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247071687328036512024-02-06T19:04:27.666-08:00Retirement CountdownA journey through the last year of a long teaching career.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-44011886205030478032011-06-24T05:13:00.000-07:002011-06-24T05:13:25.077-07:00The End/BeginningHello Friends,<br />
This blog has come to its natural end...but not to worry, I have started a new one for the next big adventure in my life. It is called HomeBuilding Countdown. Here's the address:<br />
<a href="http://donna-homebuildingcountdown.blogspot.com/">http://donna-homebuildingcountdown.blogspot.com/</a><br />
I sure hope you will join me in this next journey. I have so much enjoyed your encouragement and comments as I worked through my last year of teaching. Really.<br />
Thanks.<br />
DonnaDonnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-60979586594531781972011-06-20T13:26:00.000-07:002011-06-20T13:28:23.042-07:00Retirement Party: part 2-The PhotosHere we go...<br />
The morning started with free Zumba for everyone in honor of Samantha and I...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4RwfEGlC_N_aHna2syqNXUUkL9Xi-albDiRDd1M0hrHLQMlUvn-7gj3BB_h2lHVn5OEF7IJeUZVEetmrxiVaUOC1USqthxqBcwZOfLdZ0LZVZbjwWLhQtjdhanrql1WRn3UepiHH3Gk/s1600/DSCN2243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4RwfEGlC_N_aHna2syqNXUUkL9Xi-albDiRDd1M0hrHLQMlUvn-7gj3BB_h2lHVn5OEF7IJeUZVEetmrxiVaUOC1USqthxqBcwZOfLdZ0LZVZbjwWLhQtjdhanrql1WRn3UepiHH3Gk/s320/DSCN2243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes. The one in the middle is the instructor! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(and the author of my retirement poem...you did read it, right?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Then on to decorating. It's a party. Must have balloons...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtfTb2Cbcha7O8l8Le1jq_uBd5zIPFNXvs2v4plWhXo1vJp1I-6-x5sqXuRTTg5gV_TKJfrWnzHhMEF6CCI5GiJd-5QubKsCuWu9z9NjG_FFDFH-wjBg9UuUw6PlVvTHX3qTA7kGmavs/s1600/DSCN2244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtfTb2Cbcha7O8l8Le1jq_uBd5zIPFNXvs2v4plWhXo1vJp1I-6-x5sqXuRTTg5gV_TKJfrWnzHhMEF6CCI5GiJd-5QubKsCuWu9z9NjG_FFDFH-wjBg9UuUw6PlVvTHX3qTA7kGmavs/s320/DSCN2244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here they are escaping out of my car...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwp39oeCja62RdcRM9Ig6yP7sqOX_QUBfa3hEcORanG4UOScvlHwC3kWRYzRdGnfku2ZXgqAr92ZVcey00Mz53io9F9L6fkNTcTPO-hky0ot4NS9cbQa4oyzDpRu_xJ0B79eBac1OnqA/s1600/DSCN2245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwp39oeCja62RdcRM9Ig6yP7sqOX_QUBfa3hEcORanG4UOScvlHwC3kWRYzRdGnfku2ZXgqAr92ZVcey00Mz53io9F9L6fkNTcTPO-hky0ot4NS9cbQa4oyzDpRu_xJ0B79eBac1OnqA/s320/DSCN2245.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Safely grasped!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhj9Y9wRQ6Da5q5hiMW9Z_lQbU6txz-OhUo7fwKQZUmHpI9jjypZGe79AZRrP0v4l32tCiP8BDdTfGfFF060pFNCRQ2bY26m8WS9espykgP_-LMFsJ1Xat98aQzcnR45qz2xlCNx-Ew8/s1600/DSCN2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhj9Y9wRQ6Da5q5hiMW9Z_lQbU6txz-OhUo7fwKQZUmHpI9jjypZGe79AZRrP0v4l32tCiP8BDdTfGfFF060pFNCRQ2bY26m8WS9espykgP_-LMFsJ1Xat98aQzcnR45qz2xlCNx-Ew8/s320/DSCN2271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And tied to the fence to lead the way in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The building in the back used to be the BOE building, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and both of us were hired in that building...full circle!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaJW-T2dYWO0g93MwWJuP5KXj68TdBFzunFRWyqWEB-0ZtcszU9BPQne-7cUkmDrX2-UfM9L0-FgdjWzK7gWkEuG7bmi-XRqlg3xeW5VyqrmQM4_4hyphenhyphenL3UvM5ZcDkDDrgr0Nmf_mJr_w/s1600/DSCN2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaJW-T2dYWO0g93MwWJuP5KXj68TdBFzunFRWyqWEB-0ZtcszU9BPQne-7cUkmDrX2-UfM9L0-FgdjWzK7gWkEuG7bmi-XRqlg3xeW5VyqrmQM4_4hyphenhyphenL3UvM5ZcDkDDrgr0Nmf_mJr_w/s320/DSCN2283.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went with a Metamorphosis theme and monarch butterflies are the ones that we raised each fall in our classroom. These butterflies were to write us a note and hang on the tree. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tree has been part of our classroom for many many years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndRBF0ORRwvSaTSoaeyLOwMUfP_80LQ-aafnLkbU-wz54kaDlt13lNVHH8K-kg2_dLx1d8Y-O9VmO9p_4DvVoKixXTxG7p_h3h-ehGQu8Tc60111z2p_k2S68TOLxuA2vn_q5qJyhAaA/s1600/DSCN2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndRBF0ORRwvSaTSoaeyLOwMUfP_80LQ-aafnLkbU-wz54kaDlt13lNVHH8K-kg2_dLx1d8Y-O9VmO9p_4DvVoKixXTxG7p_h3h-ehGQu8Tc60111z2p_k2S68TOLxuA2vn_q5qJyhAaA/s320/DSCN2278.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We decorated it each season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we took it back to school after the party on Saturday, it got put in the main hallway. By the time I got there Monday morning it was gone...trash. sigh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe just as well, because I would have had trouble throwing it away myself...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErbwKnNPGd40wLoDXCKXFaK3CaK54up-l0ljRJpGSgvU5Gv9kQnkfySbCDqCIxRQ6WBPphJ9Q912vrnJ7iSCIoG6L9KmF712urYuOxEIKDztfkqryoR1nS1nBk3lsHao4ZH7Fi6yM5kY/s1600/DSCN2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErbwKnNPGd40wLoDXCKXFaK3CaK54up-l0ljRJpGSgvU5Gv9kQnkfySbCDqCIxRQ6WBPphJ9Q912vrnJ7iSCIoG6L9KmF712urYuOxEIKDztfkqryoR1nS1nBk3lsHao4ZH7Fi6yM5kY/s320/DSCN2282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These were the directions we left on every table </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and most were followed very nicely!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfRLV9WnhOJCmwCm7-84ZEH0cZ4cuq8o549cHHTPPi4V5ctutF2H2rJJbRO4ozNCL9RhtJAOamZz5vW1g_iNaj-cd7lS3YBL5a8SX1D8XDwQeFXq2cM3fJsnOsdSgHvhSpKbw9SNXchw/s1600/DSCN2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfRLV9WnhOJCmwCm7-84ZEH0cZ4cuq8o549cHHTPPi4V5ctutF2H2rJJbRO4ozNCL9RhtJAOamZz5vW1g_iNaj-cd7lS3YBL5a8SX1D8XDwQeFXq2cM3fJsnOsdSgHvhSpKbw9SNXchw/s320/DSCN2242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amy brought cupcakes. Connie and I made cupcake toppers that looked as good as the cupcakes tasted...if I do say so my own self. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Need any for a party????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxw54Bk2s_PpRRW2HQblR9Sink2rZg5x3nG33jUIpOqYLl1y1lBbEskiKXKdiEX0kU0J5lQCZBMecZvz-zan5fDDh6X1wa6AHH1x9W-wWCsComefPDbsJ-Bwd9nrHhG2CN9sFmb6EFcE/s1600/DSCN2256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxw54Bk2s_PpRRW2HQblR9Sink2rZg5x3nG33jUIpOqYLl1y1lBbEskiKXKdiEX0kU0J5lQCZBMecZvz-zan5fDDh6X1wa6AHH1x9W-wWCsComefPDbsJ-Bwd9nrHhG2CN9sFmb6EFcE/s320/DSCN2256.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQiLJ53Q9-y4VstTkNfUdpK-HUVZp7209hvYH0qZOKs3VtBi2yqhk9hMVPM4cPlWSSh2azJB15ZVP4CtPPUsFsb4uC0_hu7DFT_KKAf67G6Naqu-OTcDXWnJuKdrZm9eMVygT-eIf-CI/s1600/DSCN2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQiLJ53Q9-y4VstTkNfUdpK-HUVZp7209hvYH0qZOKs3VtBi2yqhk9hMVPM4cPlWSSh2azJB15ZVP4CtPPUsFsb4uC0_hu7DFT_KKAf67G6Naqu-OTcDXWnJuKdrZm9eMVygT-eIf-CI/s320/DSCN2276.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoYMbOtcYxqgftlGFd_pPbhq3FodNLFO4obp5M6p5HvcFIxZvHBjgoZpfwxq8RTraWPbtTt4vzdwIzjJuCAUQfEFP93BuZkaxmHS_amqJ1_9hnkMUhTiufyphhf3U7ubZ05vS9DOnsCs/s1600/DSCN2260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoYMbOtcYxqgftlGFd_pPbhq3FodNLFO4obp5M6p5HvcFIxZvHBjgoZpfwxq8RTraWPbtTt4vzdwIzjJuCAUQfEFP93BuZkaxmHS_amqJ1_9hnkMUhTiufyphhf3U7ubZ05vS9DOnsCs/s320/DSCN2260.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got milkweed seeds to pass out to everyone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They had this note from us about our career in helping all those little ones "become"....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For our entire careers, we have believed in, encouraged and witnessed the power and magic of transformation. We have seen many 'caterpillars' turn into butterfles!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Plant these seeds, each of you, to encourage others </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">to BECOME all that they are meant to be. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Think of us when you see a monarch..."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZVp22nLJw4vGPybB71m5N0b3xtiG0fqq3JBPPtqeDZGcT75ybs3M__euzDKjp36U3E64WvO067ohgmoQCogSRHBTAQUBMyS3-Jn9R9et5-0MaOsd773hV7tFb2-w1MZIYB5yrwSx0bM/s1600/DSCN2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZVp22nLJw4vGPybB71m5N0b3xtiG0fqq3JBPPtqeDZGcT75ybs3M__euzDKjp36U3E64WvO067ohgmoQCogSRHBTAQUBMyS3-Jn9R9et5-0MaOsd773hV7tFb2-w1MZIYB5yrwSx0bM/s320/DSCN2259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, we both took a great school picture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good thing, since there won't be any more of those.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsWc5FDU30KEHC1OZnu_-Kwoaj1J2yFYf2jVoXQl8Dum7p_qOoW5C7xH1ERXOcnfjNWW-h0AMmYHl4WVm-ECijw5pVJHSLKideCib-3XK404E0jf5zlJxUiTcdAXqV_yA7v6fUOa28bY/s1600/DSCN2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsWc5FDU30KEHC1OZnu_-Kwoaj1J2yFYf2jVoXQl8Dum7p_qOoW5C7xH1ERXOcnfjNWW-h0AMmYHl4WVm-ECijw5pVJHSLKideCib-3XK404E0jf5zlJxUiTcdAXqV_yA7v6fUOa28bY/s320/DSCN2277.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful magnolia's from Claudia's own yard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_TmTlLrAxlSN3Oqc1tiBYIMyl8y-UwQruw7wG3jWs7lA3QQhOcy7SHsF1YYqwZr7Her14zQ9YKlzf-0BUPSiMw7_2jI6ocaMX1tDTBGk_XbuuncDLNR88DqCwXtwxd36-9kSJfINw3Q/s1600/DSCN2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_TmTlLrAxlSN3Oqc1tiBYIMyl8y-UwQruw7wG3jWs7lA3QQhOcy7SHsF1YYqwZr7Her14zQ9YKlzf-0BUPSiMw7_2jI6ocaMX1tDTBGk_XbuuncDLNR88DqCwXtwxd36-9kSJfINw3Q/s320/DSCN2272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of my most favorite "big kids" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">who could have been anywhere on a Saturday, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but came to see us...awwww.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLSpXQDLOcIicFRMNwApTx7cxgKp-nXY2CBCPHqu4c33eQ7ddx8ZwsX68NcfU74quW5IS0KybR6g-FDFIol1fzx9MhTcG-3dxSnGx_wj_-qgRbnc9Tt3NEeckEUB6sp2atHf9PmADBPo/s1600/DSCN2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLSpXQDLOcIicFRMNwApTx7cxgKp-nXY2CBCPHqu4c33eQ7ddx8ZwsX68NcfU74quW5IS0KybR6g-FDFIol1fzx9MhTcG-3dxSnGx_wj_-qgRbnc9Tt3NEeckEUB6sp2atHf9PmADBPo/s320/DSCN2273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My most favorite teacher to be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel good about leaving things in the hands of upcoming teachers like Jen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and you can get a glimpse, over our shoulders, of the slide show that Connie put together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And always remember:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bKS3yD7WYHll_YT4q7xf4B4hYLFw4866U_VblMRCk0dOQXp0FwyhJjF5i7R9-pBKorbPmblWPXXvb7_pHLLMD10V-2hpHpTsZ7mCPvLxmisbJyvCvWkbQLEXgJ_kHKifjJzYSSkvknE/s1600/DSCN2248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bKS3yD7WYHll_YT4q7xf4B4hYLFw4866U_VblMRCk0dOQXp0FwyhJjF5i7R9-pBKorbPmblWPXXvb7_pHLLMD10V-2hpHpTsZ7mCPvLxmisbJyvCvWkbQLEXgJ_kHKifjJzYSSkvknE/s320/DSCN2248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this, I believe, is the end of this blog. Thanks for joining me in the joyful journey! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up....Home Building Countdown! Is that really retirement?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love, Donna</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-79703312742297096282011-06-15T05:52:00.000-07:002011-06-16T16:09:56.494-07:00Another GraduationI'm off to Charlotte today to see my sweet niece, Chelsea, graduate from the Arts Institute. She has worked hard for this and I am so proud of her. She requested a woolie...doesn't that warm an Auntie's heart? Here she is...the woolie, not Chelsea!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAV_7RyMGeSj0SGm6E2IEDtLf4MxN6SEGr8L0rgmLwHerDy25Fd9K4TO5hes2lfA0yd1UQAYlVRywyEwujTaFHlgxhSd251-7vIIgCI1QovcAT8A0a2cBkXByQ9UdxO0PHomWHKQuASU/s1600/DSCN2285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAV_7RyMGeSj0SGm6E2IEDtLf4MxN6SEGr8L0rgmLwHerDy25Fd9K4TO5hes2lfA0yd1UQAYlVRywyEwujTaFHlgxhSd251-7vIIgCI1QovcAT8A0a2cBkXByQ9UdxO0PHomWHKQuASU/s320/DSCN2285.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cap and gown are scrapbook thingies.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_3Y5rgbkxJ8hdw9TMlVtcrp0SlI7_wOy1varxib6Nb_mN-YaAIKDbRaoYxY2mBb4FEP4KIes6FoqIH4vvHisIMModZjdWPJlrgehtfzEnNcYEEssp_7AHjg6-uIswH7tqn1eu_-sKak/s1600/DSCN2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_3Y5rgbkxJ8hdw9TMlVtcrp0SlI7_wOy1varxib6Nb_mN-YaAIKDbRaoYxY2mBb4FEP4KIes6FoqIH4vvHisIMModZjdWPJlrgehtfzEnNcYEEssp_7AHjg6-uIswH7tqn1eu_-sKak/s320/DSCN2287.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's a happy face!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXVf_kf2_gbrBx4icEz5xqa6YM-yXrei5ElFVvRzxaD3aKsF-ahYvFGdNNAY3kZL3U_vaJXaTFmhdP4Lcklag320quGqqPiEQpG2f0NDU2T7ZpRWTgP6CO3Z36BTdtAGK0gTCwZm0QNU/s1600/DSCN2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXVf_kf2_gbrBx4icEz5xqa6YM-yXrei5ElFVvRzxaD3aKsF-ahYvFGdNNAY3kZL3U_vaJXaTFmhdP4Lcklag320quGqqPiEQpG2f0NDU2T7ZpRWTgP6CO3Z36BTdtAGK0gTCwZm0QNU/s320/DSCN2288.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yikes. You can see things up this close....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdo95n7DKVkkdCOkORoqNMs-yS0EgekJvQqeCBER8-TQ86o6mGhjTbuPHCSix3GwI8SfxIkXD0r6t3hj2yZ6LpOqUNL_KQx_TFkJ-iohSVjRf02vS4I5SUNgXTcpZyzBmj2etNR1Puss/s1600/DSCN2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdo95n7DKVkkdCOkORoqNMs-yS0EgekJvQqeCBER8-TQ86o6mGhjTbuPHCSix3GwI8SfxIkXD0r6t3hj2yZ6LpOqUNL_KQx_TFkJ-iohSVjRf02vS4I5SUNgXTcpZyzBmj2etNR1Puss/s320/DSCN2289.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here she is matted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She will go in an 11x14 black frame,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but I can't get a picture of that with the glass in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">Hope she likes her.</div><div align="left">And knows how much I love her.</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-50839191061902743892011-06-14T07:00:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:52:56.185-07:00Gift of WordsFrom my good friend, Karyn, whose daughter, was in my class this year and who is a strong woman of faith and an English teacher...so, she gets it. She really gets it and I cry, still, each time I read this. Amazed, yet again.<br />
Get your towel ready for some sweating eyes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The classroom is empty and silent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The remnants of the day are scattered throughout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Children are gone, but the work remains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">straightening,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">collecting,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">disinfecting,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">praying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It's an unlikely mission field.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For years she has toiled here</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Carefully preparing and repairing little hearts and minds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Too soon hardened by this world</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Planting seeds of love and knowledge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Watering with compassion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Inspiring growth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Feeding with truth and patience</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Protecting these tiny sprouts from the predators of doubt and neglect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For a season they are hers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Prior to sending them out to nourish a world that is starving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A lifetime of harvests she has reaped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Surveying the field one final time she wonders...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She does not fear their future without her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">She knows she has prepared them well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As she turns the lights off in the room one last time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Her children, far too numerous to count,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">rise, and call her BLESSED.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Gotta go get my towel. </span>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-34417178479866914012011-06-11T19:41:00.000-07:002011-06-11T19:41:16.287-07:00Retirement Party:part 1I am sitting here so very humbled and amazed. <br />
People came to the party.<br />
The smiles were plentiful.<br />
The hugs warm.<br />
The wishes for happiness even warmer.<br />
The food was great.<br />
<br />
I loved seeing so many friends. <br />
I loved seeing a group of my college age kids sitting together and remembering...and laughing at the photos of themselves as tiny ones.<br />
I loved the affirmations of a job well done.<br />
I loved when Greyson, as serious as could be, said, "You're really retiring? But, I am going to miss you." <br />
Then my eyes started to sweat!<br />
<br />
I read the sweetest notes on the butterflies that they hung on our tree...<br />
-You are a good drawer...like a artist.<br />
-I miss you. I love you.<br />
-I'm so glad I was in your class. Good jod, Mrs. Lohr<br />
-I loved this class all the time.<br />
Dang sweaty eyes!<br />
<br />
The butterfly notes from the college kids were just as sweet and quite a bit longer. They didn't have to come. They didn't have to tell me I made a difference. <br />
One of the darlings brought a picture of us from her kindergarten days, still in the little frame we made for it. I had a matching one on the photo board!<br />
One of the other little darlings...well, actually quite large darlings with facial hair and a girl friend, but still adorable, came up to me as he was leaving and said as he opened his arms. "I'm only doing this once!" <br />
<br />
I am tired.<br />
I am happy.<br />
I made a difference.<br />
<br />
I still have gifts to open.<br />
<br />
There were so many pictures taken, but I am too tired to do that bit now...can you wait? Please.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-14744695606299333012011-06-09T14:36:00.000-07:002011-06-09T14:53:12.851-07:00Packing a CareerSo, it has been a long couple of days trying to pack up my teaching career. I have been touching all my stuff and thinking and remembering...and deciding if it stays or goes with me.<br />
What? Why would it go with me you ask....<br />
It's my stuff. I have used it and loved it and seen kids learn with it and have fun.<br />
Who else will it be important to? Everyone has their own way...not as good as my way, of course, but still - oh, just kidding! I absolutely cannot stand the idea of my good stuff getting tossed. Can't stand it at all. So, I am packing.<br />
Also, I might like to teach a college course or help with homeschoolers somehow or give it all to my neice who says she is going to be a teacher or if all else fails, get it packaged prettily and sell it to someone else who will love and use it...and I can go places...Slovenia, Utah...fun places.<br />
Who else will love the shiny colors and round circles? Who else will want to see the joy in kid's faces as they put them over their eyes to see the world in new colors or when they double them up to make new colors...what happy dicoveries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Cw9Yxj6m2BREDFniMwbQfSmUVD2_Q6OFiS7bO1qA1QZ8bj4TivcNV2fUeNggqNK8h7jfMdCB705sWk02Af-m7PIaOftWOPyVr7W9ZBByf6e543j5e7XjvNMsJjY4avaxPP3aBVu6hQ/s1600/DSCN2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Cw9Yxj6m2BREDFniMwbQfSmUVD2_Q6OFiS7bO1qA1QZ8bj4TivcNV2fUeNggqNK8h7jfMdCB705sWk02Af-m7PIaOftWOPyVr7W9ZBByf6e543j5e7XjvNMsJjY4avaxPP3aBVu6hQ/s320/DSCN2233.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Who else will see the world of possibilities in a tin of used crayons? And boy oh boy, do I wish you could smell the smell when I open that huge tin. As powerful as the mimeo smell. Different entirely, but just as powerful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjG4Igw_eDZ4an1NOvY-RmqnOmcHTkq0jpP5y_dq-dWktQ2fomSH9pfHGNJKFRwUAN9aQ7TSYtyJIHhXPnXuEVgIodCe-JxbEZveIaseK0KMbAuKrSWum1iVSTcc1sPhMGc6d4xBLch9M/s1600/DSCN2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjG4Igw_eDZ4an1NOvY-RmqnOmcHTkq0jpP5y_dq-dWktQ2fomSH9pfHGNJKFRwUAN9aQ7TSYtyJIHhXPnXuEVgIodCe-JxbEZveIaseK0KMbAuKrSWum1iVSTcc1sPhMGc6d4xBLch9M/s320/DSCN2232.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I am making progress. Don't you love how it always looks worse first? The stacks are books that have my name in them...LOVE kids books. Can't leave them behind. Can't. And this is just one of the sections of stacks...yikes. :-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK0TOjcRgd6RO-H-TJuphyJQeivBD-avAwSax1rKSLxZPw8VGdo1cGlozs6BO7IPP91erKaAqf0DC1bl5C2rHtd9gXKNoqJnnXfsRVsajeSymsTLv2Zw7fjkf8-AIgsA5PTY2HTIm3ec/s1600/DSCN2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK0TOjcRgd6RO-H-TJuphyJQeivBD-avAwSax1rKSLxZPw8VGdo1cGlozs6BO7IPP91erKaAqf0DC1bl5C2rHtd9gXKNoqJnnXfsRVsajeSymsTLv2Zw7fjkf8-AIgsA5PTY2HTIm3ec/s320/DSCN2230.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Did find these lovely stacking boxes that are sturdy and see through. Of course they aren't quite wide enough for two books...I'm thinking I need some smaller ones so I can have "collections"...yes. That's the ticket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA34cEJBNILgGMALMxCyfQ_9AbMaWq9MU7qkcAZDaX7pODJrBDJ6LF3SWhf6jkQaIPDEt5W0eYGmz4OiVzOdCaYyXsGeMj84Etlm_GGE6S_g1brX_V5XHe-ekc4T95DLM6vU2Oj4f0I5g/s1600/DSCN2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA34cEJBNILgGMALMxCyfQ_9AbMaWq9MU7qkcAZDaX7pODJrBDJ6LF3SWhf6jkQaIPDEt5W0eYGmz4OiVzOdCaYyXsGeMj84Etlm_GGE6S_g1brX_V5XHe-ekc4T95DLM6vU2Oj4f0I5g/s320/DSCN2235.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>And then there's the other stuff that doesn't stack all that well. Sigh.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_mhY5RZ-qH7FJ7ehyphenhyphenB9YxPnNdLTs5WADZtyr9ZOgAYE8jeI0O4CcDFsIv3MYTT6s7hHijn4E4XpsdjPjyQ6oTT32p02TffSl709FnnM9WzFsCvjeVnIOoAcIBhzoyucefCXMyrT_AXo/s1600/DSCN2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_mhY5RZ-qH7FJ7ehyphenhyphenB9YxPnNdLTs5WADZtyr9ZOgAYE8jeI0O4CcDFsIv3MYTT6s7hHijn4E4XpsdjPjyQ6oTT32p02TffSl709FnnM9WzFsCvjeVnIOoAcIBhzoyucefCXMyrT_AXo/s320/DSCN2231.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>And, OH, the stuff you find...spiders (yes, I know he only has six legs, but I could not squeeze another pipe cleaner in the bead hole, but he is still awfully cute) AND ... well, the hair! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxjflds46VxnEhL2neUpPi30COfn59DRxN5r_lVtxRkgp-9cpa9Reh5v2RljYe76jeL6MinSEPEFprF7dxtDvrUoqHMtt-L4QHeRDsTl8FEVBpvjYSCTDemHpAiVMB6NI_0jeD-cPW6U/s1600/DSCN2236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxjflds46VxnEhL2neUpPi30COfn59DRxN5r_lVtxRkgp-9cpa9Reh5v2RljYe76jeL6MinSEPEFprF7dxtDvrUoqHMtt-L4QHeRDsTl8FEVBpvjYSCTDemHpAiVMB6NI_0jeD-cPW6U/s320/DSCN2236.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerDqyuMycHOgNWbdXePnINQrGwUmikPVno_ka1hIdmp-ElueZmalTpbzQ3AlHtavYcZbDpzsBG3jI0SX2Xs-bjrvwI3gcbWUzneLSZvgn5O8Kb7mWjh-NnKYRFZDDKiScGVeF8elj9xI/s1600/DSCN2237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerDqyuMycHOgNWbdXePnINQrGwUmikPVno_ka1hIdmp-ElueZmalTpbzQ3AlHtavYcZbDpzsBG3jI0SX2Xs-bjrvwI3gcbWUzneLSZvgn5O8Kb7mWjh-NnKYRFZDDKiScGVeF8elj9xI/s320/DSCN2237.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I am going to work on being that skinny again, though...<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">So, I am not done with the packing and perhaps I will show you the completed look in a couple of days. Got a party to decorate for and attend first!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Interesting that new beginnings are always attached to endings....interesting and full.</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-47214593185434722862011-06-07T15:48:00.000-07:002011-06-08T15:20:07.598-07:00Zero Days LeftI have never been emotional about the last day of school really. I figure I have spent the entire year getting them ready to go on to first grade with confidence. If they leave me smiling and feeling on top of the world then I have done my job well.<br />
Today, they left smiling, happy and ready to take on first grade.<br />
<br />
There were a couple of moments...mothers saying thank-you almost always does me in.<br />
One of our wonderful 5th grade teachers has her kids write thank you cards to all the teachers that they believe have helped them get to where they are...ready to go to middle school...and then they take a Victory Lap around the school and deliver their cards. I got 3 from her students that I had in Kindergarten!<br />
One of my little ones who will be going into 3rd grade next year gave me a card and wanted to know how we are going to stay in touch now. We were in the same hallway this year and had hugs aplenty. I found her and assured her that we would find a way.<br />
<br />
Yesterday the kids got to pick all the things they wanted to do today and it was my job to find a way to fit them all into the day! We created from the scrap box (hardly anything is more fun than cutting, gluing, coloring pieces of paper left over from old projects...it's fun to hear them remember what the paper was used for originally), had bubbles and races outside, painted (I almost never get the paints out, but they did a great job), made BIG pictures on BIG paper(they remembered the 9' tall Scakagrall we had made at Halloween), had a picnic snack, sang favorite songs and packed all of their stuff. It is an indication that they don't really get "it" about the end of the year when they ask, "Why are we taking our art boxes home?"...<br />
They wore home the sailor hats they wore the first day of school and were astonished that they fit!<br />
Here are some photos of the day:<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615932667630355474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKHCpM7pHPWmQl0hGdMNAUoFErNitdHkrl-B7N-FMu9xfHAL-kFKbIVf4d3wfUVfi2of4K5D4yWoomgJdW4_1mzpd-61PV1utxvnlqKL6UfdrKnicytuFk63aMRXN92E0VNFggI5pY4I/s320/IMG_1443.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> Some wonderful "scrap" art...an ocean mural!<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615911686044602290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVWBryZt07ACvN-t63SFWNSaozVyDIi6uZg5gGacIyXzpEf07_mtteimm1Y-mWdVJohz31rCl20gJuiAP2pvgxM7Rq-s-UifBAGF5NIrQt2V6i2QqDtzFyIZcgIonmPdGz5_ufTgwA38/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Good toss and good catch....(as we show them how it is supposed to be done)<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615911688878405234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzFhXhLU4LzEObwSV24TiyJ01DCXn7TBQNAJteT7UNyiDmUbQMWzvr6a53li7oGxnhA2xmh9AC19_Ykma0tGVG7HSi8IWMEG5vvCptBMo1YNhXV5YBE5D0kKFUEn41tQwJop1NiTDgME/s320/IMG_1348.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> Bad toss and wet feet!<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615682032340826562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMSUrmVF0bw4EbAhtVXQfZpMOfbVVA-EPqY1o1YG4Bz068Frfb1a2AsH0q9iSOmzFYXMy9woKymiN6KvWU4E6O3T7ER3w1Clcm4x1PpSZW85aWZ0J7SJomk7jzxhxKb7bpv-HB-R3Fd8/s320/IMG_1374.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
Flying frogs or gorillas....<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615682037682871186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblhNW6PxYVdPtZGSJA7MzrBCRDYZPLsU9jDdZioR9i7LgJ8xgx9zHnSmDAZ9xCav-Bug0G4Mam4_uF5uG_uXVTPrDAbVDvk_b93ee-AnuLGi-CzQp6Uy37OSUcoOh17Oym7TZK6LK6h4/s320/IMG_1383.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615927410262805266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6_WCnPDp3q399CIMgGvX3r_qFzFsDnkagTC6aIxbYjXydALiebF5gDb17GhO0sNjojWn2DbHF-6_Fce-4ucR_2WEQM_iGuKIMz6cGuY5uSVLg3Xya4FzVdswwIsVdgIBVp4PIbuWkyI/s320/IMG_1419.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><br />
Bubble magic!<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615904027326696274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoGU-LuIa6ExO9bldEoy-hnoDAhzQcDFfJGutVYDlDXHOwd9jieV4CWxMNyl61SZZQG1jksX1x37tGZCapVMrPrnOHGJ8X6RaC_TntXEH9MvfZkCN07HEs_yN2Kzpwato1aCLHhHXylo/s320/IMG_1394.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615682048855486162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Pu9SqKGJ77R-qg5-Y2kZnpAi4y_QVJR4Awgqsss8VvIEDm4U4-B4VjPQ9X20bVLrfNXD66ZqGDg019Gv6FAnpcNfQalp7zd7ZMLPu4bevJJJc2i0ZZDPcTQn7JIoe12GcZaAs4VJLxo/s320/IMG_1388.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615918455207681234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve9RdIFIaDnKueziiaaBPgsxsAzf1YZSi3gokU_pNE9kGvuF8FPImVKeCT1h8l35Zs2PGGL1HPD4gB_2glEwQNPhPOynspqlPyEIEABBgeNgzqmQxFHwi_Vv12kHWzzeeXTtxOYPJgmU/s320/IMG_1361.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
Coconut race. And then it was lunchtime.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615948102825768658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPS8M0YQgJaRnWx8m-Ji9z0CKLgWElDw-L7nfstErZg-pyVsBDUqEIGz1bWGPXrX5-nI0Ym4cG4PIgKK4aRxuac9SzduXO2vz3XtpE2jMbwqmb4bA4TMPjV7ye4-8reQP0LIaITjEyCfU/s320/IMG_1336.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />There was a lovely salad, but this cake...oh.my.goodness. One of our colleagues provided lunch and the cake! Yummy.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615944824469517330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnTz2JT2a8RlugsC_APeV3mzdBBRjVSot-j08C9Jnk68cSt3c1kf6oiWdoYJn4TGg0Ywf_CUHDZNY9-0A__bBBPhfb_WlkFsRAyIBONgFgRxGJoQ9u8qUorq0kbDTLGrZD7j9vgdd7po/s320/IMG_1451.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615944828438612738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3n3xWllF8MC-NChH5N1MwQyf4bJ1lTQCc0FRwkBj7dOckGUjOYo50inayeooJm0d54rN85fx9Bxe5ZnT8WZlE9VljfDVwCAiSCiaTDbg_KS7J7tiPspueU2TM1CIQ7nwwvWddG45f_I/s320/IMG_1454.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
BIG paper pictures. Me and my monsters.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615937064326896578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbfuVOGEBmktYfvjdPgfZ66Dv7T2t1Dye4LPGZHbAFuyyklxg_EkzgCzCq6dit-Gmdbs5XB_Xmfwyc5Yc1JEd34B4DTAAs6qDS-KaX6r9z5Pk5a58-hf2EPgtq3Q-5dWeFBsqKYOmQ4M/s320/IMG_1452.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><br />
And painting. Look at that concentration.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615932662961741090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcrehbjIuaICMdtvq1uJymrkyRn_7XYlNA2NZbeTChhKMvGDNA1o9Pw4wRnWeo5XTeCNf5WOR3XiRUGyH9SeQHAryZ_x-nlL3OmxcvU8mZ8p2M8tzj5-dCc9_Ufu0-l3lywn5CW7AU1Q/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" />Remember when I said that if they leave happy and confident then I have done my job well...<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615948092724491058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukC1N5eZtl54cMwhzbXjy1QITCFc9nT7b9BP0R6dh3uB7lhpyT_daKdIG5YEktYlXjg9nKtFx_S7fF63Mnh-hhAo2t_ZF-Sdg2Cx1hbsowqxwAKuZ8W4gw_4Vw4OHdpKlAasKMbmitDU/s320/IMG_1468.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615677580220197282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl-8EvDVvo9Vf8_ghjR1WRq4ivSzo8NqUhR1eRMm1zv5LBeDPwAhBL_xZF-vz36klChQNKaQdXLeTqilRIDolOrLe-A94CLBu5msMjB92WkVf6i0MkKulx3uV3CIeTjm2j1N8WmBDVp0/s320/IMG_1350.JPG" style="display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
...job well done!<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615951131629238818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjS48dfjV84-cgMrb1qP97NIeTGR93NX1_ecdw-pxmEKaMMB7YpixAuyZ09-4rGcdjktpa9W8Q46Cxfol_sv0XqufaaYP676LYcSfcpH6xzPn1i51sZQrLAkNDWhmmM7DFEVrs6-Fckk/s320/IMG_1492.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" />It ended well.<br />
All that is left is paperwork, packing and the PARTY!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-48105102539612336172011-06-06T17:15:00.000-07:002011-06-06T17:15:48.113-07:001 Day Left: Treasure Bags and an AwardFor the last several years I have given the kids a treasure bag to be stored where they store their other treasures. When you team teach and have aides, it is rare to have time alone with your kids. This is a time that I plan just for us...me and the kids. <br />
Inside the little treasure bag is a paper that says:<br />
In this bag you will find a ROCK to remind you how hard you worked this year. You will find a FEATHER to remind you to fly high to reach your dreams. There are two small STARS to remind you to always be the best you can be....shine your light for all to see. The HEART is to remind you how very much I love you. Take care of yourself and each other (share the cookies) and never foget that I will ALWAYS be here for you. Love, Mrs. Lohr.<br />
I pick their name stick for the last time, write I love you on the back and they get to pick a treasure bag and take their stick home... the stick that has gotten them chosen all year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuLRsd_nQT2E59WodyRPCKloRg2yYv9wgqUth550llIxgeUUPttEuRteUgSN7gy4Aop6N799hu0yyvsYWwCNSPiTwDi6ZVZ4wMywikepJYiXFOD5ToOrPBzJ5vRXN8XSzZR7rWazlYmM/s1600/DSCN2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuLRsd_nQT2E59WodyRPCKloRg2yYv9wgqUth550llIxgeUUPttEuRteUgSN7gy4Aop6N799hu0yyvsYWwCNSPiTwDi6ZVZ4wMywikepJYiXFOD5ToOrPBzJ5vRXN8XSzZR7rWazlYmM/s320/DSCN2210.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM8r278gcAvLuJAizBzdk_s_nOS2sBAdz_ZaC5oHSQBec2LZZMAx8nWWIRekpiewxhx6xw3uszQ8fL3rPWAG7ToYVPpkhFh0OTNb8FbJxVXJa8onPapG6raMW85AsM8xGegQK-Zvgn6c/s1600/DSCN2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM8r278gcAvLuJAizBzdk_s_nOS2sBAdz_ZaC5oHSQBec2LZZMAx8nWWIRekpiewxhx6xw3uszQ8fL3rPWAG7ToYVPpkhFh0OTNb8FbJxVXJa8onPapG6raMW85AsM8xGegQK-Zvgn6c/s320/DSCN2211.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr6jgc8JyYs6w0-U443bsOtljOyz8jAsT7eDd0whafwkJlfimU0e9NgZ2DZwYLt6j_YWZTWniSPfc_5GHwH7ki7Bk_rMjqA65Y4O6heSUwrdWm65cMVrx-uHjZvY9VTIDCCvN0EMp1sY/s1600/DSCN2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr6jgc8JyYs6w0-U443bsOtljOyz8jAsT7eDd0whafwkJlfimU0e9NgZ2DZwYLt6j_YWZTWniSPfc_5GHwH7ki7Bk_rMjqA65Y4O6heSUwrdWm65cMVrx-uHjZvY9VTIDCCvN0EMp1sY/s320/DSCN2213.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7__wBTRZZMdbH6DsZ7nr8ux7G_2rsqkxkvjtTGzS5tJixH8ohqMPqac05xSZHn479nUIgG-UK5c89jruvsqX1_TW6FBCcRzD28VBYO2UhJ1sSCRW3tXZnNHB4j6qNw02tt6a2WWDjO0/s1600/DSCN2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7__wBTRZZMdbH6DsZ7nr8ux7G_2rsqkxkvjtTGzS5tJixH8ohqMPqac05xSZHn479nUIgG-UK5c89jruvsqX1_TW6FBCcRzD28VBYO2UhJ1sSCRW3tXZnNHB4j6qNw02tt6a2WWDjO0/s320/DSCN2214.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The note was written on the back of this yummy paper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little Red Riding Hood was taking chocolate chop cookies to her grandma.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">They were quiet and purposeful with this. Each took it to put in a safe place in their backpack.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Today was also Awards Day. Each year, each teacher gets to choose one student to receive the Merit Student Award. It is not for academic or athletic excellence. It is for effort and progress and good faith. I love giving this award to a deserving student each year. Here is the essay I wrote for this year:</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">My merit student has made a total and dramatic tranformation this year. From a child who had to be carried into the school crying to one who comes willingly by himself and with joy most days. From a child who could not deal with any frustration to one who can laugh his way back to happy these days. From a child who would not socialize with adults or peers to one who tells some of the worse jokes in the world and enjoys them so much himself that you can't help but giggle with him. From a child who couldn't really read or write to one who is right on level and learning more each day...</div><div align="left">From dark into light...</div><div align="left">From sad into happy...</div><div align="left">From there to here....</div><div align="left">Congratulations, with love, to Wyatt!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIpFXV1MfyaYl5lw33Wn5f6jkynWpXlhfIs437y5Hk0ODZJqY_tDR5RwoC_QWl45X6ADfhdQqqEFAh8b5V9TlUihPPWGkfY8iRBrY7wz-UTJ4Zc-zqk-lwQ7EzfVeWhlH-KKGRA9VTYg/s1600/DSCN2226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIpFXV1MfyaYl5lw33Wn5f6jkynWpXlhfIs437y5Hk0ODZJqY_tDR5RwoC_QWl45X6ADfhdQqqEFAh8b5V9TlUihPPWGkfY8iRBrY7wz-UTJ4Zc-zqk-lwQ7EzfVeWhlH-KKGRA9VTYg/s320/DSCN2226.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK. So, I was crying while our guidance counselor was reading this. The guidance counselor was choking up, my photographer was crying....</div>And now that you have dried your few little tears let me tell you a little bit more. While the essay was being read, I was watching Wyatt. Immediately when he heard the part about the worst jokes in the world he pointed to himself. He knew it was about him and the grin began. When they said his name he jumped up and came to claim his prize. As we sat through the rest of the program he clasped his medal between his hands and the grin continued. The classmates sitting around him congratulated him and were happy for him. They know how much he grew this year. Need another tissue?<br />
<br />
Now, for the rest of the story. Wyatt's mom called this evening to tell this story. When she picked Wyatt up from daycare, she asked if he showed them his award. He hadn't because I told him not to get it out until he got home. She said he could show it so he got it out and showed them. When they asked why he got the award he just smiled. His mom told him to tell them why he got the award. He grinned big and said, "Because I tell the worst jokes in the world!"<br />
<br />
Oh. My. Goodness.<br />
<br />
That ranks right up there with this:<br />
When we were making the clay creations on the Luau day, one of the girls wanted to make a Hawaii biscuit. What?? You know...the flower of Hawaii...the Hawaii biscuit. Oh, you mean the hibiscus? Yeah, the hibiscuit.<br />
<br />
And they had a little party after school for those of us who are retiring from KES this year...good cake, good punch, good friends and some hilarious songs!<br />
<div align="left"></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-45376820458032193522011-06-04T17:17:00.000-07:002011-06-04T17:18:49.582-07:00Who Will I Be?I may have mentioned this in a previous blog, but I am still thinking about it, so it is worthy of a few more words.<br />
I have always told people, if they asked, well, probably sometimes even if they didn't ask, that teaching and being a teacher was not something I did, it was who I am.<br />
So, will that change now?<br />
Who will I be?<br />
Here's what I know today.<br />
I am an encourager. "You can do it...remember what I taught you."<br />
I am an organizer. "It is on the purple shelf, left side, half way down."<br />
I am a doer. "What is the problem?"<br />
I am a fixer. "You can do this..."<br />
I am a sharer. "Here, let me show you how I did that."<br />
I am, in the best sense of the word, a teacher. <br />
I am a learner.<br />
I am a loner....I know. How is that possible when I am also all of those other things?<br />
I am a child of God.<br />
<br />
I wonder if my husband will start telling me he is not one of my students when I start being bossy...ok, bossier.<br />
I wonder when I will stop saying "we" when I talk about Kingwood Elementary where I taught for all but 3 of my 33 years, and start saying "they"?<br />
I wonder what it will be like to not have at least a visual knowing of about 500 of the kids who live in my town?<br />
<br />
I am just now having the urge to sing a chorus of "Que Sera, Sera" Whatever will be, will be...<br />
I am a child of God.<br />
I will find my new place to serve.<br />
<br />
Right?Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-28324088530853427772011-06-03T16:36:00.000-07:002011-06-06T17:27:14.720-07:002 Days Left: The Loo-owYes, that is how many of them spelled it in their journals and I was happy to see how they were using what I had taught them and why isn't it spelled that way? And don't even get me started on words like eight, was, are....<br />
Sorry for the side track.<br />
Today the weather was perfect! Sunny and about 75 with a nice breeze. We started the day by learning a little hula dancing that even the boys did willingly. Just as well because I had a video clip of a master hula teacher who is a male!We divided into 4 groups and went about making merry....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kS2L0hAmhPYmmKGK5tSMnF_XCYulOhluL6pXZ6yU6b_O40w4lpJcXGPWUbtBE2FcYkfAClEHbZsvNFLX9F_8Up8UXJFw6By-h7U50krrLY8BmDGJvq3vbR5bpOCURzq9-2AgodHfjYA/s1600/DSCN2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kS2L0hAmhPYmmKGK5tSMnF_XCYulOhluL6pXZ6yU6b_O40w4lpJcXGPWUbtBE2FcYkfAClEHbZsvNFLX9F_8Up8UXJFw6By-h7U50krrLY8BmDGJvq3vbR5bpOCURzq9-2AgodHfjYA/s320/DSCN2168.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJst6jR4MrNFeG8qNQv54dHFehu9qai8MPILsPDZIZe8l0ShiUgIqg4Dab68mXryzGjFY70alzDQstrAJLBWA6ZL7MB4P7wui8xdLrqMDBX-QXWrcrtBWdcyHMA_mNBKCn6X2_dxaOA9w/s1600/DSCN2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJst6jR4MrNFeG8qNQv54dHFehu9qai8MPILsPDZIZe8l0ShiUgIqg4Dab68mXryzGjFY70alzDQstrAJLBWA6ZL7MB4P7wui8xdLrqMDBX-QXWrcrtBWdcyHMA_mNBKCn6X2_dxaOA9w/s320/DSCN2165.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little limbo...how low can you go????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrarEtcyeujpfeSRZ_l-X4MdGpvlY4oVXfEUgEBTo5s2SX6Cxj9s9Rf2h8mYd8VtXMIl3flhoLNBw3cRoDCvK__Sq1qHBk1oYBb278YgzmDhacmo2-doCSfnE5wJHyDuKrDgjbM_NtIxc/s1600/DSCN2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrarEtcyeujpfeSRZ_l-X4MdGpvlY4oVXfEUgEBTo5s2SX6Cxj9s9Rf2h8mYd8VtXMIl3flhoLNBw3cRoDCvK__Sq1qHBk1oYBb278YgzmDhacmo2-doCSfnE5wJHyDuKrDgjbM_NtIxc/s320/DSCN2169.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgZleoleqFV7k9Eph1EX9meq0RrllcfpXDStClxvXJnV_-XJRqZBLUgjrfJ6Gykns1ylYoQ2GsvmlVn9BOFDdw9HI_pyccEeLdNxhVg3pYVBBguFOihSlAjwIVHIhKWIruqOG5E3K9so/s1600/DSCN2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgZleoleqFV7k9Eph1EX9meq0RrllcfpXDStClxvXJnV_-XJRqZBLUgjrfJ6Gykns1ylYoQ2GsvmlVn9BOFDdw9HI_pyccEeLdNxhVg3pYVBBguFOihSlAjwIVHIhKWIruqOG5E3K9so/s320/DSCN2174.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7SAWbHtOCSfz7pglEM4D9Fc3GuItUtsS7pvFDTSFJ011KImvRiC9H_LhL9Lpv2ZtCFFb7kexOX6pICr4RjV7mMfmXVSN8_N_N0TyaiBt5uWUCX1ya-jZ3IrnVgoKTS8BUEDuN_dyEJc/s1600/DSCN2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7SAWbHtOCSfz7pglEM4D9Fc3GuItUtsS7pvFDTSFJ011KImvRiC9H_LhL9Lpv2ZtCFFb7kexOX6pICr4RjV7mMfmXVSN8_N_N0TyaiBt5uWUCX1ya-jZ3IrnVgoKTS8BUEDuN_dyEJc/s320/DSCN2175.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A litttle clay crafting...swim fishy, swim.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They have to dry and we will paint them on Monday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkE-zC4WWF14hvrwDSMXsS6PBun0Ue70gPb8pB1QafgIFo0F8UTOGUzJjRQk1Qn0TrXnJPOoDFjwtwh4daXeHsEXXb7PdwGkFKFfC4lufdyDsYo04X4V4t6wArtdm_jzdWd-d-fjMjx4/s1600/DSCN2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkE-zC4WWF14hvrwDSMXsS6PBun0Ue70gPb8pB1QafgIFo0F8UTOGUzJjRQk1Qn0TrXnJPOoDFjwtwh4daXeHsEXXb7PdwGkFKFfC4lufdyDsYo04X4V4t6wArtdm_jzdWd-d-fjMjx4/s320/DSCN2176.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU_VlnXpFBVDAEs62wMH5F1jKpuHleubk4-1qyEjbLqv_SzY6Uj0voqRYGNJIxA1sNOmYa9Uf7kWmQ54fO9z8JsPXFjwkJ0FDltRGVKCem44xzMWmTdbM9G7T5td_ZmQR33H4FprYi6Y/s1600/DSCN2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU_VlnXpFBVDAEs62wMH5F1jKpuHleubk4-1qyEjbLqv_SzY6Uj0voqRYGNJIxA1sNOmYa9Uf7kWmQ54fO9z8JsPXFjwkJ0FDltRGVKCem44xzMWmTdbM9G7T5td_ZmQR33H4FprYi6Y/s320/DSCN2178.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made flower leis and got some from Anna's mom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Very festive!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVFAVt8Mwp-WMcuwav5ISDwbsFtj3-JvXDZV-VKM0tA8-rAPYD68MA-lv6W_UO3k4TBtwbUAs8iVkjl2OkeeRlNFnFfTcqacW8iXQWj6sIImyAdgqO6oaals7nQTA2RXkCJ7nidPQlV8/s1600/DSCN2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVFAVt8Mwp-WMcuwav5ISDwbsFtj3-JvXDZV-VKM0tA8-rAPYD68MA-lv6W_UO3k4TBtwbUAs8iVkjl2OkeeRlNFnFfTcqacW8iXQWj6sIImyAdgqO6oaals7nQTA2RXkCJ7nidPQlV8/s320/DSCN2182.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarT2vqDtOWjq34yRjMt63kjSGwZ7ZUDHKK1768yEC2lnIs2Eh7vVOiY9Z8fItKTwiLFpGz_iq2uKgzM-lDkTf6RLEm_5JlNMzniAzo2ba6roc8hvRK3AaT2eL7Nk66_P93f9XDAsQTt0/s1600/DSCN2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarT2vqDtOWjq34yRjMt63kjSGwZ7ZUDHKK1768yEC2lnIs2Eh7vVOiY9Z8fItKTwiLFpGz_iq2uKgzM-lDkTf6RLEm_5JlNMzniAzo2ba6roc8hvRK3AaT2eL7Nk66_P93f9XDAsQTt0/s320/DSCN2191.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the fruit kabobs they made to eat at the luau feast.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7ctyLhrfz3VfxiHmbroStJdXKxPIOwNmTXTXJvfjNCyPJAteqaH8v1ss-Cqn8xzsQ7bL_Z-pGPZsOtkYUYQDxUMayz_vcSEht6FOMJuTicTRxEtJx1ziF8-p1ApiHMzBxC448WLcK2U/s1600/DSCN2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7ctyLhrfz3VfxiHmbroStJdXKxPIOwNmTXTXJvfjNCyPJAteqaH8v1ss-Cqn8xzsQ7bL_Z-pGPZsOtkYUYQDxUMayz_vcSEht6FOMJuTicTRxEtJx1ziF8-p1ApiHMzBxC448WLcK2U/s320/DSCN2190.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our "chef" roasting the "pigs".</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA4dxRNlrrfhKTylsBsnAPMQLtrVbo97rh5h66P5RwEqxKKBIIAqDSeVLbRkNSQug6JmLDtiL4bOPto9zCJn3xGkKfmcElURB__VXQqmRfb18UvrHkBhT4IzdF1F_GemaR9hb5bf6z7o/s1600/DSCN2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA4dxRNlrrfhKTylsBsnAPMQLtrVbo97rh5h66P5RwEqxKKBIIAqDSeVLbRkNSQug6JmLDtiL4bOPto9zCJn3xGkKfmcElURB__VXQqmRfb18UvrHkBhT4IzdF1F_GemaR9hb5bf6z7o/s320/DSCN2184.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The table set up and ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekYLip9nTRWce2PQlBewt0JgfkgzTvdNgHV6QYxKOEHq8tDOpT9-hHWokVUAX_wHRj9u2GaPtt0Ey90WhUqWoZjcf9RXusWK5iyRURjGXTPjKGCvEliWpHkN9SLu01CbRXz4IMPVL4tc/s1600/IMG_1196+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614925108308494066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekYLip9nTRWce2PQlBewt0JgfkgzTvdNgHV6QYxKOEHq8tDOpT9-hHWokVUAX_wHRj9u2GaPtt0Ey90WhUqWoZjcf9RXusWK5iyRURjGXTPjKGCvEliWpHkN9SLu01CbRXz4IMPVL4tc/s320/IMG_1196+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-fTIh_oHhHVeMxbDEVhxa_PR0BRtaOpxtfg2E5iMLjGL58fAF9B9VZ_89vbxbaJReES6_di4ulKVa_nZb01Qss1GQE5uOpoOh4A8ttStqxKqOrDB73Umwzu-R86yYfKMC9bE-R7H7Nw/s1600/DSCN2199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-fTIh_oHhHVeMxbDEVhxa_PR0BRtaOpxtfg2E5iMLjGL58fAF9B9VZ_89vbxbaJReES6_di4ulKVa_nZb01Qss1GQE5uOpoOh4A8ttStqxKqOrDB73Umwzu-R86yYfKMC9bE-R7H7Nw/s320/DSCN2199.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFgsZ7cidMNCHmI6BsKp_ufHI8C7JbJNZ35PYGRQo9J1_smy0cvji7Zkxwb5IDS25fCkpEYBwXmjb9HESoxgGHSYPqSWdiHb_ccmyUS0175fMl2rr83ACAaZdsJep9N9mZ2hCmYqBEX0/s1600/DSCN2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFgsZ7cidMNCHmI6BsKp_ufHI8C7JbJNZ35PYGRQo9J1_smy0cvji7Zkxwb5IDS25fCkpEYBwXmjb9HESoxgGHSYPqSWdiHb_ccmyUS0175fMl2rr83ACAaZdsJep9N9mZ2hCmYqBEX0/s320/DSCN2198.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...the chow down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then we got out the water!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a favorite activity every year. I dump clear marbles into the water and they have to pick them up using only their toes. They hand them off to a partner who holds and counts for them. Then we switch. I do believe that some of them could use those toes for fingers if they needed to!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefz92JlVo-H6lLn_zgvoDqyQ6m_7b5HxZUP9dtgmoE8qvxGhVO2jfBLGQJWkzoZXlE0zyWURcExiVtM4o-rRIbHdTYxGL7k7jZBBpf4YUNL5fq3UeWYJ97KF0SY15Ga1_yAkMtxezZeY/s1600/DSCN2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefz92JlVo-H6lLn_zgvoDqyQ6m_7b5HxZUP9dtgmoE8qvxGhVO2jfBLGQJWkzoZXlE0zyWURcExiVtM4o-rRIbHdTYxGL7k7jZBBpf4YUNL5fq3UeWYJ97KF0SY15Ga1_yAkMtxezZeY/s320/DSCN2188.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Next, the water balloons! We tossed several times and they got better and better. Anna was usually one of the last standing...watch:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh8Cu47WUQH-1tXIBDJduQkn3bISRrV76V_oIfcTjStZa5sq7Nt2ci4en-hVyXCnWLWD6q-JinsCshI_HGgj0WOO2-M7k55z4OiIkbV3LxGh0VmLX4TzVFwvlThDYNV735iuq4ld_qjA/s1600/DSCN2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh8Cu47WUQH-1tXIBDJduQkn3bISRrV76V_oIfcTjStZa5sq7Nt2ci4en-hVyXCnWLWD6q-JinsCshI_HGgj0WOO2-M7k55z4OiIkbV3LxGh0VmLX4TzVFwvlThDYNV735iuq4ld_qjA/s320/DSCN2204.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The catch.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8KvG9xC5vbYvB_l9R_XhK02e0N0reGS9M7MXctgdAgZbbUbP9-oNBvgtydCxIA7WsWuqAwQayxa-Nh5wQLJBiI5boZvj1E5daXIGH9gHbtVQyimJhFV3y5WebYDwpi3fCiluNOig124/s1600/DSCN2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8KvG9xC5vbYvB_l9R_XhK02e0N0reGS9M7MXctgdAgZbbUbP9-oNBvgtydCxIA7WsWuqAwQayxa-Nh5wQLJBiI5boZvj1E5daXIGH9gHbtVQyimJhFV3y5WebYDwpi3fCiluNOig124/s320/DSCN2208.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The toss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguk_ZAs82itcSadLuAfzK6n00TZ-ssuKEfOpimE4ulZ8o_KWn_2Y4s4zLYz-ybvkmJhyphenhyphenyJSvv-zI-DfUAgIQZMwjoOshbFDjpy0fFDhJ9cSVMJwuc6Rq1ISj9fA_jChKA0Wml4rlegjq8/s1600/DSCN2202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguk_ZAs82itcSadLuAfzK6n00TZ-ssuKEfOpimE4ulZ8o_KWn_2Y4s4zLYz-ybvkmJhyphenhyphenyJSvv-zI-DfUAgIQZMwjoOshbFDjpy0fFDhJ9cSVMJwuc6Rq1ISj9fA_jChKA0Wml4rlegjq8/s320/DSCN2202.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The catch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you notice the little guy beside her?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wxtJL0EsCrDNJOpLqXl5qCIkw9AAGe1iKvzH5zJi_3kP9EZxMgaH3AZbZkpqsVoPnlbTAVhqYCRTYK8Yc9ePEHT8coh1eW9oMYhudT6EtcyALt0FHiwo4shkpaRAEk5KruEVevivXAQ/s1600/RSCN2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wxtJL0EsCrDNJOpLqXl5qCIkw9AAGe1iKvzH5zJi_3kP9EZxMgaH3AZbZkpqsVoPnlbTAVhqYCRTYK8Yc9ePEHT8coh1eW9oMYhudT6EtcyALt0FHiwo4shkpaRAEk5KruEVevivXAQ/s320/RSCN2209.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhh...the delicious terror of it all!<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wwd6iFFVSC4sxlfXu1hpQZ9HnbdqQZ0CFe1uWbtIa1ZhpwkvPAnLrYBxgta35N8bnBLB0-Wh_gIBib3mgHOuO3CzfdAdiuDc2gC2ovFxz5v7Q3en1WkANoTLNXWRrMBZ0qYhaPrH4OI/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614931987622373778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wwd6iFFVSC4sxlfXu1hpQZ9HnbdqQZ0CFe1uWbtIa1ZhpwkvPAnLrYBxgta35N8bnBLB0-Wh_gIBib3mgHOuO3CzfdAdiuDc2gC2ovFxz5v7Q3en1WkANoTLNXWRrMBZ0qYhaPrH4OI/s320/IMG_1222.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnr0_yl8OcgsSGFqDD7gj7IhrdAIc-7m62-rPRweIKXWoQxbg6ppkt6yM-eKgcM4h6GPAAbSMb5KHnze0JGZhPoXbUoT6FEeWLS40mpsclQfgOrvuB5K2EvEu2Dki_LbKkFSqDplhfOQ/s1600/IMG_1217+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614930177039585202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnr0_yl8OcgsSGFqDD7gj7IhrdAIc-7m62-rPRweIKXWoQxbg6ppkt6yM-eKgcM4h6GPAAbSMb5KHnze0JGZhPoXbUoT6FEeWLS40mpsclQfgOrvuB5K2EvEu2Dki_LbKkFSqDplhfOQ/s320/IMG_1217+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 269px;" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, the day ended with volcano cupcake snacks and a cute BackYardigans movie about a luau.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so tired.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am going to bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do I have 2 more days in me????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, and once again, the teachers have as much fun as the students...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyone got their photo taken in front of the backdrop with the props...grass skirts for the girls and Hawaiian shirts for the boys...we made their photos into pins for them to wear.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614933913971409186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzEprdi4FAri-YL1ZkWLh5aJbZACcWmw5rhIWRReHh21J0ycuDkPCRxqEUbk7jhxcSSeTqWjNzJIPtU8FYp-OOduhC9LC1IT0xrX3c-jgURIO1RAU5qAFUAWpZjgOAymrIRDSgxNFxeo/s320/IMG_1314.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstxA5ATeQ-ssyE_W0a496SbWZYwCT-gg7F3FOqgnABzPbVT0jmIFtI52i2v71ynzECYvcVFsNFsiphw_FMepsjGURZ5dsoqTAKfh473ToQH9cA0-Xz241cnzPpUeInu7xq6PyIppWi8o/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614928542842425666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstxA5ATeQ-ssyE_W0a496SbWZYwCT-gg7F3FOqgnABzPbVT0jmIFtI52i2v71ynzECYvcVFsNFsiphw_FMepsjGURZ5dsoqTAKfh473ToQH9cA0-Xz241cnzPpUeInu7xq6PyIppWi8o/s320/IMG_1202.JPG" style="height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you see how we made the piggies? See their little legs?</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-19920075446327710922011-06-02T17:15:00.000-07:002011-06-02T17:16:30.364-07:003 Days Left: Little Red Riding Hood-the MusicalToday was all about "The Show". We have been practicing since the end of April, with 2 a days for the last week. They knew their lines (and everyone else's), where to stand and when...mostly. Yesterday I had them practice without me saying anything (and I mostly made it) since I might be sick and not able to come to the show. They made it through with very few difficulties and I began to breathe easier...a lot easier.<br />
They did such a wonderful job for the dress rehearsal this morning (in front of a room full of 4th, 5th and 2nd graders) that I was afraid they had peaked too early. But the show in front of the parents went just as spectacularly! Well, after they got those silly nervous smiles off their faces and quit waving at all their people. Only one little girl didn't have anyone and truth be told, she is so used to her mom not being there for her that she was thrilled when she got a special grandma for the day.<br />
Here is scene 1's scenery as I drew it and then as the parents painted it. You'll see scene 2 in the show photos.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmwEnnPq4RBmWrwOWhQyYN4NcHYfH2A3juBj5SmrdpfpWr_sah9ETHSW1ydOapiDjpL8wEV8Mmizy-jECbd58iywiYMlUo7IFenfaPi9hjx34iDd7L0mYWyqBIFuqiDjxpdEXdDJzq8c/s1600/DSCN2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmwEnnPq4RBmWrwOWhQyYN4NcHYfH2A3juBj5SmrdpfpWr_sah9ETHSW1ydOapiDjpL8wEV8Mmizy-jECbd58iywiYMlUo7IFenfaPi9hjx34iDd7L0mYWyqBIFuqiDjxpdEXdDJzq8c/s320/DSCN2052.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i7KTxnMlNjIGP43WCKljE1unda2HcCrTh9oncHbwViuHVm4IsBnFw2Uy3trr732chyphenhyphenSRCOF5tU-gAm_ELIh6-3OcIdrKWjBd2oupAdNr1Ddt5LejIF_tb2p8btPQh2uTFey89WtVZ68/s1600/DSCN2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i7KTxnMlNjIGP43WCKljE1unda2HcCrTh9oncHbwViuHVm4IsBnFw2Uy3trr732chyphenhyphenSRCOF5tU-gAm_ELIh6-3OcIdrKWjBd2oupAdNr1Ddt5LejIF_tb2p8btPQh2uTFey89WtVZ68/s320/DSCN2117.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a vote to see whose design would be used for the cover of the program, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but everyone got to color and put their name on a few.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkxmbpJbeS2b9QGRz5hyphenhyphenwwFboQBcN12B7p7ElMqtUuRjJVo_-zhrMstdVwzcP4iad2qZzCrD_s9edfCHCZUlp8StmX2pWMKU4n-wo3HIQR6q7r6sdvKC4Bl_i8GPW0ACDacGYZKLejzE/s1600/DSCN2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkxmbpJbeS2b9QGRz5hyphenhyphenwwFboQBcN12B7p7ElMqtUuRjJVo_-zhrMstdVwzcP4iad2qZzCrD_s9edfCHCZUlp8StmX2pWMKU4n-wo3HIQR6q7r6sdvKC4Bl_i8GPW0ACDacGYZKLejzE/s320/DSCN2129.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC1a_OYMEoTF_p2LVQ4bCybmle487Dr0XWk8IzWtmCkB6L9L0iaM2A0qFfZ1s5G8aRlLTDUBTK_pg-dkmIhY4NFXdnqEsNkjzqNcXKPMIg7UxcmeKu3gGbFbcjSC2CZy_oi6EnBfPJhU/s1600/DSCN2130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC1a_OYMEoTF_p2LVQ4bCybmle487Dr0XWk8IzWtmCkB6L9L0iaM2A0qFfZ1s5G8aRlLTDUBTK_pg-dkmIhY4NFXdnqEsNkjzqNcXKPMIg7UxcmeKu3gGbFbcjSC2CZy_oi6EnBfPJhU/s320/DSCN2130.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are in costume, lined up and waiting for the final show....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDg-Jm6XCmZJ8LybLGE4ouXihC3LHaiGbZRekbaqj91nWh0bHVj83v53z4vTDobMZsXVmM-eS1pY6lIPBQOucVLxeEesBqhSlKqAyGT18dmNIyOhDwhRtvx7lvH3UiCHHUSRedW1Gj5o/s1600/DSCN2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDg-Jm6XCmZJ8LybLGE4ouXihC3LHaiGbZRekbaqj91nWh0bHVj83v53z4vTDobMZsXVmM-eS1pY6lIPBQOucVLxeEesBqhSlKqAyGT18dmNIyOhDwhRtvx7lvH3UiCHHUSRedW1Gj5o/s320/DSCN2157.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>OK. Enough. On with the show!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgVrcko2cXM2jwIHPUP-fsG1Mnr5Y6S4aYuIjZcv-G1Ys-1nAF0JlX2wBuO02W1qV4lPclITdB7wby0zxGEzcoTRCe_MFq6pgvmOFD2CLrok7CoVauMPz3dQkLgjmlCbi6gMT2Ga1EpE/s1600/DSCN2137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgVrcko2cXM2jwIHPUP-fsG1Mnr5Y6S4aYuIjZcv-G1Ys-1nAF0JlX2wBuO02W1qV4lPclITdB7wby0zxGEzcoTRCe_MFq6pgvmOFD2CLrok7CoVauMPz3dQkLgjmlCbi6gMT2Ga1EpE/s320/DSCN2137.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"And soon all of her friends were calling her, Little Red Riding Hood"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I3ERiBbq7OE5FhwcdM4gx3zWEiiggYQX-gYpcU_CrXq1Zxe-V0HmTnv8WMldEvHp-DwKbHNmsQNmIFx34Fwyy6VdUL4_viOvfnjhkluwc8sfXyiAXT9h1ABY7ejOxunElTGQ3TYr_Vg/s1600/DSCN2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I3ERiBbq7OE5FhwcdM4gx3zWEiiggYQX-gYpcU_CrXq1Zxe-V0HmTnv8WMldEvHp-DwKbHNmsQNmIFx34Fwyy6VdUL4_viOvfnjhkluwc8sfXyiAXT9h1ABY7ejOxunElTGQ3TYr_Vg/s320/DSCN2139.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"But, mom, I can take the cookies to Grandma all by myself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know the way." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LRRH with some attitude.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgaOIzGVa85kKCnhgzBkYPp-kU4uKCdsdpFS2DmLAOAiWY5LayEBN8TCwKT1l9uwLZGUdQIUAsHD3QBRF2nhU732sQALA6ts_Ci3RnqyVu6aG_GbNHPkoX7MpYPaXiUy8HFR4Oa0xObg/s1600/DSCN2140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgaOIzGVa85kKCnhgzBkYPp-kU4uKCdsdpFS2DmLAOAiWY5LayEBN8TCwKT1l9uwLZGUdQIUAsHD3QBRF2nhU732sQALA6ts_Ci3RnqyVu6aG_GbNHPkoX7MpYPaXiUy8HFR4Oa0xObg/s320/DSCN2140.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of her animal friends tried to convince her to play hide and seek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Grandma's not feeling well today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would you all like to come with me to take her some cookies?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjnZHEFfhQEnhcb_elk8xCrwOuWpbHnuCkAO4ZdREi8S0W-SaM-H0f6yHpgSsXpHuULjTocKkUfw6VU17bzt9tibAVQZsT23F4xuPL3Op_6Lyqzkcf-fg_6QxAnDFlllv5Uzk2kMjCL4/s1600/DSCN2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjnZHEFfhQEnhcb_elk8xCrwOuWpbHnuCkAO4ZdREi8S0W-SaM-H0f6yHpgSsXpHuULjTocKkUfw6VU17bzt9tibAVQZsT23F4xuPL3Op_6Lyqzkcf-fg_6QxAnDFlllv5Uzk2kMjCL4/s320/DSCN2141.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Singing the Big Bad Wolf song.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KFKLAW_rxw4zDaGFHLBG-WGeKOjtR-LFzuwfJ5g8GnEZqwbwrqg1kdOvhfSKG16l97GDbODu6i5PSrHh8EjtuSJFBjw9rZyJPNOAsBc3nO5eiuOpaTjM37p0TluGCEz7OFA_uHk8xrM/s1600/DSCN2142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KFKLAW_rxw4zDaGFHLBG-WGeKOjtR-LFzuwfJ5g8GnEZqwbwrqg1kdOvhfSKG16l97GDbODu6i5PSrHh8EjtuSJFBjw9rZyJPNOAsBc3nO5eiuOpaTjM37p0TluGCEz7OFA_uHk8xrM/s320/DSCN2142.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Mr. Woodcutter, will you protect us?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sign of the times: all of my other woodcutters have used axes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51mQiOPW76UJumpx9_3IhmFIqrx_THlEia4cd5ocTDp_xDiiN0AiZF2P2ijVC2C0kBsxQBwMwJgszBJKzeKRxIN1OBy3PIUZdX7jxafrXDjzKcCbPklnubObms3aidAMs6WevJxe9bL4/s1600/DSCN2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51mQiOPW76UJumpx9_3IhmFIqrx_THlEia4cd5ocTDp_xDiiN0AiZF2P2ijVC2C0kBsxQBwMwJgszBJKzeKRxIN1OBy3PIUZdX7jxafrXDjzKcCbPklnubObms3aidAMs6WevJxe9bL4/s320/DSCN2143.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first sighting of the Big Bad Wolf. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That gray squirrel is scared!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the big bird hiding in the back...teehee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf5dv7isJ8O21Egb_Lgrk0JUFgD-GXKwQPR0ze4TkijRmrMnKiVWrusvZtY1OEDvjk30n9rLkWcH56GxeuyNWlgCqiWFmovHXFf8Xx931jdHp9YpAyAsNVM4rVL8LeX8olC5xtMYiHUk/s1600/DSCN2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWf5dv7isJ8O21Egb_Lgrk0JUFgD-GXKwQPR0ze4TkijRmrMnKiVWrusvZtY1OEDvjk30n9rLkWcH56GxeuyNWlgCqiWFmovHXFf8Xx931jdHp9YpAyAsNVM4rVL8LeX8olC5xtMYiHUk/s320/DSCN2144.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LRRH just finished telling the BBW </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that she is nothing but a big bully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(All of my BBWs, but one, have been girls...so much better</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at this age.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKcF4JZNp-F9BmM4jGh9eDswAzU4YAes5YzuTIwfk9lM6CULCxcx_d7xZQRDgT8mx0uByIdtV9V1mACAgkZwnBvk6cFnICZubXJhKD79vZfxUd5mGPCkWy9LrcjdbS-QxGO0yfDMfr0g/s1600/DSCN2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKcF4JZNp-F9BmM4jGh9eDswAzU4YAes5YzuTIwfk9lM6CULCxcx_d7xZQRDgT8mx0uByIdtV9V1mACAgkZwnBvk6cFnICZubXJhKD79vZfxUd5mGPCkWy9LrcjdbS-QxGO0yfDMfr0g/s320/DSCN2145.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BBW singing her song of lament.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I'm just a wolf, friends, a lonely wolf friends...I just want to play."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG4SIxz7x_V-iVQieaOhrWdhBAfXbAaXdWz8Mho9PANbnPVVsYJrkuIyc47aeb0yHOjtBK3KK314pfGR8zwbITxMbdxOz9WJEmoTPgLqXi-JgofgwdM1RqHcvQUXeXViCpUY0WNzqsf4/s1600/DSCN2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG4SIxz7x_V-iVQieaOhrWdhBAfXbAaXdWz8Mho9PANbnPVVsYJrkuIyc47aeb0yHOjtBK3KK314pfGR8zwbITxMbdxOz9WJEmoTPgLqXi-JgofgwdM1RqHcvQUXeXViCpUY0WNzqsf4/s320/DSCN2148.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Hey! You're not my granddaughter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> What have you done with her you nasty old nuisance?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They loved the word nuisance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMIJRGBsOf7EZinOfH_D14y8mPI1o9_dJwPqJ8_WWOzR8_BeSXwhnCmrEgGnxsTCoCwEna6m43Eh16z8EP0WhAmSAGBhrl89uabyRVegieBeaCYes-SbYTU4-GyH-Mwjxw6AzZIvXROA/s1600/DSCN2150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMIJRGBsOf7EZinOfH_D14y8mPI1o9_dJwPqJ8_WWOzR8_BeSXwhnCmrEgGnxsTCoCwEna6m43Eh16z8EP0WhAmSAGBhrl89uabyRVegieBeaCYes-SbYTU4-GyH-Mwjxw6AzZIvXROA/s320/DSCN2150.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Come in dear, Granny's been waiting for you."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Delivered in a believable old lady voice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDymxmGV0XZp8y5fmt7AMqRjT2pRY07Py-OBQjGICLJGVtPPgtWkp_3jZ9tqJtxEArIr20rgrjhRY3XTebap6rt3RkiMBald9t6WhVO4SwTshJrLvNUUo8qzZcX86FZK-JfjYLsNAF9A/s1600/DSCN2146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDymxmGV0XZp8y5fmt7AMqRjT2pRY07Py-OBQjGICLJGVtPPgtWkp_3jZ9tqJtxEArIr20rgrjhRY3XTebap6rt3RkiMBald9t6WhVO4SwTshJrLvNUUo8qzZcX86FZK-JfjYLsNAF9A/s320/DSCN2146.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"But, Mr. Wolf, you scare people."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVR8xhuInk6V8VHHLvjXDXlubVT82fC91bnSAzLXnhc802g5IRS_WVk3zxoIDecCeRHg6H6o4LFzaf96kfv7eu7V3P0_aqWe26WwQd_Pg_TV1qW9TAmyUorpxPT_3ddc-mpZV2vUOheQ/s1600/DSCN2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVR8xhuInk6V8VHHLvjXDXlubVT82fC91bnSAzLXnhc802g5IRS_WVk3zxoIDecCeRHg6H6o4LFzaf96kfv7eu7V3P0_aqWe26WwQd_Pg_TV1qW9TAmyUorpxPT_3ddc-mpZV2vUOheQ/s320/DSCN2153.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I know I've been very bad, makes me sad...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No more nasty!"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1zzaaTU3iJ23KpQAzdpAm1k04XhNblW4o8WTwmBaoIB3xduTAqi8w7bZyl3f5xUhxOIis4cX9y1wPIX9BeZS-hGzfAHr6lTF2mPWQXNh69r11MkgMHLgzj136UxQXzi9C20f2gHlOH4/s1600/DSCN2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1zzaaTU3iJ23KpQAzdpAm1k04XhNblW4o8WTwmBaoIB3xduTAqi8w7bZyl3f5xUhxOIis4cX9y1wPIX9BeZS-hGzfAHr6lTF2mPWQXNh69r11MkgMHLgzj136UxQXzi9C20f2gHlOH4/s320/DSCN2154.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Granny, I'm sorry I frightened you. Here sit in your chair</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and have your cookies."</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l0KKCw98_Fp8S2KUP3BRKJQU7jD0hhMBBT2GlgBJhFP7RmE0quV5M6Z1mYVkvWBSskZfXsDUC7LRsZmEU9HNH1LKMVvuYx2IGvE_bp1hgo8rNVuFx4jrnQDC2w0SegRLxjlguK2VCM4/s1600/DSCN2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l0KKCw98_Fp8S2KUP3BRKJQU7jD0hhMBBT2GlgBJhFP7RmE0quV5M6Z1mYVkvWBSskZfXsDUC7LRsZmEU9HNH1LKMVvuYx2IGvE_bp1hgo8rNVuFx4jrnQDC2w0SegRLxjlguK2VCM4/s320/DSCN2152.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The BBW turns into a good wolf, learns some manners and they </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all live together peacefully...at least for awhile.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_BUCdBnLdFUevnU0K0x6LHLwG5RByytOYM8ACRd_S1FIj7Y5Gl2NJba5yiwUt3v3Lv-dlghpcvpVbJRqzd2UkQt5JwBTVLU_q-SHTEof2bBityOqnzXB3UO0BuO-BL0GuD9OFVBaK0E/s1600/DSCN2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_BUCdBnLdFUevnU0K0x6LHLwG5RByytOYM8ACRd_S1FIj7Y5Gl2NJba5yiwUt3v3Lv-dlghpcvpVbJRqzd2UkQt5JwBTVLU_q-SHTEof2bBityOqnzXB3UO0BuO-BL0GuD9OFVBaK0E/s320/DSCN2159.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMgnSqkRuYfYVxOr0jiDCsi3GDMetTkHylYT6QtRW52sdplE6JplJzXylRY6Rrei4TywljM7FVemEHtwIx30PYvXPqsRu_KIcUWrQS5j3u0Jv_QpZ6E1ch9GwhUfgnUTL1vH1J1SmITA/s1600/DSCN2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMgnSqkRuYfYVxOr0jiDCsi3GDMetTkHylYT6QtRW52sdplE6JplJzXylRY6Rrei4TywljM7FVemEHtwIx30PYvXPqsRu_KIcUWrQS5j3u0Jv_QpZ6E1ch9GwhUfgnUTL1vH1J1SmITA/s320/DSCN2163.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then they all had cookies and milk. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hardly any were left by the time I got out there, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so I am guessing that everyone got their fill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>I may be biased, but they were really good. They glowed as everyone clapped for them. <br />
<span style="color: black;">One mother made a point to thank me for all I had done for her son this year. Aaahhh.</span><br />
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Luau tomorrow....<br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-3303869858272625002011-06-01T17:04:00.000-07:002011-06-01T17:04:02.414-07:00Funnest FridayFriday was our last Fun Friday of the year and our Field Day (in lieu of a trip to a pitiful little zoo with the other Kindergarten classes), so we tried to make it a little more fun than usual!<br />
We...well, they (I tried it the first year and that was about 20 pounds lighter!) got to climb the rock wall tower. Most were fearless. All of them tried more than once and 7 of them got to the top to ring the bell!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJy_QMQK2191rTE52sh1Y875oVCrZwjEuLeUa91wCUOMJpC5waKazfxKTX24WEiu1xrMMp4RUzIcdVWeBUy-u5RP0GXVpPDyS6SyyI4Op6qXMUbXiUvO0ka7FgBZfOWkkDmLhim2qHKo/s1600/DSCN2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJy_QMQK2191rTE52sh1Y875oVCrZwjEuLeUa91wCUOMJpC5waKazfxKTX24WEiu1xrMMp4RUzIcdVWeBUy-u5RP0GXVpPDyS6SyyI4Op6qXMUbXiUvO0ka7FgBZfOWkkDmLhim2qHKo/s320/DSCN2073.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH5HdI2e4Md2FsAdU-stw7GJQ3-MHy_ZkrzkIVmRceyPks9b1pWPGqOUwcV2PhQZVzEHq_hlk035CTwCI3Un2fvMMXkPfuyX34wsGBeLLADCD9ZUFyFanEZpsaonJF5OT_Bum1fNDBNE/s1600/DSCN2077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH5HdI2e4Md2FsAdU-stw7GJQ3-MHy_ZkrzkIVmRceyPks9b1pWPGqOUwcV2PhQZVzEHq_hlk035CTwCI3Un2fvMMXkPfuyX34wsGBeLLADCD9ZUFyFanEZpsaonJF5OT_Bum1fNDBNE/s320/DSCN2077.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Near the bottom and....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMUf_LFgotgchCCLhfmSYizniNfbm36GB1UWor5g4yeVzf_AutKuPH8QNqe3astxCN2iCv5RiVJN_pyVU9xIePnv_Hb8oxjsTUgd5EBP_r6nYh9pOjNSUL_LJwE6cTEEckxE8_KxA6mo/s1600/DSCN2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMUf_LFgotgchCCLhfmSYizniNfbm36GB1UWor5g4yeVzf_AutKuPH8QNqe3astxCN2iCv5RiVJN_pyVU9xIePnv_Hb8oxjsTUgd5EBP_r6nYh9pOjNSUL_LJwE6cTEEckxE8_KxA6mo/s320/DSCN2080.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ-cNhQw0dSGKIW35EaIVANFtllpaJrDA1MvRLbhfgI7I-F1jYRxWvVJtJHLvUUCMDb0FJUBu3uu_iN9O5sm8ds7Gm_WsSxf-GBNhFYF74M_-iX5qoWLtlpVTPBKBf_wqWnZ_-52fJ8g/s1600/DSCN2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ-cNhQw0dSGKIW35EaIVANFtllpaJrDA1MvRLbhfgI7I-F1jYRxWvVJtJHLvUUCMDb0FJUBu3uu_iN9O5sm8ds7Gm_WsSxf-GBNhFYF74M_-iX5qoWLtlpVTPBKBf_wqWnZ_-52fJ8g/s320/DSCN2094.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...near the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was cloudy and drizzly on and off all day, but no one complained at all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had 4 more activities, but I didn't get photos of all of them because I was so busy doing mine. They made bead necklaces, and an ocean craft inside and we painted and did field activities outside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They drew and I traced on a tote bag a picture that would remind them of something they learned in Kindergarten this year. We did these before Friday so all we had to do was paint on Friday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SiR-4DnIxJgOtFgZX810hBoCmnRNYDLwBLX-ocPr3QSQTT8BQsnFZBa5XPn-hhggtJVG2VJpvcsXdHOzYZt9I0p0LzPqMvKBDJaZul11njGvzibX2h9JcvsmEg5R9wwhyp-gpsd1mm0/s1600/DSCN2096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SiR-4DnIxJgOtFgZX810hBoCmnRNYDLwBLX-ocPr3QSQTT8BQsnFZBa5XPn-hhggtJVG2VJpvcsXdHOzYZt9I0p0LzPqMvKBDJaZul11njGvzibX2h9JcvsmEg5R9wwhyp-gpsd1mm0/s320/DSCN2096.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkHz0Y_L7W-B1ghZnrLTWkHVLNGE39ZCAeqev4HIG70HEXetogwH-R0Xz9L8jG2Q71fi43xY9y_NKfp3il-ZPdjEp1vFkRr0LcYo7GCI6PzqrHGRi4Xf0lSUC2xfBiM1Ns4aYyIIraTM/s1600/DSCN2097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkHz0Y_L7W-B1ghZnrLTWkHVLNGE39ZCAeqev4HIG70HEXetogwH-R0Xz9L8jG2Q71fi43xY9y_NKfp3il-ZPdjEp1vFkRr0LcYo7GCI6PzqrHGRi4Xf0lSUC2xfBiM1Ns4aYyIIraTM/s320/DSCN2097.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We had our picnic lunch inside...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkit9VDsnM16J1cz-uHukjL9Edi7X7KH6ej8ZA48MYAuZV9uSrsd0BriUv5qTh96BuvelELbBbFM-qA0r_PZ1yErxLXYFtLBSICRNA8vwdei7SvaY8n3FwQzlqxymMiOC9ftry9AP4CQ/s1600/DSCN2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkit9VDsnM16J1cz-uHukjL9Edi7X7KH6ej8ZA48MYAuZV9uSrsd0BriUv5qTh96BuvelELbBbFM-qA0r_PZ1yErxLXYFtLBSICRNA8vwdei7SvaY8n3FwQzlqxymMiOC9ftry9AP4CQ/s320/DSCN2098.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>...and then we made baggie ice cream. If you haven't tried that, you should...much fun!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn8lKU6pBV-zt_KfFgNZ-Zn4qcFRHk7hl-LXu4z5RDityxTkhRC8LtKd2gF2i_Fehdz_YXlTTMQ9JEoUkCHGurH8MKKNsoS6y_9tOFJTbSYpcCGFOVoa7Q-uh4gY6XF_-UILhz5Hl4Ko/s1600/DSCN2102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirn8lKU6pBV-zt_KfFgNZ-Zn4qcFRHk7hl-LXu4z5RDityxTkhRC8LtKd2gF2i_Fehdz_YXlTTMQ9JEoUkCHGurH8MKKNsoS6y_9tOFJTbSYpcCGFOVoa7Q-uh4gY6XF_-UILhz5Hl4Ko/s320/DSCN2102.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BRRRRR!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyepUGzn9Io-fpN2qoSOWwrgN-U_AN_eJahRVlOxJduRq7Jg1KE_xOqrShi20BZCJUhyECzQpB020c00C2QmojPIouSJB9ZZBMWn-RmOSQS8p1XNdfd1C4-kNrjqJGRY4etub5CHMozME/s1600/DSCN2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyepUGzn9Io-fpN2qoSOWwrgN-U_AN_eJahRVlOxJduRq7Jg1KE_xOqrShi20BZCJUhyECzQpB020c00C2QmojPIouSJB9ZZBMWn-RmOSQS8p1XNdfd1C4-kNrjqJGRY4etub5CHMozME/s320/DSCN2108.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">YUMMMM!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was also Dalaynie's UnBirthday. Isn't she just the cutest thing?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z7-ShNpqVAjCo0GF4asyp8el7a24-rU9dJB5FfParvO6sWktdvSBYjwmLw_OvG7ty42Lxflss4uap0UFkNqLnLosCdnOkEU9JyjjRpKAbS7KE_oV4nxb6YvoaM1DQbih9jY-O3n7MzI/s1600/DSCN2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z7-ShNpqVAjCo0GF4asyp8el7a24-rU9dJB5FfParvO6sWktdvSBYjwmLw_OvG7ty42Lxflss4uap0UFkNqLnLosCdnOkEU9JyjjRpKAbS7KE_oV4nxb6YvoaM1DQbih9jY-O3n7MzI/s320/DSCN2109.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Here they are on their way home with their pretty painted bags...most looking tired and happy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcarwPUTJyLGst46o78mxSWU05PKXtTq5ACd4MTGiyJh2dFt0ndihdJ4eZNf72D8HOTY2TkfQg72Fzbp00umhLPCO_0qDVAoacOyNaeko1PT4yQLSpp_E40df776IF3zqHiOgdBnOv70/s1600/DSCN2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcarwPUTJyLGst46o78mxSWU05PKXtTq5ACd4MTGiyJh2dFt0ndihdJ4eZNf72D8HOTY2TkfQg72Fzbp00umhLPCO_0qDVAoacOyNaeko1PT4yQLSpp_E40df776IF3zqHiOgdBnOv70/s320/DSCN2111.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAalksEkr0ZL_Vw9qhLuTIpTHcIsdHyd54rfQP9a94bUvYszbVQpSQsgkyQ9OtPq5Vd5-IQMkPuSQd-ENcUgYQsobVxJ4xKw3JI8gLpU5yvrR5DNymMTJjMjoBvrHIQ2lrnjAhknbn41I/s1600/DSCN2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAalksEkr0ZL_Vw9qhLuTIpTHcIsdHyd54rfQP9a94bUvYszbVQpSQsgkyQ9OtPq5Vd5-IQMkPuSQd-ENcUgYQsobVxJ4xKw3JI8gLpU5yvrR5DNymMTJjMjoBvrHIQ2lrnjAhknbn41I/s320/DSCN2112.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every year I hope that they will remember moments like this, when it was no big deal to cozy up and throw your arm around your friends...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-76615943093267169602011-06-01T16:59:00.000-07:002011-06-01T16:59:25.882-07:004 Days: More RandomnessHere is my first summer bouquet. We will use it tomorrow on the refreshment table after the show we are doing for the parents.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNIxOUt0yaSeH0wVWr2Xb0rfCNtHlnbJXIZOoW0DOmwwM7XpBCHmGsq8KJdaXYuAu-Aeyi7BTNhoA0E3bTaIpTC_1hIohRCPnNloRbwolk4IMoSGSrV5Es4p-0nCT832f3lN6QWTYUos/s1600/DSCN2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNIxOUt0yaSeH0wVWr2Xb0rfCNtHlnbJXIZOoW0DOmwwM7XpBCHmGsq8KJdaXYuAu-Aeyi7BTNhoA0E3bTaIpTC_1hIohRCPnNloRbwolk4IMoSGSrV5Es4p-0nCT832f3lN6QWTYUos/s320/DSCN2121.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNiTusPVMf9Wjo97ej27RVOuoG9HcOzmUmlU5niKe5EPPUmDoLY19iePATeSO5nPZz6lZTvCNQDK5sSSenz0kiWLAwlNhe4yGRxbWJM0XLubsPU_S_ysJpbJqwdvVy9Cu3O60TQBK8Xg/s1600/DSCN2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNiTusPVMf9Wjo97ej27RVOuoG9HcOzmUmlU5niKe5EPPUmDoLY19iePATeSO5nPZz6lZTvCNQDK5sSSenz0kiWLAwlNhe4yGRxbWJM0XLubsPU_S_ysJpbJqwdvVy9Cu3O60TQBK8Xg/s320/DSCN2123.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div>I couldn't choose just one photo. I love the fuzziness of the second one...so peony like. Peonies are one of my favorites. They smell almost as good as lilacs...these three are smelling up my kitchen and living room right now and blooming fuller as I watch...really. I love mixing the common red clover with the giant pink peony. I don't even know what the purple star like flower is called. The white flower grows on a vine and there is even some crown vetch in there somewhere. Wish you could smell them, too.<br />
We also have our very first peaches. (I think it is a peach tree and it looks a little fuzzy and is shaped like a peach, but it could be a plum...we have one of those trees, too...but it can't be an apple because the deer pulled it out of the ground this winter...aarrgh.) Anyway, here is a hint of our future crop.<br />
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</div><div align="left">Spent an hour after school with Stevie, getting the room set up to be a theater on the morrow. All of the kids but one have people saying they will come. I sent another invitation home with him this afternoon. If no one comes, I will have a willing daddy volunteer to be there for him...aahhh.</div><div align="left">They are ready for showtime.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Here's one more <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">story</span> from my 2 years in New Mexico where I taught 2nd grade. After a unit of study about the presidents in February, the assessment was for them to choose one of the presidents and write what they had learned about them. Here is the paper, word for word, as it hangs on my fridge even today:</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When Abraham Lincoln was a boy he lived in a log cabin. When Abraham Lincoln grew up, he got married and moved to a Gettysburg address. Then he became president. Abraham Lincoln never lied.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And that's the truth! Hope you got a giggle, too.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
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</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-65595086930494376652011-05-31T18:43:00.000-07:002011-05-31T19:48:27.988-07:005 Days! Random Thoughts5 days with kids. That's it. Really it. I want to tell a couple of stories just because I won't be collecting any more of these stories.<br />
So, at recess sometimes, when a child needs a time out, they have to stand "on the wall" (leaning against the wall out of the way). I like to stand "on the wall" when I am out for recess duty because I can lean and it is a little shady there. One day I am standing there watching the kids, when a little guy who had been put "on the wall" to calm down, sidled up to my side, tapped me, looked up with huge amazed eyes and said, "Wow! What did you do?"<br />
Today it is very hot here and my room has one tiny window and no AC, so I wore a sleeveless dress and it made me remember this story. One other warm spring day I was directing some song in the play we were rehearsing when one of the little hunka chunka boys looks at me aghast and says, "Oh! Mrs. Lohr, your arms are really flappin'!" Thanks. I needed to hear that! And you should have seen me trying to direct AND keep my arms glued to my sides. I have just learned to love my flaps and direct the singing with flaps flying!<br />
Just the other day while I was teaching a reading group and the writing group was working at the next table over, I start to hear a bit of a hubbub and look over to see two of my girls arguing about who has the most vowels in their names...complete with the attitude faces smirking at each other. I just smiled. Of all the things they could be arguing about...vowels work for me.<br />
That same day, they were to choose a partner to practice reading a poem with and I look around to see two of my tough guys all snuggled up together practicing (and enjoying it) diligently together.<br />
<br />
I will miss these stories.<br />
<br />
One thing I will not miss is making decisions, large and small, all day long that effect other people. I especially don't like it when someone asks me to make a decsion, I do, and then they go ask someone else when they didn't like the decision I made. No, I will not miss making decisions.<br />
I will not miss the chaos and confusion of trying to organize something for a school our size AND keeping everyone happy. Really? You <u>need</u> your planning period the penultimate day of school?<br />
<br />
I still have 3 biggish events to get through:<br />
Little Red Riding Hood - The Musical<br />
Luau<br />
Awards Day<br />
<br />
I'll keep you posted! I can't quite grasp the whole 5 days thing.Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-67078023575206777502011-05-26T14:04:00.000-07:002011-05-26T14:04:45.508-07:00Birth of a BloomerThe rhododendron is the state flower of West Virginia and we have a lovely large bush in our front yard. I chose one bud to photograph each day through fully bloomed....amazing.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A happy sight each time I pull into my driveway....ahhhh.</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-59438921225208030522011-05-23T17:10:00.000-07:002011-05-23T17:26:51.417-07:00Retirement DinnerToday was the day that the county honored this year's crop of retirees.<br />
They served us a delicious dinner: salad with strawberries and pecans, fresh rolls, beef kabobs from the Grand Champion Steer at last year's Buckwheat Festival (that I really did not need to know!), cake and sherbet. It was served in the cafeteria of the high school on Fiesta plates...or really nice fake Fiesta! We ate and they gave us a plaque. Typical. But, the cool thing was they gave each of us a copy of our years of service record that showed what and where we had taught each year. Some had taught in each school in the county and I have taught at the same school for all but one of my years in the county. There were only 4 ahead of my 33 years and the total years experience in all the retirees (20 maybe?) was 811 years!<br />
<br />
It really was just perfect. I loved that the food service people prepared the meal. The county office staff served the meal. It was at the high school and I could watch out the window and see kids coming for evening activities. It was mostly people that I have shared a good chunk of my life with...some only tangentially, but enough that we could spend a good while doing the "remember whens?" Some have shared much more closely the joys and sorrows.<br />
<br />
It was another step closer to my retirement reality.<br />
Tomorrow it is 10 days and counting....10 days.<br />
<br />
Yikes.<br />
<br />
Oh. And I got my first retirement card in the mail today!Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-7109841707052691822011-05-21T17:19:00.000-07:002011-05-21T17:26:53.058-07:00Measuring MercyMy last two dogs have been named Grace and Mercy because you just can't have too much of that stuff in your home. Sadly, Grace died earlier, in the fall. Mercy, who almost died several times when she was a wee puppy with immune deficiency problems, is now alive and well and BIG. So, I took her to school today to do some measuring with the kidlets.<br />
Mercy has always been more settled than Grace ever was even at 7 years old. It never crossed my mind to take Grace to school...she would have knocked them down and licked them, one right after the other. Mercy has been to visit the past two years. I think getting her certified as a therapy dog might be something I look into after I retire...she's that mellow. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF4q6FEkjpBE-q6vNBLB2XK34PBC8XbqGgWa4h7p1rbjJmc_fkjKfTBQXxquVrG_UGen2it7U44gaBSiXoqd89ktNCkgBSPGcSjLOYdYtTxrSjGvc76SAxzU9YboI6iqoPk-Rp_tmxgQ/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608085406342372722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF4q6FEkjpBE-q6vNBLB2XK34PBC8XbqGgWa4h7p1rbjJmc_fkjKfTBQXxquVrG_UGen2it7U44gaBSiXoqd89ktNCkgBSPGcSjLOYdYtTxrSjGvc76SAxzU9YboI6iqoPk-Rp_tmxgQ/s320/IMG_0668.JPG" style="height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
But she looks big and impressive. She is a Shiloh Shepherd (plush).<br />
I had the kids sit backs against something, wall or bookcase, in a semi circle and Mercy got to go to them. She sniffed a few and kissed a few and they were all good about keeping the noise down and their backs back.<br />
<br />
She loved on a few of the adults, too.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608094724432856178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0z52cIkyaBd6jCN45YxZgVEp5DtIaATIhAfR2SpuE-iuYqCehz2E9uLHGmkCzP2Zv5jvZHKlu68jZRYCuMnHRbcNOHExs8wueQP766O2oJPb_nF2RadIwYL7JceZF8x41fyL1Ar7mCtA/s320/IMG_0678.JPG" style="height: 214px; width: 320px;" /><br />
Mrs. Bayles, comrade in arms!<br />
<br />
Mercy wasn't all that keen on getting measured, but we got it done and did the same measurements on one of my tiny ones...Mercy was bigger on all counts, but Alexis was much easier to measure! We measured ears, legs, tail (we measured Alexis' ponytail for this one), height, nose and compared tongues without actually measuring.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviKkbHs0tdabJJgyYwQyB4tu80582J_uK_hgekJ4oKXoGyWX8_cY2I8AwPLJdNL9nnaaSZodi64Wu79lNrfJNI6agsBFHvLsyv5VEStnjU0CnaOfNiI7KRVlTPniAZnJvHLfAAZfff34/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608238090828011154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviKkbHs0tdabJJgyYwQyB4tu80582J_uK_hgekJ4oKXoGyWX8_cY2I8AwPLJdNL9nnaaSZodi64Wu79lNrfJNI6agsBFHvLsyv5VEStnjU0CnaOfNiI7KRVlTPniAZnJvHLfAAZfff34/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" style="height: 214px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOxIvfy6M6jfI0MevN2hO2x3mlnTn8XSELxO5Y7baGkcFoTJ5Nx9ND7TPG1ACVr9JEWYJLwdkXYFIGBjA7dNFnNi3N_i5_AGkq70zpi6sCpWpLsHNE4FoCbKs719sMPxAiwnPajv0Gdc/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608238096314504834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOxIvfy6M6jfI0MevN2hO2x3mlnTn8XSELxO5Y7baGkcFoTJ5Nx9ND7TPG1ACVr9JEWYJLwdkXYFIGBjA7dNFnNi3N_i5_AGkq70zpi6sCpWpLsHNE4FoCbKs719sMPxAiwnPajv0Gdc/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" style="height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Then, we took some photos with the kidlets. I think it is something they will remember...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94yWlQSO4CkFBP6yOD40lCH2ivDdSMG6uYY70-QQgrEWkRt1g5RjGeAlzVn0UHAp1G8q3zZDD-lzo12mzaHSEu6alclttu89Et53sfXE3DUl2UXzk5ILWEXC18dOF-TgOrhTx-PaU3Ro/s1600/IMG_0684.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608251139474257554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94yWlQSO4CkFBP6yOD40lCH2ivDdSMG6uYY70-QQgrEWkRt1g5RjGeAlzVn0UHAp1G8q3zZDD-lzo12mzaHSEu6alclttu89Et53sfXE3DUl2UXzk5ILWEXC18dOF-TgOrhTx-PaU3Ro/s320/IMG_0684.JPG" style="height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcrhnEBJoR7mynqvzx2Dl-Q_54jqescVIsDwIWsDQGOGa2a5dGSPI5iaO5Hoy4AwpuhxFC6tt8E8IRjHpUW8ShPL5BGgQNbo0ZsYYW2zJEqy6Xz83Elw7aTH-vEVIanFi5wsDnUGForM/s1600/IMG_0687.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608251143052607698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcrhnEBJoR7mynqvzx2Dl-Q_54jqescVIsDwIWsDQGOGa2a5dGSPI5iaO5Hoy4AwpuhxFC6tt8E8IRjHpUW8ShPL5BGgQNbo0ZsYYW2zJEqy6Xz83Elw7aTH-vEVIanFi5wsDnUGForM/s320/IMG_0687.JPG" style="height: 320px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
(That's Alexis in the white shirt in the photo on the right.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Mercy is my big, cuddly, 90 pound provider of unconditional love! No matter how my day went, Mercy is there to greet me with all the doggy love she can share for as long as I need it to be shared.<br />
Love that!<br />
<br />
(Thanks for the photos, Connie!)Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-89438522386485545542011-05-18T17:37:00.000-07:002011-05-18T17:37:26.372-07:00Clouds, Glorious Clouds!This was a 10 minute drive around town this evening about 7:30...ahhhhh, love these things!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOiLRywk2-c0mMMqbB5YoVMjxvUk3-pWcrEeZKKfsnWqn0sNBq93H4GHKhpCHLt8iCvQbfFseZUp0ZxE997KD3RoAY8oJ7C_w2KF91_KmssSaNKyfwfW5ZO7HVIJLHvgSrF4MTo6KVUw/s1600/DSCN2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOiLRywk2-c0mMMqbB5YoVMjxvUk3-pWcrEeZKKfsnWqn0sNBq93H4GHKhpCHLt8iCvQbfFseZUp0ZxE997KD3RoAY8oJ7C_w2KF91_KmssSaNKyfwfW5ZO7HVIJLHvgSrF4MTo6KVUw/s320/DSCN2015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> From the top of the hill at Shangri La Ti Da...looking from the front yard.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDFEQPQyb4YSkJOSvEXWkc96Uirzu9Ip-AU6rv-KCQXqZeh3B4VrkF3tuIMwkFXYDQXiURPR8ODCz1BQKfg3z00Dr3AeqcBKdAsjZEVI1R7g-rv7h8Vz7SVdd9FWa6dkWpwO8YCbV8m0/s1600/DSCN2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDFEQPQyb4YSkJOSvEXWkc96Uirzu9Ip-AU6rv-KCQXqZeh3B4VrkF3tuIMwkFXYDQXiURPR8ODCz1BQKfg3z00Dr3AeqcBKdAsjZEVI1R7g-rv7h8Vz7SVdd9FWa6dkWpwO8YCbV8m0/s320/DSCN2016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the same spot, but looking toward the backyard. See our little "practice house"?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevR_PYcRC5SWltDzU1nqbRtAbn4Ei4h-OgLRY1QTEYWX1GSA87dpsmKAaxkGqA7hKhrd4mJEkeAIVTbeHRTZj4tO618Y0hML6mnijcbf_6JjbYhDwt4n6k9noFWpK-VQiT9qDI8zSULg/s1600/DSCN2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevR_PYcRC5SWltDzU1nqbRtAbn4Ei4h-OgLRY1QTEYWX1GSA87dpsmKAaxkGqA7hKhrd4mJEkeAIVTbeHRTZj4tO618Y0hML6mnijcbf_6JjbYhDwt4n6k9noFWpK-VQiT9qDI8zSULg/s320/DSCN2023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Driving out of the neighborhood...to the left...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N6UWibo4Hsqs7dSzLiuOnbSsgah-2w_4icDGfKEOzy8T_bEL2cymFWCIQ3CXs5JcsJSXxj7SxUsDwEUwzuNWWmLQpl1Rp3DkWzOuWt5tpU-ommprpEygjdRNsyOvTYELXT8hUku6Dh0/s1600/DSCN2024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N6UWibo4Hsqs7dSzLiuOnbSsgah-2w_4icDGfKEOzy8T_bEL2cymFWCIQ3CXs5JcsJSXxj7SxUsDwEUwzuNWWmLQpl1Rp3DkWzOuWt5tpU-ommprpEygjdRNsyOvTYELXT8hUku6Dh0/s320/DSCN2024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And to the right. Our current home is pretty much right through those 2 trees on the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhq562BSe7o7m3tODDc60HiVBEnVxdTz8pl7GlbgBYBbZ0Lsep91blpDT8lSsu4jNWhfr27mvmg0KtrMOSdhZcHciObw1VyRRVOSChAu5sJoTdoAsvieLAmgkbLTu_WCVL848bJYQGo28/s1600/DSCN2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhq562BSe7o7m3tODDc60HiVBEnVxdTz8pl7GlbgBYBbZ0Lsep91blpDT8lSsu4jNWhfr27mvmg0KtrMOSdhZcHciObw1VyRRVOSChAu5sJoTdoAsvieLAmgkbLTu_WCVL848bJYQGo28/s320/DSCN2028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zGtxCCknfJ6QUMmKtTfdTWm9jFKB7IM3KLVxI0MmCaFuzmkP_qAdB4IAIKDn2-HZAfMIwoR1ow-16sRfvl-Ufh57tYOFBwtDG_7OyPssglPGEKDtEvgTVbtxVHWWDx7A_x58US49wv0/s1600/DSCN2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Black sky with sun trying to peak through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3qvB6hO9NLJEQ-fdJE04hlEzn0PDXHJvQJYRhqFR8oe2ktNDOZauosk1_MQwXY0L8mlOEhz9Nu6l9-hojLGmvKUiqo-zBq55Zgg6wR4eZZ62lPj7RjIQeqNfRtsFLKBNJatBhlLrHDo/s1600/DSCN2026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3qvB6hO9NLJEQ-fdJE04hlEzn0PDXHJvQJYRhqFR8oe2ktNDOZauosk1_MQwXY0L8mlOEhz9Nu6l9-hojLGmvKUiqo-zBq55Zgg6wR4eZZ62lPj7RjIQeqNfRtsFLKBNJatBhlLrHDo/s320/DSCN2026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or blue sky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zGtxCCknfJ6QUMmKtTfdTWm9jFKB7IM3KLVxI0MmCaFuzmkP_qAdB4IAIKDn2-HZAfMIwoR1ow-16sRfvl-Ufh57tYOFBwtDG_7OyPssglPGEKDtEvgTVbtxVHWWDx7A_x58US49wv0/s1600/DSCN2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zGtxCCknfJ6QUMmKtTfdTWm9jFKB7IM3KLVxI0MmCaFuzmkP_qAdB4IAIKDn2-HZAfMIwoR1ow-16sRfvl-Ufh57tYOFBwtDG_7OyPssglPGEKDtEvgTVbtxVHWWDx7A_x58US49wv0/s320/DSCN2031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Nice enough shot out the window while driving. Look at that underlayer of blue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHou8xJJEJsWzNN5iFCvLAbeJyk00e8vXGUo4hJYI26OXiI6nlJU22NmdIcKG3PU8S6cRnaV3M9f8fUFpwV7gspL2icZyiehlPWorpM4Wrm2dEiG1jHfawkJJS6S7q05Jo-3nz7n6if4g/s1600/DSCN2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHou8xJJEJsWzNN5iFCvLAbeJyk00e8vXGUo4hJYI26OXiI6nlJU22NmdIcKG3PU8S6cRnaV3M9f8fUFpwV7gspL2icZyiehlPWorpM4Wrm2dEiG1jHfawkJJS6S7q05Jo-3nz7n6if4g/s320/DSCN2029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Oh. Gotta stop and get out, now. Look right....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9D-SE_ffUhyAuDKIZnQu-OBHd1gMM9uT-xwB2uYqrlj9NwhjpWad1YG9YL54rwWceUI8YYVyP4C0K7tiou_ZEWe6OnO0odc0k5IUjFnv2HyjCCqNmc8tsci8m_kCY2Jkjb1UAzLBuGs/s1600/DSCN2036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9D-SE_ffUhyAuDKIZnQu-OBHd1gMM9uT-xwB2uYqrlj9NwhjpWad1YG9YL54rwWceUI8YYVyP4C0K7tiou_ZEWe6OnO0odc0k5IUjFnv2HyjCCqNmc8tsci8m_kCY2Jkjb1UAzLBuGs/s320/DSCN2036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look left. Both taken from the same spot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHW6gr7rSn8L64X6l8JUVAPUmb7VkALywVcsGvaJP1GXoraVA-CFyuRnKgKrad1Int2ORbv35jilrpRIlS7sSdQ3wCNt0UjE52kpbDFxlCrEZLJcRCdMXmDnqOJQHbShi85J50qoFdqY/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHW6gr7rSn8L64X6l8JUVAPUmb7VkALywVcsGvaJP1GXoraVA-CFyuRnKgKrad1Int2ORbv35jilrpRIlS7sSdQ3wCNt0UjE52kpbDFxlCrEZLJcRCdMXmDnqOJQHbShi85J50qoFdqY/s320/DSCN2033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Our river, the mighty Cheat...one of the few in North America that flows north...up, full and heavy...a bit threatening. <div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK. Maybe it took more like 20 minutes with all the stopping to take the pictures and all.</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-5577712727389581252011-05-17T15:33:00.000-07:002011-05-18T14:04:18.016-07:00Birthday KittiesTwo of my favorite girls had a birthday on Monday...they turned all of 8 years old. They are sweet, cute and oh, so lovable. So what could I do but make them something almost as special as they are for their big birthday? Have a look....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWjtsBmdULZzS9Fp0hvuf1E4JGF9ENwrXVBTP3neWxWXxMrKvIezthFSn2CIG68Tiji7u5hgLguXWnk8X2cGLq_-F3hNaYkbc3zxbiCsoztbUERllpWgF36RHnJO_jTM6FLfPtULRXUk/s1600/DSCN2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWjtsBmdULZzS9Fp0hvuf1E4JGF9ENwrXVBTP3neWxWXxMrKvIezthFSn2CIG68Tiji7u5hgLguXWnk8X2cGLq_-F3hNaYkbc3zxbiCsoztbUERllpWgF36RHnJO_jTM6FLfPtULRXUk/s320/DSCN2008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got these fun felt circles off of Esty. I have lots of plans for them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzn7kT6KvnPTrgJio6yDpdSjRqPeoOny8Ejsevl3lumO9V5NbrJJfvx8VtVwHqDMrHuo6mGQioHBZD4-3w1KRroVHBEjk4MTaaySltKbT_uX9h4rnMxrU9Uld04kEvMCJJGn-_Vi9dZA/s1600/DSCN2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzn7kT6KvnPTrgJio6yDpdSjRqPeoOny8Ejsevl3lumO9V5NbrJJfvx8VtVwHqDMrHuo6mGQioHBZD4-3w1KRroVHBEjk4MTaaySltKbT_uX9h4rnMxrU9Uld04kEvMCJJGn-_Vi9dZA/s320/DSCN2005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plan #1 was to put a cat face on, add a dotty ribbon and a necklace.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_J8fR1EdmfMaQG0CWRcK6HD6k1pDYsaevFTKL0Hn78Ft0ujg1JWS_JLo2uoMwl-CKPtH_vtzNj2H5pvBnifi7LO55KbxpCQPdGZDQQRGTlFIsjMgfYrfPttUhx1T7ZgX_YbN1LvIwI8/s1600/DSCN2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_J8fR1EdmfMaQG0CWRcK6HD6k1pDYsaevFTKL0Hn78Ft0ujg1JWS_JLo2uoMwl-CKPtH_vtzNj2H5pvBnifi7LO55KbxpCQPdGZDQQRGTlFIsjMgfYrfPttUhx1T7ZgX_YbN1LvIwI8/s320/DSCN2006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plan #2 was to make one more with different colors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh46pxe7SfiKr72wpsAKIX17yxmmjDzTOu9GL94PlAhxykLaeu88PROdFzdAXDDI6mP003LiFsj1oXF2vHhc-LAAeHPZwbhiKGZCxrSd3zyqwPms1dIsOTVtAorLKFTfWMkomqzN4utnQ/s1600/DSCN2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh46pxe7SfiKr72wpsAKIX17yxmmjDzTOu9GL94PlAhxykLaeu88PROdFzdAXDDI6mP003LiFsj1oXF2vHhc-LAAeHPZwbhiKGZCxrSd3zyqwPms1dIsOTVtAorLKFTfWMkomqzN4utnQ/s320/DSCN2007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ahh, yes, plan completed successfully and cutely, if I do say so myself.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q1jROTr9pKH1cus2_6hyphenhyphenjHnfw7AC7gzl6MFk-fo5UOOWGfGMka7t-aPaG8tlscTkG1J6BPY1a6zRtJ5hyRJqdnl1rMSCVGlbDwAqwhGnhgy_JS3gG1DfR9at2qXopMpSrKal3sApayw/s1600/DSCN2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Q1jROTr9pKH1cus2_6hyphenhyphenjHnfw7AC7gzl6MFk-fo5UOOWGfGMka7t-aPaG8tlscTkG1J6BPY1a6zRtJ5hyRJqdnl1rMSCVGlbDwAqwhGnhgy_JS3gG1DfR9at2qXopMpSrKal3sApayw/s320/DSCN2009.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And check out that very cool green glass hand. Perfect for showcasing cuteness.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpZoTgtZSIvbR_NJG_tQG4sDbMP2bW-hB8AgZ0oFtTuYyOhPV7SybJutzPh12smneip2ryZCDqXy1E7_grhM-QldYzUEJgNKkzmqOaRSNyMcnph8JLmv1bmy9JTTmmiCRUCK4fNf-NMA/s1600/DSCN2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpZoTgtZSIvbR_NJG_tQG4sDbMP2bW-hB8AgZ0oFtTuYyOhPV7SybJutzPh12smneip2ryZCDqXy1E7_grhM-QldYzUEJgNKkzmqOaRSNyMcnph8JLmv1bmy9JTTmmiCRUCK4fNf-NMA/s320/DSCN2010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wrapped and ready to be gifted. I'm not even too nervous about </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">letting them go and live with these 2 sweet girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HUnWw7H_2xiyBlMzwkuB6FwXHWDWXDnhT40rwySD0asxOk0TF2aURdq2Tp2eDevHm4UtSZFmdrcvzrAIfpaP8o_TJaKe4JqE0tewDKRJTEfXLc78HStXF6EI9JpG3MkeI4Igb47Tvfc/s1600/DSCN2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HUnWw7H_2xiyBlMzwkuB6FwXHWDWXDnhT40rwySD0asxOk0TF2aURdq2Tp2eDevHm4UtSZFmdrcvzrAIfpaP8o_TJaKe4JqE0tewDKRJTEfXLc78HStXF6EI9JpG3MkeI4Igb47Tvfc/s320/DSCN2012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See? Aren't they the cutest? The kitty necklaces and the girls, of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">This is exactly when I am most grateful for being blessed with my gift of creating. Seeing their faces was worth every single needle prick...</div><div align="left">And the hugs? Even better!</div><div align="left">Love.</div><div align="left"></div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-85788800033898677412011-05-13T11:19:00.000-07:002011-05-13T11:19:37.958-07:00Another Last: Signs of EncouragementEach year our students, in WV, beginning in 3rd grade, have to take the WESTEST...<br />
Each year, for the last several years, I have had my students make signs of encouragement for our 12 classes of 3rd - 5th graders. We brainstorm some slogans that will fit on the 1/2 poster and be encouraging. They trace letters...lots of thinking and arranging...outline with marker and color inside the letters they traced. They are supposed to use one warm color and one cool color for letters and background...usually looks nice. There is team work involved and support for others. They have to go into the "big kids" classrooms and make a little presentation speech with their partner. Standing and speaking in front of others is a major life skill that I give them as much practice in as possible. <br />
Here we go...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuJ1j2RNTughBOTbZQ-LOPNlkrA7iWuMBI3dslutSseVAtxExMG61qoF-Ov5AZu8GeMNVk0dDOpTsfyZmGiXMC83XN_ciFwok0QDn01zRYpqN7ARHikErSciETR9At2iLZaoPZ3x6kCU/s1600/DSCN1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuJ1j2RNTughBOTbZQ-LOPNlkrA7iWuMBI3dslutSseVAtxExMG61qoF-Ov5AZu8GeMNVk0dDOpTsfyZmGiXMC83XN_ciFwok0QDn01zRYpqN7ARHikErSciETR9At2iLZaoPZ3x6kCU/s320/DSCN1961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuSa-j_BZ808zSCk4e1_N3acW1sSiMMlIUy5MJ774GBuATYOb_fZI1FoWKlNYVUEqSE0rpzvFvlpS02RskmyB-L-JrBvf3v98Lj-SIJ9wQjS8KEJtnTpKaJ6niaJZ2Ny3OeuaPOPlpbg/s1600/DSCN1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuSa-j_BZ808zSCk4e1_N3acW1sSiMMlIUy5MJ774GBuATYOb_fZI1FoWKlNYVUEqSE0rpzvFvlpS02RskmyB-L-JrBvf3v98Lj-SIJ9wQjS8KEJtnTpKaJ6niaJZ2Ny3OeuaPOPlpbg/s320/DSCN1962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuE8Pbuo2uz0MS9cR38Phnl2X8GdkqDAdcqdwnu6Sr0ZBz7rAhsJ4VfK1FZ5Tg9ThK1NQyy8c0ZDivi0EyaGvX9iG0EYKjSfJvTwqKtYgL1HSFd2uEijAo_am9S3hY4R_ovbK9tC92fA/s1600/DSCN1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuE8Pbuo2uz0MS9cR38Phnl2X8GdkqDAdcqdwnu6Sr0ZBz7rAhsJ4VfK1FZ5Tg9ThK1NQyy8c0ZDivi0EyaGvX9iG0EYKjSfJvTwqKtYgL1HSFd2uEijAo_am9S3hY4R_ovbK9tC92fA/s320/DSCN1963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIePFrQ7-m9cbHZcKNVnaQNqzkLYfMNRquzEvQYFr6I9ra5Qp5DG3xSW0e7nGQl1FjJWTUH2ECFKa8T_ZeaijU4hvBHFCxJJKPFhwIAiV6yKez6cshLbEpw00pTWXcwxjQzXzUPKaDK68/s1600/DSCN1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIePFrQ7-m9cbHZcKNVnaQNqzkLYfMNRquzEvQYFr6I9ra5Qp5DG3xSW0e7nGQl1FjJWTUH2ECFKa8T_ZeaijU4hvBHFCxJJKPFhwIAiV6yKez6cshLbEpw00pTWXcwxjQzXzUPKaDK68/s320/DSCN1964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Always interesting to see the different ways they go about a job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNfTm0_CkYL8Krzpd2dTzvh-winUxafUioO08Ri6wTuW7jGqLiMbPrlOcMgyHtHFQXXdxi1bfuk3gyPLqY_bMb3wrM_dQfyWIEVyhdJTMl9dJd8ZrY3U9dSG7YnoiNznBr8KYKDLcfYo/s1600/DSCN1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNfTm0_CkYL8Krzpd2dTzvh-winUxafUioO08Ri6wTuW7jGqLiMbPrlOcMgyHtHFQXXdxi1bfuk3gyPLqY_bMb3wrM_dQfyWIEVyhdJTMl9dJd8ZrY3U9dSG7YnoiNznBr8KYKDLcfYo/s320/DSCN1965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktvoTeCCRU2XKk9MXDAU9PcUrXGs7JaNPT-P5yw8KdHFtgCdMtipdFHJa4eHqzNqguVD26mh2oq2AM1RAlUwOPuRQIy-5kZcIIU5gWVxy7gZknLPqPHG1kk0nodMNpkhBTP7O_zkcIFM/s1600/DSCN1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktvoTeCCRU2XKk9MXDAU9PcUrXGs7JaNPT-P5yw8KdHFtgCdMtipdFHJa4eHqzNqguVD26mh2oq2AM1RAlUwOPuRQIy-5kZcIIU5gWVxy7gZknLPqPHG1kk0nodMNpkhBTP7O_zkcIFM/s320/DSCN1966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyzOHSXRMNh4FEdlcim3NFIH45ny33XRDIPygHymBh_ZKAKbwA8T5-M8g8l54915X3qjihczeqd-GNzAlhkzgAiVOu7XJIxcgLFR5xfQcx3CP4VgRhtRVQvLuy1YlbsnFMhBh3bOspfs/s1600/DSCN1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyzOHSXRMNh4FEdlcim3NFIH45ny33XRDIPygHymBh_ZKAKbwA8T5-M8g8l54915X3qjihczeqd-GNzAlhkzgAiVOu7XJIxcgLFR5xfQcx3CP4VgRhtRVQvLuy1YlbsnFMhBh3bOspfs/s320/DSCN1967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All good sentiments and encouragement for test taking and living!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kKY4L9XKoqhNkc_d22B2AKwiNR99mduL9vSmU7VuP9upS15fmDqsxJ3NgB4VmO7yBLRr4DGtLGScJMax1XMKF3Eh6qG1MjV9eeLV0lpEvK7uDXv00I2T2UDm4UdUC9C_p9l9NIB-k8U/s1600/DSCN1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kKY4L9XKoqhNkc_d22B2AKwiNR99mduL9vSmU7VuP9upS15fmDqsxJ3NgB4VmO7yBLRr4DGtLGScJMax1XMKF3Eh6qG1MjV9eeLV0lpEvK7uDXv00I2T2UDm4UdUC9C_p9l9NIB-k8U/s320/DSCN1988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have practiced our "speech" and are ready to go....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jbhu5WEq12Yh8NRSHQi9b_uGnC8XhDs2NxpDYprBsqwZ9QsJDlY33Czza1OIb7iBsHZu1dXP4FOlzLDJT7vpLReLf0sqRzb7VylcYsFu6QicVB6bX9L_0fg1i1veejTJgad6J5CIPPY/s1600/DSCN1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jbhu5WEq12Yh8NRSHQi9b_uGnC8XhDs2NxpDYprBsqwZ9QsJDlY33Czza1OIb7iBsHZu1dXP4FOlzLDJT7vpLReLf0sqRzb7VylcYsFu6QicVB6bX9L_0fg1i1veejTJgad6J5CIPPY/s320/DSCN1989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They look so tiny.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6DIYc5SoDOEm9FQ_TR5vf5s-IluMu0aH5wLUYKUyaVKrDCOSQ7-Xa8TFUn5lJBoEcVKNPhh6XcPQs5QDNCKiz0XrtsEvdRO1xZbvFSaFVBoXiKYPbqZLTvPH0ogkdfXC8eMAQOqu_j4/s1600/DSCN1991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6DIYc5SoDOEm9FQ_TR5vf5s-IluMu0aH5wLUYKUyaVKrDCOSQ7-Xa8TFUn5lJBoEcVKNPhh6XcPQs5QDNCKiz0XrtsEvdRO1xZbvFSaFVBoXiKYPbqZLTvPH0ogkdfXC8eMAQOqu_j4/s320/DSCN1991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">I think the signs will be missed next year. I have been doing it long enough that the kids taking the tests remember making the signs for the "big kids" when they were the "little kids". Making memories....</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Wonder if there are any jobs out there for professional encouragers? I think I could do that job!</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-67498368318014538522011-05-13T10:32:00.000-07:002011-05-13T10:32:53.751-07:00Fly Out, Cat In...Oh, NO! Cat Out, Fly InSo, a sure and certain sign of spring is flies in the house. Well, spring has sprung and we have a giant big fly cruising around the house with 2 cats and a 90 pound dog in hot pursuit! Can you say, chaos? Not being one to just kill any bug, I decide to open the screen on the window that is a story above ground and let the poor giant buzzing thing out. I shoo Skippy Jo Lohr (named after the kid's book kitty, Skippy John Jones and one of the cats in pursuit) away from the screenless window several times, but then I turn away for a moment and all I hear is SWOOSH! Out he goes and lands on the little roof that covers the entrance to the garage. I look out to see what happened and notice how lovely my little Japanese maple, blue blooming vines and day lillies to be look so I decide to take a picture...or seven. Watch the adventure of Skippy Jo Lohr...well, this day's adventure!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien02dHlYXmOqpRCC_hyphenhyphenkPz6TKntj24KkZfTqBJEokdKoz_6ceMC7pKP2pTjOPjFH_Hgy7-V0feWYTnkcKFEI_aSYc5QJd9VzmK_-HzfKvlTst_qY2P9NO0d_da0BXIU6YSCqVgjma1CY/s1600/DSCN1971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien02dHlYXmOqpRCC_hyphenhyphenkPz6TKntj24KkZfTqBJEokdKoz_6ceMC7pKP2pTjOPjFH_Hgy7-V0feWYTnkcKFEI_aSYc5QJd9VzmK_-HzfKvlTst_qY2P9NO0d_da0BXIU6YSCqVgjma1CY/s320/DSCN1971.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the pretty landscaping and the crazy cat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlOH6urDSSHl0jSrgnYDlwmCMtRouodtZQulIuVd763ixDTxzdrI7BD3USa_Lrddr1xS8gCzkL5uRKoFIILMVILl3WUWsdyxpMDmfn-vI7Fq_bu84wMz7fs7hbXntNUDoRp9oeYcx_YQ/s1600/DSCN1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlOH6urDSSHl0jSrgnYDlwmCMtRouodtZQulIuVd763ixDTxzdrI7BD3USa_Lrddr1xS8gCzkL5uRKoFIILMVILl3WUWsdyxpMDmfn-vI7Fq_bu84wMz7fs7hbXntNUDoRp9oeYcx_YQ/s320/DSCN1978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes? What can you possibly want? I just got out here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After 10 minutes of me hanging worriedly out the window...oh, and taking a few photos...he begins to think about his predicament.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07BJbXAJKIywOpfk4JvNU44KVp41MTwucEn73sMJmnj9VuyHvuxmh1651Z9KIY_Y1fDyzDdOoOnphpp3NonALJgG4JN-0jebgzO0CSdEE8odd4nD4KZAZn_b0FLdNtsQmLKF-p0ezFvI/s1600/DSCN1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07BJbXAJKIywOpfk4JvNU44KVp41MTwucEn73sMJmnj9VuyHvuxmh1651Z9KIY_Y1fDyzDdOoOnphpp3NonALJgG4JN-0jebgzO0CSdEE8odd4nD4KZAZn_b0FLdNtsQmLKF-p0ezFvI/s320/DSCN1972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hmmmm. Wonder if it will hurt much to land on the hood of the Jeep down there....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDG4xJzibn3eBMrd9OhGAu115gKgExP7euArU_LMNNu0b0cXmFaKJMGpAUXNgIjWn01LNKF0Qgkn_e3crJ1vC8s8NO_fSbY-ViKqrurE0uh2jOwvvvp3LTqUVIqjbpOuCLLjGv_I2Se8/s1600/DSCN1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDG4xJzibn3eBMrd9OhGAu115gKgExP7euArU_LMNNu0b0cXmFaKJMGpAUXNgIjWn01LNKF0Qgkn_e3crJ1vC8s8NO_fSbY-ViKqrurE0uh2jOwvvvp3LTqUVIqjbpOuCLLjGv_I2Se8/s320/DSCN1973.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh. Maybe I can jump up into the kitchen window. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NO! That window is not open and you will bounce off and fall down into the driveway.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEIExcFye5m2w1zBR1XppGbON3-Yvnav6Hz9RxXLFWtqom_dZ2C1_fiZhruzO2nhpVLRKTJ3VRz_Bd0DCgtgm4ffJHdMp6VRMZlfSAO9aF-PF5pYuzL1nmn0qb0U2ex8lBXPHaX6mTYA/s1600/DSCN1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEIExcFye5m2w1zBR1XppGbON3-Yvnav6Hz9RxXLFWtqom_dZ2C1_fiZhruzO2nhpVLRKTJ3VRz_Bd0DCgtgm4ffJHdMp6VRMZlfSAO9aF-PF5pYuzL1nmn0qb0U2ex8lBXPHaX6mTYA/s320/DSCN1980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OK. Then how about if I just climb off here into the rhododendron where I always see those birdies hiding out...ummm, maybe I am a bit heavier than the birdies. These branches don't seem all that sturdy to me. And he did reach out and try a few.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQDT4BBnsEXFP1PS68l5_aNCUj_AB8Usqh5ZzB9Vg-Iw8QInEBC41zp3G39Pwe-WW1-js2oz3CgsQB4T3je2Uyv0joVdxdaVs5Rp4m2vtJB4hifgk6efvgRGuNgBKPAOCT47GAq5V5do/s1600/DSCN1970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQDT4BBnsEXFP1PS68l5_aNCUj_AB8Usqh5ZzB9Vg-Iw8QInEBC41zp3G39Pwe-WW1-js2oz3CgsQB4T3je2Uyv0joVdxdaVs5Rp4m2vtJB4hifgk6efvgRGuNgBKPAOCT47GAq5V5do/s320/DSCN1970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, I suppose that I could go back in the window I came out. That is just so much less adventurous. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QfPVUgVPNLko3uTEFgdasr1x9ert6Wuie8Mp8O-qtABH9oVXwRcRYyw45p0SbBzecEpOdd0Z0qEWju1RZt9ddAfoH0wi32kHTZN7n5gzhADvuXy7fBaWKDM-2q-FR1pmBnCeEa8Zolo/s1600/DSCN1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QfPVUgVPNLko3uTEFgdasr1x9ert6Wuie8Mp8O-qtABH9oVXwRcRYyw45p0SbBzecEpOdd0Z0qEWju1RZt9ddAfoH0wi32kHTZN7n5gzhADvuXy7fBaWKDM-2q-FR1pmBnCeEa8Zolo/s320/DSCN1969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But she does keep calling me....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCxx0gQ_Z0KZMx6D84qfoo4SbtZwS4rEXX8tXS3Mm245ZThmWqCit4wDDLzATsDkF1TEujvtP5MSFnjjcdHC-cKrxFzPqsZ5NJqOY5lxqFor6ha-obCPZBMXo7vNoTbZGubYfmp6gehs/s1600/DSCN1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCxx0gQ_Z0KZMx6D84qfoo4SbtZwS4rEXX8tXS3Mm245ZThmWqCit4wDDLzATsDkF1TEujvtP5MSFnjjcdHC-cKrxFzPqsZ5NJqOY5lxqFor6ha-obCPZBMXo7vNoTbZGubYfmp6gehs/s320/DSCN1982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hey! Can't a guy get a little help here?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He could reach the window, but his back feet were just not touching. So, I did finally put the camera down and drag him inside once again.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tiM8cs62srvzOfhebcFq1tMUNUBfP7G9JyBKmaBSMj6WWIFrmFq8oYT6z70v_qSRXEvUB50Ra-Dj99DNbAqlbxW-IzYn-b_Zn-vZjU3R9qbknRyNtuXbxGJlWhGswHTIAz2pYO1P3NM/s1600/DSCN1985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tiM8cs62srvzOfhebcFq1tMUNUBfP7G9JyBKmaBSMj6WWIFrmFq8oYT6z70v_qSRXEvUB50Ra-Dj99DNbAqlbxW-IzYn-b_Zn-vZjU3R9qbknRyNtuXbxGJlWhGswHTIAz2pYO1P3NM/s320/DSCN1985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who put this screen down? Is my adventure over? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">And of course the fly is still buzzing all around the house!</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-56561594049518404482011-05-07T16:29:00.000-07:002011-05-14T08:02:16.050-07:00Woodland Baby Mobile...awwwwSome of you may remember the little owlets I created for a friend who wanted to create a woodland theme baby mobile for her friend...if not, go here:<br />
http://donna-retirementcountdown.blogspot.com/2011/03/who-who-hoot.html<br />
She finished the branches and here is the completed collaboration. Trust me when I say it is WAY cuter in person. I could not find a way to photograph it and do it justice....no matter how long I had my husband hold it here or there.<br />
*** Photos on the right have been added since the original post. What a difference a real photographer with a good camera and better lighting makes! Thanks, Connie! <br />
Enjoy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXJvqvU3Zeu5UMDW4TN5i8memuVoI5Q3IvpIuTa78mcXDzzHsNu8gW3hRKhspNIipwcI-7HUi5-gii6eJMwVcY9ZrFo9_Ho5IObUcCg4wz_IeNUQLKXR36HBfmtz9TCSHDoiScweqCgU/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="214" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606391113557877202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXJvqvU3Zeu5UMDW4TN5i8memuVoI5Q3IvpIuTa78mcXDzzHsNu8gW3hRKhspNIipwcI-7HUi5-gii6eJMwVcY9ZrFo9_Ho5IObUcCg4wz_IeNUQLKXR36HBfmtz9TCSHDoiScweqCgU/s320/IMG_0508.JPG" style="height: 214px; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsFSMmBpW-eFHsakYfm8Lwre5p5z1sYCPg1E_i_pVmKys1SluS7moCBrwYyRNmN1QKj9nG6GsI8MQph-EkoaxJRjoWIZoldwTY-R2QaxrHnJNs9Sjlc-FVkqDvFmwnu86e9mmQOKmKP4/s1600/DSCN1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsFSMmBpW-eFHsakYfm8Lwre5p5z1sYCPg1E_i_pVmKys1SluS7moCBrwYyRNmN1QKj9nG6GsI8MQph-EkoaxJRjoWIZoldwTY-R2QaxrHnJNs9Sjlc-FVkqDvFmwnu86e9mmQOKmKP4/s200/DSCN1951.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope the baby (and her momma) will be happy. They are designed to take down and play with when the baby is old enough to not chew the eyes off...or lay it down where the dog will chew the eyes off!</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-323906246349119612011-05-06T13:49:00.000-07:002011-05-06T13:49:24.426-07:00Cross Country QuiltsAs part of our ongoing study of Oceans and Islands this year, we are currently in Hawaii...strategically planned so that we can have a luau for our end of the year party!<br />
I found these beautiful Hawaiian snowflake quilts (<a href="http://thelongthread.com/?p=53">http://thelongthread.com/?p=53</a>) and knew I wanted the kids to try them. And even though West Virginia isn't technically an island, I can do a lot of compare and contrast with the 2 states. So, we also made some simple 9 patch kind of "mountain" quilts. Hence, the cross country reference...Hawaii to West Virginia. Have a look :<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbYya0GhCEbNOvcU3E9UVYyec9TwpWYuv_u_pMQ2_wDcdiWbwTVVB-iIoyELN9hR7KGCJ5mNL7InXuDwYIUlMDj85IYbKOKdXBaQNg435VeZz9M593i8JuA09vCDHVOh1NXzihz6ZkP8/s1600/DSCN1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbYya0GhCEbNOvcU3E9UVYyec9TwpWYuv_u_pMQ2_wDcdiWbwTVVB-iIoyELN9hR7KGCJ5mNL7InXuDwYIUlMDj85IYbKOKdXBaQNg435VeZz9M593i8JuA09vCDHVOh1NXzihz6ZkP8/s320/DSCN1948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not bad, huh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have a great weekend.</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-41143057899160267072011-05-05T14:24:00.000-07:002011-05-05T14:24:10.084-07:00Making A Mother's DayThis is one of those little things that I will miss. Each year, for the last several years, I have taught the kids how to draw portraits of their moms. We do a couple of practice drawings...step by step by step by - NO WAIT that isn't right - by step by step. It is fun seeing them use the skills they learn to draw faces from now on. Here are a few of the finished and framed portraits.<br />
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</div><div align="left">Don't you think these will make some mother's days????</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-824707168732803651.post-6365317524586881202011-04-30T19:27:00.000-07:002011-04-30T19:45:47.147-07:00Glass Blowing Anyone?From a discussion on my friend's blog about blizzards, the discussion got around to glass blowing...yeah, I know. You gotta love that kind of discussion! Here are the efforts of my first attempt...well, the ones that didn't get gifted!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkRPeSGjJ0Kg-3fCdUTpAxIB8TR0_zZATjMGf3X31FF_R691GfGQwINSEMWJeLKsk0PeNA4dp7NgWf-GoGAlzgcaC-jsWId-NToFX26xhnknD3jopJDvG5xuo1yWiIEyKq8JoPuUJABg/s1600/DSCN1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkRPeSGjJ0Kg-3fCdUTpAxIB8TR0_zZATjMGf3X31FF_R691GfGQwINSEMWJeLKsk0PeNA4dp7NgWf-GoGAlzgcaC-jsWId-NToFX26xhnknD3jopJDvG5xuo1yWiIEyKq8JoPuUJABg/s320/DSCN1932.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hmmmm. A little extra bubble....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfN5d-rlJsRfm0UcNZjT_1wEjPyplJ5Xh9JU5AlRDeu1esq83Ih-s7wP0RBYV8vbwXqkSHu9tgsOZnfgizhXGlmGYcwiebCb_mOEfk1nxQ0yWyEXlQZfL5agPz0Sv0PgTJYGl2T7aOVQ/s1600/DSCN1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfN5d-rlJsRfm0UcNZjT_1wEjPyplJ5Xh9JU5AlRDeu1esq83Ih-s7wP0RBYV8vbwXqkSHu9tgsOZnfgizhXGlmGYcwiebCb_mOEfk1nxQ0yWyEXlQZfL5agPz0Sv0PgTJYGl2T7aOVQ/s320/DSCN1934.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...a little slant...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHXcteiX5eJxZZrC16sGmB8WPFxsK7aGjHLh4-wYgW7TmDGWcXRTwK5yqqYgoSO8uJlRquH4R1tK_MIdUAYJmJFyHtarUPreDSNnsMe-qFc4cIi_kGhPi2kdxxzC5yVOpqMGiTcrhp-E/s1600/DSCN1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHXcteiX5eJxZZrC16sGmB8WPFxsK7aGjHLh4-wYgW7TmDGWcXRTwK5yqqYgoSO8uJlRquH4R1tK_MIdUAYJmJFyHtarUPreDSNnsMe-qFc4cIi_kGhPi2kdxxzC5yVOpqMGiTcrhp-E/s320/DSCN1935.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...getting better, with stuff inside and a wrap on the outside....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96ZswKBmymvGMdsZAgtcxqR7tTZFHOJnT4G4Fz4Z1RypuIN4xH-ZFGfjl_fS6iYfZJJhUk_VwPMNvRobqyWbMYQXMdqCsJlc4Dy3_-tVsN5JjGGCFlJl_x9CXhBOUFIQZi-cY5NKiRjU/s1600/DSCN1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96ZswKBmymvGMdsZAgtcxqR7tTZFHOJnT4G4Fz4Z1RypuIN4xH-ZFGfjl_fS6iYfZJJhUk_VwPMNvRobqyWbMYQXMdqCsJlc4Dy3_-tVsN5JjGGCFlJl_x9CXhBOUFIQZi-cY5NKiRjU/s320/DSCN1936.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and an interesting color combination!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">Of course, I cannot find the ones from year two that turned out much better. I have carefully stored them away some place safe! Hope they show up at Christmas...</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10473148914709570743noreply@blogger.com10