Teacher of the Year Pep Rally

Hannah's 5th grade teacher was named Teacher of the Year for her school so we got to attend the Cobb County TOTY pep rally this week.

The pep rally is an annual event where the county recognizes all of the Teachers of the Year from the schools. Each school sends a few students to the event. People bring signs, pom poms, noisemakers and more to the rally. I volunteered to make the signs for Hannah's school.

Here is Hannah with some of her classmates holding their signs.

Hannah is holding her special sign. It's hard to tell, but there are lights around the edges. Poster making supplies have changed since I was a child!

Here is Hannah's teacher, in the center with the principal and classmates.

The kids had a fun time at the rally. The energy level was amazing! We are very proud of Hannah's teacher!

Marching Band

The 8th graders at James' school were invited to perform with the local high school marching band this past weekend. It was an opportunity for the kids to get a feel for what marching band would be like if they joined.


James plays the tuba in band, so for marching band he got to try out a sousaphone.

The band played the "rally" tunes during the first half of the football game.

After the halftime performance by the marching band, the 8th graders joined the band on the field to perform the school fight song. There weren't enough sousaphones, so James and another 8th grader just stood with the band. 

James had a fun time. We left shortly after halftime. It had gotten cold outside! James is strongly considering joining the marching band next year in high school. He has several friends who plan to join, but it is such a huge commitment!

Corn Maze

On Sunday, we decided to do something a bit seasonal. We drove up to Dawsonville, Georgia to go to Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze.

Walking through the maze.

Hannah

James

At each check point, there was a hole punch to help you keep track of where you've been.

Hannah & me

At the bridge we were able to climb up and get our bearings.

Hannah & Chris looking out into the maze.

Chris & me

Studying the map

After we finished the maze, we went to visit the goats.

They had this "goat walk" rigged up for the goats. Hannah & James got to see some goats up on the walk when we were in line getting our tickets. There was a pulley rigged up so you could send food up to the goats.

James & Hannah each bought a mini pumpkin. They knew better than to ask if they could have one of the larger, ridiculously expensive ones.

We had fun. The weather was beautiful. A nice way to end the weekend.

Scrapbooking Goal {Week 9}

I was so excited to be finished with my 2007 album, that I decided to thread all the pages into the album and put it in its place on the shelf. Well, I discovered that I wasn't finished! I had 2 blank pages with a post-it on them with the words "Mardi Gras". I wasn't feeling inspired when I originally came to those pictures. I still wasn't feeling inspired, but I was really motivated to finish the album.

I think I was hoping that Out on a Limb Scrapbooking would come out with a Mardi Gras kit. If they did, I missed it. So I tackled this one on my own. I did have some leftover Mardi Gras stickers from a previous year, so that's what I used.

Hannah's class kindergarten picture for her portrait album. I used paper from Creative Imaginations. 

This Easter layout is from a kit by Out on a Limb Scrapbooking.

First Grade picture uses Creative Memories supplies. 

The class picture uses supplies from TPC Studio. 

Hannah's second grade layout uses Creative Memories.

Goal Update: 76/288 pages

Scrapbooking Goal {Week 8}

The mother of one of Hannah's friends died this week. One of my fears of dying young is that my scrapbooks are not caught up. That may sound silly to some, but if I don't get their albums done, who will? This sad tragedy has lit a fire under me and I went to work.

 Here are the next 8 pages which would have been week 8. So excited that I am starting the 2008 album! I'm making progress!! This layout is from James' birthday. The kit is from Out on a Limb Scrapbooking.

Here's something you don't see very often in Georgia, a snow day! The kids got out of school for the snow. This is another Out on a Limb Scrapbooking kit.

This Sweetheart Dance layout is a kit from Out on a Limb Scrapbooking. 

This last layout uses Boy Scout printed paper from K & Company and stickers from EK Sucess.

Goal Update: 68/288 pages

What am I Reading?

What am I reading??? Not much!! With preparing for house guests, then having house guests, then recovering from house guests, I have not done much reading lately.

I am still working on Killer Deals by Sheryl Anderson.

I have read a couple more books for the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl that James is participating in at school.

I read the Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor which was a cute fantasy.

I also read 43 Old Cemetery Road Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise. This book was cleverly written all in letters, newspaper articles and notes.

As for To Kill a Mockingbird, I have not even attempted to further myself in it. My book club has chosen to read it this year, so I am confident that I will read it!!

Happy Reading!

Scrapbooking Goal {Week 7}

I can't believe how behind I have gotten. This is officially week #10 of the school year and this is only Week 7 of my scrapbooking! I am determined to get caught up.

I ran out of printed pictures for our family album, so I had to work on Hannah's portrait album. This first page uses an old Simply Scrappin' kit from Stampin' Up! The larger picture of Hannah is one of my all time favorite professional photos of her. Too cute!

Very simple - just a piece of retired printed cardstock from Stampin' Up and blue organdy ribbon.

The paper from this page is from Making Memories.

Ordered some more prints and was able to finish our 2007 album!!! This is a kit from Out on a Limb Scrapbooking.

This layout is also from Out on a Limb Scrapbooking.

Hannah's kindergarten page uses supplies from Creative Memories.

Goal Update:  60/288 pages

Hannah and the Huge Avocado

Last week when my sister and her family were in town, we went to the Dekalb International Farmer's Market. It was my first time going there, but it won't be my last! It was amazing! There were signs saying "no photography", so I didn't take any pictures while we were there.

Hannah had to go to school that day, so she requested that we get her an avocado. And boy, did we get her an avocado!



Here is the giant avocado.

Here is a picture of Hannah holding the giant avocado. Most of the avocados we buy are about a quarter to a third of the size of this one.

Sliced avocado

Avocado slices

Hannah eating a slice of avocado

My recipe for guacamole calls for 3 medium avocados. I bet this one would be more than enough.

Duran Duran Concert

I am a huge fan of 80's music. One of my favorite bands from the 80's is Duran Duran. I got to see them in concert in 2005 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. This past weekend, we saw them at Chastain Park in Atlanta. It was for our monthly date night with our friends.

We bought lawn seats for the concert and found a decent spot to the side of the stage.

Here are Eric & Sue.

Here's a shot of the band. I was a fan of Nick Rhodes (far right) when I was younger. Now I'm a Simon LeBon fan. He has aged quite well.

It was really a nice evening. The weather was beautiful - a little cool, but pleasant. We had rain for the preceding days, so we were thrilled with the dry weather for the concert. Duran Duran played a mix of old tunes and new ones. To be honest, I wasn't very familiar with most of the new ones. I downloaded the new album on i-tunes months ago, but haven't gotten around to listening to it. 

On the way back home, we listened to some of the old songs that the band didn't play.

Here are pictures from 2005 when I saw them in Vegas. My sister was working at the Hard Rock at the time and got me into a small, private acoustic set with the band. Everyone got to have their picture taken in small groups. John Taylor had his arm around me, but you can't see it in the picture.

Here's a picture to show how close I was during the performance.

My lucky sister got to have her picture taken alone with the band.

Then that evening, we saw the regular concert at the Hard Rock. So I guess I've gotten to see them 3 times in concert. Of course, I had to wait until my 30's before I saw them the first time.