Project 363

January Photo 7

2009-01-10T10:38:00.003-06:00

I took this one while stopped at a stop light. The sunset was so pretty, and the deer (statue) was an interesting silhouette. I wish I could have gotten another shot of the sunset, but I was rushing from one thing to another at this point.

January Photo 6

2009-01-10T10:36:00.000-06:00

Here's the new dryer!! Now I can wash all those blankets you see. :-)

January Photo 5

2009-01-10T10:33:00.000-06:00

B rides again! This is the very next day, and it was COLD!!

January Photo 4

2009-01-10T10:30:00.002-06:00

Larry got B some training wheels, and she loves to ride her new bike. She'll be off them soon, I bet. It was really warm this day---temps in the 70s. Larry took this shot as he was coaching her.

January Photo 3

2009-01-10T10:27:00.003-06:00

Here's B doing a layup, I guess! Larry took her to a basketball clinic with the #3 ranked Lady Aggie basketball team. I think this is in the new practice gyms in the new part of Reed Arena.

January Photo 2

2009-01-10T10:25:00.001-06:00

It's J---heading out the door!

January Photo 1

2009-01-10T10:22:00.002-06:00

The obligatory black-eyed peas for New Year's Day. This was a really good recipe! But I over cooked the peas before the rest of the recipe, so it was a little mushy. Just as tasty, though.

December photo 31

2009-01-10T10:18:00.002-06:00

One last shot of our ornaments. That GHS ornament is a nod to my high school---I think my Mom got it for me. I like it.

Goodbye, 2008!

December photo 30

2009-01-10T10:11:00.002-06:00

B spent her Christmas money gift on clothes. She got a pair of jeans and this outfit. It's been going back and forth between cold and very warm around here! Shorts are a good buy any time of year.

December photo 29

2009-01-10T10:09:00.001-06:00

B and I were sorting out the buttons. We got this box of beautiful buttons at Tuesday Morning. Quite a bargain!

December photo 28

2009-01-10T10:07:00.003-06:00

B made this birdhouse for Poppa (my dad). Maybe the birds who make nests on the porch will choose this lovely little house instead!

December photo 27

2009-01-10T10:05:00.001-06:00

Somersault on the couch bed

December photo 26

2009-01-10T10:03:00.003-06:00

The day after Christmas we went to Granbury to see the grandparents.

December photo 25

2009-01-10T09:49:00.003-06:00

This is Christmas morning Santa stuff. Our rug makes it look crazier than it really is.

B got some gum, socks, lotion, and Easy Bake Oven cake mix in her stocking. Jamie got candy, Star Wars Christmas figures, a memory card for his new camera, man lotion, and pens. They got lots of stuff, each one lovingly picked out!

December photo 24

2009-01-10T09:44:00.004-06:00

Christmas Eve was marred by B getting sick with strep throat and a trip to the doctor, but we were still able to give Santa some cookies. (B washed her hands first.)

December Photo 23

2009-01-10T09:39:00.001-06:00

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .

December photo 22

2008-12-22T12:32:00.003-06:00

You may not know it, but this is Old Armadillo-----Armadillo Viejo. B and her classmates had a "reader's theater" and their group was doing the story they had translated into Spanish. She had the title role---and snored for most of the play. I will post a video of the end of the play on the other blog.

December photo 21

2008-12-22T12:28:00.002-06:00

I have wanted my own advent calendar for many years. We've put together Legos out of their advent calendar for many years in a row, but not this year. We've done a countdown calendar before. And this year, with all my busyness, I didn't do anything like that at home. :-( But I had my eye on some Advent Calendars at Target since Thanksgiving, and since they went on sale, I got one I liked. Next year, I can be ready and add my own treats.

December photo 20

2008-12-22T12:25:00.002-06:00

These are the gingerbread houses I made for B's class to decorate at her Christmas party. It takes a village!

December photo 19

2008-12-22T12:18:00.002-06:00

I remember my sister at her cello recitals, and every year having to pick out a nice, big skirt for her to wear so she could get the instrument between her knees. B got lucky and got to wear black pants, but something of the elegance is gone. She had a recital with the junior high orchestra students and the String Academy students (4th and 5th grades) on Tuesday night. The boy to her left is a 5th grader, but the other cellist in her class didn't get to come! :-( I will post some video on the other blog.

December photo 18

2008-12-22T12:15:00.002-06:00

We decorated little houses at our party. The kids had fun!

December photo 17

2008-12-22T12:13:00.001-06:00

We made salt dough ornaments at school and painted them to give as gifts to the parents.

December photo 16

2008-12-22T12:11:00.003-06:00

We had a kit to make a gingerbread house at school. They used it for a decoration at our Christmas program. Delicious, no?

December photo 15

2008-12-22T12:08:00.002-06:00

I like the genuine laugh that I captured on this shot.

December photo 14

2008-12-22T12:05:00.001-06:00

Here's our tree with just lights and the garlands. I love it already!

December photo 13

2008-12-13T18:49:00.001-06:00

J is wearing a favorite outfit (including his self-modified gloves) while he recovers from the fever.

December photo 12

2008-12-13T18:46:00.003-06:00

I was trying to get a good photo of my backyard from my window. It seemed so cozy and wintery! And I was home with J, who was sick. It was a nice day. The snow was gone when the sunlight hit the yard.

December photo 11

2008-12-13T18:34:00.002-06:00

We got snow on the 10th December! The ground was still so warm it didn't stick to the roads---so off to the mall for me! ;-)
I have more pictures on my other blog.

December photo 10

2008-12-11T08:37:00.003-06:00

This was out my front door. B and I marveled at it for a while before getting ready for school.

December photo 9

2008-12-11T08:35:00.000-06:00

J is back there in the blue bathrobe. He's a "Wise Man" in this scene.

December photo 8

2008-12-11T08:31:00.002-06:00

J amd Larry were in a show this weekend, THe Best Christmas Pagent Ever. J was one of the hooligans, and Larry played the husband of the lady directing the play. This girl was the main hooligan kid.

December photo 7

2008-12-11T08:30:00.002-06:00

December photo 6

2008-12-11T08:28:00.001-06:00

B and Larry

December photo 5

2008-12-11T08:25:00.002-06:00

I got the kids all dressed up and took their pictures. I'm glad it was kinda warm, for B's sake, in her short-sleeved shirt.

December photo 4

2008-12-11T08:23:00.001-06:00

the back of a building in Bryan

December photo 3

2008-12-11T08:20:00.001-06:00

We had a pinata party at school this week!

December photo 2

2008-12-05T21:56:00.001-06:00

You can't see J, but he's there on the second row. He's a french horn player, and this is the final bow after their Winter Concert.

December photo 1

2008-12-05T21:54:00.001-06:00

I got to bring home Thanksgiving leftovers from our travels around the state. I thought Mom would be proud I had so many veggies on my plate, to go with the very heavy foods of Thanksgiving that we love to eat.

November photo 30

2008-12-05T21:52:00.001-06:00

My parents' dog would like ot be a lap dog. Her head fits in B's lap, but that's about it.

November photo 29

2008-12-05T21:48:00.001-06:00

This is the Thanksgiving spread at my Mom's and Dad's. We ate Thanksgiving on Thursday and then again on Friday. Heavy weekend!

November photo 28

2008-12-05T21:46:00.002-06:00

This is Lar's niece and her son. They really look a lot alike! We saw them at Thanksgiving.

November photo 27

2008-12-05T21:45:00.001-06:00

This is B's project about the sun. I liked how she got facts about the sun and putthem on the top with red wire. It was interesting!

November photo 26

2008-12-05T21:39:00.003-06:00

B makes coathanger trees in her room before she gives me the hangers back.

November 1-25

2008-11-26T21:31:00.006-06:00

Here's my second catching up post. November stuff I took pictures of:

B was interested in heritage photos

My car is making patterns with the numbers on the odometer. I can't help but notice them.
I made a rainbow for letter R with each child making a segment of the rainbow.

The train. At the library, you're literally a few feet from all that power. It's kinda scary!

B at the Scout House with her new American Girl mini doll

J taking a picture of the mirror

J was in Flashback Fever. My other blog has more photos!

I was waiting for the train to pass one night. If you're an Aggie, do you know where I was sitting??

Turkey cookies for snack.

We put our thankful thoughts into a box this month. here are all our ideas on the table.

Another shot at school---writing on the white board is a rare treat for them!

B and the pecan pie she helped me make (before it got baked!). We sent it up to J's school for the teacher drawing right before Thanksgiving. Throughout the day, they drew teachers' names, and they then got to go to the library and pick a pie that someone from the PTO had brought up. I don't know who got ours, but sure would like to.

My necklace I bought for myself. I just totally love it. There are earrings to match that I didn't get, but if I ever get invited to a Premiere jewelry party, I will get them!

B got 1st place at the district meet for Art Memory!! Go girl!!

That's it--until I post this week's photos!

October Photos

2008-11-26T21:03:00.006-06:00

I am catching up!! I am so far behind that I am just starting with a photo a day on Thanksgiving. However, I have some October pictures to share----
Before crazy hair day (braids in hair overnight to create waves that next day)
After

mini-Pumpkin carving

I can't share many school photos, but this one is safe.

J and B went to the TROUPE lock-in---J in his straight jacket, B, his nurse, with a giant shot.

J and Larry were in "Dirty Dealings in Dixie," a Gone with the Wind spoof melodrama.

Rhett and Scarlett

J and Lar in the same scene. Lar was the villain, J was Ashley.

Lar about to be shot----or was he?

I caught this guy driving on the road with his 4-wheeler. I am annoyed by him, and now I can send this to the cops??? I was inside my house, looking through the door to get this sneaky shot!

Another school shot. I made a number line. Red dots for even numbers, next will be blue for multiples of 3.

This school shot shows our calendar. We add a weather report on each day we come, and at the end of the month, we do a graph. What did we have the most of? Sunny or cloudy?

Dusk shot---of the neighborhood bar. Never been there, of course, but I liked the neon sign as contrast to the light in the sky.

This is our new police station in Bryan. I love the way the lights look at night.

Next post? November 1-26.

October Photo 16

2008-10-19T20:54:00.001-05:00

B and I had some fresh veggies with our dinner, and I found this mutant carrot.

October Photo 15

2008-10-19T20:46:00.004-05:00

It was Middle School Band Night at the high school---and Homecoming. Was that on purpose? Anyway, Larry went as a chaperone for the junior high and took pictures for us. I thought this one the most interesting---but maybe just me and my flag corps sister might think that! This was a pre-game thing they did, playing for the middle school kids, maybe? The band sat on the visitor's side, playing across the field. J was there, hanging around and sitting with the high school french horn players.

October Photo 14

2008-10-19T20:40:00.002-05:00

There aren't may pictures I can share of my students---but this one where he's goofy I can use! ;-) Can you see my Social Studies posters on the wall behind him? I have photos from the Internet of the President, Governor, and the Mayors of our twin cities. This boy was enjoying the Star Student privileges of sitting in the chair and sharing some of his toys from home.

October Photo 13

2008-10-19T20:33:00.002-05:00

I cropped this one so you can't tell who these girls are (unless you just "know" anyway!). We had an evening at Tabitha Class to begin our church scrapbooks, in preparation for the LTC competition in April. We will work together in two groups (3rd through 5th and 6th through 8th) making two scrapbooks of things out youth and church family ahve done during the year. My plan is to do this about once a month.

October Photo 12

2008-10-19T20:30:00.002-05:00

J made All-City Band,a dn here's the group. He is the third head from the roght, looking right at lar, who was taking this picture. ;-)

October Photo 11

2008-10-19T20:27:00.003-05:00

B was making a bowl from a balloon and a paper mache mixture. The balloon ended up deflating before she got done with the newspaper part---so it had to get scrapped!

October Photo 10

2008-10-10T21:30:00.002-05:00

Is this backpack too big? Yes, it is as heavy as it looks. There is a computer in there, a bunch of spiral notebooks, a binder (and another binder for band isn't in there!), shoes for gym, pens, pencils, sunglasses, etc. What can be done? No one has lockers at this school.

October Photo 9

2008-10-10T21:22:00.002-05:00

This is some of the dough---and for some reason, it got really gooey on "this" boy's turn.

October Photo 8

2008-10-10T21:16:00.002-05:00

Today at school, as a part of our "Community Helpers" unit, an actual baker came and showed us how to make cinnamon rolls and kolaches. This is he and his son, rollin' the dough.

October Photo 7

2008-10-10T21:14:00.003-05:00

This is one of those little blessing God gives all of us. It isn't monetary, and it doesn't last very long, but it feels like a gift. And being able to take a picture of it and keep it---it makes me happy.

October Photo 6

2008-10-10T21:09:00.002-05:00

In my series of plates for the family, I now present a part of B's plate. I painted a cello on it, with the aid of a little carbon paper. I am very pleased with the strings---they came out better than I thought. All my plates have the same blue to tie them all together even though they have different themes.

October Photo 5

2008-10-10T21:03:00.002-05:00

Here is what we made at our U Paint It party for B! The skull was J's, the gnome is B's. I made a square plate, Larry painted an elephant to add to his collection, and the store gave us the Birthday plate.

October Photo 4

2008-10-04T19:56:00.005-05:00

This one came out really blurry, so I guess I can use it without revealing B's friends' identities! She had 5 friends come to Subway for lunch and then we walked across the street to U Paint It. They got to choose a figurine to paint, and we had chocolate chip cookie cake (and our drinks from Subway!) at the pottery store. They gave her a painted birthday plate, which will be ready when all our stuff is ready, too. I was working on the square salad plates, and it was B's turn. I'll get a picture up when I can. I painted a cello on her plate, and I think it looks pretty good.

October Photo 3

2008-10-04T19:52:00.001-05:00

It's the party day!! B got this Webkins frog from one of her friends.

October Photo 2

2008-10-04T19:51:00.000-05:00

Something about this fabric appeals to me

October Photo 1

2008-10-04T19:48:00.002-05:00

B volunteered to cut the hedges.

September Photo 30

2008-10-04T19:45:00.002-05:00

On Monday this week, J got his school computer! WooHoo for federal grants! ;-) It did cost us $50, which is not a deposit. At J's school, the Dual Language kids and the GT magnet kids got it first. In January, the whole 6th grade will get wireless laptops.

September Photo 29

2008-10-04T19:39:00.002-05:00

I made soup this week! It's potato soup, and I made it up as I went along this time, adding bacon and other things to make it a "baked potato soup." Pretty good!

You don't need a recipe---but here's what I did:
3 lbs. 5 lbs. potatoes
one onion
chicken stock
bacon drippings (I've never cooked with them ever before!)
2 tbs. butter
bacon---maybe 1/4 lb. already cooked
I let this stuff cook in the crock pot all day, and then close to serving time, I added:
1 can evaporated milk
sour cream (what was left in a tub---i don't know how much)
and cheddar cheese on top.
I forgot to add the green onions I had!
I was able to freeze another night's portions. i hope it comes out alright.

September Photo 28

2008-10-04T19:36:00.002-05:00

Here they are, playing together . . . we have plans for Christmas music.

September Photo 27

2008-09-27T15:48:00.002-05:00

Here she is! We got a half-size cello this afternoon. She has a CD to play along with, and her instructor said they were not allowed to use the bow yet. It's plucking the strings only! He also said to not mess with any of the tuning---but this instrument was Very out of tune on one string. She was only playing two notes on open strings, but I couldn't help myself---I had to fix the A string. He can fix it better for her on Tuesday.

Didn't Rachel sit on that chair to play, too??

September Photo 26

2008-09-27T15:47:00.000-05:00

Our class watched the nurse---our Community Helper of the week. They paid a lot of attention to her---and she did a great presentation.

September Photo 25

2008-09-27T15:45:00.001-05:00

We had to pull out MY 1970s Easy Bake Oven as well. Quite a contrast! I wonder if it would still work, but I'm afraid to plug in something that old and plastic-y!

September Photo 24

2008-09-27T15:40:00.001-05:00

It's her birthday, and she'll bake if she wants to!

September Photo 23

2008-09-27T15:39:00.000-05:00

September Photo 22

2008-09-27T15:37:00.002-05:00

I'm in the car.
With a camera.
Waiting for J to finish his activity.
And this is my product.

September Photo 21

2008-09-27T15:34:00.002-05:00

I took this picture during Art this week. I cropped it to protect that child's identity! But look what's going on in the background.

September Photo 20

2008-09-27T15:33:00.002-05:00

I caught J napping this week, too.

September Photo 19

2008-09-27T15:31:00.001-05:00

We got some things for B's new after-school activity.

September Photo 18

2008-09-27T15:30:00.001-05:00

After a sleepover on Friday, B couldn't stay awake for the Aggie game on the 20th. But Ol' Sarge is near . . .

September Photo 17

2008-09-27T15:27:00.002-05:00

When I took this one, I intended it to be just a "neighborhood view." I should have used it on my Photo Hunters blog post from this morning! The theme today was view. Instead, I got in the Way Back Machine. ;-)

September Photo 16

2008-09-27T15:26:00.003-05:00

Here's a bug of some kind that jumped on my shoe after this shot. Yes, it's focussing on the mailbox instead of the bug!

September Photo 15

2008-09-27T15:24:00.001-05:00

This one's called-----
$210.56

September Photo 14

2008-09-15T14:11:00.002-05:00

Oh my! I'm caught up for the month! I just have to take one picture today to stay current.

J took this one of me yesterday. Not the best angle for my chin. Hmmm . . .

September Photo 13

2008-09-15T14:06:00.002-05:00

On our way home, we stopped in Glen Rose to take this picture. I hadn't noticed this statue in the courthouse square before. This is a representation of Juana and Charles, the first settlers in Glen Rose.

September Photo 12

2008-09-15T14:04:00.002-05:00

I did crop this one. They hummingbirds were kind of leery of us humans around their feeders.

September Photo 11

2008-09-15T14:02:00.001-05:00

September Photo 10

2008-09-15T13:58:00.003-05:00

Mom's hens and chicks are putting out a flower---and a few more to come. We spent some time in the beautiful cool temperatures on the patio in Granbury.

September Photo 9

2008-09-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

Mom and Dad's sage bushes bloomed after the rains, adn they were humming with Bees.

September Photo 8

2008-09-15T13:53:00.002-05:00

We hit the road for Hurricane Ike. The kids were out Friday, and I woke up early and packed. We went north and west to my Mom and Dad's. At that time, they were saying it would be 80 MPH winds and certain power outages.

September Photo 7

2008-09-15T13:49:00.002-05:00

I was in the backyard, taking "before" pictures of the trees and yard, and looked up at the beautiful sky. Love it!

I know I was going crazy. My brain always goes to a worst case scenario, so I was sure that a tree was goign to fall on our house in Hurricane Ike.

September Photo 6

2008-09-15T13:47:00.002-05:00

September Photo 5

2008-09-15T13:42:00.002-05:00

This is my after picture. If you look back to August Photo 15, you'll see the before. These are our letter O projects that pop out at you---octopi with Cheerios for the suckers on the tentacles.

September Photo 4

2008-09-15T13:39:00.002-05:00

We also got to see the firefighters at our school. They did the same routine I saw in pre-school, but the kids paid attention very well, which I took to mean they were interested.

September Photo 3

2008-09-15T13:32:00.004-05:00

Here's my good idea that's really working. We use this white board as a magnet board. I have little strips of cardstock for the different subjects we do during the day. I have one student do the job of time keeper, and we move an arrow down the list as we move through the day. The kids very quickly stopped asking "what's next?" and "when is lunch" because I just had to refer them to the board.

September Photo 2

2008-09-15T13:29:00.001-05:00

We got to visit with a motorcycle cop at school this week.

September Photo 1

2008-09-15T13:20:00.002-05:00

We are working on a "Caring for Children" badge at Girl Scouts. This was our first meeting of the year and we have some new girls. This of course is diapering.

August Photo 30

2008-09-15T13:18:00.002-05:00

Our neighbor had two trees die in his front yard, and ahead fo Hurricane Gustav, he cut them down. All by himself! I could have sent Larry out there, but he was working an Aggie game. Working on his birthday, even. But it was a great place for him to be. Even with the loss.

August Photo 29

2008-09-15T13:16:00.000-05:00

B took this photo for us. It's our rating of the restaurant Pyro.

August Photo 28

2008-09-15T13:14:00.001-05:00

Here's Larry, eating that birthday dinner . . .

August Photo 27

2008-09-15T13:07:00.002-05:00

That's mine!! Number 22!!

We went to Pyro on TX Avenue, near LaRiviera, where the Hooter's was going to be---you know where I mean. Just south (towards College Station) of where Wal-Mart used to be. There are so many times in this town when I use a landmark of a place that used to be someplace. People know what I am talking about. I think.

I had gotten a gift certificate for $25 that was worth $50, so we used it for Larry's birthday. We liked it! You get to make your own meal with your own choice of meat and veggies, and then you add your choice of sauces. I'd recommend adding more sauce than you think you need. All 4 of us were too conservative in the sauce area.

August Photo 26

2008-09-15T13:05:00.003-05:00

We finally got to give Larry his plate on his birthday. J found the little Gig 'Em hand in the add-on section, and it truly was the perfect addition to the gift. Next up----B's plate!

August Photo 25

2008-09-15T13:00:00.002-05:00

It's naptime and I thought this one might never go to sleep. The trick with this guy is to make him get still! ;-)

August Photo 24

2008-09-15T12:57:00.001-05:00

Here's a picture J did for me. I need to add it to my MySpace page, he says.

August Photo 23

2008-08-23T16:23:00.004-05:00

Here is my class, busily working away at a group project. We are talking about communities, so our class community is drawing a community, communally. One student drew a cemetery. With a dead guy in the ground.

In case you wonder, the boy not in uniform is sort of "trying out" the school with his older sisters. He might or might not be my final student enrolling in my class. 8 boys, 2 girls!

August Photo 22

2008-08-23T16:16:00.004-05:00

This one was snapped by B as we left Waco on Thursday evening. I was picking up the kids from my parents. We met halfway between our homes and ate dinner. B snapped it, but I asked her to! ;-) I was driving at the time. This was looking into the big storm we were about to drive into.

Also on the way home---the shot that got away. We saw a burning telephone pole. At first, I thought it was like a smokestack thing you see at plants around the coast---I don't know why those things are burning off gasses or something. Someone can leave me a comment and explain that to me. But then on second glance, I thought it was a burning cross. Anyway, it was storming bad at that time and I just couldn't pull over for that one.