Fun and Funky's First layout!

Some friends wanted to know how to create a layout so I am posting one here for them. I am just learning how to use Photoshop for digital scrapbooking but am having a fabulous time doing it. For cool ideas and digital products visit some of my favorite sites, CoffeeShop and Shabby Princess. Their links are at the bottom of my page. Have fun creating!

Taking a park

Taken at our Family Reunion in Lubbock, TX July 3, 2009
Let me start off by saying, what a week it has been! It's late Monday night and I am still exhausted from a week of traveling across the state of Texas. My goal is to take time to update my blog tomorrow when I am rested and have more time.

Me and Deja

DSCF1922
Originally uploaded by msleti

Me and Deja on a hike in Palo Duro Canyon. July 6, 2009

What day is it?

Goodness...it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone. Then to top it all off...Christmas is next week! I can't believe it. I didn't realize until we hit November 27 that Thanksgiving was so late. This threw so many things off for me as well as many others.

I was bummed to soon discover that a Christmas and holiday tradition would soon be trampled on. Shannon and I have been baking Christmas cookies for a few years now and always seem to get it in no matter what life has thrown us. This year would be different. It is such a rush and thrill to see our creations especially after working on fumes. We basically spend an entire weekend together layered in sugar, flour and everything in between. Over the past few years the kids have taken their role in the process which has been interesting.

Just when I was realizing the time crunch Shannon calls and expresses her fears. What I failed to remember was who I was talking to and dealing with. Shannon doesn't just let things slide to the way side. She would find a way and there was no way around it. At the time I was not quite sure how it would work and quite frankly didn't see it working. Well...she didn't give up.

This past weekend was really going to be the only weekend for her to bake on top of finishing putting up her trees and designing, baking and assembling 3 gingerbread houses. Oh...and be Mommy and wife. I knew I would be missing out on this years bake-a-thon and was torn but what could I do. I was so shocked when Shannon calls and tells me what she accomplished on Sunday. Then, as if that wasn't enough, she calls Monday afternoon to let me know she finished.

Now...we aren't talking about 1-2 types of cookies and a couple dozen. We are talking 12 different types on average while doubling or tripling a batch. It is mad baking at it's best. I was so sad to know I had missed the madness and thought about all our memories. Let's just say we can get tickled about the simplest things and do some silly things at 3:00 or 4:00 am.

So in a nutshell...life has been busy and I don't even know what day it is. The kids at school have checked out but just send their bodies as routine. Everyone is just walking and moving through the motions and barely doing that. People are falling sick left and right...me included. Stress has found a new meaning and it's not pretty. Oh...and as if we didn't have enough to deal with Mother Nature decides to confuse us with extreme weather.

So we move on to tomorrow and the day after. I still don't know what day it is!

Change is good...right

So we are in our 4th week of school and things are busier than I imagined. I am enjoying my new position but miss PPCD so much it's crazy. I miss it for a couple of reasons...the kids (my own class) and the fun! The kindergarten students are a hoot for the most part and bring a challenge for me since I have been working with 3 & 4 year olds for the past 6 years...mainly with disabilities. For the most part, the teachers have been receptive to my suggestions and cooperative in this team effort. However, we have a long way to go and a big plan to work through.

Deja is enjoying 4th grade so far...no complaints as of yet. She is doing much better with organization and responsibility too. Now, it is just the 4th week of school and this all could change with the change of the wind I'm sure. It is my guess that they have been doing quite a bit of reviewing which has keep their load light. I suspect that the pace will pick up from here on out. She seems to take more of an initiative and even expressed interest in trying to make the Battle of the Books team. I support her in that decision and goal whether or not I think she will be chosen.

Moving on to other fields...thanks to my dear friend, Shannon, I am back in the dating arena. It is going well but nothing serious yet. I am completely cool with that. I am enjoying getting to know a really nice gentleman but have some reservations. I am working through them and trying to keep an open mind. I do admit that I am picky and just think too much about things that are really trivial. I am working on that and hope that I can set all that aside for once. If anything changes...I will definitely keep you all posted. Hee hee

Oh...two more of my close and dear friends, Rosa and Mel, donated some of their precious time to me a couple of weekends ago and helped me clean out Deja's room. Oh my goodness...let me tell ya what that was like. Pure madness! She had so much crap it was unreal. No...seriously...call it Sanford and Son for sure! After a couple of days we got it cleared. I still had a ton of stuff in bags and boxes in my house for a future yard sale my sister and I are having. For those of you who don't know what my house looks like...it is a super small town home. I needed to pass out maps so you could navigate your way through. I am so being serious on this one. Well...I got all that into my storage shed, which is stuffed to the max now, and was able to get my house in order. I still need to get Deja's bed painted and moved in and get decorations since we are redecorating. It went from pastels...mainly purple with butterflies and flowers to red, white & black. I painted 3 walls white and 1 red. Her bedding is white with a simple floral pattern that works up for the foot of the comforter up. Much more of a "big" girls room.

Slowing sliding in

So last night I purposely stayed up late because I could. That sounded like a good enough excuse. I wasn't exhausted so why not read and watch some tube. Besides, Deja was staying the night with Gammy and Papo so I didn't have to be 'Mommy' for the night. I also told myself I could sleep in in the morning.

The morning quickly came and my body didn't cooperate with my original plans! What the honk! I was wide awake at 7:15 am! Can I just sleep until 9:00...please? No. My body had a different plan, from where I don't know. I would like to know so I can make sure they never arrive again. I tried to keep my eyes closed tightly in hopes that I would drift off to sleep but that never happened. Despite the change in plans I got to lay in bed for a while and watched reruns of the Golden Girls. Love that show.

I finally accepted the fact that sleeping in wasn't in the cards this morning and got my Mexican tail up and showered. After I was up and at 'em I made my way up to school. I was eager to get my things in place since changing rooms. I also wanted to get some sort of rhyme and reason to my boxes for my new roomie, Mel. Since I will be in Kinder classrooms more than at my desk, Mr. Perales put Mel and I together. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate.

In the short period of time I spent up there today I was able to get my boxes moved and hid, my desk and computer set up as well as get some housekeeping completed for a new teammate. As I sat at my new desk, in my new room (in timbuktu) and in my new position I quickly realized how different this year will be. I won't have my own class to greet on August 25. I won't have name tags and lunch tags to make or centers to set up for that first day. There are so many things I am going to miss about having my own class. Will it get easier?

Oh My Goodness

Time has flown by this summer...or at least it is starting to feel like it. I think when ESY (extended school year...Special Ed summer school) started and ended had a huge impact on how the summer played out. Even though Deja and I took a vacation I still feel like we need one. I have come to realize after many trips that not all vacations are relaxing. In so many ways it feels as if last school year just ended and now the new year is around the corner! Yikes...I'm not ready!

I barely recall our last day of summer school as it sort of flew by. I feel like I was a mere speck of paint in a overly chaotic painting trying to be seen and heard. The kids knew I was barely breathing and they fought me for every bit of air. They were all over the room like jelly on toast! It was mad! Some how and some way we survived, barely, and made it out of there alive on Thursday. It was sad to watch them leave as that was my last time to have my "own" class unless I teach next summer.

Then the weekend vastly arrived for us to celebrate my Mom's 60th birthday! I can't believe it! As a child 60 sounded and seemed so old. I know now that it isn't but it is still 60. My Mom doesn't look 60 as if there is a 'look' for it. I think was is hard about watching my parents hit the 6th decade of their lives is the confirmation that we are all growing old and there is nothing we can do about it. Either way...our family had a great dinner together in her honor...I think she loved it too.

And there is school. Deja will be entering 4th grade and that alone makes me sad. I can remember vividly the day she was born and I hope I never forget. As much as she is still a little girl she is growing up so much. I find myself watching her and reminiscing on when she was a baby and toddler. I loved her giggle and voice! But it does please me to watch her develop her personality and passions just as much. She has grown into quite the scientist which was never what I expected. Love it!

To wrap up all the events August brings year to year comes her birthday. She will turn 9 on August 23 when we will have a pool party and sleepover. I had to make some major changes in our budget this month after a surprising find that I didn't get the check I was expecting. My summer school payment authorization form wasn't turned it! That is another story in itself. So one of me dear friends...like another sister...has graciously offered her home & pool for the event. I can't even begin to thank her enough! So those plans are underway where I have no doubt it will be grand no matter how small. I finally got the invitations made and mailed which was a bit later than I wanted but it is done.