Another Summer Memory

I'm still missing summer, can you tell?  Don't get me wrong, I love my teaching job, and I have a great new batch of 4th graders!  It's going to be a fantastic school year with this group!  In summer, though, I have more time to focus on family, and have little adventures!!

 Shamu's show is always a highlight!

They are so darn cute!!

Penguin love!

Seeing the penguins so up close was awesome!  Violet has loved penguins since she was a little baby!

 

The sea lions were crazy when you buy the fish to feed them!  And birds swooped down to try and steal it right out of the kids' hands!!!

 

 

This guy below was mad-dogging me!  Probably because I've eaten so many of his cousins!  It's hard to tell on camera, but he was HUGE!!!!

 

 

 

 

We had a great time, I would recommend Sea World to families any time!

 

 



Get to know me, Sunday Social

It has been so hectic around here, adjusting both daughter and I to being back in school!  Just trying to catch up on it all is a challenge!  Summer was really a whole different pace! 

Joining in on some Sunday Social action :-)

A few questions to get to know me:

1. What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?
We didn't go far this summer, but we did a fun, quick trip for a few days to San Diego and enjoyed Sea World!

 Feeding VERY hungry Sea Lions, bark, bark barrrrrrrrk!!!

Gotta love Shaumu and his stunts :-)

 

2. What was your favorite outfit/look of the summer/clothing item?

Probably my maxi dresses, which are breezy for hot days, and my little bicycle upcycle.

 

3. What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?

I wanted to do more crafting with my daughter Violet and get into scrapbooking with her.  We did some crafts and cooking, but time somehow got away from us and her scrapbook is still empty :-(.

 

4. What was your favorite song of the summer?

 

"Settle Down" by No Doubt :-)

 

5. What was your favorite movie/TV show of the summer?

 

We enjoyed going to see Brave as a family, and also enjoyed awesome Shave Ice afterward :-)

 

 

*Big Sigh*  I miss summer already!!!  How about you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer flew by...

Sorry to be MIA! This is what I've been doing:

I'll get back into the swing of things, just need to be used to the crazy schedule we live!

Humbled! First blog award!

  What an awesome surprise, during this crazy, busy week of setting up my classroom, as well as getting daughter ready for going back to school, to have been presented with my first blog award!! 

The super splendid blogger who gifted me with this is Jenny, from Cassandraz Corner!  Thanks so very much!!!!!   

Here are a few snippets from her Bio: 

"Hi! My name is really Jenny, not Cassandra..... I've been married to my husband, Josh, since January of 2007 and have 2 boys, Jacoby and Drew. All 3 are the loves of my life!  I love celebrity gossip, clothes, make-up, and shoes! My signature drink is a Gin and Tonic with a splash of cranberry. I'm still trying to figure out how to make time to read and work-out but with family life and work and social media I haven't figured out where to squeeze it all in. I absolutely love being a mom and my family. They are what makes me strive to be a better person and to have a cocktail at night (haha!)"

  Visit her to find out more!

Here’s more information about the Versatile Blogger Award…

If you get the award, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person that gave you the award in a blog post & link back to their blog
2. Pass the award on to 10-15 bloggers you follow
3. Include 7 random things about yourself in your post
4. Include the rules in your post
5. Notify your nominees by leaving a comment on their blog

And now, to get to know me a bit here's the 7 Random Things About Myself:

1). I have 3 cats!  Two seemed easy, so why not adopt another?  Hmmm...now we feel like they've taken over LOL!

2).  I am generally restless/need to be doing something, or more than one something, all of the time!  A born multi-tasker!

3). I love buying cute and unique clothing for my daughter, in fact, it can be considered an obsession!

4.)  Dance is a passion.  I love to dance, including Zumba, and my daughter is a dance diva.

5.) I am not a coffee person, it's Tea all the way, for me!

6.) I love being creative and crafty, but I either don't make enough time to do it very frequently, or don't have enough time....between being a mom, teacher, wife, all of that good stuff.

7.) I'm spoiled.  My husband is awesome.  I really can't complain!

These are the blogs that I will be passing the Versatile Blogger Award onto!

Please pay them a visit! :-)

Everything According to Jen

The New Modern Momma

According to Mags

Kristin'sKNook
Mom 2 Memphis and Ruby
Confessions of a PinAholic
Mumma and the Kiddo
25 in my 25th
Crazy Mama Drama
Figuring it Out as We Grow

I enjoy reading them, and hope you do, too!! 

Heading back to reality!

A "back to reality" kind of a monday.  Well mondays tend to be that way anyway, for many of us, but as a mom and a teacher, summer of course has a much easier pace.  My daughter's first day in her classroom, (now a big first grader!) is next monday, the 20th, but today was her registration day, where we filled in all of the paperwork, bought a school shirt, found out who her teacher is, etc.  One awesome thing, we found out she got the one teacher out of the four I was hoping she'd get, and that was without making a request.  I trusted her K teacher's judgement, rightfully so I guess!! 
The other reality piece, is that I start teaching back in the classroom one week after daughter, the 27th.  One nice thing about being in different districts, and my starting a week later, is that I can truly see her off on her first day of school.  My little helper accompanied me to my own classroom, after her registration, to help me start setting up, something we'll work on most of this week I figure!  I love my job, love working with my 4th graders and watching them grow and learn.  I'm blessed to have such a great career, and blessed to have the summers with mommy/daughter time.....YET summer sure does go by FAST!!!!!

Goodbye, Summer!!

On that note, the activities I'm most excited about in the Fall season are school activities, pumpkin festivals, and Halloween!

** What fall activities are you most excited for? **

Linking up with http://www.megnificentlife.blogspot.com/

Soaking Up the Last Bits of Summer.....

....before daughter, and I, both, have to go back to school.......who doesn't love the beach?

Here's to getting the last bits of summer in!!!  ENJOY!!  Before you know it, Summer 2012 will be over! 

The Edge of the Nest

Friday night was the culmination of my daughter's fun, hard work rehearsing!  The musical they performed was The Edge of the Nest, which is a musical comedy about kids growing up.  They did an awesome job, and I'm so proud of my little girl, who was part of several pieces.  Here are some highlights of our evening:

Hair curled and ready to go!!  It's so hard to get a natural photo of this child, she likes to do cheesy poses! 

The "Babies" song. 

Here, we have the parody of the perfect babysitter, "Carry Coppins!" 

Does she remind you of anyone? 

Violet is not buying that cleaning can be fun!

Singing, "Let's Go Rob a Bank!"

  "We don't want to break any laws!"

Here, she is brattily demanding french fries! 

Singing the finale song

Mommy and Daddy are so proud, no evidence of stage fright, she loves the whole experience!  This child loves the stage!

Opening her reward for a job well done!!  Bling instead of flowers ;-)

Dress by Kangacoo Designs, pinned here!  Hairbow and necklace won in an auction on Facebook, called Rainbow Connection Upcycles.  (Since people have been asking where we got them, provided the info, we're not sponsored ;-) )

A Style Wish List.....sigh!

If you've been reading my blog for any of period of time, or know me, you know I love clothes!  My wishlist tends to fluctuate all of the time, with my moods, as I am not really one style, but ecclectic in fashion sense.  Here are some things I'm currently coveting:

  Via Etsy, My Fair Maiden

 Also Via Etsy, ThreeBirdNest



Always loving comfy tops by Splendid, via Nordstroms

Here's another Splendid:



I also LOVE the store Free People.com!!  Here are some glorious examples!



Can't forget my little Diva!  Here's some things she wants, or I want for her ;-)


Mia Bambina Co.                                           Firefliez, on Facebook



Kangacoo Designs  (and for a limited time, one week, use code LORISKDTS for 10% off!!) 

What's on your fashion wish list??  Your daughter's?  I'd love to see!