Last-Minute Teacher Gift...

As my students brought Christmas gifts to me yesterday, it dawned on me that I had done nothing for Maggie's teacher.  Out of panic came inspiration.   Once again my sewing machine came to the rescue.    Since I had only an hour or so to get anything done, I also used Fusible Fabric Adhesive.   Maggie's teacher has a flamingo-themed classroom, and her "imaginary" flamingo, Flo, checks the students' desks for neatness, etc.   I came up with a Christmas stocking for Flo to decorate the teacher's classroom at Christmas. Maggie loved it, and was excited about giving it to her teacher.   

It's the Little Things....

Maggie was delighted by the blue popcorn I fixed for her afterschool snack yesterday.   Pop Sec.ret has come out with blue popcorn and it was fun to see her surprised face.    

We received some not-so-welcome news at our school yesterday regarding an upcoming teaching position being cut next school year, due to numbers, budget problems, etc.   We were also told that this financial crisis for schools is far from over and may affect jobs for the next few years, if not longer.    It seems the world we have lived in is changing, and it makes me worry for my children and the future they will face.

But for now, Maggie likes blue popcorn, and that makes us both smile.

Thanksgiving 2011

What a wonderful week off we enjoyed for Thanksgiving this year.  It was a week of cooking, resting, and a time for Sadie to catch up on her Driver's Ed study.  I loved setting the Thanksgiving table with my vintage dishes and tablecloth.   I even scored a few great Black Friday deals to top off the week.  I want the girls to stay the ages they are now for about 5 more years, but since that can't happen, I am trying to "be in"  the moments that we have now.  Sadie is cooking supper tonight for all of us.   Maggie is growing taller, and I sent her off to school this morning in highwater pants, not realizing how highwater they are now until I watched her walk out to the car for her dad to take her to school.   Black pants and yellow socks, with much more of the yellow sock showing than should have.   I need to get the sewing machine out this weekend and whip up a few pairs of jeans for her.  

How Quickly The Changes Happen!

On Saturday, Maggie was riding a bike with training wheels.     On Sunday, Maggie was riding without them!  Overnight she is growing up.  Keith knew she was ready to go without them, and he was right.   She took off, and was so proud.   Way to go, Maggie!

A Domestic Goddess Revealed

Sadie and I attended a Pampered Chef demonstration on Saturday.  She has taken a real interest in cooking this semester because she is taking a home economics class at school.    It has been fun to see her inner domestic goddess reavealed!    She has made Breakfast Jacks for us, carmel apples, and treated us to lots of good cut fruit.    Keep it up Sadie!

Halloween 2011

We had our Halloween celebration a few days early, complete with a little black cat girl, a girl from the 1950's, and a High School Musical character for a modern touch.    All the girls like to ham it up for the camera!

Halloween Cake Pops!  Thank you, Lisa!

The last game of the volleyball season...Go Sadie #15!

The 9th grade volleyball team has had a great season, with only 2 losses in district play.    This little team is great together.   Yesterday was the final game in their season.  I have looked forward to watching the games, and I will miss them until next year, unless we get into a spring league.  Sadie is a good middle hitter, a great server, and a really valuable player for her team. 

Texas State Fair

We made our first trip to the Texas State Fair this weekend.   I had been many years ago; the girls really had fun.   We started the day off at IHOP; we rode the rapid-transit train to get to the fair grounds.  The highlights of the day included the bird show, the butterfly house, aquarium, and paddleboats.   Sadie and Maggie absolutely loved the stingray tank, where they were able to pet the stingrays.   We were all exhausted and ready to come home by the end of the day.  It was a very worthwhile trip!

Riding the DART!

Sadie's look of concentration.

Maggie's look of concentration.

Petting the stingrays.