Sunday Salon - Wait, It's Sunday?!?!

 What? It's Sunday?? I can't believe it? 

Don't I look worried and confused??

(We were babysitting the grand-dogs this week...naturally they were as good as gold!)

Yes!!!! School IS out and now the wild rumpus can begin!! Usually I have decompressed by now, slept in and read several mindless books, but summer has started a bit differently this year...

I left town on the last day of classes to nurse my mom through full knee replacement surgery. She was a real trooper, but that nursing stuff is HARD!! I loved being with her, serving her and visiting with my stepdad but worries abound when you're caring for someone. I remembered the times I worried over sick kiddos and tended to their needs. Now I was blessed to do the same for her!! She was/is such a terrific patient and she's doing so well!! Yippee!!

I did go on a field trip while nursing the sick and afflicted. I met my oldest son and went to lunch one day. YUM. He always know the coolest, hole-in-the-wall places and introduced me to Sonoran Hotdogs. Delish! His office building is right next door to Barnes and Noble so who can blame me for getting sucked in?!?! I bought this book after a really great review by Jill at Rhapsody in Books. I love the "You May Also Like..." that came with my receipt. What a great, passive up-sale!!

Christmas came late - - we had promised ourselves these lovelies at Christmas time but held off til the NEW Ipad was released. Then it was just easier to wait until summer when I could take the time to really learn how to use it. I must confess (head hung low) to reading my book group book on this baby right now. I have made a solemn oath to my stacks of books that I will continue to love them and care for them. This little pretty (who has not been named yet) will not come between us. She (or he) will only be a side dish -an accompaniment.

As icing on the cake to our techie-summer we got new phones. Yuck. I don't mind the phone entirely, just hate getting accustomed to new stuff AND the dreaded transfer of contacts and data. How complicated can it be to figure out ring tones and how to answer a call?!?!?!?

So....what am I planning to do next!?!?!? The list says it all.

Reading..... I finished What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarity and Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielsen. Now reading Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster for Book Group I and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for Book GroupII.

Plans for the week.....Find chairs for front room, decide on paint color for the library, Math Mapping with my coworkers for two days, Professional Development classes for two days, dinner with my in-laws and plan a birthday getaway to San Diego for my cute hubster. Shhh. Don't tell.

Yep, I'm really ready for summer to start. Now, I know not all my friends want this, especially those with kids home from school, but I want the days to really go S.L.O.W.

I need me a good dose of summer!!

Sunday Salon & A Gender Reveal Party!

Sunday Salon & A Gender Reveal Party

School's out for summer.... (You can rock it Alice Cooper!)

I am breathing just a little easier. YEAH!!!

My mom had knee surgery though so I am back and forth from here to Tucson for a week or so to do some nursing. What a great chance to help this incredible mom I have. 

I am home again until tomorrow but until I'm off I bring you the Sunday Salon AND a first for me....

A Gender Reveal Party!!

Outside my window....It's dusk, cool and quiet. WOW! The high was only 89 again today. I could seriously get used to this weather. We're watering our grass every 2 hours to get the re-seed to take again and the backyard feels like an oasis. (Remind me of that when the bill comes - $$$)

I am listening to...the clicks of computer keyboards, small-fry chatter, and the quiet of the evening. It really is peaceful. It feels like a holiday weekend.

Favorite things from this week....Last day of school, Book Group (where we discussed The Book Thief), seeing The Avengers with J&K and enjoying popcorn for dinner, lunch with my teacher buddies, a packed classroom and a report that we made our grade level writing goals!!!

I am thinking...about how grateful I am for this land of the free because of the brave! Thank you to those who defend and protect us, for those who selflessly sacrifice on my behalf. I am thinking of my Air Force son and his willingness to serve. Thank you Drewboy!

I am grateful for...hospitals, nurses and doctors who cared for my mom so well. I am grateful for her health and how she is able to walk on this new knee so quickly. That just amazes me. I am grateful for a little grandson who came in and swallowed me in a huge hug and told me he missed me. I am grateful for a safe trip to Tucson in a giant windstorm. I am grateful to be released from going on the trek!!!!!!!! No more needs to be said. I am grateful!

I am reading...What Alice Forgot, The Horn Book magazine, and The House at Tyneford (yum!) So many good ones are on the waiting pile - -LOVE IT! I will take 3-4 in my bag with me when I leave tomorrow - who needs clothes!!

I am listing...NOTHING! And it feels great!

I am creating ....piles of things to pack.

Plans for the week....Read, rest, repeat. (Oh yeah, that's my mom's job!) I will be her nurse, cook, housekeeper, chauffeur, laundress and all around slave! Of course I know I will find time to read on her beautiful back porch high in the foothills. I hope the wild critters will come and keep me company and stay on their side of the wall! On Saturday Rich will come down to pick me up and we will attend our neice's wedding and return home. The week sounds full.

We attended our first Gender Reveal Party this weekend...

J&K are having a....

J's SILs had the sealed envelope from J's doctor and waited until the perfect time to let J&K know what their little bundle will be. It was a fun get-together that was all about family, surprises, food and fun!! What will this new little one be?!?!? 

I loved this little verse....

Some of us couldn't commit!!

Mommy and Daddy had to bite into a cupcake to check for secret messages.....

When the cupcakes didn't reveal the secret, they opened this box...FULL of pink and blue balloons!! They had to pop the balloons to reveal the news.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GIRL!! (If all goes as the ultrasound revealed!)

What a fun idea! What a fun party! What fantastic news...

Sunday Salon - or How I Avoid Doing Report Cards

I hate looming deadlines...
So here I sit in front of the my computer with work scattered all around and I STILL avoid doing report cards!!!
I have given every excuse in the book.
I have even stooped to asking (bribing) others to help me.
No go.
They are not as gullible as I am.

So....with the due date of Monday (yes, this Monday) I STILL sit here and avoid doing report cards...

On that fine note, I bring you my version of my Sunday Salon - Report Card Style

Outside my window .... Dark. We spent part of the evening at a local park enjoying a picnic and the weather was just about perfect! A+

I am listening to.... the sounds of the Air Conditioner turning on. I love that air conditioner. A+

Favorite things from this week.... talking to my kiddos on Mother's Day, walking miles and miles with Rich, cooking dinner for Jennie, 2 wedding receptions, reunions and hugs from great friends. A+

I am thinking ....about how to help my students finish their PowerPoint presentations. Yikes. I think that I have bitten off more than I can chew. F

I am grateful for...new extended hours at our local libraries!! (Yeah librarians!! ) I am also grateful for gift cards. Who would have thought that?!?!? Like, duh!?! A+

I am reading ....Book Thief and What Alice Forgot. Hmmm...the backs of my eyelids too! A+

I am listing ....The infamous check-out list for school. I passionately love it AND hate it. C

I am creating ... class awards, autograph books, PowerPoint tutorials. C

Plans for the week ....My plan is to just make it through the next 4 days....Sounds like a great plan, if I do say so myself! Book Groups is on the last day of school and this group of teachers will talk about The Book Thief and celebrate another year ending. Then I am off to Tucson to be nurse for my mom after her knee surgery and then I MUST get ready for the trek. Do you think I can find some time to read?!?!?! I sure hope so. A+

 Now, I've done it, I've wasted another perfectly good 30 minutes avoiding report cards....yep, thank you blogging, for helping me get my priorities straight!!!

Sunday Salon - Mother's Day

Outside my window ....It's going to be a warm one. Can the sky look that way?!?!Yes! (Of course I won't tell you that it's all the weather people have been talking about. That would destroy your opinion of me as a weather-djinni!!)

I am listening to.... Sunday morning silence!! (Oh, and the cat PLEADING for me to feed him. He sure knows how to ruin total silence.)

Favorite things from this week....RAIN!!! It was amazing opening my classroom door and walking out into a building monsoon. L.O.V.E. it!! Thunder, lightning and a lot of rain is wonderful. I think I did the happy dance right there in the parking lot. Of course that was the same night as Book Group. So you see I just pile all the fun things into one 24 hour period. I  Love Book Group.We read Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichel and the talk (at a local restaurant) was delicious! This week also featured a geocaching class for Math, seeing the Hunger Games and another wedding to attend. I think we are getting to be professionals at this!

I am thinking .... about magic. Wishing I could wiggle my nose and have the little messes around here all cleaned up. Very magical-like but doesn't every mother wish this on Mother's Day (and every other day?!?!) I would have the magic take care of it all!

I am grateful for... Mother's Day and the great blessing I have in an awesome mom. She's terrific. I actually have been blessed with so many wonderful women in my life to lead the way and be examples for me. Thanks!

I am reading ....Magical Mischief by Anna Dale, What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarity and 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I am also ready to re-read The Book Thief for my other book group. Wahoo. Book love.

I am listing .... The same things I listed last week only with more intensity!!! Grading writing folders is a MUST. 

I am creating ....Gift bags for the young single women at church. Rich and I work with the 18-30 year old singles and we wanted to honor womanhood today. We put together little bags of Bath and BodyWorks lotion and some Ghiradelli chocolates. Little Jase was my helper as we sorted, stuffed and tied. They look wonderful.

Plans for the week ....2 wedding receptions (I know - we're going broke here, but enjoying the celebrations!) Lots of year-end prep at school, grading, and prepping for the trek. Yikes!! There's something almost every night again this week. Gotta love this "Merry month of May!"