[ family ]

Tonight, my whole family (minus Kevin and David) got together for dinner at Mei Lings to celebrate Jon, Lisa, and baby Rein being "home" from Washington, D.C.

We don't get to see them often, only once or if we're lucky, twice, a year.

It was fun to all be together and grill Jon & Lisa on important topics like:

• The Inauguration (Jon is a Secret Service Agent stationed at the White House)
• What Washington D.C. was *really* like last week
• Baby Names
• Baby Names
• Baby Names

We had a good time, although not long enough with them. On Saturday, Lisa's sisters-in-law (Jon has 4 sisters and 2 brothers) are having a baby shower for Lisa. Mom & I won't be able to attend due to the Crafter's Getaway retreat, so we "showered" her early this evening.

Also, my cousin Craig just got back from Las Vegas today, so it was a lot of fun hearing about his trip. All of us cousins really want to go to Vegas together when Amber, the youngest, turns 21 in 2010. Now Lisa will have a one-year-old, but hopefully we can still all go. I think it would be a blast - even if I'll be old by then (29...ah!) running around with all the youngsters. :)

This picture is one of my favorites of all of us, even though Amber isn't in it...although we did threaten to paste her face over Jordan's (Kevin & Paige's cousin on their mom's side)...

[ worthy news ]

I just re-read my blog from last night and had to laugh.

I linked two articles from the Tri-City Herald...and realized that I probably could have found more reliable sources of news.

hee hee

[ update ]

I see signs of normalcy returning life at CHS.

I think scheduling is pretty much over (until AUGUST. Gag.) and we're moving on to the next fun things (testing, WASL, testing, AP, testing, scheduling for 09/10).

There have been a few controversial topics in the news here in Washington regarding schools lately...

1. The new Washington state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announcing that the WASL will be phased out and replaced with an assessment that is less time consuming and electronic. What a freakin' concept. Tri-City Herald Article

2. Legislatures and Representatives in the House & Senate proposing bills to allow schools to have 4 day weeks to save money on janitors, transportation, etc. during this time of major fiscal cuts in Governor Gregoire's budget. I can see the logic, but there are so many aspects to it that would be VERY hard to figure out. It will be interesting to see how it transpires.

Tri-City Herald Article

[ just another manic monday ]

Today was the first day of the second semester at school. I can't believe we're halfway through the school year! Yikes! Of course, the office was flooded with students wanting to change their schedules. It gets tiring having to tell them "no" "No" "NO" time after time. There is just no room to move around, our schedule is so tight. Tomorrow, the focus will be balancing classes if possible and trying to get all the classes, except for PE, under 30 students per class. It will be interesting. I stayed at school until 5:30pm tonight catching up. I was out of the office in meetings for the majority of today, so I got behind very quickly. I am thankful for Jennifer & Meri for all they do...I know it was frustrating today, but I appreciate them doing what they could to keep the sanity!! :)

Tonight, I cut fabric for two (identical) quilts. That's most likely what I'll be doing this weekend at the craft retreat. If I find time to pack some scrapbooking stuff, I'll take that too. I think it's already time for a new rotary cutter blade...that went fast!

[ sunday ]

I did get some crafty things done last night (yay!) - I'll post pictures tomorrow of my Scripture Challenge cards.

Today, I went to Spencer Hadley's farewell at the Connell LDS church. I really enjoy Spencer and it was apparent that many other people do because the chapel was full! He's going to California on his mission.

After Spencer's farewell, I went to my church and then to lunch with Mom, Dad Grandma, and Nick & Kate. Kate and I had plans this afternoon to do a little crafting - making invites for Jessica Fife's baby shower. I think they turned out pretty cute, although this isn't a great picture.

Nick & Kate invited Mom, Dad, and I to dinner at their house tonight and a little Wii action. We even got Dad playing the Slot Car Races!

Tomorrow night, I have big plans to cut fabric and pack in preparation for this upcoming weekend. It's my only completely free night this entire week.

[ catching up ]

Not much to report on since Thursday. School on Friday was spent doing most of the same stuff as Thursday. Lots of "meetings", changing schedules, appeasing teachers, and on and on. I stayed at work until about 6:15pm getting caught up after the busy week and then headed down to the basketball games. Both the girls and the boys games were intense with Connell sweeping Burbank! Yeah!

Today we had Junior Miss practice this morning, I came home and rested, then went to the Tri-Cities to run a few errands. I met Jessica & Emersyn for a Target date - I can't believe that it had been over a month since I'd seen them. Emersyn is just as sweet as ever and I love spending time with Jess. (By the way - post a picture of your new project, Jess!! I want to see your new talents!)

I'm not sure why, but it seems like every time I'm in the Tri-Cities this winter, a storm brews and the roads become terrible. Seriously - today was probably the third or fourth time that I've driven home well under the speed limit. Tonight, I drove 40-45 all the way home and passed three accidents. I was very glad to get home safely.

I'd like to do something crafty tonight, but I got sucked into "The Da Vinci Code" on TV with my Dad. I have a quilt top to finish, fabric to cut to prepare for the Crafters Getaway next week, and sewing stuff to clean up so I can work on my Scripture Challenge (two weeks behind) and get stuff ready for Kate to come tomorrow. She and I are going to make baby shower invitations for a shower we're having for Jessica Fife.

Also, I got some new quilt patterns in the mail today from Thimble Blossoms (my new obsession - I heard about this company and the designer/owner Camille Roskelley from Amber Yount's blog. I love Camille's blog and get pretty excited when I see she's posted!):

Camille also has a free pattern right now here: Moda Bake Shop. I'd love to make it. Table Runners seem very manageable! I love the thick ric rack!!

Finally, I thought I'd share my thoughts on Michelle Obama's inaugural gown, since I was so excited to see what she would pick.

Two words: NOT IMPRESSED.

My amateur fashion critique: she's fairly short-waisted and this dress just emphasizes it. I don't like the color, the wispy things coming off of it, etc. etc. etc. I just think she could've done better. It was "such a historic event" for crying out loud!

I did think that Malia and Sasha were just about the cutest little fashion divas ever!

Hello pink and orange! Way to start a trend, Sasha!!

I also love the letter that (supposedly) the Bush twins left to the Obama girls. I always did like those Bush girls!

That's it for tonight. It's 8pm now and it doesn't look like much is going to get done. :)

[ crappy thursday ]

Today was one of the worst days at work in the past three years.

{The following is part complaining, part soul-searching - read at your own risk!}

Long story, short, we had to make some hard decisions today that we had to have long, grueling discussions about. It was difficult and exhausting. My opinion was overruled, which isn't anything new, but this time, I felt very strongly about my opinion. Usually, with similar situations, I am the "yes" person - I seek the best in students and 99% of the time give them the benefit of the doubt, even when everyone else tells me they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt. But this time, I felt in my gut that this was a "no" situation. That is hard for me. I've continued to think about this for the remainder of the day.

Was I wrong? Were we all hearing different things? Was it our value systems?

Or am I overthinking it?!

Add to that students still needing schedule changes, teachers complaining about class sizes & students they don't want in their classes, trying to figure out a crummy situation where students are being given the short end of the stick, and the never-ending paperwork piling up on my desk.

I will be so happy one week from tomorrow at around 7pm. The countdown is on.

[ 16 things about me today ]

I've seen on some blogs (Ali Edwards, specifically) that they're listing 16 things about themselves. I figured that would be a pretty easy way to tackle a post for today! (Not that I have to blog everyday, but I enjoy it!)

1. I am sick of changing student's schedules. Especially if they have already been in my office to change their schedule two...or three...or ten times already! I'm also sick of having no options for student's who do have a legitimate reason to change their schedule.

2. I'm a little obsessed with sewing now that I'm feeling successful at it. And - the obsession extends to fabric too. I now have fabric to make 4 quilts in addition to the one I'm working on. :}

3. Speaking of obsession - Pandora internet radio on my iPhone. I've been listening to Passion music all day. Love it. So easy!

4. I'm pretty excited to see my cousin Lisa and her husband Jon next week. They're coming from Virginia. She's pregnant and due in May - and I haven't got to see her since I knew she was pregnant. (I saw her in September a week before she announced her pregnancy!) She is the petite one in our family and I know she's got to have a cute prego bump.

5. I'm shamefully watching "Gossip Girl" right now. I really like those dumb shows (The Hills, 90210, Gossip Girl), but my favorite by far is "The Real Housewives of Orange County." Guilty obsession.

6. I got a new zippie at Wal-Mart on Monday for $12. That's right folks, $12. I'm going to go back and buy a few more at that price!

7. I am enjoying hearing from long-lost high school friends that we're contacting for our high school reunion.

8. I still need new black shoes. I hate looking for them though!

9. Does anyone have any cute ideas for a baby shower invite? My friend Kate & I are throwing a baby shower for our friend Jessica and need some inspiration.

10. I love getting new clothes. I like wearing new clothes too. And, I like the indoor/outdoor slippers I got for Christmas. And cardigans. :)

11. I wish I could read more. I had a book in my basket at Target the other day and then put it back because I remembered I could check it out from the library. Not sure if that's a good thing.

12. Jeopardy is one of my favorite shows.

13. I like browsing etsy.com. I've found some great things on there for fairly inexpensive prices.

14. I love watching Samson sleep. I've heard people say that about their babies...so is that wierd that I like to watch my dog sleep? He's so cute when he snuggles or when he stretches. I love that dog!

15. I really want to go to Minnesota this summer and I'm thinking about driving. Possibly by myself. Just me and Sam-dawg.

16. OMG! I just read online that the new Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today that 2009 will be the last year of the WASL as we know it. Can I get a whoop whoop?! That is such a relief! I think about all the work it takes to account for each booklet (before, during, and after), convince students to try their best, sharpen 50 dozen pencils a day, get snacks for the students, keep track of who's passed & who hasn't (because the state DOES NOT have a reliable system), and try everything in our power to get the students to pass the WASL through a variety of other means. I hate being the one to tell a student that they haven't passed or their SAT/ACT scores aren't high enough, or the very worst - they aren't going to graduate. The WASL is the worst part of my job and I'm so happy it's being revamped. It's definitely needed.

Ok - let's see your 16 random things about you!

[ one step closer ]

I was excited to come home tonight and get to work on my quilt.

I sewed my little heart out while watching the recap of today's events.

Ok - is it just me, or the TV coloring, or were Michelle Obama & Laura Bush's suits for the inaguration not attractive?!

I got all my squares sewn together (with only a little bit of seam ripping!) - then brought them upstairs to lay them out on the floor:

If you can't tell, I'm pretty proud of myself. The whole time I was sewing - each piece together and then to the next and the next - I was thinking..."WOW! I can't believe I'm actually doing this!!"

Of course, Samson had to see what was going on.

Apparently, he approves. :)

I don't think he realizes it's not finished...

Tomorrow, I'm going to try to sew the rows together...and then the rows to the rows...and then what? I don't know what to do next!

[ inauguration day ]

How did we get here and where is Sarah Palin?!

I'm just marking a spot here today to remember Inauguration Day...

Today, President George H.W. Bush (#43) exits the White House and

Barack Obama (#44) enters.

There has been a lot of talk everywhere you turn regarding the historic nature of today, swearing in an African American president. I do not understand why there is so much hoopla over Obama's race when there is also a lot of talk of looking past color and seeing everyone one as equal. Seriously...isn't this speaking out of both sides of your mouth?

Whoever it is, the inauguraton day is day in history and I am looking forward to watching as much of it as I can.

Of course, I'm also dying to see what Michelle is wearing tonight at the Ball. :)