Harry Potter Sorting Cupcakes

 These cupcakes were homemade with love by Blythe.  My cousins (not so little) gal came into town this week and she is obsessed with baking and Harry Potter.  She decided she wanted to make each family member (3) cakes that have bdays in these next few weeks.  She made me an adorable 'pool' cake complete with her LOL dolls swimming and a graham cracker diving board....and fish sprinkles, and then I spent one morning with her crafting and helping her make these cupcakes for my cousin, Holly, who also loves Harry potter.

 Blythe baked the cupcakes with my aunt, and then I swung by and helped her cut a small cone out of the top of each cupcake.

 I dyed some white vanilla icing red, blue, green, and yellow to represent each house in Harry potter and snipped the tip off ziplock bags and she filled the cupcake holes.

 We capped them back (you could cut off part of the cone, but there wasn't much of a bump when we added the hat).

 She iced them...

I melted some white chocolate (in a ziplock again, and snipped the edge) and she 'glued' a kiss to an oreo and then placed each on the cupcake.

 We went swimming the next day and each of us bit into our cupcake to discover which house the sorting hat sorted us into.  I got Gryffindor.  She also left some of them with chocolate innards-those were muggles.

I originally saw the idea online, and it was a cupcake she loved putting together, though some people refuse to accept their house assignment.....look, the hat knows....

Atlanta, GA

Last week, I headed to the Atlanta, GA area.  One of my goals this year (before I turn 40 in :gulp: a day) was to see both of my godchildren.  One lives in Fort Benning (1 1/2 from Atlanta), the other lives in Tampa (6 hours away).  Both mama's agreed to meet me so I could see the kiddos AND spend time with them.  Group one is my friend, Maurine and her 4 kiddos and mama.  This was the first time I got to meet Aurora (who turned 1 a few days later).  I held her, got to hang out with the boys, and explore the area a bit.  We stayed in an area about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta called Stone Mountain.  It's a state park (I think?) that's centerpiece is the largest slate rock in the world, only 10% is outside of the ground.  You can hike (no) or take a tram (yes) to the top and walk around and enjoy awesome views of Atlanta and the surrounding area.

There are all sorts of areas (suspended bridges, dinosaur themes, water play areas, there was a large bug exhibit this go 'round, in the winter there is a snow hill, and in the fall a pumpkin patch-ish area).  We spent some time in the 'historic' area where you could walk through old houses, churches, schools etc to see what life was like a hundred years ago, play with some games on the lawn etc.  

They had a petting zoo on site.

And we happened to be there when they had fireworks, though they have a laser show every night during the summer, and throughout the whole year.  

The next day we spent at the Atlanta Aquarium.  Get the early bird tickets (arrive before 11) online, we didn't (whoops) and they only have a set number that had sold out by the time we realized it was only online.  It said the aquarium takes 3-4 hours, and it's right next to the Coke museum (right across the lawn), but we actually took 7 hours.  There were several great shows, and my favorite was a tank you could ride a conveyor belt under while enormous sting rays, turtles, sharks, and whale sharks swam all around.  

This is the best picture I have to show how enormous those whale sharks are compared to the people.

They had a room where you could sit and just gaze at this enormous tank, and divers went down and did a talk every hour or more.  It was an amazing aquarium with so many things to see and do that are included in the ticket price, and a lot of 'extra's of behind the scenes with the animals you could also add on to your day.  They had a food court (pricey), but worth stopping for lunch for us.

Next up, my friend Regan and goddaughter, Micah picked me up and took me to their historic home on Fort Benning's army base where Regan's husband currently serves/works.  We spent time doing day to day things, but it was really fascinating b/c the base was a training base for airborne army men and women, so we got to see them practicing different 'jumps' and rappelling down lines to practice their form when exiting a helicopter.  Maybe it's more fascinating to me b/c jumping from anything is on my list of 'never.'

After a few days, we abandoned the nugget and Regan and I went to Atlanta to see the New Kids on the Block.  You either know, or you don't, but there is no concert like a NKOTB concert.  I've been before (and even went earlier this year), but it was Regan's first, though we have loved the band for 30 years and it's all we talked about the first 10 years of our friendship (and still could probably occupy too much time if we let it).

There was confetti, fireworks, 80's music, and lots of screaming women, we were two of them.

Happy Thanksgiving

I've celebrated Thanksgiving with many different people in many different ways, but over the last few years it has taken on a new meaning for me as I've seen more of the world.  I am sometimes stopped in my tracks when I see the rest of the world and see this spot God carved out for me.  I am so thankful.  I know that so much of what I struggle with would be a dream for others.  My worries are so trivial, and I am so grateful to be so blessed, but I'm trying to hold tight to all I've been given even when it doesn't seem like it's as 'much' as others that surround me, it's still so much more than most.  I've been given so much freedom.  I've been given so many resources.  I've been given so many great friends.  I've been given so many holidays with family.  But I know it was not for nothing.  It wasn't because I earned it, or God loved me more....it's because He trust me to use my blessings for His kingdom.  I'm praying this holiday that the next month opens doors for me to love better, and give more generously of all I'm thanking God for today.  

West Texas

 A little something most people that know me know-I'm a fan of the weekend get away.  I want to explore every nook and cranny of a small town.  I'm in love with old Main Streets.  I grieve for close store fronts, and wonder about what was, and who experienced it.  Hotel Settles has been on my short 'to go' list since I read about it a few years back.  It was built in 1930 in Big Springs, Texas.  It's still the tallest building in town, and can be seen, with a back drop of the wind farms in the distance from many points throughout the city.

 The real draw for me, this was a town my grandfather called home once upon a time.  He's the only grandparent I really had the pleasure of knowing.  I didn't get to ask him nearly enough questions because I was still too young to know what questions I'd wonder about.  I do get the pleasure of spending the occasional lunch with his younger sister, and she fills in some of the gaps in his childhood I wish I had time to hear from him.  I love that this hotel was something he would have seen as a little boy on the streets of Big Springs.

 This hotel has sat vacant for years, and just a few years ago it was restored.  They did a great job of keeping the vintage feel, but bringing it up to date with modern conveniences.  Like, this pool....

 A little desert oasis, my Mom, Aunt, Cousin and I spent time at on the, much too brief trip to Big Springs.  The rooms are beautiful, and the lobby is classy, open, and it is surrounded by a great restaurant, bar, and a gorgeous ball room.
 I wish I had more pictures, but these few photos were taken from my iphone because a cooler was accidentally dumped on my camera, and it went on strike.  This means....I'll need to go back!
From Dallas, this was about a four out trip...if you don't stop at all the litttle antique stores in the little towns between here and there....and we did.  We also hit up Sweetwater, another town my Granddad called home. I was able to find the addresses where he lived here and in Abilene, and we swung by the houses he called home once upon a childhood.

 We also swung through Mineral Wells, which is a book end to this trip.  My Mom and Aunt have fond memories of this (currently closed) hotel.  My Mom took diving lessons in the huge pool that stands next to the pool.  It's currently in disrepair.  Windows are broken out, and the weather and human intervention have done a number on the innards, but having seen Hotel Settles...I can't imagine how awesome this would be with some TLC.  There is a group currently trying to get it restored.

We walked around the outside, and peeked through the fences, but while we were there for all of ten minutes, there were three other groups we ran into doing the same thing.  I have a feeling filling these rooms won't be a problem because it seems we aren't the only ones drawn to the past in hopes of getting to visit some of those memories again!

Dear Younger Me,

    I turn 37 tomorrow.  I've reached the age in my life where I forget what my age is when people ask.I really thought I was 35 all year until my friends starting turning 37.

    There are moments when I think about where I thought I'd be.... I was going to be married.  There would be a couple kids.  My house would be clean.  My dog would be well behaved.  For sure, the front yard would have been landscaped.  I was going to be thinner....not thin, just...not so not thin.  What's up with the gray hair?  That was no where in the plan.  If it was, I was going to have more money to pay to cover that stuff up.  College loans, those were going to be paid off years ago.  

     Those don't define who I am at the moment.  This wasn't the life I had planned, but I could not have even written in the plans the incredible friends I'd meet and get to keep along the way.  The countries, states, and places I've been able to visit.  I've accomplished goals I never even thought about wanting to do because God provided moments and motivation to dream up some new, pretty incredible goals and adventures.  I've had a front row seat to answered prayers and miracles.  I don't know what the future holds.  I don't know if I'll get to check off any of the things from my "Once Upon a Time" list of expectations, but should none of those things ever come to pass, I know it's going to be a great adventure through year 37 and beyond.

   I will now pick up my birthday soap box and leave with this song....it speaks to me.  So if you are struggling with the age thing, the life expectations and life mapquest directions taking you down a different road than the one you thought you should be traveling, regrets from paths begun that diverted you from God's plan, this puts me back on track...

Seattle

 Over Memorial Day, I flew out to Seattle to visit my goddaughter.  I had airline miles and I knew just how to use them.  I've visited this little nugget in four states now.  Dad is a sgt major in the army. Mom is my lifelong partner in crime.
This post is more personal than informative, but...it's my blog, and ultimately where my memories live.
This little gal, Micah, is the world's friendliest tour guide.  She stood behind her Mom's car in her pjs late Friday when Regan was heading out to the airport, she was not getting left behind to do something silly like sleep.   She was there in pjs to greet me, and then she proceeded to tell EVERY sales clerk, base guard (they live on post), and tourist she passed that I was her Mom's best friend, and her Aunt Christy.  Then she'd usually ask said person for a high five, or...on special occasions "high five/knuckles."
After a very extensive home tour when we arrived at her house (I was introduced to every room, and pipe cleaner, toy, and pet present in her house).  She introduced me to her dad and let him know I was her Mom's best friend.  I'm sure, after more than ten years of knowing me, he was grateful for the clarification.

 Saturday morning we went shopping for some room decor (more on this later) and a few last items for her fairy garden, and then we went to some gardens near by.

She wore her dress, polka dot tights, rain boots, and boa.  She collected all the flowers she could hold along the path.  It was a gorgeous walk they take often through the Lakewold Gardens full of mossy stones, ferns, and flowers.  

 She offered me half of her findings.  I asked her to pause so I could take a picture of her flower in her cute little hand.  She wanted to take a silly picture, I told her OK, I'll take two, or serious, one funny.  For the remainder of the weekend whenever we stopped for a photo she'd say, "Take five pictures of this, Aunt Christy."

 After our garden tour, we went home and got to work on the fairy garden.  She painted up the fence and bird house (now fairy house) I brought-I posted about that separately.

 The fairies move at night, and she was super excited to see their new positions the next morning.

 This is her work in progress room.  Once upon a time, I was there for her baby shower (pre-birth) and her Mom, another friend, Liz, and I decorated her nursery.  Now, Regan and I have begun decorating her room.  Here is a small corner.  I'm going to work on some banners etc and send it up, but there is definitely going to be a dress up corner.  Though....by dress up I mean, her daily outfit.  She added a tutu to her pjs on Saturday and came to say good morning Sunday, still wearing that tutu the next morning.

 One thing Regan and I have in common-a love of dogs.  I have shed many tears over the loss of one of her gals a few years back.  I still teared up looking at old photos, but in her place is Diesel, a humongous, goofy, German Shepard.  I'm in love.  And faithful little Odie-Regan, Odie, and I have quite a few memories together.

 On Sunday, Micah, Regan and I headed to Mount Rainier National Park.  It was about an hour and 45 minutes from where she lives up very winding, beautiful roads.  Note to self-bring Dramamine next time).  The wild flowers weren't out yet, and the snow still sat in upper elevations, but we did get some beautiful peaks at the volcano.

 We made all the stops we could on the roads and park offices that were open.  We spent some time at Christine Falls.

 We ended up at Paradise where we discovered there was snow.  Micah was excited about that.  She couldn't wait to play.  She was super disappointed there was no lave (she kept telling me about the fact that we were going to a volcano to see lava), but....she seemed OK with the alternative (snow).  She threw snowballs, mad snow angels, and ate some questionable snow piles before anyone could stop her.
I kept telling her I was excited she got to go on a girl's trip with Regan and I.  We got a package of Twizzlers (which Micah calls Snappys....who knows why, but it's cute, and Regan and I have shared many a package of Twizzlers on a drive).  I see many more girl's trips in our future.
Last up, I forced the family to pose for a picture.  And then I left a huge piece of my heart in Seattle until next time.  Too little time, but too much time had already passed, I'll take anything I can get. Now....to plan the next trip!

15 Years of Teaching...Just a Few Thoughts

     I didn't grow up playing school.  I didn't ask my Mom for an overhead projector for Christmas (I had a friend who did).  I always liked kids.  Babysitting was my main means of money collection when I was younger.  I went to college on a different path, but after the first semester, having never really said it before, I decided to pursue teaching.  It was what fit in the end.  I went through undergrad starry eyed.  I graduated a semester early and decided to truck through and get my masters degree as well.
     I finished up my masters and subbed in the city where I lived.  I also graduated from grad school mid year, so I was applying for positions that were open in January. I knew it wouldn't necessarily be an easy transition for myself or the students.  I found a sixth grade position in early December, and I went up and worked with the teacher and the class the rest of that semester to make the transition easier.  I was fortunate because there weren't a lot of applicants for that position, and my mentor teacher, who is now one of my closest friends, picked me for the spot despite how green I was. 
     That first semester I was put through the ringer.  I learned more about parent teacher relationships, discipline, and instruction than four years of college taught me....or the next 14...I always go back to those lessons when sharing with others about how I learned.  The most important thing I learned was how cricitical it was to have teammembers who support you, encourage you, and have your back.  I had that.  We spent late nights together laughing, and crying, and laughing about crying.  It was a long drive though, 45 minutes from where I bought my first home.  I loved the school, but I was looking for a forever home, and the drive took a toll.  I stayed at that school for a year and a half and then moved to a school (in the same district) about 20 minutes closer to my house.  It's far enough that I don't see my students every day at the store, close enough that I can't work up a real good cry on the drive to or from work.  One of my two teammates made the move with  me, and the other gal (my mentor) stayed behind.  To end that part of the story, I still work with my teammate, we currently share a room as specialists.  My mentor has now retired, but now comes to our (new/old) school as a tutor through the testing season.  We get together for meals whenever the mood strikes, and go on a retreat together every summer.  I've worked with other folks through the years, but my best advice to the 'new teachers' is....if you have a team you love, don't leave.  It's so hard to find, but it makes everything so much easier when you approach life as a team. 
    I taught 6th grade, and then a few years back I moved into a reading specialist position.  I've seen programs come, and go, and come again.  I've worked through 4 superintendents, 3 principals, 4 vice principals, thousands of students, hundreds of staff members coming, leaving, having babies, getting married, losing loved ones, becoming sick.  I've watched my students grow, go off to college, enter the work force, a few of them even :gasp: as teachers.  I've waded through 3 different state test, several governors, 2 presidents, mad parents, happy parents, and too many national tragedies.  I've watched locks be added to doors, security measures be increased, and a few book adoptions come and go....along with all their supplements.
   It seems like I hear about educators a lot on TV, and it's rarely in a good way.  I see the facebook feeds of my friends.  I watch the trends online of the complaints.  Yes, there have been some bad teachers I've encountered (and quickly said goodbye to) through the years, but my norm is that I get to work with other people who are here NOT because of the pay.  They are here because they love students.  They invest far more than 40 hours a week.  40 hours are the hours they spend WITH the kids, the other 20+ is the time they spend prepping lessons, hanging decorations, buying supplies, putting together treats, calling parents. There is no overtime pay.  There is no hazard pay.  There really aren't enough feeds trending on how great these folks are holding down the fort, helping raise a child.  I don't love the state test, but I love working with people who take that lemon and squeeze that lemonade in forms of (self bought) incentives for improvement and effort (NOT just scores), gals and guys who decorate hallways, come up with theme days, and do all they can to make it fun to learn. I want the test to change, but I'm OK with some form of accountability as a teacher FOR the sake of a child's education.  Not this one.   But a test will always be stressful, and school won't be the last place we are tested.   Students get stressed about it, but students also get stressed about peer relationships, happenings at home, and just growing up in a scary world.  I can't imagine a safer place than some of these classrooms. Some of the best lessons these teachers teach is how to deal with stress.  Emphasis on, I don't like the current test, and I voice my opinion to more than just a facebook feed, and my hope is more will do the same, but I love working with people who do all they can to make lemonade.  :Stepping off soap box.:
   When I started this journey I remember hearing the retention rate for a lot of teachers was less than 5 years.  I thought-I'll never make it five years.  I made it five years.  I had a coworker who left after her ninth year, and her husband wanted her to continue one more year so she would someday be eligible for health care at retirement age.  She didn't.  I thought-I'll never make it ten years.  This year, I complete my 15th year. Today I close up my classroom for the summer.  There have been other opportunities that have come along through those years, and I might take one someday...I never say never, but at this point in my life, I DO still count down the days until Christmas Break, or summer, but I DON'T measure the days I think I'll be able to 'handle this job' because I can't imagine anywhere I could work with so many people who genuinely LIKE their job. I genuinely LIKE my job.  There are some bad apples, some bad days, but I work with some of the most amazing people on planet earth.  I'll hang out with them this summer because they are people I respect, people that serve for the sake of serving.  I looked forward to summer because those weeks get long, and sabaticals help me recharge, BUT I also look forward to a new year.  I packed up my room, but I've also written down things I want to do and try next year to be an even better teacher.  It's funny to think back to that first year or two when I thought-I can't imagine making it five years.  It's gone by quickly, and most days I can't imagine anything being more fulfilling. 

June is 2!

 I interrupt this blog to post puppy pictures.  Today, June turned two.  These photos were taken the first few days I had her.  I tried to take her picture, and she tried to steal my camera strap.  It could have been taken today.  As I type, she's laying at my feet with the dish towel she stole from my kitchen and was sure I would chase her down for, but when that didn't work, she collapsed, with her prize, by my feet.

 When I got my last dog 15 years ago I said I'd never get another puppy.  Come on, look at that face..you can see why I decided to delete my original plan!  That face ate a couch and a love seat, approximately 3,456,345 rocks....and threw them back up, and a forest worth of tree limbs. She's currently going through a serial killer junebug phase.

 ...but, she's always happy to see me.  She's my most faithful friend, and never loses interest in me....case in point...a photo last year of 'us' trying to blog.

I'm definitely one of 'those' people.  In a world full of worries, and waiting, and wonderings I love the simplicity of being loved by a dog.  I used the term loosely, but....you get my point.
Real time, two year old, Baby June...with her tea towel. One of my favorite little frivolous blessings.

Update....

   Oh man, it's been a busy week  month  year life.  Work is always crazy...we are in the middle of state testing madness.  BUT...summer is on the horizon.
    This summer I'm headed to Ireland and Scotland to discover my roots....and eat Irish Soda Bread and Cadberry chocolate.
     I'm also planning on redoing one of my rooms in my house to be a craft room. I've been on the hunt for the most fabulous finds a girl can find when looking for a functionally fun craft room.  I found the metal diet coke carrier at a thrift store recently.  This is going to house my pens etc.  Everything in my house is pending that craft room.  Once I have my crafts in the craft room I can redo my laundry room (which is currently my craft room).  I don't know why I'm excited about that, but...I am.
     My Mom also retired this year and as a side hobby/for a little money she has a little booth at an antique store nearby...which means that I've been hitting up some Estate Sales nearby...which means I'm buying a bunch of stuff that will never make it's way to my Mom's booth because I want it.  It's a vicious cycle.  This last weekend I scored an antique wardrobe that is over 100 years old....for 63 dollars.  That will make it's way to my craft room as well.
   I'm attempting a garden for about the 30th year in a row.  It goes well until about June when the sun comes out and doesn't leave for 3 months and I give up on the outdoors and slowly watch things wither from my window in my air conditioned house.  BUT....maybe this is the year....and I have all the makings for a pretty fabulous planting station complete with an old door.  I'm sure the missing piece to my success as a gardener is that potting station.  Actually, maybe if I have a fabulous planting station you won't notice the dead plants that surround it.
     This year, my New Year's resolution was to take a photo a day.  I wanted to capture something significant about each day so I value my time more.  I'm posting those photos on instagram.   I think that hits the highlights.  All this to say...lots of crafts on the horizon!  Lots of adventures on the schedule.