Happy Mother's Day!

Wordless Wednesday

Not sure what the conversation was about but up to that point it was great fun playing  in the boxes!

A Favorite Teacher

Can you remember your favorite teacher? Maybe you had more than one? I can remember several teachers that made learning fun. I'm sad to say that I never let any of them know it and now they are gone. Regrets.

I remember my kindergarten teacher's name and what she looked like. I don't remember much else except she was the first to give me a compliment on a painting I had done. For a 5 year old who didn't get many compliments at home (that I remember), it was a BIG deal.

My sixth grade teacher was a very kind elderly nun. She was always in a good mood and I remember we did a lot of art projects. (my favorite subject at the time). Her classroom always seemed very calm.


My piano teacher was a tiny elderly nun but she was so full of life! I remember her dancing around as I played a minuet. She knew stories about composers that she shared. She had such a happy disposition. (not all of my nun teachers had that!)

My high school chemistry teacher was just a young fellow when he came to our high school to teach. He had a good sense of humor yet we knew he meant business in the classroom. He made learning the periodic chart fun and we respected him. He was a tough grader so I spent a lot of time studying for that class. I got to know him as an adult when I took a teaching position back in my home district. I once had an opportunity to talk with him in his office. He had many, many framed pictures of the seniors he had taught lining the walls.

I also had a couple of college professors who helped me along the way as I studied to become a teacher and once again as I worked on my Master's Degree. I also have to mention that teachers that I work with and a very good friend of mine that is a teacher have also made a lasting impression on me!

Can you tell one of the reasons why I became a teacher? So, how about you? Do you have a favorite teacher?

Teacher Appreciation

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I should know, I'm a teacher. However, at my school this week isn't much different from any other week. Now I'm not saying that teachers need to get gifts this week but we like to be appreciated just like anyone else. Actually, a meaningful thank you note would be something I would treasure almost more than a gift. I'm not expecting any this week but that is not why I am a teacher. However,reading blogs this week I've seen so many cute ideas. I've passed several on to my daughter to use with my grandchildren for their teachers. So I thought I'd pass them along to you too. Adding a little thank you note would make them perfect!

So simple but so cute! From My LDS Project

                                                                                Everyone loves a cupcake! Singing with Birds

Love this! I've seen other doors that weren't quite as embellished but were still so cute. Who wouldn't want to come to school in the morning and be greeted by this? The kids would love it too!

                                                                Maybe the best one...from The Crafting Chicks.

Have you got any great ideas to share with us for Teacher Appreciation Week?  Go ahead, thank a teacher. You are never too old to send a thank you note!

Wordless Wednesday

Is it Friday yet?

Ditch the Stroller for Older Kids?

I've had so much fun the past two weekends watching my three grandchildren run in 1K races. Their mom is a big runner so it's natural that they would run too. The first race they ran was very well organized with the kids lining up by ages. The bigger kids ran first, then the little ones. The second race my grandkids ran was not very well organized but they still had fun. Those medals at the end seem to make it all worthwhile!

An organization called BLEND in our community has really been pushing events to get kids active. They help promote and sponsor running and biking activities. I am really impressed with the work they are doing. The statistics on the number of obese children in our country are shocking (1 in 3) so it's refreshing to see something positive being done to try to combat that.

I found an interesting article about a graduate student and her professor in Utah who came up with the idea of ditching strollers for older children. They are suggesting that preschoolers can walk up to a half-mile and older kids further than that. In their community they are urging caregivers to walk with their children in places they are already visiting,(zoo, park,etc.)They feel that too many parents are using strollers for older children who could and should be walking. I hope the people in Utah make a huge impression on their community and that their idea spreads. Walking is a very simple and inexpensive way to become and stay healthy. Do your children like to walk or run? Do you have any tips or tricks you use to keep your kids active?

Fun with Photos

Here's another fun site you can use to play with your photos. It's very easy to use. If you like Instagram,you'll love pixlr-o-matic... a SUPER EASY, FREE online photo editing program you can use on the photos you take with your regular camera. I transformed a picture of my rose bouquet using different effects and frames... making them a bit more "interesting" and "artistic"... all within a matter of seconds! Check them out:

This was made using "Glitter".

This was made using "Vignette" and "Peri" frame.

This was made using "Antonio" and "Cornered" frame.

You should SO go try it out...
1. Upload your favorite picture
2. Add the effects you want...
3. Save them to your computer for sharing!

(Pixlr-o-matic is also available as a download, a Facebook App, as a Chrome Web App and for iOS or Android devices)

Isn't that blue rose spectacular?!?  My sweet sister-in-law Marilyn, a fabulous flower designer, gave it to me.