Beautiful!

Too busy to post about the last few weeks, but I can do it quickly with pictures!

I started back to work (unofficially) in my classroom early in August. It takes a lot of time to get things unpacked, uncovered, and organized. I was happy to head back in with my new camera, to share my room with better photographs. Here is my new calendar set ... may not be exciting to most, but I was happy to have something fresh this year (even though it was a hand-me-down)!

Here is my new, FABULOUS, fabric banner that the author of one of my favorite blogs, Whatever, made for me. I found a picture of this banner on one of her blog posts & knew she was the creator. I left a comment & she emailed me later that night! After much encouragement on Megan's end that I could make one myself, I thought it would look better if I could pay her to make one for me. It arrived just in time for school to start! It was the perfect way to tie in my current, bright decorations. The kids really love it, too!

Here is poor Minnie after her day of shots with Dr. Jed. This year wasn't as bad as years past, thanks to antihistamines the day before, during and after her vaccinations. She sure was tired, though :(

The unbelievable sunflowers in Jill's garden! Look at how much taller it is than Mitzi. There were beautiful orangey pink ones, too!

I needed a change & asked for your advice. Molly sent me the link to this idea. I liked it, but had another idea instead.

Jill helped me one night to empty out the jars, clean the jars and then fill the jars with various glass pebbles. I LOVE the way they look now!

I finally got to put my Jayhawk license plate on my new car. I bought it the year that I got my VW Bug, and minutes after I bought it, I realized I didn't have a front plate. Now I can share my KU pride!

Enjoyed my last official day of summer at the pool. This summer, I was fascinated with the clouds and the reflection lines in the pool water. I didn't have my camera with me at the pool very often, but I did make sure to take some final pictures.

As a family, we went out for a "Going Back to School" dinner the night before my meetings started. I picked Los Cabos in Mission Farms because of their giant patio outside and because the weather had finally decided to cooperate a bit. This little one was begging for "moe sasa" (translation: more salsa) during the entire meal. She even liked the spicier ones that I couldn't handle :)

At the end of our meal, we saw three vans that held hot air balloons. We stuck around long enough to watch them inflate & take off. Quite the experience for Ellen!

Great night for picture-taking, too. I was sad I had just removed my new Canon from my purse and had to use my point & shoot for these pictures, but they still turned out.

This year at school, we voted on a Western/Cowboy theme. We've never had an all-school theme before, but it was really fun to see how everyone decorated. I just did a few things here & there, because I really like my regular decorations. Becky, down the hall from me, created this mural out of bulletin board paper & wrapping paper. SO FUN!

The first weekend after school started, some KC friends flew out to Columbus, Ohio to surprise Julie for an early 30th birthday party! We went straight to the party from the airport and she was BEYOND surprised!

The next day, Mike & Julie opened up their house to all the family and friends for a BBQ. My camera was passed around the table for everyone to play. Becca changed some settings for me, and took this great picture. I have a lot to learn!

Here's a picture of all the girls. Exactly a year ago, we were together for our 10 year reunion. Glad we got to celebrate together!

I hope to have more updates this year, but it's going to be a busy one. I'm going to be working towards my National Board Certification, which will mean about 300 hours of work (outside of my job) between now and March when my portfolio is due. If I become a hermit and have a hard time keeping in touch this year, now you'll know why. Writing here and continuing with my 365 photo blog have been easy ways for me to keep in touch with others, even though it's not face-to-face time. Keep checking back from time to time!

Seen on our walking route

{Yes, that's a mattress & box spring under the highway.}

{Tree completely covered by vine plant. It's GORGEOUS in person!}

{She stopped half way through our walk to rest a bit. Cars driving by laughed at us!}

{Minnie's new "friend" that we ran into on the way home. This poor turtle was awfully far from any sort of nature. I wonder how long it took him to get on the walking trail from his home.}

Who wants to join us on our next walk?

Too pretty to pass by without taking a picture

Found right outside the door at school. A sign that Spring is here ... oh, and we have just 6 more full weeks of school! :) You can find teachers all around the country counting down the days!

I love fall ...

... and this is one of the reasons why. What's better than this beautiful sight? Not much.

That's it. That's all I wanted to say. Nothing else to share. :)

The sun may not have come out today ...

... but the flowers did!

Aren't these flowers by our pool gorgeous? I wish these bloomed all year! :)

Great location to take pictures!

Yesterday, Mom, Mitzi & I went to the Hyatt in Crown Center to help my Aunt Susan and her team prepare for her American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) event!

We weren't in charge of making any of the 55 table centerpieces that had 150 white roses on them. Look in the pictures for the wreaths ... they are BEAUTIFUL! We worked for about 2 1/2 hours folding 600 black napkins and then rolling them and putting them in the 550 napkin rings that Susan's crew handmade! It wasn't a tough job, but it was necessary. The hardest part about it was that we were in a workroom (convention center hall) that had the temperature lowered so that all the flowers could keep throughout the week-long event! It was FREEZING!

Anyhoo ... I had a chance to walk around and take some great pictures. I hope you all enjoy them!

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Trip to the nursery with Mom

This afternoon, Mom & I ran a few errands. We went to look at new sink faucets for my birthday (Are all the rest of my adult birthdays going to be this exciting?), and then went to Suburban Lawn & Garden so Mom could get some herbs & plants for her house.

She knows what most flowers are and she's so speedy when we go there, so I was in charge of the cart (which is so big you can hardly get down any of the aisles in the place) and I snuck in a few great pictures, too.

I know I just posted a slideshow, but this is such a great way to post a lot of pictures without it filling up the entire page! I hope all of you in KC got to do something fun outside in the beautiful weather this weekend!

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Here at The Orchards, it's already Summer!

The pool was filled last night and all the furniture is set out and ready for a nice day with lots of sun! Doesn't it look pretty?

I love the leaves on this tree! They really were that neon green! In just a week or so, I'm sure they will be a darker green.

This is my favorite tree in the development. I've been taking pictures of it all year: Impressionistic tree, budding tree, snowy tree, tree branches, etc. Now that it finally has new leaves again, it is really beautiful. The branches grow out to the sides and the leaves fill the branches so it is almost impossible to see through it. It also creates the best shade. I love how the leaves cascade down the branches. I don't know what kind of tree it is, but if I am ever planting trees at a house, this is the kind I want!

One more view of the pool with the newly budding hedges around the fence.