Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Big Projects... Never Enough Time!

Hey all!  I am back after a long weekend and a few days away!  I've spent the last several days staining my deck (a huge project) and shopping for school supplies for the kiddos!  

Let's take a look at the deck first:



Is that not awful?  We've had the deck since about 2014.  We moved into the house in 2013 and needed something to cover the yard.  It was filled with rocks and gravel that the previous owner had used for his dogs.  It was, to put it nicely, a huge mess.  So I talked to hubby, begged, pleaded, and generally convinced him to let me put in a deck.  We looked around for contractors to tackle this huge project (roughly 17' X 19') that runs along the fence on two sides.  I was very specific, wanting low level since the kiddos were way littler then.  We found a contractor who was within our budget and he went to work.  About a week and a half later, the deck was completely done!  I love this thing, I really do!  I have a beautiful table that sits on it that hubby and I found on sale at Kmart.  It's the nice kind with the ceramic tile tops and comfy chairs.  I love it!  He bought me a wrought iron canopy for my birthday that had a canvas top, but unfortunately long winters and too much rain destroyed the wrought iron.  A huge snowstorm took the thing completely down. 😞  So for now, we sit in the sun!  About two years after we got the deck, I stained it a light cedar color, not really understanding that cedar is orange!  UGH!!  The stain didn't last long, so we've spent the last two weeks sanding, powerwashing, scrubbing, and sanding some more.  We were able to get most of the original stain off so we could do this:


WHOA BABY!

What a huge difference!  It's still cedar, but WAY darker now!  I am loving it so much more!  I know, I know. A lot of exclamation points, but seriously! It's such a nice big change.  There are some spots that are still sticky, but other than resanding and restaining, I'm not sure what to do.  If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!

Now as for the school supply trip:

Since I have three in school, the shopping trip was crazy!  As a teacher, I can understand the lists that get sent home, but as a parent, I was yanking my hair out!  We did get everything on the list, knowing that some things get put into a community supply box.  This I definitely understand.  Some kids do come to school without their supplies and it can negatively impact their learning.  If I am in a position to make their lives (and their teachers' lives) easier by providing some extra supplies, then I will.  Yes, it can get expensive, but I can see it from the teacher's perspective.  We do spend a lot of money out of pocket trying to provide for all kids.  It's a huge relief when parents are willing to donate a couple extra notebooks or folders, or send in an extra box of crayons.  Or go crazy and do what my dad did a couple years ago.  Two separate instances come to mind.  
First one goes like this (phone call with my dad):
Me: Hey Dad!
Dad:  What's up Kat?
Me: Staples is having a notebook sale.  $0.17 
a piece.  Could you pick me up a handful?
Dad: Sure, no problem.

A few hours later...

Dad: Hey Kat, I got your notebooks.
Me: Thanks, I appreciate it.
Dad: What did you mean by a handful?
Me: Just like 20 or so.
Dad: Well, I think my hands are a litter 
bigger than yours.
Me: Ha ha! Probably.  How many did you get?
Dad: 160.
Me: Wait... What?  60?
Dad: No, 160.
Yes!  This man picked up 160 notebooks for me! 160!  

Second instance... We had gone to Walmart for school supplies for the kids.  He lived about 6 hours away at the time and wanted to help out.  He picked up most of their supplies, then ordered a pallet of Kleenex to be delivered to their school.  I repeat. A. PALLET. OF. KLEENEX.  If you've never seen the way kids use tissues in school, then you may not understand.  He bought enough tissues to last at least until Halloween!  HA HA!  Just kidding on that.  Maybe it lasted until Christmas.  It was just one more thing the teachers didn't have to buy out of their pockets.  Extremely helpful and just straight generous.  He's very supportive of his daughters (teacher me and nurse practitioner sister).  So to end this, when you go shopping for school supplies, pick up a couple extra folders or notebooks or an extra box of crayons if you can.  Send it with your child to school and have them give it to his or her teacher.  You will not only make the teacher's day, you'll also be contributing to another child's education.

Until next time,

Friday, August 9, 2019

Introduction + Way Too Many Craft Supplies!

Hello out there in Blogger Land!  Welcome to my page!  As the title explains, I am a avid crafter, HUGE Disney fan, 4th grade teacher and a mom to 3 awesome kiddos!  

This is my first step in blogging.  I love writing and sharing my ideas (along with getting super new cool ideas from others) so here I am!

A little about me:  

First of all, I am addicted to crafting. You name it and I've tried it.  Not always successfully, since I have the attention span of a 2 year old. I've done jewelry, doll furniture and accessories, bead art, string art, clay, woodworking, crocheting, sewing, etc.  And I finish only about a third of what I start!  At the moment, I am trying to organize my craft room/laundry room.  I did not realize I had so many beads!  Those things are everywhere!  This time, I decided to sort them! Wait... what?  Why would I do that?  Because those little suckers got mixed up!  😵  They are making me crazy!  But I digress... My latest unfinished project is a huge dollhouse my hubby bought me for Christmas. Yeah I know it's August.  I'm working on finishing that thing... eventually!  

Moving on... 

I am also addicted to Disney.  By addicted, I mean I carry a Disney purse, Disney wallet, Disney phone case, wear Disney sunglasses, use a Disney coffee cup and water bottle daily, wear Disney themed clothes, wear Disney perfume, etc.  My latest project is decorating my classroom for the upcoming school year with Disney.  Yeah I know... it's bordering on crazed obsession.  What can I say?  We are actually leaving for our Disney trip in 29 days!  6 nights in the most magical place on Earth!  Last year, we surprised our kiddos with a trip.  This year they have been part of the planning so it's extra fun.  I'm taking my mother in law for her very first time.  I think she's more excited than the kiddos!  Hubby said we won't go next year, but I'm already thinking how I can get him to change his mind... hehehe!

Next...

I am currently a 4th grade teacher enjoying what's last of her summer break!  Where did the time go?  I can't believe it's already August!  I actually really love what I do and I am super excited to go back!  I absolutely love walking into my sparkling clean classroom (💙 our custodial staff!!) and just standing there for a moment, picturing what it will look like!  Then I become a crazy person, opening boxes and organizing supplies!  Ooohh!  That makes me sound like a super hero.  *Cheesy intro music.... By night, she's a normal cooking, baking, drinking (some), swearing (a little more) mom! When morning comes, she turns into Captain Teacher - armed with her stapler for cutesy bulletin boards, teacher manuals, and a drive to entertain her littles!  HAHA!  I really do love my job!  There's usually some singing (bad) and some dancing (even worse) on my part.  Anything to get the kids engaged in learning!

Saving the best for last...

My most important job is being a mom.  Squirt is 13, Peanut is 10, and Bubs is 7. (*Disclaimer: These are not their real names! I'm not that mean of a mom!)  Two girls and the youngest is a boy (and yes he is the baby!).  They are great kids!  I really mean that!  They're really good about playing together, even though sometimes the girls gang up on Bubs.  That's to be expected.  It's hard for me to believe I have a teenager!  I mean, I'm only 25!  (HUGE LIE!!)  She got her first cell phone this past Christmas.  Way later than all her friends!  She gets off the bus before I get home, so it worked out.  I even send her to pick up the little kiddos from time to time.  I love my kids, but whoever said parenting was a walk in the park never had kids!!  Have to question every decision we make for them to make sure they turn out to be good people.  That's all I can ask for!

Well that's it for today!  Until next time,