More Weekend Projects

I was really looking forward to this weekend, because I did not have a lot of school work to do (because we only have school three days this week). So, I knew I would have time to work on little projects that I actually wanted to. First, I cleaned the house top to bottom (not something that I wanted to do), but was happy to get it done! Then I pulled out the sewing machine...

The first project requires a little explanation. When we first moved into the house Mike kept his uniforms hanging in the garage. But, now that it is much colder outside he needed a new place to keep his stuff when getting ready for work. So, we put a coat hanger next to the washing machine/dryer in the downstairs bathroom. But, he still does not have a lot of room for t-shirts, hats, gloves, etc. So, I used a tutorial for a bedside hanger, which could be attached to the washing machine. We'll see how it works.

While I had the sewing machine handy I decided to whip up a valance and privacy curtain for the downstairs bathroom as well. I was happy with the end result! Mike also managed to use the sewing machine this weekend as well. Because it was nice and snowy this morning, he decided to make Sage a little sweater, so they could go walking in the woods. He used an old hat of his to create his masterpiece.

Finally, our weekend would not be complete with out Mike working on the basement. He decided to put together a little video for his brother, so I thought I would share it as well. He is probably not going to like the fact that I posted it! Enjoy!

Our Guestbook

This weekend, I was finally able to spend some time working on my scrapbooks. The first project on my list was the wedding guestbook. At the wedding, I had cards available for each of the guests to share their favorite memory of Mike or I and either some advice or predictions about our future together. The idea was to put the cards and some of the photos from the wedding together in a scrapbook to use as our guestbook. Instead of trying to chase everyone down for a photo I decided to just let things happen and hoped that between the professional photography and individual shots that I would have something to represent each guest or family.

Thankfully everything worked out and I think I only missed three or four guests! I am really happy with the way the guestbook has turned out. I am about half way there and I am thinking I will have some time to work on it in a few days.

Weekend Projects

Now that we have a nice, big, lovely, new house, that means we have lots of cleaning, organizing and other projects to keep us busy. Things have finally started slowed down after field hockey, so I feel like I have time to do more things. Just in time for the busy holiday season! I took advantage of a free weekend and went shopping for some decorations and now the house is starting to look and feel like "home". Of course with Christmas right around the corner, I had to put up some of the holiday stuff as well.

Here are a few pictures of how things are coming along. I will post more of the newly painted bedroom and the pictures as soon as they are hung up.

The entryway.

The living room. New curtains, pillows & wall decor.

The upstairs bathroom

Kitchen curtains that I made. No other decorations for now...

Mike has also been working on a "little" project of his own - THE BASEMENT! When we bought the house we had mentioned that someday we would want to finish the basement. I just didn't realize the process was going to start so soon. It is coming along quite quickly!

Reading Challenge #2

I have kind of been slacking with the goodreads.com book group. But, now that field hockey is over I feel like I have time do more of things I enjoy, like reading, scrapbooking, etc. So, here are my reading choices for the November Reading Challenge (Nov. 1st - 30th). We'll see how it goes, because last time I only finished 7 out of the 10 books (and I think it took longer than a month).

1. N for November................................Names my Sisters Call Me
2. Group B-day book........................................Elsewhere
3. Geography: New York.......................Once Upon a Blind Date
4. Fall Theme (Orange, leaves, pumpkins).....Frogs & French Kisses
5. Time Change (Any word assoc. with time)....................Timeline
6. Native American Heritage Month.....Second Glance
7. 1 author 2 names (Book #1)......Naked in Death (JD Robb)
8. 1 Author 2 names (Book #2)...Dance Upon the Air (Nora Roberts)
9. Romantic suspense...........................Ricochet
10. Group Book Shelf.................................The Host

One Season Ends & Another Begins

The Marshwood field hockey season if FINALLY over (3-2-6)! It is always a bittersweet feeling though, because I truly enjoy working with the girls, but the season just drags on. We had a terrific last game, we ended up winning 2-1, against Kittery. It was a really competitive, and close game! We had a successful team celebration at Smitty's in Sanford - took 50 girls along with a few parents to see Where the Wild Things Are. Here are a few of the team photos from this year. I have to hand it to Tami (7th grade coach), because she had 30 girls alone on the 6th/7th grade team and she was able to get all of them in to each and every game! It was not an easy job! But now, I am looking forward to having my time back after school to prep, plan or just head home if I want to. Just a few more uniforms to collect and then we are completely done!

8th Grade Team

On the same day that my Marshwood season ended, my adult league at Seacoast United started. We had an 8:30 game, which is late for me (especially when I have to drive back to Scarborough afterwards). We played pretty well considering we hadn't played since April/May. But, I am sooo out of shape and I am still a little sore today (shins/legs especially). Now, that I have some more free time I need to get my butt to the gym, so that I am not in pain for a week after playing Monday nights.

Hopefully there will be more opportunities for blog posts now that coaching is over with. We shall see...

What was I thinking?

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but since school has started it has been CRAZY busy! Teaching Algebra and now Geometry (ugh) is certainly keeping me on my toes. I am also trying to get the hang of the new Pre-Algebra text. Three preps on top of a one hour commute each way makes me feel like there is no time! Field hockey has finally started to get better, we are now 1-1-2. We travel to Saco Middle School today. This week I feel like I can finally breathe and slow things down a bit, because the students have testing all day. So, that is why I have some time to blog. So, I thought I would share a funny little story about an adventure I had here at MMS. Oh, the things I am willing to do for my students & literacy. What was I thinking???!!!

At the end of September we had an all school assembly to celebrate summer reading and literacy. We had volunteered one of the teachers on my team to be the leader at the assembly, and when I came into the gym he asked me if I would help. Little did I know, he was tricking me into being the leader.

During the assembly the principal would ask questions related to the summer reading books, and it was my job to get the answer from my students. If I was called on I would share the answer and our team would get a point. I knew that the top two teams would be competing in the end for a prize. So, I tried to raise my hand slow and avoid being called on, but my plan did not work, because my team was seated at the front of the gym. We ended up winning and I (as the representative of our team) would be going up against the other 8th grade teacher. Thankfully, the 7th grade team lost or I would have been going against the wrestling coach!! Here is what the team competition involved...IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL!!!

We had to race across the gym floor in these ridiculous, smelly, gross costumes. The best our of three runs was the winner. I won the first one, and then the second one they put us closer together to make it easier to push each other down. I decided (stupidly) to make it a little more entertaining, so I dove on the floor for the book (and won). Then I couldn't get up and everyone was laughing/taking pictures instead of trying to help. Finally, they made us spin around and then try to find the book, and the only reason I won that round is because the other teacher dropped the book. So, in the end the 8-White team won!! But, wait the story gets better...

After the assembly I proceeded to teach my classes, but my neck/back started to ache. I soon realized that I had seriously hurt myself when I dove for the book. The costume had sprung me back when I landed on the floor and my head snapped back, causing whiplash!! I actually had to fill out workman's comp paperwork and iced my neck. Ridiculous! Oh, but it gets even better... at the end of the day I was looking back at some of the photos and noticed an unfamiliar person in the background. When I asked who he was, I was told that he was from Foster's Daily Democrat! AHHHH! A small article appeared in the newspaper about 4 days later. As if I wasn't humiliated enough - what was I thinking?

Sage goes Swimming

Two weekends ago we were in Hampden at my mom's and Sage had her first real swimming experience. Earlier in the summer Mike and Dave took her kayaking. She fell in a few times trying to go back and forth between the two kayaks. She really did not care to be in the water at all, but we just thought that it was too early in the season and the water was too cold. I thought for sure we would have better luck in August in the swimming pool. Even though she doesn't even like taking a bath, I thought after swimming around she would really enjoy being in the water.

But, I was wrong! She does not like to be in the water at all! Mike tried to coax her in with some treats, but she was not very trusting. She would sniff close to him and then quickly retreat. Mike finally had to pick her up and bring her into the pool with him. She was so cute swimming around, but she did not really enjoy it. She just kept swimming to Mike or trying to swim to the edge instead of going after toys.

As soon as she was out of the water she was running around like crazy, trying to get dry. She was rubbing up against the floats, deck, and towels to try and wipe the water away. Shortly after that Mike picked her up and took her in for another swim. She swam around a bit more than before and actually would go towards the toys, but again did not really seem to enjoy it at all. Hopefully as she gets older she'll have more opportunities to swim around in the water, and she'll grow to love it. I have my doubts though. :(