Pictures from the classrooms

My! What big eyes you have!!! Wesley is sporting his "reading" glasses, probably the same prescription I need!

Mario posed for me in his finest "100 Days" attire: the hat with 100 stickers, a necklace with a 100 dangling from it, and behind him, the 100 days countdown along the windows. At the computer you see Akin and Wesley solving word puzzles in their "free centers"

Here is the door to the classroom decked out for "100 Days of Learning" being celebrated inside.

Brylyn is seated on the floor in the reading center as Ms. Laurie went over a piece of school work with Brant behind her. Do you not wish you could sit the way Brylyn is? My legs would have to be broken to sit that way, or they would be after I did!!!!

Posing for the camera is what these children do best! Laurie laughed at herself for spending $14 on stickers for their hats, because she wanted them all to be different. No one but a teacher would likely notice such a thing!

The preschool children were watching the movie "Cars" before settling down for nap time. They could not go out to play yesterday due to the heavy rains going on, so a movie is a great way to keep them settled and engaged. Sarah is in the foreground, right side, in the green dress with her cousin, Chloe, in the pink in front of her.

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Justin saw "Cars" for the first time last week and was telling us ladies how funny it was, with adult humor mixed in to a kid's movie. My little nephews can recite this movie the way I do "The Bucket List" and now Justin can, too!

What a blast!

The time spent today in the kindergarten classroom was just a hoot!!!! The class was recognizing their 100th day of learning and had the entire theme around this number. The kids had crowns with 100 stickers they had to apply, 100 balloons on the ceiling, or at least they began there. Just 100's everywhere and in every way. I took my camera along today so I could capture the moments and will load them another time onto the blog. They just LOVE to pose for pictures and they did that well today. We ate our lunch together as Ms. Laurie put up some of their work on the windows and walls for display. One of the little boys who belong to Laurie came right out and asked me, "Are you overweight?", very innocently. At first I denied it, calling it vicious rumors, but, of course, simply laughed it off. They were very interested in my tiny sandwich from Steak 'n Shake, a single slider with cheese. Laurie was all apologetic and said she never discusses that stuff around the kids but wonders if their grandma might have said something. It seems their granddad on Dad's side has health problems which may or may not be related to his weight. Anyway, we had some chuckles over it. "Are you overweight?"---that just sounds so much nicer than saying I am fat!

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Since it was pouring rain all day, the kids had to stay inside after lunch and really amused themselves with the balloons as they lost their grip on the ceiling and floated down. The kids took great pleasure in rubbing them on my sweater and then tried to get the balloons to the ceiling to stick again. Many more times than I expected the balloons stuck! One project they had to complete before the end of the day was to finish a sentence on a piece of paper---If I had $100 I would buy_____________, and then draw a picture of what they would buy. The sole girl in the class always chooses horses to draw, while the others chose snakes, puppies, a car, and a ball. I cannot recall the 6th child's sentence or drawing but he finished fast in order to go play with magnets. It is simply amazing what and how these children learn and am delighted I get to witness it first-hand!

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Before heading out this morning, I had the chance to talk twice with Justin on the phone. The first call came as he was grocery shopping at Publix, carrying me up and down the aisles with him. Besides his excitement about having a lovely free breakfast at Denny's this a.m., he also filled me in on his news since seeing him last as he read labels and prices to me while shopping. So funny! He just kept talking away and saying he did not want to be on the phone when he went to the check-out so just walked around the store a bit. He needed laundry soap because he fell into a rich supply of someone's castoff wardrobe, wanting to wash them all before wearing. Later he called again to ask me about proper procedures for washing darks (I am an expert, to be sure!) and told him it was fine to wash pants and shirts together. Since he chooses to use powdered soap because it is cheaper, I urged him to use a second rinse in order to get all the powder out of the garments. Justin told me his jeans cuffs roll and always have white residue in them---hence, the double rinse! He wondered if he needed to iron the shirts given to him if he dried them on a hanger but I said he would not know that until they are dried. Bet he will need to press them, and it was a good day for it today!l

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When I was talking with him, or rather, listening to him talk, I went into the kitchen to make some toast. Waiting for the toast to finish, I emptied the dishwasher while talking. Multitasking! At one point I looked into the sink with the disposal and gasped.....it looked as though someone threw up in there!!! It seems that the disposal had food in it and when the dishwasher ran, it coughed the undigested contents up into the sink. And then it slid back down again...(feel sick yet?). It was absolutely gross! Hot water and soap plus actually operating the disposal took care of the mess, but made me wonder if the dishes I had already put away were perfectly clean. Normally I would feel something on the exteriors of the glasses or dishes and felt none.

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I did a couple loads myself this a.m., as the ladies nicely stripped their beds for me and put the sheets and towels in the laundry room. Justin will make up the daybed again when he comes to clean but I will have him put the airbed away for now, as we face our "big project". We will be tackling the Timmy closet and repacking the boxes and bins. His job can be using the airbags to store the stuffed animals and clothes, plus stacking or restacking the closet. Martie will be here to help, mop tears and share some with me. It never fails to happen and I am sure that closet will be no exception. We need the room, it is as simple and practical as that.

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Linda sent me a chat early this a.m. on Facebook reporting she was home. It seems they got home at 1:45 after driving through some heavy snow near Port Washington. After that, smoother sailing. Fortunately Lynn did not need to attend her meeting in Madison this a.m. due to the snowstorm as her boss went last night to avoid the storm. That was a relief for Lynn and for Mom, too, as she would have worried. Jill sent me a message late this afternoon to report being safely home after driving in the wretched weather. Kerry, in Oshkosh, took a day of vacation since her coworker was sick and not driving today, and Kerry's truck does not handle well in a blizzard. Storms, storms, cold, and more storms....when is it going to be spring? We had rain today and cool temperatures but it sure beats snow hands down!

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This afternoon after getting home I worked on editing yet again the long-range plan for church to get back as soon as possible. I had a hard copy instead of the electronic one so had to type the old-fashioned way of reading and typing at the same time! A lost art for me, but it came back after a few boo boos were corrected. Thursday night I have an Outreach meeting and after that will have some more 'work' to do when I am in the office on Tuesdays. Good! That is exactly what I wanted!

Capturing the moments

Suzanne arrived a bit after we had begun our meal so we heaped her plate with goodies for her. When asked if she wanted it heated up, Suzanne refused, saying she is accustomed to having cold meals! (This photo is out of order but for some reason or another, it will not budge from its position!!! Way to go, Suzanne!!!)

At long last, the photos taken at the Julia Child-themed dinner last Thursday. Our menu consisted of Julia's 'Boeuf Bourguignon' as show in the recent movie, made by our French chef, Joanne. Christine, coming directly from work, treated us with French bread with cheese melted over it; Janet made potatoes au gratin; Jean made 'Julia's' cole slaw; Twila made sweet potato pie; Linda made deviled eggs; Lynn made the potato leek soup; and I made the sausage/apple pie. Brenda brought cold drinks and wine and Martie brought the dessert of chocolate eclairs and heart-shaped cookies with a jelly center. All the food was absolutely amazing, with little leftover, and Lynn's soup was the hands down favorite!

From left front: Linda J., Martie, Christine, Joanne, Elaine, Twila, and Lynn

Martie and Linda J.

Janet and Jean

Brenda, sporting her Julia Child pearls, which also double as her June Cleever pearls!

Linda J., Elaine with her sister, Twila

Elaine, Twila and Lynn (My apple and sausage pie is in front of Twila and Lynn)

Here is Lynn walking through the cemetery at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church on Fleming Island Saturday afternoon. Man, it was cold out there! Too bad it had to be unpleasant for their vacation but at least it was warmer here than it was in Manitowoc!

I hope everyone is okay out there....

..........since I missed a day of posting! In the movie, "Julie and Julia", Julie's husband asked her what would happen if she took a break from her blog and cooking for awhile, "would people kill themselves, take poison or something, if you don't write??" Yes! Or at least threaten to do so! Linda is here so I won't get a scolding from her but I had better shape up after she leaves tomorrow. I was not too busy to post yesterday, too lazy or uninspired, instead. I did have some church work to take care of, editing once more the long-range plans.

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After we got done with the ladies' breakfast at church, we took a ride out to Fleming Island to visit St. Margaret's Church. We walked around the cemetery and took some photos of the church, but it was too cold for us to stroll long on the grounds. We took a ride around the Island and I showed Lynn where Justin works and such. We came back home, then, and 'rested' some, as we watched "Pride and Prejudice", some of us with our eyes closed. The two ladies had gotten up VERY early to watch the shuttle launch, given that I had told them it went up Saturday instead of Sunday...OOOPS! The two ladies tried again this early morning for the launch but it was not to be----nine minutes before the launch it was scuttled due to weather. Let's see if they are up at 4:14 a.m. on the day they fly back to WI! This might make for a very long day!

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We went to dinner at Carrabba's with Justin joining us. The place was jam packed but we eventually managed to find a seat at the bar to wait it out. We got there at 6:00 pm which would have been early eating for Justin and me but since we were not seated until nearly 7:30, we were right on schedule. This brings to mind an exchange at choir the other night, when the ladies arrived---Kristi asked if they got here okay and I said the two ladies were safe at my house, enjoying some pizza and cheese sticks. I told Kristi what I told Linda, that by the time the ladies leave, they will be accustomed to my schedule, and Kristi said, "No, they won't!". Yeah, she is probably right about that! Back to our meal at Carrabba's----we so enjoyed our dinners and our time together and I will enjoy my leftovers!

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Today was Bible study, worship, and communion clean-up. Justin came to worship with us to spend just a bit more time with his godmother and his friend, and his mama, of course. We had plenty of hands to help with the communion clean-up and since Justin knew what needed to be done, he led the way. While Linda and he worked in the kitchen, joined later by Lynn and me, I took care of the tables, trays, linens, and such. Lynn helped me cover the altar after she finished her conversation with Pastor Kuske. There were refreshments in the Fellowship Hall but we did not stick around, having to get to lunch, you know! Jackie asked Lynn where we were going to have lunch, and then she said, almost secretively, "Kim eats out a lot....", like a tattle-tale. This was nothing new to Lynn, obviously, but Jackie thought she was letting the cat out of the bag. Really?

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After our lunch at Longhorn, which took wwaayy too long for some reason, we came home to rest with our feet up before going down to Maureen's for the baby shower for Jessica. I am glad they were allowed to join me for the shower because not only did they get to see this lovely home, but also meet many of the folks I write or talk about. Even Ellen came! And what a great, great time we had! They had finger sandwiches, brownies with rich frosting and mini-cup cakes. Our only 'game' was to go around the room and have the ladies describe their first baby's room, or the situation of their firstborn. Both Linda and Lynn said they were amazed to know the lowly beginnings these seemingly 'successful' moms had. One had only a wash basket for their first baby and another had a crib shipped to them by her parents because they could not afford to buy their own. And my story was about searching around for an oak crib and bedroom furniture for our little first born! We were so blessed then, and I continue to be with riches beyond measure---my son, my home, my building, my friends, my church............................I could go on and on but am just so overall thankful to the Lord for His blessings! May He also bless Lynn and Linda's travel tomorrow night as they fly back to Wisconsin. Whew, where did that time go???

Quiet by comparison

Tonight we are sitting around in the family room watching TV, a relatively quiet ending to the day as compared to last night when we had our house full of dinner guests. For our dinner tonight we ate leftovers which means we ate at home two nights in a row! I defrosted a container of my 15 Bean Soup plus we had the remainder of Lynn's potato leek soup. Another huge mess was made from my soup as it cooked over in the wave, added to the already horrific spatter from when I heated marinara sauce Wednesday night. Yikes! It was all over the back of the wave, the sides, top, and door. I can reach half way into the microwave and the door but not the rest of it. Justin will have to do that for me when he comes again. The directions for heating up the sauce said nothing about covering it before cooking but Lynn said it is best to always cover anything tomato. From now on, I certainly will!

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We had a lazy start to our day, no lovely sunrise for Linda to watch, only clouds. Sadly I had only a few hours of sleep because my teeth, sometimes top and bottom on the right side were aching me. It was after 3:00 a.m. when I finally fell asleep and was awake again before 8:00 a.m. with broken sleep. Today my teeth have been fairly quiet and I pray that is true for tonight, too. Why do these things always seem worse at night??? Anyway, once up, we enjoyed the river room and conversation before we began our day. The plans were to go to Great Hangs Ups, eat lunch at Koko's, and see a movie. Done, done, and done!

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As we sat around chatting at Hang Ups, my phone rang. It was Justin and as soon as I answered, he asked, incredulously, "How did I know it? How did I know you were going to be there???" He said at 10:00 a.m. he was thinking about us and thought to himself, "I bet they will come up here and go to Hang Ups and Koko's......" And as he drove by, he spotted my car in the lot. Justin was too busy today to join us at all but couldn't get over having predicted our plans! I must be predictable or something.

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Dee joined us for lunch which was so wonderful and fun. Julia had to mind the fort while we were gone but Dee took her some lunch from Koko's. The waiter came out to our table to ask me if it was okay to use shrimp because the chef thought I might not want it. He was assured by me that it was fine to keep the tiny shrimp in the mix but I was tickled that they cared enough to ask me. I just do not eat the large shrimp but the teeny ones were tolerable. Oh, it was such a delicious meal and the company equally so!

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After lunch we went to Kohls so Lynn could get some shoes and to just shop. All I came away with was a pair of earrings from the sale rack! Lynn and Linda both got plenty including shoes for Lynn and off we went to Kirklands. From there to the movies to see "Dear John" where we had a great cry, enjoying the movie very much. My head ached from crying and Linda claimed at one point she nearly sobbed out loud. My plans to play "The Bucket List" tonight were not good since we had already cried so much and instead we watched "August Rush" which the two ladies had never seen. In a minute I am mixing together my ingredients for the egg/cheese souffle for tomorrow's breakfast. The ladies might get up extra early to see the shuttle go up at 4:39 but we shall see if it's going to happen. Hopefully the sky will be clear enough to see the shuttle go up and that it is not postponed. Or, if it is postponed, that it is scheduled for a more reasonable hour!

It smells so good in here!

My ladies and I have been cooking this afternoon, making our entree, soup, and appetizer for the Julia Child dinner tonight. I have to assemble my apple and sausage pie before baking it, but all the ingredients are ready to go. Lynn is making potato leek soup and has to cook hers just before the ladies arrive. The fridge holds Joanne's creation of beouf bourgionne from the original Julia Child's French cookbook. Joanne said her mom had cooked from that book for many many years, especially when they lived in Belgium. They all speak fluent French in her family due to their growing up over there and Joanne actually know hows to correctly say the name of the beef casserole dish she made!

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At this moment, we are sitting in the family room with our feet up, but soon we will be ready to get our dishes together. I did not want to do mine too far ahead so as not to have my crust get soggy from the Italian sausage. It will just too delicious when it is done, after I mix the apples in and pour the cheese mixture over the top. Again, yummy! Lynn is getting her soup ready to go as I write and I guess I should go in the kitchen to see if she needs my assistance finding anything. A few items need to go on the table yet but my back needed a bit of a break, so to speak, before getting busy again. As the time grows closer, I am getting more and more excited to have a dozen ladies around the table, laden with our creations, or creations from Winn Dixie! Bon appetit!

I have been laughing already

....and they are not even here yet! Linda called from the airport, saying, "I'd rather go to jail than go to Atlanta.....". That is a long story but never fails to elicit chuckles from those in the know. I responded with, "I'd rather have an @#% whippin' than go to Atlanta!". My reply is a quote from Dave the Doorman, delivered as he helped unload my sister Jill's luggage from my trunk, after I collected her family from the airport. They were delayed coming down for Justin's graduation and had to stay overnight in a hotel in Atlanta, and as we shared their story with Dave, he gave his opinion. Jill had a shocked look on her face that he would say such a thing, especially to people he did not know, and then we laughed. Yes, Tommy, either choice would be preferable to going to Atlanta!

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Linda reported they are at their gate, waiting to catch the next leg of the trip, which will not be for another few hours. She assured me they were fine because across from the gate was a Starbucks, other eating places, and the restrooms were nearby. Oh, yes, they are fine! Their butts will be tired from sitting so our shopping trip to Publix will feel good. We should drop off the luggage first, I guess, to leave room for our purchases. Some of the prep work might be done tonight for the feast tomorrow, thinking Lynn's might be the most labor intensive. I will pitch in to help with her soup and Linda may as well, since she enjoys cooking.

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On Facebook last night my friend, Susie, who works at Copps, reported spotting my two visitors in the store and that she helped them get some treats for me. But wait! Susie works in the produce department! Are they bringing me some fruit? Linda told me that Susie recognized Lynn and struck up a conversation, and they told Susie about getting me some cookies. The bakery was closed already but Susie had access and got cookies for them to bring me. Whew! I have a bag of apples in my fridge as yet unopened, but do have intentions of doing so. Linda is also bringing me some cheese curds to give to my upstairs neighbor, Jessica, whose baby shower I am invited to. We will have to see how this work out because the shower is at the 2nd floor home of Hugh and Maureen on Super Bowl Sunday. Maureen said I could bring my two guests but I will have to see if they wish to come or not. Both ladies have met several of my neighbors---Lynn at the gathering before Tropical Storm Faye and Linda, at The Club, when we went for prix fixe happy hour in November. The other hostess did not know yet how many were coming so Maureen said, "Just bring 'em!" So there!

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The other day I ordered a new comforter from Overstock.com and I hope it arrives today so I can have my room all pretty before my company arrives. Of course, I guess Justin will need to come to help me get the dust ruffle on so it can wait until he is available. This present bed set is not that old, but it sure did not hold up well. Certainly the cat's nails did it no good and having to take it for laundering very early in its life (2007) after my bed was used as a cat box added to its wear. I think it was my mother-in-law who kept a blanket or sheet over the top of their bed so when they took afternoon naps, they did not mess up the bed. Hmmm.....if you want the bed to look nice, you put something over it? Or was it to look nice for company? Usually people do not get to see my room due to its multiple purposes making it messy, but Lynn and Linda have free run of the place. I want the bed to look and feel nice for me, that is my intent, and the pills and frays do not do that for me!

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When Dean, my painter, came to paint my room after the bathroom/closet remodel was done, he said, "You always choose such unusual colors...." My room is Tuscan Gold, not red, green, yellow and white stripes, like my lake house bedroom was. I used the same yellow from that home in this one, with my kitchen being Sunflower Yellow. My friend, Christine, used my extra gallon in her laundry room, it is so bright and happy. My family room has the lower portions and in the bookcases painted Merlot, and the rest of the painted walls are Shakers Beige, a color suggested by Dean. It is so restful feeling and coordinates well with the Merlot. My bedroom/office is large enough for the Gold color and with my unrestricted light at the windows, the white built-ins, and white furniture, it works, and works well. I love it in here, in this room, and the rest of my home. I will be out in the other rooms now that my company is coming so have sent the thermostat to heat up the rooms so I can stand it! My heat pad will go with me to the family room and I have my Packer blanket to snuggle me!

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Later I will get the coffee maker out from under the sink so the ladies can have their coffee at breakfast. The Space Shuttle is going up on Saturday morning, and I fear Linda might be the only one to see it from this household as the launch is scheduled for 4:39 a.m.! Lynn is also an early riser but am not sure she will be up THAT early. Mom said that perhaps Linda can wake us up to watch but I am not sure I want to do that....might make for a very long day if I do not go back to bed. Linda will snooze in the chair if we watch a movie, or we might go to the theater to see "Dear John" that day. We have our breakfast meeting at church that morning at 10:00 am and I am making my egg/cheese souffle for this function. The recipe calls for it to sit in the fridge overnight so it won't hurt to make it Friday evening and bake it in the morning. It is so delicious and so simple to make, I am proud of me!

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Again, listening to the radio on the Internet and hearing the ads, I noticed a new ad for water pumps. Finally!!!! The previous ads, read by a woman, told about how the intermittent freezing temperatures "wreck" havoc on our pipes and pumps. What? The word she was looking for was "wreak", not "wreck", although that is what happens in the end. It annoyed me no end that she mispronounced the word and I wondered why no one changed it. Also, the station is running ads for events that have long passed, and I wonder if no one in charge is actually listening to this. If they don't listen over the Internet, they might not catch it. And the advertiser is still getting bang for their buck!

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At dinner last night I was telling the ladies how I am actually drinking water, although I do not in restaurants because I just don't care for the flavor most of the time. Part of my goals for 2010 was to drink more water, and I have, and also to read a book a month. Well, now, since I established the goal, I can establish the ground rules, right? Yes, right! While I have not read a single book cover to cover, I have been reading in more than one book at a time all month. In the building business, this would be considered 'substantial compliance'. Since I put in spoken word and writing my intent to read a book a month, I can go on record saying I have kept to the goal, even exceeding it because of having more than one book going at a time. Twila said she keeps the TV off during the day, listens to the radio or sits quietly, reading or working on her needlework, enjoying the quiet. Quiet is not that appealing to me so my radio or TV is going even when I am asleep! Or listening to music and helicopters.....Having the noise keeps the voices still!