Out with the old/ In with the new

Guess which one is new. I'll give you a hint. Look up. :)


My new one. I haven't had a working oven since before Thanksgiving.
We did have a toaster oven from my aunt, so we weren't totally w/o heat.

A Mystery!

There is a very sweet person in Tara's life. Tara has received three books about making friends in the mail. One each day has arrived addressed to her. There is no note or return address, other than the company that sent them. They are really nice books, too.

Tara has been struggling to make new friends in her new school. So I thought maybe her teacher ordered them for her. Her teacher says she didn't buy them. Tara asked her classmates. Noone has claimed this wonderful act of kindness. Tara has been reading them and it has really uplifted her.

I want to thank the person who sent them but I don't know who it is!? Is is you, Aunt Dee? Aunt Georgia?

On a side note, I am going to take pictures of my crochet creations to post. Right now I'm just trying to relax after work and get over a toothache... long story...

If you are the one who sent the books, let me know so I can thank you!

People really are kind in this world.

learning to crochet

The last few weeks I've been trying to learn to crochet. I have gotten better, but that's relative. I've gone from making a knotted mess, to a more organized knotted mess. It's not actually that bad. Now I know how to make single, double and triple crocheted things. I don't understand the books so I just experiment until something takes a form I like and then I "make" it into that. I've made potholders, bracelets, countless Webkinz collars and sweaters ( no sleeves), a bookmark, and one Barbie purse. That one was fun. But the girls keep coming in and exclaiming that they'd love to have what I made. So now the potholder is a Barbie blanket and the book mark is in Tara's possession. I figure I'll get better eventually. But eventually might take a mighty long time. Ha ha.

2 posts in one day!

Inspired by sweet Rebecca, here is my list:

names you go by
-Joann, Jo, JoJo, Joannshi, Mommy, Snowy (by Jay), Bananny (by my dad)

Three things you are wearing right now-maroon shirt with beads around the collar, blue sweats, socks

Two things you want very badly at the moment-a snow day and my crochet stitches to get more even

Two things you did last night-laundry and goofed around with my kids

Two things you ate today-spaghetti and a yummy doughnut (Don't tell my dieting buddies at school.)

Two people you last talked to on the phone My dad and Nancy

Two things you are going to do tomorrow-Turn in my forms for my new licensure to the Ohio BOE and Work

Two longest car rides-I drove to CT all by myself from Ohio on a college break. I was proud of that 12 hour drive. My family and I drove across America from LA to New York and down south in one several week trip!

Two of your favorite beverages-Diet Pop and Fresca

People to tag My buddies.

my room at school and my mom

My room at school is so nice. I like it a lot. I wanted to share a couple of pictures. Also, I like the picture of Emily with my mom. She is really weak right now and I am really worried about her.

My aunt and uncle were in town from New York on Friday and I got to see them for a few minutes.

The kids are watching Grease right now. That cracks me up since I watched it when I was their age, too. I guess it is timeless.

I love you my first born to the moon and back.

Emily is 10

Playing with her balloons in her new uniform. I love this photo.


Build a bears once again.


Her new Girl Scout uniform


My beautiful birthday girl.


Their new pierced ears.


Right after her shower in her mismatched jammies.

We celebrated her birthday early yesterday and today. Tomorrow she will get an ice cream cake after school. She got her ears pierced. She didn't want to do it alone so Tara got hers done, too. Then it was off to spend birthday money getting lotion, a webkinz and another build a bear. I hope it's her last build a bear. They are really expensive.

They were troopers getting their ears pierced. They picked out their own earrings. Emily wanted me to be quiet and not make a big deal out of it, yet she still wanted me near her when it was being done. Poor thing was shaking. Tara just sat there and took it. Emily also wanted her girl scout uniform since she graduated out of Brownies into Junior scouts. She looked adorable in her uniform and it was special to me, since I also got a Girl Scout uniform for my 10th b'day, too.