Graduation

The kindergarten teacher's spent weeks planning a graduation ceremony for all the kids. Today was Liza's chance. She is officially a first grader today. She work a little green cap and gown, sang a song and got a "diploma". After words, there was a quick slide show and refreshments. Nothing to spectacular, but special all the same. Tomorrow will be the last day of school. She is excited. She keeps saying, "When I wake up on Monday, I don't have to get ready for school."

She has made so much progress this year. When school started, Liza couldn't read. Knowing her letters, colors and shapes was about the extent of it. Now, she is reading like a crazy woman. She loves to pick up a book and read it. I still have her read out loud, but before long, I don't think she will need to do that. Her handwriting is still atrocious, but look at her dad's. We will work on that over the summer.

We will both miss Liza's teachers. They made learning so much fun. But she has a whole new school to look forward to next year. And she gets to be with Lily and Bradley next year. I don't know if Savhanna will be in her class. But then, I don't know if I'm supposed to know who she has next year. But I asked that she not be in Tina's class, and I think there are just 2 first grade teachers at the new school. That will be nice, having a smaller school (only about 500 students there next year, instead of 1300).

wall-e

I got the cake done! Yea! It was a lot of fun to do. I made the arm and head out of gum paste, the treads out of black red vines, then dusted it with cocoa powder because it all looked so clean when it was finished. Just before Dianne came to get it, one of the arms broke off. I was able to cut it off a little and lay the hand across the front of the cake. I did have to take the head off because I didn't think it would survive the drive. There was nothing holding it onto the cake. It was just sitting there. But that will be no trouble for them to just set onto the top. I hope Jessie loves it, I sure did.

Level

As I said, I will now explain what is going on with my house. We hung the shelves. Jer was very fastidious as always. They are secure and most importantly, level. So we slid everything into place, and the TV sits just about an inch below the bottom shelf. Exactly were we wanted it. At least on the right side. The left is a totally different story. The shelf sits more like 2 inches below the shelf. Jer put the level on the shelf. Its fine. He put it on the floor. Sure enough, there is the problem. For aesthetic purposes were are planning to put some shims under the cabinet to bring the left side up a little. Man though. That sucks. After 8 years in this house, it is still full of surprises.

cookie monster

I got an email from someone calling themselves cookie monster. I dont know who this is, so unless you want me to keep ignoring your emails, identify yourself. I assume it's someone I know with a new address.

Uncle!!

I feel like I have been running for days. It is 9 at night before I have been able to actually sit and take a deep breath for days. No, I'm not meaning to complain. I'm just not used to being so busy. We finally finished the shelves and moved everything from one room to another, but I feel like that's about it (and discovered that my house is way lopsided, more on that later). I wanted to make it to WinCo today so I could stock my freezer, but I didn't even have time for that.

So if you don't know, this week is "teacher appreciation week". As a room mother, I have been in charge of the whole thing. When I started this project, it was fine. But I have spent so much money and gotten so little support from other mom's that it has started to bother me. The other room mother that I have been working with suggested a book for Liza's teachers. Fine. She had to leave Thursday to go to her sister's funeral, so Friday I went to Walmart, spent $20 on paper and envelopes. No biggie. I sent a note with the kids to fill out the papers, include pics and send them back by today. I also asked for donations for a gift to the teachers. Well, as of this morning, I had 19 of the 29 pages back and donations from a whopping 5 parents!!! What is wrong with people?? Liza's teachers have done so much for the class. Why cant people just show a little appreciation. Hell, send a freakin dollar with your kid!!! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of 3 parents (they each sent $10), I did get some nice gifts. But then Shannon wants me to laminate each page of the book, at a small fortune ($70). I got her down to the cover of the book, but when all is said and done, I am now $40 into the book, and she has not opened her wallet. Honestly, I'd rather do all of this alone. At least then, I wouldn't be shocked at the cost. Sorry, I know this is a total rant. I'm just frustrated.

I have to say by Friday night, I will be climbing into my hole and disappearing for the weekend. I'm sure that there are many other emotions sitting not-so-quietly at the edge of my mind magnifying everything. On a positive note, I got a new couch. And Shan, I will say, I didn't want to get up from it when I laid down on it. I thought it was pretty comfy.

It's gone!

No more pool table. Haha! Jer got a call Friday night, guy came out Saturday to look at it, and decided to take it. He did not want to have to refelt it, so he got 8 of his closest, most willing friends to come move the beast intact. Wow. These 8 guys seem to have the ability to move an adolescent elephant. We estimate the weight to be 800-1000 pounds, easy. But they got it. Up the stairs (barely), out the door (barely), into a moving truck (eventually). I don't think the marks will ever come out of the carpet, but that's a small price to pay for getting a big room in my house. I have to say, I did not realize that we had such a large space. We went out today and bought wood to make some shelves. We got them put together and mostly painted. I'll finish up the project tomorrow and give the paint some time to set, then we'll move everything around on Tuesday. PJ actually wanted to move into the room downstairs. He says he is tired of his "tiny'' room and wants a big room "like Liza's". That ain't gonna happen. Poor kid. Maybe eventually, just not when he is 3.