Time Out!

I didn't mean to do it! It wasn't intentional...it just happened! How? I really don't know...I think that it was the devil that made me do it! Okay...not really, and if I am really honest with myself it was just sheer laziness! "What is it Robin that YOU are talking about?" Okay...I am ashamed to admit that I haven't paid hardly any attention to my blog and that makes me sad! I just got so bogged down with the pressures of work and life that I really neglected my blog and when one of my dear friends thought that I had given up blogging for good, I knew that it was time to finally get with the program and jump back into action so to speak. I got a new camera for my birthday and I have taken lots of pictures and really do want to share many things with you so please forgive me for my laziness and hang in there with me! With that all said and done, let me give you a little preview of what has been happening in my little corner of the world....

We went on a trip to Apple Hill and got to tour a real apple farm! We were introduced to several varieties of apples and even go to taste some homemade apple juice. It was all so delicious! We saw a commercial apple peeler in action and then got to go out into the orchard to see how apples are grown and cared for. Then to top it all off, we went to a pumpkin patch and got to select our own pumpkin. It was a way to end a fun filled day! So here's to many more fun filled days to come and I REALLY can't wait to share them all with you in "Blog Land!"

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words!

Someone took this random photo of me on a trip to Apple Hill that I took with my cousin Lani and her family. In the background is her "oh so happy" daughter Amanda. One of us didn't want to go that day and was literally forced! Can you guess who? I love this photo even though it isn't a very good shot...I literally can feel her pain and my lips look like the Joker's from Batman! LOL! :) P.S. Don't feel too bad for Amanda...I bought her a carmel apple and she cheered right up! I just love, love, LOVE that girl!

"The Bluebird of Happiness!"

As you can see, Robin decided to get a lil' body art done! Yes...you guessed it right I got a tattoo! It was something that I always wanted and while some people might say that it is me just having a "midlife crisis" I say that is sooooooooooooo not true. I have finally gotten to the age where I have decided that "Life is too short" and you should go out and fulfill your dreams! LOL! I actually did put A LOT of thought into this because if you are going to mark up your body it better be with something that has meaning and purpose. So I chose a little bluebird. The reason why I chose this was because when I was a little girl, my grandmother always called me her "Little Bluebird!" I was called that because when I was a baby I had bright blue eyes but gone are those days and now I have hazel eyes...sigh! Also, I chose to have my lil' bluebird carry a yellow rose because my mother's favorite flower is a yellow rose and the meaning of a yellow rose signifies strong feelings of pure joy, gladness, happiness and friendship! I just LOVE that! So with all that said and done, I now have a "Bluebird of Happiness" to watch over me and guide me and that makes me very happy! :)

"Busy, Busy, Busy!"

"Yippie skippy!" I have finally made it through the first month of school! Let me tell you, this is ALWAYS a busy time for me and even after ALL these years of teaching, it hasn't gotten any easier. I have taught for 15 years and if you have ever taught, then I bet you can relate! You have to just get in sync as you get acquainted with each little personality, establish a routine which means going over the rules again and again, and saying the same things so many times, that you start to sound like a broken record. You even start to wonder, "are these babies gonna ever catch on?" Then you start to miss some of the kids you had from last year, who of course by the end of the year did get it! So each and every year has its new challenges and getting back into the swing of things takes lots of time, love and patience! With ALL that said and done, can I just say, that I love, love, LOVE my new class. They are just so sweet and well behaved! I keep waiting for the "honeymoon" to be over or for the "the other shoe to drop" but I think that I can safely say that we are in for an amazing year. Even my fellow grade level teachers say that I have the "Dream Class!" I feel like a proud mama and I'm counting my blessings!

We always end our first month of school by having our "Annual Teddy Bear Parade" where we make bear hats and bring our favorite teddy bear to school. It is one of my favorite traditions that we do in kindergarten! Aren't they adorable? I'm am excited to see what this new year will bring and I feel very blessed and privileged to be a teacher! Here's to a GREAT year kids!

"Sweet Lil' Miss Rylie Kay!"

My dear friend Carrie has the most adorable little baby girl named Rylie Kay who I think looks a lot like lil' Cindy Lou Who from "How the Grinch Who Stole Christmas." Don't you agree? I think that she is absolutely adorable and I could just eat her up with a spoon! Now since I don't have children of my own, I get my "baby fix" by spending time with her and just loving on her to "bits and pieces!" There is also one thing that me and lil' Miss Rylie Kay have in common other than our love for each other and that is our genuine dislike for peas as evidenced here in exhibit #1...

Now I had to come to lil' Miss Rylie Kay's defense here as she was making her feelings known rather loudly at dinner time the other evening and boy do I mean LOUD! Seriously, you can't deny that the girl has a great pair of lungs! So...I said to her mama that while I know that a baby needs her veggies, if she honestly doesn't like it, then get some other veggie that she would prefer instead! Honestly, if you had to eat something that looks like "Shrek" green colored vomit then you would be upset too right? EXACTLY! With that I rested my case! and she didn't have to finish and has now moved on to carrots! Now she is known as"Smiley Rylie" as evidenced in exhibit #2...

See? Now THAT'S more like it! Love you baby!

"Labor Day...Flavor Day!"

One of the GREAT things about "Labor Day" is that it's really the last holiday of the summer for you to go out and enjoy the day with your friends and family! I know that there will be LOTS of BBQ's today! I, unfortunately am NOT a cook...that wasn't my gifting! LOL! Paula Deen I am NOT but I can follow a simple recipe and one that intrigued me was a recipe that I got for "Watermelon Salsa!" It is very easy to make and sooooooooo good too! While I can't take credit for it, I did look at various recipes on the web and you can also include other things such as pineapple, peaches and avacado! ( I will admit that I am an avacado fiend!) So here is the recipe to try and ENJOY!

"Watermelon Salsa"

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup lime juice
• 2 tablespoons browns sugar
• 3 cups chopped watermelon (about ½ full sized watermelon)
• ½ cup minced red onion
• ¼ cup mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons minced jalapenos (about ½ jalapeño)
• 1/3 cup cilantro
• ½ cucumber
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Whisk the lime juice and sugar until sugar has completely dissolved.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients in a medium size bowl. Toss gently. Refrigerate overnight.

So go out there my friends and turn your "Labor Day" into a "Flavor Day!"

"Down and Out!"

Hi there!

"Happy Labor Day" to all of you in "Blog Land!" I know that I have been out of commission lately. Working summer school kept me busy, then I took a mini vacation to my parents home in Grass Valley only to come home and find out that my computer was on the "fritz" and my camera died! LOL! "Oh no! Say it ain't so!" Well of of you in "Blog Land" know that computers and cameras are essential when it comes to keeping a blog. Now that I am "back in action" so to speak, I am excited to share with you some of what has been going on in my life and I want you to be able to meet my new class! I have 22 kindergartners and they are absolutely adorable...wait till you see them! Pictures will be coming soon!


Well my friends, enjoy those last lazy days of summer! That is what I intend to do! Me and my friend Carrie love to spend the days hopping in her Jeep with the top down and let the wind mess up our hair and get bugs in out teeth! LOL! (Okay, maybe not THAT) But before you know it, Fall will soon be here and it will be time to put the top back up on the Jeep and get out our colorful Fall sweaters! In the meantime, I hope that you have a "Happy Labor Day!" and I will post again very soon! I PROMISE! For I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack! :)