Changing Things Up

This is what our living room looked like last week.

Now it's empty.

Drywall repair is done.

Looks like we never even had skylights.

Painter comes tomorrow.

WooHOO!

The library and living room our both getting much needed facelifts.

In the meantime my head is spinning.

The possibilities are endless when I see empty rooms.

I've mentally rearranged all of the furniture we own.

I've measured spaces.

I've dreamed on Pinterest...aka land of the lost.

I could lose myself there in happy land for hours.

Most of my dreams have been vetoed by Mark or the kids.

I looked at the pic above, and instantly thought a library on the far wall with a moving ladder would be fantastic.

Vetoed..

We have a library.

Not if we moved a wall and opened the kitchen.

I've mentally Mark's most despised piece of furniture (the chalkboard), into the dining room.

I've mentally moved the library bench into the kitchen and added a table from the basement.

I've mentally moved our buffet into the living room.

I've mentally moved about 10 pieces of furniture curbside.

I can dream right?

It's exhilarating and exhausting.

I have a big headache from the dust and the dreams.

My wheels never stop spinning when I see possibilities.

I'll post pics of the progress this week.

For structural reasons we won't be adding wood to the ceiling.

I'm nervous and excited about the paint color choices.

Once again I chose them and then opened the Pottery Barn catalog.

There they were.

Sigh.

-Julie

p.s. My adorable nephew Toren was born last Saturday. So cute and too far away! :(

Waiting

Just sitting here waiting for the little guy in the pic to call me.

He's going to be a daddy for the first time.

He's my baby brother.

I'm going to be an aunt...for the sixth time.

I can't wait.

I'm giddy.

Totally stinks to be two time zones away.

I don't think I'll sleep tonight!

-Julie

Chips, Dip & a Mexico Trip

Today's random photo,

an attempt to win a radio contest trip....

I had 7 minutes from hearing the contest announcement to post to the radio show.

I was en route from dropping Mark off at the train.

I didn't win, but Izzy & I had a good time making the "beach scene" together at 7:45 a.m.

The goal?

Post a pic of your bikini somewhere.

The winner was wearing her over her clothes while on the Metra train.

I guess I couldn't top that.

My days are crazy, and I'm sure yours are too.

Adding humor keeps me sane.

Today I proofread a student's dreams & wishes for her artwork.

"I want testes. I want a man."

She meant tests and a mansion.

I had to ask for clarification.

Whoops.

So hard to keep a straight face sometimes.

I have about fourteen days left in the art room.

Every day is a blur of paper, paint, spills, glue, pastels and fun.

I'm going to miss it.

A lot.

I love the planning, the prep, and interacting with the kids.

Today I taught my fifth graders how to enlarge their drawings,

brought the fourth graders to the computer lab for Sketch Up,

taught the third graders how to turn numbers into art,

helped the second graders finish their puppet shows & Chinese dragons,

made "sandwiches" with the first graders after reading The Sandwich Swap,

and taught another third grade class how to make Notans with scissors and paper.

Then I had my reading intervention group.

Between the second and the first grade I ran to Hobby Lobby over lunch for more supplies.

Crazy, busy, busy day.

Home making meat loaf, baked potatoes, and playing with shrinky sinks with my girls.

Homework help, spelling practice, reading time.

I'm loving it all.

Linnea asked me tonight what I've learned from my teaching experiences this year.

I've learned I've missed teaching, a ton.

I've learned I didn't need to be scared to try it again.

I've learned I love having a schedule during the day.

I've learned I want to find a position in the Fall.

We'll see what the next six months bring.

The last six have been an incredible wild ride, and I'm so glad I've taken it.

-Julie