Best Thanksgiving Ever!

My "thankful post" is a little late, seeing as it is the Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving, but better late than never!

my youngest brother- a real turkey.

Here is what I am thankful for from this past week:

1. Having one more Thanksgiving at home with all of my immediate family, hubby, and pup.
2. Bocce Ball and Croquet games with my loud and obnoxiously fun family.

bocce ball in 2008

3. Late night stories from my military brothers.
4. Watching my baby brother fly a T-6 solo.
5. Riding a log roller coast with my 3 grown brothers.
6. Dad in the morning asking me what my grouchy meter reads.

Father's Day 2009

7. My lawyer husband trying to keep up with my crazy military brothers and their military talk.
8. Seeing my mom.

Me and my mom 2008

9. Watching the Hokies DOMINATE the Wahoos in Charlottesville.

Past weekend at the Uva-VaTech game.

10. Finding some exciting Christmas presents for most of my immediate family/In-Laws!


Here is what I am thankful for in general:

1. My job. I truly enjoy my coworkers, boss, teaching art, and for the most part the students I teach art to.
2. Where I live. People seem shocked when I tell them where I originally am from and that I genuinely love living in rural Virginian mountains. Its a peaceful southern comfort I will always love.

view from our deck

3. My little family of 3. Hubby and S-dog. I couldn't love them anymore.

honeymooners:-) 2009

sadie bug

4. Having a church that I look forward to going to.
5. That I live in America. After visiting Peru and hearing stories from my military brothers, I will always be grateful for living in the land of the free.

Me and my mom in Peru

6. Being part of the blog/pinterest world.
7. Having a creative mind.
8. Invisalign!
9. Friends that I can run with, shop with, call anytime, bombard with questions, laugh until my side hurts  with, worry with, and vacation together. I have some great great friends, and this past year they have unknowingly helped me more than they will ever realize.

Friends in Galax

10.  That hubby and I both have parents/siblings that are loving, supportive in all ways, easy to share holidays with, great grandparents to their grandogger (even if she leaves presents here and there), and a great example of marriage.

Our amazing parents.

Hokies v Hoos

Having a great time WINNING!

Found canvas=

Quick graphic christmas project. I probably could have planned it out better, but I am impatient. And even though I am an art teacher, I could not find a single pencil in my house.

Tug of war

Just found these on my phone from a few weekends ago...love them! Sadie had he friends Tank and Bentley for a visit:-)

Stocking: semi-fail.

Its just not what I was hoping for. But it took me two tries and three hours, so it will do. I'm just not sure I want to make 2 more.... sorry pic is side ways!

Happy Veteran's Day

This day is very important to me as I have four immediate family members that have been/are military. Here are some benchmark moments in some of my brothers' military careers. My older brother, Chris, has been to Iraq for two tours in the Army once as an infantry officer for 18 months (in a row) and earned two bronze stars. And once on a tour as a finance specialist. He is now in the Army National Guard. My middle brother, Ryan, is about to deploy for the Afghanistan effort in the very near future (Dec./Jan2011) as an EOD officer in the Army. My dad served in the navy for 20 years as a fighter pilot! My youngest brother, Zach, is currently in flight school for the Air Force and has recently done his first solo flight. It is very important to recognize what all veterans and their families have given up.  Freedom is definitely not free.

I could not be more proud of my family.

my middle brother graduating from EOD (Hurt Locker) school

middle brother at commissioning ceremony (the day after my wedding:-))

older brother giving my middle brother his first officer salute

me and my mom pinning on my youngest brother's officer stripes at his commissioning ceremony

from L-R: older brother, youngest brother, dad, uncle, middle brother

My three very cool brothers.

Love these pics!

Me and the boys after youngest bro's commissioning ceremony at JMU

* I thought I had some cool pics of my older brother in Iraq, but I don't :-(:-(:-(

11/11/11

What's yours?

Side note: I always look at digital clocks when it is 11:11...does this ever happen to you???

{UN}inspired

Today, I was a drabby art teacher. I had two days at the art conference (which should amp me up) and instead I was lost on where to take my kids next. I have my pacing guide, which I meticulously planned at the beginning of the year, and for my Art Is I am doing great, but Art II is STRUGGLIN'. I have 3 -4 students who are always about 4-5 days ahead of the rest of the group FOR EVERY PROJECT. I have tried multiple things inluding, but not limited to: moving the one's ahead on, asking the ones behind to stay after school, having a side "fun project" for the one's ahead to work on, letting them do homework, let them go to the library,etc. If I let the one's ahead move on , the one's behind NEVER catch up, and then I can never put up a display, grading becomes difficult...blah blah blah. I have had one student stay after school, and she still is so far behind. At least half of my students who are ahead and have been assigned a side project (not knowing it was extra work) complained and did a very crappy job. I am lost. I have sort of complained about this group a lot in my head. They are a difficult bunch, and now I have 6 weeks left and today I contemplated letting them do book work for the next 6 weeks since they complain about almost everything I have them do. Let me tell you, I search high and low for fun stuff for them. They literally said they would just rather sit and do nothing than art. WOW!!!! I just can't believe it. I am glad I don't have this group of ArtIIs for a whole year.

Well, I guess I had to vent, but has anyone ever came across a class like this, and if so HELP!!!! (or feel free to complain in the comment section about your frustrations!).

White dress, black tights

A Blonde Ambition is one of my favorite blogs to get some fashion ideas. Well, I must thank her for inspiring the uninspired last night. She just had posted about a new trend of white dresses and black tights here.While, trying to find something to wear to a silent auction, I changed about 30 times (no lie). Then, I came across a white bridal shower dress I've worn twice, two years ago, but couldn't bring myself to give away. And thank God, because I am loving this look. Even my husband said- awww man you look all cool and young! So I had to share:-)

Dress: JCrew (circa 2009)

Sweater: White House/Black Market(2008)

Boots: Lucky Brand (macy's- this past weekend)

Infinity Circle Scarf: TJMaxx

Ps: please excuse my messy room, but notice sadie bug on the bed pouting because she knows I'm leaving her.

Art I Aerial Perspective Landscape Collages