Do these pants make my butt look big?

It's my favorite time again, sewing time. Feel the sarcasm. Only this time...I get to do 3 different projects simultaneously instead of the same thing for all classes like last year. And, oh yeah, the kids are like 10 years old, too! Background knowledge about me...sewing is not my favorite. I think sewing is a "nice to know" not a "need to know." What? But you teach FACS right? Yeah, but step into this century. I teach lifeskills...and there are a million other more important lifeskills that rank above sewing. I always tell the 6th graders that in FACS class we learn the skills you need to be a successful adult. One girl asked me, what does sewing have to do with being a good adult? Exactly! In other words, who sews? So we try to focus on time management and problem solving rather than hard-core sewing-ness. My district is pretty staunchly old-school when it comes to FACS...so we will sew. But I won't be a super-advocate for it. Not dissing on sewing, just saying "nice to know" not "need to know."
So I spent the weekend practicing the projects and making detailed instruction sheets and video clips.

8th graders make PJ pants, which are really fun to make. 7th graders make aprons, which are not so fun. 6th graders will make locker caddies (hanging pocket thing for locker) which are cute...but I know they're going to be super-confused...because they always are.

Got a little tricky here. In the pics where I needed two hands and I had to set the timer and balance the camera under my chin. Nice. Wish me luck!!

Fire Pit Fun!

Time for SMORES!!!

Getting all set up! Some of Matt's birthday money went toward our "Fire Pit Extraordinaire" area. So after weeks of "window shopping" and researching which type we wanted to get, we pulled the trigger. However, it was then too dark to actually try it out in our "Fire Pit Extraordinaire" area. It's kinda scary-dark in that corner of the yard. So we went for the patio this time.

Now we're ready. I did not know just how long it takes to get a fire going. Matt said he didn't realize how "city girl" I was. I really thought you could just throw a match onto the wood. Like a candle I guess? I didn't know! Matt laughed his head off.

Looking good.

Yummy!

And a great ending to all camp fires...

Trying to Keep Up!

Here's Matt mowing our yard for the first time (several weeks ago) full of vigor and energy. We were surprised that it only took an hour to push mow (I'm telling you, this yard is stinking huge) and figured it would be good exercise. Not quite two months later...we now pay Matt's friend to mow the back. We think we can handle the front?

Welcome Fall...Kinda

Matt says it's not Fall yet...but with Labor Day being the "unofficial" beginning of Fall, in my mind it's Fall. And I love the fall decorations in the house since they are the same tones as our decor. So, HAPPY FALL!

I welcomed this new season by turning off the AC and resolving to use our attic fan. Ah, open the windows and the fresh air flows in. That was great for like 2 days. Then it was more like, welcome home from work, pass out from the heat inside the house. So I will leave the fall decor up...but turn the AC back on.

Love Chair, Ba-aby!

It has arrived. The "Love Chair" as Sofa Trend calls it. I love it. It's a strange story, but we saw one in a house that we had looked at and thought that it was so cool! A huge round chair! I LOVE what I call, "personality pieces." Just something a little different. Like my huge calculator at school. Kids love it.
Anyway, saw the chair at some stranger's house, looked for the brand and info and then ordered one when it came time to get our new living room furniture. It does make our living room a little...eclectic I'd say. I'm still trying to figure out just the right angle for it. But I still love it. Did I mention that?

KC Fun!

A great Saturday night spent with the Utz's! First an exciting Royals game...not exciting because they won (because they didn't) but exciting because we nearly got hit by 3 foul balls! Crazy! The girl behind us did get pelted in the stomach. Ouch! She cried for the rest of the inning. But it hit her HARD. I would have cried to. And probably left the game. Die-hard fan?

Thanks!!!

A big thank you to my grandparents who sent me this great plant on my first day of school! This year there are windows in my room so I'm hoping this one will have a better life expectancy than last years. :( My fault!
And yes...I photographed myself here using the timer. I just hope no one was walking by my classroom then to see my little photo shoot!