House Update

Well, we didn't close on the house today. Not because our part wasn't ready to go, but because we have to wait for the Seller HUD Approval, which didn't get to the title company's office by 5pm this evening, which means that we have to wait until Monday now, being that it is the weekend. I am disappointed, but have so much to do for school that it is probably better this way...okay, I am lying - I AM MAD!!!! Regardless of school, I want to be there cleaning and scrubbing and just be there. Cross everything for Monday to happen!

Meet 8A!

Front Row (left to right): Ms. Rooks - Language, Ms. Thorne - History , and me, Mrs. Roseland - Literature
Back Row (left to right): Mrs. Butler - Math and Mrs. Casillas - Science

Today was officially the start of the school year for Wigwam Creek Middle School teachers! Believe it or not, I was so excited to start up this school year! Part of the reason is that I get to work with these 4 amazing ladies! They make it so much fun to go to work every day! The 5 of us are a force to be reckoned with and I am so grateful to be on such an amazing team. Here is to a great year! 8A ROCKS!!!

Last Day of Summer Vacation!

How we spent our last day of my school summer vacation:

2:30 am ~ I woke up sweating, only to realize that our AIR CONDITIONING went out...again. This happened at the exact same time last year and we spent the first few days of the school year living with Donna and Michael! I called her at work and told her she might be getting more visitors! Chad called Frank on his way to work, who said he would be there in the afternoon to fix it! I was singing, "No Air" by Chris Brown and Jordon Sparks all day, so I included it for your listening pleasure, So You Think You Can Dance style!



10 am ~ Last Friday class with Lola, Susie, and Jayla at The Little Gym! We have two more weeks of the summer session left and since I will be back at work, we have to switch to the Saturday morning class!

11 am ~ Lunch with the kids and Susie at Wildflower Bread Company

12 pm ~ At Susie's hanging out, Jayla fell asleep on the way home and is still asleep, Lola is winding down and will eventually fall asleep, Kyan is watching TV, eatin' snacks, and becomes the photographer. He took pictures of Susie teaching me how to straight iron curl my hair! We played like we were 13 again, it was so much fun...now if I can only do this on my own! She added a french braid after my bangs would not cooperate! I LOVE IT! Here is her creation:




1 pm ~ Jay wakes up from her nap and Kyan is still snackin' (I swear I need to grocery shop for Susie, as my kids eat EVERYTHING in her house) and decides he wants a Gogurt. We head out to the pool and put our feet in. That was just not enough for Jayla as she wanted in all the way! Susie stripped her down and walked on the steps with her and then needed to change into her suit, as the Jayla still wanted more! Kyan changed into his trunks and when I came out in my swimming suit, everyone was out of the pool? WHAT?! Jayla POOPED in the water (remember she was naked) so the poop was floating around and some even started sinking! Kyan and Susie were laughing so hard, probably because we just had the converstation 10 minutes earlier about how Jayla has never pooped in the pool before and somehow today Susie had a funny feeling it was going to happen! Sure did, but before Jay had on a swim diaper! Oh boy! I was laughing histerically as Susie was scooping out the poop and making these crazy gagging sounds! Too much! Even though it was gross, it made for a good laugh!

The Pooper

The Scooper (remember to insert weird gagging sounds at each picture!)

2:30 pm ~ Frank and Chrissy came over to fix the AC! Thank GOD! I left my kids at Susie's (Lola was still asleep) just in case my house was too hot or in case the air couldn't be fixed today. Thank you Sue for keeping them entertained a little while longer than I am sure you had planned! The fan was out in our unit, so Frank replaced it for us and wah-la...working air! Woohoo! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Frank!

4:30 pm ~ Chad went to pick up the kids from Susie's and arrived home to a slowly cooling down house! We took the Swishers to see the new house and then out to dinner as a Thank You for fixing our air!

7:30 pm ~ Home after a super fun, and long day! Kicking it with my family! Bed time came early for us (not at 7:30, but EARLY), as we were so tired from the night before!

Thank you to everyone that helped us out today, wouldn't know what we would do if we didn't have such great friends!

Fun with a Tape Measure!

Kyan is usually up before Lola and when he hears her wake up, he wants to be the first one to go see her! This morning Lola was giggling at her silly brother who was playing with the tape measure! She couldn't take her eyes off him!

Warning though with this video, I couldn't get it to rotate, so...just tilt your head slightly to the left for the good view! If you don't care, then enjoy the laughter!

Another Conversation with Lola

Here goes:

Mommy: "Lola, stay out of the dogs water bowl!"

Lola: "Ok"

Mommy: "Do you want to take a bath and play in that water?"

Lola: "No"

Mommy: "Fine, but stay OUT OF THE DOGGIES WATER!!!"

Lola: "Ok, bye...see you later!"

Seriously, no better way to put it, but she has a shit-ass grin on her face and turns to walk into the kitchen to play in the dogs water dish some more! Then Chad proceeds to tell me that he thinks he loves her so much because she reminds him of me! What is that supposed to mean!?! She so takes after me it is not funny, I can already picture the rounds we will go when she gets older! I am doomed!

Roseland Recommends: Dreamland, Lock and Key, and Lush

I have been busy reading the past two weeks or so and wanted to add these to the list of recommended reads, all on the young adult list of course! Hoping to get one or two more in before summer is over, well, it is my last official day off today, going into work Monday and Tuesday for some small things in the classroom, but Wednesday marks the day teachers report back to start our meetings before the school year begins on August 3rd!

Sarah Dessen is a young adult author who many of the kids rave about, I just haven't picked up any of her books until this summer! I couldn't put either of them down. She deals with some pretty tough issues that go along with being a teenager and her books will leave you wanting to turn the pages even faster to see what is going to happen. So much so that I finished Lock and Key last night or should I say this morning between 2:30 and 4:30, but that had to do more with the fact that our AIR CONDITIONING went out right around then and I woke up sweating and couldn't sleep! Think our house knows we are leaving soon, as the master bedroom door came off the hinges last night randomly?! Anyway, here are the books:

Wake up, Caitlin

Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He's magnetic. He's compelling. He's dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything--her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem than being without him?

What happens when your past is not just past, but wiped clean entirely? How do you figure out where you're going when you can't even claim where you've been? These were the questions that inspired Lock and Key. It's the story of a girl named Ruby who is abandoned by her mother and determined to make it on her own, even---and especially---when she is sent to live with her long-lost sister in a whole new world of privilege, family, and relationships. As Ruby learns, there's a big difference between being given help and being able to accept it. And sometimes, it takes reaching out to someone else to save yourself.

Sam’s life is hanging by a thread. Her best friend since elementary school has turned into a typical dorky, pervy middle school moron. Although Sam has four BFFs that she spends every weekend with, they don’t have a clue about her father’s alcoholism. Sam’s mother is always zoned out on yoga, and she never wants to hold Sam’s father accountable for his drinking binges. Desperate for advice, Sam turns to an anonymous source - by leaving a letter describing her problems in a library book. Soon Sam begins corresponding back and forth with a person she’s never even met. With this support things begin to get better, though. Sam finds herself the object of a hot high school guy’s crush. She is suddenly Miss Popularity at her own school. Her father promises to make some changes. Yep - life is good. That is…until the violence starts.

Lush is an important book for anyone in middle school dealing with struggles and stress in his home life. The author does not paint a pretty picture or a happy ending in this novel. This does, however, offer hope to anyone dealing with alcoholism - and will offer the reader hope in the end.

"For Real" Babysitters

Yesterday marked a huge day in the Roseland house: "For Real" Babysitters!

What exactly does that mean you ask? Well, I have really only had family (and that usually means Donna because my parents don't live here. They watch the kids on occasion, but not Lola at great lengths because she is too much for them) watch my kids EVER. Not that I don't think others are capable, just that...I don't really know how to explain it actually, just that I never knew who to call, and Lola is such a drama queen and I never know how she is going to feel with someone else (not worried about Kyan, he is the sweet, I love everyone and everyone is my favorite kinda kid), and how much do I pay them, and is my house clean enough, and the list could go on and on so I'll stop, because I think you get the picture! Anywho, my mom is really on me about finding a teenager in the neighborhood and getting to know them and having someone else that can relieve Donna of babysitting duties or when she can't watch the kids to have a back up plan.

Well, my back up plan began yesterday, my I know you are so proud! Even Donna too - I am sure you hate saying no! Two former students who graduated WCMS last year and are soon to be freshman at Aqua Fria in a week, Laken and Celeste arrived around 8:30, and they were sleepy! I had them up early this summer for sure! I gave them a few directions and went to get them breakfast (as I needed myself) and said bye to Kyan, then Lola, who was sitting on Laken's lap from the second she got out of her high chair and eating breakfast. She told me, and I quote, "Bye, See you later!" HA! That easy! She loved both girls and was just fine seeing me go away! I called once to check on them and Laken told me Lola was already down for her nap! I was so impressed, as I really didn't think she would take a nap with all the excitement that was going on in the house! I called one more time to ask about lunch and Celeste told me that they were having a tickle fight and wrestling! I knew Kyan was in heaven, as he loves to do this with anyone that is willing and he was getting it double time!

When Lola woke up, I brought them home, but not before stopping at the new house to show them where they would be babysitting in the future! They were so sweet and offered to help clean with me or watch the kids so that I could go clean in peace!

The girls did a great job holding down the fort and taking great care of my babies! I see many future date nights ahead now that I found two young ladies that I can trust with my kiddos!

They snapped some pictures from the day with my kids, I stole them off of their blogs!

I warned them that Lola goes out the doggy door and loves to play outside and it didn't take her long to show them her skills. Think Celeste had to bribe her to get her inside!

They played video games, where Kyan showed them his skills!

Lola got a mini bath in the sink! Her feet were dirty (big shock I know, they always are) so Laken tried to wash them off, but Lola had a different plan and sat right in the sink and wanted the water on her clothes and piggy (which is not pictured in this one, but had to take a sink bath too)! Lola sits there when I get ready in the morning, minus the water, now I think she will want it on all the time! I will have to find a way to distract her!

Kyan sandwiched in between "the girls" as he called them! He was asking all week, "When are 'the girls' coming over?" He had so much fun with them!

Sleepy time, notice the change of clothes, Laken had to have picked this outfit, as purple and black are her favorite colors! Lola was pretty wet after her sink bath!


Thanks again Celeste and Laken for becoming our first babysitters ever at the Roseland house! Many more times to come...that is if you want to come back?! My kids had so much fun with you!

Home Inspection

Today was the home inspection for the house we are buying in Palm Valley and it went really well, only minor issues to repair (it is bank-owned, so to be done by us). I was really worried about some water damage at one point in the home (because it is bank owned, they have no clue when it might have happened or how exactly or if it was ever fixed) but the inspector said it is minimal from what he can tell and no dry wall will have to be replaced, just fixed up. He suggested that a roof company (as where the inspector thinks the problem COULD lie, although he said the roof is in amazing shape) take a look at it. They are coming either tonight or tomorrow morning to give us a bid! Exciting - almost there! We are set to close next Friday!!!! Keep fingers, toes, legs, whatever crossed until then!

Something about Jayla

Ok, more Photoshop time to play since Chad is at Tool, kids are asleep and I should be too! Took this picture of Jayla at Camden's birthday party and was playing around with it tonight! I included the original - which I liked in the first place, second version I tried to make the colors stand out more (thought maybe Susie would like this one more than any of them), and the third is my personal favorite, not everyone loves their pictures vintage looking I know, but had to do it! Jayla is such a muffin and Lola is lucky to have her as a best friend!

Hard to Imagine...

...that we still live in a world today where this is happening. It was shocking and incredibly sad to watch this documentary. Left me speechless - I guess I was naive. To think that there are still such hateful, ignorant people out there. Not the kids, but the parents that were the problem. Worth the time to watch this video. I want to use this somehow in my literature/reading class-we do a whole quarter on the Holocaust and it could tie right, or I could use it in line with History when talking about the Civil War. Either way, think I need to make it work. Morgan Freeman is an amazing man for trying to tear down the walls that divide this town. Hopefully it won't be the end.

New Look! You likey?

Ok, in an attempt to grow out my hair - if you know me, you know I am impatient and get bored easy, I tried something new today! A french braid (of sorts) to keep the hair out of my face! Now, with practice I am sure I will be able to perfect the look...until then, a sloppy one will have to do!

I really want extensions, so my hair will be automatically longer, but with advice from MANY - they say my hair is too short and I have to keep growing it. Well, if I have to continue to grow it, then I might as well save myself the money and do it the old fashioned way!

Susie swears that my hair is just like the girl on So You Think You Can Dance - Randi, but I swear my hair won't do the stuff hers does! Plan on being 8th graders again (no offense to my younger readers by any means) soon and she said she will play with it and try new do's on me! Hopefully she can work some magic on me and will teach me a thing or two and I will continue to not cut it!

Playing around!

Without being photoshopped!

If I could make all of my pictures look like this, I think I would! Favorite action that I have to work with - I know Rae Lynn is pounding her head against the computer right now! I always make her change my pictures to do this - now I can!

Same picture - different action! Boy this is addicting! Before I know it I will be able to change more than just the layer that you can add on top of pictures! Need highlights, straighter teeth? Give me some time and might just be able to do it!



Ok, so after about, I don't know, a years procrastination, I am finally feeling confident enough to dabble in the Photoshop world! While these pictures are far from perfect and I am sure they could use more than what I just did, it is fun playing! Don't know if you will see another picture on my blog that has not been tampered with in some way! Off to have more fun!

Home Sweet NEW Home!!!

Our new mansion - seriously, it is HUGE! This is where we will be settling at the end of the month provided the inspection goes well this week!

Front Entrance

Kitchen

Part of the Master Bathroom

Another part of the Master Bath, not only 2 sinks, but they are even on separate walls!
There are also two closets in the Maser Bedroom! One for each of us!

The Master Bedroom

Family Room off of the Kitchen

One of the 6 bedrooms in the house! So excited that everyone has their own room, including a boys game room and a girls craft room!

Backyard - the house sits on about 1/3 of an acre - our heads are spinning with ideas!

After the Little Gym, my aunt called me and told me that she got an interesting phone call from the Realtor of the house that we put a bid on Monday in Goodyear and the original buyer fell through and they wanted to know if we still wanted the house! We were ready to look at other houses tonight, so this obviously through us for a loop and I was a nervous wreck! They wanted a little bit more than we offered, but still less than we were willing to pay, so we went for it! Thank goodness for Candis, as she helped me negotiate for the bank to pay for some of the closing costs and to Susie who kept telling me that she loved the pictures of the house and that we should go for it (as I was starting to second guess how BIG it really was)! So as long as the inspection goes well this is where we will call home! The washer and dryer are located upstairs and it looks like there was some sort of leak at one point or another, so we need to make sure that it is okay before we go 100% all in! Keep fingers crossed for us!

Camden Joins JayLo at the Little Gym!

Today we met with Candis and Camden for a day at the Little Gym! JayLo already attends every Friday, but wanted to put the invite out to their friend to join them in on the fun! Lucky for the girls, Candis has a flexible work schedule and was able to bring Camden to the west side of town for 45 minutes of fun! Camden seemed to really enjoy herself and may have to talk mommy into signing her up for a class a little closer to home (or you could just move to the west side of town - ok, ok, wishful thinking, but wanted to throw it out there)!

Camden ready to start class!

Flipping backwards with mama!

Camden wasted NO TIME marking her territory! She was smooching this little guy half way through the class!

Jumpin' Jayla

Lola laying down on the bouncy tarp! She was actually running on this thing by herself!

This was as close as I could get the three of the girls - they were BUSY going their seperate ways!

Camden and Lola playing with sticks and their balls!

This is Jayla's favorite time at the gym - BALLS!

Bubbles are Lola's favorite- she runs to them and calls out "bubbles" as soon as she puts her ball away!

Teacher's Pet! Lola loves Miss Helena and would rather sit on her lap and sing songs than on mine - hey, whatever holds her attention!

Lola and I posing for a quick picture after class!

We were supposed to get lunch afterwards, but the girls were fading fast - so I invited us all over to Susie's (something I do quite often on my own, or I try to hint at it they we want to come over) for lunch and swimming while the girls napped! It was such perfect timing for all 3 girls - they quickly ate lunch and off they went to nap! Mommy time?! What?! Kyan got to hang with the mommies too and I got some time to just kick it with him! We cherish that time together for sure! Lucky we had him there too, as he became our photographer! He loves to take pictures using the good camera and thought it was so cool that he could take some of the 3 of us! We were ever so greatful! Thanks Kyan! I swear he gets better every time!

Kyan and I during naptime!

Susie, me, and Candis - we got to enjoy about 2 hours of mommy/tan time! It was so fun to just relax and talk about everything under the sun - but won't lie, a lot of talk revolved around the new house that we bought today provided everything goes well with the inspection! Another post about the house to come soon (but probably not until tomorrow, I am pooped)!

Kyan showing off his swimming skills without floaties! He has got really good, as he has had a lot of practice in Sue's pool this summer!

Smoochin' my boy!

More lovin'!

Thank you Candis and Camden for driving all the way to see us and playing for the day! We had so much fun!

Thank you Susie and Jayla for having us over after the gym, might not have been prepared for us, but you got us anyway! We always have a blast with you and are so lucky that you always let us crash your pad! We had an awesome day!