Miscellany Monday - Where is My Mind?

So many things to say, in no particular order...so here we go!

1. Big day in our backyard. The outdoor kitchen, most importantly, Chad's grill, is being installed today! Wahoooo! I am excited to eat all of the food he has been dying to start making!

2. My hair - so many have been asking for pictures, so here you go! I do love it and I must say that it feels more me than what I had going on before. I am still undecided as to whether or not I am going to add a few extension pieces in the front or not, figured I would rock it like it is for a little bit and go from there!

3. Bought patio furniture this week for our backyard and am seriously in love with what we picked out. The only bad news is that we have to wait 5-6 weeks for it to be delivered, as it is being custom made. I guess I am going to have to learn to be patient.

4. Kyan is the Star of the Week this week at his school! We decorated his poster last night when he got home from a football draft party with his daddy! I am so proud of him!
5. I got to enjoy some alone time in the pool, curled up (as much as one can curl up in the water) with my copy of the Mockingjay, the final book of the Hunger Game series. It was beautiful. Lola was with my parents, Kyan and Chad had left for a fantasy football draft party, it was just me, the pool, and my book. When it was time to go inside, I went to the back door, it was locked, panic immediately set in and I knew what was coming, just didn't want to really have to do it. I called Chad, because I did have my cell phone with me and asked why he locked me out and told him he needed to turn around (he was probably 3/4 of the way to his destination, which was about an hour away). He told me to go through the dog door! OMG! I was freaking out. I didn't want him to have to turn around, but there was no way I was going to fit through there. I was more worried about getting stuck than anything and having to call 911 to have the fire dept. come to help me out. I can just hear laughter as they pull up and see a 30 year old woman with half her body in the house and half out. Mortifying. I refused and got so angry that there was no sympathy for locking me out and quickly hung up on the hubs. Could I make it? I went to the side of the house and went for it, then backed myself out, nope...not happening. But I didn't want to have to have the boys turn all the way around, okay, round two. I squeezed through! I fit, I couldn't believe it. It was horrible and I never want to do anything like that ever again. I called Chad and let him know that I was in, I more like yelled that I was in and hung up the phone. Then he called me back and said he was really sorry that he locked me out. Funny, because I was sending him a text when his call came through telling him sorry for freaking out. We laughed about it and life went on. Hopefully I will NEVER have to go through that doggy door again, my arm is paying the price today!

6. Ok, this one I need a little help with...my homeroom has to come up with a mascot and a slogan for a contest at school. We are the Roseland Raptors, but we have no slogan!!!!
HELP!!!!!!!!!
It needs to have something to do with having good character (trustworthiness, fairness, respect, citizenship, responisibilty, and caring) qualitites. We came up with nothing as a homeroom this morning, so I thought that I might see if someone else out there can help, cause my creative juices are stuck in lesson plans right now!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! I am counting down the days to the three day weekend!

To Cut or Not To Cut?!

That is the question?

Ugh...I have been trying to grow my hair out since forever, but I really just want it to look like this:
It is finally long enough in the front for this, my sides might need to be filled in a little thicker, but I think that I am going for it on Wednesday for my monthly hair appointment with Zonia.
I just can't do the "long hair" thing, it is not me. It isn't even really long and it just feels gross. Blah, maybe it is at the weird length, maybe it is this crazy heat/humidity lately.
Yes, I like being able to throw it into a ponytail, but really, my hair shouldn't look better up than it does down and I feel like that is where I am at and I hate that.
Maybe I am trying to talk myself into it or justify things to all of those that I told I could really do it this time, but I can't. I lose. I admit it.
I want to love my hair and have it have some funk! I have always loved Rihanna's hair, especially with it longer on one side than the other. I always go back to this picture, every time. Think I am gonna do it!

Whatcha think?

More Progress

When we got home from birthday party #2 of 3 this weekend, they were out in the backyard, working on finishing the pavers. Around 4:30pm, I stepped outside to look, and was shocked at how much more beautiful it made that area!

Progress on the built in BBQ! It has been painted and tiled.

And the fireplace too! The paint matches our house perfect!

Off to check out furniture for the backyard today! Hoping luck is on our side today and that we find some good deals!!!

Dip Baby Dip!

It is official! We are swimming!


We thought we would be swimming yesterday, but our pool wasn't even close to being filled. So, we thought we would run the hose overnight and when we woke up this morning that we would be able to turn it off...no such luck! Well over 52 hours after they dropped the hose in, we are almost done! But we were done enough for us to take a quick dip after our long day! The pool water is HOT! Like hot, hot, hot, but I won't complain, it is so much better than it being freezing!

Tomorrow they come to teach us how to maintain everything!

Embracing the camera this week...
it has been too long!

Backyard Update!

So, the backyard is making HUGE progress and is expected to be completely finished in a little over two weeks! Just in time for a Labor Day party (fingers crossed).

Here is what has been happening:
Pavers finished underneath the back patio. What a difference they make!

The fireplace and built in bbq are up and currently getting tiled! They bull-nosed the tile on the fireplace, as it will be smoother seating in front of it and on both of the sides! This is the look from the patio, you can sort of see where the sand is that shows where the pavers will be placed. They are going to extend off of the patio and around the bbq, the sand is ready to go, I think they are waiting until the pool is completely done.

Bright and early this morning they came to do the pebble sheen finish on the pool! Tomorrow they are going to buff and polish and throw in the hose which means...
We are supposed to be swimming Wednesday! Wahhhhoooooooo! Can't wait!

Newest Member of the Roseland Family!

I really thought I was going get some serious posting in today, as I have lots of catching up to do and many pictures to show you, but I spent the majority of my day at the Honda dealership!

After getting into my car Friday afternoon and having my passenger side window down because the motor on the window broke again (2nd time within a year, the list could seriously go on and on with my Element, I got a lemon - actually nothing started going wrong with it until this year, but when it rained it poured with that thing...) I had enough and called Chad in tears.

After much discussing and debating about car payments and me not wanting to spend a lot of money on a new vehicle, but still wanting it to have the cool factor and be brand new, I decided on the Honda Fit! This was a gut wrenching decision for me, my Element has been paid off for over a year or so and I just didn't want a car payment, but I thought that I would have to keep putting money into it, as it seemed to be at the service department every other week lately. Also, my parents hate the car and tried to cut me a deal to NOT but the Fit, as it is smaller and they don't think that it is safe enough for my kids. I am a parent pleaser, still at almost 30 years old, I want their approval, it is true. This is one thing that I did that without their blessing and I feel guilty. But, I want you to know mom and dad, the car is safe! It has a 5 star crash rating and gets way better gas mileage than the Element. I think I remember you telling me how much you hated the Element too when we bought it, so I am hoping that you will come around when you see it and have to ride in it! No, it is not a Prius, which they would have preferred that I bought, but I LOVE IT and am super excited about it!

I really think that it looks like a Jenni car, perfect for me!

Kyan Starts Tae Kwan Do

Recently, Kyan has expressed interest on a daily basis on wanting to start Karate, there is a place not to far from us, on the way home from school that offers classes for all ages, so we stopped by on Thursday and they actually had class that night that they invited Kyan to come back and try it out to see if he liked it! He instantly fell in love and we knew that he would want to be back! So he will be going to Tae Kwan Do classes, not Karate, which I am learning the differences slowly, three times a week! Seems to some like that could be too many, but Kyan is showing such interest and the second we leave asks how many more sleeps until he comes back! So we are going to go with it until he shows that he isn't interested anymore! The Master instructor talked to me after class and told me that he thought Kyan was very focus and paid attention very well, and to let him work with him for a month in the class that he is in and then he wants to move him up to the next leveled class!

Saturday, Kyan got his uniform, a Dobak (which we have been calling a Gi because of the Karate thing) and couldn't wait to put it on for class! He looked so cute!

Lola herself really wanted to go into class with Kyan and said she could be good (she wants to do everything he does) but she is too little! Instead, she was entertained by the cash register that the lady gave her to play with. She will not be going with us unless she absolutely has to from now on (which will be on Saturday, because hubs has to work). An hour is too long for her to sit there and not cause trouble!

This week was all about FOCUS and at the end of class, Kyan got a piece of tape on his belt to show just how focused he is! He was so excited to come and show us after class was over!

Three more sleeps until we are back for more!

Day Two

Day two went a little something like this...
Woke up at 5:45am, new it was going to be a LONG day, so threw the hair in a pony tail and got myself dressed. Made Kyan's lunch and then woke up the kids to get them ready for their day.

7am, got in the car and drove to Rennie's to drop off Lola, she lives about 15 minutes away and is usually my second stop, but because I forgot to sign up Kyan for extended day in the mornings and there was a waiting list to get in, she became my first stop today.

Then I get a call from Kyan's school nurse saying that his shots aren't updated, panic set in, Kyan hates shots...then remembered that I just forgot to update my records with the school and later today waited on hold at his pediatrician's office to have them fax them to my school so that I could fax them over to his school. But I couldn't fax them over, because the school fax machine broke right after I got their fax.

Ok, back to this morning. After Rennie's we drove back to our neighborhood to drop Kyan off at school (he can't be there until 7:30). Parked the car and walked him into his playground around 7:40am, where I got in trouble by the aide on duty! I missed the sign (so did many parents) that said only kids were allowed past a certain point...oops! She then told lots of us that she was in charge and they were old enough to learn on their own how to do things! I immediately fell in love, it is hard to deal with that many parents and kids in the mornings, so setting guidelines from day one is awesome. I did get a little choked up knowing that she was helping him to figure things out and not me. I walked back to my car and Kyan was already off playing on the equipment. Now I know why daddy handles first day of school duty, not mommy. I am not going to lie, I got teary eyed. I am so proud of him, but also realized he is getting so big right before my eyes.

Drove to my school and parked my car at 8am. What a morning and technically it didn't even start yet!

Day two went great for the both of us! Kyan made it into my classroom right before my kids were released from school! He LOVED the bus ride and was super excited to tell me about it! He said that he was the last one off of the bus (the bus that brings him, stays at my school to bus the kids that I teach to their homes) but that he wasn't scared at all, just sweaty!

Thank you to everyone who called to check on us, sent us a text, left us an email or a comment! You are so sweet and I told Kyan about each and every one of them (those that were directed at him)!

Day three here I come! It is a year with lots of changes, but so far so good!

I will try to post pictures of my room ASAP! I have them, just haven't had a second to touch them or even look at them twice!


PS - the backyard is coming right along! The final pool inspection is tomorrow and then they should be able to do the pebble sheen finish as soon as they get the OK, so swimming next week I hear! Also, the fireplace and bbq are blocked out and built up and they look beautiful!

Kyan Goes To Kindergarten!

I had NO CLUE that Chad took this picture of Kyan this morning when he woke him up for Kindergarten (I was still home, getting ready to go to my own first day of school), but it melted me a little bit that Chad was so thoughtful when I was uploading the pictures onto my computer tonight! I love that Kyan woke up with the biggest smile on his face, ready for his first day!

With camera in hand, Kyan gave me a BIG hug this morning when he woke up, told me how much he loved me and posed for a quick picture before I rushed off for my own first day (ok, so this is my 8th year teaching, but each first day is special and CrAzY busy)! I love this picture of us and it makes me so happy that he woke up when I was still home to see him (more on that later...)

We live about two blocks from school, so today, since it was the first day and since daddy made sure to have the day off to ship Kyan off, they walked! Oh how I wish I could do this every day with Kyan, but today was special and although I will probably never be apart of the first day of school activities, because I have my own (and believe me I am so emotional over this, can't really talk about it because it makes me sad) I am so grateful that daddy gets to be a part of such a big day and he always makes sure that he has the day off!
Tomorrow Kyan boards the bus (which he is SO EXCITED for) to my school after he gets out! I am nervous and excited for him! He is so little! He will hang with me for about 5-10 minutes before my students get out and kick it in my classroom until it is time to go home!

Outside his Kindergarten classroom on the 1st day!!!
He had an awesome first day!

PS - we had a crazy busy weekend, and I have tons of pictures to prove it! The boys had a blast camping and we got to spend about 36 hours with my mom, as she snuck in for an unexpected visit, but they will have to wait...did I mention how crazy busy the first day/week of school is? Well, if you didn't already catch that - it is! Hoping to stay as caught up as I can on my blog, but if I go missing for a couple of days, don't worry, I am okay, just buried in school work!

Camping and a Winner!

My boys headed out this morning to meet up with Uncle B and the gang for a night of camping at Woods Canyon Lake! We, as a family, wanted to spend the weekend up there, but with me coming down with strep and being buried in school work (I am actually going to be working for several hours this weekend on school stuff and have to spend a little time at school), and Kyan's meet the teacher night last night, one night was all that could get squeezed in - just the boys. And let me tell you Kyan is over the moon excited! They left at about six this morning and that smile you see on Kyan's face was planted the second Chad woke him up to go! When I threw his sword in the truck too, it got even bigger! I am sad that Lola and I won't be joining our boys (and chased them outta the house with my camera in hand in alligator tears in my eyes, I am so excited for them)! Maybe one day a camping weekend will workout for me, but daddy has the camera around his shoulder (did you notice?) and promised to take some pictures for me! I hope they have a blast and I can't wait to hear about their adventures tomorrow!

Now for the winners...
Sarah Root and Alisha! Yay! Please email me (jroseland2@cox.net) with your address so I can send you your scrub!!!

A Fence, Cool Deck, Some Pavers, and Strep

So, pool fences aren't the prettiest things in the world, but we wouldn't be caught dead without one!!! And I must say, that I think ours turned out very pretty! I insisted that it take the shape of our cool deck (the posts are straight, Chad thought I was crazy for asking this at first, but we put a lot of emphasis to make the pool the way we did...I wanted the fence to match) and they did a fantastic job (yes, the hubs thought so too and told me good call later that night!). We were going to paint it a dark brown color, but thought that the tan was the best fit for the way our backyard was shaping up and with all the coloring! It is a good contrast against the darker shade of cool deck that was done yesterday!

The pavers on the back patio (which will extend out into the yard where the fireplace and outdoor bbq will be) were started yesterday also!

I was also diagnosed with Strep Throat yesterday. I woke up with the right side of my throat swollen and my ear felt like it had a ton of water in it. I knew something was wrong, but reported to work to check the schedule to see when I could sneak away to the doc's office. When I did get there, she checked me out and told me that I probably just had a summer cold (and I honestly thought this too, after taking 4 Ibruprofen's I had sort of numbed my pain) but she wanted to do a strep test just in case. Yuck. We joked at how we both didn't think I had it (I was really trying to get out of taking the test) but did the test anyway. Sure enough, she came back and said that I had Strep and gave me a prescription. I went back to work (yes, I know...shame on me) and said that I just had a virus, as there are just too many things that I can't miss. It is not like I am slopping spit with anyone or sharing food/drinks, so hopefully it will be ok. Plus, I am not running a fever (see how I am trying to justify?).
Off to work I go again today (took this picture this morning I have Strep, but I am still smiling), it is a long one too - Meet the Teacher night so I have an eleven hour day (8am-7pm). A bunch of former students have told me that they are coming back to see me, so that is super exciting and I get to meet the new ones coming up! Wish me luck!

An End to Summer...

Just a friendly reminder, if you haven't entered the Sugar Scrub Giveaway, click here! Today is the last day, as my summer vacation officially ends {deep breaths, where did it go?} and I report back to school tomorrow.

We had a very lazy summer filled with pool crashing (and building), splash padding, video game playing, potty training (worst 4 days of my life), pageant shooting, movie watching, and being together! What summer is all about! Although we didn't go on any summer vacations this year, I would say it was one of the best summers we have had together and I wouldn't trade it for anything! Watching the kids with each other over the past two months is so special, they have this unbreakable bond. Kyan is so caring for Lola and would do anything for her. And Lola, as much as she likes things her way, {ahem, just like mommy} tries to do and be just like her brother (she even has me taking out her bad dreams at night now and put in the good ones, she begs for it)! They have an obsession with their stuffed animals and try to bring ALL of them in just about every room they watch TV in, then complain that they are too heavy to carry back to their rooms (yes, Lola is back sleeping in her own room again, for about a week now!). I love them and wish that summer didn't have to be over.

I don't officially have to be back to school until tomorrow, but I went in yesterday and am going in today to get a head start on my classroom, as it is getting a much needed makeover (pictures to come, hopefully I will finish today)! I have become rather crafty and want to apply it to where I spend most of my waking day! I want to WANT to walk in the room and I want the kids to walk in and be like, "Wow, this is cool!" Then, once they find out how cool reading is (they usually hate it going in to 8th grade, but really do leave at least liking it, some even loving it) they won't want to leave my room! I am a teacher and I am going to embrace it and go in with a positive attitude this year! Last year was not my best year, attitude wise, I wanted to stay at home and just do photography. I still do, but it is not in the cards -YET- and until then, I am a teacher, and I am going to LOVE what I do!

And finally, a few new pictures of what has been happening in our backyard:
The form and cement for the cool deck, which is going to be poured on Thursday.
The tile inside the pool, done yesterday!
The fence is supposed to go up today and tomorrow!