Harry Potter Mania!

Well....It's Harry Potter time again folks!

September 23, 2008 is the 10th (can you believe it the TENTH) anniversary of "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone."

A new edition of the book is being released with brand new cover art on 9/23/2008--just 2 days shy of my birthday!

On December 4, 2008, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" will be released. This is the book that Dumbledore left Hermione in his will. It is very important in the last 2 books. I want to get this one for sure! I love the Hogwarts library" book that I have, "Quidditch through the Ages". I want to get this one: "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them," too!

I LOVE Harry Potter. I've read the series 3 times all the way through. They are such good reads & I truly can't put them down while I'm reading them.

I've even taken the Accelerated Reader tests on them! My students get a big kick out of that!

So, you might ask, why, oh why, is Stephanie blogging about Harry Potter? Well it just so happens to be for a HUGE-MAJOR-KICK BUTT-AWESOME giveaway on Momdot!

Momdot is giving away 1 huge grand prize of a 10th Anniversary Edition of the Box Set, which has been spiffed up with all the special anniversary stuff (such as BRAND NEW cover art!) Scholastic is their sponsor & we all know I LOVE Scholastic. Half of my classroom library is from scholastic! I'm a major scholastic supporter! One person will win the grand prize & then 4 people will win the 10th Anniversary edition copy of the "Sorcerer's Stone" and a commemorative pin. I'd love to win either prize!

9-11-01 Remembered

Well, I know it's late in the day, but I wanted to get my rememberance in too.

On September 11, 2001, I was a Freshman in college at Longwood University. I was up and actually in the shower when the first plane hit the first tower. My two roomates, cousins who spoke only Spanish in my precense, had the news on. Somebody ran into the bathroom (where I was showering & someone else was getting their hair or teeth taken care of) and called us to watch the t.v. Dumbstruck, I stodd in my dorm room with 2 girls I haven't talked to in 7 years and watched live t.v as the second plane hit the towers. I called home. My dad was at work on the base & couldn't answer his phone because the lines were so clogged. I can't remember if I got a hold of my Mom or not, but I did get through to a couple friends at school. After watching frantically, I ran across campus to the dining hall (d-hall) every television in the campus was on the news. It was wild & crazy. People were frantic. I was frantic. I can't remember if I ate anything, but I then headed to my 9 am class. All classes cancelled-Go be with your family! That's what the doors to the buildings said. So, back to the dorm or back to my friends' house, I can't remember, but that day life in America changed forever. Locks were installed on all the doors to our buildings & we had to use our key cards to get into the buildings. My dad was locked down on Norfolk's base for a while.

So, anyway, I wept for all the men, women, and children killed on that day. I wept for the ones who made it, but didn't survive. I wept when every baby was born to a now widowed mother. I watched the specials about those women who had babies on 9-11 and what that meant to them, as well as to all the women who gave birth after 9-11 without their husbands by their sides. I wept for all the little children who were orphaned or had their world turned upside down. I can't imagine what life must be like for all the people effected by those events. Fortunately I did not personally know anyone who was harmed or even involved with the entire catastrophe.

Getting Ready for Back to School

Yucky. The weekend is over. It's time to start getting ready for back to work!

Let me tell you about my weekend first though.

Friday night I stayed up super late after Spencer & Grayson left at 2, (like 3:30 in the morning!) sewing & blogging & crafting.

I slept in until something like noon. After we got up & dressed we headed to the Chesapeake Square Wal-Mart, because they had Wiis in stock on Thursday. BUT, they were SOLD OUT! Bummer. So we left there & headed to the mall. We checked Sears & Radio Shack & then found a Game Spot! They had one! So we bought the Wii, which comes with 1 controller, 1 nunchuck & Wii Sports. Then we got an extra nunchuck & Wii Play (basically a how-to use the controllers game) that came with an extra controller. (The controller is $40, Wii Play is $50.)

Then we came home & Tim got it all set up, while I packed up the kids' stuff. I packed my bookbag, a small suitcase, and a lunch box worth of stuff to take to Melanie's house. It won't be so bad when I have my own kids because I'll know what fits them & won't have to plan on needing to completely change their clothes. Anyway, I used lots & lots of cloth diapers on both boys & actually ran out of Spencer's cloth. Grayson stayed in cloth until we got home (around 11:30) and it was great.

Anyway, back to our day....after I packed & wrapped Chloe's earrings we headed to Cheeseburger in Paradise to get the boys. Then we went to the mall & got my jewelry back. We window shopped for sapphires. I may be getting some jewelry for my b-day. (earrings & a bracelet or ring w/ natural sapphires or a new necklace, about which I am not picky) Then we went upstairs to Charley's and got some sandwhiches & fries for dinner. Grayson through a temper tantrum & we hightailed it out of there.

We got to Mel's a little late but she didn't mind TOO much. It was Chloe's birthday. Her friend was there & we did presents & then cake. Grayson was in rare form & truly misbehaving. He's normally such an AWESOME baby! We hung out & talked & ate cake & pizza & then more cake until 11 at night.

Tim & I came home, laid the babies down, wrapped meat, and then played Wii. After the babies were picked up, Tim played Wii & I sewed a bit. I am working on a "taggie" blanket. I think it's going to be cute. I have it laid out & just need to iron & pin it up before I can start sewing. I really think Spencer will like it! (It's mine to use when I babysit.) Anyway, I will have pictures when its done.

We were up until after 4 am! We just got up, Tim's been on the Wii & now it's my turn!

Still to come--he's got to take Rosie in for bloodwork (She's being spayed tomorrow!) and work on the yard maybe...and I've got lesson plans to write & a house to clean, yet again.

Wordless Saturday!

At a Game Stop on a Saturday--Freaking Amazing!

What I've been up to lately!

Phew, that was a seriously large amount of pictures! Blogger is wierd & the easiest way to insert pics is to them in the reverse order of how I want them to appear & then go back in & add my text. So here is a photoblog of my week.

First day of school picture of my classroom in action. Sorry about the faceless children, but you know I must protect the little ones.

Here's another notecard I made. The client requested "baby blue, black, and "retro" designs". What do you think?

Then here's the outfit I bought for Spencer for $5.50. Too bad the preemie onesie is going to be too small! I really thought he was shorter than he is. I am going to try it on him tomorrow, but I doubt it will fit. It's a cute outfit though.

Here you can see the onesie!

Ok, so pardon Tim's Raggedy Andy doll & the huge breastfed baby poo stain on the bed. I will be washing the sheets but when you have 2 small babies in the house, that is the LEAST of your concerns. (I did scrub it up with a baby wipe.)

This is a fleece soaker that I made using Katrina's Sew Quick Soaker pattern. The name lies! My sewing machine apparantly doesn't like fleece. I thought it was broken, but it's not. It works fine on all other materials besides fleece. I was able to get the last leg sewn on these tonight! They are a bit wonky, but I love them because they are my first pair. The Diaperswappers market is swamped with mamas selling these, because the pattern creator allows you to sell them after "free for shipping" just one! Anyway, they are supposedly great for wearing over prefolds & fitteds. I've never actually tried a soaker. But, I did have great success with fleece pants. So we shall see. (When I have a baby or if I make some boyish ones for Spencer.)

Ok, up next we have a Prefold diaper that I made out of a flat birdseye diaper & then embellished. Too bad it's about an inch short in the rise & a good 2 inches short on the width. It doesn't stretch like the flannel one & I didn't take that into account when I was planning it. Oh well, it can't be pinned, but I could probably snappi it & then cover it. I wouldn't leave it on him uncovered though, or we'd have EBF poo everywhere!

Next is a pacifier clip that I gave new life to. See the cute Nuk plastic piece. That was my old paci clip. One of the dogs ate the yellow strap that was on it & made it useless. So I recycled a piece of Organic Bamboo Velour (OBV) to make a new strap. Then I used the bottoms of a cut-off onesie to steal some snaps so I can attach & detach pacifiers to it! I am quite proud of it. It is VERY soft & cuddly! Spencer even took a paci for the first time tonight, using it! Yay!

Up next, Andy is modeling another diaper I made. This one is a prefold made from a Toddler prefold, I had cut in half a while back. I forget why I cut it in half, but I gave it new life this way. Unfortunately its only a tiny bit bigger than the one above & can't be pinned on Spencer's butt either! I can definitely snappi this one & put it under a cover though. I'll work on making some larger ones for him soon. He is still much too tiny for an Infant Green Mountain Diaper prefold.

And finally, the picture you've all been waiting for. An itty bitty baby in an itty bitty diaper! Here is Spencer's butt in a Rumpsters size small cloth diaper. It was actually the ONLY one he wore tonight. His mama doesn't know I am using CDs on him & I am scared to put him down after 7 in one, in case he doesn't wake back up! Hee hee....

And again, during the same diaper change. He was quite hungry & not in the mood to pose for pictures.

Just after that diaper change, Tim overheated the breastmilk & we had to wait for it to cool. Spence was VERY hungry, but he calmed down when I stuck him (swaddled) in my new modmum sling. (modmum.com) I got 3 comments at Chesapeake Square Mall about it, when I was carrying Grayson tonight.

And then, when the milk was finally cool enough for Spence to eat, Tim got to feed him & love on him, while I cleaned house & cooked dinner. Spencer was laughing and "talking" to his uncle Timmy & I couldn't resist taking a pic of my man. He actually says (on his own, without prompting!) that he wants a baby, when he is playing with Spencer & Grayson.

Spencer LOVES to be swaddled, even at 6 weeks old. I love it, I think a swaddled up baby is too freaking cute for words!

Anyway, it's 2:20 in the a.m. & I'm off to bed. I gotta do it all again tomorrow!

First Week of School

Well, let me quickly recap the first week of school for you.

Tuesday-I got up early & was at work by 6:45. I had 18 kids on my roll that morning & I ended up with 17 students, as of today. The first day of school went well & I felt good about my class. I have 4 girls & 13 boys. Hopefully some girls come into the school later on.

Wedensday-Tim & I carpooled. I was late to work & it set the whole day off on the wrong foot. I was cranky & didn't have my plans.

Thursday-Today, I was only about 5 minutes late & Tim & I carpooled again. It was a pretty good day. I started actually "teaching" today, we did some real schoolwork. Mrs. Clark, the art teacher, gave me a ride home so I didn't have to wait for Tim. I made chili for dinner & sewed. I made a flopped hat (I did it wrong, but I know what I need to do now.), a prefold diaper--made out of a flat diaper, a prefold diaper made out of a toddler prefold cut in half, and a pacifier clip. Why am I sewing baby things, you ask? Why, because I'll be taking care of Spencer & Grayson tomorrow & Saturday! Yay! Their dad will be dropping them off at my work at 3:20 tomorrow! Isn't that fun! I broke out all of Caro's old clothes & pulled out all the boyish stuff & the gender neutral stuff. I have plenty of clothes for Spenc now. I am going to work on making more tiny diapers. (And of course they'll be there when I have my own baby.)

I'm going to watch the end of the Republican convention & try to make another hat, then I'm headed to bed.

Sorry there's not more info....I'm tired & have been busy!

-Steph

9 Hours

Until the first day of school! I am excited/nervous/anxious all at the same time! I THINK I have gotten everything done. Wish me luck & a good day!

-Steph