John and Sarah

This past weekend my sister and niece and nephew came down to visit. It was such fun! I must admit I had to take a two hour nap after they left, but it was well worth it. We played, chased Cleo, went to the zoo, ate lots of junk, talked about Cleo, made cookies, watched a movie, played with Cleo ... are you noticing a pattern here? Sarah is obsessed with Cleo. Most kids play house, but Sarah plays "Cleo." On Friday Cleo was laying on my lap with her nose between my knees; Sarah decided to do the same on her momma's lap, just to be like Cleo. Sometimes we would just be sitting and Sarah would smile and say, "Your dog's nice, Auntie Debbie; Cleo's nice." It is just too funny. Cleo did well; she likes both John and Sarah, but she definitely got tired of being messed with. A couple of times she just turned her head away when they kept trying to get her attention. Cleo adores my sister, though. She practically worships her; several times she was actually whimpering when she saw Kim until she got a dose of attention from her. We all had a great time. So now they are on there way home, and life goes on ... how boring. Here are some pics of our great weekend:

Finally, this stump in our front yard has purpose!
Making cookies with Auntie Debbie (Yes, using a roll of cookie dough is still "making" cookies!)

Now it's time to ice the cookies...

Now it's time to EAT the cookies - about half of them in one sitting!

Sarah as Cleo

Playing with Cleo's toys
Kissing Cleo

Just being a cutie!

Because of days like today...

Apparently I have become old and nasty in the past two years. Today two of my students (boys) looked at a picture of me and Roy that is only two years old, and they said, "Mrs. Garton, you look young in that picture," and "You should grow your hair long again and wear those glasses cause you look better in that picture"!!!!! I guess that's what two years and 8lbs can do to a person! Well, anyway, I gave the boys the speech about never telling a woman she looked better in a previous time, and I also pretended it didn't bug me, but it did. Why does getting old have to be so noticeable?!!! I should have told them that they are the ones making me look like this now! (Which, by the way, I don't think is all that bad, minus the cellulite. I may be 14lbs heavier than I was when we got married, but I am much healthier. I haven't passed out in years!) Oh, and the girl who is obsessed with my eyebrows pulled my shirt together today and said something about me not being able to button it up! (It was supposed to be unbuttoned and I had a cute tank with lace on under it.) Why do I keep teaching these crazy kids?!!!! Actually, I know why. It's because of days like today when I talk to them about sticking up for the underdog instead of making fun, and I see them later in the day actually doing it; it's because of days like today when I listen to them laughing hysterically with each other (rather than talking rudely to each other) as they try to speak in a fake British accent; it's because of days like today when a student practically has to be pushed out of my room because she doesn't want to leave it, even though she won't admit it; it's because of days like today when students come up and give me a hug because they know I will give them one in return ... yes, that's why I keep putting up with the comments and observations about my eyebrows, my body, my hair, my weight, and my age - because of days like today.

My Sweet Cleo

Whenever I take towels out of the dryer, Cleo just loves to get right in the middle of the pile while they are still warm. I was able to capture this cute pic of her tonight ... It is now 4hrs later, and the towels are still on the floor waiting to be folded; they are very patient. LOL

Kids have a weird way of complimenting

In previous posts I have mentioned how one of my students this year has this obsession with my eyebrows. Well, today I actually find out that she likes them, she just has a weird way of saying it. I was at her level (in the middle of correcting her poor behavior, actually), when she said, "I like your eyebrows, Mrs. Garton"! I was like, what is this obsession with my eyebrows!!!!!!! (I actually said that!) She giggled, but one of the girls in her group said it's because they are thin and "mine aren't; mine are so thick and bushy." So I realized that kids are just weird! That's all there is to it! This girl has gone from asking me if I fill in my eyebrows, to telling me my eyebrows are gray, to telling me she likes them. So, if you are feeling bad about your eyebrows, just pattern them after mine. Apparently they are something to talk about! LOL (How can I help but enjoy my job?!)

Last week my kids made landform maps out of sugar cookies! What do you think? Are you smarter than a fifth grader? Can you name the landforms that these food items represent?