EUROPEAN ART TRIP- PART II

I got to go to Europe with the Snow College art department again. I went three years ago as well, and was so excited Big C let me go again. We went to Rome again and then to Barcelona. I wasn't very excited for Barcelona, but I ended up LOVING it! It was a great trip and I absolutely love Europe! I'll go again some day, mark my words! 

Personalize your own digital slideshow

I had so many photos, I just made a slide show.

Both times I've gone, I make a list of things to be missed and things I won't miss. Here's this trip's...

THINGS I WON'T MISS:

• Trying to find somewhere to go to the bathroom! Europe is terrible at providing public restrooms and workers are so rude about letting you use theirs. It gets really old. How are you supposed to stay hydrated when there's nowhere to pee? McDonald's saved our bladders more than once. 
• I also won't miss the horribly, odiferous bathrooms. Why can't Europeans get the pee smell out of their bathrooms?? Why is it so hard? They ALL reek and as soon as you get back to the US, the smell is magically gone. They need better cleaners or just better cleaning products.
• I also won't miss being on my feet all day long and trying to keep up with people (men) that want to speed walk everywhere we go. My feet are so sore and tired and still have scabby blisters from one pair of shoes. They need a rest. Some of our group had their Fitbits with them and we averaged between 10-15 miles everyday. 
• I also won't miss the crowds. Rome was unbelievably crowded! Easter is NOT a great time to visit the Vatican! The crowds at the museum were CRAZY! Wall to wall people. Barcelona was busy too, but not nearly as bad as Rome. I won't miss that in my cute little Ephraim.
• The last thing I won't miss is the long hike back to our hotel from the closest Metro station. It was in a very trashy area and when we would come home at night, there would be hookers wearing little more than underwear and stilettos on the streets. Yikes, it was awful! I felt so bad for them.

THINGS I WILL MISS:

• The food in Barcelona! Ironically, I was most worried about the food in Barcelona (I hate paella) and thought I'd starve there, but I ended up LOVING it! The whole tapas idea is awesome and I loved almost everything I tried. Sooo much better than Rome! Potatoes bravas and ham and chicken croquettes were some of my favorites.
• All the art and all the history. I love seeing art works in real life. It is an amazing experience and I never get sick of it. The history part of it all is fabulous too. Seeing the inside of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum this time was definitely a highlight. I am blown away that structures that old are still standing. I loved being there!
• The freedom of doing what I want without making dinner and being responsible for kids for a few days is always really fun. I miss them like crazy and I'm always ready to come home, but for a little while, a break is great!
• Being in Barcelona during El Classico was AMAZING! I wish so much that FCB had won the game, but seeing the excitement and feeling the enthusiasm of the fans during the game was so much fun! It was a very cool experience!
• Walking into a room in the Vatican Museum and seeing my favorite Caravaggio painting. I don't know how I missed it last time I was there, but I am so thrilled I got to see it this time. It is SO beautiful and most of Caravaggio's paintings in Rome are in dark little chapels and hard to see. 

Overall, it was a great trip. I had some reservations about going without a friend, but it ended up being alright. It was fun being a part of the group I was with. I made some great friends of the students and the faculty were wonderful! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to go again. My next goal is Great Britain! 

YOUNG WOMEN HANDOUTS

When I was in Young Women growing up, I always loved to get handouts. I had a box where I kept all of them and put the newest out on my desk to display. My love of handouts has never died. Now I make them. I have no idea if the girls in my class keep them or chuck them as soon as they get home, but I know that I tried, right?

This week I am teaching a lesson called 'Why is it Important to Gain an Education and Develop Skills?' I made this handout (above) to give the girls a place to record their goals. Hopefully they will keep it since it's cute?

Napolean has some sweet skills!

Whenever I hear the word 'SKILLS', it reminds me of the movie Napolean Dynamite when he's talking about how girls only like guys that have sweet skills (bow staff skills, nunchuck skills, etc...). It cracks me up every time and I just had to make a handout about it. I am going to print it out, laminate it, and put a magnet on the back so they can hang it in their locker or something. Maybe I'm the only one who'll think it's funny, but I am amused by it.

IT'S BACK!

School has officially begun for the 2013-2014 year. I have very mixed feelings about it. Little C is a 7th grader this year in middle school. He is taking percussion and is excited to have a different teacher for every class. Princess P is a 4th grader this year and has been ready and excited for school to start again. She has the same teacher she had last year and wasn't very excited about that because she wanted someone new, but she says it's okay. She has LOTS of friends in her class and that's more important anyway. A is a SENIOR!! Whoa! Not sure how that happened so fast! He is actually excited for school to start too. He's got calculus this year and college english, but the rest of his classes are fun and, hey, he's a SENIOR!!

My groovy kids this morning in their back to school besties!

I am teaching two classes this semester- 2D Design for art majors and Drawing I for non-majors, so I will have a class Monday thru Thursday. Plus, being the Young Women's President in church and helping to coach Little C's soccer team. I am just too strung out. Why do I do this to myself?? 

1st DAY OF SCHOOL

I am SO sad that school is starting and our carefree days of summer are over. I cannot begin to express my sadness.... but, it is going to happen whether I am ready or not, so I guess I'd better put my best foot forward and---- good grief! Sorry about the pep talk, we'll move on...

My big high schoolers, D and A. They aren't real excited about the school thing either, but getting new clothes always helps.

My elementary kiddos, Little C and Princess P. They had a little bit more enthusiasm, but it was mostly centered around the clothes too.

Princess P and her new 2nd grade teacher.

Here is Princess P at her desk. She has quite a few friends in her class.

Little C did not want his photo taken with his new 5th grade teacher (he didn't even know her- what was I thinking?). He is not as excited, but things went well. I even had meetings today and I start Thursday. *sigh* Back to reality!

MAY DAY & TEACHER TRIBUTE

Our elementary school has a L O N G tradition of doing a May Day program (my mom did it when she was going there about 60 years ago). The 5th graders do the may pole and the rest of the grades each do a little dance routine. This year the theme was Disney and it was fun.

Here is the school getting ready to sing again. I loved all the Mary Poppins songs.

Little C and Princess P afterwards. They are both such great performers!

On the way out we saw their teachers and stopped for a photo op. Princess P has LOVED Ms. W and so have I. What a positive 1st grade experience she had. We are sad to see it end.

When I asked Mr. C if we could take a photo he said, 'Serious or how Little C really is?' I said, 'How Little C really is.' This photo is the result. It has been a great 4th grade year for Little C. Mr. C has been very fun. Last days of school are bitter sweet when you have to say goodbye to amazing teachers!

TEACHER APPRECIATION

I am the 'head' Room Mother for Little C's 4th grade class this year. I just didn't know what to do for Teacher Appreciation week, so I went in and took a photo of his class.

They are holding letters you can barely see, but they had a lot of fun. I am going to print it and frame it for Mr. Clark (and also give him a package of Twix bars). It is hard to know what to do, but I hope this will be something he can remember this class with. He is a pretty awesome teacher.