Seeking Imperfection

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things here...which means making myself post about anything at this point.

I've been doing a good job at taking my photo a day - I've only forgotten one day, and I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about that day. Anyone have any suggestions about what I can put in my summer album for that day besides the big, glaring words I FORGOT that is my current idea?

Anyway, I've been doing a good job on taking the photos, but not editing them or printing them or putting them in an album. I'm not sure how to motivate myself to get back into that part of things. So, on the last day in July, here I am trying to get caught up with June. :)

Saturday, June 13, 2009

This was a nice sunny Saturday - little did we know at the time it would be our last sunny day for some time. June was very, very rainy. We were trying to work on the pool, and in an attempt to keep Paige busy, I tried to set up a little clubhouse atmosphere for her on his swing set play structure. Even though she looks quite happy here, it didn't keep her entertained for very long. Not much does....



Sunday, June 14, 2009

I found some Martha Stewart puppet making kits on clearance at Walmart. They were pretty cool as they had everything you needed to make the puppet in the kit, and most of it was just peel off the sticky section and stick it on. This turned out to be something that really entertained Paige. She made a bird and a monkey and then immediately got under the table to put on a puppet show. I don't think we've ever played with puppets before, but she really seemed to enjoy them.



Monday, June 15, 2009

There are two pictures from this day...and I had a hard time just limiting it to two! Paige finished her first year of dance school in June. She LOVES to dance. Lately she dances more than she walks...she dances down the aisles at stores, etc. She was so excited that she was going to be dancing on a stage for her recital. These are two of the pictures I took at her dress rehearsal.



She looks so "grown up" in this one to me for some reason. I really love it.



Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The gray kitty is my 13 year old cat, Fidget. The tiger kitten is Michelle's former foster, now adopted cat, Doyle. Since the beginning, Doyle has loved Fidget. She's always been a very timid cat, so it has been interesting for us to see how she's become kind of a foster mother to all of the kittens that Michelle brings home to foster. Most of them seem to love her, and she follows them around and keeps an eye on them. She's turned into a good foster mom herself. :)



Wednesday, June 17, 2009

This evening I stayed at work late for the sixth grade celebration - an event where the sixth graders are celebrated before leaving for middle school. There was presentation of yearbooks, a slide show, etc. Two of my students were in sixth grade, and I got to present their yearbooks to them (and cry a lot). I was so proud to be a part of it with them. On my way home I drove past an area where I'm always thinking, "I wish I had my camera" and actually pulled over to the side of the road and took several shots since I did have my camera with me. I'm finding I really enjoy nature photography, but I don't really know what to "do" with the pictures.



Thursday June 18, 2009

When I don't know what else to take a picture of, I always seem to fall back on Paige sleeping. But come on, she always looks so cute, I can't help it!



Friday, June 19, 2009

After several rainy days in a row, when I didn't know what else to take a picture of, I wandered outside and took some random rainy flower/grass photos.



Ok, one more week in June caught up with...now to just send them to Walmart to print.

Does anyone who enjoys doing lots of projects have any tips on how you keep up with all the projects you want to do? I love scrapbooking, taking pictures, and even editing them, but if I let it seem like something I "have to" do, I start to lose interest. I'd love to hear how you accomplish projects/goals you've set for yourselves.

I haven't meant to be away for so long.

I'm again struggling with what is "good enough" or "interesting enough" to post about. Yes, I know it is my blog, but sometimes I get into these funks. I've been feeling funky the last couple of weeks, and not in a good way, either. I'm realizing more and more that I have a double standard when it comes to being perfect - I don't expect it out of anyone but myself. I am not sure how to relax when it comes to my standards for myself.

My classroom has moved from the elementary school I've worked at the past two years to the middle school. It is a bittersweet move for me. It's hard to say goodbye, but there are a lot of fun new things coming our way too.

I've started working the school's summer program, which had a very bumpy start, and I'm feeling a little run down and stressed.

I've been taking my photos every day, but have gotten behind in editing them and posting them. Yesterday on my way to work I realized that I forgot to take a picture on Monday - first day I haven't taken a picture since Memorial Day weekend - and I was a little bummed.

We currently have eleven cats in our house - eight foster kittens and our three regular cats. Tomorrow Michelle's sister brings her dog to stay with us while she goes away for the weekend. Should be interesting!

I didn't write this post just to whine...honest. Just felt it was time to let everyone know I'm still alive, just have a bit of writer's block. Thanks for continuing to visit. :)

Happy Fourth!

I like the patriotic mobile, but I really like the tip for cleaning up glitter!

I love the pictures in this post - beautiful! But I really like the red, white, and blue "snack flag." What a cute idea!

I really love this neighborhood love.