Hi friends!
Can you believe we are half-way through the month of November?
Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas, just around the corner.
Not sure how that happened. Likewise, it seems like I went to sleep a young mother one night and woke up a grandma. Not sure how that happened either.
I am linking up again this post with Becky at Choose Happy for my eleventh installment of Currently. Please stop by to visit Becky after you read what I have been up to.
Here’s what I’m up to currently:
Librarian-ing. I am still working at Rosa Guerrero Elementary as a long-term librarian sub. I have been here almost two months. The children are so sweet and have warmed up to me after losing to retirement the librarian they had known and loved for years. One of my favorite lessons to do at the beginning of the year is entitled Books are Like Babies, designed to teach book care and library manners to the youngest students. I always take a Cabbage Patch baby to school for this lesson to use in demonstrating how to treat our library books – hold them with two hands, turn the pages at the corners, keep books clean and dry, use a quiet voice in the library. The prekinders color the diaper on a paper baby and I tape it to the cover of the library book they check out to remind them to hold their book like a baby.
My CP baby has been a hit in the mornings before school among a group of little girls who play house with her. Some might say the library isn’t a place of children to play – anything. But I want any library I am a part of to be a place where children can be children, can play, can learn through play. You can visit the new library website I am working on for Guerrero, here.
Scrapping. I finished one scrapbook page from Christmas of 2011. Ha! And started another. Maybe I need to work on finishing all of the Christmas pages up to and including this year over Christmas break so I can at least be caught on scrapbooking up on one holiday. Sounds like a plan to me.
Of course it goes without saying that I couldn’t have gotten my page completed without Snick’s most excellent assistance. And you can be sure Simmony was just slightly off-camera.
Assembling. Assembling a fun run. A kitty fun run. Not a PC and me fun run, which probably wouldn’t have much to do with running if it was for us. Our kitties love to go outside but Snickitty is always going over the rock wall into our neighbors’ yards. She eventually comes home (so far) but has become braver and braver, recently trying out the grass in yards several doors down. PC wanted to put a harness on her and stake her in our yard on a run but I could envision Snick strangling herself on the lead. I shopped Amazon and found this fun run screened tent and tunnel. It arrived Saturday and I just opened it this morning to give it a go.
Here I am unpacking it with Snicky’s help. Such a helpful kitty. The tunnel met with approval from both kitties – at least in the kitchen. I took the tent and tunnel outside and placed my girlsies inside and they liked it. Plenty roomy for both of them. Can put their little beds inside and a dish of water and leave them out for awhile without worry.
You can check out the Fun Run/ABO Gear Kitty Compound Cat Play House, here.
Moving? NOT! Recently, PC asked me how small a home/apartment/cabin/RV/tiny house/tent I thought we could live in comfortably. I was quick to say our present house suits me just fine, thank you. But he pointed out that we have about 1,000 square feet in our home that goes unused in our day-to-day living; two guest bedrooms, one bathroom, a study, and formal living and dining rooms. I argued that while we don’t use those rooms every day, or even every month, that we do use them. Earlier this week, when I pulled out of the garage to go to work one morning, I spotted this sign nestled under a bush in the front yard.
Naturally, I assumed that PC was playing a joke on me by putting this sign out. But he denies having anything to do with it. You can see some debris in the foreground of the picture and on the balcony, one of the patio chairs has tipped over. We have had some wind so maybe this little sign blew into our yard, parked itself right-side up by my Indian Hawthorne, getting lodged in its branches? Maybe. All I know is we are not currently moving. Right, PC?
In-Vesting. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been trying out different combinations for school outfits. The AC has been shut off across the district (it is November, I guess) and our mornings are chilly – mid 40s. But our afternoons warm up nicely to the low 70s. My vests have been a great solution for this crazy in-between weather.
This vest and shirt are both from Old Navy. The vest is very soft and lightweight. The shirt was a $10 bargain online. Blue cargo pants from Loft Outlet last year and open-toe Moda wedges, hand-me-downs from my daughter Lauren. Comfy, colorful outfit.
Scarfing. As in eating a lot. Not to be confused with the wearing of a strip of cloth around one’s neck. But, as I have shared, PC and I are back on track, eating better and exercising more. I cooked Crockpot Korean Beef Rib Tacos with Asian Slaw from Carpe Season one night last week.
[source]
They were delicious. And colorful, like my outfit. We scarfed them up on whole wheat tortillas. Yum. If you try them, let me know what you think.
Missing. Missing my daughters today. Lauren and Francisco flew in for an all-too-short weekend visit. They arrived late (almost midnight) Friday night, attended a wedding in Mexico on Saturday and spent the night in Juarez, so I really only got to spend Sunday afternoon with my babiest daughter. Of course, I am thrilled to be able to see Lauren and Brennyn for even five minutes whenever I can. But I always miss them as soon as they are gone and wish we’d had more time together.
I can’t believe Lauren is already five months pregnant. That sweet angel baby will be here before we know it. Lauren and Francisco are driving up to Albuquerque, or Albuhturkey as we call it, this afternoon to look for apartments there. They will be moving to New Mexico in July where Francisco will do a year-long anesthesiology fellowship. Happy to report that Brennyn and Cady are coming to see us in December. I am looking forward to their visit. Yay!!! And that’s two very good reasons why we need to stay in our house. Lauren and Brennyn.
So that’s what’s happening in my neck of the woods currently. What do you have going on? Please leave me a comment or email me a pic of what you are up to!
One last note, in a recent post, I reviewed a book entitled Devotions from the Garden. You can read the review, here. My buddy Wendy shared a photo of a online program she uses for her devotions.
I am going to check out this website right now. Thank you, Wendy, for sharing this with us.
And thank YOU for stopping by.
I have a couple of exciting posts in the works for the next couple of weeks.
Hope you will come back again!
Hugs and kisses,
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side
That cat tent is hilarious!!! Not sure why’ve think it is so funny. Love this post and the baby thing in the books so smart!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
LOL!!! Between our cat tent and cat stroller, I need to be concerned about being locked up as the crazy cat lady. Thanks for coming by, sweet Sarah!
Sharon
That’s going to be one gorgeous baby girl in March! Love your blog friend! Keep me posted on your weather tonight!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, BFF. I have had a terrible time getting online this week away. Finally, just now, able to access email and my blog after trying all night.
Shaunacey
how sweet is she with her little growing belly?!
I LOVE that you bring a cabbage patch to teach the children how to treat books, that’s seriously so smart and looks like they really enjoy it.
http://www.confessionsofafrumpymommy.com
Denise Z
Oh.my,goodness. HOW cute is pregnant Lauren?!? Too bad they aren’t looking in Las Cruces–we’ll have our house there for rent soon!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Denise. Lauren is a pretty cute mamacita, if I do say so myself. Glad to read that your Las Cruces place is finally going to be available to rent again. I know you are, too!
Danielle
The cat tent and tunnel are awesome! My cat Pixel is a harness and leash cat. He too loves the outdoors, but in the city I don’t trust he would make it back home safely. He is quite good at escaping from harnesses, thankfully in his older age he is more content to hang out when outside.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
My kitties didn’t get much of an introduction to their new tunnel and tent before the weather turned off crazy windy and we had to move their new gizmos into the garage. Glad Pixel is content to stay in his own stomping ground now days.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Ohh, my cats are indoor cats, but my one cat loves to go outside. She would probably love that cat tent and tunnel. I am so glad you got to see your daughter, 5 months is going to fly by before her baby is here!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Carrie. Loved being with my baby girl while she is pregnant with her baby girl.
Mary
Aww, Albuquerque! Yay!! If they need any recommendations for where to (or not to) live, neighborhood-wise, let me know.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Mary! They found two apartment communities they like – La Ventanas and Encantada at Santa Monica. Are you familiar with either of those or the areas where they are located?
deena
Love the cat tent idea for outdoors, I’ll have to try it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Turned off VERY windy the very next day so the kitties didn’t have much chance to enjoy their tent. Hope we can try again as soon as we are home from visiting la familia.
Elements of Ellis
Time goes by so quickly! My little niece is 15 months and watching her grow makes me realize just how fast time flies! P.S. I love the colors in your plaid top!
http://elementsofellis.com/
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sweet one. Time does fly! And babies have a way of changing and mastering new skills in a matter of days. I remember being so afraid that my oldest daughter would say ‘mama’ to my babysitter before she said it to me! Thank you for coming by!
Lisa
I love the cat run. My cats were wanderers. I just wonder where they all went – some nights they did not come home – they were naughty kitties!
Lisa
Daily Style Finds
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Our kitties have always come back within an hour of disappearing from our back yard but you never know who might decide to do something mean to them, so I always worry. Glad we have a solution that should make all of us happy. Guess kitties, in general, subscribe to the ‘grass is always greener’ philosophy. XO
Casey
LOve these posts! Aw sweet Lauren!! 5 months!!! So exciting, Grandma!! I always love your food–i need to make those tacos! Wow! XOXOX
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you! The tacos are super tasty. After all I have eaten this week visiting family, I need to do a week long fast just to be able to get comfortable in my clothes again. XO
Becky B
YAYYYY for having your family close by!!!!
Those tacos look soooo good!!!
Thank you so much for joining my Currently series this week! Have an amazing weekend! XOXO
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for stopping by. I am eager to see pics of your Thanksgiving! Hope it was fabulous.