Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wearing of the green

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Do you ever feel like you slept through a holiday?

That somehow it came and went without much fanfare?

I am usually at school on St. Patrick’s Day and my students always make a big deal out of whether or not one remembers to wear green.

Some come with green shirts, green pants, bright green socks, green shamrocks painted on their faces, and I’ve even had a few brave students with sprayed green hair.  There are usually some  who are more subtle and have a microscopic hint of green hidden underneath five layers of clothing-just so they can fool you.  I always have some little shamrocks ready for the unsuspecting ones who “forget” and come unprepared.

This year the day came on a Sunday and not one person tried to pinch me.

  Not even one!

Well,  I was at church. 

And I did have on a green sweater,

but nobody even mentioned the fact that it was St. Patrick’s Day.

* * *

My sister Linda helped decorate for a ward party, using the holiday theme to welcome members of a newly created ward to a soup party.  The pictures in the mosaic above show how fun and festive the tables in the gym looked.

She found the cute leprechaun on Pinterest and had some big ones made at a copy center.  A coaster plate was covered with gold coins and little shamrock cutouts.  Green pillows were put on benches to make things welcoming and cozy.

Green plants always give a nice touch to a gym-turned-party-setting, and a big rainbow and pot of gold (a covered plastic Halloween cauldron) was a fun stopping point for the sweet-toothed folks. 

The decorations were really easy to put together, not that expensive, and yet festive and fun.

* * *

I saw this idea on Pinterest.  Looks pretty refreshing for the holiday.

Sweet little treats for St. Patrick's Day.

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Below are some pictures I took in Ireland a LONG time ago (and sadly, with a cheap camera).  I really love this place!

 

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Thank you to the beautiful country of Ireland for giving us a fun day to celebrate. 

(Even if I did almost miss it this year!)

JoAnn

Saturday, March 9, 2013

It’s a boy….and another boy… and a new house to boot!

As many of you know, the grand-girls in our family outnumber the grand-boys by 4 to 1.

While we love our little girls, we are excited to announce that we are expecting TWO little boys in July.

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Our daughter Heidi and her husband Ovidiu are expecting their first baby, and our daughter Liz and her husband Karl are expecting their fourth, both boys-just one week apart.

(Sorry, no current belly shot.)

We are thrilled!

And

Our son Andrew and his wife Irene just moved into their brand new home.

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Pretty exciting, wouldn’t you say!

JoAnn

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Life’s been a little busy…

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Ever have one of those weeks when you pretty much run from thing to thing?

It seems like there isn’t time to clean up one mess before the next one starts.

New deadlines hit before the thing you are working on is out of the way.

Half finished projects get buried under new ones.

Yup.

That has been my week.

I feel a little like Lucy and Ethel did as they tried working at the chocolate factory.  Just as I think I’m getting things under control-the conveyer belt gets cranked up a notch and the new stuff comes flying at me faster and faster.

Do you remember how they started putting the chocolates under their hats, down the necks of their dresses, in their pockets, and in their mouths to keep them from falling off the end of the conveyer belt? 

That’s what I’ve been doing.

I have piles of papers tucked under my desk at school (and a cart full that I brought home to correct).

Unfolded laundry is hiding in the guest bedroom.

Things that need to be attended to are covered by new things that need my attention right now.

I know things will slow down a little, but this wild ride is getting more and more common.

IS THERE A SOLUTION FOR HECTIC-LIFE-SYNDROME?

 

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I know I am my own worst enemy.

I can’t say “No”.

I’m slow and methodical.

I enjoy being involved.

I want to do all the things I’m doing.

Some things are out of my control (job requirements).

I guess I’ll just hang on and hope things settle back down a little.

In the meantime, there isn’t much to do but try and hold on and enjoy the ride.

Maybe I need to go find some sweet chocolates to keep in my pockets!

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn