Procrastination

3 assignments.  That's all I have left to complete this semester and I am really struggling to get them started or finished.  I'm always griping at Kelsey or my sister to not procrastinate and now it seems that I'm the one having issues.  I just need the motivation to get them started and finished.  Time to dig down deep and remember that classes will be over in a month and then I'll have a short break before my summer class starts.  Wish me luck!

Graduate Assignment

I am taking 2 graduate courses this semester and one of those courses is technology.  Now, I must admit that I am struggling to find the connection between this course and it's true relevance to the leadership degree I am getting (unless you are just making the connection that principals need to be aware of technology and how to use it in order to best lead their staff...but that's a discussion for another time).  However, my assignment this week was to take a photo and edit it 3 ways.  Ok, not a big deal and actually one I was happy to do. 

I have Picassa 3 on my home computer and that's the program where I upload all of my photos.  I can then send them to my web album so that they are always safe in case my computer ever crashes on me.  Having this program made my assignment so much easier.

So here's my assignment.

The original photo (one of my favorites from her 3 year old pictures)

Here is the photo as a pencil sketch

Here it is cropped, black and white, softened with a mirror edge

And finally, cropped, softened, with a frame and her name

Now, you tell me what this assignment had to do with becoming a school principal because I'm struggling to find the connection.  But, it's ok because I genuinely enjoyed completing this assignment and learned something new in the process (even if it had nothing to do with my degree).

The "K" Word

So yesterday at school, I went to my mailbox and pulled out a stack of papers waiting to be put into the kids' take home folders.  Pretty normal stuff at a school.  However, this particular stack took me by surprise and within an instant the smile left my face and tears began streaming down my cheeks.

Why?

The papers were to announce the dates of our kindergarten registration. 

Kaci has already been going to Crossroads with me for 2 years as a preschool student so it's not like much is going to change next year, except for the fact that she'll now be going to school all day instead of a half day.  But for some reason this one piece of paper made everything a reality.  Kindergarten now isn't too far away and I don't know if I'm really ready for it.  My baby isn't a baby any longer; this solidifies the fact that she truly is a big girl.  And in just a few months I'm going to be sending her off to kindergarten, off to the start of 13 long years of school (and then I'll be crying because she'll be graduating).

I was taken back to my first day of kindergarten and how the teacher had to send my mom away because of her uncontrollable crying, and then it hit me...I really am my mother.  I have a feeling I am going to be that  mom.  The mom that gets sent away because I can't stop crying. 

I don't know why it's so hard to let them grow up (but I bet on the first day of school my child will be the one telling me to grow up in between my sobs).  I just wish I could keep her little just a short while longer.

From the day she was born

As she grew

And started preschool

Where did my little girl go?

Better Late Than Never

I know I have been neglecting my blog lately (as my mother so kindly told me) and even though I had the best of intentions to update much sooner than today, I guess it's better late than never.

When I last left, I had planned on updating pictures from our Disney trip.  Meeting the Princesses was Kaci's favorite part of the whole entire trip and Jim was so great to wait in line for many of them while we wandered around the park.  So here is a run-down of everyone we met.

Cinderella, the first princess she got to meet inside the castle.

Snow White

Sleeping Beauty, Kaci's all-time favorite.

Ariel

Belle (Kaci wished she had been wearing her yellow dress)

Daddy waited in line a long time so she could meet Rapunzel.

Jasmin and Aladin (she kept looking everywhere for Abu)

Tiana and Prince Naveen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Some Characters

The first day we went into the Magic Kingdom, we had gotten there just in time to see the big parade.  Kaci was absolutely taken by this because she was seeing all of her favorite characters in one place.  She didn't move and didn't make a sound as she was taking it all in.

But them came the time to actually start meeting the characters...and then we had entered a whole new level of fear.  She didn't like them...nope...not at all.  I'm not sure if she was afraid or unsure of it all, but she absolutely did not want to stop for an autograph, let alone a picture. 

The next day, I convinced her to stop and see Daisy Duck and amazingly she DID! 

I think her fear was the costume, because she had no problems talking to the human characters.

She really wasn't a big fan of Goofy

She and Alice became close friends that day...They talked for well over 5 minutes.  

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for Kaci's favorite part of the trip - Meeting the Princesses!

Disney 2011

Can you guess who is major behind in the blogging world?  This lady right here!

So, we've been back from Disney for a couple of weeks now and things have finally started to settle down (meaning: caught up on graduate work, caught up on school work, not caught up on housework-oh well, you win some, you lose some). 

We told Kaci about Disney the night before we left with a scavenger hunt through the house.  I told her Tinker Bell had come in and left her surprises which scared her half to death.  After a great deal of persuasion (and carrying up the steps) she became very excited to find all of the prizes left for her.  The biggest surprise was a wrapped package complete with a new princess dress, balloon, and poem written by yours truly.  The poem was how we actually told her where we were going.  Of course, in true 4 year old fashion, she didn't react with the happy tears and joyful screams I was envisioning in my mind.  In fact, my child was more concerned with the balloons and trying to figure out how Tinker Bell got into our house in the first place.  At least I got it all caught on camera!

And Then There Was One

Tomorrow, we depart for Disney World!  This is by far one of the hardest secrets I have ever kept from anyone and in just a matter of hours I will finally be able to tell Kaci she is going to "The Place Where Dreams Come True."  I hope she is as surprised as I am envisioning! 

Getting ready was not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination.  I am back in school and am taking 2 classes (which means double the work).  For the past week, I have been working until midnight trying to get papers written, chapters read, and not go crazy in the process.  Plus, I had lesson plans to write and papers to grade for the school that actually pays me to be there.  I am now finished with all of my work due this week and next week so I can leave home with much less stress on my plate.  My mom was also kind enough to keep Kaci for me last night so I could get the packing finished.  Each step is falling into place.  Now we just have to wait for Jim to get off of work so we can let the cat out of the bag.

I am planning of getting video of her learning the surprise and once I learn how to upload I will post it here for all to see (just don't judge any messes in the background).  Here's hoping for one happy little girl (and the ability to fall asleep tonight)!