:)

I'll post all about my trip later, but I had to post this pic... My girls missed their mommy, but not as much as I missed them... There is no way.... They greeted me at the airport... Jeje snapped some pictures...

Leaving My Babies

Right now, I'm somewhere over Louisiana headed to Houston, and then onto San Diego, California for the ISTE Conference. It's a GINORMOUS Technology conference held once a year in a different city. At the beginning of the school year, my principal told our faculty if we met certain criteria using technology in our classrooms, then we would be able to go... I started thinking about the criteria, and it was all things that I already did or planned to implement this year.... We had to do a few teleconferences, students had to do a PowerPoint presentation using research they did online, we had to manage a classroom blog, and a few other things...

I really thought it would cool to go and see all these technology tools used around the world.... But, if I didn't get to, it wasn't a huge deal to me....

Summers are my break... Time to spend with my two favorite little ones, and relax and not think about school....even though that's really not possible since I find great ideas for my class and students daily on Pinterest...

A fellow 4th grade student was so excited about the possibility of going to the ISTE conference..... Then about two months into school, she found out she was going to be going to the hospital around the same time to have baby #2. I didn't think much else about the conference until March when by principal emailed me and told me to come by her office. I was wondering what I had done to be summoned.... After worrying all day long, I went by and she told me I would be going to San Diego.... I was excited.... I think... I had to make arrangements for the girls, talk to Cam, etc. June seemed so far away....

Now it's here and I'm on the way....I left our house this morning with my little loves asleep in the bed with their daddy...I am so glad that they were asleep, because this mama didn't handle it well.... Tears flowed all the way to the van... I got in and drove off and just as I composed myself, the Darius Rucker song, "It Won't Be Like This For Long" came on and I cried the rest of the way....If you've heard it and you are a mama that can't stand the thought of her kids growing up, then you understand why... Ha....can you say BASKETCASE???????? I've felt so overwhelmed at times this summer with the girls, so maybe this trip is what I need.... A little break...

I sure do miss those sweet faces already though. I know my sweet husband is going to take great care of them and Jeje is coming down on Wednesday... I fly home on Thursday.
I left 5 little "happies" for Ella... Nothing big, but a little something for her for each day she is a good big sister and helps Daddy, and isn't SAD because she is missing me.... We started talking to her a few weeks ago about me going on a plane like daddy does and I thought she would be excited for me....... Boy was I wrong.... Tears flowed and the worrying and asking questions began... I'm hoping the time will go by quick for her and she won't miss me too much.....

Stay tuned....

Ella's ABC Book

So I am so proud of Ella's ABC book that I made for her birthday. It turned out so cute.... I hope I am able to keep it from her until her birthday!

Click here to view this photo book larger

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

The Strong Willed Child

Adjusting to our summer schedule has been a bit of a challenge. The girls are to Mom's Day Out on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I've been spending most of our day, trying to get the girls on a schedule and picking up toys. I am a bit OCD when it comes to things and where they belong....if you know me well, then you know this...  Each day, I try to do something crafty, something educational, something outside, and something Ella wants to do.. All while staying sane.. I'm much better at managing 4th graders than my own children. There, I said it..... After 2 weeks of summer, and I've decided that there's no way to keep my house spotless with all the toys picked up.. We try to have Big E pick her things up nightly and put them away.. She does great most of the time.

Then there's Little E..... She is a force to be reckoned with... I knew the moment she was born, she was different.... Mostly, because she was screaming the second she was born... She is as cute as a button and has a huge personality. She takes things from Ella, and then laughs... While Ella cries... She torments the dogs... They actually run from her, as they should..

Yesterday was Father's Day. I envisioned a relaxing and fun day..... I won't go into details, but it was far from that... Emory didn't nap.... downright refused to... So take her spunky personality and add in a whole lot of crankyness... Last night, after we put the girls to bed,  Cameron and I looked at each other and all we could say is, "That was rough... Glad it's over! "

This morning I woke up to a sweet girl... And I promised myself that I would be as patient as I could possibly be and I prayed for a better day.... It wasn't a perfect day,  but it was a good day, so I will take that. I love both of my girls more than anything in this world..... I never thought being a mom would be so hard at times... A few days ago, the status of one of my facebook friends said,"Thank you (insert child's name) for making me feel like a complete failure as a mom today." I have those moments too.... so it is comforting to know that I am not alone....no one ever tells you the challenges of being a mom....My parents gave us this book a few years ago and we put it away because Ella was so easy going.

 Cameron and I have decided it is time to pull it off the shelf.

Bedtime isn't always easy for Emory... But tonight, for the first time ever, Em climbed up on me and laid her little head on me and fell asleep..... I think it was God's way of patting me on the back, and saying, "Good job, Sara, look at this gift asleep on your lap, pure perfection. " Today was a good day..... Look at this sweet face.. :)

Father's Day

Even at 31, my daddy still hung the moon in my eyes.... I adore this man.... I am glad that I am the only daughter he has, because I wouldn't want to have to share him with anyone. :)

My sweet husband amazes me more and more everyday. I knew he would be a good dad, but wow, he still surprises me... My girls are so lucky to have him as their daddy! He works so hard to make sure his girls (all three) have what they need (and want).

My granddaddy....he is a hardworking man and has worked his whole life to provide for his family....Ella was born on his 75th birthday. I am blessed to still have him in my life. We all love Granddaddy oh so much!

This is a picture of my Paw-paw.... He passed away when I was 6, but I still have memories of him. The one thing I remember more than anything, is him taking me by the only foodmart in Carrollton, buying me a mello yello and some Reese Cups, and riding to the farm standing beside him in this old truck he drove.... Just me and him... I hope I always remember that. I love hearing people tell stories of him.... he was the Sheriff of Pickens County for 24 years, so there are a lot of stories... :)

A Day in the Life of the Craker Girls via Instagram

An early morning sword fight....

Breakfast time

 

Ella decided we needed a pool, so we went out to get one...

Best $35.00 spent lately..

Shopping for a pool wore Emmecat out....

naptime

A visit to the river....

Blowing up the pool in the living room....

It was the best entertainment....

Winding down after a long day