FMS Photo A Day

One of my favorite bloggers is Fat Mum Slim.  She hosts a monthly photo a day challenge.  There are many ways to participate.  You can use Instagram, Twitter, Your Facebook page, Her Facebook group, Tumblr, Flickr, or your own blog.  

I haven't participated in a few months.  I actually have done almost nothing online lately.  Obviously, I've not been blogging like I was and I've not been posting to my 365 Project. 

 I will get into the reasons why some other time, but I would like to share the first three photos I've submitted (Fat Mum Slim is in Australia, so sometimes I post for the next day since it is the next day over there) for the June photo a day challenge.

June 1 was B is for....

Mine is B is for Bovine:

This is a cow made out of old used up metal containers.  My family and I went to the Gypsy Caravan on Memorial Day and this was one of our purchases.  He is now in our flower garden with our donkey we bought at the Gypsy Caravan last year.

June 2 was A Moment

I chose a picture I took last Wednesday at my school's field day. 

 This was during what we call the Scuba Race.

June 3 is/was "On My Table" 

 I took a picture of what was on my picnic table this morning.

Livvy (on the right) was sitting on the picnic table and when I headed towards her Izzy (on the left) jumped up there, too.  Then proceeded to stick her nose in my flowers I have on the table.

You can read all of Fat Mum Slim's posts on her blog:

http://fatmumslim.com.au/

E is for Endings

     We are going through a lot of endings in our house lately.  Of course we've just gone through the end of winter.  Very soon it will be the end of the school year.  Less than a year ago was the end of us having children in elementary school.  But, there is so much more getting ready to come to an end and it's got at least two of us in this house a little unsettled.

     My daughter is going through the most endings right now.  Her Girl Scout troop will be folding after this school year and so that's the end of everything that goes along with that.  The end of mother/daughter dinners, father/daughter dances, neighborhood camps, overnights at museums, cookie sales, etc.  The cookie sales I will not miss.  It will be very strange not having the other stuff going on.  She is going to do PEGS so she can continue to earn her awards.  But, it will not be the same.

Neighborhood Camp 2.5 years ago

     This is her last year of middle school.  Everything that goes with not being in high school is over.  This is both scary and exciting for us.  I just am having such a hard time believing that my baby girl is going to be in high school come August.  In just four years we will be planning for graduation.  YIKES!

     We are also part of the ending of an "era" with our local YMCA.  My daughter has been part of the swim team there for the past three years.  All of the coaches are leaving which means whatever happens next year it will be completely different.  It's a little scary, but then, change is always scary.  I hope that they are able to find new coaches soon.

The coach who is pregnant

     This past Christmas saw the ending of Santa Claus in our house, too.  It was the first Christmas that we did not have to pretend about Santa.  Which also meant that the tooth fairy and Easter Bunny have ended, too.  These actually I'm not as sad about as I probably should be.  I'm more relieved because I was HORRIBLE at it.  I just can't remember my lies to keep them going.  And,  our poor kids, the tooth fairy has NEVER been on time.  So, that ending has been helpful.

     This year also saw the ending of my 18 year run as a first grade teacher.  I was moved to 2nd grade for this school year.  I was not happy about it, but am really hoping this is where I stay next year.  There is a lot of uncertainty about that, but I'm still hoping not to be moved again.

My first second grade class in 19 years

     My husband's job that he had for a long time ended less than a year ago.  The company he worked for closed it's doors.  This led him back to a company he left about 13 years ago.  Thankfully, he did find another job.

      And, now it is time for the ending of this post.  Life takes us through lots of changes.  Sometimes they are far apart, but sometimes a lot happen in a short period of time.  The upside to it all is that whenever something ends, something else begins.

An early spring sunrise

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Blogging A to Z

The Number 100

    The number 100 seems to get a lot of attention.  National news programs always celebrate people who have reached their 100th birthdays.  As a teacher of primary students I usually plan a whole day's worth of lessons around our 100th of the school year.  We mark a period of time by 100 years.  The fact that 100 is a multiple of 10 makes it important in our number system.

     Well, this past Monday I got to celebrate a 100 milestone.  For the first time ever, my blog had 100 pages views in one day.

     That may not sound like a lot to some people, but considering for years I was lucky to get more than 5 page views, I consider it a major accomplishment.  On January 1, I made a resolution to take my blog and my blogging more seriously.  I have a long way to go to be where I want to be, but I feel I've made at least a small step forward.  And, I like to think I've made at least one friend a long the way.

Thank you to everyone who comes to visit and read my blog.  Thank you for wonderful comments.  Thank you for helping me reach a milestone.  It all has made me smile very big!

Sincerely,