Character Dress Up Day (really Halloween, shhhh!) and Halloween Costumes

Here were the costumes I created this year for Character Dress Up Day and our small group's Halloween party.

I was Ms. Frizzle for Character Dress Up Day. We were supposed to be a character from a book and I was the fun and wacky science teacher from The Magic School Bus books. One of the other third grade teachers dressed up as her too. I was Solar System Ms. Frizzle and she was Ms. Frizzle from a different book. For those of you not familiar with Ms. Frizzle, I have included what she looks like.

For our small group's Halloween party last night, we were supposed to dress up as a famous couple. We went as Mr. and Mrs. PotatoHead. I made the costumes out of fleece and used foam for the eyes, noses, mouths, and mustache.

Stained Glass Pumpkin

I made this stained-glass pumpkin with my Literacy Clinic client the other night and thought I would share the project in case you would like to try it. Once the pumpkin is completely dry (which it is not in the picture) it is beautiful.

Materials
Glue
Plastic cup
Paper plate
Foam brush
Water
Small pumpkin
Tissue paper (many colors)
Paper towel
Scissors

Directions
1. First, make sure the pumpkin’s surface is clean using a paper towel and place pumpkin on paper plate.
2. Mix glue and a small amount of water in a plastic cup.
3. Cut multi-colored tissue paper into squares about 2 inches by 2 inches.
4. Next, use foam brush to brush glue and water mixture over the pumpkin.
5. Place tissue paper over the glue mixture to decorate the pumpkin.
6. After all tissue paper covers the pumpkin brush one more layer of glue mixture over the pumpkin to seal the tissue paper.
7. Allow to dry and you now have a stained glass pumpkin.

Tough Week

Well, I think I might have had the toughest weeks all year. I felt like I was in a whirlwind the entire week being pulled in every direction. I was juggling my schedule to try to get everything done almost every day this week. I had meetings thrown in amongst all the things I normally do, school was crazy in itself because we had so many Red Ribbon Week festivities and our Halloween parties were on Friday. We really called it Character Dress Up day so I had to throw together a Ms. Frizzle costume. She is the wacky, but cool teacher from the Magic School Bus. The costume turned out great but it required some very quick shopping before and after my job at the Housing Authority on Thursday. Earlier in the week I felt like I was never going to get caught up on grading papers, planning for classes, and doing homework for all of my graduate classes. I finally got it all done and yesterday I felt like a zombie from exhaustion. Today I was able to settle down, take a long nap, and compose myself for another crazy week.

This past week didn't help too much in my registering for classes for the spring. I really needed to take three classes again so that I would only have my thesis hours left, but I just didn't know if I could do it. After several emails I figured out only two of the three classes before my thesis work is offered so my class load will be I hope a little lighter in the Spring. It's probably for the best because I always try to overdo it! :)

As for Bryan, he is really hanging in there. He is very supportive of all that I am doing and he is staying pretty busy with KY ActionShots. His business is really thriving. He is getting requests for personal shoots all the time and he has had many people buy photos. He has really gotten into a good money-making hobby.

Medical Center 10K Classic & 5K Run/Walk

Today was our big day running! I actually did finish although I had an incredibly slow time which I will not mention although you can probably see it on the clock. I was even able to give a wave as I was about to cross the finish line. I have to say that I have not had enough time to prepare as I probably should have but seeing how this is my first atheletic endeavor since I was little, I was pretty proud of myself. It was a little different running and not knowing how far you had gone or where exactly you were headed but I just kept following the crowd and praying that I could keep going. Oh, and I came in 269th out of I'm not sure how many, but there were a lot of people behind me so that made me feel a little better. The next time I run a 5K my goal is going to be 30 minutes or less. It might take me a while to get to that point but I really like running so I am going to keep it up.
Bryan had a very, very good run. He finished his 10K in 50 minutes and 58 seconds. He was about 5 minutes faster than he thought he was going to be and he didn't even seem too tired. He has been training a lot and it showed today. I was very proud of him. We have kind of made a pact to keep running and Bryan is really considering signing up for a marathon next year. I know he can do it! We had a very good and fun morning!

Sick as a Dog Literally

Sickness overwhelmed the Tillery household for two of its family members this week. As I was working with my client Monday night, I began to feel very sick. I had to race out of my class that follows my session with my client, and I barely made it home before the stomach virus that I had took effect. I was sick all day Tuesday and just when I thought I was better I started to feel even worse than before. I usually don't miss school and it almost killed me to miss not just one but two days. Apparently there was a virus going around at school because one of the other third grade teachers had it and some other faculty and students as well.

As I was trying to get better at home, my lovely girls kept me company. I absolutely love Sophie and Bella and they kept me company in the bed for two whole days. Sophie isn't what I would say spunky anymore like Bella still is, but she just wasn't her self. She started throwing up on Tuesday, too, and I thought I made her sick at first but that would be crazy. She kept getting sick right along side of me and we were both miserable. Wednesday about midday though she threw up a cigarette butt, but it's worse she had gas for the rest of the day that smelled like tobacco. I know it's gross but it is true and boy does that make a person with a stomach virus even more nauseous. My best guess is that she ingested a cigarette from the back yard (our neighbors smoke and are not very considerate of where they throw their cigarette butts especially when they are mowing) and her body was just trying to reject it. As soon as it came up she was back to her normal self. It wasn't that simple for me, but I am feeling better now, thank goodness!

Decorating for Fall

I love to decorate the house each season. I have not had much of a chance since we have been living in this house, because we moved into it in January and I usually don't do too much for spring and summer. I was basically focused on getting the house into a somewhat presentable state. This past week, I finally got a chance to decorate for my favorite season, autumn. Here are a few pictures:

I planted mums in the planter and added two next to the door.

I added some miniature pumpkins, gourds, berries, pine cones, and candles to the mantle.

This is the centerpiece on our coffee table.

I kind of did the same thing as the mantle for the dining room table.

The Dreaded Rubberband

I had my usual every 4-weeks orthodontist appointment today and I left with the dreaded rubberband. While braces have not been too much of a problem so far, I was dreading the day when I had to wear rubberbands. Every four weeks, I go in, get a good report, get my upper and lower bars and ties changed, and leave. Today, everything was going swell until they looked at my upper 3 (that is really my upper left canine), and looked some more, and looked some more. They decided that I needed an eagle which is a rubberband that forms a triangle on three teeth. I know it's complicated and I look ridiculus because I only have it on one side and it can be seen when I talk, smile, laugh, everything!!! I have to wear it 24/7 for the next four weeks and then they will assess if the bracket needs to be repositioned. I am not too pleased but at least it doesn't hurt. I know it is needed and this is the price I have to pay for my desired perfect teeth, so I will endure what needs to be done. Needless to say, I will not be posting a picture of this event! This is the only smile you will get from me for the next four weeks. :)

Chain-linked Fence Dilemma

Well, Bella is now over 7 months old and she can still fit through the chain-linked fence. She loves to roam the neighborhood and meet new friends on her out-of-the-yard adventures. While she is the most precious little (and I mean little) Yorkie, besides Sophie, in the world, something bad is going to happen if she continues to get out. She loves to frolic through the neighbors' yards and investigate new things, but one day someone or something is going to snatch her up, so we have got to come up with a solution to our chain-linked fence dilemma. What good is a fenced-in yard if your dog can fit right through it? We have considered putting chicken wire all the way around the bottom of the fence, but that just sounds expensive, not to mention it would appear very strange. So, if you have any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated!