Field Trip with Kylie

Busy Mom doing everything under the sun. I went on Kylie's 1st field trip to Centennial Farms on Friday May 4th.  Wow!! Let me tell you it wiped me out.  There was the walking and the 9 kids in my charge.  The walking was harder than the kids.  I really do love those kids.  I think the worst was the guide we had named DON.  Don should be voluteering to do anything but working with kids.  He had a no nonsense additude that the kids were to hurry, hurry, hurry and be QUIET!  He most of yelled at the kids over a dozen times and half the time the kids were doing what they were suppossed to be doing. 
This is Kylie with a baby chick in her hands.  She really did enjoy herself.  All the kids had a great time and I think didnt even notice grouchy DON. 

Kylie and friend on the bus ride.  Of course this was a huge highlight of the day.

Starting My New Business

I don't think its ever easy to step out of your comfort zone and do something new and different.  I like to be around women.  In fact, I strive to be around women.... I learn so much from them and want to have ladies to fellowship with.  Everyone brings so much to the table with all the different experiences they have had.  They all have different lives and choose to do things differently than I do.  That is not bad, in fact its wonderful...cause that's what make us so unique.
So, my new venture is selling Celebrating Home products.  I love the products!!  I get to cook in the stoneware and show off really cool ideas on how to decorate a part of your home.  I especially love the seasonal products!!  I can throw together a little basket for a birthday gift or Easter present.  But, the best thing is I can be around other women!!  We get to socialize while shopping!!

If you want to hostess a party, please contact me!!  Its fun and you will get lots of free things

My bunny Candles

The Bunny is ceremic and the candle is soy...burns up to 48 hours

13.00 each

Coffee-Mate in the HOUSE!!

I had my first Coffee-Mate Game Night at my house on Friday Night!!  Coffee-Mate sent me a nice package of prizes (presents) for my party.  I received a box with creamer and coffee samples, napkins and cups, FREE coupons for Coffee-Mate Creamer of course and to fill the night with Fun I received a Poker Set and Cranium!!

I was worried that even the neighbors and friends that said they were coming were going to flake out on me because 6pm came real quick and only a few people were ready to drink a cup of Jo and taste the new flavors I bought.  But, everyone showed up as planned and we began to drink....
I think Belgian Chocolate Toffee was a HIT!! at least that's what I kept going back for.  I made sure that my guests had a couple of varieties to choice from...including my ole' stand-by Sugar-Free French Vanilla. We also tried the new flavors of Caffe Latte and White Chocolate Carmel Latte
We started the evening with snacks and coffee or tea, for those who really wanted to safe away from caffeine and the game Cranium. 
okay, for those who have never played Cranium you have to play.  We started off slow...since no one knew the game and ended with a bang!!  We laughed and even cried...because of laughing so hard.  We didn't even have time to play poker, because we played over 2 hours of Cranium.
Everyone left with a coffee container in hand filled with goodies from Coffee-Mate and the same words were repeated as they left "We have to do this again this was so much fun". So, we are already talking about another Game Night!! 

A New Day a New Year.... And Kindergarten Tours

Where has the time gone???  I have posted a blog more than 6 months ago. 

So far this year, or shall I say since the last of my blog I have gained 2 newphew.... Carter and Declan. 
Kylie turned 5 on December 7th. We had a little party at California Pizza Kitchen.  Christmas came and went.  I am very thankful for that since, Christmas takes a lot of of me.

And now my time is filled up with Kindergaten Tours..... What is a Kindergarten Tour?  If you do not know, count yourself very lucky.  Kylie will be entering Kindergarten in the fall, so I get to go to the different schools in my area and apply for what is called School of Choice.  Our homeschool, Helen Keller Elementary is not the highest rated school in fact it gets 5 out of a possible 10 in testing scores.  What this means, is that Keller is not a top ranked school and has a lot of kids not meeting the standards.  So, I have gone on 4 school tours with at least 3 more to go.  Most of the schools that I really like are rated at least an 8.  There are also parents/teachers that rate the schools with a possiblity of 5 stars.  The schools I really like are 4 and 5 stars. 
Each school tours their school differently and each school offers so many different things.  One school has a Spanish Immersion program.  Kindergarteners will learn Spanish in thier class 90 % of the time.  Their teacher only speaks Spanish.  The kids would go to another teacher for English instruction.  All their school work will be done in Spanish.  Its a highly desired program for the kids in this area.  The kids would continue spanish throughout their Elementary education...decreasing the Spanish as the years continue.
Another School has a Science teacher for all grades and the kids attend Science class once a week, along with Computer Lab once a week and PE twice a week.
As you see, there are a lot of options out in Long Beach...so, I continue my tours and hopefully Kylie will get into 1 of my top 3 choices, or she will have to attend Keller along with the other kids that didnt get into a top school and kids that are busesd in from other areas...

Also, I have applied to House Party and won a party from Tru Moo.  They are sending me a whole bunch of things to throw a Valentine Party.  I can not wait until I get my box tomorrow.  I will post pictures!!

The loss of a loved one

Its never easy hearing that you have lost someone you love.  But, it somehow harder when you lose someone that is so young and full of life.  We expect that we will lose a parent, grandparent or elderly aunt.  Never is it easy to find that a friend has lost her daughter. 

My dear friend, Kari was informed earlier Sunday morning that her beautiful daughter Amy was thrown from an automobile and killed instantly.  Amy only 18 years old a bright and beautiful girl who graduated as high school valedictorian two weeks before this tragic event.  Amy had plans to attend a close by University in a few months.  She had big plans for herself and within a minute those plans where extinguished. 

There seems to be nothing I can do thousands of miles away but pray and send some money.  Prayer is the healer of all things.  God works wonders in people lives.  He is the only one that can help a mother deal with her tragic loss.  I know this but, yet I feel helpless.  I feel that no matter what I say or do that it is not good enough.  This is not about my feelings,  this is about making sure I do everything I possible can.

This loss hits home so easily, my own daughter is only 21 and then I have 2 preschoolers.  I grieve for Kari's loss, but I also grieve that this tragic event can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time.  It makes you want to hold on to your kids and hug them with everything you have.  To tuck them in at night and make sure you kiss and hug them.  To always remember that you say I LOVE YOU, everyday!

Tell your loved ones that you love them!!


Love,

Lise

Time to take the oldest to the bus station

My oldest daughter, Chantel now lives with her father in San Diego County.  Chantel like most of us is still trying to find herself and her way through life.  So, this morning after a 2 day visit she is going back to her life in San Diego.  And in a few hours she will be back on a Greyhound bus to her little corner in the world.

Chantel is now 21 and knows what she wants in life, or at least she says she does.  She loves make-up.  This is to me is funny, since I hardly wore makeup my whole life.  She wants to do makeup for a living, either for theatre or professional jobs in the entertainment industry.  She loves working on plays and do backstage work.  All of this is a completely different world to my little mommy world.  But, right now....since makeup school is so expensive, she is a caretaker at a home for physically challenged women.  The pay stinks, the work is hard ( a lot of lifting, cleaning and taking care of the needs of her clients) but, I know that she has a huge talent for this type of work. 

Chantel is a caretaker!!  She might not see it that way now.  But, she has always had a knack for caring for those who can not take care of themselves.  She was a nanny for years.  But, I think taking care of these women will strengthen her being and in the long run make her a stronger person.  Not, just anyone can take good care of people who can not care for themselves.  And Chantel has the compassion and love like no one else.

Love,

Lise

Good Morning My fellow Sugar Bloggers

We ate lovely food

and met wonderful friends

We now get to be introduced to each others

lives through a wonderful thing called

Blogging!

I can not wait to read

into the lives of my new friends!!

These woman and men

who share themselves and their passions

through their eyes and their words!

Cheers,

Lise