Tyler show choir

Lots of show choir

I already sent several posts of just show choir pics, as Tyler JUST showed me where the parent fb page is.  So, enjoy!  He and Alayna both had competitions this weekend.  Tyler even made the Quad city news- he is on the far right.

Marisa has been super sick all week with a major cold and laryngitis.  Her body is hating this weather and I don’t blame it one bit!

I had huge success with our game “Blind date with a book.”  When we finally revealed them on Friday I just loved kids saying “OMGSH I would never have picked this up but now I really want to read it!”  I just love that!

Then, after some tough work issues, I received this anonymous letter in my mailbox and it literally made me cry.  I guess this why I keep trying- its for the kids.

Nothing else new

Show Choir #3

SC#2

Showchoir pics

My beautiful girls…

Happy Valentines Day!!

Bob bought me these beautiful orchids to go with our newly painted living room.  I just love them!

Of course we had our traditional heart-shaped pizza and even had homemade coldstone!

Alayna had a SC competition in Urbandale on Friday and Tyler was gone to one in Keokuk all day yesterday.

On Thursday we had Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner since Marisa had missed 2 years worth!

I held a very successful bake sale at the HS where we made $120 and so I bought 10 new books at Barnes and Noble!

Blind date with a book has been a huge success at school!

And Robin Lord Taylor (from Gotham) favorited another one of my tweets!

Probably the most exciting news is I was able to get Mike Mullin, author of the Ashfall Trilogy, to come to Anamosa (which plays a prominent part in Book 2).  You would not believe the HOURS I have put into getting him here and the nightmare trying to get funding.  Long story short the district wont pay.  I took it to the foundation and they denied it because “we aren't sure its good to take kids out of the classes and it wont benefit the kids over time because it’s a one day thing.”  I WORK WITH IDIOTS!!!!  He does these amazing presentations with Taekwondo and volcanoes.  I set him up at both schools, ordered books because he sais he would sign one for everyone who bought one, set him up to present at the public library, set him up to tour the famous jail AND get them to carry his book.  ANyway, a bank, the public library, and an anonymous teacher covered the cost.   I am truly grateful for other people’s support.  ugh!