Wow, where to begin...as usual, it's been a while since my last post because I have been running non-stop. That's a good thing though : )
Since my last post I've been in Florida, Alberta Canada and Texas. All while trying to get the kids settled in to the new school year. I can't believe the difference in both of them from just the Spring. Maya is now in First Grade (all day - YAY!!) and reading like a pro. Ryan was diagnosed in June with ADHD - Innatentive Type. So now that we know how we can help him succeed more easily we see a HUGE difference and he is much more confident. I worked with him a lot over the summer and this year he has a few subjects in a smaller group setting which is helping so much. We can't get over the difference that it's been making - he's been coming home with all A's...amazing!
Florida was a blast and crazy hot! I was happy to come back to the Fall weather, even if I was only home for a few days before heading off again, lol. I taught at the beautiful She Scrapbooks in the Villages to a full group of very creative and funny ladies. Everything about this store is just gorgeous and it was a wonderful, inky day.
From there I headed down to Bonita Springs to teach at Scrapbooks, Etc. Coleen and her Mom are just spectacular people. We had a good day of classes but then I was invited back to their beautiful home for dinner and a "swamp buggy ride"...oh boy. Can I just tell you I haven't laughed that hard in a while...of course there's a story so you get the complete visual...
So here is a swamp buggy...
How awesome is that?!?! Coleen's dad BUILT these (and yes that is a car seat in the front of that one)! I swear my Dad would have been this man's best friend, they were just SO cool! To fully appreciate how funny this night was, you have to truly visualize this. if you have met me, you know I am short...really short. And chubby...OK, really chubby! LOL If you look carefully, you can see the ladder attached to the back of the buggy. That's how most people would get up tot he seats...however the bottom rung was about chest hight to me...so out comes Coleen's Dad with a 12 foot ladder to help me!!!!
(ARE YOU GIGGLING YET???) I CERTAINLY WAS because I know how uncoordinated I can be! So UP the ladder I go. Then as I got to top, I had to meneuver off the side of the ladder and up to the top level where the seats where...oh boy! Somehow in between laughing hysterically at myself I made it and I have to say, I was quite proud that I got up there : )
We were on a mission to see some gaters...I was beyond psyched and clutching my new SLR with my new Tamron 18-250 lens and ready to get some good shots! We saw 2 (maybe 3) gaters from a distance. Didn't get good pics but i was still excited to see them outside of Busch Gardens. We rode through a beautiful area near their house, giggling, chatting, taking pictures and just enjoying the scenery...when all of a sudden, at the furthest possible point from their house...LIGHTENING...a few drops...then hard, angry RAIN!!!! POURING rain!! As soon as I could secure my camera IN my shirt all we could do was laugh...hysterically. It was awesome! her dad stopped the buggy for a minute to put the top up...which made Coleen and I laugh even harder because it was like a flip up awning that only covered the front seats...we were SOAKED and completely cracking up! Thank God I had clothes in the car because we were so wet it was like we had just jumped in the lake fully clothed...everything was just stuck to my skin. They told me I had just taken my first "red neck shower!" LOLOL I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had that night and how wonderful these people were. Definitely looking forward to going back to Bonita Springs!!
Got to do a little wall art in Coleen's classroom before I left : )
After Scrapbooks, Etc I went back up to St. Petersburg to teach at Whim-So-Doodle. I know I say this every time I go there...but I just LOVE them! Jill has become such a good friend and her store just keeps getting better and better - and it's absolutely amazing to begin with. Always a good day at the doodle! Looking forward to going back in December for some Holiday classes! Hopefully I'll have the details on that soon - still in the works.
of course while I was in Florida I had some good times visiting Aunt Joan...watched a few sunsets, napped in my favorite recliner on my day off, took her on a little road trip to the doodle and got her sucked in to the Vera Bradley obsession and bought her her first bag...it was a nice visit.
So I was home for about 5 days before I had to leave again. I came in like a tornado, unpacked, repacked, got some snuggles in and headed up to canada again. Alberta is simply beautiful this time of year but more importantly, I made a great new friend at the airport as soon as I landed. Robin was helping out the Pantry and came to pick me up. I won't tell you what she said to me within the first 2 minutes of meeting (it was pretty funny) but I knew immediately this was going to be the beginning of a great friendship!
I spent 2 days doing Tattered Angels make & takes for Scrapbook Pantry in Calgary at the Creative Stitches Event The show was crazy busy and I got hundreds of fingers inky over the 2 days. I made some new friends and got to see friends that I only get to see at events so it was a fun few days in calgary!
(That's me at the booth with my pal Leica Forest and the fabulously inky Cathy Allen - love these girls!)
Sunday I took the day off and finally got see Banff with Crystal and her husband...all I can say is Wow! What a beautiful place. It was rainy that day but I didn't care at all. I completely enjoyed the day with my friends shopping, taking pictures, chatting and ended the day with a Greek feast! Yum! Thinking of taking Mike and the kids there in July...combination trip to teach, see more of Banff and experience Stampeded in Calgary and visit my friends again...sounds like a plan to me!
So over the next week I taught in Rocky Mountain House at Scribbles & Giggles, Edmonton at Urban Scrapbooks, Calgary at Scrapbook Pantry and Scrapbooker's Paradise. All fantastic stores with wonderful creative ladies. I have to say my favorite thing about teaching in Canada is definitely the people. Canadians are just SO MUCH FUN!!
This week I've been in planning mode working on the details for a few more road trips. The next one will be a SOUTHERN ROAD TRIP IN NOVEMBER...Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina so far. More to come on that in the next day or two : )
I'll also tell you what I was doing in Texas in my next post...
jen
