My Favorite Job!

I have had a lot of jobs in my life. My first job (besides babysitting) was at a Farmer's Market. I've waited tables, flipped burgers, run a register for a dept. store, college bookstore, and a gas station (11pm - 7am shift), scrubbed toilets, managed the night shift at a sub shop, and directed traffic around road construction. I have learned a little about what I don't want to do when I grow up but I still don't know what it is I do want to do.

Tonight at Cub Scout Pack meeting Eli was asked "What job would say your Mom does?" and looking at me he answered "PTA?" Give that boy the GRAND PRIZE ~ He is right!

Last week I was busy with The McAlpine Mile fundraiser (we raised over $11,000), this Friday each class has their Spring Celebration (cookies and juice packs) I don't have to be there but I do have to remind the parents who volunteered to bring the stuff. Now I am heavily involved in planning for the Spring Book Fair. I LOVE my job! Next year my life should get a little easier with the change in position from Co-VP of Fundraising, Book Fair Chair, and Room Parent x 2 to PTA Co-President, but for now I am loving every busy minute of my job! Does this count as a job?

Eli and his first grade class after finishing the McAlpine Mile! (Yes, I made the sign too!)

Book Fair

I know you ALL are dying to know what it is I do in my spare time. Some of you may have heard that I am the Book Fair Chairperson for the elementary school's PTA. I have proof now that the frequent excuse "I can't that day I have a book fair thing" is not a way of putting you off. I promise I am not really avoiding you...I actually am busy with the book fair. I have proof (photos) from this Spring's "Take a Reading Road Trip" Book Fair.



I have a great bunch of friends I get to work with. In fact if I didn't work with these women, I probably wouldn't do it. The first thing we do for the book fair is brainstorm for decorations. We don't HAVE to decorate, but it is a tradition that, as stressful as it may get, we love. We decorate the wall just inside the front door and near the entrance to the book fair. The kids LOVE this. They know the fair is coming soon when they see us decorating the wall.


With the "Road Trip" theme we decided on a US map with points of interest you could visit on a road trip. It is hard to see in this photo, but we have the name of each state on a license plate. We thought we might need to help the kids out...heck, WE had a hard time figuring out the states in the mid-west. They all seem to blend together! Plus, there was a kid who asked where Madagascar was.... I explained to him that this was a US map, but he asked again. That is when I realized he thought Madagascar was part of the US, so I set him straight. We all had a good laugh over that and told our friend Tanya (the principal). Funny though, she wasn't as amused as we were.



Here we are with some kindergarteners. They got to help the teacher pick out the books their class won in the door decorating contest. Oh an the adults in the photo are (l-r) Debbie, Me and Elissa. Stephanie either wasn't there or was avoiding the camera.
PS. Elissa's son is the boy with the serious look on his face. He is a cutey pa-tutey. He and Eli get along great.

So there it is. The book fair lasted for only one week (thank goodness) and our total sales were $14, 875 and some change. Not too bad for a few volunteer moms, huh?

Random Thoughts

So I have been reading a few blogs today. They are written by very funny, talented women. I am a bit jealous. I have my funny moments, but to write about everyday life and have it be laugh out loud funny...well, I won't put you through that. Maybe I just don't see the humor in life and I have turned into a grumpy old person....naaaaaw!

I have some things to blog about...like my garden, or what will soon become my garden. I have pictures of the process but they are on the card in my husband's phone. My husband is currently in Boston which means I can't post any of the pics until later this week. :(


I do have a picture of the poster I made. (Made might be a bit deceiving. I traced it from an overhead projector and then painted it. )
For all of you who wonder what it is I do for the Book Fair...this is one thing. Our theme this Spring is "Take a Reading Road Trip" so we have a wall in the school decorated with a map (photo coming soon) and this sign. I spend a lot of time doing the two Book fairs a year at the Elementary School, but I LOVE it. And I love the girls I work with.



I promised Noah that I would post a photo of this worm.
He is convinced it is a cankerworm that the county has recently sprayed to kill. I don't have the heart to tell him it is just some ugly run o' the mill worm. At least, now when he asks if I posted the photo I can honestly say "yes".













This (left) is a photo of a REAL Cankerworm.