My First Cricut Crafts

I caved and bought a Cricut. For those of you who are less crafty inclined, the Cricut is a personal die-cut system. What I love about it is that you get a cartridge of images and you can layer and make them whatever size you want. I have wanted one for quite some time and decided to just get one....and its SO FUN!

So I did my homework (No, I didn't make a spreadsheet. But I did make a notebook with a table that charted prices.) and got the Cricut Expression for a STEAL on eBay! The personal cutter is like the basic model; the Cricut is the standard; and, the Expression is like the top of the line. Those of you who know me know that I like the best...I'm such a snob, even when it comes to my crafts. (But I'm a cheap snob, go figure.)

We had a 4-day weekend and I spent the time playing with my latest Cricut crafts. Here's some of my first creations:

HELLO KITTY - THE DARTMOUTH CHEER VERSION!

EVERYTHING YOU SEE, I MADE :)

INSIDE OF THE BOX

Obviously, it's not that fabulous, but it's a lot of fun and a pretty decent start I'll say! Everyone at my new school is so enamored (but these are the same people that are impressed with my boxed mix baked goods haha) and so I want to have a crafting party. Ah! Life in the country :)
It's too bad that now I have these neat machine I don't have any friends with little kids around so I can make party favors now...darn.

And just for taking the time to read the blog, I'll leave you with this treat. Yes, I really was a cheerleader in college. I also was in a sorority - Delta Delta Delta.

SORORITY RUSH....I'M DELTA DELICIOUS OBVIOUSLY

The 8-Ball Hates Me

This is Chris' blog entry...he finds this episode highly amusing. I, on the other hand, am really annoyed:

The following conversation occurred using "Spike's eight ball knows all". No typing, just ask a question and click the button.

If I am offered the coaching job should I take it?
"Yes"
Are you sure?
"Without a doubt"
Should Kristen take the RT (resource teacher) job?
Literally no response, computer did not freeze, nothing happened so we asked again and clicked it again
Should Kristen take the RT job?
"You may come to rely on this"
Is Kristen going to be offered the job?
"Cannot predict at this time"
Are you screwing with Kristen?
"Without a doubt"
Are you the most awesome 8 ball ever?
"As I see it yes"

P.S. About 2 hours later we ask a DIFFERENT online 8-Ball if I should take the RT job and this 8-ball said, "Cannot predict at this time" (again!) Then we asked if Chris should take the coaching job and the DARN THING SAID: "Without a doubt." (again!)

Pshaw...I don't believe in these stupid online things anyways.

Chris Plays Cowboy

I finally got around to posting the blog from the rodeo and it posted in February! I'm too lazy to go and change the date so here's a link to it: Chris Plays Cowboy

A Hilo Car Wash

Well, many a blog entry has been spent mentioning how boring it can be to live on the Big Island. (Ok I'm being harsh, but it's definitely rural.) So when I saw that I could get my car washed by Roller Girls I was super thrilled...my car totally needed to be washed!!!! I am pretty discriminating with my car wash patronage. I don't just pull up to any old car wash - I look for quality stuff...nice signs, a good cause and of course a reasonable asking price. You wouldn't believe how many subpar car washes there are around here. I mean, making your posters out of cardboard boxes and a permanent marker? Hardly quality for this lady and her special pumpkin car.

Oh yeah, and those roller girls were pretty nifty.

As a bonus, I of COURSE bought two tickets for the matchup of the Paradise Roller Girls versus the Garden Isle (Kauai) Renegade Rollerz.


Chris and I arrived to a packed stadium. With girls that had skater names like "Chola Roll-Ya," "Von Schlappenbitch" and "Kaizer PermaMento" this family-friendly event (seriously, it was advertised like this) promised to be different than our average Saturday night.

Well apparently it's not just a free-for-all brawl, it's a sport with real rules!

Chris and I had a lot of fun. Although Chris is now completely hung up on the idea that I should join the Paradise Girls.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

So one of my FAVORITE things about elementary school are the little kids. They are so stinkin' cute.

This is an older story, but I love it so much I have to share it. It was Thanksgiving and I was doing an observation in a kindergarten class. One teacher was reading the story of Thanksgiving to her kids and she got to the part about how the pilgrims were being persecuted for their religions beliefs. The story spoke of how the king put the pilgrims in jail just because of what they believed. In an effort to try to get the kids to make personal connections, she tried to ask the kids how they'd feel if someone threw them in jail just for being them. Well this cute little kid in the back started waving his hands like crazy, "Ms. Fernandez! Ms. Fernandez!!!" When the teacher sort of ignored him, he blurted out loud as you can be: "My dad's in jail!" Ha! Poor Mrs. Fernandez said, "Thank you for sharing." Well, this little one wasn't done and proceeded to tell all about how his father landed in jail in front of the whole class. Ah, precious!

Recently I got this story from a counselor at mine. Recently she had this conversation: "How was your weekend?" The response, "Oh grandma kicked daddy out."
Counselor: Oh, why did daddy get kicked out?
Student: Cuz Grandma got sick
Counselor: Oh no! Is grandma ok?
Student: Yeah, Daddy was stealing her pills to sell weed.
Counselor: Weed?
Student: You know, what adults smoke to feel good.
(The child is in 1st grade)
Ha! Precocious.

And then the reason I wanted to write this post. Today I was just wandering around, not doing work although I have a mountain (really, I do). I went into a kindergarten class and this little boy came running up to me, reaching up like little kids do when they want to get picked up. Well he's way too old to get picked up, so I kinda went like he wanted a hug, but then he said, "Ms. W! Ms. W! I want to get tested!!!" Ha! So apparently getting tested for special education is the latest thing. I never knew sped could be so popular! (Although considering I'm getting initial referrals at a rate of 1 per day - which is totally ridiculous - there might be some truth to this statement)

You know, he's not the first to tell me this. I had a kid throw a temper tantrum - hard core, under my table, on the floor, wailing her little eyes out - when I tried to bring her back to her Head Start preschool after I finished testing her. Then she gave me the most long winded story about how her mother didn't bring her the right blanket and she didn't want to go back to school to nap.

As I'm walking out of the kindergarten class, a little girl follows me out. I turn around and scold her, "Go back to class!"
She gives me this big hug and while not letting me go she says, "Take me with you!"
Me: "I can't, I have to go back to work."
Her: "I want to live with you?"
Me internally (What the heck???)
Me: "Uh, Go back to class."
Her: "But I love you!"
Me internally (Kiddo, I barely know you.)
Me: "Oh! So sweet! I love you too."
Me internally (Did I just tell a random 5 year old I love her?)
Her: "I want you to be my mommy!"
Me internally (@($@*(%^????)
Me: "Oh I'm sure your real mommy loves you very very much."

Kids are awesome...it's too bad the adults aren't.