Teacher Appreciation at the Aquarium

(Andre, Cash, and Luc at the Aquarium)

This past Saturday was teacher appreciation day at the Tennessee Aquarium! It was awesome! I got my entire family of 4 into the aquarium for only $6.50. Sweet action!

Wait, double sweet actually because my good friend, Allison, (who is also a teacher) came with us with her two little girls. We had a great time.
Reagan and Charlie

Me and Cash

Cash, Reagan, Luc, and Andre admiring the fish.

The gang!

Thanks to the aquarium! I know a bunch of my teacher friends enjoyed this day!!-

Mrs. Crosby :)

Bird Treats

During the winter months when we are locked indoors, the boys and I like to pass the time by making those poor cold birds (and let's be honest...the squirrels, too) some yummy treats.

Last year we made these.

This time, we made gelatin treats.

Here's what you need:

Bird Seed

1 box of Knox Plain Gelatin

Wax Paper

Cookie Cutters

ribbon or twine

1 straw

What you do:

*In a large bowl, make plain gelatin following directions on the package. Instead of cold water use ice cubes so it will gel quickly.

*Add bird seed a little at a time to gelatin, mixing together so seed is completely coated and there is a enough gelatin to bind the two together.

*Create shapes by scooping a thick layer of the mixture onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and then cut out using cookie cutter.

*Cut your straw into pieces. Make a hole in the top of each shape using a straw. Once the molds are filled you will use this hole for the string. Make the hole in the center of your shape so there is enough strength to hold the string.

* Put trays into the refrigerator to set (about 3 hours). Once the shapes are set, remove them from their mold and lay back on the wax paper. Leave to dry out for 2 days to harden. String twine or ribbon through the hole, and hang on a tree branch.

Have a great week!

Tracy

This Year's Family Photos!

Last year, we had a friend of the family, Charles from Charles Coleman Photography, take our family photos. They turned out great, so of course we called him again for this year. Charles is an awesome guy with a big christian heart, AND he takes fantastic photos. Check out his site! Here are a few of my favorites.

Louisiana Mini Break

Back in September, the family took a long weekend trip to New Orlean's for my husband's sister's wedding. Although I do not have ANY(!) pictures from New Orleans....(what was I thinking)...I do have some pics from our two day excursion to the bayou. We took the boys to Grande Isle to show them where their dad was born. Surprisingly, the boys wanted to SWIM! We let the kids strip down to their skivies, and have at it. :) We captured LOADS of blackmail pics for when they are in high school. (insert sinister laugh here...)

This is one of my favorites. Cash and Luc running FULL blast!

Grandmere and Cash on the Pier.

Andre and Luc looking for a new shell for our hermit crab.

Cash finally makes down to the shore.

At this point, Cash's shorts are rolled up....we know we have to make a decision. Wet clothes or tightie whities.

Andre, Grandmere, and Luc wondering how far Cash will go into the water.

Yep! We went with the tighties. Luc went for it, too. Grandpere, for some reason, chose to stay in his shorts. :)

The two Crosby men...father and son.

Luc is LOVING it!

These kids were having the time of their lives!

"Look! I am swimming!" Cash kept shouting, but um...really he was just crawling around in a shallow part.

I guess now the sign in the first pic makes more sense.

Well. It wasn't the prettiest beach in the world, but it wouldn't have made any difference if it had been. The kids had WAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY more fun than we ever expected. We thought we would do a little drive by, and then head back to the bayou. NOPE. Those kids played and played. We didn't even have towels.

Good times, I tell you, good times.

Tracy

Thank You, No...Thank You.

My sister-in-law is getting married next month, and she asked me to make a few things for her wedding. Before you even think it...say it...yes...I realize it looks pretty darn distressed. She has a vintage vision for her wedding, so she wanted the "Thank You" sign (for the couple to hold during a pic, then later send out with thank you cards) to look very worn and old.

It was really easy to make. I bought the wooden plaques at Hobby Lobby, and painted them cream. I painted the words using a paint pen (I suck using a brush), then I took some good ole sandpaper to the plaque. I concentrated in certain areas, like the corners, edges, and places within the word. For the final touch, I watered down some black paint and brushed it over the entire plaque patting it dry with paper towel.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Monday!!-

Tracy

Cash's First Day at Kindergarten!

Today was the BIG day!! Cash is officially a kindergartener. How is that possible? My baby. Going to school. He is going to kinder at the same school that I teach at, so that is pretty sweet. The whole family (me, Andre, and Luc) were there this morning to walk him to class. He looked pretty nervous, and was certainly tired. (He was soooooooo hyped up the night before cause he knew SCHOOL WAS STARTING THE NEXT DAY!!) The fam. had to leave, and I looked at his little face....I had to walk quickly back to my own classroom cause I was about to loose it! Then my teammate peaked out of his door to ask me how it went, and I really lost it! Boo Hooing in the hallway. Ohhhh so emotional. What a scene.
I checked in on him at lunch, and he was doing great. Loved it. He says he really likes his teacher, and he cant wait to go back.

I feel better now.

Happy Gift!

My dear friend, Corbett, (we go by last names at work) had a birthday...she turned...um...23, I think (cough cough35coughcough) :) She is a fantastic teammate, we taught 5th grade together this past year, and a super awesome friend. Anyhoo, I made her this cute little door accessory...can I call this a wreath? I love the summery colors, and almost kept it for our house since I am a Crosby....C would be fitting!