Yep, that's a chicken and just a small indication of how I feel like a chicken with it's "head" cut off... so, let it serve as a warning that I may be a little all over the place today. I have had such a super fantabulous day (ya know I just bet the spell check on my computer hates me and all my made up words!), so... my lunch cancelled (that was not the good part that was the "oh man... seriously?!?!" part). So, I decided to see if Mrs. Meeks needed some help in the classroom today (Mrs. Meeks is Ryanne and Sabrina's 1st grade teacher). Now I have never been able to volunteer before, working two jobs just never allowed for the time and if I had tried I would have been a crazy stress ball of a person that would have been no help at all; but, since I no longer work at AKI I am my own boss and I can decide if I want to volunteer at school!! And I was soooooo excited!! Woohoo! Poor unsuspecting Mrs Meeks!! First I cornered her on the black top and offered my services, she sweetly smiled and let me know that she didn't have anything for me to do and went on to explain that usually she knows in advance if a parent is going to volunteer and has things prepared. I think maybe in hind sight that was nice code for "listen lady, any parent with half a clue knows that we have designated times for volunteering and you need to sign up in advance so that we can be prepared."
Yep, that's another chicken (well actually it's the same chicken but another picture of a chicken). Unfortunately, for Mrs. Meeks I did not catch on to her "nice code" and insisted that surely there was something I could do. She countered with "no, not really", and then "I actually have another parent coming in at 10:30" (more nice code for call in advance and come at the designated time, yep I missed that one too) but I didn't give up, finally she conceded and said I could stay I nearly skipped to the classroom in excitement. By the time we reached the classroom she had come up with an assignment for me, I would be looking up and writing down the kid's addresses (in proper penmanship) on index cards so they could start learning their addresses. She got me all set up at her desk, but first I noticed that her desk could use a little bit of straightening. I gathered the pens and placed them in the pen holder, straightened some papers, put all the photos in one place and neatly organized my supplies to get started on my assignment. At one point Mrs. Meeks popped over and made a comment on her tidy desk top, to which I replied "ya know... I could organize all of this for you (hand motioning to the floor and sets of shelves on each side.) "Oh... you could?" (Again in hind sight I think maybe I missed something in her hesitant tone.) So, as the kids watched a video on Abraham Lincoln, I started organizing the shelves and floor around her desk. I grouped like things together, sorted and labelled stacks of paper with sticky notes, copied phone numbers and email address from small pieces of paper into the school directory and rearranged the shelves for better work flow (I even gave her a personal shelf where she can keep track of her cell phone, gloves, keys, water bottle and coffee cup!! How fabulous is that?!)
Yep, that is a horse checkin' himself out in my van window... During my organization task Mrs Meeks pulled me away a couple of times, once to read with some of the kids (I think maybe I was supposed to read with more kids than just my own... opps! Well, I did read with Cody, sort of) and then to play a letter sounds game with the kindies in the lunch room (sending me to the lunch room may have been another hint I missed, I had only been there 3.5 hours). When I returned with the kindies it was time for lunch, they washed their hands and gathered their coats while I resumed my work organizing. As they left the room, Mrs. Meeks turned out the lights and said "I'm going to lunch, aren't you?" Perhaps another hint... but again it flew right over my head "oh no, I want to label these bins for you." Imagine her surprise when she returned 45 minutes later only to find that I had moved on from the desk and started on the supply corner. I quickly gave her a tour of her desk and explained how to use her new organization system and let her know that I was starting on the supply corner.
"Don't you need to get going?"
"Oh no, I'm happy to stay and do this for you, unless I am in the way."
"Well, actually we are going to be doing a "parent project" this afternoon."
Ah... finally the bat connects with my baseball of a head! I fear if I hadn't figured it out then I would have gotten the Bon Qui Qui "Security!!" and been forcably removed from the building. So I walked with Mrs Meeks as she went to get the kids from recess, telling her all about how I could organize the whole room for her. I can only imagine in her head she was praying "Oh Lord, help me!!"
So, while I fear that I grossly over stayed my... hmmm, I was gonna say welcome, but I wasn't really welcomed, I kinda forced myself on her. Okay, so I forced myself on her, moved all her stuff around and stayed WAY longer than I should have, but man, did I have a GREAT time!! I'll try to be a better volunteer parent next time, I was just tinkled pink to be there I couldn't help myself!! (Sorry, Mrs. Meeks!!)
Okay, hold on, we are shiftin' gears!!! This is Hartley and this was our 3rd shoot together! She is 1 year old!!! Once again, I ventured out to Grandma and Grandpa's place, they live on an amazing ranch in Larkspur. The chicken... theirs. The horse... theirs as well.
So I usually jump in my van and follow them around the land to different places they have in mind for pictures. Yesterday was no exception. We took off driving down the dirt road, I looked out my wind and there is a dog running along side my van, I glance at my speedometer 20 mph! I look in my rear view mirror and there is another door following from behind. We turn and head west on a windy road through the trees... we keep going and going eventually the dogs are no where in sight and I wonder "will they be able to find their way back to the house?" We finally arrive at our first location and I start scoping it out for lighting etc. We get all set up and start shooting when low and behold the dogs show up!! Holy moly! They ran forever and actually found us! Amazing! (Although they did catch a ride in the back of the truck on the way back).
Some one said this was a perfect pose for the outhouse! Oh ba ha ha!
"Hey Hartley, What does a monkey say?"
I love this picture... tiny little girl in a great big world.
Next, we headed over to the barn near the chicken coop. Oh my goodness, the chicken was killin' me! Hartley has a very different life than I did growing up! She didn't even flinch! I think I might have flinched.
Our last stop was another barn that had a huge loft inside, below Hartley is standing near the double doored window. I loved how Grandpa staged the area for us, hay bails, a rope, a hook (for the hay I think) and a fancy blue pitch fork!
While I was taking Hartley's pictures all these horse showed up... I was totally crackin' up; they were super friendly and very interested in my camera!!
Ah, there's Hartley with her Grandma. I just love her!! (Grandma that is, oh and Hartley too.) What a nice lady... real, real nice (yep, I did it with my accent).
This horse was making sure Kayla (Hartley's mama) wasn't up to no good!
I always enjoy my time with the Bornhoft family!! Until next time! Cija
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