Karin's Daily Photos

Day 41 - Day with Grandpa

2012-02-10T17:29:00.000-06:00

Day 41 - Day with Grandpa, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Scott picked up Blake this morning and brought him back to our house for the day. He's one happy Grandpa when he gets to spend the day with buddy and his dog!

Day 40 - Curls

2012-02-09T17:40:00.000-06:00

Day 40 - Curls, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I always take quite a few photos of my grandson on Thursdays when I babysit for him. He was a cute baldy for the first year of his life! At 18 months, he now is sporting some blond curls. I decided to get a picture of them in case they don't last!

Day 39 - Valentine Surprise

2012-02-08T17:35:00.000-06:00

Day 39 - Valentine Surprise, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I added the bow and the card, now Blake's rocking chair is ready to go with me tomorrow. I'm hoping to sneak it into the house and surprise him with it when his parents come home from work tomorrow afternoon.

Day 38 - AHML

2012-02-07T17:16:00.000-06:00

Day 38 - AHML, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

We have a fabulous public library in town. Recently, I've been taking advantage more of their wonderful programs. This evening, I attended a book discussion on a book called Girl in Translation. We are very lucky to have such a fine library with so much to offer.

Day 37 - Vera

2012-02-06T17:44:00.000-06:00

Day 37 - Vera, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I love my iPad case! My niece gave me this Vera Bradley case for Christmas. It is such a cheery pattern!

Day 36 - Dunton

2012-02-05T17:04:00.000-06:00

Day 36 - Dunton, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

William Dunton was the founder of our community of Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1854. This statue, commemorating him, was made recently by a local artist and proudly stands in a small park in our downtown area. When I was teaching 3rd grade, we studied Arlington Heights as one of our social studies units. I hope my former students remember that learning when they pass by this statue!

Day 35 - Inspecting...

2012-02-04T16:55:00.000-06:00

Day 35 - Inspecting..., a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Scott and I put together this rocking chair for Blake today. It will be his Valentine gift. Lucy gave the chair a final inspection and we got the seal of approval!

Day 34 - High Tech

2012-02-03T11:56:00.000-06:00

Day 34 - High Tech, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I laid in this MRI machine for about 30 minutes today. When I had my first MRI several years ago, I was terrified. Although a bit nervous today, I was much calmer. It helps to know what to expect. This medical technology has continued to improve and is so automated. It is amazing what the images from this machine can tell about the inside of a human body. Hoping my news is good when I get the report next week!

Day 33 - Giggling!

2012-02-02T12:10:00.000-06:00

Day 33 - Giggling!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I've been bringing my 'tickle stick' with me whenever I spend the day with my grandson, Blake. It never fails to send him into instant giggles. He often starts laughing before it even reaches him!

Today, he started using the 'tickle stick' to make his Fisher Price Little People laugh and to tickle himself.....so cute!

Day 32 - Old tech

2012-02-01T12:19:00.000-06:00

Day 32 - Old tech, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This morning, I accompanied a girl friend to an appointment to lend moral support. After the meeting, she took me out to eat at a great breakfast/lunch place in the area. I was intrigued by the old intercom system that was still hanging by the hostess station. It isn't used anymore, but it adds some great nostalgia to the quaint decor of the restaurant.

January 2012

2012-01-31T13:46:00.000-06:00

January 2012, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

A recap of the first month of 2012!

Day 31 - RIP

2012-01-31T12:33:00.000-06:00

Day 31 - RIP, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

We attended a funeral for a family member today. Grace was married to my mother-in-law's cousin. Her husband passed away 7 months ago. I know they are both in a happier place, but feel very sad for their children who have lost both of their parents in such a short time.

Day 30 - New car!

2012-01-30T12:58:00.000-06:00

Day 30 - New car!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I haven't posted a photo of my new car yet. We picked it up about a week ago. I'm very excited to have it! It's a new 2012 Buick LaCrosse. It is very comfortable and has more 'bells and whistles' than any other car we've owned. The car we traded in was 11 years old, so most of the technology in this car wasn't available then. I'm looking forward to taking some road trips our new car!

Day 29 - Traction

2012-01-29T12:44:00.000-06:00

Day 29 - Traction, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

These are awesome! With the snow melting during the day and and the water refreezing at night, the sidewalks are very slippery. Walking the dog at night, when it is hard to see the ice can be treacherous, but adding this footgear to my shoes, kept me from slipping and sliding! Thanks for the the thoughtful gift, Kristin!

Day 28 - NICE

2012-01-28T15:43:00.000-06:00

Day 28 - NICE, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This morning I attended the NICE Mini-Conference at Stevenson High School. It was a wonderful day of learning and networking with my EdTech friends. I came home with a list of new resources to look at and plan to incorporate some of them in the workshops I'll be presenting at the ICE Conference next month.

Day 27 - Sun!

2012-01-27T15:42:00.000-06:00

Day 27 - Sun!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

We've had a few gray days in a row, so it was nice to see the sun and blue sky today! Lucy and I were up for an early walk this morning and caught the sun just as it was starting to peak over the houses in our neighborhood.

Day 26 - Mall

2012-01-26T15:44:00.000-06:00

Day 26 - Mall, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

My daughter was sick today, so she stayed home from work. Since Thursday is my usual day to babysit, she asked that I come anyway so she could rest. Blake and I had a fun day. I packed him up and we spent most of the day away from home, doing errands, eating lunch out, and enjoying in the play area at Stratford Mall.

Day 25 - Champ!

2012-01-25T15:48:00.000-06:00

Day 25 - Champ!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Friends from college invited us (via Facebook) to take part in their annual Bowl Mania for the college football bowl games. Scott was the winner this year and received this lovely trophy in the mail today! Thanks, Dallingers! It was fun!

Day 24 - March of the Penguins

2012-01-24T15:46:00.000-06:00

Day 24 - March of the Penguins, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

As I have mentioned before, I love seeing student artwork displayed in the hallways of the schools where I sub. These cheerful penguins greeted me at Greenbrier today! Isn't it wonderful how they each have their own personality!

Day 23 - Soup

2012-01-23T15:47:00.000-06:00

Day 23 - Soup, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I was hungry for soup for tonight, hadn't planned for homemade soup, so had to use what was already in the refrigerator & cupboard. I ended up with a very tasty potato soup. My new Cuisinart emersion blender made the task quick & easy.

Day 22 - Goody bag!

2012-01-22T15:15:00.001-06:00

Day 22 - Goody bag!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Our PetSmart closed and they opened a new, larger store a few miles away. Scott took Lucy there for a visit this afternoon. They got a tour of the new PetSmart PetsHotel. Lucy got a dixie cup of ice cream at the end of their tour and she came home with a good bag. She is such a spoiled dog!

Day 21 - First-Alert

2012-01-21T14:23:00.000-06:00

Day 21 - First-Alert, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

My 81 year old Mother-in-Law as been housebound with a little bit of pneumonia. Thankfully, she is feeling much better. Today we brought her lunch and did a couple errands/projects for her. We bought and installed new smoke detectors. Her old ones had batteries that could not be replaced, I had never seen anything like them. The new ones just about covered the old spots on the ceiling, and luckily we were able to use the same screw holes, making the project an easy one. Nice to know that she is protected with working alarms.

Day 20 - Snowy night

2012-01-20T14:30:00.000-06:00

Day 20 - Snowy night, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Our second major snow storm of the season hit today at around noon and continued to snow through rush hour and into the night. This is the view out our front door this evening. Scott is at work, but I'm sure he will be anxious to use his snowblower when he gets home tonight. I was supposed to go out for dinner with friends this evening, but we canceled our plans, which was a good thing since travel times were tripled on the highways during rush hour.

Day 19 - Indoor fun!

2012-01-19T15:08:00.000-06:00

Day 19 - Indoor fun!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

It was too cold to play outside today, so after a day of indoor play, it was wonderful that we could take Blake to the open gym time at Gymboree late this afternoon. This was the first time that Grandpa got to go, so Blake had a lot of fun showing him around! Our little guy has no fear and wants to do everything he see the bigger kids doing. Here Grandpa is encouraging our little daredevil to sit down before going down the slide!

Day 18 - Chopped Salad

2012-01-18T13:50:00.000-06:00

Day 18 - Chopped Salad, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

After bowling, we picked up dinner tonight at Corner Bakery. What a treat! I like that Corner Bakery now offers a smaller 'Cafe' portion of their salads, fewer calories and less guilt!

Day 17 - Skyping

2012-01-17T13:43:00.000-06:00

Day 17 - Skyping, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Tonight I attended a Skype session at our public library. It was awesome! We skyped with Jamie Ford, the author of The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I had read his book and discussed it with my book club last year. It is an excellent book and I really enjoyed reading it. Skyping with Jamie Ford was wonderful because he speaks with honesty and obvious love for writing. He gave us background on himself and the book. He also answered questions from the audience. I'm so glad I had a chance to attend and participate in this great hour with a wonderful author.

Day 16 - Jelly Bellies!

2012-01-16T13:32:00.000-06:00

Day 16 - Jelly Bellies!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I had dinner out with friends tonight. Two friends were celebrating birthdays. This giant jar of Jelly Bellies was a perfect gift from one birthday girl to the other!

Day 15 - Reading

2012-01-15T13:25:00.000-06:00

Day 15 - Reading, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I finished reading this book today. One of my friends from high school is a librarian and suggested that we read it and discuss it with another friend over dinner. It was a very good book. I like that way it was written in the student's voice.

By the way, I'm posting the books I read to the following two sites in case you are looking for some book suggestions:
www.goodreads.com/ (I'm KBeil)
www.shelfari.com/ (Karin B)

Day 14 - Weber Grill

2012-01-14T15:24:00.000-06:00

Day 14 - Weber Grill, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I enjoyed a very leisurely lunch at Weber Grill with three of my friends this afternoon. Two are retired like me and one is still teaching. Since we all taught together for quite awhile, the conversation often involves talking 'school talk'. One thing that I am certain about is that I retired at the right time. I loved teaching the kids, working with my colleagues, and continuing to learn. But, I don't miss the stress or the ever changing demands from the administration and government.

Day 13 - Snow!

2012-01-13T21:16:00.000-06:00

Day 13 - Snow!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

First snow for Lucy since last winter.....
She is always 'hunting'. Here she had just come up from digging through the snow with her nose.
We quite enjoyed our walk in the park near our house and being the first to add our footprints to the new fallen snow.

Day 12 - First snow!

2012-01-12T21:27:00.000-06:00

Day 12 - First snow!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I was lucky today....it started snowing after I arrived to babysit for my grandson. We had bought this little toddler sled for him a week or so ago when it was still in the 50s, so glad I got to use it with him today! He loved riding on the sled while Grandma pulled him.

Day 11 - Test drive

2012-01-11T11:55:00.000-06:00

Day 11 - Test drive, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

We're shopping for a new car to replace my 11 year old Buick. I test drove this Toyota Avalon today. It is very nice and has lots of bells and whistles that my old car doesn't have. This may not be the one we buy, but it is certainly in the running.

Day 10 - Beagle buddy

2012-01-10T12:40:00.000-06:00

Day 10 - Beagle buddy, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Scott works 2-4 evenings a week, so on nights when he is working, Lucy keeps me company. We are often curled up on the couch together. I'm not sure she likes the TV shows that I do, but she doesn't complain!

Day 9 - Nordstrom's Cafe

2012-01-09T12:33:00.000-06:00

Day 9 - Nordstrom's Cafe, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I got to have lunch today with Cheryl & Blake. I met them so I could return Cheryl's computer to her. I had taken it to do some repairs, backups, and updates for her. Cheryl treated me to lunch for fixing up her computer. What a sweet daughter (and grandson)!

Day 8 - Apple Store

2012-01-08T12:52:00.000-06:00

Day 8 - Apple Store, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I had two appointments at the Apple Store this afternoon, one at the Genius Bar and one for a One-to-One lesson. I was there for about 90 minutes and was awed by the constant crowd of people. I had a great hour with an Apple teacher, who helped me learn more about iCloud and straighten out the accounts on all four of my devices (iMac, MacBook, iPad, iPod Touch), so that they are all syncing properly to iCloud. Apple's customer service is the best! Although, I may not choose to appoints on a Sunday afternoon in the future, as it was a bit noisy and distracting with such a crowd.

Day 7 - No snow!

2012-01-07T12:20:00.000-06:00

Day 7 - No snow!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

On our way to visit our grandson today, we stopped at Toys R Us to use a gift card/coupon that was expiring. I couldn't resist getting this cute little sled for him. Now all we need is the snow!

*He loved being pulled on it both in the house and out in the yard.

After a fun afternoon of playing with new toys and showing off for mom, dad, and 4 grandparents, Blake is ready for bed!

Day 6 - Sun

2012-01-06T13:48:00.000-06:00

Day 6 - Sun, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Although it has been warmer than usual for January, the angle of the sun doesn't let much direct sunlight into our house during the winter. Lucy loves to lie in a warm sunny spot when she finds one!

Day 5 - Climbing

2012-01-05T13:37:00.000-06:00

Day 5 - Climbing, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake got this awesome Little Tikes toy as a gift from his other grandparents. He loves it! He can climb, slide down the slide, shoot baskets, and kick a ball into a net. It is just just the right size for him and will be a perfect way for him to use his energy indoors during the coming cold winter months.

Day 4 - Dinner out

2012-01-04T12:12:00.000-06:00

Day 4 - Dinner out, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

My book club went out for dinner tonight and had a wonderful time sharing, eating, chatting, and laughing. We didn't read a book for this month since we're all so busy during the holidays, but we are a great group of friends and really enjoyed our night out.

*Standing: Lori, Cindy, Sallie, Barb, Patty
*Sitting: Sue, Me, Eileen, Linda
*Missing: Chris, Heidi, Karol (Karen, Janice, Jill)

Day 3 - Screen Saver

2012-01-03T13:16:00.000-06:00

Day 3 - Screen Saver, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

We have my 27 inch iMac on a desk in our family room. I love using it as a digital photo frame to display all my favorite pictures of Blake when it kicks into screen saver mode. Grandparents NEVER get tired of seeing grandbaby photos!

Day 2 - Stretching

2012-01-02T13:28:00.000-06:00

Day 2 - Stretching, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Is there anyone that doesn't vow to improve their health during the new year? As we get older, it seems to be a constant battle to stay fit. Whether it is losing weight, eating better, exercising more, or getting rid of stress, we always seem to use the new year as a reminder to get back on track in taking care of ourselves.

Stretching is one of the most important ways that older adults can take care of their bodies. It improves muscle tone, balance, flexibility, and core strength, which in turn helps us to feel better and experience less pain.

I'm back to doing yoga and stretching each day and I know it will help me to feel better!

Day 1 - Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T23:14:00.000-06:00

Day 1 - Happy New Year!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

The weather has been unseasonably warm, no snow yet this winter. It was rainy this morning & the newspaper got a bit wet. This is what it looks like after Scott dried it out in the microwave!

Traditionally, we spend New Year's Day at home, relaxing, watching football and movies, reading, and snacking. Happy 2012!

Blake's Photo Book - August to November 2011

2011-11-13T13:56:00.000-06:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Blake's Photo Book on Shutterfly

I really like using Shutterfly for making my photo books. They continue to improve the site and have added many new templates and stickers to enhance the books. It takes awhile to create the book (at least for me, since I'm somewhat of a perfectionist), but the time is definitely worth the finished product.

Blake's Photo Book - May to August, 2011

2011-09-19T22:40:00.000-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Our dear Grandson, Blake, has just celebrated his first birthday. This year went by so quickly! What a fun year it has been!

Final Tour

2011-07-31T13:20:00.000-05:00

These are photos I took today during a tour of the high school where I graduated. The class of '80 sponsored the tour today, and although I'm a bit older, I was glad they invited others along so that I could see the inside of my high school one last time. The school is now vacant and has been sold to a developer who will be tearing it down soon. The school holds many happy memories and will be missed by many in the community and alumni all over the country.

Kristin

2011-07-03T12:16:00.001-05:00

Today, my thoughts and prayers are with Kristin as she travels from Denver to Cusco, Peru. Her trip with connecting flights and layovers will take about 23 hours. She won't have phone or internet service when she arrives in Peru. I know she will find a way to let us know she has arrived safely.

This photo was sent to me today by my Uncle Dick. Kristin was about 3 years old! He is busy scanning old photos. How wonderful that he sent me this great memory today as I'm holding Kristin in my heart.

By the way, I sent this post to my blog via email for the first time, a trick I learned at ISTE! It works very well! Maybe I'll finally start posting more regularly again.

Blake's photo album February - April

2011-05-17T20:49:00.003-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Day 118 - Golden Birthday

2011-04-28T13:06:00.000-05:00

Day 118 - Golden Birthday, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

One of Kristin's roommates contacted me and asked if I could scan some old photos of Kristin growing up so that they could use them during the surprise party they were throwing for her. It is her Golden Birthday this year, 28 on the 28th. These are are just a few of the 90 photos I scanned and sent them. She was VERY surprised. She has awesome friends in Denver!

Day 117 - Playtime!

2011-04-27T12:58:00.000-05:00

Day 117 - Playtime!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake loves when Grandpa comes over to play!

Day 115 - Bunny

2011-04-25T12:59:00.000-05:00

Day 115 - Bunny, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is the bunny that Great Grandma gave Blake for Easter.

Day 111 - Pushing!

2011-04-21T12:59:00.000-05:00

Day 111 - Pushing!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake can walk a bit if he is holding onto his pushcart of blocks!

Day 104 - Grandma's MacBook

2011-04-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

Day 104 - Grandma's MacBook, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake loves Grandma's computer! Here we are getting ready to take some shots with PhotoBooth.

Day 101 - Visiting

2011-04-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

Day 101 - Visiting, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Spending time with Great Grandma is so much fun!

Day 98 - Eight months!

2011-04-08T13:02:00.000-05:00

Day 98 - Eight months!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake's mommy sent me this photo. I love that she is taking a photo every month with him sitting in the same chair. He has certainly changed a lot in 8 months!

Day 97 - Playtime!

2011-04-07T13:03:00.000-05:00

Day 97 - Playtime!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Let's play basketball, Grandpa!

Day 92 - Silver Man

2011-04-02T16:53:00.000-05:00

Day 92 - Silver Man, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today is our last day in California. We had some extra time before heading to the airport, so we walked along the pier in San Diego. We watched this 'statue' perform as he entertained a crowd that had gathered.

Day 91 - Fun in the sun

2011-04-01T21:54:00.000-05:00

Day 91 - Fun in the sun, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today is our last full day in California. We've enjoyed our stay at the Lawrence Welk Resort in Escondido. Blake was up early this morning, so I took him for a walk around the beautiful grounds. This is the outside of our condo. Then we did a little 'photo shoot' with Blake in his White Sox outfit, so we could send a photo to his daddy. Later, we spent some time at the pool.

After lunch and naps, we drove down to Coronado and toured the famous Coronado Hotel and spent some time on the beach.

Day 90 - California Day 5

2011-03-31T16:28:00.000-05:00

Day 90 - California Day 5, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today was a pool day! Blake loves the water and so does his Auntie!

After naps, we drove out to the Oceanside to have dinner with cousin, Denise.

And then after dinner, we walked out to the beach to enjoy a beautiful California sunset!

Day 89 - Giraffe

2011-03-30T15:13:00.000-05:00

Day 89 - Giraffe, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

We spent the day today at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It was a very hot day, but Blake was a real trooper. He got to see many animals with his Mommy, Auntie Kristin, and Grandma.

And before heading back to the resort, a ride on the Merry-Go-Round was a must!

Day 88 - Pool Time!

2011-03-29T15:02:00.000-05:00

Day 88 - Pool Time!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

The weather is gorgeous here in Southern California! We spent the morning at the pool.

And then later in the afternoon we visited Seal Beach.

Day 87 - We're here!

2011-03-28T14:50:00.000-05:00

Day 87 -, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I picked Cheryl, Kristin, and Blake up from the airport in San Diego today. On the way to our resort, we stopped to shop at a farmer's market. Auntie Kristin is very happy to see her nephew!

Day 86 - California Cousins!

2011-03-27T14:52:00.000-05:00

Day 86 - California Cousins!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today is the first day of my Spring Break trip with my girls. I arrived in California a day ahead of them, so I got to have a nice visit with my cousins, Michael and Denise who live here in CA.

Day 83 - Favorite Toy

2011-03-24T12:15:00.000-05:00

Day 83 - Favorite Toy, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake adores playing with balls and this is his favorite!

Day 82 - Bright flowers

2011-03-23T12:42:00.000-05:00

Day 82 - Bright flowers, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

It is still pretty dreary outside, but I bought some cut flowers at the grocery story to brighten things up inside.

Day 81 - Spring!

2011-03-22T11:49:00.000-05:00

Blake-Spring, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today I was having some fun with Comic Life 2 using my favorite subject!

Day 80 - Blake's Photo Book November-January

2011-03-21T15:41:00.002-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

After a crazy, busy month of February, I finally had time to spend putting together Blake's photo book for the months of November to January. It was so hard to narrow down the hundreds of pictures to just our favorites. The "20-page" photo book ended up 45 pages long! Thank goodness I had a Groupon from Shutterfly.

Day 79 - Happy birthday! #3

2011-03-20T12:07:00.000-05:00

Day 79 - Happy birthday!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake, Cheryl, and Seth came up today to celebrate Scott's birthday. There is no better gift for a grandpa than spending time with his grandson!

Day 78 - Happy birthday! #2

2011-03-19T12:41:00.000-05:00

Day 78 - Happy birthday!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today is actually Scott's birthday. We are going out for dinner tomorrow night, but I brought him a cupcake tonight.

Day 77 - Sun

2011-03-18T16:37:00.000-05:00

Day 77 - Sun, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This time of year, there is not much sun, and what there is doesn't make it very far into our house. Lucy does manage to find and enjoy a small spot of sun today.

Day 76 - Happy birthday! #1

2011-03-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Day 76 - Happy birthday!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

My husband and and sister-in-law both have birthdays this week. My mother-in-law took us out for dinner to celebrate. It was so sweet of her to carry on the tradition!

Day 75 - Melting

2011-03-16T12:29:00.000-05:00

Day 75 - Melting, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is the last of the snow we had from our huge snowstorm on February 1st.
It is melting just in time since the daffodils are already starting to come up!

Day 74 - Wondering

2011-03-15T11:41:00.000-05:00

Day 74 - Wondering, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake actually took this photo of himself! My laptop was sitting on the floor and he click the button to take the picture in Photo Booth. I think he was wondering if it was ok to touch the computer!

Day 72 - Love!

2011-03-13T11:32:00.000-05:00

Day 72 - Love!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Kristin came home from Denver for the weekend in order to attend her Grandpa's memorial service. Meeting his Great Grandson was one of his happiest moments. I know he is smiling down from Heaven as he sees the Kristin, Cheryl, and Blake enjoying time together today.

Day 70 - Watching TV

2011-03-11T16:31:00.000-06:00

Day 70 - Watching TV, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

When Scott is working in the evening, Lucy keeps me company. Tonight we were watching TV together.

Day 69 - Exploring

2011-03-10T11:24:00.000-06:00

Day 69 - Exploring, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

My little buddy is having fun this morning looking at himself on the computer in Photo Booth.

Day 68 - Seven months!

2011-03-09T11:14:00.000-06:00

Day 68 - Seven months!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is Blake's monthly photo. I love the way my daughter is taking a picture every month with Blake sitting in the same chair. He now thinks it is quite funny to try and rip off the sticker on his t-shirt!

Day 67 - Junk!

2011-03-08T12:23:00.000-06:00

Day 67 - Junk!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I love this junk guy. He drives around on garbage day every week, picking up anything metal that's at the curb, rescuing it from the landfill before the garbage truck arrives.

Day 66 - Dancing

2011-03-07T10:53:00.000-06:00

Day 66 - Dancing, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Today is Cheryl's birthday! She and Blake came over before we meet the men for dinner. Blake loves dancing with his mommy!

All dressed up and ready for dinner!

Happy birthday, Cheryl!

Day 64 - Car ride

2011-03-05T16:25:00.000-06:00

Day 64 - Car ride, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Lucy loves to ride in the car. Today she was off to the vet for her annual check-up. That's not her favorite place, but now she's done for a year!

Day 63 - Great Grandma!

2011-03-04T16:23:00.000-06:00

Day 63 - Great Grandma!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I love the way Scott's mom gets all dressed up when Blake comes to visit! She is 80 years old and such a beautiful lady. Blake is so lucky to have her as a Great Grandma!

Day 62 - Nap

2011-03-03T09:54:00.000-06:00

Day 62 - Nap, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is the special education classroom that I often sub in. Don't you wish you could take a nap in the 'clubhouse' when you're having a rough day!?

Day 61 - Rainbow Fish

2011-03-02T10:42:00.000-06:00

Day 61 - Rainbow Fish, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is one of my favorite children's books. I love the watercolor painting the kids did at this school.

Day 60 - Book club

2011-03-01T09:46:00.000-06:00

Day 60 - Book club, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is the book we read for book club this month. It is the first book in the Mitford series. I enjoyed it, but can't say that it grabbed me enough to want to read the rest of the series at this time.

I got to babysit for my sweet grandson today, too!

Day 56 - Happy ending

2011-02-25T12:25:00.000-06:00

Day 56 - Happy ending, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I'm home from the ICE Conference. It was an excellent conference and my two workshops went well. I'm happy it is over and to be home. As much as I loved attending and presenting at the conference, I was sad to be away from my family so soon after my father-in-law passed away.

Day 55 - Dinner out!

2011-02-24T10:31:00.000-06:00

Day 55 - Dinner out!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I've been at the ICE Conference all week. Cheryl and Blake liver nearly across the street from Pheasant Run, where the conference is held. They went out for dinner with me tonight. What a nice break from the conference!

Day 54 - Luke

2011-02-23T22:07:00.000-06:00

Day 54 - Luke, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Luke has been active in ICE for many, many years. He is one of the wonderful volunteers who make this marvelous conference GREAT! Although retired from teaching, Luke continues to share his passion for technology.

Day 53 - ICE Conference

2011-02-22T10:00:00.000-06:00

Day 53 - ICE Conference, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Tonight is the kick-off reception for the ICE Conference. We're celebrating the 25th year! I think I have been to the last 20 conferences. I'm very lucky to have been able to attend one of the best educational technology conferences in the country for so many years!

Day 52 - Pheasant Run

2011-02-21T09:54:00.000-06:00

Day 52 - Pheasant Run, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This is my home away from home for the next few days. I'm at the ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) Conference in St. Charles. The conference is actually less than an hour from home, but I like to stay at the hotel. I'm presenting an all day workshop tomorrow, so I'm putting the finishing touches on my presentation.

Day 51 - Playing!

2011-02-20T20:14:00.000-06:00

Day 51 - Playing!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Blake and his parents were visiting today and Grandpa got some playtime in!

Day 50 - Laughing

2011-02-19T12:19:00.000-06:00

Day 50 - Laughing, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Here's another photo of Bob that makes me smile. He was such a fun father-in-law. He had an infectious laugh! His memorial service will be held in March. We are starting to collect photos for his slideshow.

Day 49 - Great Grandpa

2011-02-18T12:17:00.000-06:00

Day 49 - Great Grandpa, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

This might be the last photo I took of Bob. It was taken at the end of December 2010. He is was so thrilled to be a Great Grandpa. This is the way I will always remember him.

Day 48 - Sad day

2011-02-17T19:30:00.000-06:00

Day 48 - Sad day, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Scott's dad passed away this morning. Although he has had some health issues in recent years, we were saddened by the suddenness of his death today. The family spent the day together, crying, laughing, sharing stories of good times and bad. These beautiful roses were a Valentine's Day gift to his wife just a few days ago.

Day 47 - Retiree Luncheon

2011-02-16T18:13:00.000-06:00

We had a small, but nice group of retirees at our February luncheon. When I retired in 2008, I volunteered to do the newsletter for the group. I've also managed to be 'in charge' of taking photos at our gatherings and posting them to the blog I created for the group - District 25 Alumni. The blog doesn't get many comments, but I do hear that people enjoy seeing fellow retirees.

Day 46 - Cinch!

2011-02-15T16:57:00.000-06:00

Wow! Cinch is REALLY easy. I'll definitely add this to my Web 2.0 presentation at the ICE Conference next week.

Day 45 - Flowers

2011-02-14T18:42:00.000-06:00

Day 45 - Flowers, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you, Sweetie. Love you!

Day 44 - Reindeer

2011-02-13T18:51:00.000-06:00

Day 48 - Reindeer, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

I hadn't noticed this cute little guy earlier in the season. One of the restaurants in our downtown area had several reindeer created from pine branches. What cute idea!

Day 43 - Spelling with Photos

2011-02-12T14:25:00.010-06:00

I'm experimenting with some fun websites as I prepare for my workshop presentation at the ICE Conference. I didn't take these photos, but it would be a fun project to collect my own photos of letters. I used this website to pull the photos from Flickr:

http://metaatem.net/words/

Thank you to my Facebook friend, Sheryl, who shared another cool site for spelling with photos.

Made with My Cool Signs.Net

Day 42 - Countdown to Spring Break!

2011-02-11T17:34:00.004-06:00

My daughters and I will be traveling together during spring break. We have made this 'girls week' an annual tradition. This year we will be going to Southern California. Of course, baby Blake will be joining the girls & I this year!

Day 41 - Gift

2011-02-10T18:35:00.000-06:00

Day 41 - Gift, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Probably not the most romantic gift, but we gave our daughter & son-in-law a ladder for Valentine's Day. With the high ceilings in their townhouse, it was impossible to change the lightbulbs in the ceiling fixtures. I was tempted to buy a ladder like this for us too. It is so light weight and sturdy!

Here's a photo of my little buddy from today. :-)

Day 40 - Half a year!

2011-02-09T20:02:00.000-06:00

Day 40 - Half a year!, a photo by Karin Beil on Flickr.

Our little buddy is 6 months old today. He is such a happy boy!