The Library...Before & After!

The school year is upon us and I am finally ready! Well, the library is ready. I don't really want to be back at work but I will be tomorrow whether I want to or not. In the afternoon we have our whole staff meeting and the part-time library aid Deb will be there. She hasn't been in at all this summer and I'm pretty excited/nervous to show her what we've done. She had a pretty tough last year with the old librarian and ended up moving her desk out of the library and doing all of her projects for teachers in the lounge. I hope we have a much different experience together! Here are the pics of how things looked when she left and how they look now.....

I posted this pic a while back-it's the view straight ahead from the check-out desk.


The view I have now! Ahead is the non-fiction section. You can see the coffeehouse area along the back wall.


This is what you would see when you looked to the left of the check-out desk.


What you see now is the last non-fiction case (marked #2 right now) and the beginning of the fiction section. There is a 10 foot space between sections. Enough room to still have a small group of students meet if needed!


This view is like you're standing between the maroon and teal pillars shown in the above pictures and looking at the check-out desk. The door open on the left is the storage room.


What it looks like now-this time the fiction section is on the right of the pic and the non-fiction is on the left.


Looking at the check-out desk head on. The middle three brown cupboards on the back wall will be removed (soon, I hope!) and several computers and a printer will be set up.


Looking at the check-out desk head on now. My friend Charity's daughter is sitting at the desk. I let her help me check-in some books but not too many because that's one of my new favorite things to do!


This was wasted space before-full of old stuff that wasn't being used.


Now it's going to be used by the Technology Assistant with a few computers. Steve (the principal) says she won't be around much as her job will be with the laptop carts around the building. But if she is, I get to work on practicing patience. She tends to wear on the nerves a bit. In the past she has browsed through my pics when working on my computer and today she was sticking her nose over my shoulder while I was checking a message on my phone!


If you were to turn to the right just a bit standing in this place you would see the space between sections and the check-out desk. The antique book poster says "Be Kind to Books Club--Are You a Member??"


The pillar on the opposite side. That old poster says, "September-Back to Work, Back to School, Back to BOOKS!"


This is a "classroom" area next to the fiction section. The desk in the corner is for the poor fitness instructor-because there's no where else for her/him to go. Not sure that will be the best place, but that's how it has to be for now.


This is the "classroom" area beside the non-fiction section. That's my old teaching partner and school Mama, Jeannette. She was setting up a jewelry party that Charity hosted in the new space.


Across from that area is the coffeehouse space. It still needs some tweaking and I'd like more funky furniture, but it will work for now!


This was my sweet find in Sheridan on Friday. The table and chairs sit behind the couch and will be a perfect spot for an adult to work one-on-one with a student!


I don't have any before pics of the storage area-but it's our office now and I love the space. Before it was piled high with junk and there was no space to move. We took out two sets of shelves on each side and I rearranged all of the "stuff" into new places. Mom helped me hem some fabric and I used velcro to stick up on the open cupboards.


Another teacher was getting rid of their computer table and I grabbed it right up! The right side will be for Deb to do projects. The left side is where my laptop will sit and I will do lesson planning. And on the very left, you see the server computer for the entire school which has to stay. Bleh. Beside it is a new Dell just for Deb to use-a treat for her since she used to check her email and such on the student computers! We are putting another computer table up there but Shaun said he needed a break from Conestoga and I agreed!


I am sad to be leaving Ry again but she will be in good hands with her Mema tomorrow and throughout the year. I don't have many pics of her lately, but I will have to get after that and post them soon. If you think of it, please be praying for a smooth start to the school year for me, my co-workers and our students. We have a big job ahead of us!

Mr. Potato Head Makeover

Tired of using your Mr. Potato Head in a traditional manner? Looking for ways to spice up your play with his accessories?? Well, look no further. Just look at what you can do with his parts on a library shelf. The arranging and creativity never ends!


And when you're tired of using Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head offers even more options for decorating a shelf! Let the fun begin!



At least she kept herself busy while her Mommy was busy working on books!

Fun at the Nebelsick House

Life has settled down much and we are grateful! Shaun has had the last few days off and we've spent a good portion of that time working in the Library. I am happy to report that the shelves are all moved! All that remains now is the decorating and a bit of rearranging. I can't believe how stressed I was about moving the shelves. I'm so excited to make it a cozy place now. We have also done work in the storage room/office area. This space will be awesome, because as I've learned this week, everyone likes to stop through the library and chat! Having a place to work on plans or check email will be nice. Our library aide, Deb, will also have a place to work on the various projects teachers give her. I hope she likes all the changes we've made!

Rylan has done super hanging out at school both days. She follows us around and tries her best to help with books or moving things! We have a few more days off with Shaun next week, then it's back to spending her days at MeMa and PaPa's house or being home with Daddy.

Anyway, the title of this post has nothing to do with the Library, so on to some pics of our days at the Nebelsick house, which were totally enjoyable! It was the first time since getting married that Elizabeth and I have had a "sleepover." How fun to now include our children!

David and Rylan swinging at the park.



Levi and Aria getting pushed by their Mommy.


Rylan is trying to talk to Aria and Levi.


She slid up and down this bench several times!


Walking back from the park, and apparently David was all tuckered out!


On Tuesday night, Elizabeth, Aria, Rylan and I took a quick trip to Sioux Falls for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. We got to do a bit of shopping afterwards, too. So much fun!


Rylan, ever the helper, trying to give Aria her pacifier.


We had a super time and appreciate the hospitality of the Nebelsicks. Dan sent some yummy cucumbers, squash and zucchini from their garden home with us and we have enjoyed all of it this week. We are looking forward to another visit someday soon!

Iowa Trip Part 1

We are home from another trip and had a super time! It was quick but great to see family and friends. Shaun, Rylan and I left last Friday morning after Shaun got home from working all night. The trip out was pretty uneventful. Ry has become a champion traveler, only getting fussy once in a while. I did get her a few small new toys and that seemed to entertain her. By the time we drove out of South Dakota we were exhausted and Mom called to say that we should just stop at my Uncle Dick and Aunt Mary's house instead of going on to my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Adam's place. It meant only another hour and a half instead of over two hours. Totally worth it!

Saturday Shaun got to go golfing with my Uncles and Dad and Mom, Ry and I went out to Debbie's. On the way we stopped at the Coffee Attic/Book Cellar, my absolute favorite coffeehouse. I don't know why I like it so much. Maybe because it was a happy place to visit friends and relax when we were back to see my Grandma Elsie one last time and for her funeral. They have good coffee and it's the place I picture when I'm thinking about my library coffeehouse. We spent the day visiting and made it back to Mary and Dick's for supper, then drove back to Debbie's again to stay the night there. Shaun put Rylan down and I sat around making s'mores at the bonfire. I'm not one to ever miss out on marshmallows and chocolate!

Sunday we got up bright and early and met my parents in Iowa Falls to go to church where their friend TJ preaches. It's also where we went to church when I was around 3 or so. I didn't think I remembered the place, but as soon as Shaun parked the car and I looked the scene over I had a vivid memory of skipping down the sidewalk in my fav brown sandals. It was fun to visit, a great sermon and Ry enjoyed singing with the music. Lots of people commented after the service that they could hear her oohing and aahing along!

Straight after church we headed to the Reunion picnic in Owasa. It's really strange and hard to visit that tiny little town and not see Grandma Elsie or stay at her house. I miss her. On the way to the picnic I was trying to tell Shaun which cousins I thought we might see and he realized we should have started the Nehring Family Tree education much sooner! I was nervous that I wasn't going to know who people were, but it wasn't too crowded and we had nametags so it was all good! That evening I decided to stick with Shaun one more night and we followed my parents up to my Great Grandparent's farm in Minnesota. My Grandma Wilson was in need of a ride back to WY and Dad thought it would be easier to just leave from there the next day. So 3 nights, 3 different places to lay our heads. Shoo! Shaun had never been back to Iowa or Minnesota with me, so I am grateful I got to show him the places of so many of my childhood memories, but again, it was hard and just didn't feel the same without my Grandparents there.

The next morning Shaun left with the 'rents and Rylan and I slept in a bit then went to visit my Great Grandpa at his nursing home. It took him a minute to process who I was, but I'm sure it would take me a while to remember faces if I were 98, too! We only stayed for a little bit (it's hard to contain an active 16-month-old in a small room with lots of "nos") and then hit the road again to Elizabeth and Dan's house. That trip and pics will have to wait for another post!

My second cousin Tanner was great with Rylan-she played with her all afternoon. At the bottom of the slide is my cousin Shelly, Tanner's mom, and my cousin Benita's son Jaylen.


It's hard to get Rylan to stay away from the slide once she gets started!


My Uncle Harry helping Rylan cruise the park


The merry-go-round is another one of Ry's fav things to do at the park!


Teeter-totter!


Mom and 5 of her 6 siblings-Dick, Charlene, Harry, Angie(missing), Debbie, Mom and Betty Jo. Angie was 20 miles away with a massive migrane. They took her to the ER the night before but she was still sick on Sunday. :-( We missed her!


Apparently Rylan is a lot like her Auntie Daunee' was-she prefers her own crib, complete with fan noise and a little music to sleep. I had to take her away from the action and fight her to get her to go down for even 30 minutes!


On the way to Minnesota-being a great traveler and playing peek-a-boo with Mommy and Daddy


Part 2 coming soon.....