2011-2012 ~ YEAR #12!

Today I begin my twelfth year of teaching!  TWELVE? How did that happen?  Where did the time go? 

All you have to do is read my posts about school last year to know it was a tough year.  By far the toughest!  There were many, many challenges but, now that I'm on the other side, I can honestly say that I'm a better teacher for having "endured" it.  I have more tools for my toolbox and more tricks up my sleeve. 

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm excited about today. (If you've been praying for me, THANK YOU!  I'm only ready to go back because of that!)  I've met my class and they seem so sweet!  I'm ready to reclaim my joy in the profession I love so much! 



Last Weekend of Freedom

I started back to school (work days) last Monday.  Other than my computer crashing (the Lord healed it, thankfully), a HUGE scheduling mess, and temporarily losing my keys for 30 min (I thought I was going to be stranded at the High School!), it started off pretty well.  Because Mom helped me set up my classroom on the weekend and because Kelly and I had already planned, I was ahead the entire week.  As a teacher, this NEVER happens.  It felt great!

I had Friday off.  Garrett and Ethan came to school and helped me put away tissues and Clorox wipes and pass out papers and pencils.  I loved having their help!  That evening Abby, Tonya, Mom, Tina and I kept up the traditional "back to school pedicures".  This year, to save a little money, we just did them ourselves.  The "party" went a little long, so Abby stayed the night with me (a first!) so that she didn't have to get up early and go to the football field.  I love getting to spend girl time with Abs!

Saturday, I didn't do much of anything until later in the evening when we celebrated Mom and Dad's birthday!!  My parents are amazing!  I love them so much!!  This year we got them both shoes.  Dad-new tennis shoes and Mom-new, frivolous sandals.  (Seriously, SO CUTE!)

Ahh, cousins!  They love hanging out!

 Pop's farm buddy.

 Kenley loved the chocolate cake.  Can you tell?  :)

Finally, today, I went riding.  What a beautiful day for it!!  Stormy was perfect and gave me such a great ride!  It was just what I needed.  I feel so relaxed and ready to face the week!

Vacation - Day 4 - Sun Kissed & Water Logged

Another great day!  Breezier, but the intensity of the sun seemed to be more extreme.  While vacationing I loved my quiet morning time at the beach!!

This morning we enjoyed Grammy's delicious scrambled eggs and ham and we took our time getting ready.

 Today Mom, Dad, and I swam out to a sandbar just a little farther away from the shore.  Here we were able to enjoy the clear, turquoise ocean we've grown to love!  Later I talked Chris, Garrett, and Ethan into swimming out with me.  We each grabbed a boogie board and swam out.  This was a little hard for Garrett.  Two years ago he was sucked out by a rip current.  And I mean sucked out - in an instant.  SO scary!!  I'm so proud of him, though, because he worked through this fear!  While on the sandbar a "dolphin cruiser" drove by just 50 yards away with a dolphin swimming and jumping behind it.  So cool!!  We got some amazing waves from it too!!   This was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Today I was very, very good about reapplying sunscreen.  I watched the clock carefully and was never late.  This is what leads me to believe the sun was more intense.  I got a sunburn today!  :(  So glad it was the last day.  Also, after several days of being here, today was the day I walked off the beach with "raccoon" eyes.  When we came in for lunch around 1:30, I was beginning to feel it and thought I should probably quit for the day.  We were all pretty pooped!

Later in the afternoon Chris rented a kayak and took the boys out for a spin.

This evening we walked to shop for some souvenirs.  The boys wanted to go home with tattoos!

Thanks, Pop!

As I type this some are packing, some are eating dinner, and some are watching T.V.  I'll miss that about vacation - the freedom of not being on a schedule and very little responsibility!  However, I am anxious to get home and see the rest of the fam and a certain little, white fluffball!



Vacation - Day 3 - Surf n' Sand

I got up a little before 8:00 this morning to enjoy some quiet time at the beach.

I brought my book - the one I saved to read just for this trip and haven't had time to - but couldn't pull my eyes away from this view.  I couldn't help but look at out the seemingly endless ocean and think about it being like God's love - so deep and never ending.  As I was thanking Him for who He is, three dolphins swam by.  They came even closer than some people swimming yesterday.  It was truly breathtaking!

After an hour or so I headed back up to eat breakfast with those who were up.

After a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy, we were out among 'em again.  We were so glad that the seaweed was so much better today!!

BIG NEWS today!!  Ethan lost his first tooth!  He's been waiting FOREVER for this!  He's not quite as toothless as Abby, but he's on his way.

 Tonight Mom and Dad and I went out for seafood.  We ate at Floyd's and had some delicious coconut shrimp, grouper, and popcorn shrimp. 

We came back and took some pictures on the beach.

 So thankful for another great day full of sun with temperatures cooler than home, believe it or not!  The day was made better because I've been getting several sweet texts from Sara.  Texts of Chloe being spoiled with belly rubs!!  I may not get her to come home with me!  Thanks, Sara, for taking such good care of her.

Vacation - Day 2 - Fun in the Sun

What a great day!!  A fabulous day!!  We were blessed today with a beautiful, cloudless day AND the weather was glorious!!  A high of 89 degrees!  It was so much cooler than home.  (And I have to mention that I love that there are no bugs in Florida!!)

We started the day with some delicious french toast, pancakes, bacon, and sausage.  (Well, actually, Dad started the day for everyone by getting up and turning on every possible light to make coffee.  To make coffee with our bottled water!)  After "gooping" up we finally headed out.

 

 For some reason there was a lot (and I mean A LOT) of seaweed!  So, we soaked up the beach for quite awhile and then spent most of the rest of the day in the lazy river. Chase made it his personal mission to stick me directly under the waterfalls.  He is SO STRONG.  My arms are so tired from trying to pull away from him, but I had so much fun!!

 We ended the day with a delicious steak dinner...

...and Grammy's made-from-scratch brownies while watching one of our favorites, "Wild Hog's".  The boys love watching this with Pop.

I can't tell you how many times today we talked about missing the "rest of us".  Matt, Tonya, Jacob, Abby, the only thing that could make this better is you guys!  We miss you!!