Welcome to 1st Grade

Well, it’s back to work!!! We (the teachers) started back to school Monday and the kids start this coming Monday. I’ve been working like a mad woman trying to get everything organized and ready to go on that first day of school.

It is SO hard to believe this summer is over. This has been the best summer I’ve had so far (as a teacher). I got to go on 2 amazing trips, decorate my house (a little), and just relax. I also didn’t have to completely do or redo my classroom this year (Thank the Lord!)

Last night was Meet the Teacher night so I got to see about half my students. Most of them brought their school supplies so I got all that organized today. Right now, I have 19 students…I’m sure that will change come Monday.

Here’s a look at all my hard work so far….
Switching gears....take a look at my beautiful hibiscus!!! I love hibiscus ~ they are my favorite summer flower.

The Wild Man

For the past 2 days I’ve had the privilege of babysitting my youngest nephew Gavin. We have had a fun time together but he has wiped me out!!! Yesterday we went to the park, McDonald’s, Sam’s and Wal-Mart. Today we’ve just played around the house. I’m so blessed to have such wonderful kids in my life.

New First

I have experienced a new first for me. Today I went to the dentist for my 6 month check-up and I have my first cavity. I had been preparing myself for a couple of days that this might happen because I’ve been feeling some plan for the past month when I chew on the left side of my mouth. However, even with all the preparing….I still had to work hard to hold back the tears as I drove from the dentist office. I’m very sad…I’ve made it 29 years without a cavity. After my last appointment in December I kind-of knew there was a chance that I’d have a cavity soon because they said there was a spot that they wanted to keep a close eye on, but still….I at least wanted to make it until I was at least 30 before my first cavity!

Anyways….enough pouting…It’s time to get over it. I’m very nervous about getting my tooth filled next Tuesday so keep me in your prayers!

Florida Fun

Last week Kristian and I took a little vacation to Pensacola Beach, Florida. One of her friends from high school got married on the beach and she needed someone to go with her….I cheerfully volunteered to join her.

We left on a Thursday and came back on Monday. Our hotel was right across the street from the beach so it was a short walk across the parking lot each day….it worked out perfectly.
We spent most of our time on the beach laying out and soaking up the rays. The beach was beautiful. The sand was so white and fine. The water was nice and warm the first three days…but the last day it was pretty cool. There were also lots of jellyfish in the water the last day we were there.
We ate dinner at a local restaurant, Peg Leg Pete’s, 3 out of the 4 nights we were there…it was delicious! We shared the fried shrimp and we didn’t leave a drop of anything on the plate each day. I loved it.
It was a great vacation with my youngest sis…I’m so glad we had the opportunity to do this together, hopefully we’ll be able to have more little vacations together in the future.

The Big Apple

We’re back from our trip to NYC! We had so much fun and we got to see so many things on our list of things-to-do….it was a wonderful yet exhausting trip!

We spent the night in Dallas Wednesday night so we could wake up at 4:15am on Thursday to get ready to go to the airport and catch our plane. We checked in at the airport at 5:40am and our plane left DFW at 7:40 (we had a little delay because of weather). We arrived in NYC at 11:55am and finally got to our hotel around 2pm. The shuttle ride from the airport to our hotel was both crazy and scary. I don’t know how anyone could or would drive in NYC. Those people are maniacs! I seriously thought we were going to have a wreck several times. It was definitely an experience we’ll never forget. After we got checked in and got our stuff in our small room (smallest hotel room I think I’ve ever stayed at and it was the most expensive hotel I’ve ever stayed in) we set out to see the Big Apple. We visited Time Square (that’s where our hotel was at), St. Patrick’s Church, 5th Avenue and Broadway. We ate lunch at Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. That night we got all dressed up and went to watch the Broadway musical, Wicked. It was wonderful and I loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend if you go to NYC…go see Wicked! You won’t regret it.

Time Square

Us at Wicked.

Friday morning we woke up and bought tickets to ride a tour bus around the city…that was a good choice because it allowed us to see a lot more of the city than if we would have just walked around…NYC is a very big place. We rode around Manhattan, walked the entire Brooklyn Bridge, ate lunch at the Hard Rock Café, visited the World Trade Center site (it was very sad to be there…I had work hard to hold back the tears), went to see Yankee Stadium (unfortunately they were out of town while we were there) then took a bike-cab ride around Central Park.

A picture of the Empire State Building from our bus tour.

The Brooklyn Bridge

New construction at Ground Zero, where the World Trade Centers once stood.

Yankee Stadium (the new one)Central Park

Saturday we got back on the tour bus and went around upper Manhattan and Harlem, visited the Museum of Natural History, Macy’s, Grand Central Station, got all dressed up to eat dinner at Rosie O’Gradys and watched the musical Chicago. The actress Chandra Wilson (she plays Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy) played Matron “Mama” Morton. I enjoyed the performance…but (to me) Wicked was better.

Inside Macy's.

It was crazy busy...felt like Christmas time.

Grand Central Station

All dressed up for Chicago. Isn't my hubby cute?!?!

Sunday we took at boat ride to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty then went to Ellis Island to look around. We stood in line for ½ price Broadway tickets, bought souvenirs, got all dressed up ate dinner at Lindy’s (not a good choice) and watched the musical Mama Mia. It was very enjoyable and I liked it a lot. Afterwards, we changed and went back out to enjoy our last night in NYC.

Us at Ellis Island

Monday we woke up early (actually we never really went to sleep…terrible neighbors!) went to the Today show…we were actually on it…a little….you could see Steven and kind-of see me jumping up and down in the back. It sucks being short! We went back to Central Park one last time, walked around the streets of Manhattan once more then took a taxi to the airport.

The Today show.

One more visit to Central Park (one of my favorite things about NYC).

We arrived at DFW around 5pm, ate dinner and drove home. We pulled into our driveway around 9:30pm. It was nice to sleep in our bed again.

I loved our trip to NYC and I would like to go back again someday…I doubt Steven would want to go back with me but he also had a good time. Hopefully after we get finished paying for this trip we can start saving up for our next adventure!

NYC....Here We Come!!!!

We’re leaving today to go to Dallas and spend the night so we can get up early in the morning and head to the airport. I am SO excited that our trip is finally here!!

There’s only one little glitch in our trip so far….the weather! It is supposed to rain every day we’re in the Big Apple…but have no fear….that’s why they invented rain gear! We both purchased a rain outfit yesterday so we’re ready! (We think.) It’s also supposed to be pretty cool while we’re there so instead of packing all shorts and tank tops…I’ve got blue jeans and sweatshirts. I’m determined to not let the weather get me down.

We’ve got tickets to see Wicked Thursday night and then after that we really don’t have any plans…we know there’s going to be a lot of walking around and sightseeing. I also want to eat a LOT of food while I’m there!!! I can’t wait!!!

Jessica's baby shower

This weekend I had the privilege of hosting the baby shower of one of my oldest and bestest friends, Jessica. She is pregnant with her first baby, a little girl to be named Mary Ella. It was so much fun having Jessica and her husband Brad stay the night with us Saturday night and go to church with us Sunday.

After church we had the baby shower at my house and it was so wonderful. We had such a good turnout and it was so nice to see and visit with people that mean so much to Jessica and to me.

I can’t wait to meet Mary Ella!

Me, Jessica & Neelie