Long Time, No See (Part 2)

The weather has been BEAUTIFUL for our Spring Break, a little cooler than normal (so no swimming this week), but still GREAT!!! We all went to the Zoo on Monday, and as always, a fabulous time was had by all! I really do think our zoo is one of the best! I LOVE how you can feed the giraffes (and Brantlee does too...ask her about her giraffe experience the next time you see her!). I got a lot of great shots of Logan with "Chrissy," the giraffe. Here are a few of our pictures from the day!

As a mom (and as a teacher) I LOVE when I see either of my boys applying what they have learned. Without anyone asking him too, Logan was reading the signs all on his own. When I noticed what he was doing, I walked over closer to listen, and it just melted my heart! He got almost every word right, and was so proud to have read it by himself!!! Awesome!!!

So glad, we have the same Spring Break! Cara and Brantlee with both our boys! Flamingos are pretty, but they sure don't smell pretty!

Here's that awesome giraffe, Chrissy! She stayed with Logan for quite a while! So neat!!!

Love these two with ALL my heart!!! You can't even tell they were giving each other a hard time right before I snapped this picture! :)

Group shot with Uncle Mike! Glad he's got a membership that lets us all go!!! What a great day!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Long Time, No See (Part 1)

Well, those of you that know me, know that I am not typically a reader. I know, how can I be a teacher and not like to read!?! I LOVE children's books, and can read those ALL day long, but typically I don't like to read "grown up" books myself. Austin wanted to see the movie of the Hunger Games, and I told him I would take him to see it IF he read the book first. Then, I thought I should read it before he did to make sure it was appropriate for him to read. I could not put his Kindle down! I read that whole book in about a day (Friday evening and Saturday morning)! It was FABULOUS!!! Roger and Austin have both read it too, and we all saw the movie last weekend. FABULOUS!!! Since reading it, Austin has taking a liking to archery....so, Grandmother and Pa-Paw treated him to his new bow! He's been loving it!!!


Well, Logan lost another tooth. This is his 2nd one. He pulled this one out himself riding in the car after a soccer game. He was quite proud, and decided to leave the Tooth Fairy a note... (quite cute, if I say so myself)!


We couldn't find their tooth pillow we usually use, so Logan put his tooth in the big blue egg. Love his little note....

A Blast from the Past

So, our wonderful, non-sleeping, highly respected, caring, kind hearted, purposeful, innovative, (could go on FOREVER) principal, "Dr. B," announced on Monday that he is retiring...I'm very happy for him for what is to come (a grandbaby and a great opportunity to help make an educational impact across our nation, as well as others!), but also a little (okay, a LOT!!!!) sad to see him go! Anyway, the reason I am even mentioning this is because this has prompted me to go through some photos (over 15,000-REALLY!) from the last five years (since our school has been open), and I came across some sweet memories....and, some good pictures of my boys! When CSES opened, Austin wasin first grade, and Logan was just one and a half. This was also before my blogging time....so, I just have to share a few! It's amazing how quickly time flies by!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my sweet boys!!! Can you tell from the shin guards and cleats we were headed to soccer practice? This was a drive through during on of our Sonic Nights. Look how little Logan was (sniff, sniff!)

No clue what this was from other than it's Austin in the cafeteria for something.

This is Austin at his desk in first grade (Mrs. Gamble's room). He's all smiles for the camera! What a cutie!!!

This was the First Grade Sonic Night...around Halloween. They had the kids wear their costumes when they came. It was a big hit!!!

Austin's group in first grade...they all look so tiny!

The Spring Soccer Season Begins

We started out the season at Logan's game first. He gets SO excited about playing and FOR SURE has a competitive streak. He has lots of fun playing, but he can't wait to move up and play where they have a real goalie! He gets a very determined look on his face if/when the other team scores, and even after he scores on himself he only peeks out a little smile because you can see him calculating how many more they need to catch back up. He is so fun to watch! :)

Go, Red Dragons!!! You can see Logan going after the ball (below) and Logan right after he scored a goal (above). He played the first two quarters today so we could leave early to make it to Austin's game in Swansea on time!


We raced over to Swansea for Austin's game next. His team is GOOD this season! :) Yay!!! He plays mostly defender, and the sun was in full force so it was hard to get lots of good pictures at this game. I'm really glad he likes to play soccer too! It certainly helps him stay active when it's not football season! You can see how bored the goal side of our field got...yes, those are his hands in his pockets!!!

He did get a little action (and he almost scored when he played up front as forward) in the back!

This is what we enjoy watching on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays...at least, until May!

Smoking Drains and Trooper's Haircut

What in the World!?!

Last Friday it rained stormed almost all day...so much so, we actually had a real tornado drill at school (guess it's not really called 'drill' if it's real) around 1:20! All around here was fine, thank goodness!!! After school all the neighborhood boys were playing (and they really hop from house to house between ours, the one across the street, the one next door, and the one diagonal from us). I am SO glad they all play so well together!!! They had all been inside Keller's house, and I could hear some shouting (excited) and glanced out the window....to which I see the entire street FILLED with smoke and see our boys out near it (shouting with excitement, remind you). I was like, what in the world!?! as I ran out the front door! And, guess what I see? Mr. Bruce (Keller's dad) helping the boys light smoke bombs and dropping them into the (wet) drains. Not sure who the bigger kids are (ha!). By the time I could go get my camera to "document" this most of the smoke had stopped, but the boys were having a BLAST!!! :)


Thought I would share a recent picture of Trooper! He just got his first "real" haircut yesterday. Last time they just did a puppy trim to get him used to being there, but this time they did everything like they should for a mini-schnauzer.

He didn't even look like the same puppy when I picked him up! Comparing him back to when we first got him....wow! Look at the difference!


I have a few more pictures and things to post but they are on the other camera (at school). So, once I get them off, I will add those! (soon, I hope!). I'll have pics to post with Kate's new car, and next weekend we are going to Raleigh to meet Eli....can't wait to hold that sweet baby! You KNOW I will have my camera for that!

Projects, Furniture, and Diploma

Another post of randomness and happenings...


Look what was shipped to me yesterday!!! It's officially, official! :) I did find out that I have to take one more (ugh) test to finalize the Principal certification in SC, but this one is supposed to be easier (and two hours shorter) than the one I have already taken. I go take that on March 10th. After that, hopefully I'll be totally done with all this....until it's time to interview (GULP, GULP!!!)!!!


Well, we finally (and I say that lightly because we have gone to buy furniture several times but the shape of our living room makes it difficult for the pieces we wanted)got new furniture, and as you can see it made us totally rearrange the way we had the living room set up! We're still trying to get used to it (and I am still on the hunt for laptop/drink holder things since we had to do away with the end table for this to fit)....I do LOVE that all four of us can sit TOGETHER all bunched up!!! It's quite comfy!!! :)


Here's Austin's 3-D Ocean Floor Project (made with bendaroos)! He did a great job, and he actually did do most of this completely by himself! :) Though I must say, I am glad it DONE!!! (and, yes, I have thought about saving this one for when Logan gets to 5th grade...but I really WON'T!!!)

CSE Skate Night

CSE had it's first ever Family Skate Night yesterday! What a great turnout we had!
Here's a picture of both our boys just before we were leaving. Yes, that is sweat all over Austin. Our genius child skated with his hoodie on the whole time. They both had a great time skating with friends!
So, glad Kristin took a picture of me and Logan. I'm usually the one behind the camera (as you can see it in my hand)! First time I had been on skates in a LONG time! Proud to say I didn't fall once!

On a totally different note...all around us (in our school district, at our school, and even friends/football family) it seems the tragedy of death keeps slapping us in the face! :( It's a brutal, harsh reality that life is totally precious and unpredicatable! I pray for the affected families with a heavy heart, and I squeeze my own family in MUCH tighter!!! Love, love, love my boys (all three of them!!!)!!!!