May 31st

These are our visitors for the week. All but one hatched today at work. They are housed in our Autistic class and the students are loving it. I will attempt to pick one up tomorrow.

May 30th

We went to the Veteran's Memorial today in Ocean Pines. It was nice to see all the veterans and people still serving honored and remembered. James bent down to touch his father's dedicated brick.

May 29th

We played our second annual softball game today.   After  the kids jumped into the canal behind the house. Jonathan had so much fun.  I was very impressed with the fact that he kept jumping in.  We then took a ride on the Susan B. Anthony.  What a beautiful day.

May 28th

We had dinner at the Bertino household.  A great back yard barbecue. My niece bought balloons that make noise when you let them go.  Besides the great food and company, we had a ball blowing the balloons up and letting them go.  Many got stuck in the trees and on the roof, but others came down to be blown up again.

May 27th

Last night we went out to Chickies & Petes for dinner. Food was amazing as always. My mom and Mark came with. Good food and great company!

May 26th

I was having a bad day at work.  Some of my students were very trying.  Mark texted the 7th and 8th grade teachers the day before to remind them that it was my birthday.  They got me a cake and a card (which the kids signed too).  It made my day.

Here is the card.  I can't help but laugh when I hear it.

May 25th

We decided to do tye-dying with the girls. We all plan on wearing our shirts for fly-ups next week. Here are Rachel's and mine.

May 24th

James sent me a text on the way to Camporee that read:
"Your son just got ice cream and he looked at the cherry and said, 'Daddy, there's a big hole in my cherry!' Should I tell him you've had the same problem for years?"
I laughed so hard in seeing this text.  During our ice cream social I sent him this picture.

I told him that my cherry is fine.

May 23rd

We had a great time camping with the girls and today was hard getting up for work.  This was the creek behind our tents.  The sound of nature put me right out (when I finally got to bed).  It was nature's sleep machine.  Below is my tent with Michelle, Dana and Caroline.  Michelle's daughter slept in a tent, but Michelle stayed in a cabin.  Maybe next time we can talk her into joining us!

May 22nd

On the way home from camporee I decided to fill up the rest of my tank. I couldn't resist. Gas prices haven't been this low in a while. I noticed the station across the street was 2 cents lower.

May 21st

We went on a great hike today. Nicole did the CMSU patch with the girls. After campfire we ate s'mores and then had an ice cream social.  Nothing like sugaring the girls up and then trying to get them to go to sleep!

May 20th

At camporee up at Camp Laughing Waters. I am sleeping in a tent along with Dana and some of the girls. It's a little bit marshy here, but at least it's not raining.

May 19th

Went with the 6th grade MG students at my kids' school down to WHYY. They received an award for a project they did.

May 18th

I am so happy to see that my rhodadendrons are finally blooming.

May 17th

Today our guest speaker was Eric Combs, Ohio teacher of the year in 2006. He is now a principal. He came to talk to us about motivating our students, doing project based learning and starting off small. He was very interesting and kept us laughing all day.

May 16th

I was at the Girl Scout store today to get badges for my troops. I have been eyeing this Precious Moment for months, being a brownie leader for a few years, so I bought it.

May 15th

Happy birthday to Natalie. Her cake was amazing to look at and very tasty too. Dave & Dan are such goofs!

May 14th

It was pretty funny watching Dana squeeze her body into this tiny little car ride.

May 13th

This is the bar at the front of the pool area at Sahara Sams. It was closed! What a tease! We were there doing a sleepover with the girl scouts.

May 12th

I just love the look of this tree. The heart has been painted on it for a long time.

May 11th

We just got the cookie prizes from Girl Scouts. I'd say my daughter cleaned up! She was excited and I just see all the stuff I am going to have to clean up. I think I get the blanket for doing my share in selling.

May 10th

Today, teachers all over the city picketed before school started. There are so many changes to the budget it's horrible.

May 9th

I really hope that I can get these flowers to root.  Savannah gave me Morning Glories the other day.  I love the way they close at night and re-open in the morning.

May 8th

We did our annual luncheon for Mother's Day. I then planted flowers in my mother's garden.

May 7th

I am so proud of my children for making their First Communion today.  They looked so beautiful and handsome!

May 6th

Brianna and I made Mother's Day gifts for all the moms we will see at the brunch on Sunday.  Brianna made cute pencil holders and I made the picture.  I had Jonathan and Rachel make the cards.

May 5th

Happy Cinco De Mayo! The nurse just put up this bulletin board outside her office. I started to laugh when I passed by and had to get a picture. Talk about the age of technology, eh?

May 4th

I love showing off student work in my building. The second graders created tables with either Chinese, Egyptian or Native American influence. I love the way they came out.

May 3rd

The girls made Mother's Day gifts at scouts.  This is what Rachel made for me.  SSHHHH.....don't tell her that I peeked!

May 2nd

Yesterday was the first time I was on a horse in about 14 years.  Stormy was great and even trotted for me.  It's a shame that I couldn't walk right though today, but I had a ball!

May 1st

We had so much fun playing with the horses today. I was amazed to see my children walk up to them and pet them without fear.