Another update!

Here's us, recently....

 

I love this jacket! I got one for both D and M. Love Osh Kosh.  Carter's stops at age 7... thank heavens for Osh Kosh. I think little boys should look sweet- NOT like hoodlums. Just sayin.

 

The crab in our pool. So me!

A night by the fire pit. Bliss.

Swim time!

And a fifth tooth gone!

Last of the lazy days of summer

We managed one more outing to the local pool/lazy river/mini water park. We went here on Memorial Day to kick off the summer and here we are ready to go back to school again. I cannot stress enough how much I love my job, and much of that is because I get to spend a lot of time with my boys, both in the afternoons and during the summer. I am really grateful for all of the time they want to spend with me- I will be sad when that changes!

 

And, oh yeah- D lost his fourth tooth!

Birthday gifts

During the final stages of Project Pool the cable line got cut, so we have been without TV and Internet for a few days. My mobile phone commonly has problems getting a signal in our house so it has been relatively technology- free around here.

Anyway, I turned 36 on Sunday. I got some sweet presents from my friends and family. It is nice to be treated!!

 

 

My Mom got me some Vera Bradley stuff. It is very popular here.

I really wanted a good kitchen knife so I got one, and the boys picked out a serving dish and platter for me. They want to put chips and salsa in it!

A Barbie pink vintage suitcase. Can't explain it, but I have been wanting it!!

Anyway, on Monday it was back to the grindstone for me. This year promises to be super busy! As I anticipated, I will no longer be on the Junior (English 3) Team- our team leader moved to AP (Advanced Placement) Juniors and I moved to Pre-AP Sophomores, with two classes of Senior English. I have a few of my students from last year on my roster and I must admit it will be nice to have some familiar faces in the room on the first day. It has been a whole new experience learning this new curriculum but I am excited!

Another cousin visit

The gang from Michigan came down for a quick visit this past weekend.

The boys had fun together, but let's just say they are not exactly excited about picture taking!

 

Cuties!

The boys are obsessed with these weird, beanie-baby type animals... especially M! My Mom started the craze and we found two more at a shop in the Hill Country last weekend- I think we have enough now. D and M wanted to line them up and have a movie-watching party when we got home.... oh my.

 

It's actually pretty sweet though; I know they won't want stuffed animals forever!

 

Hill Country weekend

As we continue to try to hang on to the last bit of summer, we took a short trip to the Texas Hill Country this past weekend. We stayed on a large ranch in a cabin with river access, and we explored a LOT of watering holes (as well as the wildlife on the ranch.) It was super hot but we had a great time nonetheless. Now, to mentally start preparing for school/work again....

 

Long time no see!

My blogging skills these past, ahem, 7 months have been pretty crappy. I had some trouble uploading photos to blogspot and I ended up abandoning lions and tigers. I now have the photo thing figured out and I promise to be a better blogger!

So- here's a bit of us these past months.... 

 

 This is my team- English 3- on one of the last days of the school year. We buy matching shirts cause we're total geeks. I hope we stay together this next year but our department has had a lot of changes and I am not sure what will happen in 2013-14.

The feet of my Math Department besties. (No swimsuit photos, gotta protect the innocent.) They say they adopted me from English- ha! We have met for Happy Hour nearly every Friday since the beginning of the school year, and this was a photo taken at my friend Susanne's house on the last day of school.

We have spent a lot of time swimming this summer! M finally learned to go out on his own and now he calls himself a guppy.

 We checked out the Houston Aquarium. It was very fun!

Best thing ever- a visit from Aunt M and cousins E and E!!!

 Blurry, but we all walked Loppie in our jammies!

Grandma is the BEST!

And oh yeah... we took a fantastic trip to Northern Europe with lots of adventures (including a seriously exhausting day exploring Amsterdam) and Project Pool FINALLY got underway. It should be done in 2 weeks!

The boys... M did NOT like his spikes.

More updates to come!