Memorial Day...

These first three photos were taken downtown on Saturday...the flags all caught my eye...I guess my photographer friend and I caught the eyes of the bikers, which made a PERFECT shot!! More later on what we were doing...


We spent Monday afternoon at the pool with friends...

this is DD, the "pool diva", who decided it was *way cooler* to hang out with the paparazzi (ie, me)...she let us know this by screaming anytime someone tried to coax her into the water! What really made this even sweeter was that she wore her swim gear the whole time...she was all about the "look", just not the water!



And of course, all that sittin' by the pool made her need a little snack (reduced fat variety, keeps us in swimsuit shape)...


The *big* kids (and I use that term loosely) also had some fun...

laughing...


splashing...

squirting...

climbing and tossing...

and just plain relaxing...aaahhh...

Hope your Memorial Day was memorable in many ways...

POTW...Happiness is...

Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.

There's nothing quite funnier than...

...first grade boys *thinking* they know all the latest dance moves- and then showing you.

TOO funny.

Wish I had video...

Peach Party...

I just finished reading James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl to my first graders, and today we *celebrated* by watching the movie as we enjoyed peach ice cream and gummy worms. Yes, I am "the best ever" according to my students.

Here are some insights made today by my students...

* In the book there are Cloud Men; in the movie there are Pirate Skeletons. That's because Tim Burton made the movie, and he must have had some leftover skeletons from "Nightmare Before Christmas".
* That's also why YOU think the movie is scary, Mrs. S- because Tim Burton makes scary movies.
* James' aunts are a lot meaner and uglier in person than in the book.
* James' burping up the magic green worm is kinda gross.
* Oh, man- when he burps it up, he turns into a real boy again...bummer. HEY, that's just like Pinnochio!
* That peach is HUGE! When do we get to see it roll on top of everyone?
* Mrs. S, they made the voices in the movie sound just like the way you read it!

So, if you are a little clueless, I suggest you read the book and MAYbe...watch the movie.

Proud Mama...

Today was the middle school awards ceremony, and D received three awards- make me SMILE!

He was awarded a leadership award (for his service as Student Council President); a service award (for going above-and-beyond in his service hours); and the biggest surprise, the Milo Coerper Middle School Choir Award, for outstanding vocal/musical performance over the three years of middle school!

He also just found out that he made Chamber Singers for 08-09 (a group of 20 HS vocal performers- he was one of 2 boys who made the cuts) and he was named to the Trident Basketball League's All-Conference Team!

He was a little proud, too...






And just for sweetness sake, here's the other awesome boy in our family, who's award ceremony is NEXT week!

To be two again...

Happy Birthday, Jonah!

Has anyone else heard this crazy song?...

..."If I Had a Million Dollars" by the Barenaked Ladies?

I have to admit, when I first heard it on the radio, I thought it was a commercial. Then I thought I had left one of my preschool CDs in my player. I would have NEVER thought it was sung by the BNL, but I must say, it's a pretty ridiculously-funny-stupid song. But kinda sweet in an odd-ball sort of way.

Check it out for yourself on you-tube.

Happiness is...

Summertime's callin' me...

Only ten more days until...aaahhh...



"I wanna sit there in the sand..."

All About Me...TAGGED!

1. Post the rules at the beginning...
2. Answer the questions about myself..
3. At the end of the post, I tag 5 people and post their names
4. Then go to their blogs and leave a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and ask them to read my blog for the info.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? May 1998...I was teaching my last few weeks of 6th grade science at the School of the Arts, knowing that I was going to be lessening my workload and teaching half-day K5 in the fall...I was on my way to being a SAHM! I was very excited, especially since I had a four year old (David) and a 1 year old (Jacob).

2) Five things on my TO DO list today? Get my first graders' projects ready for our Mother's Day Tea tomorrow; take Jacob to an ortho appt; take Jacob to guitar at 4:15; go to the gym and run three miles; try to destress...DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE!

3) Things I would do if I were a Billionaire ...set ourselves and our families up for life; travel a LOT; start my own preschool; spend lots of time (and money) with friends; own an RV and two brand new cars; buy lots of clothes and shoes for me and my family; buy books at BN whenever I felt like it; give a lot away, probably as different people/situations/charities came into my life. That's a start.

4) Three of my bad habits? When I get stressed, I fuss at everyone about everything. I get stressed pretty easily, I have a hard time letting go. I don't talk to or see my friends as much as I should.

5) Five places I've lived...Charleston (West Ashley); Columbia (downtown, West, and St. Andrews area); in Rome, Italy for two weeks; in 22 states over 30 days in an RV. Pretty boring.

6) Five jobs I've had ...library assistant; gift basket organizer/maker; babysitter; daycare worker; Shabbas Goy (wanna take a guess?); college dorm office assistant; scrapbook consultant. That's more than five, I know, I know. And teacher, wife, and mom don't make the list because they aren't jobs, they are ME.

Five people I'm tagging...1. Larry 2. Lori 3. Becky 4. Tommy 5. Michelle