You two look exactly alike...and you have the same NOSES!

Well over in my neck of the woods it is officially summer and what better way to start off my summer by having my big sister come and visit! Nichole flew in from North Carolina on Thursday afternoon and she left on Saturday morning. Short trip, I know...but it was well worth it! I can't remember the last time Nichole and I hung out together and it was just us....I'm thinking that time might be in highschool when we shared a room together....yea you get my point...it was a LONG TIME AGO!
So on Thursday night we came home, Walt fixed us salmon over a bed of salad with sweet potatoes...he totally catered to us. We drank some wine, and just talked. It was great. Friday morning we got up, went to Utica, ate lunch at Queenie's and then went shopping. When we were in Saks a lady came up to us and said, "Oh my gosh, you two look exactly alike...and you have the same noses!" Mine and Nichole's noses are definitely something that we do NOT like....that is the ONE THING that we do NOT want to have that is alike!! We HATE our noses!! I would LOVE it if someone told me that I had the same legs or knees as Nichole...but nose?? DO NOT LIKE IT AT ALL!! But we laughed it off any way. We then went to my school, Nichole was able to meet some of my teacher friends and then it was off to get pedicures!!
Friday night we went and ate at Garlic Rose...oh so good, and had the best time. Ben Kilgore was performing on the porch, and we were able to listen to him....i've tried really hard to find him on project playlist, and on itunes, and I can't! He was awesome...he sang songs from Ray LaMontange, Coldplay, and some oldies. After we were done eating, we went to the porch and listened to him....Nichole ordered a martini (woo-hoo) and I got another glass of wine, while Walt moved on to his drink of choice...beer. We then left and went to 1740...a wine bar...we each had one glass of wine and then came home.
It really was a great time with Nichole. We were able to just talk, eat good food, and drink great wine. Walt and I can't wait for Nichole, Greg and Jack to visit next time! I definitely was sad to see her leave but I know that Nichole was ready to get home to her boys!! She missed little Jack Man so much! Stay tuned for Monday's post...THIS is the post I've been talking about for so long!

Just two sisters... with noses that look exactly alike!

If you look closely you can see Ben Kilgore playing. He was SOOOO good!

Nichole and Walt after dinner....sitting on the porch

Action shot! Nichole showing me a great pic...and I just had to get a taste of that wine!

Isn't he adorable?!?

Take One

Take Two and it's Perfect!! New Facebook Profile Picture!!

Vintage 1740...the greatest, cutest wine bar ever!

Nichole, checking on Jack and looking to see what type of wine she wanted to drink....such a multi-tasker!!

Had to show you the color of my toes from my pedicure...always thinking about you bloggers!

Just exhibiting proper wine manners.....one must smell the wine and take it all in before they drink it. Hey...we are at a wine bar, aren't we??

Nichole and Walt engaged in a deep conversation. Loved it!

Too fast of a trip, but oh so glad she came to visit!!

The ABC's of what I'll miss....

Summer is now upon me. I must be honest....Friday was a VERY hard day for me. I don't expect many people to understand...Walt thinks I'm crazy, but when you are with the same 80 children EVERY DAY for TWO years....the last day of school can be tough. I shed many tears and my students shed many tears. This group of kids has impacted my life for the better. I became a better teacher because of them, I learned from all of them and I was reminded EVERY DAY why I became a teacher. I will miss them so much....and here's just a small glimpse of what I will miss over the summer..... A rlo and his buddies

B us rides C arnegie

D espereaux and their advertisements for him

E nergy at any time of the day

F ield Day

Mrs. G reen



H appy Faces


I ntelligent Boys

J ayden and J ack

K indness


L aughter


M atthew and M ason


iN class discussions


O rganized fun!

P rojects!!

Q uite and respectful young men



R ecess

S miles

T eaching Communication Skills

U nique personalities

V ibrant, growing kids

W illiam and his hula hoop

X treme competition


Y outhfulness

Bu Z Z Z Z Z Z ing of students talking

Was it just me.....

Or did Paula Abdul look ORANGE last night? Can't wait to find out the winner! My vote... this man right here:

Adam Lambert screams way too much!

In honor of the 4 days I have left...

I am SOOO excited about tonight! I have watched
every single season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette.
I LOVE Jillian and I was so excited to see that ABC picked her to be the new Bachelorette. Let's just hope that she
a.) doesn't reject the guy that she picks a month into it.
b.) doesn't break up with him on national t.v.
c.) actually picks someone good
d.) hopefully gets married so that Trista and Ryan will have a new bachelorette couple
I have watched the previews and have seen the guy with the foot fetish. GROSS. I mean I. LOVE. FEET. LOVE THEM, but seriously, to talk about it on National T.V......Not gonna happen.

On another note... I'm now down to 4 days until Summer... count 'em... FOUR DAYS. So in honor of today... I have the top 5 things that I will NOT miss about school:
1. 7:45... that's right, that's when the bell rings. So what time do I get there? Try anywhere between 6:50 and 7:00.
2. My alarm clock going off at 5:30 in the a.m.
3. Grading papers... now, I have a T.A. that does this for me..but I grade their tests... that's 80 kids' test...that's a lot.
4. 20 minute lunch period. TWENTY minutes...and most of my lunch time is spent with children finishing their class work.
5. EATING LUNCH at 10:45...HELLO?!?!?!?!?! Can we say I EAT BRUNCH?!? who gets hungry for lunch at 10:45. Now 11:00 ok, but 10:45....NO!

Gracie's Gifts

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week and I am always so overwhelmed with the generosity of gifts that I receive. Each day of the week we have themes and the kids are encouraged to bring their teacher something. It's always so fun to see what the kids bring. I had a student that worked really hard on his gift. His mom told me that he did it all by himself. He made me a "hanging frame" with 6 reasons as to why I am so great. They were as follows:

1. kind heart
2. so awesome
3. super encouraging
4. favorite teacher
5. very nice
6. really cool

For a boy to make something like that...it meant a lot. I took a picture so that I could post it on my blog:

His momma swears that it was ALL his idea, and he did everything! I can actually believe her, because he is a very artistic and creative 4th grader. This same child also felt like it was in his best interest to get something for Gracie. How sweet is that? He brought in a gift for her one day.....
She definitely is the "Royal Dog" of our household. If only I could get Gracie to love wearing shirts!
I also had another student of mine think that Gracie needed a shirt during Teacher Appreciation week. Oddly enough, both boys brought her a shirt on the same day. Don't worry, already asked dad if I could take his picture and put it on my blog...dad's the one taking the picture! He was SOOOOO proud of his shirt that he got for Gracie. He knows she is a tomboy, so he told me this shirt was perfect!
Isn't he the cutest thing ever?!?!?!

Gracie sporting her new shirt. Oh goodness...she is in need of a haircut SO BADLY!
So, of course I took her to get one! It is always so surprising to me when Gracie gets a haircut. I never know what she is going to look like when I go to pick her up! She is beautiful though!
They would put a pink bow in her hair.
Back to Teacher Appreciation Week. During T.A. week it was one of my student's birthday. Her daddy was going to be out of town for her birthday and she was really upset about it. Her mother asked if Walt and I would go out to dinner with her for her birthday because this would make her happy. Of course we agreed! She even let me go with her to get manis and pedis! Don't worry...I got permission for these pics too! We even got matching toenail polish!

Stay tuned to blogs every day next week! EVERY DAY! And one blog will be extremely exciting with some very important news revealed!!