I don't have a picture today, just words...

Today was a very busy but good day! School is just insane....but it's a good insane. All of the end of the year activities are coming and each day is filled with something different. I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left with my students, I hope they come back and visit me next year. The last two years I have taught 4th grade so I was able to see my kids for another year. It was much easier to say goodbye that way...

My mom came into town and is going with my aunt to New York tomorrow. I was able to have dinner with them in Bethesda, and that was just wonderful. I love family dinners and really miss having them. I am going to force my husband to have family dinners often once summer comes. I think that will be really good for us. I guess that means I will be busting out the cookbooks and visiting the grocery store often. I also think that this will help me shed the pounds that I gained over the past year...10 pounds, ouch. I am at my heaviest and am not liking it all. I guess that is what cold, snowy winters do to you.

I just ordered 4 new books for summer read off of Amazon.com, I can't wait to read them. One of the books I ordered was the prequel to Sex and the City. I had no idea the book even existed until my brother's girlfriend, Dani, told me. I am super excited about that. I also ordered Emilie Barnes' book More Hours in My Day. My friend Carolyn raved about it so I am looking forward to reading it and am open to any advice that she gives. I will keep you all updated on what I learn!

Two more weeks until I am off for the summer....it's been a trying year.....but I have learned so much about myself, being a wife, a northerner, shoveling snow....and I have grown so much as a teacher. I am looking forward to next year and think that things will be so much easier for me. I would have to say the last two years have been filled with so many new and exciting things....I am looking forward to even more new things happening over the next two years.

5th grade visits Philadelphia

Yesterday we took our 5th grade field trip to Philadelphia. It was a busy day but the kids had a great time. We toured Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Christ Church, and the Constitution Center. The kids arrived at the school around 6:15, had breakfast and we were on our way by 7:00 am. It took us about 3 hours to get there and as soon as we got there we were greeted by our tour guide. I wasn't too sure about him at first but he ended up being great. I felt rushed the entire trip but isn't that how it always is with 72 kids in a tourist area? On the way home we stopped at a rest stop, which is what the kids seemed to enjoy the most. They ate mounds of junk food....I am sure they went home sick. I am hoping to do a pluses/deltas chart with them tomorrow ... I will be surprised if food isn't the top item on the plus side. The kids made great memories, which is really all that matters in my opinion. Kids don't have a chance to be kids in school anymore and I find that kind of sad...my best memories of school were all of those fun activities, trips, movie days, holiday and birthday celebrations, crafts, etc. Our next trip is the pool party on Wednesday and then promotion a week later! Hooray for the end of school year activities.

Time to say goodbye

Well today is the day that we leave Florida. As sad as I am to leave I am also looking forward to getting back to Maryland and wrapping up the school year. We have so many fun things planned for the kids that I am excited about. It's been a good year and I feel like I have grown as a person and as a teacher because of it. Before I left Florida I had to get a picture of my beautiful matron of honor bouquet. Jaime's bouquet was white Calla lilies, the bridesmaids bouquets were purple Calla lilies, and mine was a mix of both..it was stunningly beautiful!

Paradise

The exhaustion from the fun filled wedding weekend finally wore off around 3:00 so we went for a boat ride. I miss boating, beaching it, and swimming and so much now that I am away for it. As we were on the boat on this beautiful day we saw a whole family of dolphins, seeing them never gets old. I had so much fun with my family on the boat. It's times like these that I miss the most.....I miss being surrounded by wonderful family and amazing friends..maybe one day I can have that again. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Here comes the bride

Today is a very special day. A day that one of my best friend's marries the love of her life. I am so honored to be standing by her side as her matron of honor. A few excerpts from my speech...

Separately, you are two special, remarkable people, but together you are complete. As you sit side by side through this roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loop the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn. My greatest wish for the two of you is that through the years, your love for each other will deepen and grow.

Please raise your glasses while I toast my best friend and her spectacular husband:
Take each day and cherish your time together. Love one another and stand together. Take time to talk to one another. Put your love and your family first; your job and your hobbies second. May your love be like the wind, strong enough to move the clouds, soft enough to never hurt, but always never ending. So here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers!


Although I didn't take a single picture at the wedding...I wanted to so badly but I just knew the day would be too crazy to worry about babysitting my camera all day so I wasn't able to....my husband got a few and I will be posting those once I get his camera and upload them.

It was an amazingly beautiful and perfect day.

I couldn't be happier for both Jaime and Matt. This picture was taken by me at her first dress fitting. I am in the background in my teal bridesmaid dress and her mom was in the corner..two of Jaime's biggest fans!

Toes!

In preparation for Jaime's wedding Jaime, Lauren, Joann, and myself went to get our nails done. I chose hot-alicious OPI pink for my piggies :) We had so much fun...love my girly days!

Sunday Funday?? Not today! :)

Today was a crazy day but we got so much done. We are leaving Thursday night for Jaime's wedding so we needed to run a bunch of errands and clean the house. I have such a hard time keeping the house cleaned...I am always so mad at myself for letting it get so messy and then I am always kicking myself on Sunday for it. I have so much respect for my mom who kept the house spotless, even with two kids running around. I keep telling Matt that if I keep working when I have kids we are going to have to consider getting a housekeeper because I can't even keep up with cleaning up after the two of us..let alone any additions to our family. Today we went to Jos. A. Bank to get Matt some suits (he really cleans up well) and then went to PetCo to get Abby some special treats. They have this great cookie bar/bakery where you can choose which treats you want and you can make your own baggie filled with them. Matt picked out the letter shaped treats and spelled out, Abby! She is so spoiled and loved :). Then we headed to Trader Joe's..it was crazy there, as usual. I am finally done cleaning the downstairs..now I have to tackle the upstairs but I figured I deserved a break. I think the break is now over...tata for now :)