I'm still alive. No really--I am!

Hey folks!  The 2011-2012 school year is underway, and I'm sorta kinda starting to feel like a normal routine is well on its way.  I'm so very thankful for that!

Anyway...

Here are couple of topics for tonight's post:

1. Claire! My fellow 30 year old friend!  Claire turned the big 3-0 on Friday, and I was pumped to spend the weekend with her in the 'ham.  Some of her Bham friends hosted a party for her, and it was fun to get to go. 

The birthday girl!

Some of the decor.  And yes--that's a worm garland.  You have to know Claire to really understand its significance.

Umm.  Yeah.  Yum.

Aren't we cute? ;)



Me and Mary Beth!  So happy to see this Bham friend while I was there!  Oh how I love her.



2. Next,  I want to ask that you click here and check out the blog of some friends of mine!  They're a pretty amazing family of 4 waiting to adopt a little boy from Ethiopia!   Doesn't that just touch your heart?

Here are a couple of simple ways you can help this sweet family in their journey:

a. Order a T-shirt from them!

b. Simply click on the "donate" icon on the right of their blog to give a monetary donation.

c. Contribute unused household items to their upcoming garage sale (particularly if you're in the Starkville area!)

d. Remember this family in your prayers!

Make sure you leave a comment and follow their blog!  Oh--and help spread the word, too! 

3. My little sis is getting back to blogging (I THINK!), but she's about to go private, so don't miss your chance to get on her email list so you can continue to follow her blog and watch little Jones grow!

Click here to get on the email list!

4. Not that I'm keeping up with it or anything, but there's only approximately 9 days, 21 hours, 25 minutes, and 10 seconds until MSU kicks off the 2011 football season! 

Anybody excited?!

it's that time again!

Tomorrow is my students' first day of school!  Even though this is my 8th "first day of school" as a teacher, I still get a little nervous at the beginning of each year.  I'm excited, though, and looking forward to meeting my 24 students tomorrow!

Won't you join me in praying for my sanity students tomorrow?

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job.

~Donald D. Quinn

Calling all middle sisters!

I'm a middle sister.  I have an older sister (Kristen) and a younger sister (Heather), but if you read my blog you already knew that I guess.  What you probably didn't know is that I'm in the very VERY middle---Kristen is 2 years and 2 months older than me, and Heather is 2 years and 2 months younger than me. 

See?  I told you.  Smack dab in the middle.

So imagine the excitement I felt when I discovered this wine a few years ago!

 Middle Sister Wine! 

Genius.  Just genius!  Being a lover of wine, I've tasted several of the different kinds, and they're great, but my favorite part?  The creative sayings on the labels! 

Here's an example of one of the labels:

"Did you know that birth order is commonly believed to have a profound and lasting effect on psychological development? And that the middle sister has a greater chance of having a special wine named just for her? A sassy blend of our three favorite red varieties perfect for sipping before, during and after our favorite family meals. Some people are just born lucky. Now give me back my blouse."

Don't you love it?

So....if you're a middle sister (and I guess even if you're not), you just HAVE to try some.  Even if you're not a wine drinker, you'll love the labels!

Read them names of the wines and decide which one best fits you! 

Can't decide just by reading the labels? 

Then click here and take the quiz!

Here's the wine that was made for me!

"Good Two-Shoes"

Now...don't you wish you were a middle sister?

ready or not!

Well.... the 2011-2012 school year has arrived!

I'm looking forward to meeting my 24 (yes...I said 24!) little angels on Monday! :)



Happy weekend  MAROON FRIDAY to you (well...to all you State fans, that is!) 

no...I'm not a mom, BUT...

I am a proud aunt!

Henry's first day of Pre-K was a success! :)

(I really feel like this was just yesterday!!)

Wordless Wednesday

He's ready.....are you?

Where in the WORLD have I been?

Thanks for calling me out for my lack of blogging, Hope!

It's not really like me to go more than a couple of days or so without blogging, but I guess the end of my summer has just been crazy chaos!

Where have I been and what have I been doing, you ask?

Well, here's an attempt to summarize the end of my fantastic summer...

I was so happy to get to spend some time with this friend in Tennessee! 

 She's a school counselor, so we both were able to enjoy having the summer off!

...Oh...and while I was there, I decided that I needed to follow the feather trend (I guess Shannon brings out my "funky" side!).  Even though I've been told that I'm too old for it, I'm still loving it!  Judge me if you want (but please don't!).

....I was also so happy (obviously!) to get some time with "my" little man on the coast.  What a honey pie he is!  He's at such a fun age, and I love every second I get to spend with him.

....I also got to hang out with these cute girls

at Deep South Pout!  I started out just a customer, but by the end of the summer, I was working a  little at the store! :)  Haven't been there or visited their website yet?  If not, then it's time you do!  I love them AND their store!

I went here 

where I attended an Autism conference with some co-workers.  Great conference and such a FUN place to visit!
And finally....

about school...

a good bit of the month of July was spent here...

I'm getting ready for my new class!

My first day back was today (already exhausted!) and my 23 babies come Monday! 

Now, you know I love LOVE what I do, but I'd be lying if I said I was too thrilled about my summer ending. 

Oh well....all good things must come to an end I suppose.

Here's to hoping for a good start to the 2011-2012 school year! 

Pray for my students, will you?