Weekend in review.

It's all about the shoes.

I spent Thursday AND Friday of last week in my classroom...

For Thursdays visit, Brooke came along and helped me finish up my bulletin boards. Since she was a real trooper, we stopped at Super Shoes on the way home and got a few GREAT deals!

These 3 little gems came home with us in a size 7. Um...7?

Brooke actually picked out a classic light-up pair of sneakers that might as well have had sirens on them! She wore them around the store and stomped her feet repeatedly to get them to flash and blink...but eventually (Mommy!) decided to leave them for another loving family to purchase.

Friday night, we headed back to the Youth Fair!

We met up with Stacie and Anna and tried our luck (again) at the fair!

Zig came along with us, but left shortly after got there for an emergency meeting at the firehouse. It turned out ok, though, because Stacie and I got to enjoy each other and let the kids spend time together.

We met up with my sweet Spike again, and she gave us the animal tour...again.

Spike earned some extremely impressive awards at this year's youth fair, and like I told her this week, I'm so proud of her I could just about BURST!

Events like the Youth Fair really make me proud to be a teacher! I usually only see my 'kids' in the classroom setting. Some, I have the priviledge of working closely with, as I did this special group of 8th graders that sort of became my 'posse.' But when a teacher gets to see her students being successful and responsible and respectable in the outside world - it just truly warms your heart.

I must note, that as I saw dozens of former sixth graders working with animals, showing them in the show ring, and taking care of them in the barns, I also saw HOARDS of them walking around the youth park...causing mahem! Stacie and I couldn't take 3 steps without hearing "MRS. WRAY!!" and having to stop and chat for a few seconds. I DO love these kids, and I supposed I should be happy that they WANT to stop and talk, but HOLY MAN! It was crazy!

The food at the Youth Park is amazing. I mean, amazing.

But 2 mommies with 2 babies on the hip leaves very little hands to carry the funnel cakes and soft pretzels that Stacie and I wanted to treat ourselves with.

So.

To the Dairy Queen we went!

We had so much fun!

We giggled and told stories and watched the girls make messes with ice cream!

And as if ONE night with Stacie and Anna wasn't enough, we packed up last night for another evening with the family!

This is Black Snake Hollow!

The first picture shows Uncle Butch and Aunt Rhonda's amazing cabin-esque home...

and the second is Stacie and Noah's newly built home!

Butch and Rhonda added a fire pit to their amazing property and invited us all out for mountain pies, s'mores, and hot dogs on the fire!

Brooke was so excited for more play time with Anna!

Showing off her 'tub!'

Growing up, Stacie and I compiled multiple books full of pictures of the two of us! TONS of pictures document our childhood, our adventures, and all of the crazy things we did together! So, we've recently started a book for Brooke and Anna!

BFF's!

Noah, Zig, Pap and Uncle Butch took a ride on the gator to explore the property and Noah's man-cave! So cool!

I love this babe :)

Brooke followed Stacie and Stephy to look for deer!!

Can you see the horns?

It's almost FALL!

Anna, Aunt Rhonda and Beam on the hammock!

2 sleepy girls relaxing! Brooke actually started to doze off with Aunt Rhonda at one point!

Yummy juice box by the fire!

It just doesn't get much better than this!

Hope YOU had a great weekend too!

Enjoying time while it lasts!

Last night, I realized that I haven't been taking my pictures lately!

My sister just blogged about NOT documenting some of my sweet nieces first 'real steps' and just enjoying the moment WITHOUT a camera in her hand! A mommy's hands are much more suited for clapping, squeezing cheeks, and holding little hands...

But in the world of a blogging Mommy, pictures are a must...so, here's what I have from the past few days!

Last weekend rang in LOTS of family time with our most favorite people!

My Aunt Pattie was visiting from Florida, so my parents threw together a fantastic party at their house, complete with home made ice cream!

The next morning, we were back with all of the same people for the annual Richard Reunion!

The only pictures I have from any of these two parties are these 2...of the kids blowing and chasing bubbles...and one of an extremely large spider. Which I won't show you.

....trying desperately to keep up with Josh!


Whether I like to admit it or not, I've been spending quite a bit of time in my classroom lately! This fall will begin my 6th year of teaching and I've always been 'that teacher' who spends lots of summer time in the building preparing for the next group of kids.
Most people would be suprised at the amount of work that needs to be done throughout those summer months! I've heard a million jokes about 'how tough' my job is to have 3 whole months "off" every year.
Off?
For real?
Not quite. Thank you very much.

One person who really does understand is my Mom. Brooke's awesome Nana!
Let me just say, that there is NO WAY I could survive without my parents.
Even though this is my Mom's summer vacation too, they enjoy keeping Brooke anytime I need to get away to get some things done. My mom knows what it's like to need a few days here and there to get a classroom ready, and she's kept Brooke a lot for me this summer so that I can prepare for fall.
I don't know if I say it enough...but THANKS MOM! We love you so much!

Let me also say that there have been a few days where Brooke has made the trip to IVMS room 207 with her Mommy, as well.
When I have small jobs to do, or a short list of things to take care of, there's no reason to take up my Mom's time...so Brooke just comes along.

She's not wild about my school...it's big and dark and kinda creepy in the summer. So, she stays close until we've been there for a little while and she feels brave enough to get down and look around.
We listen to the radio, color pictures with Mommy's art supplies, and even read children's books from my collection!On Monday, Brooke slept in until 11:30 (I think it was Tylenol induced since she spiked a 101.4 fever the night before!) so by the time she got up, she was eating breakfast for lunch!
I packed us a cooler full of other lunch-time goodies and headed for school.

She sat at my desk, typed on my keyboard, looked at pictures, and drew me lots of beautiful colored-pencil masterpieces!
The peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, complete with apple slices and milk, make me want to title these pictures "School Lunch." HeHe!


I could cry.
I have 30 desks in my room. And they never seemed so big.
Or is it Brooke that is so big?
Maybe both, but LOOK at her!
In 10 short years, my baby girl will be sitting behind these desks as a sixth grader.
I'm thinking I'll be able to use this picture someday down the road...
Let's change the subject. Before I cry.

Last night, we FINALLY made it to the Youth Fair as a family of 3!
We had tried to meet up with Stacie and Anna on the first night of the fair, but things were still being set up and organized for the animals, so nothing was really open for guests.

Remember my group of 8th grade girls that I just adore?

The lovely, gorgeous girl laying across my lap in the 'babysitter' picture above, is very involved in our Youth Fair...and I was SO PROUD of her last night!

This was "Spike's" cow, Marvin!

Say HI Marvin!!

Brooke professed that she would like to 'touch Marvin,' but chickened out at every chance!
She stayed right on my hip and just smiled!

My sweet Spike also took us to see the pigs. This one sneezed on my ankle.

Isn't she beautiful!?

She's been working so hard this week, showing animals and taking care of all of the responsibilities that come with farming... She took Brooke to see lots of different cows from her farm, and also to the bunnies and goats!

I could have stayed and visited with Spike for HOURS! I've missed her and the other girls so much! We actually ran into some of the other 8th graders and I saw WAY TOO MANY former students walking around this fair...but I love these kids. And it was really great to see them 'out and about!'

This is what happens...

...when Brooke fights her afternoon naps...

...and when Daddy gets up super early for work...

...they both crash within minutes of each other. In the exact same position.

Life is good.

Cows. Cousins. And CHEESE!

Our beach family has recovered nicely from our week in the sun...and it's back to life as usual!

Brooke has enjoyed a few very special days recently...take a peek!

Brooke and I spent Sunday morning with our church family!
After a wonderful service (spent in the nursery!), Brooke and I joined the congregation in the church pavillion for the Sunday School picnic!

I have memories of this picnic taking place at Hartman Center, where the kids had egg races, went swimming, and pushed a monsterous beach ball around the fields! My church family is so important to me, and never smile bigger than when I see them loving Brooke! So many of these people have loved me and helped raise me in my faith, and I want Brooke to feel that same love as she grows!

We spent lots of time swinging with Nana, which has prompted us to re-hang that pink Fisher Price swing from last summer!

We especially loved these 'horses!' Even though her feet don't touch the pegs, Brooke bounced back and forth like a pro!

This picture cracks me right up! All 4 of these young adults were 6th graders of mine! I'm old.

The youth group used the Sunday School Picnic as the culmination to their "Kiss a Cow" fundraiser!

And this lucky gentleman in blue got to pucker up to ol' Bessy, here!

My Dad definitely loaded Ben's jar with an extra $20 before the contest was over...sucker!

Brooke LOVES cows from a distance, and she eventually warmed up to this one, too! She touched it and made lots of 'moo' sounds for it!


And today...
Dee Dee and Anna came for a picnic playdate!


This was the first playdate with Anna that Stacie and I could really start to see the difference in our girls - Anna just turned 1 and Brooke is almost 2.

The girls played pretty well together, although we're starting to see a little yuckiness in Brooke. She's not always happy about sharing toys and always seems to want whatever Anna has, but...we're working on it. Luckily, Anna is very patient with Brooke...

No attitude in this girl. None. Whatsoever.

World Champion Bubble Blower!

Much focus and concentration...

The "CHEESE" portion of this post?

Tomorrow, Nana will be traveling with me and Brooke to have her 2 year pictures taken...please pray that it goes well and Brooke actually smiles! We've been practicing saying "CHEESE" and smiling when people want to take her picture...here goes nothin'!