MIA... again.

I feel like I've been pretty MIA on the blog lately. It's crazy to think that I use to update this thing all the time, but now I rarely do. Life has just been so busy! I feel like I am always doing something or another, and very rarely have time to sit down and write in a blog. However, I know that when I look back on 2013, I'm going to want to remember what happened, so I really need to get better at writing in this. It's a good record, especially for people like me with terrible memories!!

Work has been crazy busy lately with lots of different things going on. I can't believe spring break was only a week ago!!! It feels like forever ago. Such is the life of a teacher, I suppose. We published the entire yearbook last week, and I am so proud of the kid's work. It is an amazing book. A lot of people have told me that it's not that big of a deal, it's just a middle school yearbook. I mean, when was the last time you looked at your middle school yearbook? I haven't looked at mine since... well, probably since I was in middle school. But I still took the job of being the adviser seriously, and it's a book the kids are really going to be proud of. I can't wait for it to come in so they can see the product of all of their hard work!!

Friday night I went to a cajun restaurant on lower Greenville with my pals and then we went to Addison to watch some friends play softball. It was WAY too cold for that business!! Saturday I ran some errands, then grilled out with Scatie and M. It was a lot of fun!! Sunday, Rachel and Jamie ran in the Rock N Roll Big D Half Marathon, so we chased them around downtown to cheer them on. Again, way too cold for that business! That night I went to dinner with M and some of his friends. We ate outside. Again, way too cold for that. This cold weather is NO GOOD. I spent a week at the beach. I was ready to pull out my shorts and flip flops for the year.... but nooooo... come on Texas. Get with it. It's time to get warm!

Well, I feel like I'm rambling now. So I guess I'll wrap this up here??? Maybe I will come up with some good topics to write about soon. I feel like I'm sucking it up as a blogger lately!! Maybe I should turn in my blogging hat. Haha! :)

Bloglovin'

Since google reader is going away, follow me on bloglovin!

Snail Mail

Yesterday I finally sat down to go through my mail from the week that I spent at the beach. I hate going through the mail. Mainly because it's all bills or junk mail. I mean, when was the last time anyone actually sent a letter, right? Opening mail would be so much more exciting if people still sent letters.

Anyway, I had a purple envelope in the stack and I pulled it out, because it looked like a card. I didn't recognize the name or return address- it was from someone named Joy in Tennessee. I opened it and found a card that simply said "Just wanted to say hi- Joy". I was so confused! Who was this person??

However, there was a typed note instead. I opened it and began reading about how this lady knew my mom in high school. It was a letter full of stories about fun times they had and how much my mom's friendship meant to her. Even though it's been seven years, she said she was just hearing of my mom's passing and she wanted me to know what my mom meant to her. I finished the letter with tears streaming down my face.

I have no idea how this lady found my address. She said she found my blog online, so if she is reading this, I hope she knows how much that letter meant to me. I've written a letter to send back to her and I plan on dropping it off at the post office after school today.

Most people these days would have thought about the stories with a smile on their face, but how many people would have taken the time to track me down and send me a letter? Not many. I think that says a lot about this lady and the impact my mom had on her. She must have really wanted me to know how much my mom meant to her, and it meant so much to me!!

I called my grandmother, dad, and sister and read the letter to them. They each said it meant so much to them to hear those stories. I took pictures of the letter and texted it to my brothers, and they enjoyed reading it as well. It's crazy how a simple letter meant so much to me. I will cherish it forever.

So Joy, if you're reading this, thank you. Be looking for a letter in the mail from me soon! Thank you so much for giving me the chance to hear who my mom was as a young girl and how she impacted your life. It means more to me than you will ever, ever know.

I think we should all start sending more snail mail, because it seriously made my day! :)

YOSBA

Our motto for the week: YOSBA! (You Only Spring Break Annually)

Spring break officially ends in a few hours, and I'm super sad about it! However, I am ready to get back to work. I have 12 weeks left with my babies, and I know I will get more sentimental as each week passes! I've taught some of these kids since they were in 5th grade, and I'm going to miss them so much when they go to high school! But that's another story... on to spring break!

We left for PCB bright and early on Saturday morning and came back yesterday! We spent our days on the beach and our nights at restaurants and different venues around town. We were even crazy enough to swim out to the sandbar one day! It was COLD! We also had a few game nights and just enjoyed each others company! It was a great week! Here are some pictures from our week! I will have to upload more from my phone later!

Stuck in traffic because they started the Harlem Shake.... in the middle of the road. PCB!

There's nothing like a sunset at the beach! God's beauty on display!

My view every day for a week!

We got back around 5 last night. I got ready and changed clothes and had a night out with M. Today I went to church and then spent the rest of the day doing different activities outside. I spent about two hours this afternoon on my patio reading. It was a great way to end the break! Today has me ready for summer!

                                       

Aunt Header!

Today at Kelly's Korner is "Brag on your nieces/nephews" day!! If you know me, you know there is nothing I love more than spending time with my nieces and nephews!!!

I only have one real nephew, but I have two "fake" nieces and two "fake" nephews that are really just like the real thing. I love all 4 of these babies so much, so I'm bragging on all of them today. I'll go in their birth order. :)

My Charlie bear! The boy who made me an "aunt". This little guy is so special to me. I love spending time with him, and he loves spending time with me! We have a really special bond and I love him SO much! He was born in August of 2010 and is my little pal!
                                       

My Tenley! She is so special to me. Her parents were two of my best friends in college. I was in their wedding and they are seriously two of my favorite people. She is our first (and currently only) sixlet and we love her so. She is my little princess! She was born in October of 2010!
                                   

 My goal in life is for Tenley and Charlie to get married. They already love each other, so it shouldn't be too hard. :)

Two years later, I finally became an official aunt when my Carter boy was born! Oh, I love that little man soon. He is such a little cutie pie!! I love to kiss his chubby cheeks and just cuddle him. You better believe I will be spoiling this boy for a long time!

Two weeks after Carter was born, my Lily girl arrived! She is a bundle of joy and looks so much like Charlie did when he was a baby. I love cuddling with her, too! She is precious to me!
                                     

 I am on PROUD aunt, surrounded by four ADORABLE babies!

Roaring 20s Party Recap!

Last night Jamie, Lindsey, and I threw Rachel's Roaring 20's birthday party! It was a smashing success!! Sometimes I really, really want to quit my job and become a party planner. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. But planning parties is so much more fun!

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of most of the decorations. Fail on my part. We chose pink, black, and white as our colors though! And we used lots of pearls and boas to decorate! We had a super cute menu....

Lots of drinks! And candy cigarettes! I loved the way it all turned out! (We had more than just sodas, I just didn't take pictures of them all! Ha!)

The costumes were the best part! Everyone really went all out and it was so much fun to see everyone dressed up!

Carin, Nicole, Rachel, Jamie, me, and Lindsey! Everyone looked so cute!

Lindsey and Rachel!

The birthday girl and me! Love this chick!

Some of my favorite coworkers! Rachel, Gina, Selena, me, and Carin!

Doesn't Nicole look just like Mary from Downton Abbey in this one??? Nicole, Rachel, and me!

Last night was seriously so fun! I hope you had a blast, Rachel!! Happy birthday!!! So thankful for your friendship!!!

Full Moon

Most people don't believe that the full moon has anything to do with anything. But let me tell you, when I became a teacher, all of that changed.

On Monday, a student shoved and punched me. My kids were bonkers all day long. Tuesday morning started with me breaking up a huge fight in the hallway, one where two teachers hurt their wrists. Then my kids were bonkers all day long, again.

That night was open house. On the way home, I saw this...



OOOOOOOO! It's a full moon!! No wonder the kids are INSANE!

Seriously, it explains everything.

Thankfully, my kids were back to normal yesterday. Here's to hoping they are normal again today.

Oh, and have I mentioned it's only ONE more week until spring break?? PCB here we come!