Isaac gave us 2 days off!

One thing I love about Caddo parish is they jump the gun on weather almost every time we MIGHT have some bad weather.  This time is was the threat of Hurricane Isaac dropping 6-10 inches of rain. I do understand that the emergency weather committee is making a decision to keep 50,000 students/staff safe so you will not hear a complaint out of me.  Isaac did leave a lot of flooding in south Louisiana, but it just rained lightly all day here.  Thank you, Caddo parish and Isaac for giving us a 5 day weekend!  It feels like Christmas having these two free days off.  My aunt called to see if we were OK and I said "yes, believe it or not it has rained here before!"  She said they might call us back to work. Noooooooo!

Amy even had a slumber party with us because she was scared to stay home alone with a hurricane looming.  We all got up bright and early and headed to McDonald's.  We all wore pajamas and brought the food home.  Henry ate and entire order of pancakes...3 whole pancakes just for him!  We call him our human garbage disposal.  He eats EVERYTHING like he is starving.

Sweet  H eating his pancakes

We decided that it might be a good idea to get out of our pajamas at noon so we met the Raines family at Chick fil a.  (Yes, we ate out for every meal today).  The boys had fun and once again Henry ate more than Bennett. He killed 3 nuggets, fruit, apple sauce, and cheerios!

Bennett has been wanting to go to Kiddie Mia's for a while now so we headed there after CFA.  He would go to Kiddie Mia's every day if we let him.  He loves that place.  I think I am going to have to have his birthday party there. 

Henry wanted in on the action so he rode the tractor and the school bus rides.  He was loving it!

Bennett carried his quarters in his shirt pocket.  He was so proud!

He ran to this and said "CARS, MY FAVORITE!!!"

Me and my boys

cuties.

We're bending it like Bennett again.

Well we decided to do soccer agin. Bennett has been asking every week since April when his next game was. First practice yesterday and first game on the 8th. Wish us luck!

Our team of 5 girls and 2 boys: Drew, Ansley, Bennett, McKenzie, Caroline, Madison, and Gracie

This was a serious team huddle!

Blue day at Bennett's school

I just love when teachers send pictures home of my babies!  Bennett has been wearing a different color everyday of the week for Colors week.  Here are a few pictures of Bennett with his class and him working in centers.  

I don't know all the names yet but I will try: top row: Cecelia, John, Georgia, Maddie, Loralei, Macy, Bottom: Bennett, John Rives, Sam, Julia, Morgan, and Keegan

Bennett

Bennett in puzzle center

The class again...so cute!

Dallas Market Trip

Rebecca picked me up last Friday and we headed to Dallas for market.  I've been wanting to go with Neil's dad to market for probably 10 years.  It has just never worked out for me to be able to go, it's fallen through, etc. etc. etc.  Well I decided that I was making it happen this time!  Luckily, Leslie lives in Dallas and so we had a posh place to stay.  I am just loving having Leslie in Dallas...I miss her, but I have a totally fun place to stay.

We arrived, changed clothes, and went to dinner.  Leslie chose a fun little Italian place.  We had "Italchos" which are Italian nachos made with whatever you want to add to them...they were delicious!

Rebecca, me, and Leslie

We slept in until 8:15 on Saturday morning and it was oh so nice.  Leslie made me some tea and brought it to me and I just felt like I was staying at the Ritz.  She really knows how to be a hostess.

love this!

Leslie had a bunch of errands to run and a few things that she needed to do so Rebecca and I went and met her parents at their hotel.  She changed her mind and decided to not go to market so it was just Richard and me.  We went and met Stacy and Paula (the buyers for the store).  Our first stop was a showroom with colored jeans.  I got to try on a few pair and was loving it.  I was so excited to go with a store and with people that could purchase items!

Richard and me in front of the WTC

We stayed at market for about 5 hours and picked out so much cute stuff. I was loving it.  This was one of my favorite things we chose:

Can't wait to get this one!

Janine and Rebecca picked us up about 3 and we headed to Crate & Barrel and Central Market.  Leslie met us there so we rode home with her to get ready for our dinner reservation.  Janine and Richard were using the Dallas trip as work and pleasure.  We celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary at Javier's.  I was so glad they included us in their celebration!

Happy 36th Richard and Janine!

me, Leslie, Richie, Janine, and Rebecca

My new classroom

 Since so many people have asked (1 person)...here are some pictures of my new classroom!  After 10 hours, 15 students, and 4 truckloads I am finally in my new room.  11 football players helped me by loading up their trucks and unloading everything in my new room.  4 Z-club girls helped create my bulletin boards, cleaned, and got me organized. It was a huge task but we did it.  I am so glad to have such a big room with space to move around.  The only thing that is hard is that I go from 7:20-1:20 without a break.  It is tough but I am usually OK considering I am done after 1:20!

I think my flowers make my room so cheery.

Thanks to Neil's office I now have 3 more student computers!

I have a Smartboard right up front.

Action Packed Saturday

We had a whirlwind of a weekend.  I was so behind on laundry and cleaning so Friday I stayed up getting all the house stuff done.  We were all up bright and early on Saturday morning ready for our day.  We ran errands all morning, went to a birthday party that afternoon, and then James and Emily's wedding on Saturday night.  

I've been looking so forward to James and Emily's wedding since we received their invitation.  Neil's parents came over to go to it so we just made a night of it.  Her wedding was beautiful and they looked so happy.

Neil and me practicing "Chins up Lewis's"

Buteau's, Lewis's, and Lewis's

me with the bride!  Isn't her dress and veil gorgeous?

I happened to be on the phone with the babysitter when they came to take a photo.  I decided to snap this of them sharing a hotdog!  The sign said "Hotdog, they tied the knot!" cute.

Oh and when we got home at 11 pm I was limping from all my sweet dance moves.  If you know me..you know I cannot dance well.  It didn't stop me though!  It was a blast!

Beach pictures I forgot to post.

Day 27-30 of me! (It's over, aren't you glad?)

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
I really just liked getting to answer all of the random questions.  I started it back in the summer when I had a bunch of spare time on my hands and I've really enjoyed it.  


Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then? 

August 11, 2011 and August 11, 2012

I have changed for obvious reasons: I went from being pregnant to having a 1 year old!  I went from having 1 kids to 2.  Neil and I have grown in our marriage.  Our year has been full of challenges, fun, and happy times.  I am so glad I had these 3 boys to accompany me this past year.

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Lots and I hope I continue to learn new things daily.

Day 30- Who are you?

I am wife to Neil

Mama to Henry

Mommy to Bennett (love this picture of him)

I am daughter of Lauri and Bill, sister to Michael, and friend to many.  I am a lover of church, blogging, food, people, computers, Words with Friends, monogramming, and new clothes (not necessarily in that order).  Basically most things you want to know about me you can find out right here on this blog. There are some things I keep private and will always keep private especially when it comes to my family.  I am honest and feel deceitful when I am trying to surprise someone.  I love to make lists and cross things off the lists. I like to grocery shop especially when it's a Target.  I am proud to be a wife and a mother.

Days 24-26 of me (I didn't forget about this!)

Day 24- A letter to your parents...I am changing this to letter to my kids and I'm skipping it now because I just can't think like this at the moment.

Day 25- What I would find in your bag:  I just looked in my purse and it would be shocking to see what is in there...totally random items.

• hard drive to my computer (the computer guy gave it to me about 2 months ago and I've still not taken it out)
• a #1 candle from Henry's birthday
• lipstick/lip gloss
• a pacifier
• pens
• wallet
• gum
• phone
• keys

Day 26- What you think about your friends

I think my friends are fabulous.  I love being able to confide in them.  I love being able to have girl time.  I think they are great mothers.  I think they are great people.  I love having girlfriends because they just speak my language.  (Thanks for that language, Amanda!)

Henry enjoying his 1st birthday party!

ohhhh so cute!  He was ticked when we took the cake away!

Henry and Pops

Trying to walk with his new walker

Happy boy!

He was seriously ready for cake.

All of us wishing Hen a happy birthday.

There's the home ec teacher cutting the cake!

Nana and Hen

cake high-5

me and Amy

All of us in our themed clothing.  Dad had a snail, Andrew had a frog, Bennett had a frog, Neil had a puppy dog and I am in snails.

This was the best photo of our family.

Henry was loving all his new gifts!

I think opening presents at a one year old's party is really for the older kids.  All of the kids had a blast tearing into Henry's presents.  It was such a fun party.  I am so glad I had all the help I did or I would have never gotten the whole thing done.

It was so much fun...I had to do 5 posts to get all the details blogged!

More party details are here, here, and here and here.