You know you teach first grade when...

1. ...you stay up way past your school night bedtime searching first grade teaching blogs for excellent ideas and cutesy anchor charts.

2. ...you dream of "snappy" words.

3. ...you bring the teacher talk home and tell your husband things like...

You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!

I'll be ready to talk when you look ready to listen!

Now was that a good choice, or did you make a mistake?

Awww....shucks! or Whoopsie Daisy!

I like the way you're eyes and body are showing me that you're listening!

You're so cute! I just want to take you home and put you on my shelf!

4. ...everything in your life becomes color coded!

5. ...you can turn anything into a song or game.

6. ...you spend more time squatting, sitting "criss cross applesauce", or sitting in a tiny chairs than you do sitting in a normal sized chair.

7. ...you wear crowns or witch fingers, or use princess wands during your work day...just to read!

8. ...you repeat yourself a million times a day!

9. ...you're absolutely amazed at the amount of growth a child can make in a matter of two weeks!!!

I miss sleep...going to bed now! It's going to be another long day tomorrow...but I wouldn't trade it for the world! LOVE my job!

Portraits of 9/11 Rescue Dogs

A book released on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Retrieved, tells the story of the remaining search and rescue dogs that are living out their retired days after spending days at Ground Zero searching for survivors after the attacks. These are the lucky few who are still alive 10 years later.

Gosh, I wish animals could talk. I would love to hear these dogs' stories.

Their presence brought hope and comfort to those enduring hours of depressing labor during rescue and clean up efforts.

All dogs go to heaven.

May these heroic souls never be forgotten.

Birthdaypalooza

It's been birthday season around these parts.

The birthday season kicks off with Amber's birthday on August 30.

Mine on Sept. 6

Drew's on Sept. 14

Dustin's on Sept. 19

Johnny's on Sept. 28

I guess people get cozy around the Holidays. :)

Here are some iPhone pics of birthdaypalooza thus far.

The hubs did good and got me this gorgeous John Wind Initial Cotton Pearl bracelet from the Secret Nook. I was just bragging on how we don't get each other gifts and he goes and ruins our streak. ;)

Corky and Debbie got me two pairs of shoes. These cute TOMS wedges and some Nicole wedges too! And a cute little Razorback ring. The card was pretty awesome as well. It said "You're still a knockout."

I'm a sucker for kitty and puppy cards.

Mom and Johnny got me the gift that never fails - $$$ - so I got myself some much needed new jeans for winter. These jeans to be exact...although mine seem darker.

The Brasuell's sent me flowers to school. They were sooo pretty...

Dustin had sent me flowers to school a couple weeks earlier. The note said, "Thanks for all of your hard work." It was quite unexpected and sweet. Don't know what's gotten in to him lately, but I'm likin' it!

Dustin and I on our way to the Brasuell's to watch the Hogs! Christie and Jeremy went with us...good times!

And tonight we went to La Huerta for Drew's 6th birthday! He loves him a Stephen's Special and some cheese dip. For his birthday, we took him to Toys R Us and let him pick out something. We saw Marilyn and Jerry at La Huerta, some of the Collyge's best friends, and they came over and gave him $20! Ha! He was on cloud nine!

More of birthdaypalooza to come.

I've pretty much decided after writing this post that I'm pretty dang spoiled and well taken care of. Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes!

Now I've got to decide what to get Dustin for his birthday on Monday. See! He's started something here and I don't like it. He says he doesn't want anything, but is he just saying that? Will he be disappointed if I don't return the gift giving favor? Ugh! This is why I don't like gifts!

{ Still love the bracelet though. :) }

Lake Times in Full Effect

I've been MIA (the action being school!) for the last couple of weeks. Sorry! So we're gonna play a lil bit of catch up here!

Some of my mom's family from MO came down to the lake this Labor Day weekend - Aunt Debbie, my cousins Ryan, Ali, and Danny, and Ali's boyfriend. My Aunt Pat flew in my CA too!

They didn't make it down until late Saturday afternoon, so it was just our fam on the lake Saturday - which was a beautiful day.

Sunday ended up being a not so usual summer day on the lake. It was SOOO windy, and temps in the 80s made for some chilly swimming weather. It was pretty cloudy too, so ....

...Dustin built us a fire!

It was Mom and Johnny's 10th wedding anniversary!

Duke giving his mama some lovin'.

My cousin, Danny, and my Aunt Debbie playing some Baggo.

Aunt Pat modeling a foot foul. We'll let that slide since she's not a regular southern Baggo player/tailgater. She obviously has the number one rule down - drink in hand makes for better tosses. It balances ya out!

Then the dance par-tay ensued!

Yeah, baby!

And we'll end on this note: I'll be 27 tomorrow!

For real?! I'm officially approaching 30.

Tenkiller

Dustin and I went to Tenkiller the weekend before school started. We got down there Friday night and took a dinner cruise after boating over the Six Shooter Marina for some grub. That's one of my favorite things to do! Mom and Johnny get to do it on weeknights whenever they want. Lucky them!

Mom, Duke, Me, and Dustin

The marina at Six Shooter is always full of turtles and catfish. They get fed lots of French Fries each day. :)

Duke and Papa Johnny