Summah, Summah, Summahtime!

Since we're closing in on the last week of July, I figured I need to catch you up on {because I know you're on pins and needles waiting} the fun summer we've had so far.  It has been BIZ to the AY!

 Mom {Gigi}, the girls, and I took a trip up to see my grandmas at the very beginning of summer!

 Lots of pretty views along the way...

 Grandma Selfies were a fave!

 My Babies

My dad gave up his Father's Day time while we went on our trip.  I love my Daddio.  He is the best and I thank God he gave me a Dad who loves me, makes me laugh, and continuously teaches me about Jesus.  He's an amazing BigPa too!

 P gave up his Father's Day with the girls for us too.  He is the BEST Daddy to our girls and I couldn't be more thankful that they have him.  The men they marry one day will have a lot to live up to.  They love him with EVERYTHING they have!  I'm so, so thankful that I have a husband who loves his daughters the way he does.  He teaches them so many things, but most importantly how to love Jesus!

 Talking to Daddy on Father's Day!

 My Grandma and Me -- Love her!

 We loved our vacation to Missouri and Illinois!

 The Sydster continues her tooth losing streak!

 Molly got some new bedroom furniture!  She {HEARTS} it!

 At the end of June we had an awesome time at our church's VBS -- Weird Animals!

 I got to lead worship which was SO, SO fun!  I LOVED watching the kids praise Jesus!  I had the best "seat" in the house!  I'm so excited and thankful to be able to serve in ways I've not gotten to before.  Loving our church!

 Learning how to serve one another by washing feet!  So sweet!

 She is growing up SO fast!  Love her!

 HOLLAH!  My new planner came in!  I {HEART} organization!

 I got some pink hair...which is already gone.  Fun fo sho.

 Lots of swim time.  Brown as a biscuit!

 Our local fireworks the night before July 4th!  Super fun!

 We headed up to Mimi's and Papa's lake house on July 4th!  My little firecrackers!

 Lots of fun lake time was had!

 I LOVE this picture!  Love my fam!

 More lake time!  We had so much fun!

 The little ladies and Mimi soakin' up some sun!

 GC headed out for her first time at church camp!  She was beyond excited and says it was the best 4 days of her life!  :)

 She got to spend those 4 days with one of her {and my} all-time favorite people.  I loved that Melissa {Mrs. Bufe} was there to take care of my girl.  

 Melissa sent this to me of GC during her quiet time.  One of my most favorite pictures ever!  I love seeing my girl dig into God's Word.

 The little sisters and I got in some major pool time while big sister was away!

 We were SO glad to get her back...

 She was missed!  {As you can see.}

 B and I had a Mom's Day out.  We went to eat Mexican food, shopped, 

 tried on creepy masks, ate candy, drank Judge Wopner and Gene Autry root beer,

 and recorded the best music video you will ever see.  Super fun times!

 While I was away, the ladies got in some major Daddy time!  Love my people!

 We had a cousin sleepover with Sam and Cassidy!  The cousins had tons of fun!  These 5 love each other to pieces!

 2 Peas in a Pod

 Gracie and I took the kids to lunch and had play time!  Selfie!

 My Pretty Little Clowns

 P and I had a date night and went to B&N {a date night tradition}.  I stocked up on some new read-alouds for my 2nd graders and got a new read for me.  Excited for all of these!

 Just finished this.  Good read.  

 B & I have been rocking the gym.  This happened one morning to prepare for the school year.  Oh to the yeah.  5 am and barbells ain't got nothin' on us.  Except I totally took a nap when I got home.  ;)

 These two rocked out swimming lessons!  Little fishies in the making!

 Or Mermaids in the making.  The little mermaid on the left was SO excited to finally get to use her mermaid tail.  I mean EXCITED!

 We had another get together with all of our kids included this time!

Blue, B, and A with our brood!

The girlies and I had a girls night in with popcorn, candy, and a movie while Daddy had to work late!

It has been an awesome summer so far...and there's still more to come!  HOLLAH!

Adventures In 2nd Grade

Since I began teaching almost 13 years ago {say what?!} I've always taught 1st grade.  I love 1st grade.  Even when I came back to the classroom after taking 4 years off to stay home with the girls, I taught 1st grade.

Well friends, as of this coming school year I will be a 2nd grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher.  I will admit {and this comes as no surprise to my principal, asst. principal, and those who I'm closest to at school} that I was a little bit stunned and then sad that I was going to 2nd grade.  When she called me in to tell me that she wanted me to teach 2nd grade, she was so gracious and gentle about it, knowing what my initial thoughts/feeling would be.  I didn't feel punished, but I still felt sad.  I won't lie.  There were some cry fests that would be hilarious to see on video.  I'm so thankful we can look back and laugh at it now.

I think the thing I'm going to hate about leaving 1st grade is being on the same team with my bestie B.  We taught together when we first started teaching and God totally brought us back together a couple of years ago.  Don't feel too sad for us.  I'm literally still a 2.5 second walk around the corner from her.  Our shenanigans won't stop.  We will continue to be A & B.  So, if you think teaching two different grade levels would split this duo up...welp, think again yo.  Just as there will always be Bert & Ernie, Kim & Khloe, Fountas & Pinnell, and Justin & Jimmy, there will be A & B.

I've grown really excited about teaching 2nd grade.  There are so many really GOOD things about it.  I KNOW I will love the age group.  These kiddies will be so much fun to teach and work with.  I love them already!  I know them!  So excited about this!

I am only going to teach Reading, Writing, and Social Studies.  HOLLAH!  Can I get an AMEN to not teaching any math beyond 1st grade?!  I will leave that to my awesome teaching partner!  ;-)  Gladly.  Reading is my favorite thing to teach and I'm so excited to be able to really focus on it, along with Writing and Social Studies.  {Which I also love.}

It will be a fun experience to start with a whole new team.  Figuring each other out, learning each other's strengths,  getting to know each other better than we do.  I love getting to know people, and even though I know most of these ladies, I'm excited to get to know them better. 

I know that God has a plan.  Teaching 2nd grade this next school year was in His plan for me.  It was a hard transition in my mind and in my heart for lots of reasons, but knowing that it is what HE wants for me makes it right.  I love being a teacher.  It is my calling and I'm so thankful it is a gift that God gave me.  I'm so thankful that I get to be used to be an influence in the lives of kids.  It's the most important job after being a wife and Mommy.  I take it seriously and know it's where God wants me to be.  

"I now understand that being a Mother means that we make ourselves available to other children." 

-Pam Cope

"Your place of influence does not have to stop with the children who live in your home." 

-Lauren Pinkston

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

Testing, Testing...Is Anybody Out There?!

Well, I've written a sad 8 posts this year on my little ol' blog.  Even sadder than that...I haven't posted since March.  And even more sad...I need to catch up with news since early February.  My last 2 posts were for the girls' birthdays, so I've missed writing about TONS. 

{Bother} as Winnie the Pooh would say. 

Welp.  I guess you're in for quite the catch up post.  Or posts.  I can't decide if I want to break these puppies up.

We have lots to catch up on friends. 

February: 

My 2 big girls won the "Caring" award at school.  Proud mama right here!

We boogied down at our annual school Sock Hop!

Shenanigans as usual...

March and April:  (I can't remember what happened when.  A good indication I need to keep up to date with this thing...)

GC rocked it in her Destination Imagination competition!

This happened!

 Boosterthon Selfies

 Spring Break Cousin Love

We started going to a new church which we LOVE!  I love how God guides our paths to unexpected places!

Date Night

 The girls started Upward Cheer!  So fun!

 Mom turned 60!  I don't think she looks it!  Best mom ever!

 JT invited us back for his concert in December.  Oh yeah!

 We had an "oily" reunion of sorts.  Super fun!

 Teacher kids Easter egg hunt!

 Church Easter egg hunt!

 Easter egg hunt at Granny's!  (These 3 were not low on Easter treats!)

 My Loves on Easter Morning

 Chicks hatched and died.

Sprinklers were played in!

My sweet Mollinator went to Kindergarten Round-up!  So many emotions rolled up into one big ball!

May:

 My hottie hubs and I went to a wedding in Austin.  Fun times.

 I'm not quite sure that this happened in May, but I had to include the pic.  These 3 little ladies LOVED helping babysit their newest baby cousin Graham. 

 This amazing lady played the part of the Teacher in her 3rd grade musical.  She rocked it. 

 Field Day was awesome, as usual.

 Cheer ended.  The girls had a blast and I loved getting to coach...but was definitely ready for it to be over.  :)

 P and I celebrated our 13th anniversary.  We officially became marriage teenagers.

 We had a weekend getaway to an awesome ranch.  It was greatness.

I just LOVE this picture of the girls with BigPa.  Love.

Beginning of June:

 The girls finished 1st and 3rd grade!  I can't believe how fast it's going.  So, so proud of how well they've done in school, but even more proud of the amazing girls they are on the inside.  My cup runneth over.  Their littlest sister joins them next school year in Kindergarten!  How can that be?! 

 Their first and last days of 3rd and 1st grade!  My precious loves!

We've been super busy this summer.  More to come soon!