Things I've learned this week

1. I don't like to share.

2. The words "Field Day" emit some sort of subliminal message to kids that school is almost over.

Already on vacation!

3. I shouldn't drink on an empty stomach.

4. Babysitting + Hangovers = Sheer Torture

5. Nicole is the best eyebrow plucker ever.

We love free margaritas! On a Thursday!

6. Blind dates are bad. Just say, "No thank you."

7. I still wear my heart on my sleeve.

8. A free pitcher of margaritas can definitely turn a sorry-ass week around.

9. My kids love me. Alot. Fourth grade is going to be fun.

10. Sisters can make everything better.

The gorgeous, the beautful and...

the downright GOOFY!

Details about items #2 and #8 will be posted in upcoming blogs.

For information about items#3, #4 and #6, you'll have to ask me yourself. And yes, they are related. :-(

Mama Day -- Part Deux!

Okay... Trying this again.

On Sunday we went to Mama and Daddy's new church and came back to the house for lunch. Yes, my mother cooked most of her own Mother's Day lunch. Shameful, I know. However - noone (even Mama!) wanted to go out to eat. The wait times are always horrible. Besides, she didn't do a dish all afternoon!

Daddy's contribution to Mother's Day lunch: Stay outta the way! :-)

Nattie also has a new mission: Operation Get a Kitten. One of her friends' cats recently procreated and its' offspring are ready for the taking. Nattie has decided she wants/needs one. Mama thinks a little differently, knowing this is Nat's last year at home. Here's a few shots from the battleground at home base.

Nattie: "Mama, can I please have a kitten? I'll put the litterbox in my room. I'll feed it. I'll be home all summer. I've been really responsible lately."

Mama: "Ha! I don't think so. You'll leave in a year and I'll be the one taking care of a cat I don't want."

Nattie: "Mama. Please. I have an A in PreCalc! I'm one of like 3 people in that class with an A. Don't you think I deserve a reward for all my efforts?"

Mama: "I've got your reward. Your reward is not having your parents breathe down your neck about your grades!"

Nattie: "Hey Mama.... I'll wrestle you for it!"

Mama: "Nattie Jane.... stay over there. You leave me alone."

Scuffling, wrestling and tackling ensues.....

Nattie: "I surrender!!"

Mama: "I don't care how old I get. I'll always be able to take you out!"

Unfortunately, Mama won this round. Seeing as how I'm a "cat lady" myself - I'm not as bad as those kooks though! - Nattie has enlisted my help in Operation Get a Kitten. This war's not over yet. However, Nattie and I have some serious strategizing to do!!

Mother's Day!

All the Boone girls came home for Mother's Day. SO MUCH FUN! Jennie came to Smynings on Thursday night and Friday after work we were on the road... Daddy had a jazz band concert Friday night. His group sounded great and I think he was tickled pink to see his girls in the audience. :) I know I say this every time I go home, but it was soooooooooo good to be home. I really love it when we're all there.

There's nothing in the world like a Mama hug!

On Saturday, all the Boone girls went to Banner Elk, NC to visit a school (Lee's McRae) that is trying to recruit Nattie to come play volleyball. We took a tour of the campus, and Nattie and Mama spent some time talking to the coach about financial aid. Lee's McRae was beautiful and would be incredible to attend in the winter - Sugar and Beech Mountain are right around the corner. Skiing from November to February, guaranteed!

The coach was cute, but the campus was WAY to small for a big star like NJB!

However, I just don't think Nattie is going to end up somewhere that only has 700 students! You can literally stand in the middle of campus, turn all the way around, and see everything. Oh well, it was a fun day trip.

Part Two coming soon.... my blog is being weird!

Update!

Evidently, it's been way too long since I last updated... I've been BOOTED from Kari's Friends and Fam page. :-( Here's hoping this works me back onto the page....

My lack of blogging isn't without good reason! This semester of grad school has been really challenging, but I've gotten aLOT out of it. My Poetry class was definitely my favorite course. I got to design and implement a 3 week unit on a poetry technique called Heart Mapping in my classroom. I turned in a HUGE project on Monday (May 1st) which marked the END OF THE SEMESTER - woohooooo! I now have a month long break before the summer classes start up. With gas prices rising, I'm really glad I made the decision to take on-line classes this summer. I don't think I could afford $3.00 a gallon every weekday this summer!!

My kids showin' some love for heart mapping!

Speaking of work, I will take the opportunity to pat myself on the back a little. :) I was nominated again for Teacher of the Year, which is an awesome compliment from my co-workers all by itself. It got even more interesting when we had to have a run-off and I was one of the two teachers on the final ballot! While the other teacher won (and rightly so - she is an incredible Special Ed teacher who has been at my school for years), it still looks pretty kick-ass to have "Teacher of the Year, Runner-Up" on my resume! :) I also got confirmation that I will be going up to 4th grade with my kids next year. I'm ready to try something new (this is my 4th year in 3rd grade) and this is definitely the class to "loop up" with. They are incredibly smart, kind to each other, funny and hard-working. What more could I ask for?

Easter weekend brought Kadee and Jennie to town since Mama, Daddy and Nat were in Baltimore for a volleyball tournament. We had so much fun being together - I wish I had taken more pictures!

Kadee and Jennie playing beauty parlor before we go shopping for wedding dresses!

We spent Saturday looking for a wedding dress for Kadee, who would look gorgeous in a white mumu. She even found a couple of dresses she really liked - unfortunately, the shop we were in wouldn't let anyone take pictures! :-(

On Easter Sunday, we cooked a big lunch together - pork loin, potato casserole, "Jennie beans", yeast rolls, creamed corn, and a really strange chocolate cake experiment. Everything except the cake turned out really well - which was edible and pretty tasty, just a little weird. Kadee had tasted a German chocolate cake that we tried to recreate by adding the icing to the batter. The end result was just a little off.

Boonie Bunnies - Jennie, Kadee and Abby

Last but not least, Charlie and Herbie have begun stalking the window in my living room. Evidently there is a stray black cat (don't worry - I'm not trying to take it in) who likes the area right outside my windows. I've gotten a few really good laughs watching the two of them lunge and bounce off the window screen trying to pounce on the poor kitty. It also gives me a good excuse to keep the windows open and let in the awesome spring air!!

Charlie and Herbie getting clean and waiting for their next victim...