May Madness - School's Out!

I know, I'm cheating. I changed the post date. But I wanted to keep my May Madness theme going....


I tried something new this year for the end of the year. I invited my WHOLE CLASS to come over to my new house for our end-0f-the-year party. I can hear you - "Are you crazy?!" "Seriously? ALL of your students?" Indeed, I did.

And it was fabulous.

My brood.

I've actually wanted to do this for a long time, but didn't have the space to make something like this happen. With the help of my INCREDIBLE room mom, Kim, I fixed spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread. Kim brought two trays of brownies and one of my sweet girls brought a huge tray of homemade sopapillas. See, now you're jealous. You should be - they were awesome.

The kids had a great time. They chased my poor cats. Precious called it "cat-hunting." I immediately declared Buddy, Charlie, Herbie and Lady endangered species, and squelched all further attempts at cat-hunting.

Seriously, they had fun playing Bocce ball, drawing in the driveway (with sidewalk chalk), and playing Twister and Cat-in-the-Hat-opoly in the basement. Every single kid helped clean up and made sure that the house was not a disaster before they left. I was so proud of them! They even hung our Field Day banner in the basement.

Boone's Bulldogs 2008 Beware of the Bark AND the Bite!

Beautiful roses from Lesly

"We Love Ms. Boone"

It was a really fun way to end the year, and I will absolutely do it again. I wish I could say that was the end of my day...

Stay tuned for the rest of May Madness!!

May Madness - IRA Conference

While we are BIG fans of March Madness in our house, the term "May Madness" seems to eloquently describe what life at 3257 Foxwood Trail has been like lately. Prepare yourself, faithful readers, this could be a looooong post. :-) In the interest of time, I'm going to keep the updates to one event per post. You'll thank me later.

IRA Conference: International Reading Association Conference

I had started a post about a week prior to going to this conference, and it sounded a little bit like this:

"I am way past excited about my plans for next week. Beyond thrilled. It's bordering just a little bit on maniacal hysteria. I will be a complete nerd for telling you all about it, but you should be excited me for me - your favorite nerd."

Every year, the IRA puts on a conference for teachers, administrators, reading specialists and the like. I was fortunate enough to be one of three teachers selected by our school to attend the conference (we had to write a short essay on why we wanted to go) and I was doubly excitged when I found out my friend and teammate John Roper would be going as well!

While I loved going and learning new ways to bring literacy into my classroom, the highlights of my week involved meeting some of my authors and teaching heroes. Not a day went by that I didn't meet an author and get an autographed copy of a book my kids and I loved. It was fabulous.

Some of the highlights:

Jamie Lee Curtis: Opening Speaker

Jamie was hysterically funny, wonderfully real and she even read to us from her upcoming picture book: Big Words for Little People. What really struck me was the way she focused on herself as an author - not an actress. She spoke about her own struggles as a student and how, even for her, getting a foot into the publishing world was not very easy. It was a great way to kick off a fantastic week.

TEACHER PROM!!!

Ok, so there's no such thing as "Teacher Prom" at the IRA Conference, but there was a "Welcoming Gala at the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola." Fancy, right? This was one of the fun "extras" John and I were given by our school. It also happened to be the same night as my favorite springtime "holiday" - Cinco de Mayo!!!

Mr. Roper's first visit to the Aquarium!

My Teacher Prom date :-)

Afterwards, I met Bryan, Toni, Sherry and Jeremy at a very crowded Twisted Taco in Kennesaw for lots of.... water!! That's right - water. The Twisted Taco was so busy, we couldn't even order a drink from our waitress or the bartender (and you know we tried both). Somehow, we managed to get a round of waters in plastic Twisted Taco cups. Not quite the fun we thought we were going to have, but fun nonetheless.

Right now, Mama is thrilled that our cups only held water.

The next few days were a bit of a blur, but they included the following:

A dinner banquet featuring Christopher Paul Curtis,
author of The Watsons Go To Birmingham: 1963.

My students and I used his book as our end of the year read aloud. They were SO excited to hear that I got to meet him and get our books signed.

Listening to Alice Walker speak about the importance of literacy.

She also did readings from The Color Purple and several pieces of poetry.
Amazing.

Finally, the absolute pinnacle of the conference for me: Meeting RAFE ESQUITH.



I know most of you are probably thinking: "Who in the heck is Rafe Esquith?" He is, in short, my teaching hero. He lives and teaches in inner city Los Angeles at Hobart Elementary School. He has a 5th grade classroom that is absolutely amazing. His students are no different than mine - low income, ESOL, generally low-performing children. However, once they become a part of his classroom incredible things happen.

Every year, Rafe has some of the best test scores in the state from his fifth graders. They aren't super-genius wonder children. They simply have a teacher who makes a difference because he uses his own passions and interests to make learning fun. His students learn how to play baseball, play rock guitar, read novels like To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Of Mice and Men and Catcher in the Rye. Each year, his students learn and perform a different unabridged Shakespeare production. I really encourage you to visit their website. They are incredibly hard-working students and we really enjoyed the pieces of As You Like It they shared with us at the conference. (Rafe brought about 15 of his students to the conference.) John and I were both in tears during their performance and we had the opportunity to talk with them afterwards. Wonderfully fantastic kids.

I actually had time to talk to Rafe after his speech and he invited John and I to come visit his classroom! I don't know when I'll be able to make that happen, but you know I'll try!!

I'll close this post with a little piece of what we saw from Rafe's class. Make sure you visit the Hobart Shakespeareans... these are kids who know what they're doing! They certainly inspired me to give a little more of myself to my own classroom.

Things My Mama Taught Me

In honor of Mother's Day, a few lessons and words of wisdom from Mama Boone...

1. A hug is the best way to start or end your day. They can stop tears, induce laughter or relieve stress. Always.




2. Sisters are some of the most important people you'll ever have in your life. I have watched Mama with her sisters (she has 3 sisters and 2 brothers!) for a long time, and I know my sisters and I will always be able to maintain our love for one another because of the example they all set.

Boone girls


the Shook clan

3. Laughter is the best medicine. We all have a little silly in us. The best laughs in the Boone house usually involve snorting, tears and gasps for air. :-)


4. Some of Mama's best known phrases:

"I don't know why I buy nice things. (Sigh) I guess I'll just have to start buying everything at KMart."

"It could be worse... You could be in a burn unit."

"I'll be a suck-egg mule!"

"Well isn't that special?" (in her best Church Lady voice)

In the grocery store: "Do NOT let your hands leave that cart. I have my wooden spoon!"


Thank you, Mama for (almost) 29 years of absolutely wonderful memories. Thank you for being fun, silly, a good listener, the voice of reason and wisdom in my head, a nurse, a taxi cab driver, a chef, a playmate, a shopping buddy (the best kind, because you only let me buy what I need!), a role model, a prayer warrior, and most importantly a sister in Christ.

I love you -

AbbyLeeGail

Sister, Sister!

You knew this update coming! How can I possibly spend time with my sisters and not have stories to tell or pictures to share? :-)

Kadee flew in late Friday evening, but still managed to get up with the early birds and come to work with Jennie and I. She wrote a paper for grad school in my room while my kids bubbled in standardized test answers (not my idea) and spent some time with Jennie and her sweet kiddos as well.

Evidently, I didn't do a very good job of pronouncing Kadee's new last name. Whenever my kids wanted to ask her a question, they kept calling her "Mrs. Promise" instead of "Mrs. Primus" - Ha!

Fun Friday Sisters

We woke up early Saturday to go to Jennie's apartment and help her get ready to take bridal portrait pictures in downtown Marietta. My mom's longtime friend, Anita Painter, came down with Mama to take Jennie's pictures. She is a fabulous photographer and as a wedding present for each of us, agreed to take our bridal portrait pictures. She and her husband, Terry, own a fantastic pottery store - Different Drummer Pottery in Maggie Valley, NC. They are an incredibly talented couple and we are quite blessed to call them family friends.

I was very tempted, but I didn't get any photos of the beautiful bride for fear that her husband-to-be, who trolls my blog from time to time, would see her in all her bridal glory before their big day.

Later in the afternoon, we made our way over to the Byrd's for Jennie's first official bridal shower! It was so much fun. The food and fellowship with friends and future family was fabulous. Whoa. That's an alliteration to be reckoned with!

The beautiful spread!

Bridal Bakeware

I've never seen a more hilarious toaster oven in all my life.

It's not often that we get all the Boone girls in one place anymore.
I love it.

This will have to hold me over until June 14th!


Most of the guests were gone.
We were trying to help clean up.
Not really.

Brides to Be!

Sadly, Mama, Anita and Nattie had to head back after the shower on Saturday. On a happier note, we were able to keep Kadee until Sunday night! :-) Kadee and I woke up Sunday morning and joined Jennie and Chris at their church for worship. I love singing with my sisters - even if it's just while we're sitting in the same pew. We were able to hear Jennie and Chris sing the offertory music too! It was a fabulous Sunday.

After church, we all headed to Subway for a quick lunch where we noticed a new fashion trend.

The Pony Mullet!!
(Jennie has assured everyone this will not be the look the groom is going for on their wedding day. Sad.)

Subway Sistas

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend. I will admit to missing my sisters more than ever at the moment, but it did my heart a lot of good to be with my family for a few days.

I love you Lulas!

To Do:

1. Work furiously to update blog and clean house before Jennie gets here.




2. Remember to record Grey's Anatomy!!!

3. Pick up Kadee at the airport - YAY!!!!!

4. Remember to stop by Chick-Fil-A on my way to work so Mo and I can have our weekly Friday breakfast.

5. Look forward to hugging Mama and Nattie when they get here tomorrow night.

6. Enjoy an entire weekend of sister time.


7. Try not to think about Sunday afternoon when everyone goes home.

Look, Ma! I'm Updating!

I heard the flutter of pigs' wings on the horizon, so I thought I would go ahead and update. I'm always up for averting disaster.

My Mortgage

I have now made two, count them, two mortgage payments. I own exactly $351. 86 of my house. While that may sound a little depressing (and it is), I am also quite excited to think that I might actually own ALL of the tiles in my kitchen... and the laminate flooring!

That would be me. Turning the key in my front door.
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!!

I didn't realize until I started working on this post that Bryan and I never took pictures of the house with "our stuff" in it. Right now, the house is dirty. I'm not picking up just so I can take pictures. Sorry. :-)

Dr. Seuss Day @ F.O. Escuela

We read some books, we sang Happy Birthday to a dead guy, we got to wear jeans to school. I was a happy camper. I'm a Yertle the Turtle kind of girl. Jennie? She's all about some Green Eggs and Ham. What can I say? The Boones are well-read.

That can only mean cute sisters in cute Dr. Seuss shirts!

Claudine's Bachelorette Weekend
Hilton Head, SC

As always, a weekend with my girls is nothing but fun. So when we decided to surprise Claudine with a trip to the beach before she and Mike tied the knot, I knew we were in for a good time. We left early Saturday morning, with the bride-to-be knowing nothing about our destination until we arrived.

Did you honestly think we would go on a trip and NOT find a pirate?!
We found TWO!!!!

After a little time lounging at the pool, we put on our pretty clothes and headed out.

Claudine, Moi, Toni

If you'll notice the screen on the left, you'll see the bottom half of Buckwheat, from the Little Rascals. This was one of the strangest clubs I've ever visited. While Top 40 music blared, there were random black-and-white flim clips playing on the screens, mainly of the Little Rascals. Bizarre!

Toni, Sherry, Michelle, Amber

It was a fabulous weekend away and I cannot wait for summertime!

St. Patty's Weekend/Housewarming

This was, perhaps, one of my favorite "grown-up" moments. Hosting my first soirée! Unfortunately, Bryan played camera commando and we didn't get as many pictures as I would've liked. It was so much fun to have all of our friends and their little ones in one place. It was like a sneak preview of how much fun our wedding will be!!

Hey! It's the dining room!

And the living room! With our stuff in it!

One of my favorite friends, Megan, drove down from Acworth her hubby and their twins, Bradley and Maddie. "Auntie Cha" loved being able to spend time with them and feed them cupcakes!!

Bradley eating his 99th cupcake. They were pretty awesome.


Maddie-pottamus!

Bocce ball!

I'm terrible at this game, but Bryan insists on playing at least once a week in the front yard. Now all the neighbors know how bad I am too! :-)

A Sign?

I'm not one to read the horoscope section to see how my day/week/month is going to pan out. I roll my eyes every day on my way to work as I drive by "Fiona's Fortunes: Palm Readings and Tarot Cards."

However, I am a big believer in signs. And this, I know, is a sign that I should put off grading that HUGE stack of papers just a little bit longer.

How can I possibly file and sort through all of these papers when Charlie clearly needs a place to, um, hang out? I would have to disturb him to continue working!

I asked him very nicely to move. He declined.

I think Charlie has the right idea. I'm off to join him.

:-)

Happy Sunday!

Homeowner Blues

That's right... I said Homeowner Blues.

Since we've moved in, Bryan and I have been spending money left and right on home repairs. After moving in, we have discovered:

1. A back-up in the kitchen sink. $500

2. A leaky water heater that required replacement + updated plumbing. $625

3. Soggy carpet this morning that we thought was coming from leaky pipes in the laundry room. $55

4. The real cause of the leak: groundwater seeping into our foundation. No price tag yet.

I have already cried, called my Mama and my Daddy. I am overwhelmed, but I know that HE will not give me anything I cannot handle. I am praying HE will carry us through this, and I am thankful that all of our other bills are already paid.

I am so very grateful for Bryan, who is on his way home from work to help me get a temporary fix going. He is, as always, calm when I am anxious, positive when I am frustrated and rational when I am... not.

Pictures are loaded, updates will come soon.

I Know, I Know...

I am WAY behind.

We are still unpacking, rearranging furniture and buying things I never thought we would need. I will post pictures of the house as soon as possible, along with:

- Girls' Night Out at Hemingway's
- Valentine's Day
- Our First Fire!

I appreciate your faithful patience. :-) It's coming... soon.

Love,

Abby

A Year In Review

I, like my good friend Nicole, am stealing the following post. I also want to do as much blogging as I can before I go back to work and forget what it was like to have a life. :(

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

I finished my master's degree and bought my first house!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year I made a pledge to talk to each of my sisters once a week. That was a lot easier to do when I spent 3+ hours in a car with no one to talk to. Jennie and I see each other almost every day at work, but I need to do a better job of staying in touch with Kadee and Nattie.

This year, I want to:

1. Grow closer to HIM.
   
2. Continue my weight loss journey.
3. Keep my new house organized.
4. Go home more often.
   

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My wonderful Fab 5 friend, Nikki and my good friend Amber!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Nada Nada Pinata

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

1. Stronger faith.
   
2. More time with our families.
3. A savings account. :-)
   

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 25th and...
November 10th! :-)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Learning to work with children who have learning disabilities. I'm co-teaching and inclusion classroom this year with one of the most fabulous teachers at my school. We have 21 kids, 5 of whom have learning disabilities in the form of a language disorder. They are anywhere from a year to 4 years behind grade level. It has been a challenge, a reward and a definite blessing.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not trusting HIM to show me how to love and understand all of my students from Day One. It took a little while, but I'm on the right track now. :-)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

There was an food poisoning incident involving Sherry and a trailer park hot dog. It was highly traumatic and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to eat another hot dog. Yech.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Not to be redundant, but I'm really excited about my house!!!



12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My sister Jennie, who had given up on hoping for an engagement. Her fiance totally blew her away with a photography engagement surprise.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I have to agree with Nicole. Young Hollywood was disgustingly trashy this year.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Student loans, earnest money for the house, car payment.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting engaged, gaining a brother-in-law, buying a house!

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Anything off of Colbie Caillat's debut album, Coco.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?

Definitely:

• happier and
  
• thinner
• but poorer.
  

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

1. Traveled more (to England and France!!)
2. Saved more money
3. Gone home more often
   
4. Spent more time with my girls this summer instead of babysitting --- that kind of contradicts #2. :-)

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

1. Spend
2. Work
   

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my family (including Bryan!) in Weaver-vegas.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

All over again. :-)

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I am a die-hard McDreamy girl. Grey's Anatomy is certainly my all-time favorite. Heroes probably became my new favorite, though.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Did a middle schooler write this question?

24. What was the best book you read?

My Top 3:

1. The Memory Keeper's Daughter
2. Nineteen Minutes
3. Blue Like Jazz
   

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

1. Colbie Caillat
2. Rilo Kiley
   
3. Bethany Dillon

26. What did you want and get?

• Holiday time with all of my sisters.
• A gorgeous jewelry cabinet from Bryan for Christmas.
• Harry Potter 5 on DVD
• Harry Potter 7 to read!
• A raise!
  

27. What did you want and not get?

• A size 6 body... that's my own fault.
• A big bag of money (Still working on it, Pegs!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

People, you know how indecisive I am.

Top 3:

1. Harry Potter 5
2. Knocked Up
3. Rescue Dawn

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28 (yikes!) and had a delicious dinner at Loca Luna with Bryan and the Fab 5 crew. We ended the night at the Halo Lounge.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

"Having the people in my life closer and more accepting of one another." - Ditto.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Cheap. And cute.

32. What kept you sane?

I have no idea. I'm pretty sure Bryan had alot to do with it. Until he broke his heel, he was doing at least (if not more than) half of the cleaning and general upkeep in the apartment. He still folds laundry and does the late night cat feeding, but I'm definitely looking forward to having him back 100%. :-)

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Do we really "fancy" people? Nicole, did one of your English friends write this?

I have the hots for McDreamy.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

No Child Left Behind = Every Child Left Behind: Ask most teachers what they think of this particular piece of legislation, and chances are they'll tell you it's crap. Absolute crap.

Immigration Reform: It shouldn't take ten thousand dollars and 10+ years to gain citizenship. I love my students and their families. There has to be a better way to help them.


35. Who did you miss?

My grandmothers.

The more time we spend with Bryan's family (we are blessed to have both of his grandmothers - Nanny and Grammy), the more I realize how much I miss my Mimi and Nena. It also makes me thankful for the time I do get to spend with DeeDee and Mama Carol.

Kari.

An entire ocean is an awfully long way away. It's a good thing words and prayers travel quickly. :-)



36. Who was the best new person you met?

Thomas

We laugh, we play, we eat Goldfish. Does it get any better? I think not.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

Following my heart doesn't always mean that everyone else will agree with my decisions.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

So it's not a lyric, but it fits.

"My Love Hasn't Grown Cold"
Imagination - Bethany Dillon

You shake your head
What is so hard to believe?
When you are in your bed
I sing over you the sweetest things

Because oh, my love does not tire
I'm awake when the moon is full
And I know the times when you feel lost
And you just aren't sure

Lo and behold
My love hasn't grown cold
For you

You cold steal away in the middle of the night
And hide in the light of day
While you cloak yourself in the darkest lies

But oh my love, it swims in the deepest oceans of fear
And as soon as you lower your head
I am here

Lo and behold
My love hasn't grown cold
For you

If only you could see
How heaven stills when you speak
I know all your days
And I have wrapped you in mystery

And oh, my love for you
Is as wide as the galaxies
Just hold out your hand and close your eyes
And come be with me

Lo and behold
My love hasn't grown cold
For you

Panic at Phillips!

We were very fortunate to be invited to join some of Bryan's former clients at Phillips Arena for New Year's Eve. Widespread Panic played their 9th straight New Year's Eve show there and we had a fantastic time. It was fun to be a "Spreadhead" for the night... minus the copious amounts of drugs. (Please note definition #2)

Fun Fact: Panic has played 18 consecutive sold-out NYE shows in Atlanta.

They even have their own jersey hanging up at Phillips Arena! :-)

L-R: A girl that did not talk to us, Bridget and John (our hosts)

I'm not quite sure what the "under the sea" motif was all about...
Do you see the ginormous jellyfish?

Many of you know that Bryan and I were "Phish phans" for a long time. Panic falls into that same "jam band" genre. Bryan had seen them play several times before, while I had only seen them at the infamous concert in Athens - Panic in the Streets in 1998. We were both excited to get a little "jam band fix" and go to the show on Monday night. One of the "perks" was that we were able to sit, stand and boogie all from the comfort of our friend Bridget's company suite. As I told my friend Roper, we weren't anywhere near the patchouli oil-laden teenage crowd. That, my friends, is a scent I do not miss. :-)

My boogie-in' boy :-)

We were also able to invite our friends Toni and Jeremy to come along. Bless them both, I don't think they had ever experienced the jam band scene. They took it all in and did some fun people watching. :-) I was really thankful to have Toni there as it was my first time meeting John and Bridget, our hosts. I had people to talk to!!

me. toni. fun.

Toni and Jeremy

My cousin Maggie and her husband Eric drove in from Waynes-vegas with some of their friends to see the show, and we tried really hard all weekend to meet up. Alas, work schedules and dead cell phones worked against us. :-(

Yes, those are pictures of Bryan dancing.
With his crutches.
He is awesome. :-)

Sister Time...

Always makes me even more homesick for a few days once I'm back in Georgia.

I miss my parents. I miss my sisters. I miss Nattie's touchy-feely demands while we watch movies on the couch - "Scratch my back. Play with my hair. Tickle my arm."

I miss my dog - the old one. I miss the way my Mama smells in the morning when I hug her. (It's a good smell.) I wake up wishing I could get a big bear hug from my Daddy. I miss waking up to the smell of breakfast being made. I miss clean air.

To ease the homesickness, I can look forward to:

1. The fam coming to Georgia on MLK weekend to help us move.
2. Time with Jennie during the break - sister date!
3. The possibility of Kadee and JP moving back to the mountains next fall so he can go back to grad school.

I know the last one is a long way off, but I'll take what I can get today. :-)