A little of this and that

We have been so very busy lately! I haven't made the rounds on my favorite blogs in forever and if I do pop in, I usually don't have enough time to comment. I hope to do better soon. I also plan to post more to my blog so I can blurb it for keepsake.

Anyhow, let's see... I started teaching 3rd grade after teaching first and second for eight years. After the initial "oh my gosh, these kids can DO", I am settling in nicely and feel like I have landed in Heaven. My students are AMAZING and such busy little bees. They are intrinsic learners and that makes my job very easy. I am finding that the day is flying by and before I know it, it's time to pack up and head home.

Unfortunately, one of the hazards of being a teacher is catching everything! It's the third full week and I've already had a bad stomach bug and now I am on zinc and vitamin d daily while trying to fight a cold. Ugh!

Paige started middle school and has transitioned beautifully! Her social life is far better than mine and she is loving life. She is trying out for her middle school's 6th grade basketball team (the sixth grade team is an unofficial weekend league). I hope she makes it. She has her heart set on it. She is becoming burned out of dance, so we have let her drop a few classes. She keeps asking to take a year off from it all together and while I really don't mind, I am afraid they will hold her back and she won't be with her friends. We'll have to really think about that one.

My mom is busy doing projects around the house and is so involved in church. We have a few little weekend trips planned and that has her excited. We are going to Chicago in November to get in the Christmas spirit!

Hope to make it around to other's blogs soon! Until then, take care and have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend~!

The party of the year (Part 2)

So, I left off with a little teaser...here are some of the attendees and the bday girls getting ready to take off on a night FULL of adventures.






Birthday girls with the guests!


Add in just a smidge of SASS!


My beautiful birthday girl in the limo...ahhh, she is growing up so fast!


JM, Arden, Paige and Gracie



And for a little video pleasure, we have lots of squeals and att-i-tude (some which some mama's had to take care of later :/), but mostly lots of fun! I get tickled in one of the videos where Paige's friend, Gracie gets excited about "fancy water!"...lol, it doesn't take much :)





The journey begins here and has several pit stops along the way to reach their final destination... more to come later :)

The party of the year (Part 1)

Someone had a PARTAY this past weekend and it was a HUGE success! Remember not too long ago I shared that Paige was having a joint bday with two of her besties??? Well, it was this past weekend and it was sooo much fun! I'm going to have to break this into several parts, because it was THAT over the top. I told Paige that she won't be having another party like that until she gets married. hee hee


Paige posing before the guests arrived!




Each lady received a pink rose as they stepped out of this...


...oooh yeah, baby, a white stretch Hummer Limo with disco lights, surround sound stereo and lights on the ceiling. It was a tween's dream come true!!!


The cake was soooo cute and YUMMY to boot! Paige wanted to take a little finger "dip" before the guests arrived, but she held off! :)


Loren, Ava and Paige...BIRTHDAY GIRLS!!!


The girls looked quite regal and so elegant in their cocktail dresses! It was so much fun to have an occassion to see all of their friends decked out.


The girls before going for a pre party ride. The whole evening was a surprise for the birthday girls and the guests! It was a very difficult task keeping such BIG secrets from sooo many girls and moms, but we did it!

Sooo much more fun to come...check back for more!!! :)



I converted a pic of Paige and I into black and white and wanted to link up to Lisa's black and white Wednesday since I haven't participated in a while. This was taken at the end of our evening and while we are sweaty, I love this pic of me and my sweet girl! To see more black and whites, head over to the new MOMMY to a beautiful SPICY girl!!!!

Look out EMS...here they come!

Paige's first day of middle school couldn't have been more wonderful! I will let the pictures do the talking...


It started off with a "Cougar Breakfast" for Paige and 16 of her closest friends. Look at how precious that table is! My friend, Kim, is so creative and doesn't leave a single detail out.


There were chocolate chip and blueberry muffins, fixings for parfaits, fruit, milk and OJ, but quite frankly, the girls were too excited to eat much. I think they look pretty darn cute for 6:15 a.m.


They giggled and talked and wondered who their teacher's were going to be, what team they were going to be on (Paige is on the BLUE ...YAY), and who was going to be in their classes. I am sure they had a few conversations about boys, but the moms and I weren't privy to those :)


They posed for some group shots while the mama/sisterazzi went NUTS with our cameras!!! Such sweet girls to allow us to be in their faces ALL.THE.TIME!


They sat with their besties and talked about how they are SOOOO glad to not be in elementary anymore (I didn't buy that for one minute, though).


They talked about hoping to not get lost in their new BIG school!


They shared the latest trends...


They started to look soooo grown up...


They struck a pose...


Waved at buses and passersby who honked their horns...


They took pics with lifelong friends...


They gave us a glimpse into their future...


They gathered for prayer...


We said our goodbyes to the days of wiping noses, drying eyes, tying shoelaces, helping with handwriting or sounding out words...


and we all said hello to a brand new phase in our sweet girls lives.

I hope and pray that God watches over these girls and helps them to make good choices, be kind to each other, learn all that they can, study hard, play harder, and never forget to cherish each moment!

In my mind...

...she is still this little! :( Tomorrow, my baby girl, starts middle school! I know most people don't see this as any big deal, but she is our one and only and each and every milestone just means she is growing up. While I am so proud of the young lady she has become, sometimes I just wish she were this little again and I could still scoop her up and sing to her and love on her like I did when she was so teeny.



No matter what, Paige, you will ALWAYS be my baby girl!
I love you more than life itself! Be the sweet, unique individual you are and you will KNOCK their socks off!

To the moon and back...