Yard Work Saturday...

BEFORE....(note: These have been cut almost in half...they were reaching 2nd story)

(also cut in half, was reaching corner of roof)

AFTER....

We have a window!

Several months ago we noticed the "bushes" in front of our house were growing rather tall (reaching 2nd story). After a little research, we learned that these "bushes" were actually trees and they averaged around 20 ft in height! Because they were so close to the house, we wanted to remove them so that the roots wouldn't grow too far and buckle the foundation. So, this morning Thomas came over to help us pull up the trees and plant some actual shrubs. We planted 5 Loropetalum (4 in front of the window, 1 by the garage) and 3 hostas. It will take some time, but the shrubs should get rather big (not like the trees) but can be easily pruned (again, not like the trees) and the hostas will get taller and spread out a lot also. Thanks Thomas for helping out! i can't wait to see the plants grow. Neither of us are known for our green thumbs, so I hope they make it =)

Have I told you...

How awesome this guy is?!

Not only is he super handsome, charming, hilarious, sweet, and my favorite person in the world...he can also cook/grill! This is the second night in the past week or so that Greg has made me a DELICIOUS steak dinner and has done everything (cook and clean) himself AND without being asked. What a hubby!!! He seriously is the best husband in the world (I may be biased)! I am the luckiest woman ever to have such a man =) That's all for now, just had to brag a bit!

Memorial Day Fun...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

To celebrate Memorial Day we went to C-ville for a cookout at C & T's. It was a lot of fun and the food was soo yummy! AND we had a surprise easter egg hunt for fun...all cash filled eggs, S-W-E-E-T!!!! Thanks for the lunch, the money, and the fun!

Sew on...

For those who don't know, we've had some sick puppies for the past few weeks. Chance had an upset stomach two weeks ago and Jack got sick last week...soooo out with the old in with the new doggy beds! We couldn't find any we really liked, so Greg suggested I just sew them some (DUH)! So, I found a fabric that matched our living room and I sewed two "dog bed" cases...aka, I sewed overlapping pillowcases and put them on two extra pillows to use as doggy beds. Now, instead of having to throw the whole cushion away, I can just wash the cover! How simple...it took MAYBE 15-20 minutes to make.

Front...


Back...where it overlaps

Oh Sweet Savings...

After this past semester of field experience, I realized that I really needed to start building my own classroom library. I checked out SOOO many books for my first grader this past semester and it would have been nice to have my own books to work with. This fall I will be completing a similar field experience but with an older student. So, I have recently began picking up books when I can find them from a thrift store on 92 or from Scholastic warehouse sales. I only buy book that are in really good or excellent condition and I try to get fairly familiar title and authors. I've gotten some great deals, but today was simply a STEAL!!! I bought 18 books (2 are for me to read) for $15.12! That's decent right? But wait until you see the retail value total of the books I bought today...

Bridge to Terabithia....RETAIL $6.99 ...Price Paid$0.99
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star........6.95..............0.99
Angelina Ballerina................17.95...................1.91
Loon at Northwood Lake........16.95.................1.91
Yumion Goes to the City........14.95.................1.91
Lyle at the Office...................14.95................1.91
The Wartville Wizard............5.99.................0.99
Planets...................................4.99..................0.99
This is the Turkey....................6.95..................0.66
Lucky......................................11.95................1.91
Elmer and Friends...................9.95..................1.91
Santa and Me........................14.95................1.91
What Your First Grader
Needs to Know (I'm using this same book at the
Harts for Gracie's
summer lessons)..................12.95....................1.91
Possum Magic........................6.00....................0.99
Cannonball River Tales.......15.95...................1.91
Red Riding Hood..................12.95..................1.91
Hewitt Anderson's
Great Big Life....................16.95.....................1.91
Blackbeard the Pirate King.....16.95................1.91

TOTAL (drumroll please)
Retail .........
$215.27

Price Paid............
$28.53 + tax (1.71)= $30.24 + 50% OFF COUPON
= $15.12!!!



Is that not insane?! Like I said, I've gotten other great deals, but nothing like this! And if I end up teaching upper grades, I can use my lower level reads for my own children (because I have several k-2 levels, just not a ton in this purchase). Man oh man...I love a sweet deal!!

What a Saturday...

What a great day! It started with...

breakfast in bed with the hubby! After getting to sleep in...which is always a welcomed treat!

Then we went to go see...

Star Trek of all movies! To my surprise, it was really good and I actually enjoyed it. Neither of us are "Trekies" but we've heard it was really good so we decided to go...and sure enough, it was!

After the movie, we ran a few errands and then went for an early dinner at Rafferty's. We went home and I took a nap while Greg played on the computer and then we went out for...

my favorite! Cold Stone ice cream! Needless to say, this was a diet-free day...and I am paying for it! My stomach is KILLING me...however, every calorie and carb were well worth the pain I'm in right now =)

The best part of the day was spending all of it with my incredible husband =) Everything else was just a bonus!

The real winner...

...Should have been...

Don't worry Adam. I, among millions more, will buy all of your albums. Needless to say, I thought he should've won. Booo.

Nweds Graduation

Our whole group =)

*Kiss Kiss*

The Grads with Greg and Barbara (the teachers)

****these pics were taken/edited by Ashlee...check out her and her husband's photography site here ***

Yesterday we went to the lake at and incredible house graciously opened to us from a couple at the church, to graduate 6 of our Nwed couples. a few alumni couples came to celebrate also so it was neat seeing them there (one with a baby)! We had such a great day spending time together and hearing everyone's summer plans. We have several couples moving so it was nice to see them before they leave and to see the rest of the group before breaking for summer. There are several couples that we will still be seeing over the summer, but our Nweds meetings won't start back until fall =( Greg and I will not graduate until next May, but we are dreading it already! We have made some incredible friendships that will last a lifetime and it will be sad to leave the group. However, we will be graduating with several close friends and we are already discussing creating our own small group after we are finished with Nweds. We will miss all the grads but are looking forward to next season!


Me and Joy


Jeremy just got an answer right in Catch Phrase (shouldn't this have a 'ding' sound effect?)


Chris and Kathleen


Chris, Kyle, Leah, and Kathleen


Tyler throwing out hints for the guys


Us =)


Tyler, Kristen, Stephanie, and Chad


The J-MAYzings and the G-Unit (what goobers!)


Us and a beautiful sunset!.

Mother's Day Weekend...

Make a Smilebox photobook

The smilebox are just pics of the niece and nephew from the weekend in Raleigh. However, the rest of the family was there =) Thursday after work we drove to NC to spend the weekend with my family. It was nice to have the entire day with the babies on Friday and I enjoyed waking up at 5:30am to hang out with Eva! She is so much fun and has such a cute personality! I love to see how much she has changed since the last time I've seen her. A little later James joined in on the fun and I seriously considered taking him home with me. He is one of the most laid back babies I have ever seen! The ONLY time he cried the ENTIRE weekend we were there was for about 10 minutes on Saturday night while he was waiting to eat. Seriously...that was IT! He is so alert and stays a awake quite a bit but falls asleep as soon as you hold him...which I love =) They are both just too stinkin cute and I can't wait to see them again soon! It was nice getting to spend time with everyone...Andy didn't have to work super late hours so it was fun getting to spend some time with him. Mammie came up on Saturday to spend the day with us also and to go to church with us on Sunday. I hope my mom had a great Mother's Day! She is the best mom and I was glad I was able to be there to celebrate! We had a fantastic time and can't wait to see everyone again in a few weeks!!

A little Mother's Day craft...

Laurel laughing it up!

Karis working hard...

Today Karis and Laurel (with a little help) made their mom framed footprints. I love crafts like these because they make such cute keepsakes! Karis loved having her feet painted and Laurel did not know what to think, but she went along with it =) It was funny because Karis remembered making the handprint flowerpot last year for Angie, so she kept saying, "Silly Jilli-nan, we paint our hands, not our feeeeet!" She is too cute and they are both so much fun! Here are their finished products...

Feliz el Cinco de Mayo...

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Trooper exams (for Jeremy), being alive (for Greg), and school almost being over (for both me and Joy) and to just get together, we had dinner at El Nopal together. It was sooo great getting together with these two! We were meeting on a regular basis but with schedules being so hectic, we haven't had a chance to lately, so it was nice getting together with such awesome friends! I severely went off the diet (margarita(s)and Mexican food are not diet friendly) but it was fun either way. Plus, I worked it off earlier by mowing the lawn...what a work out =) Well, that's just a quick update...I should be studying, so it's back to the books! Wish me luck, only 2 more exams and I am FINISHED...with this semester =) But some good academic news is that I have recently been inducted into a National Academic Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Iota and have been invited into Magna Cum Laude this week. Anything extra to add on my TOSS application for next spring is a plus, so I'm excited to add these to it =)

Strawberry Fields Forever...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Today Me, Cindy, Katie, and Katie Anne went to a strawberry farm in Adairsville to pick so fresh strawberries! We had a great time and it was really neat to do. It was exceptionally muddy because of the rain last night but luckily Cindy had some extra shoes for us all. I have a ton of berries for some jam or cobbler now so I am looking forward to using them (and eating them)! After berry picking we stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel and then headed home. It was such a fun day!