New Pics...

While I was at a baby "sprinkle", Chris took the kids to a park to take their pictures as a gift for me.
He took 122 pics in all...some of them were great...I guess Caden was in a "mood" - ha!!

Butterfly Kisses...

Last night was the daddy and daughter dance. Chris showed up on the right night this time :) We had some friends come hang out before the dance and then the guys went to the dance and the moms took the boys to Dave and Busters. It's pretty cool how this friendship has developed this year. Brooke and Grace have been on the same soccer team since kindergarten. This year they are in the same class and her little brother Blake and Caden are in the same kindergarten class. Small world, but has made for fun friendships :) The song that Chris and Grace danced to was "Butterfly Kisses." Awww....

Chris and Grace
The foursome posing for a pic.The girls ready to go!Can't forget the boys...

Just when you think that you've got it bad....

***update...Janine passed last night right after Melanie left seeing her...ironic 'huh? Her husband, son, and daughter were walking Mel out and she let herself go. Off to a better place where she won't suffer.
**********************************************************************************
My team leader, Melanie, is in need of your prayers. Her best friend was diagnosed with cancer 11 weeks ago and is now in hospice with a week (maybe) to live. I can't even fathom what that would be like to go through.

We've talked a lot about her friend and their friendship over the course of the last 11 weeks. I've tried to learn more about Melanie and her friend and as we all know, sometimes it just helps to talk. I am a listener. I am really a care taker and feel the need to help and care for the people around me. I digress....during these talks that M and her friend have had, she told me when she was first diagnosed they sat on her friend's bed and just talked and laughed. Cried a bit too, but ever since that day, all they have done is laugh. They sit around and tell stories of their lives and the experiences that they have shared together. Her friend told her that it was okay for her to go now because her kids are grown (daughter is 26 and her son just graduated from college). She was able to meet her 6 month old grandson and she knew that she will live on in their hearts. It's going to be a long road...

Also, my other team mate is pregnant with her 1st baby. She's 29 weeks now and has started bleeding. They are telling her that her cervix is thinning and she's probably going to be put on bedrest soon. Not fun...makes for a lot of team bonding :)

Nothing fun about being sick...

Caden and I are both under the weather today...he is exhausted and has a horribly runny nose from allergies and I woke up with a stomach bug. YUCK!!! I'm feeling better - thanks to the Immodium - but I am wondering what the night will bring for Caden. Send hugs and prayers my way!!

Ice Days....

The Doves were taking refuge on our swing set.
The kids trying to get to the icicles.
Success!!!
I'm in my classroom on Tuesday morning around 10:50am and I hear over the intercom, "Will all team leaders please report to the office." Hmmm...I know that this is not good. Within 5 minutes my team leader is running down the hallway - literally - and gathering us all up. She tells us that Plano ISD is releasing the students at 12:30pm and we have to call ALL of the parents and make sure that they know. Well...that just sent everyone into a tizzy. Before I could even get back to the classroom to explain to the students what was going on, the office manager comes over the intercom and tells the students. Now we're at just pure bedlam. The kids are not worried, they are just plain EXCITED!! Note that at this time it's 11am and we're not dismissing for another hour and 1/2...also, please note that no learning went on during this time. The phones overloaded because every teacher of every student in PISD was having to call home. CRAZY. I, being the fabulous problem solver that I am, decide to use my cell phone. Now every parent from my 2nd class of kids (24 in all) has my cell phone number - nice 'huh? Oh well..no calls yet! Can you imagine what it was like trying to get 24 5th graders to stay focused on something to do or watch so that I could call all of those parents. It was definitely a large glass of wine night for me so I was glad that school was cancelled the next day. I just don't want to make it up!!

Out of the mouths of Babes...

Chris and I were cleaning up around the house this weekend and Grace says to us, "Are we having people over?" I found it both humorous and sad that my child thinks that the only time we clean toilets and do laundry is because company is coming.

Last night we were driving home from a fun afternoon of family time. We went shopping at Stonebriar and then to dinner at Scotty P's. On the way home from dinner Caden says, "Last week I thought that Jessica in my class was cute." Chris and I both glance at each other and try to keep from laughing...so Chris says, "Why did you think that?" To which Caden replied, "She had ponytails in her hair." I don't know that I'm ready for Caden to be thinking about things like that yet. He's not even 6.

A Nice Day Outside...

The weather in Texas has been hot one day and FREEZING the next. The kids took advantage of a nice day last week.