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Two down ... only twenty three to go!

Today was graduation day. For the second time in my teaching career, I wore a long black gown and a fake master's hood while sitting in front of 700 people and pretended to pay attention to the speakers. The best part was watching my own students achieve this huge milestone (although I've only taught about 45 seniors over the last two years) . The girl that coughed to cover her cellphone graduated, as did half of my flagline. Backstage, I was grabbing kids for hugs and wishing them success. It was definitely a starfish moment.

Hubster didn't know what I meant by a starfish moment, when we talked about this over Blizzards from DQ later this afternoon. Have you ever heard of that story? The one where a guy is standing on a beach covered with hundreds of starfish and he's throwing them back into the surf one at a time. A stranger walks up to tell him that the tide is receding and he'll never be able to save them all. The sheer number of starfish is overwhelming. The man looks at the stranger calmly, bends down to pick up another one and smoothly tosses it back in the water. "I made a difference to that one," he gently replies.

Of course, like every year, there was at least one heartbroken student who didn't make the list. I didn't see him at the ceremony, and it was very disheartening because I know he's worked really hard to graduate this year. I hope that although he didn't officially graduate, he will take the energy he's invested in the last year and apply that same attitude towards being successful in life. He has a lot of potential.

I hope I made a difference in the lives of a a few of the kids walking across the stage today. I know they've each impacted me. This year has taught me so much about teaching. I can't imagine what next year will bring!

Triumph

Would you say that Bri is laughing or crying in this picture?

This Guy's In Love With You!

In two weeks, my in-laws will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Yes, you read that right! FORTY years together. Pretty amazing, huh? Want to know the really amazing part? They are still head-over-heels in-love with each other, even after forty years. We were in the kitchen on Saturday, when Hubster's dad walked in, put his arms around his wife and said, "Girls, I hope you'll each be lucky enough to be this beautiful when you're 60 years old!" We all heartily agreed.

The three of us girls have been plotting their celebration for a few months. We thought about throwing them a huge shindig, or even inviting all the aunts, uncles and cousins and miscellaneous relatives to come PART-AY with us, but instead Hubster's parents wanted a small party with just their own kids and grandkids. Our small party filled up the whole house this weekend; to the point where there were usually three people trying to step into the same space at once.

On Saturday afternoon, we descended on visited a local park and brought ourselves a barbeque picnic dinner. My father-in-law is a professional when it comes to BBQ. After we ate, the adults polished off a scrumptious chocolate cake and the kids played on the playground. (For those of you wondering which category I fit into, the answers is ... both. I had my cake and played on the playground too!)

It was really special to be together as a family, even amid all the chaos of grandkids and strangers.
This little guy, wanted to hunt for some treasure this weekend, like his hero Indiana Jones. I wanted to make that happen so badly, but we left the GPS at home, and discovered that the park was way to full of people and way too big to comb over without some satellite navigational guidance.
Bridoodle had tons of fun watching her older cousins play. She was a champ, even though it was hot and muggy, with lots of insects buzzing around. This adorable hat was a gift from her aunt. It's reversible! The other side is just as cute, too!

Doesn't this picture just melt your heart? I could look at this picture all day! Makes me think that forty years, will be way too short, for me and Hubster. I'm so glad that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.

Flamebroiled Donuts

We went to Sunday School today with Hubster's family. His dad teaches the class, and today the lesson was on choosing to please God when it means displeasing men. Specifically, the lesson was applied to a work situation where an employee must go against his boss's wishes in order to please God. The text was taken from the book of Daniel, and it focused on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to worship the statue of their boss, King Nebuchadnezzar.

Later, after Sunday School, during the offering in the service, I wrote a little note to Hubster. "Where was Daniel when his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were all thrown into the furnace?" I scribbled it quickly onto the paper, before passing it over to Hubs. He glanced at the note, pulled out his pen and immediately began writing his answer. Now, I'd puzzled over this question by myself for twenty minutes, so I was a little miffed that he knew the answer so quickly. I chalked it up to his private Christian school education and leaned over to read what he was writing. He shielded his answer with his hand as he continued and cast me a devious grin.

So I waited. Eventually, he finished chicken scratching on my church bulletin and I was allowed to read what he wrote:

"Daniel had to run down to the Krispy Kreme to get breakfast for his Sunday School class. He got back just as the fire was starting to die down."

Two points for Christian school! Does anybody else have an answer?

Bri's first taste of icecream

Update: Bri's little cup (pictured above) contained Mayfield vanilla ice cream.

"No more? Oh no!"

Boy Trouble

Baby *Bri has three older cousins and we're in the middle of a wild family visit. Tonight, her oldest cousin *Indiana Jones (6 years old) played a little joke on his younger brother, *Percy (2 years old). After all four kiddos had been put to bed, Indy decided it would be funny to make Percy wet his pants. So he stuck a sippy cup down his brother's pajama pants while Percy was standing in the pack n' play. All of the adults were downstairs talking about boring things while this occurred.

Indy's excited squeals of laughter, instantly brought his Daddy running up to the kids' room. He frantically called his wife to come upstairs and survey the damage. Percy's sheets were soaked and his pants were dripping wet. Both boys just thought this was hilarious! Of course, with three play pens in use around this zoo house, there's a shortage of clean sheets immediately available. The adults downstairs exchanged worried glances, as we listened to the scene unfolding.

My sister-in-law sleuthed out that the sippy cup had caused the accident, but could not find it in the play yard. We were relieved to hear her laughter, echoing down the hallway, when she finally discovered the Holy Grail tucked in Percy's PJ's! "How did Percy's cup get down his pants?" she giggled from the doorway. Little Indy just flashed her a sly grin.

It seems that the kiddos are on a constant crusade for fun around here. It's an adventure just to be around them!



PS: * In case you haven't noticed, I don't do real names on this site. My sister-in-law would never let her husband name her child Indiana Jones. Or Hans Solo. Or Darth Vader. Although, my brother-in-law just might have asked her at one point or another. He is a big fan of George Lucas.