Beach Vacay - part I

In June we headed down to Panama City to spend a week at the beach.  We could not have asked for more perfect weather and clearer water!  Probably the best we've had in recent years.

The flags were red almost every day, but it wasn't too bad, and we didn't go far out.

Two brudders!

Nana and Puddin' joined us the first weekend.  We had a great time on the beach with them, and an extra set of hands is always good!

Saturday evening we headed to Pier Park.  We ate dinner at Dave & Busters.  Eli was finally old enough/tall enough for the trampolines, so that's what we did!

 (This kid LOVED the resort bracelets.  He had on anywhere from 2-4 at all times during the week.  Wrists, ankles:  nothing was off limit!)

Look at my brave boys!

Way up there!

After the trampolines, we headed over to the carnival.  Eli picked Puddin' as his riding buddy.  They started on the carousel.  (On a side note, Eli has entered the stage of doing peace signs.  Oh my.)

Little brother wasn't happy he just had to watch!

Sunday morning was more amazing weather, so we headed back to the beach.  Puddin' tried to impart some of his vast knowledge of sand castles.

Sandy Landy of course was all into that...literally.

Sunday was special because we got to celebrate Nana and Puddin's anniversary with them.  35 years!!!

Stay tuned for more pictures from our beach vacation.

Sandy Landy

Over our June beach trip, Landon earned a new nickname, Sandy Landy!  Often times he was like a pig in the mud, rolling all around in the sand.  I've never seen a baby like sand like my Landon boy.  When we came in off the beach, Sandy Landy went straight to the tub.  That sand gets EVERYWHERE!

Tiger Swim Lessons

We decided that this was the year Eli needed to take swim lessons.  There are plenty of people who give lessons around town, but when I saw on FB that the Auburn Aquatics center on campus did, we immediately signed up!  We love any excuse for a trip to Auburn.

Swim lessons spanned two weeks, and Eli had a blast!  He learned so much and his confidence (and mine) grew too.  Also, why did I never go to the aquatics center when I was a student?  So fun!

One of Eli's favorite things was when they got to throw a ball in the pool and then jump and swim to it.

There were 6 kids in his group and three teachers.  The girls did a great job with all the kids.  Lessons were only 30 minutes long, but they maximized every minute.  It was very organized and productive!

Swim lessons came at a great time.  The day after they ended we headed to the beach for 10 days, so Eli really got to practice all he learned.  He's turned in to quite the little fish this summer!  War Eagle!

iPad for imPact

With the awesome, speedy success (just a few minutes!) of my last Donor's Choose project, I decided to do another one.  My class would really benefit from a tablet with a camera.  (Read:  I LOVE QR codes.)  So, if you'd like to help my upcoming kiddos (did I mention I'm only teaching Reading next year...that's around 60 kids!), just click the link below.  We'd really appreciate your help!

THANKS FRIENDS!!!

iPad for imPact 

Give to my classroom by July 10, 2015 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code SPARK on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100). 

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks. 

Thanks so much, 

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along! 

June Reads

I read a lot of good stuff in June.  Eli and Landon gave me What Alice Forgot for my birthday.  It was a great beach read.  Alice had an accident at the gym and hit her head.  When she awoke, she's remembering herself pregnant with her first child and several years younger.  In actuality,  it's ten years later, she's got three kids, and is in the midst of a divorce.  It was a fun read when I was turning 30 (more on that later) to think back on all the big things that have happened in my own life in the last decade.

Jen Hatmaker.  Enough said.  Go read.

It took me a bit to get in to this book, but that was only because it had been years since I read the first book in the series, Legend.  Once my good friend, Wikipedia, reminded me of all the little details in Legend, I was good to go with Prodigy.  It was a real page turner.  I stayed up late to finish reading it, and am itching to get my hands on the third book in the trilogy, Champion.  I really can't decide which distopian trilogy is my favorite:  Hunger Games, Divergent, or Legend.  It's really a tough call!

Only one month left before it's back to work, and I've got several more books I want to read.  So many books.  So little time.

4th of July weekend

We kept the roads hot over the holiday weekend.  It started with a quick trip to Dothan.  We let Nana and Puddin' put the boys to bed, and we snuck out to see Jurassic World.  So good!

Eli and I made a patriotic cake for the birthday boy this year.

The morning of Wesley's birthday, Eli and I got up and bought birthday donuts.  Then, we headed to reunion.

The Mary Taff crowd

the Taffs

The next day we headed over to Lake Martin to celebrate the 4th with more family.  Ginny had bought Eli a fishing pole, and he was so excited to fish.

Eli caught 5 fish that day, and like a true fisherman, embellished the size of the fish to anyone who asked how big they were! : )

Other than fishing, there was a lot of floating and boat riding too!

The storms drove us all inside, but there was a mean game of Phase 10 for the adults and tattoos for the kids!

After the weather cleared up a bit, we headed back outside for fireworks off the dock.

I think this is my favorite picture of the day.  Wesley shooting off fireworks and Eli hiding behind the tree with his ears covered and eyes closed.  haha!  Good times.

I think it's obvious that God is an Auburn fan.

Eli's favorite were the sparklers.

We capped off the holiday weekend with a big breakfast at Waffle House, church, family lunch, and long naps!