It's Raining Babies!

No, seriously...it is! Everyone I know (or seems like it) is pregnant. It's especially raining babies at Greenbrier Elementary School! I told my mom last week that I no longer know anyone in the Sunday papers that got married--it is now onto newborn pictures!

Jessica is a friend of mine at school that is expecting a baby in August. I went over to Sara's house for a sweet baby shower for her. Everything was great--and it was fun to be with my colleagues in a setting other than school!

all of my teacher friends! Please ignore the fact that my skin color is nearly the same as the dress. I really need a tan...desperately

A Blending Catastrophe!

In the world of speech, me and my cohort always do (meaning, the two years I've been here at Greenbrier...) "Movies and a Milkshake" for an end of the year celebration. The kids really ask about it all year--so it's vital that we do it. Anyway...back to the story...I was in charge of bring 10 quarts of vanilla ice cream, two gallons of milk, and my blender. I only have one blender--it happens to be a really nice one, since we got it for a wedding gift--so I had no other options than to bring it. I lugged in the ice cream and milk. I went back to the parking lot to retrieve my purse and the blender. I got just up to the car line when the blender jar started tilting off kilter...and down came the blender...smattering glass everywhere...and destroying the beautiful blender. I started collecting glass pieces, as there were parents and children just parading right through...and thinking to myself how ONLY ME! I really am so clumsy and careless sometimes. The maintanence guy came out to sweep up the mess...throwing the broken pieces, blade, and docking thing in the dumpster. (This is turning into a really long story!)

I immediately came in to my room and googled "replacement jar". Found nothing--so just called Kitchenaid and asked them about it. The nice lady said, we can send you one for 20 dollars. I said sold. As I was giving her my credit card information, I said, did you get that my blender is red so I will need the red bottom part? She said, oh that's another 25 dollars. I said oh...she then proceeded to tell me the blade cost another 20 dollars. WHAT? Seriously? I said no...just the glass jar please. Ran back down to Mr. Maintanece guy and asked where the remnants of my mess were...he said the dumpster. I said oh and gave him a very pitiful face. He was the HERO of the day and went dumpster diving to retrieve my blade and docking thing a ma bob to save me 50 dollars!

Kitchenaid said that my replacement jar will be in in 7-10 days. We will back in business to concocting milkshakes (among other things!) alllllllll summer long :)

Grove Park Inn

Josh won a golf tournament two years ago--and one of the prizes was a gift card to GPI. We haven't used it yet because there has always been a two night minimum anytime we had an opportunity to go. Josh had the idea last week to call to see if we could spend Sunday night only for a little mini get away. They let us...and off we went!
The weather left a lot to be disired...but it was fun exploring Asheville and just getting out of Greenville for the day. Grove Park Inn was really nice--and we didn't feel like we were only in Asheville. We ate at some cute little places and shopped around the area.
They have rocking chairs everywhere...just lined up one after the other on the main floor! Here we are enjoying the view of the golf course. We sat up the camera timer on all of the pictures with both of us in them...to eliminate the self portraits.

There she is in all her beauty.

I'm pretty sure these were installed before cell phones...they had these little phone booths everywhere!

again, self timerthe view overlooking the spa

Thank you Mom & Dad!

Special Thanks to mom and dad for keeping Gracie for us this Memorial Day weekend as Brooke and I went to the Grove Park Inn for a mini-vacay. She said she had fun playing and laying around and enjoying playing with her buddy Luke (the Golden Retriver), and boy did she sleep good last night! Thanks for keeping her for us, we appreciate it!!

Happy Birthday!

to my mom and dad! They turned "double nickels"...Mom's is today...Dad's is tomorrow! (I probably wasn't supposed to share their age...oops!) :o)
Hope you both have a fantastic day...you deserve it! I love you!

Stock the Bar Party

We helped throw a shower for April and Thomas to celebrate their upcoming wedding! It's getting closer...it'll be here before we know it! The party was in Columbia so we headed down that Saturday morning. After an eventful morning of a four car wreck in downtown Lexington (THAT was fun!) and running extremely behind--we made it to Jennifer and Matt's house with the gift, macaroni and cheese, and banana pudding! (It was a BBQ dinner party!) Didn't take too many pictures...but here's two of Thomas and Josh!

Silly ol' Thomas!

Thomas and Josh...Thomas has his video camera on hand. Don't want to miss the action!

Greek Festival

Greenville has an annual Greek Festival--I'm not sure why we've never been before (probably had something else to do that weekend) but we had a great time and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to go this year! It's at the Greek Orthodox Church--they block off some streets and have it in the parking lot--there's some Greek shopping, rides for the kids, music...and best of all, delicious food!! We went hungry--Josh got a regular lamb gyro and I got a chicken gyro. We bought several pastries to share at home over the weekend and then bought a ice cream baklava sundae.

We do looooove Greek food! We will be back next year!

a picture of the festivities

the gyro tent...they were grilling the chicken right here! It must've been blazing hot!Josh enjoying his yuummmmmmy ice cream baklava!

My latest project...

I have been sewing Courtney's nursery for baby girl, Durham. It has been a learning curve for me and I have enjoyed working out the kinks and figuring out how to do it. I did Courtney's mom's too...and it gets easier as I figure out how to do it most efficiently. Anyway, here's the handiwork. Courtney chose great fabric that goes together so sweetly! Durham is going to be styling in her precious nursery. I love it! I'm sure when Mrs. Trish gets her hands on those ties, it's goiong to look even cuter! I need to take a bow tying lesson from her :)

Josh AKA Tiger Woods!

Josh played in a golf tournament on Friday with some work buddies. He represents his company each year...this is his fourth year playing in the tourney. He and his team won two years ago the 4 Man Team. This year, Josh won the 4 Man Team, the 2 Man Team, and he hit the ball closest to the pin! If he had been 8 FEET to the left...we would have won a brand new BMW. Oh well--he got a gift card to the Pro Shop. I told him he needed to hook up with the PGA tour :o)

Artisphere

For those non-Greenvillians, there is an awesome festival downtown in the Spring that is called Artisphere. This is the 2nd year we've been, and we loved every minute of it. The weather was beautiful and we spent the entire day on Saturday in the West End. We ate lunch at Mellow Mushroom and paroozed around looking at the different pieces of art and venues that the festival brought. We met Matthew for sushi (which was the best sushi I've ever had...definitely found a new favorite) and looked at some more art. It was a great afternoon!

a typical self-portrat...looking slightly rough

I seriously could have watched this man allllll day long. He was hilarious!

my cute hubby

you wanted to see another self-portrait, right? :o)
We were driving towards Cherrydale on Piedmont Hwy...and this tow truck is towing a Tahoe sideways! How crazy! I have no idea how this didn't cause a wreck??? What was wrong with towing it straight?

Happy Mother's Day!!

We had a great weekend and were able to spend time with both of our moms! We went to Brick Street Cafe in Greenville to meet up with the Vickery's on Friday night and enjoyed a yummy meal and celebrating a little early! We gave Sandra a gift card to Nirvana so hopefully she'll be able to have an afternoon of relaxation at one of my favorite places! Nothing better than a facial!!

We headed to Lexington this morning to spend the day with my mom and brother. We went to Magnolia House for lunch. The place was packed!! I think next year I will just cook lunch...seems like less trouble. Regardless, I always love getting together with my three favorite people in the world. My mom has had a particular tough past couple of months (I guess I should say years) taking care of my grandmother--and I wish I could give her rest and relaxation for Mother's Day rather than a sweater that she wanted. I could go on and on about her--she was a single mom for the large majority of our lives, worked two jobs (still does that), was definitely scraping by each paycheck (yet we never knew that), got us to cheerleading and baseball practices--and never once did I ever hear her complain about one ounce of it. She is the most amazing person I know. We aren't the same person...I am OCD about details, mom is not; I am definitely not a worry wart, mom definitely is (when it comes to Banks and Granny!); I love to cook and bake, mom's idea of a meal is naming the restaurant--but she is my best friend and I love her dearly and I could never repay her for all that she has done for Banks and I (and continues to do for Banks!). Banks fits the definition of mama's boy...but I'm a mama's girl too--so I guess she has both of us. My mom is finally retiring from 34 YEARS of teaching kindergarden. She has taught at the same school all of those years--and only moved classrooms once, because they moved to a new wing three years ago. If I make it to 10 years (think short term goals) in the schools--I will consider that a feat! She really can do it all and I love her more and more each day as my understanding grows as to all she has done for me and Banks.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! We Love You!!

one day, when I decide to pull out my camera--I will take NEW pictures, and will be able to stop using wedding pictures :) Until that day...you get to see them over and over again for a face with a name!

and here's my sweet, precious Granny that is in need of lots of prayer. She has had a really tough past couple of years and is not in the best mental health. We have moved her from her home, to my mom's home, to assisted living, to the hospital, and now to the nursing home--all in a year and a half. It's been rough, not just on her--but my mom as well.

Happy Mother's Day to all of my mommy friends too!!

Dinner with Hannah and Baby James!

I finally had a chance to meet Hannah and James last Thursday for dinner in Greenville! We have been trying to get this to happen for weeks--months!--and it finally worked out! We went to Red Robin for a hamburger. The RR bird was walking around, talking to children...James wasn't so sure what to think about the situation! I had such a good time playing with James-ey and catching up with Hannah! He gets cuter and cuter every time I see him!!!!

Baby Noah

Hi friends,

I'm not meaning to leave you in the dark! I just found out yesterday Noah is doing great from his little surgery and is resting back at home with mommy and daddy! Here's a picture from his repaired cleft! What a trooper!! Hope to give him big hugs and kisses soon!