R.O.Y. G. B.I.V.

This Halloween we went to a CoLoR PaRtY. If you weren't here to experience the FuN, I highly recommend borrowing this ingenious idea from our super cute friend AmY...

All you need are some CoLorFuL decorations...

Colorful SnAcKs...



I personally adore these scrumptious WhOoPiE PiEs made by our other adorable friend MeLiSsA...
Of course you need colorful GaMes like CoLoR PicTiOnArY. Thank you PaUl...

And last but certainly not least, you will need some colorful people...

StYliSh...
...or RiDicUloUs will do...


That's really all it takes to have tons of FuN...


P.S. Squeezing everyone into an extremely PiNk bathroom also helps...


The End

No More Magic Door

So I haven't quite FalLeN off the face of the earth...at least not yet. I've just been consumed by Mobile #5 and the 31 little darlings inside. Here's a picture of my dad and Dan checking out my MoBiLe back in August...
Dan suggested that I announce to the parents at curriculum night that class in the mobile will begin at 10 a.m. and end promptly at 2:00 p.m..... He's brilliant basically :)

I'm enjoying my 31, and of course I absolutely love teaching the BeSt grade EvEr...FifTh, but I am missing my dear friends at Spring Trail and the students and families there.

What follows is a photo of how extremely sad I am to not have my friend LiZ next door to me this year.


Every day I drink from this beautiful cup that she passed on to me when I was leaving last year.
It was given to her from the wonderful teacher who retired and left Spring Trail before I arrived, and every time I drink from it I remember how Liz could always make me laugh on really difficult days, took care of me when I needed a rain coat or to be told to go home, let me unload my life, and made sure I kept wearing HeEls and BliNg...She's amazing, and I miss her terribly.
I'm so grateful for the privilege of teaching on her team and sharing the MaGiC door between our classrooms for a time. Having a new job is a blessing, but it's just not the same without her...I miss you Liz!

And so it Begins...

Not sure Dan knew what a CoMmiTmEnT marrying a teacher would be...


He moved 20 or so boxes of my stuff from our garage into my new mobile...what you don't see is the additional boxes of previous teachers' sTuFf he moved out of my mobile so that our sweet custodian wouldn't have to do it. She was grateful and so am I. Boxes and boxes of books are NoT pleasant...


Unpacking and Organizing. Yikes!


And this my friends is how you cope...

Thank you to our new friend Jim for this FaBuLoUs mix. It made the sweltering heat and endless boxes much more bearable :)

After a week of this, I forgot to take an after shot. I just wanted to get out of there and take in what bit of summer remains...

I'm sure there will be more than enough time to enjoy the finished product of Mobile 5 come August 23rd, but until then I'm keeping my distance!

Ree and Katie

Our friends Nita and Adrian gave us a fabulous gift for our FiFtH anniversary: The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond...My new obsession :) Thanks guys...

It's a BriLLiaNt gift really because I love any excuse to wear my favorite apron, try new ingredients like leeks and kosher salt, hang out with people I love, and eat DeLiciOuS food.

It's good for Dan too because he thinks I'm cute in my apron...Plus he likes trying new things and hanging out with some of our FaVoRiTeS while devouring yummy food...

It even made coming home from vacation a bit less PaInfuL knowing great times were to be had in my kitchen with PW, Nita and Adrian and my beloved.

My first aTteMpT: Potato-Leek Pizza and Hot Artichoke Dip...

RaVeNoUs...

Ahh MuCh better now...Round Two: chicken spaghetti...

And for my third PW meal: SpIcY pulled pork with mom...and HoT artichoke dip AgAiN(because it's just that wonderful)...

So far sooooo GoOd... I only wish I could have each of YoU over to enjoy some cooking by me and Ree...but mostly Ree. I just do what she tells me, and it all seems to work out :)

Drive By

Today we had the pleasure of seeing Uncle Patrick, Aunt Natalie and my four AmAzInG cousins. We had a delightful lunch at one of Chicago's favorites, Portillo's :)

Italian beefs, cheese fries, chocolate cake and laughs were had...

My FaBuLouS cousins...

So FuNnY....

Aunt Natalie, it was so good to see you in person. Until we meet again blogging will have to do!

Thanks so much for dropping by for a drive by lunch...Dan and I truly enjoyed our time with your family. Our time was SwEeT though it was short and lacking in sweet tea ;) Love you guys!

The End

P.S. I think this blog post with pictures may have taken me less time than one of Uncle Patrick's Tweets :)

Fun Five

For pretty much every special occasion Dan and I have a tradition of getting at least two cards to honor the event...one serious and one FuNnY.

This year when I was picking out my FuN card, one particular card ScReAmEd, "I'm the one!!" It was the PeRfeCt card...At the same time, I thought to myself, "If Dan sees this one, he won't be able to resist!"

And guess what? I was right about both things. Amazingly enough Dan did get the same card...

...and it was the PeRfeCt card because I'm definitely loving this man...

...until I CrOaK :)

The End

All Packed

Here lies my classroom (minus the peat moss and charcoal)...all packed up and ready for a new adventure come AuGuSt...



...but for now it's Bye, Bye Spring Trail :(...HELLO Summer :)...

A Reason to Celebrate...

Here is our BeAuTifuL friend NiTa and her good BoYfrIeNd Adrian...he's our friend too, but for this story, I feel like the title good boyfriend is more fitting :)...

We were thrilled when Nita told us that she was going to be baptized...our excitement grew even more when Adrian told us that he would be throwing Nita a SuRpRisE party to celebrate this glorious occasion...see, I told you he was a good boyfriend ;)

Of course I was also excited for a good excuse to try my hand at making one of Martha Stewart's exquisite CaKeS...

....oh how I LoVe thee lemon curd...

...did you know that I have an oBsEsSiOn with layer cakes?...
...I digress.

After a slight scare with the baptismal tank, followed by several people hauling in BuCkeTs of water to fill it, Nita shared her beautiful StOrY of Jesus' power and love in her life and her desire to LiVe for him...plunged in to the waters and raised from their depths, she painted the picture of His transforming grace offered to each one of us...the old is gone, the new has come...I can't think of a better reason to CeLeBrAtE...

So we did...

Thanks be to God for great friends, His work in their lives, and their good boyfriends who know how to throw fun parties... We love you Nita and Adrian!