Elms Beach

Every year fourth grade students go to Elms Beach, our Environmental Education Center, on the Chesapeake Bay. We went last Monday and boy was it windy!

The students learned how to test for salinity in the water using a hydrometer.


Then they each got a dip net and we walked along the beach to a marsh area.

They fished to see what animals were in the brackish water in the marsh. We found mummichogs, a type of killifish, ghost shrimp, a couple of other varieties of killifish, and a turtle. After the students looked up the information in books and completed their reports, the fish were released back into their environment.

My students loved the dip net fishing!

After lunch, we talked about the rivers that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. The instructor gave us a mnemonic to remember the rivers on the west side of the Chesapeake: Students Pretty Pretty Please Remember Your Jackets.

So the Rivers are: Susquehanna, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James. Our last activity was learning to use a compass and then following verbal directions to complete a course. It was fun to watch my students get excited when they ended up in the right place. I think some of them are going to get their own compass now!

One of my most favorite things about being a teacher is watching my students get excited about learning. It was a great day!

What A Weekend!

Last weekend was a very busy and yet very fun weekend. Abby turned two on September 8. I can't believe that she is already two! My sister, Susie, decided to fly out and visit for Abby's birthday since she hadn't met her yet. Thank goodness for blogs to keep everyone updated. Susie flew in from Indianapolis on Saturday morning and we went to Abby's party at her Grannie and Papa Menges house.

Sarah decorated the cupcakes with Dora figurines that came with a book and playmat of Abby's.


Abby loved checking out all the Dora goodies!

Great Aunt Susie (you should hear Abby say Susie, it is so cute!), Auntie Liz and Abby. Abby had lots of fun and received lots of fun gifts. We all had fun watching the little ones.

The next day was Sunday and Abby was ready to go to church.

Can you tell she picked out her shoes? She didn't actually wear her Elmo Polliwalks to church though. She did take her baby who was wearing a matching dress.

Susie had stopped at the Michaels in Waldorf on her drive down from BWI and picked up some fun craft items for us to make.

So after church, the girls started decorating fairy houses to go in the garden area.

Aunt Susie helped Izzy. Don't you love her craft apron Susie created using a plastic bag and ribbon? Izzy loved working on a project!

Liz and Sarah each had a house to work on too.

I don't know who had more fun Izzy or Susie.

Izzy had a vision of what her house would look like and just worked on it until it was done.

Liz cheesin' part way through her house transformation.

A little more glue, then some flowers, and then glitter.

Steffie dropped by and had a belated birthday gift for Izzy. An Ariel (from The Little Mermaid) necklace which as you can tell, Izzy loved!!!!!!

Then it was back to work. This girl was serious about her project!

Steffie helped trim some flowers for Izzy to glue on her house.

Izzy's finished fairy house.

Liz's finished house.

Steffie offering Sarah some helpful hints.

Abby wanted to help after she woke up from her nap.

Steffie helped Abby with her slinky.

The finished fairy houses.

Sarah's beach house fairy house.

Liz's woodland fairy cottage.

Izzy's flower covered fairy house. What a fun afternoon we all had. Then we all went to Brewsters for ice cream - yummy! Next we drove over to Liz and Clay's house so Aunt Susie could see Izzy's room. We stayed up late talking since Susie had to fly back to Indiana on Monday. I finally had to go to bed since I had to get up and teach on Monday and then also go to a math class from 5 - 8:30pm. I was exhausted Monday night, but we had such a fun family weekend. Maybe next time Susie flys out - hopefully for Thanksgiving :-) Scott will be able to come with her.

Morning Glories

This year we have some morning glories that have climbed up behind the roses and onto the porch railing. They have really covered the area. On my way out the door to head to school one morning, I stopped to take a picture of them. It has been fun to watch them grow and twist their way around the railings. It is a welcome sight on my way to work too.

Random Moments

The other night Abby decided to put on her pajama pants by herself.

She loves saying, "Abby do it!" now.


She tried to get her foot in the right place.

Then she gave up and put her pants on her head.

Off she headed to show Papa.

Abby and Izzy both love books. I love this shot of them reading together.

We took the girls to 'the wooden park' in Leonardtown last weekend.

They had a great time.

Abby and I have been checking out the yard. We spotted a toad the other day so now everytime we go out we look for the "fog". When we don't find him, she says, "Fog hopped way"

I love our little adventures.

Abby's fish face.

Abby playing in the dirt.

When Izzy and Abby were playing in the dirt, Abby threw some dirt at Izzy. She got in trouble and this is her sad face after she got in trouble.

One dirty but very happy girl!

Abby and Izzy in the Garden

Well the deer won with the garden this year. Gary started pulling up the non-producing plants that were deer food. He then turned over the dirt. Izzy and Abby loved playing in the dirt.

Izzy got their garden tools.


They had a blast!

Izzy's First Day of Kindergarten

Here is Izzy waiting at the bus stop for her first day of kindergarten. She was really excited.

They came over for dinner that day and she was so excited to tell us about her day. Here is a snippet of our conversation:
Izzy: "Grandma, guess what I learned today"
Me: "What Izzy?"
Izzy: "Watch this Grandma, " and she quickly showed me how they sit in class when the teacher says, 'Criss cross applesauce'.
I loved it! She is so much fun. I hope she continues to be excited about school and learning.