Memorial Day

Today didn't go exactly as planned. Gary and I got up and went to the garden center early. We needed to get some annuals to put in the flower bed in front of the porch and they had flats on sale today. Then we stopped by the grocery store. I needed to pick up a couple of things to take dinner to the Myers family from church - they just welcomed a new little girl into their family. We were going to go to the church picnic, but it was so hot and humid today. Gary and Tony needed to go pick up some things from Lowe's and Sears for the deck and other projects around the house. Abby wasn't feeling well and of course, I still had papers to grade. So we decided not to go to afterall.

I hadn't done any grading over the weekend, so I spent some time at the dining room table while everyone else was doing other things. I got a lot of grading done, now I just need to get it posted in the online gradebook so the parents can see what grades their children have earned this week.
Gary and Tony dropped by the church picnic to drop off the salad I made, grabbed a burger and headed to Sears, then Lowe's, then Target, and finally to K-Mart. They always seem to find good deals when they go shopping together.

Sarah took Abby to Urgent Care to see if she had strep. Abby didn't want to drink, and her throat was red. While at the Urgent Care facility, Sarah noticed a tick in Abby's ear. So the Doctor removed the tick. He put her on an antibiotic that would work for strep or lyme disease - just in case. Ticks are a hazard of living in the woods and since we have lots of deer, we have deer ticks too.
I made two batches of Shepards Pie and brownies so that I could take dinner to Dave and Shelly and their family and have dinner for us too.


Here is little miss Rosalie. Isn't she beautiful?

After the guys got back from their shopping trip, they started working outside. I, of course, was still grading papers. Tony started on the landing for the side stairway for the deck. It is going to be awesome.

Gary planted a few plants, watered the garden, and did some yard clean-up.

The plants are thriving!

Tony set up the pool too. Abby and Izzy will have a great time swimming and playing this year.

Double Date

Last night Gary and I went on a double date with Liz and Clay. We went to Ruby Tuesday's for dinner and then we headed across the bridge to Solomon's Island.

We went to this year's first Waterside Concert at Calvert Marine Museum.

We had really good seats. The opening band No Green Jellybeenz is a local band. The second act was a comedian, Reno Collier.

Then it was time for the main attraction - Larry the Cable Guy. We had a fun time!

Desks

This is our fifth year in our new school building. When we moved in, someone had ordered these student desks.

They do look nice don't they?

They only look nice when they are empty though.

When students put their books inside, they often fall out landing either on the floor or in their neighbor's desk. If each student only has the materials we ask for and their books in the desk, they can look tidy. That is until someone bumps into the desk, or pulls a folder out from under a stack of books. Then things just start falling. We have books, folders, composition books, and pencil boxesfalling out almost daily. I'm sure there is a good reason someone ordered these desks. My guess is they were cheap. One benefit though is that I can easily see who needs to clean their desk or has stuffed loose papers (a no-no in my room) in their desk.

Every fall we create a clean desk rubic together. Students know what a clean desk should look like, inside and outside. We write descriptions for a 1, 3, and 5 desk, with 5 being the best possible, neat and organized desk. A 1 is usually described by the students as having lots of papers sticking out, food and/or bugs in the desk. Note: We've never had pests in the desks before, but it gets the students thinking about the worst case scenario. We even figure out how to fit all the necessary materials in the desk in an organized way. When I want them to clean their desks, I just tell them to check their desks and make sure their desk is a 5.

It getting close to the end of the school year, so by now, most of my students are able to maintain an orderly desk. In the fall, I will start the process all over with a new group of fresh faced fourth graders.

Field Day

Friday was field day at school.

The primary students went out first

and then the intermediate students had their turn.

This station is a favorite for my students.

They have to try to maneuver the giant beach ball through an obstacle course.

It was funto watch too. After lunch, we all got sno-cones too. It was hot outside, so everyone enjoyed the cool treat.

Weekend Catch-Up

This week has been busy and I didn't get a chance to blog, so now, I'm doing some catch-up blogging. Monday night I was grading papers at the dining room table (a common occurance during the school year) and Abby decided to join me with her snack.

She was having graham crakers with frosting.

Look Grandma, I can put the two pieces back together.

My mom used to make us graham crackers with homemade frosting. Abby was quite content with the canned strawberry frosting.

Add a glass of milk and Abby was one happy girl!

On Tuesday, we went to Outback for a field trip. It was a trip for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for working hard on the state assessment. Every year we go on a trip that is free to the students after our state assessment. We used to go to the National Zoo every year. That was my favorite trip. Then one year we went to the local naval air station movie theater where the students got popcorn, a bottle of water, and watched a movie. Last year we went to a Blue Crabs baseball game. This year it was Outback. We learned about Australia and had some yummy food. It didn't seem like they were totally prepared for us though. The teachers had to clear all the silverware off the tables, give all the students plastic ware packets, serve drinks and meals, and then walk around with trash bags to collect trash. I went to college so that I would never have to be a waitress. The kids enjoyed the trip. The teachers didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the kids did. When we got back to the school, the students had a dance and game activity in the gym/cafeteria.

Tuesday evening I had book group. We discussed Howl's Moving Castle. It was a fun read. Thanks for hosting Liz!

Wednesday after school several teachers from my school drove up to Waldorf for the Southern Maryland Reading Council mini-conference. They had a great speaker and we all got a few freebies. On the way home, I stopped by Amanda's for a massage. Ahhhhh.

What? Another week is over?

Wednesday we had some rain. Abby loves to play in puddles any time she can.

When I got home from school, Abby wanted to play outside (she and her mommy had been outside most of the day), and dinner needed to be fixed. So I volunteered to stay out with Abby and Sarah went in to start dinner. She splashed in puddles for awhile.

Then it was on to bubbles.

Then she made bubbles while in the puddles.

She is so excited that she can do the bubbles all by herself now.

On Friday, Liz, Clay, and Izzy joined us for dinner and the guys worked on the deck too. Sarah read to Izzy and Abby.

Then the girls dressed up and were excited to find out that the could go from the front porch all the way around to the back deck.

Two very cute little dressed up girls check out the progress made by their daddies on the deck.

Dancing time for Abby and Izzy

I love the way the patio area is looking these days.
Saturday Gary and I took the trash to the convenience center and then went to The Vintage Source.
We then went to the garden center where we bought more plants and mulch. I picked up Izzy and Liz for lunch while Gary started working in the yard.
After lunch, we went grocery shopping. I brought Izzy back to my house while Liz went home to put up her groceries.

Izzy and Abby had fun playing outside in the yard. They make up stories that they act out. It is so fun to watch. You never know what their imaginations will create.

Here they are again checking out something in the grass.

Izzy found a baby mouse in the yard by the wood pile. Papa helped her put the mouse back in the pile where we know there is a mouse nest.

Another project going on around here is changing our flooring from carpet to hardwood. Our new stairs arrived and Gary is staining them.

He called me over to see a very tiny preying mantis.

With my camera, I was able to get a pretty good close up. You never know what kind of creatures you will find around her. As long as they are outside, I'm fine with that!

Deck Update

Tony has made a lot of progress with the deck this week.

After dinner on Monday, Abby and Gary went out to check out the newest section.

Then Gary helped Tony with a section.

Gary, Tony, and Clay working on the deck Friday evening.

The old railing from the original porch is removed after the final flooring is in place.

Tony put up a temporary guard rail because we know the little girls like to run.

Finishing up the edge. Izzy and Abby know to stay back from the edge. Even at two and a half, Abby will tell anyone who takes her out, "We have to stay away from the edge" as she points to the edge.

Tony installed the first section of new railing and then posed for a picture.

A view from the side yard.

No more ugly boards across the dining room sliding door either now. Thank you Tony for working so hard to make this dream deck a reality!
PS - Thanks to everyone who has volunteered and helped with the deck. There will be a celebratory cookout once the deck is finished.

Weekend Fun

Izzy spent the night Friday night. She and Gary had planned to go get hanging baskets of flowers for front porch and one for Izzy to give her Mommy. It was raining when we first got up.

So Izzy went out to play in the rain. She had her rain gear that Aunt Susie had sent her, so out she was ready to play.

Peek a boo Grandma!

Izzy and Abby on the lawn swing.

These two love to play together.

Then it was off to get some honeysuckle

Abby is thrilled that Izzy showed her how to get the honey out of the flower.

Sarah and Abby went strawberry picking with their playgroup on Wednesday and picked a bunch of strawberries. The girls made strawberry freezer jam. It is yummy!

Abby will now ask me to read to her. I am thrilled! I am glad that my daughters and granddaughters love books and reading.

Gary found these centipede when he was clearing some debris in the yard. Abby thought it was interesting.

He moved it to the edge of the woods, and we watched it uncurl. When Abby realized it wasn't a roly poly, she and Papa set out to check for roly polys.

They found a snap beetle. Notice Abby decorated herself with a marker earlier :-) She wanted to see the beetle snap.

She was so patient waiting for the beetle.

These lizards hang out down by the patio. Today they were basking in the sun. We walked past them to the patio and they didn't even move.

Later, I noticed the larger one in a defensive pose.

Can you spot them hanging on the edge of the pavers? Gary walked by close to them and this was their response.