We "flip" for Brighten!

Today was Flip Flop day at Brighten.  It is National Charter School Week and so Thursday they got to where flip flops to show that they "flip" for Brighten.  Blakely was SO excited.  She couldn't wait and of course she pick out the most gaudy pair of flip flops she has.  She was so proud so whatever I let her wear them.  Drew on the other hand wasn't quite as excited.  He had a little trouble walking in flip flops.  He practiced on Wednesday night walking around the house and he just couldn't decide which flip flops he would wear so I had him lay them both out with his clothes and I told him he could decide in the morning.  In the morning he was still not to happy about wearing them.  He wanted to wear them because he knew everyone else would but he really didn't want to wear them because he doesn't like walking him.  So finally he decided to wear the light-up flip flops.  When we got to school he jump out sighing.  I went and drove around the car pool circle and when I got back to where I had dropped him off I think he had only taken like 10 steps.  It was the funnest sight.  He looked like a 90 year old man scooting his feet along.  Poor thing.  I called Phillip and I said be prepared the school is probably going to call and tell you Drew needs different shoes or they are going to call say he was tardy to school because at the rate he was walking it didn't look like he was going to make it to his classroom door by 8 o'clock.  That kid cracks me up.  I love him sooooo much!
 

Dinner with Maya

Wednesday night we went to dinner with Maya and Quinn and of course Grandma too!  Papa is out of town deep sea fishing.  We went to eat because we haven't seen them since our birthdays.  Blakely, Drew and Maya were so happy to see each other.  Quinn brought them ice cream bubbles so we let them play by the fountain and blow the bubbles for a while.  They loved them.  Thank you Quinn for our presents we love them. 

 

Caught in the Rain

After church last Sunday the kids wanted to go outside and jump on the trampoline so I told them they had to change their clothes and they could.  They came out dressed like this - Drew doesn't looks so bad but I have no idea what little Miss Blakely has on. Oh well they were having fun but while they were jumping the rain came and they started to get all wet.  They came running up the stairs.  It was so funny!  They love play days at home.  I guess because we are always on the run and rarely home.  They are soooo sweet!  They are best friends. 
 

Cali here we come...

In late April Phillip and I and three students headed to California for the DECA International Career Development Conference.  We had a great time.  The conference was a very eye opening experience and a great learning experience for the students as well as myself.  To get the opportunity to be part of an international conference is a big honor.  To get to this conference these students had to win a the regional level competition, then win at the state level competition - so it took so hard work to get here.  The first night we ate at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney.  The first day we got up pretty early and head to Disneyland and California Adventure.  It was pretty cold but we had a good time. That evening we had the big grand opening session.  It was a lot of fun.  There were over 16,000 students at this event.  Thank goodness our hotel was right next to the convention center so it made it very convenient.  Thursday I had to run an even from 9am - 2pm but I ended up getting out early so that was good.  The girls had to take a test at 2pm and the guy with us had to be in his event unit 3:30 so after everyone was done we just ate and hung out.  On Friday the girls had to do role plays and then after their role plays we headed to LA.  They were so excited and so was I.  We research and tried to figure out the best places to go and we actually did a good job.  We got SO close to the Hollywood sign.  It was amazing.  We saw the Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Paramount Studious, etc...  We also at at In and Out and it was yummy!  We had a great trip.  The students were great.  Next year it is in Atlanta!

 

Scott's Antique Market

In April we headed to Scott's Antique Market for the day.  Phillip and I love walking through the marketing and looking at all the stuff.  The kids don't love it but they do very well.  They walk through without complaining for the most part as long as we promise them an ice cream or something at the end.  They have two buildings and you have to ride a big charter from one to the other.  The kids love that.  That is the like the big highlight of going for them.  I could buy everything at the market.  I love it all.  I try to get one thing each time because of course you can't afford it all and this time I got the lovely letters you see above that spell EAT!  I love them.  Phillip got them for me for my birthday and they look perfect in our kitchen.  Thanks Phillip!

 

Six Flags

After we got home from the beach we still had a couple of days of Spring Break left so one day we headed with Quinn and Maya to Six Flags for the day.  It was a lot of fun.  We ended up staying like all day but they had a ball.  Last year Six Flags and a special deal on their park passes that included Six Flags and Whitewater season passes an both included parking all for one low rate so we couldn't resist and we got them.  We have already been twice so we have already paid for them and I think we will use them a lot this summer. 

 

It's SPRING BREAK 2013!!!

Every year I so look forward to Spring Break - because I love Spring. I also know that means summer is right around the corner which also means the end of school is near.  Not that I don't love teaching for a break is so needed by the time summer gets here.  We headed to Hilton Head Island,  SC again this year for spring break with the Lester's and the Westbrook's!  The first day we got there the weather was quite chilling and I was so bummed but we woke up the next morning and guess what we had GREAT weather.  We headed to the beach daily at about 10am and stayed at the beach until around 2pm when the kids would want to head to the swimming pool and eat lunch.  Catherine and I would head back to make lunch and bring it back to feed them at the pool.  They would then swim at the pool for a couple more hours before we headed back to the condo to get cleaned up and head out dinner.  We had a great trip.  Thank you so much Westbrook's and Lester's.