what a weekend.

right before i headed back to work for teacher in-service week, i was able to get away with some of my favorite girls for a weekend at the lake celebrating jocelyn's birthday.  while i was gone, justin and the kids enjoyed a "daddy weekend."

in true justin form, he created a fun way to tell the kids what they were doing.  he put pictures in envelopes for them.

friday.....

they headed to the ranger game.

and got to go on the field and see Mr. Murphy.  pierce thought it was the coolest thing and is still talking about it.

and this little one.....laying on the dugout. 

saturday morning, they awoke to another envelope. 

donuts and soccer watching.

they enjoyed a great time together,
and i had a blast with the girls.
we started friday with a quick breakfast stop and then it was to the lake we went.

we got the boat out friday afternoon and enjoyed some quality time on the lake.
friday night was full of laughs, yummy food, girl talk, and more laughs.

saturday we didn't waste anytime getting back on the boat - after sleeping in and a yummy breakfast.  we even got the tube out.  no pictures of that - but just image 30 year olds trying to relive their younger days.  needless to say, i was super sore the next day.

happy happy  happy birthday jocelyn.  so thankful for a fun trip celebrating you!  thank you for having us! 

year 10.

I can't believe that tomorrow starts my 10th year of teaching.  My first class has graduated and have started their freshmen year in college.  Crazy.

And yet I have only graduated to 5th grade.  :)

There is really no way to put into words all the emotions and feelings that come with the first day of school for me.  It's like I'm still a student with all the things I feel - excitement, nervousness, a little bit of anxiety, hopeful, and anticipation.  I guarantee I will wake up multiple times tonight afraid I'll miss my alarm clock and yes, my clothes are laid out and my lunch is packed.

I was talking with one of my dear teacher friends this afternoon and we were talking about being a teacher.  How it is just IN us.  It never goes away.  It is just who we are and it will always be who we are.  It is a CALLING.  Not a job.  A CALLING.  And this calling comes along with a load of responsibility.  A responsibility to love on, grow, encourage, and teach the future.

And these ones that I that I get to love on, encourage, and teach have been entrusted to me by God.  He entrusts in my care a group of students (other peoples' babies) each year that He picked out for me.  He wants me to teach them.  He wants me to encourage them.  He wants me to love on them.  He wants me to share Jesus' love with them each day.  I get to be His light each day to a group of kids that might not see Him otherwise.  What a responsibility.

So, I as get ready to go to bed (yes, I go to bed earlier than my students) I go to bed with a heavy heart for my new students.  A heart that is ready to love 100 new students.  Ready to meet them where they are.  Ready to serve them the best I can.  And ready more than anything to share Jesus with them, even though I will never be able to even whisper His precious name within the walls of my classroom.  I pray tonight that my life is an example of Him to my students.

 "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13:35

fc dallas

justin and pierce love soccer.

i mean...they really love it.

talk about it all the time.

could watch it all the time.

play it outside all time.

love it.

and since they love it, stella and i have grown to love it.

a couple of weeks ago we headed to the fc dallas game for a family date night.

and we had a great time - despite the 100 degree temps.  

and i think it is official...we are a soccer family.

the greastest show on earth.

last week we surprised the kids with a trip to the circus.

we got there early to see all the clowns up close....

and needless to say...they weren't fans of being so close.

but we did manage a family pic.

everyone was all smiles when we got to our seats.

and when they asked for a snow cone... i said sure.

and then i realized they were $12 each.

oh well....

they did come in these cool elephant cups.

and then the circus started.

and for the most part, they were glued to the action.

the lions and tigers were my favorite part.

so cool.

and yet....so crazy that the lion tamer didn't seem phased at all.

pierce's favorite part was the motorcyles in the cage at the end.

he is still talking about them.

what a fun family night out.

create.

create.

paint.

cut.

glue.

make a mess.

 this is how we spent our morning today.

we are always making a "mess" with toys, but this was a real mess.

and my kids loved it.

why don't i do this more often?

i know...the clean up.

but it was all worth it...because they created together without arguing for a long time.

and i got to play too.