Less Labor for Labor Day Weekend

Phew, teaching is hard. The work NEVER ends. I'm so happy to have a day off today even though I've been working most of the day! I'm finding peace in the knowledge that the first year of teaching is the toughest as I keep trucking though lesson plans, grading papers, creating powerpoints, calling/emailing parents, tracking data, and planning for the Art Club and the class trip to Little Rock.

These things are helping me to stay sane:

Drawing from students (NOTE: the protein shake bottle)

 Homemade crafts by my friend Callie

and a quick road trip to visit this pretty lady! 

And - during Advisory last week, my homeroom scholars shared prank stories. It was a great community building conversation. The best story was about one of my scholar's putting a hamster up his brother's pant leg while he was sleeping (and then held the bottom of his pants so the hamster couldn't get out). Love it.

Paint Party

As part of my 25th birthday celebration, I wanted to go to a paint party. Art Jamn is in Cooper Young and provides all the supplies and help you need to create a masterpiece. You just bring wine and snacks!

Kristi, Callie, and I were in our element. Martha was expecting paint by number...

But she had a couple of "assistants," so we all ended with something we were proud of. 

Definitely a fun girls night activity!

Outdoor Fun

Although it's HOT, summer means drinking lots of water with outdoor activities on the side in Memphis. The  2nd annual Lonnaroo was held on the Georgian Woods lawn. Per tradition, the dress code is "Sexy Casual" which I translated to "No sleeves." We didn't have quite 100% participation, but many attendees showed up without sleeves:

Also a summertime favorite: Concerts at the Levitt Shell

The last show of the season brought out friends from many parts of my life: Arkansas, MTR, and Neighborhood Church. 

Masters Graduation

Now that I have completed my Capstone Project:

My students have thrown me a surprise party:

I have chaperoned Senior Prom:

Friends and Sisters have come into town to celebrate...

My Masters Graduation!

As I told my sisters, just call me Master V!

Where in the world is Callie?

My close friend Callie has been traveling around the world working for the University of Virginia's Study at Sea program this semester. I have really enjoyed all the postcards she has sent and the handful of phone calls from around the world. This map shows her route and that today they are between Hawaii and San Diego.

All of the postcards are on display in my apartment:

The postcards from China and Hawaii on the same day. I'm sure they were sent at least a week apart.

Oh What a Night! Late December Back in 2009

Danielle and Sam hosted a great laid-back New Year's get together. It wouldn't have been complete without The Office Clue: Who Killed Toby? or pomegranate champagne for toasts at midnight.
The only thing missing was a central time zone countdown. Thankfully, I was wearing my watch to count down:)

On New Year's Day, Callie, Robert, and I headed downtown for the Liberty Bowl Parade. Callie and I did not have tickets, so we were on the lookout when we went downtown for the parade. Thankfully, the Razorback Ticket Office had some random tickets for sale when we went to pick up Robert's tickets, so we enjoyed the afternoon without worrying about getting tickets.

It felt good to call the Hogs and sing the fight song on Beale Street. We followed the parade with some good ole Memphis ribs on Beale Street.

_

Callie and I got to the game early because we found Free parking quickly. It didn't take long to understand why our seats were still for sale:

But we shifted a little, so we could see more of the field.That game was the coldest I have ever been. I heard the wind chill was 15 degrees. My mom had stocked us up with hand and foot warmers, so we survived and stayed through Overtime. [I even put a hand warmer in my hog nose.] And the Hogs pulled out a win. It was ugly, but it was a win.

Woo Pig Sooie!

Christmas Highlights

There were some great surprises at our house on Christmas morning this year:
Martha was beyond excited about her autographed National Champions Georgia Gymnastics Poster and Calendar and handwritten note from Courtney Kupets. [Carolyn met Courtney at a conference the week before Christmas, what an awesome sister.]I also got a gift from an Olympian. [see photo on the right]

This was one of my Christmas projects this year. Carolyn loves this Third Day song, and had mentioned doing a series of paintings awhile back, but she was surprised to open these. She even jumped up and down!

The most special part was spending time all together. This photo is from a Christmas Eve Party at a friend of the family's home.

My friend Callie brought back awesome gifts from her semester in London! She brought the entire City-In A Bag. Click on the link and you can see what other cities can fit on your bookshelf. I think the double decker buses are my favorite!

A Weekend Worth Looking Forward To:

Since this past week was my first full week and my job* I was certainly looking forward to the weekend. I made a quick trip to Arkansas on Saturday to officially say goodbye to Callie before she heads to London next week to Study Abroad. We had a great Italian lunch and lots of good conversations that made me anxious to travel abroad again. She is keeping a blog here if you are interested in following her travels.


I have been going to a new church here in Memphis, the Neighborhood Church, and I have loved getting involved and building relationships there. After church the past few Sunday nights a group from church has been going to the Levitt Shell which is an outdoor amphitheater where Elvis and Johnny Cash performed before they were stars. Last week Tibetan Monks performed and tonight it was Hawaiian music. Arkansas friends think the Greek Theater with grass instead of the concrete seating.

And last night, the Neighborhood Church hosted the Co-op Kitchen. A group of us got together to make single servings of meals that we could all take home and freeze. The meals are ideal for single people, so that we can eat healthier and cheaper. And we had a BLAST preparing all the food last night. I also learned a few new cooking tips, so watch out!

This last picture is the whole group at an awkward angle, but we were being resourceful with the self-timer so we could include everyone. And, although there is no photographic proof that I did any work, rest assured that I worked on preparing the chicken enchilada casserole, and my group finished early, just for the record.

*For those of you who don't know, I have a temporary job right that I am so thankful to have. It will only last maybe 8 weeks, so I am still pursuing other opportunities.