Creeping

Yeah last week I creeped a little closer to 30 or I might have just begun another holding pattern about 25. Anyway, after returning from the art institute I celebrated my birthday. It was not as busy as last year's birthday week with something to do each night of the week, this year it was much more family oriented.

I hung around the house all day pretty much, had a meeting at school and waited for Cullen to get off work so we could eat dinner. My mom has always made my birthday cakes. Last year she went above and beyond and made a fondant sewing machine. This year she decided to create a masterpiece...really she recreated Van Gogh's Starry Night.

My aunt and uncle came to celebrate with cake and a couple of my students stopped by as well. Also, my sweet teaching friend Ms. Bridget dropped by, too.

Art Smart 2010

Just like last year I begged my administration to send me to the Mississippi Arts Commission's Whole Schools Summer Institute. This year it was in Meridian at the MSU Riley Center and it was a lot of fun. This year I was able to bring a friend with me so I didn't have to go by myself again. Ms. Jenna, a fellow second grade teacher/church friend/national boards applicant with me/ friend, came along with me so we could get Art Smart together.

I learned how to create a Batik, went to a recycled sculpture class, worked with tile, watercolor, house paint, learned to podcast, skype, and lots of other neat ideas to use with my students.

And I also met William Winter.

Student Life 2010

Okay so now I'm really back blogging...meaning I didn't blog about it right after it happened so I can just get it in now.... I was able to go with the youth on their summer trip. We went to the beach and enjoyed a week of Student Life. Here are some things I learned. I am not able to hang with these girls for long...they can stay up later, sleep at anytime during the day, and basically have more energy than I remember having.

It was a lot of fun. The group of seniors this year were seventh graders the last time I went on a trip with them. The seventh graders this year was the group I student taught. I literally watched these kids grow up in the church and they are one of the closest groups I have seen in a while. They are inspirations. They are so studied in the Word. It was a fun time filled with hours of Big Booty, lots of Justin Bieber music, and a whole lot of worship.

Meagan is Eighteen and Elvis is still Dead

July 1st my sweet friend Meagan turned 18. Think back and remember that feeling...you know when you turned 18 and nobody could tell you anything...because you were 18 ready for college and to take on the rest of your life. Yeah well she is a much more planned out 18 year old than I was...she is nothing of a procrastinator...nope she has even visited the graduate school she wants to attend and knows exactly the right plan of classes for her based on her gpa and a.c.t. score. I am sure she learned all that from me....ok really her mom is that planned and prepared, too.

Over the years I have gotten to spend many a birthday with Meagan, but this year takes the cake. We started her birthday celebrations with a surprise party at Vanelli's. I would say about 30 of her closest friends and family showed up to surprise her the night before her big day. The next morning for her birthday Ms. Julie, Meagan and I headed to Memphis. You see Meagan has had a slight obsession with Elvis since she was about five. I think she has been to Graceland about 6 times, Sun Records the whole thing. She couldn't think of a better way to ring in her birthday except to tour the King's home. I must confess I have been to Graceland 3 times in the last 4 years. No, it hasn't changed but each time I go I love it a little more. This time I was able to take pictures so I could come back and relive the experience.

I love love love this stained glass window. It makes me happy each time I see it.

This coat is in the raquet ball room...and yes I cry when I walk into this room every time. It isn't a sob like I have witnessed others doing...just a few tears.

I had never noticed this paper on the bathroom walls of Gladys and Vernon's room. They also had her mirrored closet open for viewing of clothes. Maybe I just missed it before or maybe it was 'new' exhibit...I'm leaning toward me not noticing it.

I would love to know if any of my two readers love Elvis like we do...or have a Graceland experience you'd like to share.

Love to Say

I would love to say the extreme lack of blogging this summer was because I have taken the summer to focus on my family, or home improvements, or any improvements...but sadly that is not the case. I have managed to have a great summer filled with travels, naps, and time spent with good friends. I'll try to do better on the blogging. School is just around the corner as in starts a week from today and yes I had to skip church yesterday because I began my week of depression. I use that term loosely because actually I love my job, I kinda can't wait to meet my babies, but I am not looking forward to the beginning. You know the training process of getting my babies to be mine...and not some other teacher's. I have to train them to act like I want and I wish I could just skip ahead to October for that..

Cullen the Cake Boss

Ready to Worship

We are at the Wharf and ready for the show to get started!

At the Beach Again

Before you read this everybody pray for Cullen! I have abandoned him
again! This time I'm in Orane Beach at StudentLife! This was the
setting for my afternoon nap today! The waves were rough the sand was
soft and the tar balls were no where near me! The Lord is very
present here within our group!

This picture is for Mimi, Meagan's grandmother! This is a picture of
three of her favorite people! We are at the beach for Student Life!

The Third

Well, I noticed that today Cullen and I have been married three years three weeks and three days, and it falls on the 3rd of July. Hmm..

I didn't post about our anniversary because it fell during the week of my studying for National Boards assessment and I was a little crazy that week...funny I feel like every week since then has been busy as well.

So here is a back post on our three years together. Every year seems to bring something big and I really can't wait to see what each year has in store. We didn't really do anything special for our anniversary we went to eat and exchanged small gifts. A week later Cullen and I bought a new vehicle and I am enjoying driving it around.

So happy belated Anniversary to us...three years and counting.

Presley Kate Leathers

Miss Presley arrives this morning a little after ten this morning!
She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz. and was 19 inches long! Kala, Preston, and
Baby Girl are doing great! Yes Leslie and I teared up a little when
we got to see the family all together! Can you tell from the pictures
we are two proud "aunts"!

Summer Reading

About two weeks ago I finished reading The Wednesday Letters. It was a quick read...great for the pool or beachside. It won't change your life but it will add to your library.

Right after reading this book I started reading a book by Kate Jacobs...she is the author of The Friday Night Knitting Club as well as Knit One Purl One that I read last summer. The book is titled Comfort Food, but it really didn't go like I expected. It too was an easy read but I would say not one of Kate Jacobs' best. While at the beach I finished Comfort Food and moved on to reading a new book by Stephanie Meyer, the author the Twilight series. I enjoyed this book because it was quick to read and I finished it in about three hours by the pool. I started another book and haven't finished it yet. I have a list I'd like to finish before the summer but with the fourth coming up, family in town and more vacations to go on I don't know if I'll get them all in. We shall see. Let me know if you have any beach reads I

need to read soon!