61/365 - Keith's Bon Voyage...

Yesterday, my aunt Heidi (mom's sister) had a little BBQ get together at her house in honor of her son who will be leaving to serve our country in Afghanistan. Ken was at work, my mom has pneumonia, and my dad had a really bad weekend with Parkinson's so my older brother Clint and I went to "represent" our family.

Here's me and Clint. With Clint's divorce, he's lost about 60 pounds. By the looks of this picture, I'm pretty sure I found it for him. Insert deep, frustrating sigh here.

Clint brought this "purse" with him. I was totally shocked to earn it was a cooler. I teased him the entire time about his beer carrying man purse. I had to get a picture.

This is my cousin, Keith. The BBQ was all for him! I'm grateful for military people willing to serve our country to keep it free.

Two of my mom's sisters, Kathy and Laurie. I like the expression on their faces. Clint and I were telling them about the time my younger brother, Brian, had a nail from his nail gun land in his forehead, It's a pretty GREAT story!

Two of these are my cousins, one is a spouse and I have NO idea who the cheezy guy in the glasses is.

My uncle Brent digging into some ribs.

My mom's brother, Barry.

My aunts... Laurie, Heidi (the hostess) and Kathy.

It was fun to see people and catch up. Some of them I haven't seen since my wedding. My mom's family is pretty diverse so it's always fun to see them!

60/365 - Memorial Day...

Ken and I went to the cemetery today in honor of Memorial Day. It was cloudy and rainy, but there were a lot of people there. We have a pretty cemetery in our city. It's been there a long time, and the trees are big and established.

Lots and lots of people!

We started at my grandparents grave. They're my dad's parents (both of my mom's parents are alive) and passed away years ago. My grandma died in 1995 and my grandpa died a year and a half later.

We also visited Ken's grandparents grave. They are his dad's parents. I never met them. They passed away years before I ever met Ken.

Both of our paternal grandparents are buried close to each other. If you find the grave to one, you'll find the other. I photo shopped out the other headstones but the closer grave is Ken's grandparents and the one in the background are my grandparents. In such a huge cemetery, it's so weird that they're so close together.

We headed over to visit Ken's grandparents from his mom's side. I never knew Ken's grandpa. I've heard great things about him though. Ken has really good memories of him. But I met his grandma several times and she was one classy lady!

Someone had put some really beautiful flowers on their grave.

And right next to them are Ken's great grandparents on his mom's side. They too had some really beautiful flowers.

I always love Memorial Day. 

I love the way the cemeteries look. 

If I die before you do, please keep one thing in mind. I really don't want any pink flowers. Ken has been given specific orders. No pink flowers, pink casket, or pink creepy casket satin lining. Just avoid it. Thanks.

59/365 - 3 Tiers O' Fun...

We decided we wanted a large water fountain for a flower bed in our backyard. After buying one (and waiting a few weeks for it to come into the store) we borrowed my dad's truck and went to pick it up. Ken wants me to mention that we got it on sale, and ended up saving $120.00. 

Score! I'm glad we didn't buy it when we saw it two weeks before or we would have paid full price. Anyhow, on the way home from picking it up, we kicked around the idea of putting the fountain in the front yard instead of the back. We unloaded the fountain and got to work!

The minute we set it up in the front, we decided that was the perfect spot!

It needed a little leveling...

...and a little more...

...and a little more.

Voila!

There's the handyman himself.

And here it is from the sidewalk. It's a little hidden but looks great!

We're pretty happy with our new little purchase!

58/365 - Summer Vay-Cay?

We're thinking about taking a road trip to San Diego this summer to visit...

and

What do you think?

57/365 - Some Friendships Never End...

I'm grateful for good friends, water under the bridge, and forgiveness. "Nuke", my best friend from high school and I had a pretty bad falling out a few months before I left on my mission - all over a boy, of course. While I was on my mission, she married that very boy that caused us to drift apart. It was pretty devastating to me at the time. Years went by (about 15 of them) and we didn't speak, although I thought of her a lot over the years. 

We reconnected about a year and a half or so ago. It was almost like no time had passed at all. Of course things were a lot different, life had taken us both to different places. She got married at 21, I left for a mission. She started a family, I focused on college. She's dealing with a teenager at home, I'm dealing with 33 first graders. She's going through the transition of a divorce, I'm still transitioning through marriage. We're both in very different places, but our reconnection has been a huge blessing in both of our lives.

We like to meet up twice a month at...

...our favorite place! We went there on Wednesday night and had a great meal with deep conversation. We reminisced about the good, the bad, and the ugly. My cheeks were KILLING me from laughing so hard.

It is so great to have her back in my life! Seriously, great beyond words. Even though we missed a lot of events in each other's lives, I'm grateful she's back. Sometimes good friends are just meant to stay friends no matter what! And no matter what direction life takes them, they always find a way to return.

56/365 - Tank's Scholarly Visit...

Ken had the day off work today.

He brought Tank into my classroom for a little visit. The kids were pretty excited to see him again. Ken has brought Tank in before, and the kids love it! We do have a rule... no touching the dog. Tank is a little snappy in his old age. The kids had all kinds of random questions for Tank. 

Ken was Tank's spokesman.

"What is Tank's favorite thing to do?"

"Who does Tank like more? Ken or Mrs. Adams?"

"What does Tank eat?"

"What is Tank's favorite thing to watch on t.v.?"

And the questions kept coming...

Tank handled it pretty well.

It's fun for me to have Ken and Tank come visit. I love letting Ken see a little glimpse into my work life. Although today, Mrs. Adams was a little grumpy. My kids were nuts! With the end of the school year only one week away, the kids are having some serious summer fever. But having Ken and Tank come was a nice break in our chaos.

55/365 - Minor Addiction...

Of course my minor addiction isn't jogging, zumba, or meditation... oh no. It's food. And not just any food... candy. And not just ANY candy... Riesen. ADDICTING!! Sooooo addicting and so unhealthy. But, I love them! I found a 2 lb. bag at Smith's grocery store for $7.00. I was in heaven.

I am NOT a caramel fan. But how could you pass up chocolate covered chocolate caramel? Huh? You can't!

I always have a big handful on my table in my classroom. 

And I discovered online that there are evidently a few craft projects you can make with Riesen. For example, an ugly Riesen wreath with a fall bow.

A wreath with an ugly Christmas bow.

This complete Riesen mess in a vase.

And these little party favors of Reisens wrapped in cute paper.

There you are!

One more random thing to know about me.

Riesen candy is one of my many guilty pleasures!

54/365 - Rock and Roll...

Every school year toward the end of the year, there is a gigantic poster that goes up in our main entrance of our building. Below is a picture of the infamous poster. They leave it up for about 2 weeks.

Each year, the "singers" and "musicians" always change.

I've always been in the "chorus". Frown!

That's me on the left (school picture from like 5 years ago) and Jenny (fellow first grade teacher) is next to me. As years pass and teachers come and go, they always add or remove faces.

This was a new addition to our poster this year. They put the Raccoon, our mascot, on top of our principal's head. I have to admit that I giggle EVERY time I've walked past it.