Chopsticks

While celebrating Michael's birthday recently, the kids tried (again) to teach me how to use chopsticks...

I just can't get the hang of it!!

Surprise!!

     Recently we attended a very festive surprise 50th birthday party for a friend and coworker, Kim.  Her husband and daughter did an awesome job planning and keeping this party a surprise.  Kim really had NO idea, so it was so much fun to see the surprise unfold!

     The theme was the "Fabulous Fifties."  There were old 45 and 33 1/2 records adorning the tables.  In the middle of each of the large records was a "milkshake" made with real shaving cream, fun straws, and colorful carnations (real ones).  Such a great idea!! 

Waiting for the guest of honor

     I captured her as she turned the corner and saw all of us.  Such a great moment!!  She was very touched as her family and good friends from Wisconsin even came for the night.  It was quite a varied crowd with school friends, her "art world" friends (even a really famous one), college friends, and her Big Lake community friends.  Bridget and I agreed that we'd both bring our husbands, so it was fun for them to get the chance to catch up with each other.

Bridget, Kim, Claudia, and Me

Kim, Tom, and Laurel...such a nice family!!

The first thing that Kim did was grab a glass of wine and DOWN it!!

She was so overwhelmed. It was funny to see!

One of her friends adorned her with special accessories; 

I don't think she liked this part too much!! :0)

She was overwhelmed by all of the gag gifts but mostly the thoughtful ones.

A story was told for each of the gag gifts.  

Some gifts were even used as props in her stories.  

Happy 50th birthday, dear friend!!

School Fun

 Just having a little fun with this talking dog.  

I was entertaining our lunch bunch without realizing someone was taking a video of it.  

I chose to only post the picture! :0)

 One of my students and her mom made 200 egg rolls over spring break.  Then CeCe stayed to cook them for all of the teachers.  It was such a nice gesture, and they were very yummy!!  She was so proud!!

 Alison (Mrs. Seth to CeCe) :)

 Vandy, Mike, Alison, and I enjoyed our egg rolls very much!!

Jessalyn came by to bake cookies with big sister, Dallas, and me.

Popovers and Icicles

     I joined friends for lunch and a matinee before Good Friday services.  Even though we are at the same school, we rarely see each other to catch up on life outside of school.  It was very fun introducing Margo to Anton's as she had never been there before.  It is enjoyable to go there in the summer with their outdoor scenery, but it was cool to look out the windows nearby our table to see these MASSIVE icicles.  

 

It was quite an adventure trying to stay upright on the ice to get this picture!! 

The best part of going to Anton's are their popovers with honey butter.
They are incredibly yummy!!

As evidenced by this picture, Margo enjoyed her fish tacos. 

 Simona, Jill, Margo, and Me

All That I Wanted...

     I was in need of a nice, relaxing bubble bath.  I thought I had the door all the way shut, but I was wrong...very, very wrong!!  As I slipped into the hot water and closed my eyes, it wasn't five minutes later that I heard the sound of water being lapped up.  Upon opening my eyes, I saw not one...not two... but all three animals staring me down!!! So much for my relaxing bath time.

Tea Party

Megann wanted a "GIRLS ONLY" tea party for her birthday, so her cousins came over (but not baby Justin since he's a BOY), her mom, grandma, Aunt Missy, and me (her pseudo aunt).

No, this is not a gigantic stuffed animal!!  This is Willow, their very large Goldendoodle.
No kidding...she is one enormous ten-month-old puppy.  

I just love this picture of the two of them!

She was pretty excited about the Hello Kitty outfit that I bought her. :)

Isn't she a doll?!  This is Megann's cute cousin, Emma.  

She dressed herself in this outfit (scarf and boots included) for the tea party.

Megann and Reba were banished to the front yard during the party!!

"Charlotte's Web"

     I was invited to Mathieu's play at the Paramount, "Charlotte's Web."  It was a fun night out with Katie, Freddy, and her parents.  Here are some pictures from his "big" performance.

Megann and Mathieu 

(Megann was pretty excited to see her brother perform on stage and had a great time!)

Time for intermission (and to buy a cute stuffed Wilbur)

They had the performers sign autographs after the performance.  

It was pretty exciting for them and fun for us to watch!! We couldn't believe how long the lines were!!

Mathieu and the lamb (who just happens to have a crush on him)...too funny!!

While I was Away...

     The doggies had a "heyday" playing in the snowstorm that I missed out on. :0)  Darrell said that Dakota and JJ were, "dorking it up" in the backyard with the nine inches of snow that we got last Monday and Tuesday.  Apparently, Benji wasn't so happy about my trip.  He was missing me!!

Sunny Florida

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Spring Break '13

Just a few pictures to share from part of my spring break so far...