So Far in June...

     A very sad loss...D's very good friend, Tommy (on the far right), passed away from a brain aneurysm. He was a wonderful husband, father, and friend to many.  Prayers go out to his wife and two daughters (Micheline, Mikaela, and Mia) during a very difficult time. ): 

After the service, we gathered together to share lots of good memories of our time together with Tommy.

Our 1st selfie together on our 19th anniversary :0)

(We can't wait for our family trip to Hawaii for our 20th!!)

Deb, Anita, Jen, and Me

A fabulous day at Bunker Beach

 Rach and Mason had a blast on the slides all afternoon!!

A trip down the Lazy River...

 Mason and I had a great time on the big waterslide as well. :0)

Our peonies were beautiful this year, but they did not last long due to the constant rain. ):

Our annual trip to Beth's summer kitchen...this year we didn't need blankets! :)

Beth's yummy creation...

More pool time (in between the rainy days)... 

Max and "Auntie" Renae

 Bruiser and Max 

 Elli gave Bruiser a few rides in the pool.

Max trying my beach hat on for size! :)

B teaching Elli the basics...

Popcorn, S'mores, and a campfire...SUMMER!!

Happy 30th birthday, Dan!!!!!!!!!

  

  

 

Fun at Mongo's for my birthday...

Shopping afterwards...

No matter what...it's a dog's life!  I am very blessed!

Canvas and Conversation

For our end-of-the-year celebration, we decided to do a paint night.  It was super fun!! 

 It also served as a fundraiser for Kim's daughter's swim club.  

 There were a total of 43 people who painted!!  What a mob!

Having dinner beforehand...

 

Paint brush in one hand...drink in the other!  Anna's ready to go!

Here's to nothin'!!!

 Alison was extremely focused!!

 Fun with friends :)

 Sara and Nikki took lots of action shots...

 ...and a bunch of goofy selfies!!

 

     Danielle and I with our finished product.  It was neat to see how different each painting was.  Kim gave everyone two different options for the background color and four different options for the flowers.

Photobomb...

 Joe showcasing Becca's painting :0) 

What an awesome night!!

Celebrating Another School Year

Here we are celebrating the last day of school.

My great buddy, Holty :0)

Jennifer, Jenny, and Jill

Becca, Sandy, and Me

Time for toasts...

A drinking wave :0)

Kevin, groom-to-be, received some gifts from the math dept.

Surprises and a Goodbye...

Our faculty gathered for a goodbye to Brenda, our "head office angel".

     After 22 years of being an awesome secretary, Brenda (B) has decided to only work for their company, Hound Heater Inc.  Mike and Brenda have been working at school FT and then going home to their very successful business to work from 4-10 M-F.  It was getting to be too much.  With Mike only being four years away from teacher retirement, B made the decision (after all, she is the CEO), to work only for their business.  We are sure going to miss her!!

     Mike presented her with a cartful of her favorite treats (diet Sunkist, Chicken in a Biskit, blueberry Sobe water, & Lay's sour cream and onion chips) plus a variety of gift cards.  Then I presented her with a yearbook signed by the staff.  It was definitely a bittersweet gathering!!

     The next day I had a very special surprise visitor all the way from Germany!!  She did her practicum with me six years ago, had to student teach for two years (a requirement in Germany), and now she is an English teacher.  She came back to the States for her host family's daughter's wedding, so she came to BLMS to visit for 1/2 day.  It was awesome to see and catch up with her again.  She also worked with Simona, Alison, and Claud, so they all had a chance to visit with her as well.  It was a very fun surprise!! :0)

Another surprise visitor came by on Friday... 

...too dark of a picture though ):

     Deb was in Big Lake for a couple of retirement parties, so she met us for lunch.  We then took her over to the MS, so she could spend some time visiting her former colleagues.  On the way to the middle school, Mason snapped a picture of her sitting in Rach's car seat, and since kids are so tech savvy these days, he posted it on FB with the caption, "OMG...Deb in a baby seat."  It was hilarious!!

     One of my favorite teacher gifts ever is this shirt that one of my 1st hour HP English students, Gabby, gave me.  "There.  Their.  They're not the same."

 

Another is this picture that one of my 3rd hour HP students designed for me.