And so it begins...

So, we head to meet Nanny and Papa this afternoon. Dakota is heading there to spend the week. She gets to finish her summer fun in Brevard. Dakota starts first grade on the 27th. Her teacher sounds great. Ms. Wilson is a Nationally Board Certified teacher, was Teacher of the Year at Lake Wylie, and from her websites looks like she has a lot of fun in her room. I think Dakota is up for a fantastic school year.

I have two more teacher work days before the kids head back and the school year begins for me. I meet my students tomorrow night. Hard to believe this is the beginning of my 12th year of teaching...7th in South Carolina. I am taking a Science journaling class this year, so I am excited to try new things. Next year my focus will be spelling! Still trying to decide when I would like to begin my EdD journey, but I know it is NOT now!

Ron continues to work hard at Palm Beach Tan. He is a store manager again. I admire how much time and effort he puts in at his job. Ron always gives 110%!

As for my photography business, things continue to go well. I am in the process of teaming up with a talented lady who does specialty cards. The idea would be to use me to photograph and her to create the cards with my pictures. We are hoping the holidays will bring a lot of business for the both of us! Details on this will follow in the next month. Of course, I have a couple pics to add from my latest session...

Water, water, everywhere!!!

Today was quite the adventure.

I headed back to school today :( Summer is officially over!

As a treat, and a teambuilding venture, our school went white water rafting! Click on the link to see where we were... http://www.usnwc.org/ Yes...I did it. Had a blast...and ready to go back! If I unearth any pictures taken by other teachers, I will be sure to post for proof that I did it!!!

Now, I am beat, ready for a shower, a beer, and bed! But, any of you out of towners come to Charlotte at any point, you must go do this. You will get wet, but you will have fun!

Nature

Recently Dakota and I were on a hike when there we were in the middle of a bunch of butterflies. It was so cool! They were flying all around us...we were truly surrounded by nature. Makes me wonder why so many people are in such a hurry to knock all the natural areas down to build more houses and more buildings. Why not just stop??? Do we really NEED everything we are building, or are we killing the beauty around us? Hmmm...maybe I will run for President!

HOT

It was 104 yesterday! Wow...even the pool water was HOT. I am ready for cooler weather, sweaters, and jeans.

Fall sounds like a dream. Went into a cute store in Fort Mill yesterday and they had fall and Halloween stuff out. I love the oranges, browns, and yellows you see in fall. Can't wait for some fall photo shoots with the colors changing in the background. However, everything right now is pretty much BROWN...but dead brown, not pretty brown!

I guess I have decided to definately travel to the mountains this fall and enjoy the change of seasons...if I can survive this heat :) Stay tuned for COOLER fall pictures soon (I hope)

Cuties

Had the pleasure to spend time with these two cuties this past weekend! Take a peek...

Savannah

We spent our family vacation in the land of Paula Deen! We got to walk the riverfront, go to the beach, walk up almost 200 steps at a local lighthouse, and went on a ghost tour at night on Friday the 13th. It was great to get away as a family for a long weekend.

August

I am still in shock. I refuse to change my calendar. Really...it cannot be August already!

I guess reality is that it IS August. I am headed back to school on the 15th for another year teaching fourth grade. I have been in to spend time setting up my classroom, writing long range plans, etc.

Honestly, I do get excited to meet my new class of students and get to know them. I do like seeing the teachers I have not seen all summer. I do look forward to receiving a paycheck again :)

I dread making lunches, picking out what I have to wear, and getting up early. In my perfect world, I would only have to teach part time. I could spend time volunteering at Dakota's school. I could have a little more me time!

So, that being said, I am headed to school today to work on the monkeys I am displaying outside my classroom...because you know...I have a class full of monkeys coming soon! Wish me luck!