Thank You Treats

Hello there, only 1 full day and 2 half days with students left to go! So much has happened this year but it still seems to have gone by really fast. I know we are technically half way through 2009 but I live my life according to the school calendar so it's the end of the year for me. 

Last year was my first year on the job and I gave my teachers (the special ed teachers, counselors, and speech therapists) I work with a thank you card for all they did to help me out and support me as I learned the ropes. I decided to be a little more creative this year. I definitely stole/borrowed the idea so I can not take full credit. I designed the "tent" I used  using a really fun scrap-booking kit. I decided to put some lemonade in them instead of candy since it is for teachers and summer always makes me think of lemonade. I'm really excited about them and I think they turned out pretty cute. They were also really easy to do and didn't burn a hole in my pocket either. 

Relay for Life & Memorial Day

Spartanburg's Relay for Life was this past Friday night and it was exciting. There was over $500,000 raised by everyone there, and I know more money was raised throughout the night. Here is a picture of a few of my teammates from the District Office. 

The two schools I work at, Roebuck & Dawkins, also had teams. If you have never been to a Relay for Life event, it is pretty amazing. They have several different laps for cancer survivors, caregivers, team lap, and then they do a luminary ceremony where they light candles all around the track and it is completely silent for an entire lap. It's a great way to remember people who died of cancer and also those who are still fighting it. There have been several people in my family with cancer , some who have died, others who are still living. I'm listing them here as a way to personally remember and honor them...

Ralph Smith  

Gwen Cartledge

Billy Turner  

Betty Jean Turner

Ronny Robinson  

Joanne Bullington

Another important day this weekend is today, Memorial Day, a time to remember those who have fought in wars and died, people who fought and lived, and especially people who are still fighting. I want to recognize my family members who fit into these areas of services. Thank you for all you did!!

Earl Bullington (killed in WWII)  

Ed Bullington  

Ralph Smith

Oscar Smith  

Arthur Smith 

Ed Page

Joe Bullington  

Scrap time

I have been trying to get started scrap-booking again. I enjoy doing it and LOVE doing it on the computer, but it does take time. Kinda hard to think I didn't even know what digital scrapping was this time last year. It all started when my "unofficial stepsister"  asked if I had heard of digital scrap-booking and we both decided we would find out what it was.  Now we are both hooked and  she is much more creative when it comes to using this stuff outside of traditional scrap-booking. Maybe I can try some of her ideas this summer. Besides, if it weren't for her kids, my scrapbook would be pretty dull!! 

Here are a couple of layouts I just finished. Whit is really into science experiments right now. He insisted we do a lot of them at the beach and even though he has the same PJ's on in every picture, they really were taken throughout the week! 

Pickle in it?

Ha, so maybe I got your attention with the title. I was working with a little boy this week who kept singing while I was evaluating him. This would be ok, except he was doing things that he really needed to concentrate on. One part he was being timed on and he sang this.... "Hold on wait a minute, put a little pickle in it." It really cracked me up. Of course my response was "Did you say pickle?" My job can be extremely busy (like right now) but these kids make it worthwhile. Even if they don't make me laugh, I feel like I get a chance to show them some positive attention and encourage them to do their best, even if they feel discouraged. 

On another note, Alex has been in Cozumel, Mexico all week. Yeah he really picked a great time to go. He had already landed before things got really crazy here about the swine flu. Thankfully, he is back in the states and so far he is feeling fine. I'm going to wait a couple days before I go see him because I can't afford to get sick and miss work right now. I have TONS of meetings right now... I think I have about 25 just this week. I also can't take the chance of passing something off to all the kids I work with. I'm just happy he is home!!

Last Sunday I went to Paris Mountain with my Dad, Georgia, Mama Thelma, Whit, and Olivia. It's amazing that such a beautiful park is right in the middle of Greenville. We had a lot of fun and the kids loved playing in the creek. Here are my two favorite pictures from the day.