Ten year high school reunion, the Kansas City zoo, and glorious sunshine!

Hello! I hope things in your corner of the world are happy. We are doing wonderful- just staying busy, but that is the way we like it. My camera chip has been loaded and emptied probably three times since our anniversary, and if I don't update my blog now, I know I will be bogged down under so many pictures that I just won't do it at all.  : ) 

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas with some faculty from my middle school for a two-day conference. It was lots of fun spending time with my coworkers and learning some new, innovative teaching techniques. While we there, we were extremely honored to receive the Shannon Wright Award, which honors one middle school every year. This award is given to the best middle school in the state and we were so excited we had been chosen. Wow- to have been chosen over so many bigger districts is such an honor. There were lots of tears and photographs and smiles! We feel very blessed to have been chosen and look forward to aiming higher and higher, working to ensure success for all children.

Harbor is 18 months old and is looking more and more like a little boy and less and less like a baby. He has such great hair- thick and full, and I think his little comb-over helps to make him look a bit older.  : ) He is a great kid and I feel so happy to be his mommy. Before having Harbor, David and I had been married eight years. I don't think I could have ever imagined the joy a child brings. Becoming parents has been such a blessing and a reward.

This past weekend, David and I attended my 10 year high school reunion. I was on the planning committee and it was great to see the fruits of our effort all come together for one, fun night! David and I were high school sweethearts and to see old classmates and catch up was a nice way to spend the evening. Nine of the last ten years, I have been married- goodness, it has flown! Our night included a nice, sit-down dinner, complete with three courses, including dessert. David and I finished the night with a movie, Iron Man II, since we already had a sitter. It really was a perfect evening. I am proud of all I have accomplished over the last 10 years, though they have flown by awfully fast. A college degree, a marriage, a few homes, a child... It appeared everyone there was just beaming, eager to tell of the wonderful things they had also been doing the last decade! I hope the next 10 years will be years that I make good choices, put my family first, and honor God.

Sunday, the day after the reunion, we made a trip to Kansas City (my favorite city!) to visit the zoo, the Plaza, and eat at the Cheesecake Factory. My cousin, Rachel, tagged along and we had a great time showing her around town. I grew up (most of my childhood years) at Ft. Leavenworth, across the river, as an Army brat, so coming into KCMO always feels like coming home. It is a bit of a drive for us- six hours roundtrip, so we had to leave at 7:00 a.m. and got home before midnight, but well worth the memories! Rachel and David have pictures of us at the Plaza and the Cheesecake factory, but my camera chip was full, so maybe they will hand over their chips and share.  : )

I have officially worked my last Monday for the 2009-2010 school year. With Memorial Day on the horizon, school is quickly winding down. This is the first summer with Harbor we have had that he is old enough to swim, so I am really looking forward to introducing him to the water. Rachel is a lifeguard at a local aquatic park, so she has agreed to give him some mini lessons. : )  We are still house hunting and have narrowed our search from about 20 to 10, so we plan on using the first part of the summer to pursue them a little more and make some decisions on that front.

Hug your babies, kiss your husband, and praise God for the wonderful things He has given to us!

Have a great week!