Just Like Italy...

Well, maybe just what I imagine pizza in Italy might taste like! After being able to keep up with my 5th grade running buddy in the race Saturday morning, I hustled home to shower and get Pattie. We headed to my parent's house where we jumped in the car and headed down to Raleigh for the evening. Grant and Laura invited us down to enjoy homemade pizzas! Pattie loved running around in their backyard; but never showed her trick of catching the frisbee. Maybe next show!
We enjoyed wine, appetizers, seven (maybe 8) different pizzas, salad, and homemade goodies for dessert. It was just like being in a restaurant; minus the fact that we helped out a little getting things ready! ;) We didn't do much though. Laura and Grant have it all down to a system. We sat at the table, got our drinks and salad, then pizzas were delivered straight from the oven. Just about the time you finished one slice, another whole pizza arrived. And of course you had to try each one! Service with a smile as we liked to call it...
It was fabulous! What a great way to spend the evening!

Boys Will Be Boys...

Before I forget them, I wanted to share two stories that stuck out this past week in the world of teaching Kindergarten:
Story 1:
Scene: We are at the bathrooms and water fountain after playing outside
Little Boy: Ms. Gribble, I got a p in my eye
Ms. Gribble: A p? Tell me that again.
L.B: I got a p in my eye
Ms. G.: I'm sorry, I don't understand. Tell me again.
L.B.: You know like when you're done in the bathroom and you shake. I got a p in my eye.
Ms. G: turns around to laugh!!!! Hey, I asked right!
This comes from the same boy who calls McDonalds "Old McDonalds"

Story 2:
Scene: During lovely math assessment
Ms. G: Will you count for me as high as you can go. (We want them to count to at least 30 and we stop them if they make it to 100)
Little Boy: .....57, 58, 59, 100! Hey, I didn't know I could count to 100!

Cute huh?! Enjoy your day! I'm off to run in the Girls on the Run 5K with kids from school. I think the fastest 5th grader asked me to be her running buddy...here's to survival! :)

Watch Dog

Never fear, watch dog is here! I looked over and saw Pattie checking things out. I grabbed my camera thinking there would be no way she'd do it again. She proved me wrong!
As a side note, this little pup caught the frisbee tonight!!!! The whole neighborhood probably heard me cheering! I couldn't believe it...now to only have it done again

Pattie finds a friend

Monday after the staff meeting, Anna asked if Pattie and I would like to meet her at the park for a walk. It was finally beautiful and sounded like a great plan to me! We met Anna and her dog Clemson (he came with the name, not their choice). Anna and her husband rescued Clemson; and they have worked hard to get him over his issues. So, after a walk at the park we went back to Anna's house to see what would happen in the backyard. Anna has a great fenced in yard where they eventually ran and played together!
So, Tuesday night Anna had some girls over to watch the season premiere of Bachelorette. She recorded it Monday night and we got together for drinks and dessert Tuesday to watch it. Clemson invited Pattie over for another playdate! Clemson got very friendly with Pattie by the end of the night!
Although the show is not my favorite; the company, food, and drinks were great! However, I'm thinking my very own Bachelorette show could be fun!!! ;)

Wonderful Weekend

Despite the rain, this has been a pretty eventful weekend! Of course everywhere I went I had my camera but forgot to take pictures! Friday night I headed over to Maggie and Justin's house to eat pizza, have a few beers, and play games. Some other people joined us for the evening of fun. Waking up Saturday morning to no rain meant I had to get down to business! I took the recycling, vacuumed out my car, played with Pattie, washed clothes, and mowed the grass...all before 1:00! We enjoyed the last hour of sunshine eating lunch outside and letting Pattie explore the yard without the leash. 3:00 came and so did the rain...again. I'm not sure it's stopped yet!
Saturday night I met my friend Ann for dinner then we headed over to a friend of hers for girls wine night! Ann and I stopped at the Wine Emporium on the way. It was my first visit there and certainly will not be my last! I highly recommend paying it a visit. The owner was friendly, helpful, and gave us great discounts! We enjoyed a night of girl talk, trying new wines, and chocolate covered strawberries!
I'm headed out to shop some sales with my friend Anna then hoping to take Pattie to her puppy play date. We're supposed to meet her sister again and her brother is coming this time! I will certainly post pictures if the rain stops and they get to play.

School Days

Wednesday afternoon, my parents came up for a seminar my dad is attending. I picked them up at their hotel and we headed downtown for a late dinner. As soon as they said they were staying near downtown, I knew exactly where I wanted to eat...Tupelo Honey Cafe!!! I probably haven't eaten there in over a year, and it certainly tops "my favorite place to eat" list! Nothing beats the homemade tomato soup, home fries, and fried okra! After dinner, mom followed me to my house to spend the night.
She came with me to school today. In the past 8 years I have been teaching, my mom has only been able to come one other time when kids were there. Usually she gives up a few days in August to help me set up my classroom. So, it was very different to be able to see what the room looks like after it has been "lived" in! The kids were excited and maybe a bit confused to have two people with the same last name in the same room! She stayed until lunch when she left to go meet dad for an afternoon of exploring before the banquet.
Below is a video of my mom reading Quick As A Cricket to my children. If only I could read as wonderfully as her!

My Mom

Things my mother has taught me:
Take time to smell the flowers
Phillip, Me, Mom at Easter

Family is important
MeMe, me, Mom

Celebrate Everything! Nothing is too small!
Phillip, Me, Mom
(notice the "lickable" Willy Wonka wallpaper?!)

Enjoy what life brings you
Phillip, Me, Mom

You're never too old for fun!
Me, Mom, Phillip
(every year at Halloween, mom would go through the dress
up bags and "dress up" for her students)

Mother's Day Weekend

Friday afternoon, Pattie and I drove home to see my parents for the weekend. I thought mom might want to see her granddog for Mother's Day weekend! Good friends of ours were having a yard sale starting Friday, so mom went shopping for me. They always have great clothes, so it was like Christmas when I got home! Saturday morning, mom and I walked back over to the yard sale and returned the things that didn't work for me. From there, Pattie and I went on our first jog. She did well and I think she could have gone for 5 miles longer! We met up with mom and finished walking. We showered, then headed out to breakfast with friends and whatever else came our way!

After breakfast, we decided to hit up downtown Winston-Salem. We walked down the Avenue of the Arts. Many of the stores reminded me of shops found in downtown Asheville. After finishing up, we headed to another store before enjoying a late lunch. That evening we were too full from lunch, so we watched a movie and ate popcorn and ice cream for dinner. Actually, ice cream came first...the only way to eat dessert right?!

Sunday we went to church and had Sunday Lunch with the "family" at "Grandmother Gen's". Unfortunately the tennis court at her house is old and hasn't been used in years. Good for Pattie b/c that's were she stayed while we had lunch. Audrey brought over Woody, a big black lab. They had a ball in the court. Pattie was pooped! She laid right down and slept the whole ride back!

TOY Luncheon

Today was the TOY luncheon at Hendersonville Country Club. Mr. Pressley announced last week that he would finally be retiring. So, since this would be his last lunch I had to make it memorable!
Many years ago, he dressed as a farmer (complete with a spit cup) and went to "pick up" the teacher to go to the lunch. In a way I was helping this teacher get revenge! So, I went to Goodwill and picked out my favorite sluty outfit. Since we were painting this week I told him that I was sure a 5 year old would find my dress. So, I would just change before we went. There were several other people in on the surprise and helped play it up. They announced to him I was ready. The first picture of us is when he was still unsure if I was joking. Right after this picture is when no one else could keep it a secret any longer. He squirmed which was the whole point! I eventually got dressed for real and we enjoyed a wonderful lunch! (The man taking our picture at the lunch said just as he was snapping the picture "How does it feel to take a picture with your grandpa?!" We both laughed out loud!!!)

Pattie Update

Thursday afternoon Pattie and I went to the vet again. Remember, that the last time we went was not fun! It was the first time I had taken a puppy to the vet and we were running very late. She cried the entire 20 minutes we sat in the waiting room, the first 10 minutes we were waiting in the room, and as I was trying to pay. I was glad to get out of there! So, Thursday went much better. She only cried once or twice...and we were early this time! They gave her another round of shots and we'll see them again in a month.
Here's what she's been up to:
1. She now weighs 22.4 pounds; gaining 10 pounds since the last visit
2. Can do these on command: sit, drop, out, stay
3. Has learned/still learning heal
4. Learning to "shake"
5. Learning "down"
6. Has not pottied in her crate in 3 weeks!
7. Might have an accident in the house once a week, if that
8. Went on her first real hike to a waterfall!
9. Doesn't cry in her crate at night anymore
10. Sleeps as long as I want to!
11. So far, she has only chewed her toys. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
12. Had her nails trimmed by me! First time I've ever clipped a dog's nails. It went pretty well too!