out and about in st. michaels

what an amazingly fun family week-end here in MD.
sarah was here with just maggie and it made for a perfectly fun family day in st. michaels.
we toodled around and visited a local sandwich shop for french fries and fresh lemonade.
then down through town where maggie wandered into stores and forced us to shop a bit.
we found the local park and the local duck feeding grounds and we were set for a fun afternoon.
a few beers to top off the perfect day.




cheers to family, fun, adventures, french fries, and love, love, love.

beach adventure

while my dad was here we had many mellow days, but this day of beautiful weather brought about a spirit of adventure and off we were to the beach.
we went with our friends d and r (no photos shown, they are camera shy) and their two dogs. so that meant 5 people, four dogs.
four dogs who wanted to work out who was the alpha... well, maybe just two were up for that post, but the others were very curious.
so we walked and walked and watched dogs afraid of waves. easton got tumbled like he was in a washer- and not the gentle cycle.
mollie drank so much saltwater that she gave herself a bad potty case and was throwing up (even in the car).
but it was a glorious day playing with puppies, watching them romp and be dogs.
and of course, eating a huge bucket of thrashers fries.
wish you were here, kevin and nina.

out of focus

making changes in my life.
positive changes.
makes it hard to stay focused on today.
on now.
on this moment.

i'm out

well, there is an announcement that i have had to wait to make on here...
i am out to my boss, so now it can be said:

I have a new job!!!
Of course, it starts next year, but I am grateful to be able to say that I found a position at the local private school and I am really excited.


I have been working in a public school and have had an awaking this year. It has been continually challenging, working with some very low income families and very needy kids- behaviorally, emotionally, and academically. So, there is a lot to deal with daily. I have grown tremendously because of it, but the stress has been difficult and the feedback has been almost non-existent (which is hard for someone like me who really needs it on occasion). I haven't been impressed with the tenor of the school community... and its been hard to not feel supported.

Anyway, all that has led me to a job search and being hired at the local private school. I feel a bit like I am taking the "easy way out", but I am looking out for myself in a lot of ways. The school looks great. they are well-established and the salary is good (which is unique for private schools). They were impressed with me in my first interview (and told me so) and then brought me back for a full day interview. I interviewed with most people in the building for 20 minutes at a time (each grade level, specialist teachers, etc.). I taught a sample lesson that they observed for the classroom that would be mine. They spoke with the director at my last job and by the end of the day I was exhausted.

They sat me down and asked me my feelings on the school and the teacher who would be my grade level partner. Then the headmaster immediately said "Well, I know right now I want to hire you." "This is only once of two times in my career that I have ever offered someone the job on the spot but we are very impressed with you. After observing your lesson and speaking with M (my old boss) we truly feel that you would be a great fit here. We have interviewed a lot of people for this position and they were all qualified, but we feel that you truly have a GIFT that we want you to use here."

Now, let me tell you that this was the highest praise I have received in my professional career and truly felt redeemed after feeling so challenged in this past year. So I feel like it will be a great move. Its a second grade position and I will have a half day aid and 17 students... I am also looking forward to the 5 mile commute rather than the 25 mile one that I currently drive everyday. With all this in place, I am still working hard where I am, but with the hope of better things to come.

love

i love friday
i love that state testing is over and we can all breathe a litte bit easier
i love that little-boy-makes-me-crazy writes me love notes on the back of his tests and brings me my coat each day before recess
i love inching closer to the end of the school year
i love that i can feel safe each day of my life
i love chats with my dad and phone calls with my mom
i love the scent of cut grass and spring blossoms in the air
i love the sparkle of blacktop at night under the florescents
i love long shadows that stretch across the grass in the late afternoon
i love bocce and setting suns and drinks on a picnic table
i love my man
i love my little man
i love my girl
i love watching my small family play and grow and love.

does it get any cuter?

in the spirit of auntsmanship...



willy on a recent trip to oma and papa's, learning to play the trumpet.


maggie is our little princess.


and the newest neice cc with her big brother a. can you get over that pig tail?

walking in a spring wonderland

on a dreary day with two cooped up dogs, what do you do?
you bundle up and go walking anyway.


it was windy and pouring for over 24.
dad and i were a little stir crazy, too, i suppose.
but. it. was. cold. out.
and it was wet, wet, wet.
dogs running ahead.
us lagging behind.

we only made it as far as the end of our long driveway, but it was worth every second of fresh air.
todd shot the photos from our bedroom window and i just love this one of my dad and i.
out for a walk in a spring wonderland.

spc: body, take 3

up overhead
this is what you might see
i guess this is what
you all look at
as i walk away.

little details

here's to week-ends full of little details that make you smile.


big tongues, little tongues.
chinese food on friday night.
pay day.
easton's first walk on a leash.
flea markets full of overpriced junk, nascar collectibles, old instruments... and a few treasures.
flea markets full of people to ogle over easton, loving every inch of his puppiness.
nice people selling dog toys, and nice people who gave us a free dog toy when they just looked at easton.


early farmers markets full of hand spun yarn, cheese, tomatoes from florida, promises of asparagus, baked good, hand-made jewelry, and other crafty goodness.
more people to ogle over easton, including some very friendly young boys who just wrapped their arms around him.
here's to OPP (other people's puppies) who can play and jump with easton.
long afternoon naps.
60 degree days in the sun.
veggie burgers and grilled cheese and breakfast sandwiches.
puppies playing on their own and out of trouble.
rainy days to cuddle up inside and dream of getting crafty.
a full refrigerator.
a clean floor.


sausage biscuits and gravy.
visiting with my dad.
scary vacuum cleaners.


dreaming of new railroads with todd.
the scent of brownies baking.
sleeping puppies.
phone calls from family and hearing little maggie's voice on the other end of the line.
planning a menu of meals for the week ahead.


watching doggies play and love each other.
watching dogs bark and growl at each other.
knowing they will work it out.


i love my little life.

creating a story

so my mom's a little nutty and she decided she needed paw prints to put in my baby book.
now imagine her getting everything all set up just right.
she covered my toes with tickley paint and rubbed them on that paper there.
i thought dad was coming to my rescue, but all he did was help and then shower me off.
it was kind of nice to get all warm and wet and sudsy with him.
he's a good cuddler too, just ask my mom.



p.s. i'll post baby book pages soon. this dog has is good.

spc: body take 2

i am not sure that i like this photo as well as last week's, but again, i am playing around with the angles of me, and the angles of the room around me. i love the light on my foot. i love the rough spots on my foot, getting ready for summer and lots of time spent without shoes at all.

check out other people's bodies here.

my heart

well, this little man has made my grinchy heart grow about three sizes this week.
how in love am i?


hi. my name is easton.
i like long walks and chewing pinecones.
i like attacking grass and trying to go after my big sister mollie.
i don't mind a little mud
and i love getting under you feet, so don't worry.


this is my new mom. she gives me baths and plays with me.
she rubs me all over and kisses me alot.
i don't mind that part too much.


they feed me really well.
right in my crate.
i like my crate and don't hardly cry at all when i am in there.
even at night.
i only get up once and then i go right back to sleep.
i even entertain myself with balls and bones when i wake up and don't hear my mom or dad yet.

and, boy, do i like these balls.
i can play fetch with myself.
if i bat it away i can chase right after it and bring it back.
that's a fun game.


mollie likes balls too... but she only likes me sometimes.
sometimes like when i am not jumping on her.


and here's my dad.
he takes extra special care of me.
brushing my teeth.
playing with me.
taking me outside to go potty.
i am not sure why we have to go outside, i could save him the trouble and just go on the floor... but no. we go outside. and then usually i get to play, too.

my new life is a good one.
you should come visit and see.

spc: body

this month's theme is "body" and all of its many parts so i stood around taking pictures of myself at all weird angles. i liked this shot for the angles of my body and the angles of the room behind me.
this is me.
this is my body.

happy birthday, toddo

to my love:
may your day be full of
love
peace
happiness
strawberry pancakes with homemade whipped cream
smiles
laughter
chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and ice cream all over it
hugs
kisses from your two best four-legged friends
calls from family and friends
piles of presents
walks and talks
cards
cuddles
love.


i'll do my best.

easton comes home

introducing our little man, officially home and ours, ours, ours.
it doesn't get much cuter than little easton meeting mollie, midnight, uncle kevin, and finding a place at home with his mom and dad.
he's been fast asleep for much of the day and is already at home in his crate. we brought him for his first walk and have just enjoyed watching him run ad play and explore and discover.




it's been a fun, fun week-end for our family. a visit from uncle kevin, grilling in the spring, playing american idol karaoke, waffles for breakfast, birthday fun from kevin and nina, shopping for puppy supplies, and enjoying our full family.