I started off with a trip to New Orleans with my wonderful senior project teacher friends and our 
principal. We had a really good time together, and it was good to catch up with everyone. During the school year, we spend sooo much time together, so it's weird to not see them for a month in the summer! We went to lots of workshops but still made time for Cafe du Monde.
principal. We had a really good time together, and it was good to catch up with everyone. During the school year, we spend sooo much time together, so it's weird to not see them for a month in the summer! We went to lots of workshops but still made time for Cafe du Monde. 
I came home from New Orleans for a day and left for Branson with Lee's family. We enjoyed spending time with his family and got to see lots of shows. Our favorite was the Riverboat Cruise. We ate dinner and saw a show on an enormous riverboat. This is us on the two hour train ride!
We returned from Branson and had my grandparents come up to visit us for a few days. Alyssa and I took them to Philadelphia to the waterpark one day, but it rained, so we never got to do anything. But we did get rain tickets that we are still waiting to use!
My grandparents left, and I left the next day to go back to New Orleans for the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) conference. This time, about 25 people from my school went. It was fun to see everyone, but I was tired of New Orleans by this point. I was just ready to come home! I came home early for Alicia's shower on Saturday.
After Alicia's shower, my mom and Lia came down for a few days. They had been in Europe for over two weeks, so they had lots of stories to tell and pictures to show. It was fun to just spend time together. We even went to Starkville for a day so that Lia could "officially" visit Mississippi State. Although she went a lot as a little kid, it was different to really be looking at it as a college choice. We're keeping our fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers!
In the middle of my mom and Lia being here, Lee and I snuck away to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. We went to eat at Char - a first for both of us. Lee had made reservations, and we ate in the kitchen, which was a real treat. There's so much action back there! Our food was really good, and we had a good time just sitting and relaxing and talking.
As soon as my mom and Lia left, Lee and I left for a short trip to Destin with his parents and brother. It was sooo relaxing and came at just the right time. The weather was great every day except the very last, which always makes it easier to come home. I didn't feel like I was missing anything!
On our way back from Destin, Lee and I stopped on the Coast to stay with my grandparents. My mom was already there. We were all secretly planning a surprise party for my grandfather's 77th birthday. Lee left early the next morning to come back to work while my mom and grandmother and I convinced my grandfather to go to the waterpark. (He loves the waterpark but was afraid it was going to rain.) Little did he know that he had no choice because everyone else was meeting us there! He was so shocked. We spent the entire day at the waterpark and had so much fun...and no rain!
I rode back from the Coast with Alyssa and Sam only to leave early the next morning for the Neshoba County Fair to campaign for Lee's boss, Commissioner Hall, during the political speakings. Lee got some boys from his bible study to come and support Commissioner Hall, too. It was a really hot day, but we had fun. Thursday and Friday I spent in my classroom at school just trying to get things ready for the first day. I have a new computer lab this year with all new equipment. So I've been making curtains and painting things and trying to get everything in just the right place. I'll post pictures of that later! And I spent yesterday resting. I washed tons of clothes and picked up the house before Lee and I met Alyssa and Sam at the pool - it was just too hot - and then we all went to eat at McAlister's.
So, you see, things have been busy around here. I have one more week left before school officially begins. Lee and I are about to go back up to my classroom to finish moving the big things around. I'm planning to spend tomorrow catching up on my to do list. That could take more than one day! Although I'm sad about the summer being over, I do love the routine and schedule of being in school. Maybe I'll be a more consistent blogger!
