I know, I know...

Ok, so it's been a really long time. I know. We have been going nonstop for the past three weeks or so trying to fit as much as we can in before school starts. We've been traveling, spending time with family, celebrating, and getting ready to go back to school. I'll spare most of the details but will try to recap most of the past month's events.

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.

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!

I'M FINISHED!!

I am officially finished with graduate school...finally! I actually finished yesterday but was so tired of looking at the computer screen that I just couldn't bring myself to post anything. I turned in my last two projects yesterday and did my last presentation. I am so, so glad to be finished. I have learned so much in this past year about how to be a good school administrator, which has spilled over into my classroom and changed the way I teach and deal with almost everything. So I have loved learning about all those things. And I'm going to miss my girls so much, but it was certainly time to be finished. It was so nice to come home yesterday and watch TV last night and not feel like I had something I needed to do...write a paper, read a book, complete a project. Graduation isn't until August, but class is officially over!

I'm leaving this afternoon to go to New Orleans for a Senior Project conference, which is the main class I teach. I'm pretty excited. I'm looking forward to learning how to do things better in my class, and I'm real excited about seeing my friends I haven't seen all summer. There are only six Senior Project teachers, and we are a really tight team...and we have a great time together. So it should be a fun weekend.

I come back Friday night to leave again on Saturday for about a week. Lee and I are going on vacation with his grandparents and aunt and uncle. Every year, Lee's grandparents take us all on a big trip. I started going before we got married, so I've been going for a while. We have been to some great places - Jekyll Island, GA; Vail, CO; and even a tour of the west from Washington down to Jackson Hole and back. Lee and I weren't able to go last year because of all that we had going on, and we doubt we'll be able to go for a while after this year. So we decided to work hard to make sure we could go this year. We committed and THEN found out where we're going. Surprise! We're going to Branson, Missouri!! Lee and I have spent a lot of time laughing about it and decided that it would be a relaxing trip and good time to spend with his family. His mom and dad and brother can't go this year, and we'll miss them so much. We're leaving Saturday for Pontotoc to leave for Branson on Sunday. We're staying at a pretty nice resort...with a nice pool! I'll try to post some while we're there. I should have plenty of stories to tell...


Thanks for all of your sweet comments about our big news! I'll keep you posted on how things are going.

Lots of stuff going on around here...

We have been super busy around the Hill house. I only have three more days left of class, and I'm completely finished!! I go tomorrow and then Monday and Tuesday of next week. Class doesn't officially end until next Friday, but I am leaving Wednesday for a Senior Project conference in New Orleans with my fun teacher friends. I'm excited, but that also means that I have to turn in all of my projects before I leave, which is kinda stressing me out right now. The weekend is devoted to school work. Yuck!!

We've also had a little secret surprise that I'm sure most people have heard already. We're going to be having a baby in January! Obviously, we're really excited. I'm three months along...I know, we kept the secret for a long time. We just wanted to be sure that things were ok before we started spreading the word. We did tell our parents and siblings soon after we found out and told our grandparents a few weeks ago. We went back to the doctor today and heard the heartbeat again, which is so neat. I've been really lucky and haven't been really sick...just really tired, but even that is starting to wear off. Please continue to pray for us as we journey through this new phase.

Beebs' Wedding

Congratulations to Megan and Paul! They were married this past weekend in Biloxi, and Lee and I went down Saturday for the wedding. Megan was such a beautiful bride, and it was great to see a bunch of our friends. There was a huge showing of the Jammas there...maybe the largest crowd in years. We're looking forward to the beach trip that Libby is planning for next summer...I'm waiting for my contract!

Pontotoc Passion is back!!

The name is sort of a long story, but it's funny. When Lee and I were dating, he came to the Coast to stay with my family. My parents' best friends also came to stay. One day, we all split up - guys and girls. The girls went to see a movie and the guys went bowling. Apparently, Lee started talking trash about what a good bowler he was and how bowling was a "passion" in Pontotoc. And then he bowled the worst game of his life!! So everyone in my family...and my parents' friends who were there...still call Lee Pontotoc Passion every time the word bowling is mentioned!













Well, the alter ego came out last night at Fannin Lanes. Alyssa and Sam went with us to celebrate Lee's birthday. We had so much fun! Lee and Sam are really serious about bowling and would toss the ball down the lane while Alyssa and I were just trying to keep it out of the gutter most of the time! We laughed and cheered each other on...and made lots of fun of each other. I mean, who can look cool bowling?

Happy Birthday to You!!

Happy Birthday today to my sweet, wonderful husband!! Lee turns 27 today. I have been asking Lee for weeks what he wanted to do for his birthday thinking that he would choose somewhere really fun to go eat. Instead, he just wanted to invite Alyssa and Sam over, have me make homemade pizza, and go bowling afterward. I mean, how much easier does it get? So that's exactly what we're going to do.

Lee really is the greatest husband I could have ever asked for. I tell him all the time I had no idea how lucky I got when we got married...even though we'd known each other for six years!! I find new reasons every day to love him, but here are 10 just for fun.

1. He's so cute. I mean, does it get any cuter than this?

2. He's so fun. He loves to have a good time and is always making me laugh.

3. He makes my breakfast and irons my clothes for school. I know, I know. I'm lucky.

4. He's smart. I make fun of him all the time for his random bits of knowledge, but it's nice to have an expert on many things around...

5. He budgets our money. I HATE dealing with money, and he does it every month. Thank goodness I don't have to...we'd be in big trouble!!

6. He's driven. No matter what he decides to do, whether it be go back to school or work out every day (even if it's only for two weeks!), he makes a plan and sticks to it.

7. He's encouraging. No matter what I decide to do, he stands behind me 100% and cheers me on the whole way.

8. He's a good cook. He's much better in the kitchen than I am...I'm usually asking him for advice. And I love it when he tries new recipes.

9. He's a constant example of Christ's love. Patient, forgiving, and constant. It really is amazing!

10. He's my friend. We truly have the greatest time together. Given the opportunity to spend time with anyone I wanted, I would always choose him. He's just that great!

A Fun Coast Visit

Lee, Alyssa, Sam and I went to the Coast for a quick visit with MoMo and PaPa this weekend. We left Friday afternoon and came back Saturday night. We had such a good time. MoMo cooked for all of us Friday night, and we watched a movie. On Saturday, we went to a flea market and the thrift store. Then we got some crawfish...my very favorite. Lee even picked up some Barq's root beer in a bottle. It just doesn't get any better! We took the crawfish back to their house and had a good time talking and peeling! Look how dirty our hands are! They're so nasty but so good. What a great way to bring in the summer!

I'm so glad it's finally summer. The break seems to come at just the right time. I do start back to grad school on Monday, but only for four weeks. Then I'm finished!!! I can't believe that it's already been a year. I'm really excited that we get the whole month of July off to just hang out and do whatever we want. It will be a nice, REAL break! But I'm going to miss my wonderful MC friends so much. I have really formed some great friendships, which has certainly made it easier to endure this year. Unlike my sweet husband, I do not enjoy school or being a student in the classroom. To me, it's just a means to an end. Weird, I know, since I'm a teacher, but I am so ready to just be a teacher. This will be it for me for a while. I'll let Lee take his turn...gladly!!

YAAAYYYYYY for summer!!

She Made It!!!

Lia made Standleader! Lee and I went to Texas this weekend for Klein High School's Variety Show. Lia danced in the show, so we really wanted to go see her do that. But more than that, they were announcing who made Standleader at the end of the show. We decided months ago that we wanted to go, and Lia gave us the ok after she made it through the first round of cuts. I guess you need some background info! Standleader is the most prestigious honor you can receive at her school. It is a group of 42 students who basically serve as ambassadors for the school. They coordinate freshman orientation and things like that along with cheering on every single athletic team at Klein. It's really funny. Their uniform is blue and gold striped socks, a gold shirt, and denim shorts. Cute, right? And Lia got a huge bucket of blue and gold tacky bows and jewelry from her friend who was a Standleader last year that she "gets" to wear. Hundreds of kids tried out for this. The first round of cuts was teacher recommendations. After she made it through that, she had to go to an interview where she had to create a t-shirt that described her. That was right after Easter, so we've been waiting all this time to find out if she got it. As each former Standleader called out a name of a new Standleader, I got more and more concerned that Lia wasn't going to get it. We all were about to throw up out of nervousness for her. Poor Lee was saying prayers nonstop. "Lord, please let this be her." "Lord, please prepare our hearts for this disappointment." We weren't sure what to pray. And her sweet friend Kim, who's in the picture with her, saved her until last to announce. We were so relieved and excited!!!

People who haven't known our family very long probably can't fully appreciate how much this means to all of us. When my family moved to Texas three years ago, Lia was in the ninth grade. And she was miserable. She did not know a single person. She would make my mom drive around the school until the bell rang so she wouldn't have to walk around by herself, and she didn't eat lunch for the longest time because she couldn't figure out how to pay for it. At different times, we were all ready to move back to the Coast so she could go back to her old school. But Lia knew that God had put her in Houston for a reason, and she clung to that belief. So to see her make Standleader is not only a testament to God's faithfulness, it's also a testament to Lia's faithfulness in Him. We couldn't be prouder or more excited if we'd made it ourselves!