The collection has begun!

Actually...I have been reading and researching for the last two and a half months!  I've been searching for new and fun ideas to put with some of my favorites from last year.  Yet...I still am not ready to admit I need to start getting ready for school.  In truth, I never really stopped...mentally.  Shhh...don't tell anyone!  You can't turn off teacher brain...you can try to ignore it...but something every day ordinary will trigger it!

 Alicia and I went out and about...and the dollar spot drew us like a magnet...the force is very strong...especially when you know lots of teachers shop the dollar spot!  A couple words and ideas from Alicia...encouraged me to embrace my calling...and I might have gone a little overboard.  "You know it won't be here when you decide to come back!"

 While on vacation, Ashlynn encouraged me to "just get both, Mom, you know you will kick yourself if you don't!"  Great help as I tried to decide which to use as our classroom mascot this year...still not sure if I want to do an eagle...to go with a patriotic idea.  Hmmmm!

 So...we have a pile in the living room...waiting for me to actually load up and take to school and admit it happens in a month!  I have tons of notes and book ideas for programs and such...now...how to make it all work and fit within the calendar and curriculum!

 I told the kiddos, "I am not ready to walk through the school supply section yet!"  But...maybe...just maybe...to smell the new crayons...and see the fun folders...maybe!

You have no idea!

 My friend has no idea how much her visit did for me!  My family has no idea how thankful I am that they helped me get ready for this special visit!  My husband...he has an idea how much I needed this visit...he took all the kiddos kayaking so the two friends could have time together as friends, moms, wives, teachers!

 We talked and shopped and lunched and laughed.  We even stopped at an estate sale...that was a little offensive to our sense of smell...yikes!  As we walked out, we both had covered our noses...too funny not to remember!

 A successful kayak adventure complete...we met up for supper at Kensington Grill to refuel.

A burst of energy to be able to swim before calling it a day!

 And Culvers at sunset!  So thankful for the refreshing time with dear friends!  Next time...Cory needs to come!  I think of the poem about keeping old friends and making new...both are important...but I truly understand why the one set is considered gold!  Love you, Alicia...and thank you for being "that dear friend who just knows!"

Thank you, Ted and my loves, for the gift of time with friends!  We were all blessed!

Are these the dog days of summer?

Velle is enjoying her first summer!  Vacation, swimming, playing with Lollie, outside/inside, rawhide bones, ice cubes, walks, snuggles, sleeping in, playing fetch, baths, and her summer hair cut.

Summer days...

 consist of sleeping in, doing chores, practicing music, working, exercising, spending time with cousins...

 watching and laughing at the dogs as they play and fight...

 swimming at the pool...

 swimming at the lake...

painting their bathroom and accessories...

going to the library...

                                                     starting to work on school stuff...

                     and always enjoying the cuddles of Velle who LOVES that we are home more!

Cades Cove, Clingman's Dome, and Heading Home

 What a beautiful country!

 Through the trees we could see a male and female bear...rangers were standing by the road monitoring and waving people to keep driving by...while a few people got out of their vehicles...umm, some humans are not very bright!  It is mating season in the forests of the Great Smoky Mountains!!!  We saw a total of three bears...but pictures didn't work so  much.  We also saw a dear crossing the road and a bunny bounding down the lane.

 Then we drove higher and higher and higher to Clingman's Dome...spectacular!

 Poor Velle...got carsick four times and loved getting out of the jeep for a walk and a rest.

 We all enjoyed time in the hot tub during a rainstorm...that may have included thunder.  Lovely!

 We packed up Saturday morning and headed for home after a stop at Krispy Kreme...fresh hot donuts "like eating baby angels" according to Teddy after hearing Tim Hawkins quote the same!  They were very good...the coffee...bleck!

 We are so thankful for a safe drive home!  Velle found her favorite spot and curled up for the night...

 after she played with the boys after being cooped up in the Yukon all day!  She didn't get sick on the straight roads home!

We had a wonderful time enjoying the different scenery of our southern states.  So thankful for rest and refreshment!

"Hey! I got an idea!"

Ted went out in the morning before we were all up...and came back with a jeep for our day's event...a drive through Cades Cove and up the mountain!

                                         Top down...picnic packed...dog settled...off we go!

Another slow morning and evening out

 Ted is an early riser.  He enjoyed the quiet of the morning studying and checking work emails with coffee and a little snuggler.  We enjoyed late breakfasts and hour long soaks in the hot tub!

 That yummy chicken noodle soup the girls made!

Headed to Pigeon Forge...through the tunnel!

 Good, clean, family fun!

 We came out to some scary looking clouds!

 We got into our vehicle before the rain hit!  We watched the lightning streak across the sky...and wondered if we would have power when we got back to the cabin!  We lost it the night before after it got stormy...it was out for about 2 1/2 hours.  I went to bed.

 It is interesting to watch the clouds roll over the mountains!  We went to Walmart hoping to get some water shoes for a whitewater rafting adventure...but the racks were empty of any sizes that would work for us.  We even looked for cheap tie tennis shoes.  Then we found out that the rafting was closed on Fridays and Sundays because the river is controlled by a dam...and those are the days they open it.  On the weekends?  Busiest times?  Oh...well...next time!  And we will remember to get watershoes before going on vacation!

 Clouds...fog...smoke...you understand how these mountains get their name!

We had power when we got home!