Furman Girl (Duke TIP scholar)

After almost a year of this:

It was nice to take a girls' day. Laurel was recognized as a Duke TIP scholar at Furman University in Greenvile, and we decided NOT to send her to school for part of the day, but to take a road trip instead.

We ate fried green tomatoes, marinated okra, sandwiches on croissants, and drank sweet tea while sitting on the veranda overlooking Falls Park at Mary's Cottage. We took a stroll and read about famous people and sites of the area. We took a walk around the lake at Furman and strolled down memory lane from my days there. It was sweet to share such a day off with my hard-working daughter and mama.

 

Mother's Day 2014

My Girls and our first Mother's Day Tea

 

 

Pulling out my gramdmother's china for the occasion

The boys went with their dad to see a double feature and get burgers - man style.

 

Congaree National Park

So, this sign makes me nervous on second grade field trip day. A little deep woods Off took care of it as we hit the boardwalk trails and went out to observe nature.

My tree-huggers:

Pretty amazing pine trees in an old growth forest.

Three snakes, one mystery skeleton, bug eggs on leaves, box turtles, eastern grey squirrels, woodpeckers, spiders, deer tracks, blue flies on a pile of poo....all a boy could wish for on a nature walk

 

 

 

Cypress knees... If I were a fairy, I would live here if I couldn't be in Ireland.

 

 

Parent Rap

http://rightnowmedia.org/Parent-Rap

 

 

This made us smile. Today we enjoyed baseball games three and four (of this week's six), washed the uniforms from yesterday's games one and two, worked on four school projects, bought some snacks for PASS testing, googled partial placement division method at 10pm, and added many things to the upcoming May calendar from a flurry of teacher emails...field trips, recitals, open houses for presentations, awards days, spring carnivals, end-of-the-year celebration days....phew!

I am typing as I wait for the last batch of Amish friendship bread to come from the oven. We are attempting to love our teachers with baked goods. They will need some love after PASS test week.

Posting a few pictures helps me to take time to stop and smell the roses. This really is a sweet season of life, even if it is tiring and crazy busy.

 

Showers, Picnics, and Fiestas, Ole!

May has been full of wedding and baby showers, fiestas, company picnics, and baseball games. I am thankful for all the reasons to celebrate.

Photos that embarrass our children on Instagram

Taking a tour of beautiful new facilities

Countering the effects of lemon squares, cheese straws, sea salt chocolate chip cookies, and guacamole!