Where have we been?

Well for one back on the east coast visiting family and friends and New York City and spreading the news that.....
January 27th we will be welcoming baby Vaughn into the world!!

Sorry for the long absence! I hope you all have had a great summer!

Somebody graduated!

So someone in this family has been working on their MBA for the past two years.  That somebody has been KENNY!

On May 12th, we headed to the American Bank Center to celebrate the big day! (Kenny is the one in Khaki pants twoard the left of the picture.

Kenny worked hard for that diploma and spent many nights at class while Daisy and I hung out and snuggled. (Kenny in khaki pants getting ready to get diploma)

The happy graduate with the happy pup!  Now she can snuggle him all she wants and whenever she wants!

Proud parents and Kenny!

So proud of my graduate! 

Congrats to all the other people who graduated this spring... 6 years ago I graduate from UVA and 8 years ago, Kenny graduated from UVA.... how time flies!

Happy almost summer break!

HEB Camp (2nd time around)

This time I knew what to bring and what to leave at home.  I knew what to expect and the rules; however, I also knew most of my kiddos this time which can be a good thing or a bad thing.  We had fun hiking, making bracelets, swimming in the Frio, and playing games.  I even busted out my old volleyball skills on the sand volleyball court.

Here are some pics to get a picture of the fun that was had!

The Frio damned for swimming.

My girls won skit night! (Second year in a row; my kids have won!)

Fashion night they dressed as us teachers.  The one on the rights is me. The one on the left is the teacher everyone confuses me with Mrs. McTigue who is awesome and teaches science.

My girls at the top of the hike.

The "cool" adults who led the hike and didn't get us too lost!

All of the adults at the top looking lost :)

My sweet cabin girls

Happy, but super ready to go home and get some rest!

It wa another great year of time, but boy was I exhausted afterwards.  5 days of being mom to 14 8th graders is tiring no matter how great those 8th graders are!

We took a panoramic picture of the 8th grade

Again this week. (first time didn't go so great as some kids didn't make it to the picture.) so we got to waste a whole class period to redo this picture. And they frame it and hang it in the front office to remember all those amazing kids and teachers.

And my eyes were closed.

I think I was napping as HEB camp and state testing and the end of the school year has plum exhausted me. I know some people believe teachers have two month vacations in the summer, but be rest assured that is the only way we would come back to teach. We need to remember that we love teaching and children and rest up on sleep. To explain my point....
Student: Mrs. Vaughn, may I go to the Library to type my report.
Me: no, you have a computer in front of you.
Student: can I go to the library?
Me: no, you may not. it is closed.
Student: can I go to the library?
Me: no, you may not. It isn't open.
Student (following me to my desk): can I go to the library.
Me: no.
Student: why not!?!?
Me: last time I checked I don't have to give you a reason. Go sit down.
Child stomps off. End scene.

I was definitely napping in that picture or praying for patience.

Year Two teaching 8th grade almost done

And this is what I am looking forward to most...

the beach...this is also a hint to our next duty station...

reading lots and lots of books - suggestions welcome :)

having a nice cold beverage and staying up past 930pm

seeing these awesome people and finally meeting their sweet son!

heading home to hang out the parents for a bit!

Hope you are gearing up for a great summer! 

Happy Easter!

So the fact I took any pictures is impressive since we were busy hosting, playing with a 14 month old who decided that you eat reese's mini-eggs with the wrapper, making sure Daisy didn't lick all the chocolate off the poor kid's face, and generally soaking in quality time with good people.

But here is our set up before the fun began!

The traditional Easter Bunny cake with sprinkles on his bowtie this year!The beautiful flowers my parents sent us!Our Easter table set up with pink accents to continue with our decor theme :)

Hope your Easter was filled with blessings and the knowledge that He is Risen!!

Where have I been?

Um, well busy with teaching, cheer tryouts, teaching, and not going on part of my spring break trip... :( Weather had other plans for me which did NOT include getting to Baltimore to see friends.

However, I did get to see some special family in ATL during the second part of my week, and I decided to not feel too sorry for myself and met up with other friends and slept MANY hours to make up for my exhaustion.

In ATL, Meg, Andrew, Maeve and Will waited for me to arrive! Maeve had kindly told her class about my travel woes, so when we dropped her off at school, her sweet teachers said that they were glad that I had made it to part of my trip. Also, Maeve had told them that I had cried about not getting to see my friends. Thanks, Maeve.

So here is what we did: hung out, ate frozen yogurt, played, pedicures, saw a plantation house, ate lunch out, snuggled, read books, played, did homework, loved on each other, drank wine (just the adults), stayed up late, went for a run, went to the nature center, and enjoyed being together!

I also got to be the mystery reader at Maeve's preschool class! It was fun to surprise her and read to her classmates who were very sweet!Riding around with Will is always fun :)The plantation was super neat!Picnicing with Will and his "grape eyes"Playing in the garage leads to silliness.The nature center had beavers, butterflies, ducks, and OWLS!Homework is always more fun with bunny ears!

Thanks for a great trip Fosters!