It was 80 degrees today.

digging in the dirt talking to Auntie Christina

almost making a basket

In other news, I have been cranking out the national board entries... portfolio is due March 31, and I test May 14. THEN, I will resume life as I once knew it, and the relaxation can truly begin.

Weekend in Charleston

Last weekend, Jon and I spent two nights alone in Charleston, SC for the annual South Carolina Music Educators' Conference. It was my first time ever away from Ethan in his 17 months, and my fifth night away from Andrew (two of those five were due to giving birth to Ethan which probably shouldn't count as getting away... you know, due to the work involved... but I digress). Needless to say, I was more than ready for some time away from the munchkins with my best friend in the world.

Jon's high school percussion ensemble was honored as one of the featured performing groups. Their concert was amazing, and he earned the "Citation of Excellence," which added even more excitement to the weekend.

After all the accolades and clinics, it was time to relax and enjoy the wonderful city. Here's Jon at the entrance to the slave market.

We ate at Fleet Landing, which was really delicious. It's a seafood restaurant housed in a retired 1940's naval building.

Here's an old Huguenot church that has been frequented by quite a few famous folks. We stopped in before the Sunday service started and listened to the organist's warm-ups. No one else was there. It was one of the many spontaneously romantic moments of the weekend.

Poogan's Porch is also a well-known restaurant that's been frequented by some celebs. It's named after a stray pup that loved hanging out there, among other neighboring places. Poogan died in 1979 and the restaurant is his monument. This is our kind of place. It was right across from our hotel. And, as an added bonus, once inside, we learned that its owner was born and raised in West Virginia! Small world.

Of course, we also drove to the gorgeous Battery and did many other Charlestonish things, but I mainly took a break from photos. That's been my new mantra lately: live life, and take photos when you feel like it, but mainly just live life. Although it makes for a so-so photoblog posting, my free time is so limited these days, that philosophy seems to be working well, so I am going with it.

And, on that note, I am off to get my waking boys and enjoy the sliver that is left of this gorgeous weekend. 'Til next time, blogger buds.

Three months later...

... I finally post these photos taken November 2, 2010 by the very talented Karen Johnson. If you go here, to her site, (at least right now, as I'm posting this) Andrew's photo pops up at the beginning of her page. :O)

Great Day for the Zoo

Due to snow-day make-ups, today now marks the last official non-weekend day "off" until the first day of our spring break (April 4). So, to get ready for the long haul, we enjoyed family time at the zoo this morning and ended up having some great animal encounters!

thing #895 to do when you have a million unexpected days off...

...ruin the hounds' day by giving an impromptu bath.

SNOW DAY!

Our district was wise to call this one early last night. It was my first official snow day since teaching in WV in 2005. Yay!

EJ showing the Beatles some love this morning