Myrtle Beach

I know, suddenly I'm a blogging junkie! :)

We also discovered a new favorite jam, because, well duh, Carolina girls are the best in the world! So turn up your speakers and listen as you read! 

This past weekend Sam, Emily, myself, Chris and Dennis (our neighbors), Lauren (Dennis's girlfriend) and  JE and Ashely (our friends)  all went to Myrtle Beach for a long weekend.  It was Chris's birthday so we were there for a vacation AND for celebrations! 

On the way there, we made a pitstop in Wilmington at Wrightsville Beach. So beautiful. 

The weather was absolutely perfect every day we were there.  Bocce ball, reading, and just relaxing on the beach seemed to fill our days. 

We also went parasailing one day! So pretty on the ocean! 

 

Dennis and JE parasailing.                                                                             The parachute! 

Gettin' ready to do this! 

Dennis, JE, Chris, Sam, me, Emily

Lovebirds for the weekend! :) 

Family pic :) Life doesn't get better than this! 

Per usual, Dennis had to check out things on the boat...with the captain and the mate...

So, umm....who's driving the boat?! JE's nervous!

One night we went out and I had my first piano bar experience! So fun! 

Having so much fun I can't even keep my eyes open! 

                                           *Lovebirds*                JE and Ashley, Dennis and Lauren

Going out and exploring the town!! Happy birthday Chris (Bryan!) 

 The father and son in the background were having a deep convo, which was not going well.  The son was pissed.  It was the father's birthday.  #happybirthdaytoyou but.... can we eat your friend pickles? 

Owning the dance floor, per usual

Convo before this picture: 

Chris: Sam, give me your camera. 

Sam: Why?

Chris: Cause I see something pretty... 

Chris and Ashley---Happy birthday Bryan! 

<3 <3 <3 

Yes, we live the good life.

Lady Antebellum Concert!

For my birthday, my two best teacher friends got tickets to attend a Lady Antebellum concert in Raleigh on...get this...the last day of school! What a perfect ending to a fabulous day!

Pactolus Teacher Family:   Tiffany, Alli, Molly, me, and Melissa :) 

With the coolers loaded, sundresses on, and cowboy boots rocking, we headed to Raleigh.  Opening for Lady A was Darius Rucker (yes, Hootie fans!!!).  He was amazing and, luckily for us 90's fans, sang plenty of Hootie songs.

"Hey, we're just lookin' for a good time!"

Then came Lady A! Their concert was amazing.  Sometimes you go to concerts of artists you love and they sound nothing like they do on the radio.  However, not Lady A.  They sounded even better live and put on a great show.  My only complaint is it was over much too quickly! We enjoyed the drinks and beautiful weather at the amphitheater.  :) Enjoy the pictures!

Pactolus Teacher Family plus friend! 

"We owned the night"

Just a quick shout out to Alli and Molly for the best birthday gift ever! Thank you so much! I had a blast!

Me, Molly, Alli

It was the "Perfect Day"

#BFFs

End of the Year festivities!

Wow....the end of the school year came and went so quickly!!

The last few weeks of school were consumed with EOG (End of Grade) testing at my school.  My students were tested in reading and math.  For all my Iowa friends who aren't familiar with this, students are given a (ridiculously long, over analyzed) standardized test and then given a score ranging from a 1-4, where a 3 or 4 are considered "passing".  No matter how you look at it, this is one of the biggest ways teachers are "assessed" on their performance for the school year.  Anyways, students 3-8 are all tested on the same day for reading and then math (which is a 2 day test).  They are long...and I mean 3-4 hours long.  And as an "administrator" I was expected to stand the whole time and walk around, monitoring for "foul-play".  Without going into much detail, it was awful and so stressful.  This took about a week to prepare and then take the tests.  THEN.....if students did not pass, they had to remediate for a week in whatever subject they did not pass, and then RETAKE the test.  Without being too "political" on this topic, I will at least say I was so glad it was over.  My students did very well and I was so please with their scores! :)

Once EOG's were over, we were finally able to celebrate the end of the school year.  Thanks to a great idea from my stepmom, Kim,  the 4th grade teachers arranged for our students to have a "Minute to Win It" day filled with games from the TV show.  To say we had a blast is an understatement.  The kids were so happy to be outside and playing (noneducational) games after a long 3 weeks of EOG prep and testing.  I wish I would have been thinking ahead to bring my camera but, per usual, I forgot.  Sorry! But imagine (organized) chaos with students running around balancing balloons on their heads, trying to eat Oreo's off their foreheads without using their hands, and squeezing Tic-Tac's with tweezers...Good mental picture, huh?

The last day of school was so bittersweet for me.  I had been thinking about this day for weeks and it was finally here and I was SAD! I didn't want my first class to leave me! They all found special places in my heart over the school year and will stay there forever! They have taught me more about life and teaching than I could have ever imagined last August when I started.

The last day was filled with games and, of course, an ice cream party! We celebrated and enjoyed our time together before loading the buses one last time for the school year.  All of my students rode the bus this year so we walked out and the students got on their bus.  Then...one of my favorite memories of the school year took place.  Normally the buses just tear out of the school and the teachers leave.  HOwver, on the last day, it's a bit different.  The teachers all line up and follow the buses over to the road.  Then the buses drive by one by one and the teachers wave them off.  The buses were honking their horns and the students were (literally) hanging out the windows trying to wave goodbye to all their (favorite!!) teachers.  It was the perfect way to end the school year! Again, I wish I had pictures but I forgot.

Anyway, now it's summer time and I can't wait for the festivities to begin.  I am so anxious to enjoy my relaxing summer filled with the beach, sun, drinks, celebrations, vacations, and friends!