A traveling we will go...

During the month of July,  I took some time away from the wedding scene to go a vacation to Virginia!  I was super excited to see my best friend Kelly and her hubby Gary.  I have already made one trip out their last fall by airplane, but this time Whitney was coming and we were making the 9 hour drive.

While there we cooked great food, had a drink or two or three or more, went mini golfing, went on a hill billy fishing boat ;) just kidding Gary, went shopping at the marina, spent an entire day on a deck boat attempting to water ski and wake board, played survivor on an island, and enjoyed great company!  Thanks for the awesome hospitality at the Scruggs Inn!!!

Bear ready for the boat ride on Kelly and Gary's lake.

Like I said Whitney and I made many attempts but after awhile drinking on the boat seemed more our style.  We left the water tricks up the to Kelly and Gary.  

Captain Gary

The Neukam's

The Rogers'

Day 2 on the lake, we loaded up Gary's fishing boat and went to an island on Smith Mountain Lake.  Let me just say I could have done this every day.  The next time we visit we are going to do the same but camp on the island as well. 

The first trip Gary took Whitney, the fire wood, the cooler, and chairs.  When Kelly and I arrived with the dog and the bags packed with snacks and towels, Whitney had set up the site and made a nice fire pit.  WTG Whitney:)

Self Portrait

Love this picture of us!  I love the sun and water even though we are dark.

BFF

Construction Zone

In one of my previous posts our new deck furniture was featured and now we have a deck to go with it!!!  The whole month of June was DECK MONTH. 

Step 1:  Remove Patio

What is different in these two pictures....

This was Whitney's job.  I hauled away the rock into the dumpster in our driveway.  Great work out. 

Step 2:  Decks By Design put in our framing

Step 3:  My Grandparents came down for a few days.  Grandpa helped put on all the boards and assemble the railing.  THANKS to him we have it finished!!!

This fall we plan having a get together with all of our friends so we can enjoy this great new addition to our house!

Double the Fun

Back in March our friends Chris & Lauren Kay had TWO bundles of joy!!!  I went to Lauren's shower back in January and just couldn't wait until she had the girls.  She was due in April and had them a bit early, as is expected with twins, so we had to wait a bit until we could go visit them.  Right before school was out, in June, Whitney and I took a trip to their house to meet them and catch up with Lauren.  Chris and their son Josh were out at baseball.  Hopefully we will be able to catch them the next time we visit!

Harper & Sloane are super cute!!!!  They both definitely have distinct personalities and Whitney and I were able to see that just after a few hours with them.  Thanks for letting us visit!  Lauren you are super mom!

Sloane loved when Whitney would make silly faces.

 Sloane did not like to be still. 

Much better:) 

Sloane on my left.  Harper on my right.  As you can see Harper would just sit like this forever.  Sloane not so much.

A Key 4 Years

After four years of teaching middle school at Key my journey is over and I am moving on to new adventures.  Before the school year ended, I was asked to help chaperone the 8th grade trip to Chicago.  For me this wasn't really about seeing Chicago as I grew up about 30 minutes away or the thought of spending time with 30 teenagers from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m, but it was about remembering my first four years teaching in a positive light.

For the 8th grade students that went on the trip it was the first time out of Indianapolis for most them and the reality of going to Chicago, about 3 hours away, was an awesome trip that seemed much further than  it really was.  I was excited for this to be my last hoorah with my students and spend a day outside the walls of the school building.  No uniforms, no trying to be quiet in the hallway, or having lunch duty....time to spend with students that really makes a difference....more than just teaching math!  Enjoy some pictures from our trip!

First stop...The Sears Tower Sky Deck!  I was even scared to go out on the glass structures.

I guess I should mention I was the class photographer as well!  The kids pretty much flocked to be in front of the camera.  It was great!  I looked like such a tourist lol!

Stop 2.....bus tour through the city to the Museum of Science & Industry.  I took all of these through the bus window as we drove.  We spent more time at the museum since the rain wouldn't let up so we could go to the beach.

Old Church I thought was fantastic!

Buckingham Fountain

Submarine inside the Museum....they had video showing a crew building the structure around it and how they moved it around.  It was amazing!

We saw Hubble in IMAX.

Final Stop....Navy Pier.  The students were aloud to go in groups on the pier.  The rain didn't allow them to ride the rides but we still enjoyed it.  The teachers enjoyed a small dinner at Harry Caray's at the end of the pier so no students could escape:)