iPhriday ... the Catch Up Edition

Well, I guess you could say I am a tad behind on iPhriday ... if a "tad" is what you can call not posting for almost two months.  I think about posting ... but, the need for doing laundry or feeding my family or school or sleep sort of take precedence.  School has been kicking my butt ... I love my little class, but, boy!  Have I been busy.  Here are a few of the pictures I have taken these past few months.  Be warned ... you might want to get some coffee first!

 Clearly the dogs were in bed when these two ventured downstairs ... the love affair between Nikita and the dogs lasted long enough for the pictures in my last post.

 Torrey and I went school shopping before getting her hair cut (trimmed) ... she thought I might give in with these shoes.  Um, no.  Especially since they made her legs look even longer ... if that was possible!

 Kirsten came over to spend the night.  Dean was gone, so the girls decided a trip to Benihana's was in order.  Deliciously great idea!

 Still at Benihana's ... here is our chef cooking our dinner.  He was good at what he does.  And funny too.

 Happy girl ... with a smidgen shorter hair.  She is growing up too fast!

 With the start of school comes the long drive to school in the mornings.  I have come to rejoice in the drive though .... because I get to see this sky.

 Same morning ... different part of the journey.  The sky is glorious.  Absolutely glorious.

 Good morning sunshine!  I made Torrey let me take her picture when we got to school because she always wore her hair like this when she was little.  I haven't seen her wear it in this fashion for quite some time.

 I have seen this view while on the playground for the past 5 years ... it only took me 700 days to finally take a picture of my view!

 Closer view ... love seeing the tip of the steeple of the sanctuary through the trees.

 Torrey and I made a stop one Wednesday night while killing time until dropping Torrey off at youth group.

This was my view before our meal arrived.  Sometimes technology isn't such a good thing ... although she would probably disagree. 

 I lost my charm bracelet.  Dean replaced it and put on two more charms.  Stella (one of my Kinderfriends) asked me one day why I had a garbage can on my bracelet ... it makes me giggle every time I look at that little coffee cup.

 Got this exciting text message one morning ... it wasn't unexpected, but it was still exciting!  We will be getting a new niece/cousin on June 23rd next year.  Can't wait!

 This picture makes me laugh .... look past Sophie and you'll see Zoey sleeping on the couch and Zack sleeping on the floor.  Someone got a dose of bravery this night!

 Remember when I shared about little brother and sister coming home in this post?  Well, here is little brother sitting between two of his brothers.  He is loved.  And so is little sister.

 The moon.  In the morning.  I knew.  I knew it was going to be one of THOSE days.  It did not disappoint.  Oh, full moon .... how I despise you.

 We have spent a lot of time watching this.  A lot.  A lot.  We have a week and a half left of the season ... Dean and I are beyond giddy.  Because between games and practice the getting home after 6:30 at night is on my last nerve.  

 It rained.  As in water from the sky.  And I ran from window to window watching ... and cheering ... and clapping ... and laughing.  We are in the middle of a terrible drought ... any amount of water from the sky is met with pure joy.  Partly because of the water ... partly because for even a bit it drops our temperature down below the 100 mark.  This has been the hottest summer/fall season on record ... still not complaining about it though.  Although the day it went to 95 I started wishing for a sweater ... which is what 45 days over 100 will do to you.

 This bumper sticker made me laugh ... and hope for the future.  

 Some of our wins are ugly ... the girls actually pulled a win out of this score (you have to win by 2) ... we enjoy the wins more than the losses.

 These arrived at our house one day ... thanks Tom Brady.

 Pumpkin season is here.  I knew it as soon as I saw these at Target ... pumpkin pie pop tarts.  Delicious.

 Senior Formal is coming October 8th.  Torrey has been invited by a boy in her class.  Which means dress shopping with Torrey.  She has to wear a floor length black dress.  We took pictures of our options and texted back and forth with my sister ... she helped us pick a winner.

 After dress shopping, we stopped for a quick lunch at Smash Burger ... and sent this picture to Dean along with a "muahahaha".  Because it really is his and Torrey's spot.

 We made a quick stop at Home Goods for apothecary jars and this little mouse ran close to my foot.  A mouse chasing frenzy ensued ...  eventually he was scared out of the store .... not before a woman jumped up on the shopping carts and Torrey was doubled over in laughter.  When we left the store, we saw him climbing the wall ... which was freaky, but meant we could get a good picture.  Torrey did the honors ... while I stood back.  Far back.

 Sophie comes down every morning ... before the dogs get up.  This morning I spotted her sitting in the sink.  Weird and cute all at the same time.

 We are growing butterflies in my classroom ... here are the caterpillars that are ready to turn into a chrysalis.  This was the first year we actually got to watch one turn into a chrysalis before our eyes.  God is amazing.

 Dean ate pudding ... and then did pudding face.  Which made me laugh.  And laugh.  And laugh.  It still makes me laugh.

One of my sweet Kinderfriends brought these in for me ... and immediately told me to "eat one" ... um, no.  He thought it was hilarious that he brought them in for me.  I should have taken a picture of the joy on his face!

So there you have it ... iPhriday ... two months late!  Hopefully my blogging ability will not be as sporadic in the future.

iPhriday

It's iPhriday, iPhriday, gettin' down on iPhriday ...  I'm sure that is what the song was supposed to say.  Do you think that girl feels bad for almost ruining Friday for all of America with her ridiculous song that won't stop playing in my head when it is Friday ... or Thursday?!  

Our week has been busy ... Dean was gone, Torrey had volleyball practice all day for 5 days, I worked in my classroom.  But, guess who forgot to take pictures?  That would be me.  Oh well.  Here is our skimpy week in pictures ...

 When Zack became a Townsend, the cats placed themselves in self-exile upstairs.  Perhaps due to the fact that when he catches them he puts his paw on their back so they can't leave him had something to do with it.  For whatever reason, Nikita decided enough was enough this week and has been hanging out with the dogs ... much to Zoey's joy.  We were all excited about the progress ... it only took 5 years.  Zoey got up on the ottoman with Nikita (with a little help ... bless her chubby heart) ... and said Best. Day.  Ever.

 Kita swatted at Zack's nose a few times ... to keep him in his place and to keep his paw off his back.  Zackie didn't care.  He agreed with Zoey ... Best.  Day.  Ever.  I will admit texting Dean with the news that all three of them were sleeping within 2 feet of each other.  It was my Best.  Day.  Ever.  too.  Now, if Sophie would join the party ... 

 Torrey spent her days at volleyball practice.  She loved it.  I spent my days shopping at teacher stores.  I loved it.  

 The temperature reading of 104 is not a joke.  It has been a bit warmish here this week.  When Torrey got in Dean's car today it said 106.  Usually I would be lamenting in sack clothes and ashes ... this year it hasn't really bothered me.  An almost move to Canada will do that.  I'll take the heat of the summer any day over 3 feet of snow.

My classroom is "shared space" ... which means on Friday I have to pack it all up into cabinets.  Last year we got new cabinets that almost sent me over the edge.  But, it didn't take me long to realize that I was able to get out of school on Friday in record time because of the cabinets.  This year I added a few more bins and labeled every drawer.  This picture is for Jen because she figured out how to make the cabinets work while I was looking for a cliff to jump off.  

I hope your iPhriday was great ... I'm looking forward to this next week.  I head back for inservice and The Help comes out in theaters on Wednesday and I am going with 21 people to see it ... super phun week ahead!

iPhriday

I just realized that this is the last iPhriday of July ... which means the summer is just about over.  Torrey heads back to volleyball practice on Monday (two-a-days) and my school year officially starts the following Tuesday.  Some years I hit this point and want to throw a big two year old fit.  Not this year.  I am somewhat ready to go back.  Now, that isn't to say that by the end of August I won't be wishing for Summer, but right now I am looking forward to getting back into a routine.

But, today isn't about that ... it is about this past week in pictures.  All taken from the iPhone (which I still love).  Enjoy!

 I spent Monday with part of my team from school planning for this school year. And, while I am looking forward to next year, you really cannot go to an all day planning session without coffee.  Grande please.

 I made a stop at Target and sent this picture to Jen ... along with the message about the number of box tops on the package of Kleenex.  Carly's school collects box tops and I drive my family crazy with my obsession to save them so Carly can win a prize.  I'm wondering if I should go into therapy.

 This is the back of my car ... from the same trip to Target ... BEFORE I put anything in my car.  Everything you see in my car is for school.  And, my pile is growing.  Got to love back to school.

 Sadly the 4:30 on the clock is not for the afternoon.  Insomnia is alive and well this week.  I have had the worst time sleeping ... clearly I am a girl who needs a routine!

What? Doesn't everyone take a picture of their cat sitting on the counter next to a banana at 4:30 in the morning? I am not kidding when I said I need a routine ... but once I have one again you won't be seeing random pictures like these!

Happy iPriday!

She Called Tonight

Torrey has been in Pensacola this week with our church youth group.  They are on a mission trip ... they call it "a mission trip with a camp feel."  They spend their days serving the people of Pensacola and their nights are spent worshipping.  Last year she came home sick but begged us to send her back again.  Remember?


Anyways, the kids get to pick their "track" ... service, VBS, sports camp, set up (it was pretty cool to see those kids on the live feed in the worship area moving from seat to seat praying over whoever was going to sit there before the kids were let in the room).  Torrey picked evangelism.  


I'm going to stop here and remind you that Torrey is a bit shy.  Well, more than a bit.  She doesn't love to order her own food or her drink from Starbucks.  I really questioned her decision and wasn't super quiet about it.  (Shame on me.) She stood her ground ... she told me that she needed to get stronger in sharing Jesus.  (Double shame on me.)


So, early Saturday morning, Torrey headed out for the drive to Pensacola.  Full of excitement of all that was going to happen.  Dean and I couldn't wait to hear about all that was happening to her and through her.  Um, the phone didn't ring.  At all.


We have gotten texts ... welcome to 2011 with a teenager!  Here are some snippets from our "conversations" this week ...


"...I'm super excited to get there."
"Today was so much fun.  We talked to a bunch of people ..."
"No.  I really don't want to go home.  I love it here." (um, that one hurt ... not going to lie!)


I wish I had access to Dean's phone because she texted him some pretty cool messages about her excitement after one message in particular ... she had looked forward to that particular speaker for a long time.  Suffice it to say that she had a blast and loved every minute of her time in Pensacola.


Or, so we gathered from her texts ... because we hadn't heard her voice all week.  Until tonight, that is.  The phone rang at 11:30 and it was our girl.  


And, the really cool thing was that she was overflowing with excitement to tell us all the things that had happened to her this week.  I will admit that I cried.  She has struggled with one girl this year ... as in all year.  Rush Week brought them back together.  She was able to love on a friend walking a hard road tonight.  She talked to a woman about Jesus for 45 minutes today.  My girl.  My shy girl.  She was like a tea cup that was overflowing and more and more is poured into the cup.  I could have listened to her all night ...


But ... she had a plan to head to the beach for one last hurrah, so off she went and I was left to ponder all that she had shared. And as much as I have missed her, I wouldn't have kept her home and away from this experience for anything in the world!

iPhriday

Well, a quick look at the calendar tells me it is iPhriday ... that and the text message I received before I woke up this morning.  It never gets old ... and, it doesn't make iPhriday appear any sooner.  

 Happy hour at Sonic.  Love.  Strawberry slushes for $1.01.  Or, three strawberry slushes for $3.03.  Puts a smile on your face!

 Torrey drove me home.  I'm not sure I will ever get used to this, but she is pretty good.  She had a drive time this week ... but just observation.  Only two more to go.  Hopefully a pill will be discovered to turn her back into a 5 year old before her birthday in March!

 This may only be funny to me.  I still have the ringworm ... due to the fact that I am not religiously putting on the medicine.  Sue me.  Anyways, I discovered my bandaid had slipped down my leg, which was funny ... but, when I realized it had slipped down on the opposite leg?  Hilarious!  

I got a pedicure this week ... and the girl next to my girl convinced me to have my girl put on a design.  Her selling point?  I have large toenails and it would look good.  Gee, thanks.  But, I am loving my summer toes.  They will be gone before Kindergarten starts ... mostly because I try not to cause distractions if at all possible!

And, there it is ... iPhriday with only 4 pictures.  Because that is all the pictures I took!  I'll try to do better next week.  You do not need to text me with your disapproval.  You know who you are.

iPhriday

I would call this one the "Florida-Edition" of iPhriday, but not all of the pictures were taken in Florida ... so it will just be iPhriday ... which will make my sister very happy.  Evidently she is now living for the iPhriday posts.

 The flowers at the front of our neighborhood.  I love them very much.  Only because of the Black-Eyed Susans.  When my parents lived in Massachusetts, the circle in front of their house was full of Black-Eyed Susans during the summer.  Can't wait to see my mom this week. 

 Nikita has found a new spot to sleep.  Zack's crate.  Which is funny for two reasons ... 1) because Kita still HATES the dogs and 2) because if Zackie ever went in his crate and found the cat there it would be his best. day. ever.  Ever.

 We headed for Tampa early on Tuesday morning.  Always exciting when you see your plane arrive.  And, Southwest Airlines ... the Townsend family loves you.  A lot.

 Ready to head to Florida ... to work on her tan.  Because she was looking a bit pale!

 First stop?  Tijuana Flats.  I kid ... we stopped by Jen's to pick her up and then we hit the Flats.

 And, the reason she had to be picked up.  Still broken.  She is really over it.  Thanks guy for hitting her with your car.  (Well, he didn't hit "her", he actually hit her car.)

 My mom was giving choices for dessert.  I was helping by being her "mouth" with the tongs.  It really made us laugh.  Perhaps I should take my show on the road!

 We visited my cousin Adela and Aunt Flo.  Adela had an adorable kitten.  Torrey fed the cat water ... and fell in love with the little buggar.

 Adela's youngest son ... and my brother's mini-me.  Adorable.  Sadly he is the only one I took a picture of.  Worst blogger ever.

 One good thing about my mom having had knee surgery and Jen breaking her foot ... fun toys for the kids to play with.  Torrey gave the walker on wheels a twirl.  Carly has already claimed Jen's boot when she is done with it.  I tried out instagram ... not sure how I feel about it.  Maybe I should have an instagram iPhriday?  We'll see.

 There was a lot of this going on this week.  Little Big Planet on Playstation 3.  All FOUR of the kids loved it ... yes, we are counting Ryan in with the kids.  Trophies and hats were won.  There was lots of laughter.  Lots.  

 On Friday we were going to go to the beach.  And then there was a monsoon.  For real.  It rained all day long.  Which caused us to call "Pajama Day" ... best. decision. ever.  We watched girl movies and made snacks.  There was melted chocolate involved.  Carly was in charge of dipping things in the chocolate.  She started with marshmallows and quickly moved onto other things ... crackers, goldfish, popcorn.  We suggested cat food ... thankfully she chose not to listen to us!

Mom and Dad came over for dinner.  Pajama Day was still going strong.  We tried to tell them they HAD to come in their pajamas ... they chose not to play along.  We watched "Secretariat" ... loved.  I knew how it would end, I just didn't know that the horse would win so spectacularly. 

Another iPhriday in the bag ... let's call this one the Pajama Day version.  Because I loved that day and want to live it again.  And again.  And again. 

iPhriday

Don't judge ... iPhriday this week is a bit lame.  It is hard to take pictures when you are only home.  I kid ... I actually left my house (one day) and took ZERO pictures of the fun girls day out or of Torrey driving me ... I try not to freak her out when she is behind the wheel.  Staying Alive 101.

 Now, without further ado ... iPhriday ...

 We got some surprising news this week ... well, it was only surprising for a day and then it was a little sad.  I took Dean's picture when I told him ... mostly for my sisters.  I hope it made them smile.

 We went out to dinner for our anniversary.  This is my dinner ... little pockets of deliciousness.  Dean thought I was crazy at first ... then he lined up my plate so that "Brio" would be at the top.  Which is why I married him ... he gets me.

 Dean's dinner.  I knew what he would order before we went into the restaurant ... from his drink to his salad to his meal.  Nineteen years is nothing to be scoffed at kids.

 Sophie appears ... again.  I should start taking pictures of her little hiding spots.  It really doesn't need to be said, but the dogs were in bed at this point.  As soon as she knows they are in bed she appears.  It is a gift.

Zoey is a little lot chunky.  We have reduced her food, but haven't seen any evidence of it.  Dean did some reading on-line and discovered that her weight gain is because she is eating her food too fast.  Which is why there is a big shiny ball in her food dish.  It is supposed to slow her down.  It is working great ... she barks until we take it out and then she gobbles up her food.  Welcome to my world.

And, that is iPhriday ... the lame edition.