The guilt got the better of me...

It began to occur to me a few weeks ago that once again Megan and I have fallen down on our blog obligations. I threatened to pull the plug on the blog a few days ago but Megan didn't agree. Well, I just couldn't handle the guilt, so here I am. I always have such good intentions of keeping my part of this up-to-date. Oh well! (Please note: Megan has not posted in a WHILE, so it's HER turn!) Let's put it this way- a LOT has gone on since the last post in July!

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Welcome to the First Grade!

First, school started. While I dearly love my chosen profession, I always hate to see the summer come to a close. After much preparation, as usual, the classroom somehow transformed from a discombobulated mess of mangled clutter to a clean and presentable space by Open House Night. The balloons were a hit (Pinterest idea!) and started the year off on the right note for these incoming first graders. Now that several months have passed, I can say that I LOVE "my kids" and the year is flying by. 

M&Ms at the Georgia Dome

One of the only things to ease the pain of summer ending is the kick-off to football season!! After a quick visit to the doctor to clear up my second bout of pink eye in 2 months (enter glasses) I traveled to ATL for the GHSA Kick-off Classic and had a mini-reunion with some of my favorite people on the planet. Of course, we support our college alma maters but we must first support our high school roots. Unfortunately, the PACK didn't take home a win that afternoon but we managed to entertain everyone around us by discussing unfortunate lipstick colors, questioning the decisions of others, taking pictures (during what the males among us deemed as permissible time to stand in front of the football action), and planning the next time we could all see each other.

The old crew!

Perhaps the biggest highlight was getting to hang out with these guys and reunite, if only for a brief time. We have shared so many fun times together that I can't discuss on a public forum (which reminds me that I should ask where all those quote books are currently residing) and this evening was no exception. We got yelled at for taking pictures inside some line that none of us actually ever saw, but I was determined to get a picture to remind me of the "old days." Until the next time, we will rely on group iPhone messages...

The Ichiban Crew

The months of September and October seems like a blur to me now as we enter the 11th month but I know we found time to have a Girl's Night at Ichiban after one of Megan's showers and boy, was it memorable! We managed to plan the "baptism" of Megan's unborn child while we were there, all while alienating our table neighbors at Hibachi. Oh well... their loss!

One fateful day I received a phone call from Megan imploring me to come help with their upcoming move to a newly purchased home. Well, being the great friend that I am, I conceded and took off for the Eastern part of the state. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and found that Megan's definition of "moving" also included "packing". Needless to say, when I move the next time Megan and Zach will be the first call I make! ;-) After the tireless work of a whole group of recruits, we got them settled in their new home just in time for UGA kick-off Saturday afternoon. 

Operation MOVE Megan and Zach!

M & M--- BFF!

Nicole, Megan, Marcie, and Mandy

We gathered again for another shower for Dawson (one day Megan will LOVE getting to repay me for all my "colorful" shower note-taking!) and again took the opportunity to take more pics. (We don't have any!) The older I get the more I appreciate great friends- they often know me better than I know myself and have taught me to love life and laugh at the chaos!

Benton and I at Zoo Atlanta

Fall activities seemed to fill up every other weekend during this season. Trips to the Zoo, the Pumpkin Patch, celebrating birthdays, and hayrides offer just a sampling of these busy last two months. Even in GA, we're starting to get a little chill to the days and are starting to pull out the fall clothes and shoes!

Yay for BOOT WEATHER!

Since I never know when I will manage to find the time get these bloggin' fingers going again, here's a little preview of what's to come...

In true November fashion, we're getting ready to celebrate the birthday of my favorite 6 year old! 
This kid has brought lots of laughs and his birthdays have been a source of some danger (bouncy houses can be scary!) and a whole lot of fun over the years.

M & Ms right before the Bouncy House Catastrophe of 2010. We now have these parties in a properly staffed facility and we refrain from getting in the bouncy houses! 

And... last but certainly not least, we're all getting ready to welcome Megan and Zach's first child, Dawson! I'm pretty sure Megan and Mandy conspired to make life difficult for me during the first week of November, as I will be driving from one end of the state to the other to be there for the little men in our lives, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Dawson's space is all ready! Who couldn't love a kid who's partially named after me?!

I hope that I will be able to make myself blog more regularly in the coming months, but let's not hold our breath. In the meantime, we will continue to live life, laughing all along the way!