a new experience...

To participate in our school-wide U of L and UK spirit day at my elementary school, teachers and students were asked to wear their pick for this weekend's rivalry game here in Louisville. Being a very loyal West Virginia University Mountaineer football fan, wearing a t-shirt with another team's name and logo is quite foreign to me, but after one year of living in Kentucky, I decided to embrace my new state just a bit! It was just another opportunity for Dena and I to go shopping! Deciding to purchase my first UK shirt was a very big deal (at least it's cute)! However, my heart still bleeds blue and gold, as it always will! I am already looking forward to November 22nd when my Mountaineers come to town! Let's Gooooo Mountaineers!

a good meal with good friends...

We love, love dining out! We especially enjoy the company of our good friends Whitney, Creed, & Baby Caleb Fowler, Jim & Jessica Hill, and Philip, & Jelena Simpson!

back to school...

After a wonderful and relaxing summer, Kindergarten school bells will ring loudly tomorrow morning as I begin another year of teaching! While I am sad to see summer vacation go, I am excited to return to Kindergarten and the teaching that I love. Please visit my classroom website!

baby caleb...

Our friends Whitney & Creed Fowler welcomed their precious baby boy into the world on June 14, 2008. Practically two months old, Caleb is such a joy to his family and friends. We can't wait to watch Caleb grow and change and feel so blessed to be part of his life!

welcome to highview...

As members of our very special church, Highview Baptist Church, Andy and I are now serving at one of Highview's Welcome Centers, thus greeting church goers on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Committed to our walk with Christ, Andy and I are excited about our new role within the Highview family.

special friends...

We enjoyed El Toro, our favorite Mexican restaurant, with our friends Jim and Jessica Hill today following church! El Toro, recommended by our good friends Whitney & Creed Fowler, is always such a delicious treat and is loved by everyone! After lunch, Jessica and I went to "The Paint Spot" and collected our polka-dot bowls that we every so carefully painted last Sunday! I think they look great! We can't wait to go back!

happy carmen...

baby graham...

Our good friends and neighbors, Jelena and Philip, just welcomed Graham Charles, a beautiful, 9 lb. 4 oz. baby boy into their sweet family on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. We are so thrilled for them!

pizza & pottery...

After church and bible study this morning, we went to eat with our friends Jim and Jessica Hill at one of their favorite Italian restaurants in St. Matthews, Puccini's! Wow! The pizza was delicious! After eating, Jim and Andy went to play golf , while Jessica and I decided to tackle our "craftsy" side and paint pottery! I think our polka-dot bowls look super cute! We can't wait to pick up our glazed masterpieces next Sunday! We are so blessed to have met such great friends!

a pittsburgh weekend with the girls...

A long-weekend in Pittsburgh with my friends Heather, Jamie, & Becky added a special touch to my summer vacation! How wonderful it was to see them! I miss our Kappa Kappa Gamma days at West Virginia University and being close enough to visit more often. Complete with manicures and pedicures, shopping, lounging by the pool, attending a magazine launch party with Jamie and her husband, Brett, and long walks with Heather's dog, Nellie, we had a great visit! I can't wait until they plan their fall-trip to Louisville!

myrtle beach & sweet family fun...

While it just seems as if we were enjoying Hilton Head Island at the beginning of summer, with a blink of an eye, our end-of-summer vacation with my family has already ended! What a FANTASTIC time we had spending time with my mother, my brother, Kent, his sweet girlfriend, Danielle, Andy's family, and a wealth of very special family-friends! Our trip couldn't have been sunnier! With many of our days spent on the beach in the perfect summer sun, our evenings were enjoyed at our favorite local restaurants such as "Duffys", "Rockafellers Oyster Raw Bar", "Steven's Oyster Roast", "The Carolina Roadhouse", "Captain George's" (too, too much food), "Hamburger Joes", and "Bimini's"!

While Andy enjoyed victories by day on the golf course with his brother and father, I enjoyed a "winning evening" of putt-putt with Andy, Kent, and Danielle! Followed by ice cream at Painters, Andy's favorite peach milkshake stop, the evening of mini-golf couldn't have been greater! Thanks, mom for a fun, fantastic, and fabulous beach vacation! We had a great week!

SPECIAL NOTE: While enjoying our vacation, our sweet puppy, Carmen, thoroughly enjoyed a week at "Nana and Papaw's Bed & Breakfast". Complete with specially prepared meals from Nana, Carmen feasted on salmon, grilled chicken, shrimp, scallops, and much to my dismay...turtle! I think Carmen ate as well as we did! What a blessing it is to have both of my grandparents and for them to watch over "our Carmen". Thanks, Nana & Papaw! We love and miss you both!

a "tiffany blue" wedding...

My sweet friend and car-pool companion, Dena, married her long-time boyfriend, Scott, on Saturday, June 28th! With a "Tiffany & Co. blue and brown" themed wedding, a gorgeous summer day, a reception at the beautiful Gault House, and a night of delicious food and dancing, Andy and I had a fabulous time sharing their special day!

hilton head island get-away...

Following the end of my school year and the almost completion of Andy's second year of residency, we decided to head South to Hilton Head, South Carolina! After a mentally trying, but realistically smooth move to Louisville, Kentucky last summer, a long vacation was just what we needed to relax, relax, and RELAX! What a special time it was to share without the annoyance of lesson plans and pagers! Sun, sand, surf, and shopping are always good for the soul!