This past weekend we hosted our very first children’s birthday party, because we have…..a child! She is no longer a baby, she is definitely a little girl. She has preferences and opinions. She can get around to any part of the house. She communicates (sort of). She even eats peanut butter sandwiches and drinks from a straw.

There are all things that shock and amaze me, since a short year ago she was a blob of baby fat that barely opened her eyes! It has been so interesting to watch her lately because she has become a real person right before our eyes.

Thank you so much to everyone who could make the celebration. We had a fabulous day. I was overwhelmed with the surrounding of love that was there. I know that we are beyond blessed to have such supportive family and friends. And it is an amazing feeling to know you are not “parenting” alone.

This past weekend was our annual Homecoming celebration at Lambuth. As you all know we hold Lambuth very near to our hearts, as it was the place Matt and I met, got engaged and got married. We  even named our daughter Wesley because of Lambuth (John WESLEY = founder of Methodism. Get it now?!?)

This year’s celebration was bittersweet because LU is going through a very rough time financially. We have always been a small school, which is part of it’s draw and charm, but it doesn’t make paying bills and keeping up with the Jones’ (or Unions) easy.  We know Lambuth will survive, but it was hard to see how much things had changed due to lack of funds. Many professors have had to move on, and programs such as cheerleading and dance team have been cut.

If you are an alumni, please send Lambuth your financial support, every dollar counts. If you are not, you can still contribute if you like, but also keep Lambuth in your thoughts. It is an amazing place that touches many lives. It is the reason I have my amazing husband and beautiful daughter. Speaking of…. here is a shot of her at the football tailgate this weekend. Yes, that dress IS homemade!

No matter the difficulties we go through, I will always be proud to be a Lambuth graduate. And I am so thankful for the dear friends I met there, who are still such a huge part of my life! It was great to see you all. We’ll do it again next year!

Courtesy of Dianne Larson, mother of Mary Elizabeth, Apex teacher extraordinaire

Today in my classroom, the kids are busy finishing a Jabberwocky project.

We read and studied the poem, by Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland) And now they are writing and illustrating parodies of the poem.

I have taught them about portmanteau words (Two words smushed together to make new word, like brunch) and how Lewis Carroll invented them.  So they have to invent portmanteau words to use in their parodies.

Now tell me, how can I tell Morgan that the combination of Dragon plus Horse comes up with an inappropriate monster called a Draghore?  She keeps saying “my Draghore” and I am having trouble keeping a straight face.  Oh, the challenges of teaching. Do I let her put the Draghore up for Open House or do I censor her budding creativity and keep my job?

Today during my fifth grade lesson, I was using my laptop and projector to show a slide show that went with the song we were learning. After the show was over, I closed PowerPoint and the following picture was left up on the screen (because it is my desktop).

Most of the kids went “awww” but after I closed my computer one student raised his hand.  “Yes, Ty?,” I asked. “What does she have in her cheeks?,” he said.

How do I explain jowls?

I like when my outfit coordinates with my snacks http://twitpic.com/hvd0d (via @weewashburn)

It’s fantasy football time in the Washburn home!!!!!  Yes, week 1 for the NFL is officially in the books, and both Washburns made it through with W’s in the fantasy football league.

Now, Matthew has been an avid  fantasy football fan for years, but this is only my third year to be part of a league.  And I have to say, it has been the best 3 NFL seasons of my life. I never cared for NFL before. I didn’t grow up loyal to a team. But now, thanks to fantasy, I just love it. Strategizing about which wide receiver to play, which defense has the better match up, and so on. It’s just exciting. I can’t stop listening to sports radio and reading ESPN.com articles. It’s not even that I feel the need to dominate and destroy my opponent (although I will) as much as I just long to be informed. I don’t want to be the cheesy wife that signs up and picks players by the colors of their jerseys.

So good luck to all who join my obsession for the next 16 weeks. May your quarterbacks be strong, your running backs be healthy and your kickers be above average!

Everyone said “get ready” when we started Wesley in daycare. Apparently, along with learning and socializing, she will also develop her very own immune system. And to accomplish the latter we must try out EVERY illness out there. We have been in school for six weeks, and she has only been to the doctor one time, which I count as a victory.

The problem is that I have been sick for the past three of those six weeks. I guess she developed the immunity after the first illness, but I didn’t?  I mean come on, I’m a teacher! I’m supposed to be able to lick the floor and not get sick. Are you telling me that in nine short months of maternity leave I lost all of the super-immunity powers that I had built up over the past 6 years of hugging slimy, snotty, sickly children? How is this fair? Don’t get me wrong, I’m pumped that Wes has the immunities, but did she have to take all of mine?

BLECH!

Every Sunday, the Commercial Appeal runs a feature in the paper called “My New Home,” which highlights new homeowners and their newly-acquired properties. This Sunday’s story featured a little house that looked quite familiar.

Yup, that is where we used to live.

At first, it was a tad weird to read about someone else talking about the place we called home for nearly five years, and seeing the pictures of how it’s already changed in just a few months. But then I took a look around our new place, which I love so much more than that crooked little cottage, and all the weirdness went away. At least now we know that all the work that went into getting that “recently renovated kitchen,” “landscaped backyard,” and “gleaming hardwood floors” was totally worth it. If nothing else, I’m kind of proud that we took care of the place so well, and that the current owner seems to be so happy with it.

Now, about those snakes…

This is what happens when you get dressed in the dark.

The sad thing is that I didn’t even notice until lunch time. Looks like I’ll be picking up a light for my closet on the way home from work today.

So we’ve moved. It’s done. We actually moved on July 1st, but we are just now feeling settled in.  We LOVE our new home. It is beautiful, if I do say so myself. It is a traditional bungalow, built in 1922 painted a lovely shade of khaki greenish. Complete with original hardwood floors, wide crown molding, 24 original glass windows and a housefan . There is a basement, attic, pantry and laundry room, so space galore. And there are enough bedrooms and baths for everyone. So to say the least we are thrilled.

But with anything, as you settle you notice little things here and there you did not notice before. For example, behind our new house is an alley, where we put our trash for pick up. In this alley, apparently, lives a rooster. That’s right, within city limits. This rooster stays true to its nature and announces each day at sunrise, or a little before, approximately 5:30/5:45 am EVERY. DAY.

Now, for those who don’t know me, sleep is one of my favorite things. In importance it may go 1. Family, 2. Sleep 3. anything else. So needless to say (yet I will, cause this is a blog and you can’t read my mind) I am NOT happy about this rooster.

So, last week, at dusk, the rooster started up. I grabbed the babe and the dog and we headed out determined to locate said rooster. I walked around our block on a mission and guess……what…..there is not A rooster, there are THREE roosters! Three I tell you!! The live in the back yard of a house not 20 yards from my bedroom window.

What can I do? I’ll tell you. I got myself registered online on the city code enforcement website and reported them! I’m not scared. I need sleep I tell you. I sure did. This is not Tipton County, I don’t live on a farm people! The very next morning, I can report from a source who shall remain nameless, the police were at the door of the rooster house. That was last Friday. I have not heard them since.

But yesterday, on our evening family walk, guess what I saw! One of those damn roosters!!! Now, I’m not reporting them again just yet. But only because they haven’t woken me up, yet. If they continue to be on their best behaviour (after their police talkin’ to) I guess they can stay. But don’t think I won’t write a strongly worded letter if I have to!