Watermelon Festival & More Home Improvements

The Watermelon Festival came to the big city of Winterville this weekend. Friday night we went to our friend, Sam's Mom's house where they had a little cookout. We walked over to the festival with Sam and Lauren, it was kind of like a walk down memory lane with all the rides and such. Although ever two steps I heard, "Hey, Mrs. Russell"!! LOL! It's greast to famous!!

As a fundraiser my school's athletic department always works the concert on Saturday night. This Saturday night I had the 'honor' to work in the 'coke can' with Jackie and Sarah, two of the teachers from my school. If your read my blog you already know how I feel about Jackie, LOVE HER!! Sarah is right up there too, she is such a AWESOME teacher, with soooooo much patience!! Here is a quick pic I snaped just before the gates opened and we got a line, that continue for about four hours!!



Saturday morning Paul and I wanted to finish up some more home improvement projects we had been planning. He put up new lights on the front porch, back porch, and under the carport. I painted the front porch railings!! What a job!! Here are before and after pictures you decide if I get an A?????

AFTER:

Sunday we went to lunch with Thomas and Tina after church at East Coast Wings. Paul had never been there before and I had only been there once before. We were impressed, the food and service were great, I think we will be checking it out again soon! :) Sunday afternoon we worked somemore around the house trying to de-clutter and finish up some projects. Sunday night we had a BMX show and Back to School bash at our church. What a great time was had by all! We also got to see some of our friends we hadn't see in a while that now go to another church and found out they are expecting a baby! YAY! Congrats to them!

This week will be my first full week of school with my new babies! Please be in prayer for my patience as I try to work with these new 6th graders!

Kim

Meet the Pirates and a Fabulous Weekend

Paul and I had a great weekend, figured we better enjoy it while we can, since I'm starting back to school. Friday night we met our friends Travis and Ana at Backwater Jack's in Washington. Paul and I had never been there before! We had a really good time, chit chatting and laughing, the food was good, too! LOL!




Saturday I went to see Grandmama B in Kinston. She seems to be doing really good. We went out to eat and to the mall. She walked the entire length of the mall from Belk to JCPenny's and back again. She only asked to sit down and rest once! I'm so proud of her improvements. I was so worried, I mean when you have back surgery at 85 what can you expect???? Right??? But she got a Cortisone shot and it seems to be making a different. Thank the Lord!




After I left Grandmama B's house I went to Snow Hill and got my Abby-Ru. Paul played in the Kiwanis glow ball golf tournament, so I figured I could get in some quality time with my girl. I decided to go to Meet the Pirates. Abby did as well as can be expected she really like the bouncey houses, she really did NOT like PeeDee the pirate! Not at ALL!!! I found out that being a single parent is HARD! Oh my gosh!




Sunday morning Will called and asked if we wanted to keep Abby today, also. Of course we were elated!! We went to church and then Granny and Papa's! Abby loves to go there and play with Connor, Clark, and her Gwanny! Tonight I cooked one of Abby's favorite, spaghetti!! See the picture below, Paul and I were laughing so hard at her picking up the noodles, putting them on her spoon, and then in our mouth. Hey, you got to start somewhere, right!




Tomorrow night is Open House, I get to meet my new babies! I'm excited, hesitant, and nervous! Everyone keeps asking me if I'm ready. I guess you can really never be ready, I mean what does that mean anyway. My classroom is ready, my copies are made, my desk are in rows, but am I ready??? Probably not! Don't get me wrong I LOVE my job! I love the kids, I love the people I work with, and I love my occupation, but summer-time is so wonderful! Oh, well, there is always Summer 2011!! I've got BIG plans!!! LOL!

Savage Cookout & THE Day!

This weekend Paul and I worked some more around the house Saturday. I helped paint the doors and he painted the black post under our carport. Sunday we went to the Savage's house in Raleigh for a cookout. Their granddaughter, Brittni (middle of pic below), was in town from Texas. The picture below is of the girls playing in the pool. Abby (left), Brittni (middle), and Aurora (right; also the Savages granddaughter). We some awesome food and a good time.

Today was the "THE" day! I had to go back to school. While I'm sad that my days of sleeping late and no plans, I knew that this day was coming. Summer can't last forever and I understand that. I am looking forward to a new year with a new batch of babies! Life will be crazy, and I will be stressed out, but it is all worth it!

Pirate football in 19 DAYS!!

Kim

Best Daddy and Hubby in the WORLD!!!!

My Daddy and Paul worked today on several home improvement projects around the house. We are trying to figure out what we are going to do in our house situation. Sell???? Buy??? Stay???? Who knows???? Either way there were a few things that needed to be done around our house. Daddy being the very generous, ‘give you the shirt off his back’ kind of guy that he is volunteered to help us. Wednesday afternoon we made our list and he and I went to Lowe’s and got all the supplies. He is an expert in this type of thing and it comes in really handy!

Today was the day! We started at 8AM, I helped till about 10:30, but then I had to run to Kinston and see Grandma B. They got soooooo much done I was amazed. They put up new screen doors under the carport and at the front door, put up new shutters, replaced vinyl siding in a damaged place, put up a new shower door in the master bath, and other little odds and ends. Paul and Daddy worked so hard, but it really paid off!! Love ya’ll so much!! You’re the best!

New shower door in our master

New shutters across the front

Love this new screen door on the front! It has so much character!

New screen door under carport!! Loved it so much, I got the same one for both places!

Back to school next Tuesday! I'm really struggling with the 'Back to school BLUES'!!!

Kim

Zac Brown Band

Last night Paul and I went to the Zac Brown Band concert at Walnut Creek. It was for Paul's early birthday and a little celebration of the end of the summer. I cannot believe I have to go back to school in less than a week! YUCK!! I really like several of the Zac Brown Band's songs and they put on a good show. We hadn't really planned it, but we meet up with Paul's friend from work, Travis, and his wife, Ana. She is a teacher, too, so we had LOTS to talk about! LOL!! Paul HAD to wear his new John Deere hat! He said it would help him 'fit in'! Gotta love him!

VBS High Seas

At our church, Elm Grove, we had VBS last week. It was a great success. We have over 200 people there every night. I taught the 7th and 8th grade class. Every night I had around 22. Such a blessing! The kids were great, I had many of them before at camp.

I enjoyed VBS so much growing up. I was born June 6 and went to my first VBS only a few weeks later, that my Mom DIRECTED! I know she was super woman!! It' s so awesome to now be on the other end of VBS and see the changes it can make in kids lives.

Back to school in one week! :(

Abby's Field Trip to the Library

Today my Dad and I took Abby to Sheppard Memorial Library for the first time. She had a blast. She brought me books and I read them to her. She also played with puzzels and they even had a hermit crab. We ran some other errands around town and called it a day! She is really growing up and talking so good, not that I always understand what she says!

Allison Olivia Russell's Shower

Paul first cousin, Kenley, and his wife Kelli are expecting a baby. Allison Olivia is due around the middle of October. Mrs. Rheta and I went to their shower last Saturday. I forgot to take pics, but I stole these from Kelli's facebook. The bag was my gift and the beautiful blanket, Mrs. Rheta made for Allison! Love it! Can't wait to meet our little Russell addition.

Visit with Cullen and Harrison!

Last Friday April and Scott brought the boys (Cullen and Harrison) to the river to play. It was great, we played in the river and went out on the boat. I'm so glad that Abby has cousins so close to her in age, she really enjoys playing with other kids.