Completed Mosaic!

This past Thursday I completed my first mosaic!! It was so exciting to have it complete! It was a LOT of work but so much fun and rewarding to see it complete! Jawher, my instructor, will now take it back to his father's shop to sand it down and put finishing on it! I will show you what it looks like when it is all complete but had to share! Oh and my mosaic is of Tunisian poppies- my favorite flower here!

Classroom Tour!

I am still teaching PreK this year (loving it still and enjoying to do the same grade 2 years in a row!) but we painted our classrooms and opened them up where they connect to one another. So I thought I would give you a little tour of our "new" classroom!

Our Letterland Bulletin Board, kids' cubbies and block center

Block center, kitchen and part of morning meeting

 Our Morning Meeting area and chevron bulletin boards

Reading center and tables

Art center and front door

Back in Tunisia!

After a very eventful (but very blessed) trip, we finally made it to Tunisia! Our first flight was delayed so we missed our connecting flughts but we were able to get on the next flights and made it by a hair to Tunisia! God took care of us!

All of our bags arrived too! They were all inspected and totally taped up but they arrived!

On Monday, I took mom to the market to stock up on produce! Figs are in season now here and they are her favorite!

For lunch, mom and I ate overlooking the Med Sea! 

Then we toured the American Cemetery! 

I am grateful she was able to see this beautiful place!

On Friday, we met at a restaurant that is right on the Sea! 

It was for a coworker's birthday so mom got to meet some friends from school too.

For dinner, Aoutef came out with us at my favorite restaurant in Tunisia!

Loved this shot leaving LaMarsa that night!

I sure do miss her tons but am so grateful she could come and spend the week with me!

Summertime Fun!

If I could describe my summer short and sweet, it would be friends and family! When I wasn't babysitting, I was spending time with my friends and family! I always cherish this times because I know they are only for a short while but when I get homesick, I remember the times we had and am grateful!

My dear (and longest) friend, Caitlin, came in town and it was so good to spend the afternoon with her!

Brooke and I concert hopped! First up was...

Rachel Platten.

Colbie Caillat and

Christina Perry! What an amazing concert! Love all 3 of these girls!

I also spent the night in Jacksonville one weekend! I loved spending time with Paul and Ellen and see the place they call home!

Brooke and I attended another concert... 

Lady Antebellum this time! 

Best concert I have been too!

Brooke and I got a pedicure and our favorite, fro yo and shopping!

My final Sunday night dinner was with my favs: Mom and Dad! We had my favorite salad and watched "Unexpected"! Then we ended our night with a walk!

I went to dinner with my dear from Laurie who I used to work with. She had a big surprise! She has a student from my first class show up to surprise! I taught him when he was in first grade 10 years ago! He is now going to be a sophomore in High School! It was so good to see him! Good for my teacher heart!

The amazing Brooke came over and helped me pack my 6 suitcases to get my butt back to Tunisia! She is an amazing friend! Oh and packing is always better with a Frosty!

Paul and Ellen came to see me off before I left for Tunisia! That meant the world to me! We ate dinner at the oyster house and dessert at Goodberry's, of course! It was a wonderful night with those I love most!

What a wonderful summer filled with those I love most!

Babysitting Adventures!

This summer I got to spend a lot of it babysitting but loved spending time with kids I have been with 12+ years! But to be honest, we need to call it something different because they are no where near babies. And yes, they are growing up but we loving hanging out together! I had a wonderful summer with these three! Here are some of the adventures we had together!

This summer Maddie had to paint some pictures for her mom's office so I spent a lot of time watching her and sometimes got to help paint the background color! ;) She is SUPER talented!

Oh the chickens! They have 12 pets as chickens (for the eggs). Seven of the chickens are new and quite naughty so I feel like I spent half my time trying to find them!

More Painting!

One day, we hit up the farmer's market to make pie! 

We found Heirloom tomatoes so...

we had to make tomato pie!

We also made a Thank You blueberry pie for the neighbors!

While Maddie was painting, Ainsley and I would hang out watching bride shows or reading books!

One afternoon, Mom picked us up and took us to Pelican's Sno-balls! Love, love, love this place!

One weekend, I got to spend with them- sleepover style!

Colin doing what he loves- dunking baskets!

After dinner, we hightailed it to Sheetz! Our favorite place for cool drinks!

Next day we headed to the park!

And then to go bowling!

We also stopped off at the bookstore to get books for Mads school year!

We made a beach cake for their Dad's birthday! 

The next week, Maddie and Colin were gone so Ainsley and I had the week together! We met my friend Derrick for lunch and tried on masks! ;)

Now this was a cool experience- probably my favorite of the summer! Ainsley loves to babysit so I went with her to babysit one of her mom's coworker's children. It was so neat to watch her do what I have done with her for years! Warmed my heart!

The following weekend, I babysat for my friend's boys! 

We had fun dressing up!

Eating hot dogs for breakfast!

Repairing cars in the driveway!

Next day, I was back to the Smiths and Mads was painting!

Crazy chickens wondered up the deck stairs...

and next to the grill!

We also discovered Duck Donuts and became obsessed!

Thrift store shopping was another discovery! Aren't they gorgeous!

Maddie's volleyball coach invited her to go horseback riding and she had the time of her life! I love watching her do something she is so passionate about!

Ainsley fell in love with the sheep!

The day before I flew back to Tunisia, they stopped by to say goodbye! Oh how I love these three!

The three and their wonderful mom!

Smith Children, I love you so!