Kindergarten Graduation

One of the best things about teaching Kindergarten has to be Graduation! Not because I am anxious to get rid of my kids, but because watching Graduation is the best!! Imagine if you will....weeks and weeks worth of singing "Mr. Sun" and "This Little Light of Mine." Add to that, the increased pressure of twirling just right, during rehearsals for "The Chicken Dance." This year my students once again put on such a brilliant performance that it brought tears to my eyes. Some of the highlights included:
1. Listening to my students sing (or rather yell) at the top of their lungs the words to every song. Maybe in 1st grade they will learn the difference.
2. Watching the fear in their eyes as they realized the cafeteria was packed full of people. And now you want me to sing?
3. Trying to get one of my students to sing, or even open his mouth to sing. He acted shy and decided to stand there on the front row frozen! Nothing I tried worked. No big smiles, thumbs up signs, or whispers of "You can do it!" He even refused to dance with the rest of the Kindergarteners. As a result, see number 4.
4. I got to be the "boy" dance partner and embarrass myself shaking my booty low enough to reach my 3 foot dance partner.
5. Getting lots of sweet goodbye cards, cards and pictures drawn just for me. See the note below.
6. Giving one last hug to each of my students as I proudly handed them their diploma.

Kindergarten Graduation is the best!

Handing out the diplomas to my now 1st graders!! Rusty asked if he could take a picture with the teacher.

Diamond Backs Game

Rusty was nice enough to take us to the Diamond Backs game. We invited Brennon and Amber to join us. It was fun sitting right behind home plate. And I especially enjoyed eating my weight in peanuts. For an added surprise to the night, we stayed to watch country music star, Trace Adkins perform a concert. He was good, but after about 10 minutes, we were ready to go. Thanks Rusty for taking us all to the ball game!

Apple Award Winner

Carianne's too humble to brag, but I'm not. Carianne was recently recognized as an Apple Award winner for her teaching ability. Twice a year, the Chandler School District recognizes one outstanding faculty member from each school. Carianne was nominated for this award by her peers and selected by her principal. Carianne was described as a student-centered teacher, who is creative and brings out the best in her students.

Dinner of Champions

A couple weekends ago we went to Pizzaria Bianco. It was hailed as the best pizza in the United States by Oprah, The New York Times, and Vogue. You'll have to check it out yourself, but this critic found it to be absolutely scrumptious. Still, our company was even better than the pizza. We got to hang out with our good friends Jared and Diane and rub shoulders with . . . Steve Nash!!! Carianne was way too embarrassed to let me get an autograph and I consider myself lucky to have gotten off this one picture before she snatched my camera away.

(Steve Nash with Leandro Barbosa and Sean Marks.)


(Carianne being embarrassed by me trying to take a picture of Steve Nash.)


(Us with Jared and Diane. In case you were wondering, we ordered 7 pizzas to make sure we had plenty to take home!)