New Beginnings

In case you haven't heard, I'm transferring from third grade to fifth grade this year. While I am very excited about this new adventure, it also came with lots of stress. I stressed over everything from decorating my new room to the curriculum. Finally, my room is finished. Well, mostly finished. I still have some finishing touches. Right now my main concern is the curriculum. I'll be teaching reading, science, and social studies. Going from a self-contained classroom to a departmentalized system was also a big stresser for me. The best part about being departmentalized is that I'll get to see lots of faces throughout the day!

The view of my classroom from the door.

The view from my desk.

The front of my room.

I'm enjoying every last minute of my summer vacation. I have not put on make-up all week, and I have rarely escaped my pj's! I broke the news to Bandit earlier this week that I had to go back to work next week. He was shocked to say the least. We truly are the two best friends that anyone could have. To console him, Tucker and I bought him some ice cream from Bruster's last night. Bandit LOVES ice cream! I have never seen anything like it. He acts like he is on crack, and he eats it so fast he gets a brain freeze every time.

Bandit's reaction when I told him I had to go back to work next week.

Ice cream!

Now for a kickball update! We beat the Holy Rollers 15-1! We are still undefeated and number one in the league. I actually scored a run this game, and I had a couple of RBI's. I didn't have to worry about catching the ball in the outfield this week, because I played catcher this game. We had a blast!

This weekend we are relaxing! Tucker and I have joined the AU Club and I plan to drive my hubby around the golf course on Saturday and Sunday after church. We also have a few home improvement plans up our sleeves. We are going to look at a new ceiling fan for the living room. This is the moment I've been waiting on!!! Have a great weekend!

Amanda



Summer Fun

Tucker and I went to the lake this weekend. For me it was the last time we would go to the lake before school starts. We had so much fun! Saturday morning we gave Mr. Boswell and Andy their copies of "All In" signed by Gene Chizik. It was very hard for me to keep it a secret. I'm the kind of person that can't wait to give someone their gift. I get so excited; I want them to open it right there and then! I did well this time though, and they loved their gifts!

Andy and Mr. Boswell displaying their books!

This weekend was especially fun because Tucker's cousins from California were in for a visit. We so enjoyed getting to spend time with Paul T., Casey, Townsend, Sarah Peyton, and Eiler! We saw Towns and Paul T. at a football game last season, but we had not seen Casey and Eiler since our wedding. It had been even longer since we have seen Sarah Peyton! We could not believe how much they had all grown especially Eiler!

We had a blast! Eiler ate popsicles one after the other. I remember doing that when I was a kid. Those popsicles are the best!

Yummy!

What color is my tongue?

After popsicles, we got in the water for a swim. eiler had a great time jumping from the boat and swimming. Sarah Peyton even peer pressured me into jumping from the front of the boat! Unfortunately, I couldn't do any neat tricks like her, but I'm stretching for next year! I'll be doing a toe touch off the front of the boat in no time!

Later that afternoon we drove the boat to Aquapalooza. This year Rhett Atkins and Sawyer Brown were playing. We didn't stay very long, but we did get to hear a few songs! Tucker and John wanted to survey the area to see where all the people were. Sunday morning they went to scuba dive there to find treasure. Sadly, Tucker didn't find any diamond earrings. Shoot! John did find two pair of Rayban's though. Tucker, John, and Reese also dove at the rock. Once again, all that they found were shiny beer cans; no treasure!

We also didn't win the lottery this week, so Tucker had to get up and go to work this morning. I guess that means I'll be going next week as well. Until then, I'm sleeping late, staying up late, and drinking coffee in my pj's. Don't judge me- I'm soaking up ever last bit of my summer vacation!

Amanda



Freedom

Summer classes are over! I took my last final yesterday, and I have to say I have never been more excited. This summer has been very busy for me. I almost feel like I need a vacation from my summer vacation! I spent this summer working on assignments, moving classrooms, and stressing over new curriculum. I'm thrilled to finally have some stress taken off of me. I have three weeks until the fall semester starts and a week and a half until school starts. I plan to soak up every minute until school starts back. I have been working in my classroom a lot this summer, and I have decided that I will not be going back until I have to be there on August 1.

I am also very excited because this fall semester will be my last, and I will have my master's! I'm so excited to be done, and I'm even more excited about the pay raise I will get. I worked very hard, taking nine hours a semester in order to be finished in just a year and a half. I have to say for the most part, it wasn't that bad. However, there were many stressful and tearful moments. I know that it so worth it though!

Now for a kickball update! We actually got to play this past Wednesday. We had a double header and we won both games. The first was a shut out. We beat the Hood Rats 15-0 and the second game we beat One More 11-10. It was a close game, and the hubs scored the game winning run! I couldn't have been more proud! I also wasn't too bad myself. I ended up having a total of 3 RBI's for both games.

That's life in a nut shell as of now! We are headed to the lake tomorrow for some family fun! Tucker also plans to scuba dive after Aquapalooza. Hopefully, he'll find enough loot to make us rich!

Amanda

All In Weekend

We had big plans this weekend, and we accomplished them all and then some! First on the list was to get our copies of Gene Chizik's new book "All In" singed by Gene himself. It was the perfect ending to the  2010 season. Tucker and I were there every step of the way! We went to every home game, the SEC Championship game, and the National Championship game. We even went to Ole Miss to watch the Tiger's play, which we felt was the turning point of the season. We both knew at that point that we had a chance to go to the National Championship, and it was the first week we were ranked number one in the country.

The book signing was at BAM in Opelika at 2:30. We went early Saturday morning to get a ticket number because we were told we would need a ticket or else wait forever. We were there before 10 and we were number 70! While waiting in line, we heard an employee say that he would sign over 700 books that day. Because of this, he would not personalize the books, which was understandable given the amount of time it would take. Also, he would not pose for any pictures. We were told we could get a picture of him signing the book, but not with him. But Tucker, aka the rule breaker, fixed that! We were very sneaky!

Being sneaky!

Next on the agenda was yard work! We attacked the ivy on the left side of the house with a vengeance! It may not look like much, but it's much better than before. We sprayed some poison on what we couldn't get. We hope to see signs of death soon!

You could not see the fence before we attacked the ivy!

Another view of the fence! This is also Tucker's homemade fire pit stand. It won't be there long!

Outside of the fence.

The ivy was all the way up to the roof! Now it's gone!

We are both wore out! Instead of cooking, we decided to order a pizza and recover from our hard work! Have a great week!

Amanda



Let Freedom Ring

What a weekend! Of course we went to the lake this weekend to celebrate the 4th. We had a small crowd, only Tucker, his parents, grandmother, and me, but we had just as much fun if not more fun than usual. Sometimes it is nice to just enjoy the quite serenity of the lake. Often times there are so many people and so much noise and hustle and bustle that we don't get to enjoy the lake as much as we would like. Saturday we went on a long boat ride and picnic. This was such a treat! I had never done anything like that before, and it was special for Tucker and family because it was something that they used to do all of the time.

We found the perfect picnic spot in the shade!

Relaxing after a delicious lunch!

When it got too hot, we jumped in!

Both hands on the wheel please, Captain Phyllis!

Tucker carrying on the floppy hat tradition.

Thank goodness the REAL Captain took over!

Our boat ride lasted all day. When we got home we made homemade peach ice-cream! It was to die for!

The anticipation was almost too much!

Someone wanted to lick the white thing, and I'll just say it wasn't me :)

And no lake weekend is complete without waffles! Tucker did the honors for us this time, and I'll say he did such a great job! I may never have to make waffles again, and it's a good thing too! I tried to make them about a month ago and used all purpose flour instead of self-rising and they were terrible. Needless to say, Tucker was a natural. He has waffle making in his genes!

The first one came off the waffle iron perfectly!

My waffle with strawberries, blueberries, and a little powdered sugar! Yummy!

After breakfast, we spent the day with great friends and family. We went to Tucker's Aunt Katie's house where we ate till we were sick! We had ribs, baked beans, grilled corn on the cob, cole slaw, bread, and many other delicious eats.

Unfortunately, a long as I have been around the Boswell clan, there has always been some sort of accident or incident that has occurred on the 4th of July weekend. My first year, the perfect storm almost killed Jim and Jay (Tucker's cousins). Boats thrashed and lightening bolts crashed on every side of all of the men outside trying to keep the boats from being damaged. The second year, Jim nearly burned his hand off and the house down with a firecracker (Kidding, Jim!). And this year, I guess it was my turn. I slipped on the boat ramp and busted my booty and scrapped up my knee.

I'm feeling much better by the way!

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend! We so enjoy getting to spend time with our family and friends!

Happy 4th of July!

Amanda