Unwelcome Visitor

The Smyrna Zoo had an unwelcome visitor this past week.

On Tuesday, Bryan and I were hanging out when we noticed pieces of wood coming out from under the coat closet in our living room. We opened the door and couldn't see anything except for MORE wood chips and pieces...

At least 1 inch of the door... gone!

We looked at each other in panic and promptly shut the door. People, I am not a fan of "critters." In fact, I do believe I used that very word. Along with a few other more colorful ones. Bryan, being the manly man that he is immediately called the exterminators who told us they could come out THURSDAY. Whaaaaat? Thursday? Are you kidding me?? Surely you mean NOW.

Nope, they came Thursday. And so there was a definite "barricade" (read: recycling bin) in front of the door until the Arrow man came.

When the very nice Arrow man came, he looked about as excited as I was to find out what was in our closet. I believe he referred to it as "a vermin." {Really? Who still uses that word??} Anyhoo - he set up yet another barricade to guide whateveritwas out the front door and prevent it from running all over our house. He also asked me to step into another room because I was making him nervous and the "vermin" was enough. HA!


This is where the fun starts, lovies. I have never wanted to laugh so badly in my entire life. That nice man started pulling things out of our closet one by one and jumping back about 10 feet each time he did. By the time he had pulled out 7 or 8 things, I saw a SQUIRREL come running out of the closet, through the front door and he did not stop until he was all the way across the street and up Mrs. Housely's tree. That's right, buddy. You stay there and tell your friends too.

squirrel in the closet  = total destruction

Arrow Man started looking for an entry point and couldn't find one. Would you like to know how the squirrel got in according to him? It folllowed us in the house. Yeah, right. Would you like to know how I thought the squirrel got in?

I don't know how he missed this fist-sized HOLE IN OUR WALL, but he did. That's right - the damn thing chewed through the drywall and was feasting on the birdseed I kept in there. {Notice I said kept. Yep, sorry birdos. No mas seed for you.}I am picking up a drywall patch kit tomorrow. Until then, we have found yet another use for plastic grocery bags. Yep, that sucker is packed full of those things. Eat that, you nasty rat with fur. 

Bryan has a new motto: "Stupid squirrel. I hate squirrels." I think I'm going to have it made into a bumper sticker.

Yikes!

Did anybody else know about this?? I'm glad we locked in our plans while we could! You have until July 7th according to the article. Get on it!


Say goodbye to unlimited data

Father's Day

I have to say a few words in honor of my Daddy-Man for Father's Day...

First of all, the man should really be nominated for sainthood. Or some sort of "survivor" award. He managed to survive a household with FIVE women. 5! Until you've managed it yourself, you have no idea how much estrogen that is. No idea.

Daddy Man with his girly girls - 11, 9, 7 and 1.5

Daddy only had eight years with his own father. My grandfather was killed in 1961 in a plane crash in Italy. He was a captain in the Air Force. This means that everything my daddy knew about fatherhood, he learned in eight years. When I think about how good Daddy has been to my mama and his "girly-girls" I am so thankful. I am thankful that Granddaddy Richard had an impact on him, and that he carried on his values and strong character through us.

Capt. James Richard Boone

My Aunt Tanna recently posted the following:

So true!! "Anything worth doing is worth doing right!" I hear those words ringing in my ears anytime I find myself wanting to take the easy way out. Even scarier, I have heard myself telling my third graders exactly that on numerous occasions.

I know that there are many former "band geeks" out there who can also attest to the following: My father is the best teacher I've ever had. He expects the most, makes you work the hardest (to the point of cursing him under your breath) and gets the best results. Every time. I never worked harder in high school than I did during marching band season. I never had more fun doing anything else, either.

D. Sanford Boone, Director of Bands

Happy Father's Day, Daddy. I love you.
I am so glad that He saw fit to make us your daughters!

Zazzle!

My teacher peeps will appreciate this. The rest of you may think I am crazy.

Zazzle (think CafePress) is having a 4-hour 50% off sale on their custom made binders. Even if you aren't a teacher, you can make a binder for other things: recipe book, scrapbooks, etc.. I have two different binders for my conferring notebooks and I l-o-v-e them.

The Spann Clann

The Robel Roundup

Click HERE to check it out and make sure you use the code 50FFHSBINDER when you check out!

Happy! Happy! :)

My New Obsession...

It started with this:

Banana Puddin' Milkshake.Courtesy of Chick-Fil-A. Notice the Nilla wafers. Those suckers are crunched up in there.

I don't know what it is about milkshakes right now, but I am pretty obsessed. Seriously? I think I've had one almost every day this week. It feels like the perfect summer treat. I have even tried them at McD's, Burger King and Zaxby's.

There's just one problem. It's not a treat if you have one everyday. And they're kind of really bad for you. Especially if you sip on one every day.

Anybody know where a girl can get a lower calorie version? Or even better, does anyone have a good recipe?

New Adventure

Hey peeps!

I'm starting a new adventure - a teaching blog. I'll still use this one to keep track of life in the Spann house, but I wanted to try something new.

If you are a teacher or a homeschool mom, please head over to Third Grade Bookworm and check out my challenge. Ok, so it's a plea for help too, but there are freebies involved!

Thanks!

Kadee Ann Boone Primus

Today, my sweet sister Kadee turns 30! 

In honor of her birthday, I'm going to share 30 Things I Love About Kadee!

30. Our phone conversation are always at least 20 minutes long. There are no "short" phone calls with Boone girls. 

29. She very patiently answered all of my questions (and Jennie's!) when I was getting married. Her advice was pretty spot-on too!

28. In the 5 years of dance classes we took together, she never once made fun of me for being completely uncoordinated. :) 

27.She knows how to play A-Team. And she is the best at being Hannibal.

26. Kadee knows how to compromise. It was her idea to have 3 imaginary "Kirk Cameron" boyfriends when we were little. He had imaginary identical triplet brothers. You know, so we didn't have to fight over the real one. When we were 9, 7 and 5. Sorry Nat... you weren't old enough for a Kirk Cameron boyfriend yet.

25. Eskimo nose!

24. She knows the value of a good set of hot rollers. 

23. Kadee is the one of the only people I would want to almost-pee-my-pants with in a CVS. 

22. Kadee always knows which Sunday Shoes make the best Barbie cars.

21. She knows why this is funny.
20. She is the best Ramona-bang-fixer/hider I know.

19. Her boyfriends always made mine look like angels. ;-)
18. She bleeds Tarheel Blue!

17.Without her, there would be no Hayley Bird in my life.

16. If she wanted to, she could make you call her Dr. Primus. Fo' serious.
15. She is a very good snuggler. And she can fall asleep pretty much anywhere.

14. Kadee can tell you what a Lula is... and where it came from.
13. She knows all of my secrets. And she still loves me.
12. Um, because she can do this:

11. She can be serious...

10. Or silly...

9. Kadee is one of the most naturally "brootimous" people I know.
8. We have had 3 of the same boyfriends... and we can laugh about it... and admit that it's kind of weird.
7. Whenever we played school, she always let me be the teacher. She had the best grades in my class. :)
6. She appreciates my nonsense song messages.
5. She made JP my brother. :)

4. She holds me accountable.
3. She is really good at harmonizing. I love to sing with her.

@Kari's wedding rehearsal

2. Kadee has been my roommate more times than I can count. She gets a prize.
1. Kadee has been one of my best friends for 30 years, and I'm counting on at least 30 more!!


Kadee Ann Boone Primus, I love you! Happy Birthday!!

Javier

Today I attended the funeral mass of a 12 year old boy. Javier was one of my after school tutoring students a few years ago. He had the sneakiest smile I've ever seen on a little boy and the laugh to go with it. While I wasn't as connected to him as some of my fellow teachers, I wanted to go in support of the students I knew in his neighborhood.

This isn't is the place to talk about what happened to Javier, but if you want to know more you can go here. I was very thankful for my Catholic Fair Oaks peeps because I didn't understand a word of what was said (it was all in Spanish). With them nearby, I at least knew when to stand up and sit down. (Thank you Cindy, Susan,, Katie and Charlene!)

Looking around the sanctuary, I saw many of my former students. It was impossible not to notice how much pain this has caused Javier's family and community. They didn't just lose one child, they lost two. That kind of grief is unfathomable to me.

So, I am coming to you, blog public to ask for a couple of things:

1. Pray for Javier's brother Oscar. More than anything, Oscar needs people praying for him. He has a long and lonely road ahead of him.

2. Pray for Oscar and Javier's family. They are hurting and need the kind of peace and comfort that can only come from Him.

3. Pray for a safe place for his family to live. They cannot return to their home  and must start all over. If you have any furniture, clothing or home goods you can donate please email me and I will find a way to come and get it from you. If you want to make a monetary donation to help them cover funeral expenses, email me as well and I will direct you towards our school's foundation.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Dos Años

Two years ago...

 We met here...

 laughed a little...

shed a few tears...

had a smooch... (or two!)

and called it a day!

After 10 years together and 2 years of marriage, Bryan still finds ways to surprise me and make me feel special. Even when we are grouchy and horrible, I wouldn't want to share my days with anyone else. :) I can't wait to see what the rest of life has in store for us!

I love you, sweet boy!

All pictures are by the fabulous Corey Cagle!