Random Updates

I know it is past time to update the blog. We haven't had any major happenings since the car accident so this will most likely end up as a hodge podge of little events.

This fall I successfully planned and pulled off my first field trip. During my first 3 years of teaching I have been able to avoid that duty. This year there was no getting out of it. 3 field trips, 3 teachers, it was inevitable! Last year we left the school at 4 am, drove 4.5 hours to the beach, spent 3 hours on an island, and then drove back 4.5 hours, arriving at the school after 5 pm. Immediately after that trip Mrs. W. and I agreed there was no way we wanted to do that again. At the beginning of the year I suggested something related to our science content to replace the S.S. beach trip, so guess who my team put in charge :-). This year we left at 6:45 am, drove to a mine in Hiddenite N.C., and went on the hunt for gems. Every child had a tub full of rocks & minerals to take home. We got back to the school in time to send the kids home on their regular school buses. Parents even told the Principal and Vice Principal that is was one of the best field trips their children have taken! Yay!

We decided to accept the Walmart offer. That means after my school year is over in June we will start packing up and head to Bentonville, Arkansas. We have been trying to figure out what you call people who live in Arkansas. There are Minnesotans, Utahans, North Carolinians, Texans, but what about AR? Is it Arkansonians, Arkansasite, Arkansawyer, Arkansans, do you know? No matter what they are called we will be joining their ranks sometime this summer.

Mark will finish his Duke program this month! Classes end this week and then finals will be over by the 17th. I can't believe that chapter of his life will be ending. He has spent countless hours at the Fuqua School of Business. We have made many friends over the last 3 years and it will be sad to leave the area that we have grown to love.