TO YOU, STINK!

Last night was Phil's basketball banquet.  The evening consisted of a swanky venue (WOOT!), player recognition, thank you's and food.  It was lots of fun - especially because the Hussain's were in attendance!

Half way through the evening, Phil went up to make a "20 minute" speech.  As per Phillip style, he was at the front of the room for about an hour (haha, I LOVE HIM!) making the audience both laugh and cry.  He discussed first impressions of different players, team successes throughout the year, and his appreciation for those involved with the team.  He gave out awards (MVP, Coach's Award, etc.), saluted the senior players, and discussed things to come in the future.  If you were in the room with us, you'd sense an immediate love, appreciation, respect and admiration that the boys have for him. (Mama Parkinson - you'd be SO DARN PROUD)!

Well, I'm tearing up now and I was tearing up yesterday!  Those boys mean the world to Phil and it's every reason for why I don't mind that his second home is on the court.  He LOVES the game of basketball.  LOVES IT!  How can I convey it?  I'm not even sure that I can.  Nonetheless, part of his speech was a thank you to ME and I would now like to write a response to that mention:

Dear Phillip,
 
You know, you say that you're a pessimist but I truly believe that you're an optimist in the instances that matter.  Whether you think so or not, you have faith in people.  You see the good.  You see what's possible.  And you have a special way of helping our "kids" showcase the strengths they didn't know they had!  You push them.  You demand that they give you their best both on and off the court.  And in doing so, you have revealed a fine group of young men that strive to be better people.  YOU DID THAT.  YOU! 


Just like your "20 minute" speech, I know that an after school practice will make dinner go cold.  With you, six o'clock becomes seven very quickly.  But when you do eventually (haha) walk through the door - after a 13 hour day at work - and you're still SMILING.......well my dear, that's pure MAGIC.  This program that you're giving your very best to is giving it's best right back! 


So how could I say "no"?  How could I tell you to cancel practice?  Or come home early?  Or stop coaching two teams?  Could I argue that basketball season is 6 weeks, not 10 months?  No.  I couldn't.  Few people are lucky enough to find an honest-to-goodness, fire-igniting passion.  And you're one of them.  


Your happiness brings me more joy than you can imagine.  Because of this, I'll be giving you "my very best" from the cheer squad, late nights and all :) 


I love you,


Lindsay
XOXO


P.S.  One more month until it's been TWO YEARS!  Best years of my life?  INDEED! xo

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  SANDSTORM!  There's a certain excitement that goes along with these dusty, dusty days.  Like any storm, they're super fun when you're indoors and not so fun when you're outside!

*  I purchased the season's pass to the Bachelorette on iTunes.  (Shout-out to Sara who is a firm believer in PURCHASING as opposed to STREAMING)!  I just got a message on my Blackberry informing me that the newest episode is available to download!  YIPPEE!!!! 

*  Have you ever had something REALLY AWESOME happen....something SO AWESOME that you question its legality?  Well....those were my thoughts tonight.  I won't elaborate any further.  But I will tell you that no rules were broken in this incredible act.

*  GO ARSENIO!!!!!  Last night we watched the Apprentice finale and it was the BEST finale to date.  Who knew that a finale with BFF's could possibly be better than a finale with ENEMIES?!  Their duet was priceless. 

*  My classroom has been CHAOTIC this week....TIMES TEN!  We're building models to wrap up our astronomy unit and although the kids say "THIS IS THE BEST THING WE'VE DONE ALL YEAR", my inner neat freak keeps hollering "NO MORE, ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!"  Haha. 

*  It's hard to believe that in ONE MONTH we will be walking around NYC for the first time!  WE CANNOT WAIT!!!

Okee dokee smokies,

BED IS CALLING!  MWAAAAAAAA!!!

Strawberry MEET Pig.

House Hippos may not be real but TEACUP PIGS are!   Extra small!  Extra friendly!  Just head to Pennywell Farm in the west of England to make your mini-pet-pig dreams come true! 

Joshua Ledet: No More Drama - Top 3 - AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 11

GOOSIES!!!!!! Even though he's not in the finale next week, you can't deny that THIS performance is an INCREDIBLE one! WOW!

As for our next American Idol, I really do feel like Phillip's a shoo-in! I will be quite disappointed otherwise :)

Things to PONDER...

1)  To purchase an iPad or not to purchase an iPad.  I feel I need to purchase one for professional use but I really don't know how much I'd use it otherwise.  One thing's for sure - my students are FAR MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE than ME when it comes to technology!  Eeek! 

2)  Last weekend I forgot to share that I went to a gas station for the FIRST TIME EVER IN KUWAIT!!!  I hate gas stations, but for some reason this trip was a THRILL!  Perhaps annoying routines become ones you miss when they're gone??

3)  Stray cats versus birds.  We were seated outside at dinner yesterday and were subject to the hisses and fang-faces of two overfed stray cats.  It was frightening and if Phil weren't there to scare them away, I would have got up and left!  "Birds" have already secured the number one spot on my "most hated animal" list, but stray cats may have secured spot two in the last 12 hours.  

4)  What did we do before PINTEREST?!  Introducing my new favourite quote.....

And that, I shall!  It's TEA TIME in this household!  All I need is for Phillip to wake up and embrace the day with me.  I mean....doesn't he know it's my BIRTHDAY?!  Baha.  He's NOT going to like this new philosophy......
 
Have a WONDERFUL LONG WEEKEND everyone!!!! 
XOXO

SPOTTED!

Rewind to a month and a half ago.  It was spring break and we were in London, just like Emily and her mama!  We were told that the next James Bond movie was being filmed during our stay, which is why the "really skinny blonde girl in the light brown pea coat" that Emily spotted could have been mistaken for a Bond girl. 

HOWEVER.....Emily is far more perceptive than that.

Emily noticed that this skinny, blonde lady was walking along with a gentlemen as the camera captured her and the scene appeared to be date-like.

Know where this is going?? 

YES. IT. WAS! It was EMILY MAYNARD from this season's BACHELORETTE!!!!!!!!!! 

We just watched the first episode and during the "coming up on this season" preview, we saw Ms. Maynard in London, with a guy, wearing a light brown pea coat!  I called OUR EMILY immediately to share the excitement!  MY Emily saw THAT Emily!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  The only possible downside to this celeb spotting is that we MAY have some inside information as to who makes it far in this competition! Haha.

The Bachelorette is BACK and the premiere was EXCELLENT.  Our first impression rose would have gone to Arie, Ryan or Doug.  Emily chose the latter, which is a great name if you ask me ;)

Ah - summer television programs are THE BEST :)   When does Big Brother start??

BRING IT ON: THE WEEKEND!

Not only was it a TOP NOTCH teen movie, "BRING IT ON" is now a musical!  My dad just informed me of this during our after school chat and I am SUPER PUMPED.  The final show is on June 3rd and we don't arrive home until the 27th, but if y'all buy tickets......they may just extend the showings!  (Do a fan a favour, will ya?!)

Anyways, the weekend is HERE once again!  Bizarre how slow the work week can seem at times but how quickly it flies by as a whole.  Strange.

This week was another busy one.  Tutoring, basketball, planning, making study guides and exams......and after today's test and assignment submissions, this girl has a whole lotta marking to do!  I suppose it's all a part of this extraordinary gig of ours ;)

I love my students.  Really.  I had to say farewell to one of them this week and the experience has made me realize how hard it will be to say goodbye to another 82 of them.  I'm not sure I've ever adored students as much as I have this year.  EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THEM.   They are FANTASTIC.  Despite all the missing work, unpreparedness, tardiness, and so on....

Tonight we are headed out for dinner with the HUSSAIN family!  Their daughter Sarah has arrived and will be here for THREE whole weeks!  (Side note:  for the record, we're only begging you to come for ONE!)

Haha!  Bring it on:  the weekend!

Look what WE FOUND!

Cherry flavoured pull and peels!  The ULTIMATE reality-show-viewing snack ;)

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  Two of my all-time favourite bloggers are on hiatus.  It's not nice.  It's only day two and I'm already hoping they re-think their sabbaticals :) 

*   Smelly shoe season is officially HERE.  We have a perma Dr. Scholl's in the shoe bin but I'm sure it will require replenishing by mid-week! 

*  WOWEE FINALES!  Everything is finishing up - Survivor, Amazing Race, Apprentice......thankfully the BACHELORETTE begins TOMORROW!!!  YAHOO!  And this time my Nan is watching it too!  It will be so fun to discuss this program in the summertime :)

*  THE WEEKEND:  Thursday night we were poets with the Huffho's and wrote a mother's day poem for our Kuwaiti mama's.  On Friday morning/afternoon Phil had ball and I stayed home to work out and bake.  On Friday evening we hosted the mother's day event with brownies, vanilla icecream, poetry recitals, and gifts!  On Saturday Phil had MORE ball and I ventured to the mall with the Huffho's to pick up a garment steamer and curling iron.  And yesterday afternoon we rearranged the living room!  It is more open for hosting, yet seems less cozy with just us here.  I don't know about it yet......we shall see! 

*  Today it RAINED....FOR REAL!  It wasn't just a light pitter-patter either!  It was honest-to-goodness rain!!!  The funny thing about rain here is that it makes cars DIRTY, not CLEAN!  Haha.

*  This week is our final week of learning NEW STUFF in class!  I announced this during today's lesson and the kids had quite the celebratory reaction :)  Imagine - they will soon be grade 7's!  WOWZERS!

*  Walnuts.  They are super trendy in the fitness world and I did my very best to hop on the walnut wagon last weekend.  We purchased a container just to see how we would like them.  Ha.  If only my "first impression" face was videotaped.  It would have been MORE hilarious than the "panic room" security tape!  Ewwwwww.  Perhaps we can get rid of them by sneaking them into some baking.  Walnuts are one trending health food that I refuse to integrate.  ICK. 

*  I love watching Phil read instruction manuals.  He's so darn adorbs.  I can see his mind soaking up every single direction....

Okee dokee.  OFF TO STEAM - broccoli AND clothes!!!

Missing you,
XOXO