Exxon Mobil Teachers Academy

I left for the Phil Mickelson Exxon Mobil Teachers Academy on Father's Day which made me so sad. I was even more sad to be leaving Michael for the first time. The first night I spent away from James was when I was in the hospital when I had Michael and James was 21 months old! So to leave Michael for three nights when he was just 5 monts old was very hard, even though I knew his Daddy would take great care of him and his big brother!

The Academy was held at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center.

One of my favorite things at the resort was the golf carts with drivers that took us where we needed to go!

I was so happy when Sean and the boys joined me on Wednesday! We all had fun at the pool.

Jamesie

Sean playing pool basketball

The first night at the welcome reception I ran into an old friend, Melissa, I used to dance with growing up. We had not seen or spoken to each other in 15 years and both recognized each other right away! She is a teacher in Austin. We were in different groups but saw each other all week long. It was so fun catching up!This picture is from the dinner the last night we were there.

The speaker at our dinner was Barbara Morgan, the first teacher that went into outer space! She showed us pictures and video from her mission and was one of the most interesting speakers I have ever heard. We had a cocktail reception after dinner and she walked around talking to everyone. My brother called as I was heading back to our room and asked what I was doing. I said, "I was just talking to the first teacher that went up in space!" He said, "You met Barbara Morgan?" I of course asked how he knew that and he said, "Your niece and nephew go to Barbara Morgan Elementary!" What a small world, especially since my brother and family live in a small town in Idaho. I of course went back in and told her!

We celebrated my good friend Bonnie's birthday while we were there! Bonnie teaches with me at my school.

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

I only took a few pictures of us during our workshop time. This is from the last day-me with Mia, another teacher from Dallas that was in my group.

An example of th kind of work we did. The academy was for 3rd-5th grade Math & Science teachers. The presenters would model lessons and we would act as the students and do experiments and present our findings. It was fun!

When I accpeted the invitation to go to the Academy I had no idea what to expect but I am so glad that I went! I met teachers from all over the world, including Alaska and Australia. I learned many things that I will actually use in my classroom next year!

The last day I decided I wasn't ready  to go back home. We had everything we needed to continue our mini-vacation. We decided to go and visit friends and family in Austin, which I will recap in the next post!

Home Sweet Home

I am so happy to be home! I left last Sunday, Father's Day, for the Phil Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center. Sean had our sweet boys all by himself for three nights. It was the first time since April 27, 2009 that I had spent by myself, without James or Michael with me and it was my very first time away from Michael. The Academy was five days long and it was an honor to be asked to go but the only way I even considered accepting was if Sean agreed to bring the boys down with him mid-week. Every attendee had his or her own hotel room and the Academy encouraged family to join us so, mine did! Not only do I have a sweet and thoughtful husband but he is an amazing Dad. I was impressed that he took care of the boys for four days and was able to pack everything we/they needed for our mini family vacation without my help!

Friday the 24th was the last day of the Academy but we decided to extend our mini vacation and headed to Austin for the weekend. We stayed with our good friends Laura and Chris. We also got to visit my friend Lynn and celebrate her daughter's 2nd Birthday and we had so much fun swimming at The Four Seasons with Aunt Lea, Sean's sister. It was a busy weekend but we had the best time and the boys are great travelers! Sunday was the first day James woke up and said, "I want to go home." He loves home and gets excited, claps, and says, "yay home!" everytime we pull in the driveway. It always makes me smile because I love home too. I will post pictures from the Academy and Austin soon. I also have a few posts to catch up on and the rest of the pictures from our photo session with Sabrina Gebhardt. There are some great pictures of the boys I can't wait to share!

5 months old

Dear Michael,

You are 5 months old today! You are growing up so fast. You and your brother are my pride and joy and I cannot imagine our family without you in it. I think James is finally used to having you around. He is so protective and loves to "help". He drags his little stool into your room to "help" change your diaper, which usually involves climbing up onto the changing table with you. He also likes to "help" give you a bath. He brings the stool into the kitchen and stands by the sink when Mommy is giving you a bath in the blue bath tub. I give him a cup and he likes to pour the water on your legs and tummy. I know it is normal for siblings to fight and/or be competitive but I hope and pray that you two will be the best of friends!

Mommy has to leave tomorrow and it will be the first time I spend the night away from you. I am going to The Phil Mickelson Exxon Mobil Teachers Academy for a work conference. I am very, very sad to be away from you for three days but you have the best Daddy and I know he will take good care of you! The conference is actually five days but I told Daddy I would not accept the invitation to go unless he brought you and your brother down and joined me the last part of the week. The Academy is held at The Woodlands Resort and family is encouraged to come with the teachers so I am actually looking forward to our little mini vacation!

So Michael Scott, what are you up to at 5 months old?

You are 26 1/4 inches long and weigh 16 lbs.

You wear a size 2 diaper

You wear size 3-6 month clothing

You have become our little roly poly. I put you on a blanket on the floor and you roll over back to tummy to back again or vice versa.

You are still only on breastmilk and Goodstart formula. You will be starting solids next month when you are 6 months old!

You are definitely teething because you are drooling a lot! I think I can feel a little bit of a bump but I know sometimes it takes months before the first little tooth pokes through.

You are a talker! Somtimes when you are "talking" James will say, "Tell me all about it Mytul!" or "Is that so?" He mimicks the things I say to you and I think it is the cutest thing ever!
You love bath time and the water. We go to the club at least twice a week to swim and you love hanging out in the baby pool!

I can't wait to see how you grow and change this next month. How is it possible that you will be 6 months old?!? I wish I could slow down time and you could stay my baby boy forever but since that is not possible I cherish every moment I have with you.

Love,
Mommy

More pictures by Sabrina Gebhardt

Below are more pictures from our photo session at the end of May with Sabrina Gebhardt at The Arboretum. I wanted the focus to be the boys but we took a few of the four of us too!

Sabrina Gebhardt Photography

We had a photo session at The Dallas Arboretum last weekend by a wonderful photographer from Fort Worth, Sabrina Gebhardt. I found her through a friend that I used to take dance with years ago. Sabrina has our same last name, spelled the same way, but no relation! We have already booked 6 month pictures for Michael and family photos in November for our Christmas card. I have only seen a couple of pictures so far but will be getting the CD soon with 24 of the best pictures from our session. I love the pictures of the boys above! Sabrina was so good with James and captured one of his many expressions that is so him. We also had family pictures of the four of us taken and some of James and Michael together. I can't wait to see them all and will post my favorites next week!