The "March" of Week Three: "You Make My Heart Super Happy!"

Crusin' in the Saturday sunshine with the help of big brother

"Tank you, Mamaw and Paw for going with Mom and me!"

We finally caught up with the Tennessee Smokies Baseball Bears to take a photo and get a hug.

At one of the daycare booths, a lady painted her face to match the ladybug on her dress.

Petting the snake at the Expo

Picking out her desert (candy) at Mast General Store

Fruit and chicken. . .How could I not be happy with such a lunch!

In the lobby of the theater. . .She insisted on a Kai-Lan hair-do that morning!

Blankie. . .Check; Kai-Lan. . .Check; I am ready for the show to start!

I am so glad her hair is getting longer!

Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. . .Even Perci-dogs!

My brother and I at the State Tourney on Wednesday...Opposing sides but united by family ties!

At the community pep rally for the HHS Boys B-ball team on Monday

Wow! Yesterday turned out to be one beautiful March day. However, today we are paying for that beautiful day with downpours and thunderstorms. Yea! March is declaring itself with lots of roaring today. . .that is one of my "unfavorite things" about Springtime in ET. And the forecasters are saying that with the next front tomorrow, we may get some light snow. Just gotta love our region and our weather!

Yesterday, my mom, dad, Tori and I went to the Women's Expo. All of us had a good time looking at all the booths. Tori really had a good time petting a baby boa (yuck!)while saying to it in her little gentle voice, "You are soooo cute and sweet little baby snake!" Yep, the Knoxville Zoo was there with a little menagerie of reptiles. And no, Mom didn't partake in that particular experience. Tori came away with several cute hair bows (like she really needs more), and I discovered a new children's shop in Lenoir City (only about 25 minutes away) that makes these beautiful Disney dresses. They are making Tori a Minnie Mouse one right now, and I hope to later order a Princess one like Mulan or Snow White. You know that a little girl has to be fashionable when she goes to Disney World for the first time. Ha!Ha!

J.J. was not to be left out yesterday in all the fun. He and Chris went to eat breakfast, to a movie, and to a RSCC baseball and softball game. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a hit with J.J., and after the show, Chris took him to Boarders to get the book. He has already lapped that one up, so last night when we ate out with Paw Lowell, we stopped by once again to get two more in that series. Not to mention, we made a stop at Maggie Moos to indulge in some great ice cream to end our celebration of the first day of Spring, the most beautiful day so far this year.

Thursday, Tori and I went to the historic Tennessee Theater to see the Nick Live Show featuring Kai Lan, Dora, the Wonder Pets, the Backyardigans, and Moose A. Moose and Zee. (Yep, I took a day off from school, and I don't feel a bit guilty.) She has been excited about this for months, and that morning she was so excited she could hardly stand it. Through the whole show, she sat star-struck and didn't budge from my lap. When it was over, she said, "I want to see it again, soon. Pleeeseee Mom!?!" Then later at lunch at the newly refurbished S & W Cafe, I got a big, "Thank you, Mom for taking me to see Kai Lan and Dora. I had fun!" To use Kai Lan's saying, it made "my heart super happy" to see her so happy!

This week also brought St. Patrick's Day. The kids looked festive in their t-shirts, and Mom the leprechaun gave them some chocolate gold coins to also celebrate. What was so funny about the chocolate coins is that I began to find them everywhere later in the evening. . .Tori had hid them, so that she could have them later. If this had been two years ago, I would have chalked it up to hoarding food. But, this little gal is smart. She knows that she has to eat supper before any sweets, so she wasn't taking any chances on her future with those precious goodies.

Wednesday, despite our little home celebration of St. Paddy's Day, I spent most of my day on a school bus with 54 teenagers going to the State Tournament game in Murfreesboro, about 2 1/2 hours away. (And I will say that they were very well behaved and represented our school well.) Our basketball team put up a good fight, but they didn't make it. My brother's team met the same fate later in the afternoon. But, both teams are winners no matter what in my book! It was also neat to see both communities rally around their schools and these fantastic young men as they worked their way to the State.

And since my heart is very heavy about some news I received this weekend. . .Well, I am going to go ahead and share it. For the first time in fifteen years as a teacher, I found out that I lost a student in one of my classes. He died in a car accident on his way to see his mom. Apparently, after soccer practice on Friday afternoon, he stopped to get a snack, was eating, going too fast, and lost control of the car. Evidently, he died en route to UT Hospital as they flew him by LifeStar. Wow! Talk about a blow! He was in my Accelerated Junior English class, a good student, and one great budding writer. I always knew to expect lots of good insight, organization, and great discussion in his writing assignments. In the past, there have been students to pass away that I didn't have in class or I have lost students who had already graduated, but this one is the first who has died who has been a current student. I really don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, but I am just praying that God will give me the right things to say to the many grieving students, especially those in his class. Please say a prayer for this family that they will find peace in this tragedy and that something positive will come from this young man's death who had such a promising future ahead. I know that after I heard this news, I have hugged my kids a little tighter all weekend.

Sorry to end on such a sad note, but it has been therapeutic to let it out. Remember my school tomorrow, and that all the teachers and staff can provide some comfort to all the grief that awaits our school this week and beyond.

Hoping that you have a great week ahead. Happy Spring!!!

Cindy