Day 59 ~ Crazy Sock Day!

Dr. Seuss' birthday is Friday, March 2nd.  We are celebrating his life all week in our classroom.  Today was "Crazy Sock Day".  One of our PE coaches was our guest reader and he read, Fox in Socks. Have you ever read that book out loud?  It is HARD!!    Here are a few of the crazy socks that our students wore.

Days 57 and 58

Erin and I spent Sunday afternoon shopping for something nice to wear to an awards dinner that we will attend this Thursday night where she will be recognized for journalist of the year.  Sometimes there is nothing worse than shopping when you are not in the mood AND not finding anything.  There were a few instances that I did want to cry and throw a fit like a spoiled child that had not had a nap!  But, we trudged through and found something.  Erin snapped this photo with her phone when we were leaving the mall.  When you look at it, you feel like you are the only person on earth or at least the only person at the mall at that time....

With no baseball games or tennis matches this evening, I got to take Roxy out for some exercise.  This is what the sunset looked like when we got to Veteran's Park.  I was kicking myself for leaving my camera at home.  This was taken with my phone.  Thank goodness for smart phones with decent cameras!

Day 56 ~ This and That

There isn't a picture for "Day 55", I did not take a picture of anything yesterday.  But, I have taken a few pictures today.

Roxy loves lying on Mark's legs while he is reclining in his chair but as soon as I go to get my camera, she jumps down. So, he had to hold her while I snapped this one of the 2 of them.  

I love this one of Roxy because she looks like she is smiling up at me.  She was actually barking at me.  I think she is tired of the camera!

This is Jacob, "the prom date".  He was over at the house hanging out and so I thought I would snap a picture of the two of them.  Well, it turns out he says he can't just smile for pictures. I told him that he better practice before prom...

He did better this time!  

Days 52, 53, & 54 ~ Life Gets Busy!!

Day 52 ~ My day was spent at work, at the Pelham Racquet Club, at Oak Mountain Baseball Field, in a drive-thru, and finally home!  The THS Lady Warriors lost their first match of the season against Pelham.  Boo!  This is my picture of the day for Tuesday.  I like the way I got Maria levitating...

Day 53 ~ Another day spent at work and then a baseball field.  THS 9th Grade Warriors lost their first games to Mountain Brook.  Another BOO!!  But, these cute little gifts made me smile.  My students bring me the sweetest things.

You gotta love Sam's "Angry Birds" drawing!  When they come in and give me these little notes and drawings, it lets me know that they were thinking about me at home the night before.  It warms my heart.

Day 54 ~ Thankfully a night without tennis or baseball (not even practice) because Will had to finish this project.

I do feel a little smarter now that I know something about the propaganda used in Animal Farm.  He better make a good grade on it!!  

Day 51 ~ Baseball Season Has Begun

This is my Warrior!  Will is #16 on the 9th grade team at THS.  They won their season opener against Auburn 7-5.  They also won their second game tonight against Hoover 16-15!  This is my favorite time of the year. The only part I don't like is dividing my time between the baseball field and the tennis courts!  I hate to miss either of my players doing their thing!  Oh, and I hate washing those pants!!  Go Warriors!  Way to start the season!!  

Day 50 ~ Dog Day Afternoon

We had an incredibly yummy lunch at my mom's house today.  That woman can cook!  She also loves our dogs.  She wanted us to bring our dogs with us today.  So, Roxy got to have a play date with my niece MaryBeth's dog Tyson and my mom's do Bagel.
The worst part about taking Roxy somewhere, is the car ride.  She doesn't like riding in the car much.

Here she is looking worried as she puts more doggy nose art on my car windows.

She is getting a little reassurance from Erin that it is okay.

Here is Tyson sitting so sweetly while waiting on my sister Elizabeth to give him a green bean!

This is the boss of the whole gang, my mom's dog Bagel.  She is the sweetest dog in the world!

Roxy is anxiously waiting for Josh to throw the dog toy.

Tyson and Roxy playing tug of war.

Roxy and Bagel playing tug of war, too.

Now, we are home and Roxy is all tuckered out and asleep on the couch between me and Erin.  It's been a good day for her!

Day 49 ~ Thank you, Mrs. Dennis!

This is Erin and her broadcast teacher Brooke Dennis.  Mrs. Dennis has been a teacher, a mentor, and a friend to Erin since Erin was in the 9th grade.  We owe Mrs. Dennis a huge thank you for all the hard work and devotion she gives to her students.  Erin has learned so much from her and could not have become the journalist of the year without Mrs. Dennis.  Erin will follow in Mrs. Dennis' footsteps this fall and attend The University of Alabama to major in some type of communications (she hasn't finalized which field yet).  Hopefully Mrs. Dennis can continue to be Erin's mentor for years to come.  

Day 48 ~ Our Girl Makes History!

Today, my daughter Erin, won The Alabama Scholastic Press Association's Journalist of the Year!  Not only did she win this very prestigious award, but she made history by being the first person to win it for broadcast!

How cool is that??  Her broadcast teacher, Brooke Dennis nominated Erin for this award.  They worked together to get her portfolio complete and in on time.  The portfolio had to include 3 recommendation letters, 5 of her best news packages, and a video of her journalistic life. Erin's French teacher Mrs. Byrum wrote one of her recommendation letters and so did Mrs. Dennis.  The third letter had to be from a classmate.  Luke McKinney, a fellow THS News staff member, wrote that letter for her.  After spending the day at The University of Alabama at the ASPA Convention, we got to attend the awards dinner.  THS News won "All Alabama" for over all broadcast.  That is the highest award a high school broadcast staff can win so, THS News won "state"!  A number of the staff members also won for news stories, anchoring, and videography.  They saved giving out the biggest awards until last.   It was all very exciting and I could barely take pictures through my proud tears.  Erin won $500 and now will compete for the national title.  Here is another cool little fact, her broadcast teacher, Brooke Watts Dennis, won Journalist of the Year when she was a senior in high school, too!!   

Day 46 ~ Erin, Prom?

Nowadays, a guy can't just simply ask a girl to prom.  Oh no, they have to come up with some cute and clever way that takes all kinds of planning.  Well, Erin was "officially" asked to prom last night.  Jacob (her date) had asked her several weeks ago and we have the dress already but he had not done the "big" deal yet.

So, here's how it went down... Erin is on the broadcast staff at school and Jacob is on the boys varsity soccer team.  Last night, there was a home soccer game and Erin was part of the broadcast staff that worked the press box.  During the game, Jacob scored a goal and then ran to the center of the field, stopped in front of the press box, lifted up his jersey and underneath, he was wearing a t-shirt that he had printed ERIN, PROM? on it.  How awesome is that??  Even Will thinks that was a true legit way to ask a girl to prom.  The whole thing is on video because the game was being filmed!

How could a girl say no to all that!!!???  Aren't they just so cute??  She is a happy girl now!!  

Day 45 ~ Valentine's Day

I received my Valentine's gift from my sweetie on Friday.  It was such an awesome gift (new camera lens) that I could not let him out do me!  So, this is what my sweetie got from me today.

This is a the artist's preliminary drawing for the original oil painting of "Never Again" Trent Richardson - 2011 Iron Bowl from Daniel Moore.  Of course it is 1 of 5,000...but it is still such a cool sketch and it is the next one that Daniel Moore is going to release (at least that's what the girl at the shop told me).  Mark LOVES it and I am thrilled that I got him a gift that he was surprised about and actually likes a lot!  He will eventually hang it in his office at work but they are moving offices and he will wait to take it there.  Here is a little funny, his bosses are all Auburn graduates..... uh-oh!!  Happy Valentine's Day!!

Day 44 ~ Tennis Season Has Begun

This is my favorite tennis player, my daughter Erin.  This is her senior year and her last as a THS Lady Warrior.  =(  Monday was the start of the 2012 season and a HUGE victory for the team.  The Lady Warriors dominated with a 9-0 win over Hillcrest!  We even had a mixture of sleet and rain for part of the match.  It was COLD!!  Way to go Lady Warriors!  

Day 42 ~ A True Sign

Just in case I missed the other signs that baseball season is upon us, this one should make it perfectly clear for me.  After practicing in these pants for 2 weeks (yes, 2 weeks without seeing the inside of a washing machine)  Will asked me to wash them.  Time to get used to the smell of "Iron Out" again!  I think baseball pants should be the same color as red dirt...just sayin'!!  

I

Day 41 ~ An Early Valentine's Present

Some women would not be as excited as I am that this small box does not hold jewelry, perfume, chocolates, or tiny heart candies.  But, I could not be more happy that my sweet husband surprised me today with an early Valentine's present ~ a new lens for my camera!! I couldn't wait to snap a few pictures with it.  I still need to read up on the best settings for this lens so, I am expecting some even better pictures soon.  But here is my favorite from tonight ...

Our beautiful little Roxy, she is always my testing subject.  

Day 40 ~ The Program

One of the reasons I have been slacking on posting everyday and having to catch up is pictured above.  I was asked to be in charge of the THS Baseball Program this year.  I really don't mind doing this and have met some great people in the process.  Mark has helped me work with the printer we are using and I have had many of the other  parents offer to do what they can. Lisa Conner is in charge of the signs and banners you see at the ball field and she is helping me identify players in team pictures that I don't know.  Our baseball booster president is helping me with all the team pictures and cover art.  So, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for helping and for selling the ads in support of THS Baseball! The Hutters are proud to be a part of the THS Baseball family!  I can't wait to see what the finished product will look like.  GO WARRIORS!! 

Day 39 ~ 12 Days Until Opening Day!

In 12 days, we will get to see the 9th Grade Thompson Warriors open their season at home against Auburn and Opelika!  No school on Monday February 20th, you can find me at the ballpark!!  I love baseball season! 

Day 37 and Day 38

I am having to play catch up because I didn't post a picture last night.  I was just TOO tired!!  It was Monday after all and after seeing the beautiful full moon last night, I understood why my day went the way it did.  Anyway, I loved getting in my car yesterday morning and seeing this...

And, I didn't even have to pump the gas myself.  Mark did it for me on Sunday.  =)  I love a full tank of gas and when my car is clean (which it is nowhere close to that right now!)

After being at the baseball field for 3 hours tonight...I had to go to Publix and grab stuff for a quick dinner.  Will was with me which means we got more than just dinner stuff.  Anyway, we didn't want Roxy to be the only one without a treat so, she got some doggie ice cream.  She LOVED it!!  No ice cream headache for her!

We had to take the empty container away from her after she carried it into the living room and tore it into a few pieces.  

Day 36 ~ The Bus!

Over the years, many of my friends have heard me tell stories of the old school bus that my parents turned into a camper in the early 1970s. And, I have often wondered if some of them did not believe that there was ever such a thing...  This bus was awesome!  My parents pretty much gutted the bus except for the driver's seat and added beds, a booth style table, a cook top and counter, and in the very back was a double size bed.  My sisters and I would ride in the very back on that double bed because it was the most fun way to ride.  Every little bump that my dad drove over was like a giant bounce on that bed.  We owned an old white VW bug and most of the time we would pull that bug behind the bus.  My sisters and I would watch the bug because the steering wheel would move like there was a ghost driving the car.  We would go camping in that bus and we would also travel all over Alabama and the pan handle of Florida in that bus going to CB Radio Jamborees.  (Remember people, this was early 1970s...) We had this bus during the short time we lived in Kentucky, too.  I can't remember if the bus ever made it out to Oklahoma when we visited our family out there.

 I have always described the bus the best I could.  It often reminds people of The Partridge Family bus.  My parents painted it red on the bottom and white on the top and my mother sewed curtains that had red, white, and blue sail boats for every window in that bus.  Have you ever counted how many windows a school bus has???  Well, my sister Elizabeth made my day at church today!  She found a picture of the famous Wardop Bus Camper and brought it to me!!  The picture is from an article from The Brewton Standard (our hometown newspaper in 1973).  My sisters were in a girl scout troop and the troop was leaving in that bus to go to Mobile.  The trip enabled members of the troop to work toward earning their Sign of the Arrow badge. Although I was not in the girl scout troop, I had turned 4 years old the day before this article ran in the paper, I am in the photo!

I am the little one with my hands on my knees in front of the opened door.  My dad is standing behind me and my mom is next to him.  She has the biggest hair in the picture.  My oldest sister Elizabeth is standing in the back row and is fifth from left to right.  My middle sister is squatting in front sixth from left to right. My sisters and I are wearing matching shirts with strawberries on them that my mother had made for us.  I didn't get to go on the trip.  But, I did get to ride with them as far as Atmore where I was dropped off at my uncle's gas station and I stayed with my grandparents.   I sooo wish this picture was in color so that everyone could see how patriotic our old school bus camper was!  

Day 35 ~ Just Sayin'

I just put this on my fridge.  Got the idea from Pinterest but it applies in this house today because I did scrub my kitchen and I will get extremely upset if someone else messes it up!  

Day 34 ~ SO. TIRED. OF. PUDDLES!

I am so tired of puddles, clouds, rain, and gray skies!  If it is going to rain this much in the winter, we should at least get some snow out of it!  But no.....it's not cold enough to snow!  And, I think that stupid groundhog must be delusional!!  6 more weeks of winter??  Seriously, where were the first 6 weeks???  

Day 33 ~ What's for dinner?

Today has been one of those super long, super busy kind of days. One of those days where I really haven't had the time to snap a picture even though I have had my camera with me all day.   Full day at work, then work on baseball program ads, then go to baseball field to take up more program ad stuff, and Will is STILL at baseball practice at 8:09 PM!  Luckily Mark was at the field too and I got to leave and be in charge of dinner...

Thank goodness we  have a Zaxby's on the way home!  It's what's for dinner!!

Day 32 ~ PROUD MOMMA!!

In case you can't read this letter it says:

February 1, 2012

Dear Erin Diane Hutter:

We are pleased to announce your accomplishment as a Valedictorian for Thompson High School's class of 2012.  This is a great achievement for both you and your family, and it is a pleasure to congratulate you on this achievement.  

WOO HOO!!  We knew she was going to be a Valedictorian but it was still so COOL to get the letter!  Erin is ranked as number 7 out of over 400 students.  Her GPA is about 4.3!  I could not be more proud of my incredibly brilliant daughter.  She will attend The University of Alabama with an academic scholarship this fall. ROLL TIDE TO THAT!!  My heart is bursting with pride right now!!