Mr. Haller, the schoolyard bully

Friday was a rough day at recess. I was playing kickball with my class, as I do every day at recess, and one student was running back to first base. Normally I don't play my hardest, but for some reason I was in the mood to get some kids out who try to steal the bases. As I see this student running back to first base, my desire got the best of me and I hurled the rubber kickball at the student. What would have hit any other student in the torso, this shorter student received a ball square in the side of his face. To make matters worse, he was wearing glasses. The ball caused his glasses to fly off his face, him to fly forward and trip over first base, and land in the very red dirt of North Carolina. The whole motion was priceless in my memory (and to the other students watching), but I felt awful, especially since his glasses were bent almost to the point of being unwearable! Even after I made sure he was okay (he was) and that he realized it was an accident, I still feel like a schoolyard bully. Thankfully, he is a good sport and laughed about it later. That was one out NOT worth making.

Also, my kids have said some pretty funny things, like any innocent 4th grader would. Here's a sampling:
-"Mr. Haller, your nose is pointy...like a reindeer."
-"That's why I like you, Mr. Haller...you're young, and you understand us."
-"You and Mrs. Haller look like twins!"
-"Do you and Mrs. Haller hug and kiss and stuff?"
-(to Jenny when she visited and was helping us read a play about Langston Hughes): "you know if it was the wife, she would be the same as the maid. No offense." Haha!
-"Do you and Mr. Richardson (my friend from college who teaches 5th grade) love each other...as friends?"

I will keep everyone posted with more funny stories and sayings as they happen!

Other Sights at the Festival

Dan and I loved this home in a quaint little neighborhood with old homes, huge trees and lots of gardens. We dreamed together of the day when we can buy a home and plant a garden, not to mention decorate, read and not have to go to a laundromat!!



A photo taken in front of a field of wildflowers, a willow tree, a fountain and the pond. It was a pretty day and we had fun!


Being that Lowe's Motor Speed-way is right around the corner from us, the area attracts fans of many kinds, including this Tony Stewart female...we like to call it, "Charlotte's Finest). And yes, this is a permed mullet (just an FYI)

This is a photo of us kissing (at least, its our shadow!)

Festival in the Park

Because I have no ability whatsoever to do art, I enjoy seeing/appreciating other's art. AND so does Dan; I have a wonderful husband who has similar interests (food, college football, art...the important things!) We attended the Charlotte Festival in the Park and really enjoyed ourselves. We ended up meeting and loving this one artist named Larry Smith. His oil paintings are not only filled with Biblical allusions but are also beautiful, simple and colorful. We purchased one... (remember to click on it to see a bigger picture and find the fallen sparrow).

When A Sparrow Falls

Dan with the Artist, Larry Smith (and a bag of good ole' Kettle Corn)

Daniel's Dream

So I (Dan) had a dream last night...everyone was in Atlanta at Todd & Rebecca's house. There was lots of excitement because 2 family members were pregnant at the same time! Before you think I'm trying to give a hint or that I have the gift of prophecy, let me clarify that the 2 who were pregnant were Todd and Ryan! Haha, it was so hilarious because their stomachs were HUGE (Todd's was bigger, at about 8 months, and Ryan's a bit smaller at 5 months) and they were being so gentle and careful around everyone for fear of hurting their babies. Thought you all could use a good laugh to end the weekend.

The Good Ole Google

Well, thanks to Google maps, Dan and I have found our way around Charlotte and we've discovered quite a few new places to visit... Until one day, we needed to go somewhere and I googled the address from ours...and this is what we found. (click to enlarge)

Notice step 18 please....I'll get right on that... "Dan, grab your swimsuit"

Yes, we have friends...

Their names are Isaac and Abby and no, we dont pay them! We went over last night for a cook out and games. We played multiple games including "Truth and Dare Jenga" (yes, juvenile but still, really really funny). PS- The women dominated in Cranium...


This is the truth and dare jenga, the blacks are truths, the reds are dares.

One of my (Jenny's) dares was to 'exchange an article of clothing with someone else'...Dan and I decided, around the corner from Isaac and Abby, that he could at least try to put my pants on...Yes, he put them on but NO he could NOT zip them up... :) :)

And here is my outfit with matching shorts...Ha.

Canoeing, Lake Norman

Well, Dan and I, after a really great church service, decided to go canoeing. It was really fun because we had been cooped up in the house and watching ND lose (okay, Dan didn't care as much and has, for the second day in a row, worn his OSU shirt proudly).

Here are some sweet photos of our adventure! (it was a gorgeous day, not as hot as previously and we enjoyed the nature, plus, it was only $5.00 to canoe!!)

We have a few changes around the apartment...we rearranged the couch and the desk...And Jenny cut off four/five inches off her hair. I couldn't believe she still had some blonde pieces from high school!? We like all the changes, but I especially like her hair!