It's summertime in Washington.

Ashley's friend Brenda visited (from New York) and we did the obligatory DC tour. We also drove out to Warrenton for the Gaskins' lake party...some 4-wheelin', food, and fun.

Ashley turns 27!

Although she technically turned 27 while she was in California, we celebrated in style when she returned. And by style I mean it involved chocolate. The guys came over and gave her an appropriate Care Bears gift bag. We also said good-bye to Dylan, who moved back to Idaho. FUN!

The more the merrier.

What is it about a big piece of fabric that makes people think, 'Let's play with it! Or lay in it!' FYI, stretchy material can sometimes come at a price (i.e. concussions, bruises, etc) but 'Stretchy' is so much fun, I won't lie :) So much fun we may have accidentally left the guy's house with it. But we quickly returned it in an appropriate manner.

Summatime and the livin' is easy.

Man, this summer is FAH-LYING by. Whether it's enjoying the hammock on the porch, trekking to the GW Law School with Laura, hitting 100 degrees on more than one occasion or getting new kitchen flooring, it's all in a day's heat. And I do LOVE our new kitchen floor :)

Catching Up

A lot has happened these past few months, and I haven't been taking a lot of pictures so you'll actually have to READ this :) After spring break, it was back to the grind. The spring was actually pretty nice, and the weeks flew by in school. The kids were in a pretty good routine and we were all excited about going to Camp Highroad. It was a 3-day trip with the 5th and 6th grade in Middleburg, VA. We had a GREAT time. There was a lot of hiking, but the counselors were great, and we didn't have any accidents or catastrophes! Just plenty of ticks, but we located all of them on various heads.

Johnny graduated from high school and is preparing to go to the University of Maryland in the fall (yay Terps!) Lacrosse this season was a bit rough...we didn't win a regular season game, but the good news is my idea to have sports 5 days a week (last period) was approved so we will be contenders this coming year! I planned our school's annual field day and it was a HUGE success...it was based on Homer's Odyssey and a great time was had by all. Apparently it was the 'best field day EVER,' as quoted by dozens of students. It looks like I'll be teaching 4th grade this next year, so we'll see how that goes! I'm also planning on starting my masters degree in January (MAT-master of arts in teaching) from UMUC.

And...I'm turning the big 3-0 in a few weeks. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Some days I think, "It's no big deal. 30. I look pretty good and life is good." Other days I freak out and scream, "I REFUSE to leave my 20's!!! NOOOOO!" It's a little surreal to think I'm losing that '2' in front of my age, now replaced by a '3.' Oh well. What they say is true; the older you get, the better things get...I'm more comfortable in my skin and content with life.

Spring, Much Needed, Break

My brothers and I went down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for spring break. My dad's family lives down there (I know, right?) and we had a week of beautiful weather. We're now back in DC, and it's 90 degrees in April. BLAH. I think the most fun thing we did, other than soak in the sun, was visit Alligator Adventure which is...you guessed it...an alligator farm. I immediately thought of the movie 'Joe Dirt' so I went around the park all day saying, "Rule number 1...I'm number one. Rule number 2...the croc's number 2!" It was so great to see the family.

Fear the Turtle!

Ahhh...how I love March Madness. Maryland earned big props this year by our star senior point guard earning ACC Player of the Year. I'm going to miss that Venezuelan spirit and accent. Maryland won't be the same without you, Greivis Vasquez. And Coach Gary...it wouldn't be Garyland (I mean, Maryland) without Gary Williams, aka ACC Coach of the Year. Fear the turtle...hell in a shell! The Blue Devils can suck it.

After the Snow

After a week and a half of cabin fever, we groaned and complained about being back at school. But what a great return...my basketball team went on to win their last game, after coming back from a 9-point deficit! I was so proud of this fantastic group of girls! I introduced Ashley and Brittney to The Legwarmers...I think they thought dressing up was the most fun part of the night! :)

6 days and counting...literally.

I know it sounds ridiculous...everybody wants a snow day, to take a break from the grind. But this is day 6, and I won't be returning to school for 5 MORE DAYS. I didn't think I could actually miss my class; all 18 of them. I am slowly going insane. Not to mention fat. If I trek down the street to see if the McDonalds is open, that counts as exercise...right?

I'm not a witch; I'm your wife

With Valentine's day being a week away, I started thinking about families and marriage. I've gotten into genealogy over these past few years-several of my ancestors married twice, if his or her spouse died, but most had long marriages, with plenty of kids. Were they happy? I hope so. I like to think so. So here's to my grandparents, who brought both of my parents into this world...without all of them, there would be no Erin Peer.

Thar she SNOWS!

Yikes...it hit accurately, and it hit hard. I think the total came in at 24" where we live. And again, it happened on the weekend, so the missed work opportunities will be minimal (tear). Ashley and I made the best of it and played with our neighbor Sarah, helped paint a mural in her apartment and just talked, laughed, watched movies and bonded. Quite frankly, the best quality time I've had in a while!

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller...

I love my Nate! Even if he is a Patriots fan. You know I enjoyed every moment of the Raven's whooping on them during the playoffs. Brady, you are a fine looking man, but you were very much a pansy that week. Nate has such a good heart, and has taken pity on a poor 5th grade teacher by taking me to two Celtics games this season. Yes, I know I'm wearing a Wizards sweatshirt...I still root for my hometeam, despite their bumbling ridiculousness and gun-toting suspended star player. I'm not a fair-weather fan. But speaking of fair...Nate and I kind of look like siblings with our reddish hair and pale freckled skin... ;)

Life without sports is no life at all

I know there's a good chance one day I'll meet a dashing young man who will want to marry me. And there's a good chance we may end up moving to another state (even another country...?) And my annual tradition of going to Maryland games with Dad will come to an end. But until that time happens, FEAR THE TURTLE. We haven't missed a year since I started going to Maryland in 2003. Even when I had the swine flu this past Homecoming, I was determined to go and that we did, in the pouring rain. I love the Terps, and I love my dad. I bleed red, white, black and gold.