PS Happenings

Three months...

2011-12-17T13:08:00.001-06:00

I can't believe I have a three month old! People said time would fly but this is crazy! Here is an update on what he is doing...

He smiles all the time!

He laughed and coo's at things!

He is learning cause and effect...this means mom & dad have to let him cry it out sometimes!

He's had his first cold...Christmas week-awesome.

He is a champ flier! First flight to Chicago could not have been smoother!

We love this little boy more and more everyday!

Back to work...

2011-12-08T17:41:00.000-06:00

For those of you who have been keeping up with me, you know that I went back to work last week after being on maternity leave. I knew it would be hard but this was excruciating! I couldn't even take Witt to daycare so Patrick had to drop him off. I cried the whole way to work (all 7 minutes of my commute) and continued most of the morning. It was so bad and I was so hysterical at work that a teammate took my class so I could have an extra half hour to get control! I survived day 1 only with the help of my incredible supportive team.
Day 2 was not much better although the tears stopped long enough for me to get through teaching. We are now at the end of week 2 and I finally feel in a groove but I still get teary every morning when I hug my little one good bye. I still don't go into daycare. I have made it to the parking lot but Patrick walks him in. Baby steps right?
As soon as this starts feeling like my new normal we will be on Christmas break and then I can hit repeat all over again in January! This is my life, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world, well... maybe for being able to stay home! Until next time bloggers!

A new addiction...

2011-11-21T17:57:00.001-06:00

Warning...addictive websites are referenced in this blog post...
I feel it is unfair not to share with you two of my new favorite addictions...most of you have heard of Pinterest. I am completely addicted to it! It is like an online magazine/design book/catalogue. A way to house all your ideas, interests and things that you like! There are pin boards for everything from organization (great for my secret hidden OCD), to photography, to cooking (I have a new found love affair with my crockpot), and clothing (great for the fashion challenged person such as myself) and everything in between! I could spend hours "pinning"! If you have not checked it out, I recommend it!

For those of you who know about Pinterest here is another site for you...Houzz! This is like Pinterest but it is all about the house! You can search through thousands of photos from the laundry room to the closets! There are even links to where you can buy the items. Someday I will use this site to design our home, right now there are great ideas for decorating and dreaming!
AS if you are not addicted enough to these sites there are apps for both! It is a sick, sick game! I had to force myself away from pinning so that I could blog about it! If I'm going down I'm taking all five of you with me!

What did I do before pinning?
Happy Pinning!

Two months...

2011-11-17T15:38:00.000-06:00

Wow! I can't believe how time flies! It seems like just yesterday we were checking into the hospital and waiting for Witt (for hours)...now he's here and two months old!

We went to the doctor yesterday... Someone should really medicate the mom before shots! Are you kidding me? I don't think I will ever get the imagine of my son crying so hard he can't breath out of my mind! Let's just rip my heart out, that's what it felt like! Dad is going with me next time and I will be medicated!
We both managed to survive...minus a few less hours of sleep. Little man is growing perfectly...almost 12 pounds and 90th percentile for height! Seriously...my child! Perfect bill of health!

I thought I would take a minute to write down a few of Witt's milestones at two months...

He smiles and laughs...this is THE cutest thing ever!

He coos...almost as cute as the smiling!

He holds his head up for a few seconds...he thinks he has control (so do we) and then he promptly smashes his head into my neck narrowly missing the earrings (something I probably should not wear)!

He responds to stimuli (that sounds like a science experiment).

He LOVES the bouncy seat!

And...drumroll please...

He sleeps through the night! You heard me...from 9ish until I wake him at 6:15!! I am one happy mama! Does he really have to grow up? Can't he slow down just a little? I love everything about him...even the fussing and the spitting up! I didn't even mind getting up in the middle of the night! I'm cherishing every moment that we have with him. I knew children were a blessing and parenthood would be awesome, but there are really no words that do it justice. I love being a mom, I love being Witt's mom!

Maternity leave...

2011-11-10T13:36:00.000-06:00

I write this post with tears in my eyes. I have to return to work on Nov. 28th. I love my job, I love teaching 2nd grade and my students. I always knew I would have to go back but I never thought it would be this hard. Sure I would like a break from changing endless poopy diapers and sleepless nights but I would trade grading papers for poopy diapers any day!

I know that God has a plan for us and me working...I just hope it involves a smooth transition. Witt will be fine at daycare...it's his mama I'm worried about! Pray I make it through this without too many tears. I'll update you later on how it goes!
In the meantime, I'm trying to savor each moment that I have with Witt...yesterday he fell asleep in my arms and I didn't move! How am I going to leave this face every morning? :(

Big Daddy...

2011-11-01T09:00:00.002-05:00

Witt got to meet his grandfather (better known as Big Daddy) this weekend! You read the title correctly, Big Daddy is what my father would like to be called...not grandpa, grandfather, papa, nope Big Daddy. In the months leading up to Witt's birth we talked about what "grandparent" names my parents wanted. We discussed several options...Big Daddy was not one of them. However, it is growing on me, not sure what it will sound like when Witt is 15, but we'll figure that out later!

I saw a side of my dad this weekend that I have never seen. The way that he immediately fell in love with Witt the minute he saw him in the car at the airport was so magical. It was as if he became another person. I blogged earlier about how the second Witt was born I felt like I transformed into a mom. I think that is what happened to my dad. He became so enamored that he couldn't take his eyes off him...the look in his eyes was even different. I even heard some "baby talk" (define that how you would like) throughout the course of the weekend. It was so sweet to see them interact. I love my dad and even though I give him a hard time and he gives me it right back, we are a great pair and I know that Witt is more than lucky to have Dad, Big Daddy, in his life! Thanks Dad for being not only a great father but a great grandfather too!

Happy Halloween & a little fall fun...

2011-10-31T19:50:00.000-05:00

I dropped the ball on a costume this year...I have been a bit preoccupied! Witt would probably not wear it and since it is a balmy 74 degrees here probably a little warm for a pumpkin or dragon or fireman. I have great ideas for next year!

Patrick took three days off last week...the first days off since Witt was born! We took advantage of the time and went down the Arboretum to look at the pumpkins and "fall" foliage. We live in Texas so "fall" is a term I use loosely. Witt was on his best behavior and we even got a few pictures. Enjoy!

My sleeping pumpkin!

One month old...

2011-10-16T09:13:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how fast time flies. Everyone told me that when I became a parent that time would fly by but also stand still. Time seems to stand still at night when I am feeding and Witt is starving and there is no end in site to his eating, but those are some of my favorite moments. It is quiet and it's just the two of us, no dog barking, no TV blaring mindless information, just us in the quiet of the night. Time does stand still...
It also flies by. It seems like yesterday that we were in the hospital awaiting Witt's arrival...it was a month ago! Really...
I would not change this month for anything...watching Witt grow has been the most joyful time in my life. Patrick and I are enjoying being parents and learning as we go! Thank you Witt for blessing our lives, you are such a gift! Happy 1 month Birthday!

A love like no other...

2011-10-13T11:26:00.000-05:00

When I got married 4 years ago to the most amazing man, I remember thinking I could never love anything more than my husband. As much as I love my husband that all changed on September 16, 2011...when our son was born! Ian Withington "Witt" joined us at 9:39pm weighing in at 8 pounds, 1.5 ounces and 20 inches long. He is perfect! Since that moment my opinions on love have changed dramatically.

Love is a strange thing. It makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you numb. Is it possible to feel all these things at the same time? Ask a mother, and the answer is yes! My entire being changed that day, when I became a mother. Nothing prepared me for this kind of love. It is a love like no other! When I look at Witt I am overcome with emotion and love. It is indescribable. You can't put it into words, you can't illustrate it and you can't even begin to tell someone about it, you live it, every minute of every day! Love is a verb and that became more evident when Witt joined our lives.

We have settled in to our lives as parents as much as possible with a 4 week old! We are working out our "schedules" when there really is not schedule! We are loving every waking, crying, changing and feeding moment....and laughing through them all. If you are a mother than you know exactly what I am talking about. If you aren't I pray that you someday know the kind of love that a child brings. You won't be able to describe it!

Back to school...

2011-08-15T15:12:00.000-05:00

It is here! To all my teacher friends out there, the new school year is upon us! I am usually really excited about the start of a new year. There is something about the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and brand new crayons that gets me every time. This year however, I am entering the year with mixed emotions. I am eager to meet my new students and excited to get to know them and all that they have to offer. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't eager about another more important arrival! I am trying to stay focused on my new classroom of kiddos but it is a challenge! I know that once I meet them, on Friday (really?) the excitement will return. I always imagined what it would be like to be pregnant and preparing for motherhood. I didn't really think about what it would be like to prepare a classroom for someone else. With that said I know that things will be different this school year, and I know that there are new challenges. I am heading into the year with a positive attitude and as much energy as I can find 35 weeks pregnant! Here is to a great school year!

Pregnancy Brain...

2011-08-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know me you know that I am highly organized and a little OCD about things. I'm the person who notices if the candy jar has been moved slightly on the counter, its a fun game my brother always plays with me. Fun for him maybe. I always know where things are and my memory rarely fails me...until now!
I went up to my classroom yesterday (we are not going to talk about school starting) and I sat there. And I sat...I stared around the room for about 30 minutes trying to figure out what it was I was supposed to be doing! Are you serious? If you have ever been pregnant or are planning on it...pregnancy brain is a VERY real thing! I really could not remember what I was planning on doing. This is a HUGE challenge for someone as organized as myself. Thankfully, one is not pregnant forever (6 weeks to go) and hopefully pregnancy brain does not become parent brain!
A little baby update for those who are interested...at 33 weeks baby Witt is already about 5 pounds 4 ounces and has a "big brain" according to the technician...70th percentile...really! All joking aside, he is growing beautifully and is healthy and active!

Welcome Back...

2011-07-11T22:19:00.000-05:00

Well, well...for the five of you that read this blog we are back!!
To say that life has been busy is an understatement...and it's only going to get busier. Our life drastically changed in January when we found out that we are expecting our first child! We later found out that we are having a healthy, happy boy! We are so excited to meet him and life is getting busy with just over 10 weeks until his arrival!
We have been fortunate enough to travel to Chicago this summer to see family and escape the heat! Wow, how nice 85-90 degrees feels when it is 100+ at home! My wonderful sister planned and threw the most amazing baby shower I have ever been too! Watch our Martha Stewart! We were blessed to have quite a few family members there making it that much more special. Baby Witt will surely be well outfitted!
Well, that about does it for now! Take care bloggers and there will be many more posts...Patrick is painting the nursery right now so there will be pictures posted soon!

Mental Health Day...

2010-04-15T08:06:00.002-05:00

I'm taking my first ever mental health day today! Someone please tell me why I have not done this sooner! My roommate from college is getting married this weekend and we are heading to the wedding...tomorrow. We both took an extra day off today just for us. There is something to be said for a day when there is not routine, nothing "required" that needs to get done, no cramming in all the laundry into two days, no housework and no papers to grade (well those are always there but...)! It is a rather liberating feeling. I encourage you to take a day off. For no reason. Don't schedule anything, just be. Let the day take you wherever it will. You feel more relaxed than ever! It's only 8:10 and I already feel more rested than ever. I love my job and my fantastic team mates but it should be required that everyone take a day, just one (or more if you can pull it off) for your own sanity. It may take a little extra effort to write sub plans or whatever you have to do to prepare but you will thank yourself later. Well blogger friends, enjoy your day, I will certainly be enjoying mine! Did I mention I have tomorrow off too!! Thanks Whitney for getting married and allowing me to realize the importance of a mental health day!

Napa...

2010-04-08T20:03:00.016-05:00

I really should be kicked out of blogger world. Not that anyone depends on me to blog but three months on three months off is a bit ridiculous! In any event, I will blog and few will read but at least I am chronicling my life.

There is no excuse for not blogging but we did go on vacation (I will try to invent an excuse). We

didn't just go on vacation, we went on an "adult" vacation. For spring break this year we went to Napa, California! If you have never been there, you need to go! It was the most relaxing, romantic, educational place I have ever been. We spent a day at the beginning and a day at the end of the week in San Francisco. Quite possibly the most eclectic place I have visited, some

of the best people watching happens there. I won't bore you with all the touristy things that we

did but you can assume it was the norm: Fisherman's Wharf, cable car, China Town, etc. Let's get to the good stuff...NAPA!

The drive from San Francisco to Napa is by far, hands down the prettiest I have seen. It began with a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge. It is truly grand! The sheer size makes it beautiful!

We continued our scenic drive through the mountains and then into the valley. I teach my students to use great describing words when they write but there are sometimes when words cannot do justice, only a picture will do...

Instead of writing about the all tantalizing, wine tastings, cave tours, gourmet food, cabernets, merlots, estate blends, chocolates, picnics and sunshine that we experienced, I will leave you with a few photos. Like I said if you have not been...GO, make it happen. It was the trip of a lifetime, at least for Patrick and I!

For those of you who don't know me very well, my maiden name is Hall!

To blog or not to blog...

2010-01-23T08:38:00.004-06:00

Wow! I should be kicked off of blogspot. It is unacceptable that I have not blogged in a month, especially when I was off for two weeks! Well, unfortunately I will not be blogging today...too much to do right now. But this is a little hello from Texas, I will get better. Patrick had some political comments he wanted to blog about, so be looking for that, could get a little hairy!

Before I sign off for what could be a month, no telling, did you resolve to do anything this year? If not, you are not alone, many of us decide that resolutions are pointless but, challenge yourself to do something this year. Maybe it is not a resolution per say but something that you have always wanted to do...skydive, hot air balloon ride, the typical loose weight, get in shape, whatever it is...commit to it! Do it, you will be glad you did!

Have a great weekend blogger friends, or maybe I should say "great week" or "great month" depending on when I will blog again.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

2009-12-24T20:55:00.002-06:00

There will be pictures posted later but it is snowing!! It is beautiful, despite being a bit treacherous driving home from church. Snow in Texas is amazing! Only here can it be 75 yesterday and 29 and snowing today!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Merriment...

2009-12-23T15:50:00.003-06:00

Wow, how the month of December has flown by! I know you are all bored of my dumb posts about my life and my dog and my wonderful husband...I could be creative and blog about funny things but I am all out of creativity right now so here is a small update. Do you like how this blog has turned into "updates".

We have had some fun times sharing with friends and family. We have indulged a little too much at party after party. We have spent many a night looking at Christmas lights, choreographed to music (not sure I need to hear Mannheim Steamroller for a while), and endless baking (there are cookies on the counter cooling right now). The end of school before break went by surprisingly fast...and great! I have great students and we have fun celebrating the upcoming holidays. I did a 5 days before winter break my teacher gave to me...it was fun to see them so excited over things like taking their shoes off or having Hershey's Kisses!

For those of you keeping up with Wrigley's training...she now walks into her crate on her own! Not only that, as I sit here and type, Patrick is on the couch and Wrigley is in her crate napping! You heard you me correctly, I did not miss type! She loves her crate, remember way back in September when we never thought this would happen! She is an amazing dog!

With the last of the gifts purchased and wrapped and some sent to family and Christmas upon us I can't help but reflect on the joys of the year. One more milestone to share...I will be spending the first Christmas of my life without my parents and siblings. We will be at home just Patrick, Wrigley and me, making some traditions of our own. I am an emotional person but I am ready to do this, to be a wife (and not have "daughter duties" as well) and spend this time with Patrick, a little removed from the hustle and bustle. This blog has served as a journal or sorts for me so I thank all of you who have enlightened me with your comments and posts. Thank you for sharing in the milestones of the year. There will be more reflecting to come...

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Enjoy your family, friends and most of all the reason for Christmas, Christ's birth, what a gift!

Twilight...

2009-12-06T20:29:00.002-06:00

The inevitable happened today...I did something I said I would never do...so is that the inevitable? After much scrutiny from family and friends I succumbed to the pressure...I have officially been bitten. All housework, cleaning, laundry have been put on hold. I am engulfed in the latest teen drama/saga. Of course I am the last person on the civilized planet to jump on the bandwagon. I can't put the book down. If you are one of the unfortunate people who have not yet read Twilight (trust me you are not alone) go out and buy the book...on a weekend when you have time to read it. This book crosses all generations and all age groups. I don't care that you will have to dodge teenage girls in the TEEN section of Barnes and Noble. It takes you back to young love in high school, who doesn't want to relive that! As my sister said, it is almost a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Go get this book, don't wait until Christmas, do it now! Be careful, you might just find yourself thirsting for more!

Family, friends and food...Thanksgiving...

2009-12-03T19:58:00.012-06:00

What an amazing Thanksgiving week we had! I am so blessed that I got to share this holiday with not only the love of my life but my entire family! For anyone who knows me or my family you know that we are freakishly close and we have a very unique bond. We see each other about twice a year and it is an amazing time! Well, not only did I get to see them I got to host them, here at our house!! I have always liked throwing parties and making people feel at home but this was truly an experience. I loved every minute of their week long stay. I will not bore you with details but...We did what every normal, slightly crazy family does over the holidays...eat, sleep and shop! The essentials! When I say shop let me assure all you shoppers out there that we did not miss a mall in the metroplex...and we were there on Black Friday at 7 am! That was a first for me and I WILL most certainly do it again! The energy and Christmas spirit was awesome!

A few highlights from the week...

Shopping with Mom is always such an experience. She often makes me try things on that I would never buy...well, this time I might have bought a few things. I know Christmas is soon but I don't get to shop with just my mom ever! We had a lot of fun and I look a lot cuter going to work! My students no longer make comments like, "didn't you already wear that?" Yes I did, afterall, I am made of money remember!

What Thanksgiving would be complete without a kitchen disaster! We have lived in our house for 8 months and have so far been lucky, until Wednesday...the disposal clogged. It was like something out of a movie. I'm pretty sure I was running around like a turkey with its head cut off. But my mother and husband are amazing and we got it all taken care of with a little help from a home warranty and what my dad called a "cowboy" plumber!

Another milestone over Thanksgiving week happened with our little love...Wrigley. We dropped her off at Doggy Day Camp! I am sorry and a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I got a little choked up when we dropped her off. She was so excited and had a blast! She has been there three times in the past two weeks! A happy, tired Wrigley equals happy, relaxed and rested parents!

Graduation and such...

2009-11-10T20:11:00.003-06:00

For all three of you that read this blog and have been keeping up with Wrigley's progress...we have news...Wrigley passed beginner training! She has even been invited to join an intermediate class with another dog! Can you believe it! Let's go back to week one (seven weeks ago) when we were told that Wrigley should be in private classes...progress!! She has made huge progress and growth, by growth I mean she is now 51 pounds! Apparently, we adopted a horse...We are so thankful for her and very much in love. We love her more every day and can't imagine life without her! Thanks for all the support! We will keep blogging about the intermediate training with another dog, only one but still, baby steps!

In other news, Patrick and I are the proud new owners of "big kid" bedroom furniture! This was the first room of furniture either of us has ever bought...let me be the first to say...it is beautiful! And the new mattress to go with the new bed...wow! I have been sleeping on the wrong mattress for years! We have a hard time getting up in the morning, but no one cares about that so lets just move on. Why new furniture you may ask? We are hosting Thanksgiving!!! Mom, Dad, Brian and Brittany and some friends of ours from the area will be here, nine in all! I could not be more excited. Patrick is being a good sport as I can only imagine how he is feeling, one crazy close, a little out there loving family all under one roof, HIS roof! I love you honey and thank you for letting us host! Mom is of course helping me...well, I am helping her! I love my family and I am eager to see them! More on that...happy reading!

Engagements...

2009-10-10T08:05:00.012-05:00

Last night, under the Vegas lights, my girlfriend

and college roommate got engaged. In May, on their couch on a quiet night, my other college roommate got engaged. In December 2002 the first of three amazing college roommates got married, I followed July 07. I was thinking this morning how awesome friendship is.

We started our journey as friends in August of 1996, (yes, that does make us in our 30's). We were fresh out of high school with lots of lofty aspirations but not a whole lot of direction. We were scared, homesick and completely lost. Some of us far from home in a completely new state. I knew that what we had that first month of August would be life changing but I had no idea that I would have three of the most amazing women as friends today! We have been through a lot together, since those tiny dorm rooms (really meant for one) and a not much bigger apartment. We have watched each other grow through breakups and makeups, family drama and trauma, career changes and graduate school. We have had an argument or two, we have moved across the country, some of us more than once. We been there from online dates and the scary meet-in-person to the "YES" and "I do". We have been in each others weddings and watched one us bring life to two sweet little boys. Despite all of life's changes and uncertainties one thing has stayed the same...the love we have for each other. I would not be the person I am today without the love and support of my three fearless roommates. Girls, you know who you are and I love you dearly. I am who I am because you are in my life.

As new engagements are celebrated reflect on what a ride it has been. We are lucky to have the special women in our lives. Tell them you love them, often. They matter to me and I know they matter to you!

Pictures...

2009-10-01T19:57:00.008-05:00

I don't really have anything to post but I thought I would humor you all with a few pictures from the last month or so. I really can't believe that it is October. As a teacher, October is usually the month where you start to breath again! I can't believe it is already here! It will be Halloween before we know it and then Thanksgiving and well...the year might as well be over!

For those of you who are keeping track of Wrigley's training, Tuesday's session was awesome! She even got a compliment from the trainer! Wrigley will usually (not during bad weather) walk on a loose leash and sit on command. Keep the advice coming and prayers. She is still not crate trained and is eating the door to whatever room we put her in...anyone coming to visit will have to deal with some teeth marks on the guest bathroom door!
Have a great weekend friends...

Voiceless teaching...

2009-09-26T09:34:00.005-05:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to teach without a voice? Everyone has a voice, and it is our job as teachers to teach and demonstrate voice, when you lose it, it changes your perspective...completely. I had that happen yesterday. I am still struggling to recover my voice after a cold has settled in (for what feels like a long haul). I learned several things yesterday:
~ you NEED your voice (it is really hard to be me and not talk...VERY challenging, some of you are probably really thankful)
~ I sound super sexy...according to my husband
~ my students will talk as loud as I do, this was a blessing...my decibel was so low and they mimicked it.
~ my students can be super independent...I could only give the directions once and then it was fend for yourself...they were amazing!
This blog entry has turned out to be rather boring but I like writing and there is someone out there that will read it.
On the dog training front...she is great on walks and enjoys the guest bathroom (well by enjoy I mean she does not get out and has not eaten anything). Our trainer recommended that we attach her leash to a piece of furniture when we need her to settle down or stay in a specific place. It is all about letting her know that we are boss and she does what we want her too (that is so comical :)). Putting her leash around the coffee table was a great idea and worked, until she chewed through her leash! I just laugh now! She is so freaking cute and has such a personality that I just can't be mad. She will get better...I say that now since I have been up with her since 6:30. I guess this makes us ready for parenthood...yeah, not quite!
Have a great weekend blogger friends...

Puppy training class...

2009-09-22T21:34:00.003-05:00

We had our first training class with Wrigley. We got there a little bit early because we had a few questions for the trainer. Well, there are no other dogs in our class, (this proves to be a good thing). The trainer brings her dog, but other than that there are no others. Patrick and I were so worried about getting kicked out...well that can't happen when you are the only ones. Had there been other dogs, she would have recommended private lessons! Private lessons! That means my dog is BAD! This comes as no surprise since Wrigley ate Patrick's memory foam pillow today...I know. But we bought a bunch of new toys and treats so maybe tomorrow she will stay occupied. We are going to try the guest bathroom tomorrow. We have guests coming this weekend so hopefully they will have a bathroom...

We were ready to give up today...but, she is so darn cute we just can't! Pray for us...I hope that things get better. On a better note, we bought this Gentle Leader collar and Patrick said it was the best walk ever! That is a huge step!

Cuteness can be deceiving...

2009-09-18T21:41:00.008-05:00

I know my dog is adorable but let me assure you that looks can be deceiving. She is a terror at the moment! I have read article after article about crate training..."your dog will like its crate, dogs are den animals, crate training is highly successful" blah, blah, blah! Wrigley, hates her crate. I know I mentioned this before but it has not gotten better. I of course made the mistake of praying for patience...are you kidding me! Don't get me wrong, we love Wrigley and she has been an amazing addition to our family. I am just ready for training to start and some positive changes.

Here is your dose of puppy love for the week...

We left her in our bathroom last Friday and she did a great job! So we try again on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Well, the other three days she got out of the bathroom and had free roam of a bedroom, no problem (we are getting excited now). Tuesday, the bedroom door was left open and she had free rain of the house, nothing was even so much as out of place.

Wednesdays we volunteer at the church so we came home briefly and then Patrick put her back in our room...you know what happens next. We came home and there was paper from one end of the bedroom to the other. She tore up every magazine and my leather Bible! There were pages of Genesis and Romans (must have thrashed the book around) all over the place! Did I mention that it has been raining here for a week straight and she has not been outside to play? I could only really laugh at the situation and it is even funnier today!

Back to her crate she went...yesterday she broke the plastic liner of her crate and tore up the carpet remnant that her crate sits on. Today, she bent the base of her crate! Are you serious!

If there is anyone out there in cyber blog world that has ever trained a dog to be in a crate or behave for that matter, please send any and all advice our way. Puppy training begins on Tuesday, we will update and let you know how it goes!

We love our puppy very much despite the training challenges. Here are a few pictures...she is stinking adorable!

An attempt at training...ineffective

This bone takes less than a week...it looks huge but she is a lab afterall!

Absolutely true stories...

2009-09-01T20:18:00.004-05:00

I promise I will not bore you with a really long post about my not so interesting life. I have one dog story and a few from the start of the year...

Wrigley has decided that she does not like to sleep through the night anymore. Last night, we are still hoping it was the full moon, she decided at 11:30 (we had been a sleep for over an hour - come on now we are teachers!) to bark and wake us up! It took some cajoling (thank you Gooney Bird Green - more later) but finally after about 30 minutes of attention she went back in her crate and went bed. I guess this is why people say that getting a dog is great parent practice. I have to say I was no more tired than usual!

The school year is off to a great start! I love my job and I love teachable moments. Last week I read my favorite book, Gooney Bird Green to my class. It is about a 2nd grade class and one student in particular who tells "only absolutely true stories". My kids LOVED it! I wanted them to write about themselves so I had them write an absolutely true story about them. It was awesome what they produced! And this my friends...is why I teach!

Wrigley...our newest addition

2009-08-27T20:29:00.004-05:00

Puppy love! It is probably one of the most innocent and unique things. A couple of weeks ago we adopted a black lab mix who caught our eye at a local shelter. She is adorable! Of course when we adopted her, she had just been spayed and had shots so was very mellow! She stayed that way for a few days and then we found out she had kennel cough (very typical)...well, a week on some antibiotics and we have a puppy! Wrigley (yes, she is named after Wrigley Field in Chicago) is 6 months and 35 pounds of puppy...rumbustious, spunky, and cute as can be!

We have attempted crate training...so far we have been unsuccessful. To say that she hates it would be an understatement. She will sleep in there only because we put her crate in our bedroom and she sleeps with the door of it open. We have been leaving her outside during the day and she is happy as a lark (by happy I mean not barking and scratching at the door).

She is a work in progress, and although there are days when we wish she would go in her crate willingly or leave us alone for two minutes to cook dinner, we love her! She has been a wonderful addition to our family! We are happy pet owners...more updates later! There will be more pictures to follow...the start of school happened, makes puppy training and photography hard!

Sibling pride...

2009-08-11T21:52:00.006-05:00

Being the oldest of three I have tremendous pride for my siblings. My
pride was brimming this weekend as I watched my younger sister, by
nine years, walk across the stage and graduate from college!

I am so proud of the amazing woman she has become!

Spending time with my family always makes me miss them more. This
visit was a little different in the emotions department. Let me
preface by saying, we are driving home at the moment, so I miss them
terribly. I also felt really old this week. Being on a college campus
and being so far removed causes anyone to feel a little nostalgia. My
parents are now empty-nesters (although my brother and sister are
temporarily living at home) and I am happily married and teaching, a
lifelong dream. When did we all get so old? This long drive to Atlanta/
Auburn takes no less than 12 hours so I have had plenty of time to
think and reflect, neither one are very good for an emotional person
as myself! Besides feeling old, I feel very appreciative. I love my
family and I'm so thankful for the experiences and memories that we
are creating. Thanks!

With that said, we created some great memories this weekend while
eating and celebrating our way through Auburn! Congratulations
Brittany...oh the places you will go! War Eagle!

Memory lane...

2009-08-04T21:05:00.003-05:00

Look at this, two posts within a week!

I took a trip down memory lane today, by accident. My husband and I went to this new little yogurt place near our house. It is a self serve, soft serve yogurt place. You fill your cup and they charge you by the ounce (this is both good and bad). They give you a huge cup so it takes some serious self-control to walk out of there spending $10 on yogurt.

Anyway, they had cookies and cream soft serve! Anyone who went to college with me knows what that means!! When I was in college we had an amazing soft serve ice cream place that had cookies and cream! We LIVED for this stuff. Well, a few years ago I was back visiting and it's gone! They closed down. It was a sad day when we realized there would be no more Sweet Temptations. Well...today, I relived that sweet, creamy temptation that I remember from all those years ago!

I'm back...I know you are thinking "sure she is"....

2009-07-30T20:19:00.012-05:00

Ok, so I lied! I swore (not literally) I was going to blog more frequently this summer...clearly not the case! But I have a good excuse...it is SUMMER. And what a summer it has been! We have relaxed, traveled and done a whole lot of nothing.

We are fortunate enough to be able to go to Chicago for summer vacation. Especially since Texas has been "blessed" with extreme heat, when I say extreme heat I am talking 100+ temperatures! We missed that, thankfully. I like warmer weather and would certainly choose that over the arctic winter temps, but really that's HOT! My parents lovingly welcome us into their home each summer for close to three weeks. This summer was no different! We had an amazing time. I will spare all the boring details, but there were some highlights worthy of mention.

In all the years that I lived in Chicago, or have visited, I have never been up to the observation deck in the Sears Tower. This is sad for several reasons but the main one being that my mom works in the Sears Tower! I mean really...this year we finally went. The much anticipated "ledge" is open, I use "open" causiously. Let me paint you a picture...four feet wide, and four inches thick of plexiglass essentially suspended 103 stories! Have I mentioned that I am terrified of heights? I am! I was literally shaking as I took a leap of faith, if you have seen Indian Jones and the Holy Grail you know what I am talking about. I can't really do it justice but I do have apicture...remember we are 103 stories in the air, that is 1, 353 feet!

A few more highlights from summer...

~ We celebrated two years of marriage bliss. We had a great dinner at my favorite restaurant back home and a long, sweet, romantic walk on the beach, there is nothing better than cold sand on your feet. Thank you Patrick for loving me, all of me. I love you more today than the the day we married. I am a blessed woman to be your wife.

~Quick trip to Michigan to see my extended family.

~ McNeal family reunion in San Angelo.

Well, that about sums up summer...a very quick summary. We are in a gifted and talented training this week enlightening our minds before school starts...there will be more updates. Happy reading!

Summer read

2009-06-11T19:57:00.003-05:00

School is out and I get a 2 and half month vacation so, I have a little bit more time to blog. I know those few of you that read our blog are thinking "great, we can read some more of her day to day blogs," I don't make you read! I do promise to write about more than just journaling my life. I know some of you hate us teachers because you say that it must be nice to work for nine months and get three off. Trust us, if you dealt with 22 children all day everyday for nine months you would earn a few months off. This blog (at least this entry) is not about jealousy or how much people work or don't work

Summer is the perfect time to get involved in some good reads. I can't read books during the rest of the year because I read the whole book in like two days and I can't get anything else done. I have no self control when it comes to reading. The house could go untouched for four hours while I am consumed in a book. Hence, why summer is a good reading time for me. We hit the library yesterday...

Book 1 of the summer is sTORI Telling by Tori Spelling (you figured that one out). It was really entertaining, not award winning but well written. Completely celebrity hearsay and TV dramaesque (is that a word?) but it is nice to get lost in someone else's life. So, if you are looking for something mindless and easy to read, to kill a few hours this summer (I know most of you don't have time to kill between families and work) I recommend it.

Happy reading!

Summer...finally!

2009-06-06T18:23:00.008-05:00

Wow, it has been a long time! I am so sorry for those of you who have been anxiously awaiting another post. Here it is...condensed of course and complete with several pictures! Happy reading...

I have officially made it through my first year of teaching! What a year! It has been humerous, exciting, sad, fun, exhausting, challenging but most importantly memorable! I have the most amazing team of women that I get the honor of teaching with. Without them, I would never have made it through the year. As if that is not enough, I have a husband who ALWAYS believes in me. There was nothing that I brought home this year or talked about that he did not think I could handle. He was right, funny how that works out! It was an amazing year filled with ups and downs and one that I will not soon forget! Thank you to everyone who made this year successful. In case you are wondering, I still love teaching and can't wait to see a fresh bunch of faces in August...in the meantime I plan on thoughouly enjoying summer!

Since our last post (2 months ago...surely things have happened), we have been a revolving door of visitors and parties...awesome! In May I was blessed with a week long visit from my brother then my sister and a long weekend over Memorial day with my parents! For those of you that know me, you that my family is precious to me. I see them only a couple of times a year so to have them come and visit and stay in MY house was quite special. Showing my family around where we live and doing the things that we call life was really a cherished time. We had a great time! A milestone happened over Memorial Day weekend, we hosted our first party! Thank goodness my mom was here to help. We entertained 25 family and friends! Probably one of the highlights of the year. It was such a hit that next year will be the second annual MD BBQ! May culminated with my birthday and dinner out with friends at my favorite restaurant. I am so blessed that I have friends to share special days with. We were lucky and honored to celebrate a great couple's wedding on my birthday as well. Weddings always make me feel so fortunate and blessed that God put Patrick in my life. I pray that people get to experience this amazing thing called love. I am constantly amazed each day at the power of love. I love my husband more today than I did the day we got married...lucky girl I am! Ok that was a random side note, sorry. Back on track with the update...

I think that since I have now exhausted you with the randomness of our life I will leave you with a few pictures from that past several months. Happy Summer fellow teachers...enjoy it and relish in every sweet moment that summer brings. We have some fun travels ahead so we will keep blogging...as long as you keep reading!

Me and my sister...she loves cupcakes!

Baseball game during a rain delay...

Memorial Day BBQ

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T21:19:00.002-05:00

Happy Easter! To the five of you that read our blog I hope that you had a blessed Easter. Easter is a that time of year when the "newness" of life appears. The plants start to bloom (maybe not after all the storms and cold weather), the spring clothes are brought out and there is a spring in your step. As I was sitting in church today listening to our pastor talk about the amazing God that we serve, I realized that I am not always filled with that newness that Easter seems to bring. So my goal...live a "new" spring-in-your-step kind of life! I challenge you to do the same! Life has enough challenges already so we don't need to live stagnant lives! Have a blessed and wonderful week, and thanks for reading!

A new discovery...

2009-04-03T21:35:00.002-05:00

I have discovered my new favorite thing about our house (please, you know that I find something new everyday)! Let me just preface this by saying it has been a week. If you are a teacher or have ever worked with kids then you know that these weeks happen. You think it is Friday on Wednesday and when you realize that Friday is still two days away, you pray it goes fast....ever been there? I am there! So what did I discover...let me describe it. A glass of chilled white wine, candles with the faint scent of lavender, and bubbles!!! Not bubble bath but bubbles coming out of the jets in our bathtub! It was heavenly! I think I may have even fallen asleep briefly. This is a simple pleasure that I got to enjoy today after a long, tiring and draining week...it was fantastic!

Patrick has re-discovered his love for grilling...burgers, chicken, asparagus, basically whatever we are eating he is grilling! Healthy eating is so much more fun when you can grill and enjoy the outdoors. I take a special liking to this grilling thing because it means less dishes for me to wash (or for me to put in the dishwasher)!

Changing gears for a minute...

Last weekend we had the opportunity to go to a 60th birthday celebration for a family friend. What a great time we had! It was so refreshing to talk to people of my parents generation and to see them so eager to hear about our lives. It is funny how usually the younger generations look up to the older ones for wisdom and advice. But what was equally as interesting was that the people we were talking too were genuinely interested in the lives of a younger generation! I guess we all have something to offer regardless of age! Someone is always learning from you so make sure that your character is shining through (that is the teacher in me)!

Our First House!

2009-03-20T17:31:00.007-05:00

Welcome to our first house! We are getting settled and VERY happy. I have already managed to fill the kitchen and have something in every room! What did I do before? I was amazed at the amount of stuff that came out of our apartment!

Here are a few (although I LOVE everything about our house) of my favorite things...

~We have yet to run the air conditioner, it has been in the mid 70's!

~I can sleep with the windows open and not hear annoying street traffic!

~It gets dark at night, and I can see the stars!

~We have a backyard...a small one but a backyard!

~We can both park in the garage and it is attached to our house!

~There is more than one way into our house.

~I don't have to store everything in the master closet!

Well, those are just a few things! Here are a few photos...come and visit!

Spring Break...

2009-03-14T08:38:00.002-05:00

Spring break has officially started! I am so ready for a break. As a kid spring break was a time for vacation and hanging out with family. I never really thought about how much my teacher would appreciate the time off. I get it now! I have a very chatty class of students and I asked my mom a few weeks ago if I was chatty in school...you guessed it, the answer was yes! So I guess this is my payback. But regardless, I will take the week off and rest...actually no that is not what we are doing! We are MOVING! We close on our house on Monday and the movers come Tuesday...I will upload pictures as soon as I have some. It felt a little weird to take pictures when someone else was still living there!

For those of you on who teach and are fortunate enough to have Spring Break, enjoy it. I know it is a well deserved break!

Boys and Tornadoes

2009-02-10T21:52:00.003-06:00

Why are boys so fascinated with tornadoes and bad weather? We have been anticipating bad weather all day...we knew it was going to hit tonight. I, being a person who LOVES (can you hear the sarcasm) bad weather, was thrilled, glued to the TV and ready to cover in my closet. My husband, however, was outside! No, not standing at the window looking out, but out on our patio. OK, so, some of you are thinking that this is not a big deal. We live on the THIRD floor!! The news is telling us that we should take cover, the sirens are going off and I am in the closet (buried under pillows) while my fearless husband is outside. I know the weather has hit the worst level when he joins me in the closet.

I am starting to like Texas, (afterall, I am in the process of buying a house...did you catch that?) but I will never get used to or like tornadoes. I am thankful that I was home with my husband and not out and about. Or worse yet at school with kids that need me to be calm. I made my team hang out with me this afternoon so that I would not think about the weather...come on! I am a baby when it comes to bad weather...welcome to Texas! We are safe, that is what matters!

House Hunting...

2009-02-01T14:07:00.002-06:00

Have you ever noticed the series of questions that go with life stages? When you graduate high school people ask where you are going to college. When you graduate college people ask where you are going to work. When you have been working for a little while and meet a boy they ask when are you getting married. Once you are married the question of when are you buying a house comes up and then well you can take it from there.

We have graduate to the stage of when are you buying a house...having put in our sixty day notice with our apartment complex the time crunch is on! Good thing we have narrowed our search to just a few.

I knew that choosing my first home would be so exciting! I have dreamt about it for most of my adult life. What I did not realize was how my priorities have changed. It is funny how the things that I once thought we absolute necessities in a house don't really seem to matter as much when you are looking at the whole picture. There are new things that I have come to realize are really important. I still have my lists of wishes...most of which are cosmetic but I can see past the few decorating mishaps. I have seen, in our search for our first home, some serious decorating blunders. Many of the houses (including one of my favorites) have wallpaper...seriously, that went out in the 90's, these homes are less than 10 years old! I can handle one room that I can change, I'm sort of looking forward to that! But when every room has nasty wallpaper with the matching border...I mean really.

I am very thankful that my husband and I share the same tastes...we have agreed on almost every house! We are both torn between two...we will update soon when we make a decision.

New Year...

2009-01-11T20:59:00.005-06:00

Clearly 2009 has not caused me to blog more frequently! We have had a wonderful start to 2009. We made it home safely from Chicago and were welcomed by good friends and some much warmer weather! Last week was back to the grind at work. I have to admit it was actually nice to get back...ask me that in a few weeks when I am counting down to spring break and my answer might be different. We have enjoyed some much needed "home" time. We have been dressing up our apartment with a new rug and some drapes in the dining room...maybe I will have a house some day soon and I can do some more decorating! Well, that about sums the year up so far...afterall we are only 11 days in! Here are a few more pictures from Christmas break...more updates later...I promise!

Uh...More snow :)

2008-12-23T16:05:00.003-06:00

So it is warm here in Chicago, it's up to 26. But, we are getting more snow. Only 2-4 inches. However, when you add that to the 10-12 inches already on the ground, it might look something like this...

Winter Wonderland?? More Like Freakin' Cold

2008-12-22T22:58:00.003-06:00

Hey, long time no post. We are alive and well. We just got a little caught up in work. But now we are in blustery Chicago! It's currently 3 degrees F, which is warm compared to the -4 degrees F it was when we landed. I would have taken a picture of the snow, but since it's halfway up to my knees...I thought it would wait.

We're very glad to be back up north for a while. It's a great escape from our little apartment and the hustle and bustle of our little town. It also gives us a little time to relax and do some out of the ordinary stuff. For example, we can go down to the basement and read a book, or go upstairs and read a book, or watch tv. Well...when it's warmer we'll venture out. We do have one errand to run while we are here. We have the specific task of finding some Chicago stuff; so we'll be heading into the city to ice skate and be a tourist for a day. I'm thinking we may have to go to Giordano's pizza...mmm...deep dish...mmm.

Pictures coming soon...

Christmas Time...

2008-12-07T13:44:00.004-06:00

I LOVE the Christmas season! With 10 school days left the Christmas season is in full force! Last weekend we put up our tree and this weekend the festivities really kicked into high gear. Last night we went to Merry Main Street. There is something about lights, music, Santa hats, model trains, choirs singing, reindeer, Santa in a sleigh, peppermint mocha and kids in awe that puts me in the Christmas spirit! We had a great time listening to jubilant children, school choirs and drinking Starbucks of course! Enjoy some merriment this week...

A beautiful fall day...

2008-11-24T18:05:00.006-06:00

It was a beautiful day today. We decided to go to the park. We have a great park right in the heart of where we live. We enjoyed a brisk walk (it's getting chilly here in Texas) and took some pictures. Here are a couple of fun pictures...enjoy!

Thanksgiving Break...and fall update!

2008-11-23T20:01:00.005-06:00

Wow! Were you afraid that we left the world of blogging? No, we are still here. Fall has been incredibly! Thanksgiving is a well deserved break...we are so thankful for the week off! Between testing, parent conferences, assessments, meetings, community events and various illnesses school has certainly kept us busy.

Despite the craziness of school, Patrick and I have enjoyed some great quality time with friends these past few weeks. We celebrated birthdays with some old friends and had some fun nights out with some new friends (thanks Erin and Evan). We are so blessed and thankful for the friends that we have in our lives.

A first year teacher note: I made it all the way to Thanksgiving break without getting sick! Normally, this would be a great accomplishment although I think I would rather spread it out than have strep again...it hit me hard and knocked me on my butt. I spent that past few days in bed literally unable to get out. Moving from the bedroom to the bathroom was an enormous challenge! I am feeling much better now. Patrick took amazingly good care of me, I am so lucky!

So...with all that we have going on I am so thankful! I am thankful that we have family to share life with, friends to hang out with, and great jobs with students who keep us busy and challenged (even when they get us sick)...life does not get any better than this!

Thank you for being a part of our lives and we feel blessed to be a part of yours. Have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends! Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks...enjoy!

We are still here...

2008-10-23T22:13:00.003-05:00

We are still alive and well for those of you who are wondering. We have been crazy busy with school...conferences, grades, meetings, oh and teaching. There is a reason that teachers get the summer off, it is VERY well deserved! Enough about that because summer is 8 months away! I love what I do and the challenges that every day brings. I have the most rewarding career ever...tiring, but rewarding.

Fall has hit...finally and I am loving the cool weather. It amazes me how quickly one adapts to the warm weather. I never thought that I would think 56 was chilly! That day has come! Happy Friday fellow bloggers! Enjoy the weekend!

The smell of leather...

2008-10-04T14:42:00.006-05:00

The smell of new leather permeates our lives lately...

Despite the hustle and bustle of life we (really Patrick) found time to haggle a little...as many of you know Patrick and I bought a new car! Actually, Patrick bought me a car. It is beautiful...navy blue with gray leather interior! It has been a long time since I have had a new car and never one with leather. I feel like a real adult...who am I kidding I have been an adult for a long time this

is just my way of feeling better about it! I really need to say thank you to Patrick, he traded his car in and is letting me drive the CRV while he drives the Jetta, (that's how it usually works, right?). I am very lucky! Ironically, I think he drives it more than I do, the weekends are his! She (yes the car is a she) is a joy to drive and we are enjoying tooling around town with her. We broke her in last weekend with a trip to Houston. Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. If I could attach a scratch and sniff of new leather, I would :)!

Football...

2008-09-15T19:43:00.005-05:00

I know you are expecting this blog entry to come from Patrick...nope! I LOVE watching football! College football is my favorite, I love supporting my alma mater, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (yes in Ohio), and the Auburn Tigers, War Eagle! Every Saturday, starting in late August early September I am glued to the TV, the weekend is planned around it. I have been this way since I was in high school...I guess when you go to high school (which I attended in Atlanta) in the heart of SEC country you develop a love...the love has continued to grow...

I am doing something right now that I never thought I would be doing. I have moved around a lot and have cheered for many NFL teams, not with the passion that I cheer for college football but nevertheless, I cheer. The Chicago Bears and are my favorite with the Cleveland Browns coming in second (my dad is from Cleveland and a die hard fan) but tonight something new is happening. There is an energy in Dallas that happens every Sunday (expect for today) it's called the Cowboys! Ok so I said it...I am cheering for the Cowboys...tonight at least. I am still a Bears fan and will ALWAYS cheer for them but for tonight I will cheer for the Dallas Cowboys!

Election Time

2008-09-09T17:50:00.003-05:00

Every 4 years a few fun things happen. Leap year, Summer Olympics, and the Presidential Election.
I love election time because most Americans start paying attention to politics. They find their own convictions and the try to defend them by voting for the person whose platform best matches what they believe. I know people have different convictions than I do, and I'm fine with that. The mere fact that a person is searching their inner thoughts and feelings is awesome.
However, I'm somewhat of a realist, and I understand that there are many people out there that cast their vote for president based on who looks better, who their parents vote for, who their friends vote for, or whose getting the best press coverage. That I can't stand.
So far, the media has attacked the families of some nominees, they have tried to misconstrue simple facts in order to cause controversy, and they have expressed their political opinion in fact form in their reports. This is unacceptable. I can't stand the fact that people who want learn more about the candidates are going to be bombarded by accusations of cover-ups and conspiracies that have been created or blown way out of proportion. When will we be able to just listen to what a candidate has to say, hear someone dissect their words (not their lives, or children's lives), and make a decision.
Since I'm not presenting an article in an unbiased form, I'm going to tell you that I support McCain and Palin. I support them for many reasons, their stance on morality, their plan to lower energy cost while finding alternative energy sources, their support for our troops in this fight for freedom, their willingness to shake things up and work across party lines to make a better country, and most importantly their desire to keep our country first.
I don't care if you disagree with me, that's your right, but if you've been complaining about how bad it has been for the last 4 years, please do some unbiased research before you make a decision. This is your chance to help make America better.

Please see the link below, I think it defines the character of the leader we need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8

Life's moments are priceless...

2008-09-05T20:47:00.004-05:00

I guess when you are having fun time flies! Teaching has proved to be more amazing than I could have ever imagined! I am blessed with 22 beautiful little darlings! They are hilarious and make me laugh, we laugh all day actually! They are usually laughing at me! Hey, if they are laughing and learning I'm all for it!

I am exhausted all the time (probably due to my cold that I picked up in Atlanta) but I wouldn't change a minute of it! I am so thankful for the opportunity to teach and impact my kiddos! There is something priceless about a 7 year old telling you that you are funny and that they love math because of it! :) Or when they look at you and ask if they can just hug you. When I see the kids genuinely excited about learning or when their eyes light up when they realize they get it! There are no words for that! This is only week two, I am not naive enough to think that there will not be challenging days...but these are the moments I will remember most!

On another note...non-work related; I had the privilege of going to Atlanta this weekend to celebrate one of my best friends 30th birthdays...it was reunion college roommates! I'm sure you can imagine the fun that we had! We try to get together at least once a year...a pretty amazing feat since we are scattered around the country. This was our girls weekend and we had a blast! I have known these g

irls for 12 years, the time has flown by! We have shared some amazing moments together, breakups, tears, small quarters (I mean really small), long car rides, sleepless nights, laughter, weddings, babies and most importantly a lifelong friendship! Take care of your friendships...they are priceless! I love you girls and thanks for a great weekend!

My classroom...a 5 year dream come true!

2008-08-06T18:22:00.005-05:00

Ever since I graduated from college (after majoring in something else) I knew I wanted to do something with kids. Well, my life has gone in several directions since then. But finally, after 8 years of "searching" for my place, my dream, that has been 5 years in the making, is coming true. I have my very own classroom and soon my very own students! for anyone who does not teach you are probably thinking this girl is crazy to be that excited! But if you do teach or have taught you know what I mean. There is something really rewarding to know that you have your own space. After subbing for a year it is a long overdue reward!

I have been planning this classroom for years so it should come as no surprise that it is a reflection of me, probably a good thing since I will be spending the next nine months in there! Enjoy a few pictures and I will keep you updated on my first year...

San Antonio...a romantic getaway

2008-07-29T08:25:00.004-05:00

I probably should have blogged a long time ago but I got lazy, imagine that! Patrick and I went to San Antonio to celebrate our first anniversary. It was romantic, relaxing and refreshing. We enjoyed walking along the riverwalk and took the boat tour, despite the hot temperatures. It was somewhat of a rude awaking since we had just been in Chicago. We had dinner at a romantic riverwalk Italian restaurant, we even survived eating outside...misters and fans help with that! There was a mariachi band that played at our table! The typical cheesy romantic dinner!

Our hotel was amazing! Thanks to Sneaky Sunday (check their link out on our blog) we found a very city chic hotel right on the river. Patrick described it as "manly", the leather chair and clean lines did it for him! I liked the marble tile in the bathroom and the amazingly huge bed! Our anniversary was complete with cake and champagne. The cake was actually good! The perfect ending to the perfect year!

We ended our getaway with a trip to the Alamo. I am starting to understand why Texans are the way they are. I mean that lovingly of course! There is a lot of history in Texas and I can understand why Texans are so proud of their state! I am not a Texan but I am learning...

happy anniversary..."I do"

2008-07-14T07:54:00.010-05:00

One year ago today I married the man of my dreams. I remember it like it was yesterday....all the emotions come flooding back to me.

Most little girls dream of their wedding day, standing in front of the bathroom mirror with a towel draped over their heads practicing "I do". Then when you get older you dream of your "perfect" mate. You dream that someday you might meet someone who can be your best friend, or maybe the love of your life and if you are lucky a soul mate. I am certainly blessed because I married my soul mate, the love of my life and my best friend! I don't have to practice saying "I do" anymore but I will always strive to make those words true. The actions that come along with "I do" are far more important than the words themselves.

I can still see you, as my dad walks me down the aisle, the glistening of a tear in the corner of your eye. It was at that moment that I felt complete. I do take you to be my husband and love you unconditionally for as long as God allows. I love you more today than I did when I first said "I do". Thank you for loving me unconditionally and teaching me what true love is.

Back Home--what a long road it was

2008-07-12T22:59:00.003-05:00

Sara and I are back from our Chicago vacation, which was a blast. That being said, the drive back was...well...less than fun. The first day we drove 5 hours through Illinois-flat, corn, 65 mph speed limit. We stayed at Sara's aunt's house in St. Louis and had some incredible pizza for dinner. Then we drove 5 hrs through Missouri-hilly, curvy, 70 mph speed limit.
Then came Oklahoma. I was excited b/c I knew the speed limit goes up to 75 mph on I44 in Oklahoma...little did I know that I was going to have to pay $3.50 to sit on a one lane toll road. Let's talk about the toll road. In most states you pay for the portion of the road you have driven on. Apparently, in Oklahoma, you pay for the whole road and get a refund when you get off. That doesn't register as an efficient way to run a business in my mind. So two miles after paying $3.50, we exited for highway 69 and got a $1.75 refund. Make sure you save your receipt. So...highway 69 goes through some small towns, which we knew, and we expected to have to slow down. Unfortunately, between each of the small towns, there was some sort of construction on the highway. That means every 20 min we came up to a sign saying speed zone ahead. We were in these speed zones for about 10 minutes usually, going 45 mph. The other 10 minutes were at 70 mph ish. So if your doing the math with me...for every hour that I wanted to drive 70 miles...we covered 58 miles. According to our GPS, driving through Oklahoma added 40 minutes to our trip, and we didn't even get out of the car. Oh...and the roads need more construction b/c they are very rough.
Finally we crossed in to TX and all was back to normal...or so we thought. We decided that after 10hrs in the car we would stop at a Chick-Fil-A for dinner. Apparently we missed the memo that Friday, July, 11th was dress like a cow and get a free sandwich day. Cute for kids and maybe parents...but not adults w/o kids. Use your imagination.
Anyway, it's great to be back and we cannot wait to see everybody again.

Lions, Tigers, and Giraffes! We Went to the Zoo!

2008-07-06T20:22:00.010-05:00

You guessed it! Sara and I went to the Lincoln Park Zoo today in Chicago. This was my first, but certainly not last, visit to this particular zoo. It wasn't the best, or most amazing zoo, but it's free.

This beautiful tiger greeted us as we walked into the zoo.

I know this is a dark picture, but the male lion is just magnificent.

Then there were the tortoises playing leap frog...

...and the rhino trying to blend in with the rocks.

But perhaps the best part of all was the giraffes. They are Sara's and my favorite zoo animal.
(Probably because they are tall)

Happy 4th of July!!!

2008-07-04T22:57:00.006-05:00

There is something about watching fireworks and listening to "Proud to be an American" that just makes everything feel...perfect. It's hard to believe that the almost every person in the greatest nation on Earth did this exact same thing tonight. I wonder what people in other countries think about our traditions of freedom?

Our day couldn't have been more wonderful. We woke up and sipped on some coffee at around 8am. Then we headed out the door for the local parade. It was more of a marching commercial than a parade, but it did have it's high points. For example, there is a group called The Lawnmower Brigade that performs with their lawnmowers every year. They have a theme (usually about current events) and dance to appropriate music. This years theme was polygamy, and the song of choice was "Who's Your Daddy" by Toby Keith. Imagine 20 grown men in dresses, with pregnant bellies, dancing.
After the parade we came home and had brats and favorite salad (macaroni, tuna, mayo, and relish) out on the patio. Then we relaxed inside and out.

That brings us to FIREWORKS! We left the house at 7:45 with chairs, blankets, and sweaters. Yes, I said blankets and sweaters. It was in the 50's. We munched on popcorn and cotton candy as we waited for two hours to watch the show. It was well worth the wait.

Porch swings and summertime...

2008-07-01T17:33:00.006-05:00

I was sitting on my parents porch swing, enjoying the breeze and cloudless sky, reflecting on summer. It truly does not feel like summer until you are sitting on the screened in porch with the breeze blowing and doing nothing! It is so peaceful I can hear birds chirping and the creaking of the swing going back and forth. It feels like a scene from a movie. This is how I have spent the past couple of days! The fact that we can be outside without sweating is amazing! You forget how hot Texas is until you leave and head north. It has been a relaxing start to a great vacation.

My mom and I were fortunate enough to go on a garden walk on Sunday...no sweating involved! The weather was almost as beautiful as the gardens. One of the homes that we went to had a great fruit garden (I'm sure there is a more technical/botanical term but I don't know what it is). There were cherry trees, pear trees and apple trees. It was so beautiful! Some of the gardens were so hidden you had to go hunting for them...it was like the secret garden! Check out the pond behind my mom and me, that is in someone's back yard!

yeah...it's been a while

2008-06-25T16:23:00.003-05:00

You would think that not working would give Sara and me plenty of time to blog. Well...it does. We just dropped the ball. So we are going to play a little catch up.

A couple of weeks ago I thought it would be "fun" to go shopping with my wife. Yeah...I learned something that day; humor can sugar coat almost anything. We were in Ann Taylor Loft when Sara decided to try on some pink pants...you know, the kind that stop mid calf. Well...she came out of the dressing room to ask my opinion. I gave the standard, they're eh...cute. To which she responded, "do they make my butt look big?" (How am I supposed to respond to that) Well, without skipping a beat, I said "They don't make your butt look smaller!" Fortunately, Sara found this most amusing and burst out laughing.

The next highlight of our summer was a co-worker's wedding in Waco, TX. No, we did not join a cult while we were there, but we did go to the Dr. Pepper Museum. It was...charming, but the Dr. Pepper float at the end was to die for! The wedding ceremony was gorgeous and the reception was a blast. Our trip ended with a surprise visit with my sister.

Last weekend I attended the wedding of an old college friend in Houston. It was also great, unfortunately my wife couldn't attend b/c she was taking a test to prove that she can teach. I don't know how a test proves that she can teach...but that's life.

And that brings us to the present. We are getting ready to go on a road trip to escape the hot summer heat.

School's out for Summer!

2008-06-05T21:56:00.003-05:00

Unless you are a teacher, or a parent, you have no idea how wonderful it sounds to say that school is out for summer! It has been an amazing, challenging and tiring year! I have learned a lot about myself personally and professionally. I have realized a few things too...

Subbing, is far more difficult than being a teacher in the same classroom all year. It does however have its perks, you only have a group of kids for a short time (in my case anywhere from 2 days to 60 days). Take that for what it is worth! Being the "new" girl on campus monthly is challenging but it has afforded me the ability to meet a lot of amazing new friends. I am blessed.

Challenges, are just that, challenging! They make you stronger and make you learn about yourself. I found that when I stretched myself beyond my comfort zone major growth happens, but we all knew that! That is a God lesson that I will not soon forget.

I have learned a lot about myself but I think the most important thing I learned is that I LOVE TEACHING! I can't imagine doing anything else! When I weigh all the good and the bad nothing outweighs a student asking you if you can teach them next year! Thanks to all my friends, family and students for helping me grow every day!

Patrick's sentiments can be summed up in one sentence..."Ha,ha, I don't have to got to work for 2 months!" Happy Summer!

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-05-31T22:22:00.013-05:00

How much better of a start can a birthday have then chocolate chip pancakes in bed! That is how my first day of my 31st year started....I have the greatest husband ever! That breakfast was followed by a clean kitchen, clean house and flowers!

I was sitting in the salon chair today getting a manicure and pedicure and I was thinking about a review that I read. Someone was complaining because this particular salon (I frequent often) was slow. They mentioned that they were there for 2 hours, sitting in the massage chair. Is there something wrong with this? I understand that some people like the quick fix, in and out manicure. When the title of the salon has then words grand and spa in it, I'm not thinking this is a quick fix. It is funny to me that people are in such a rush all the time, even on a Saturday at the nail salon! I enjoyed my hour and half massaging manicure and pedicure!

The perfect ending to the perfect day is dinner at my favorite restaurant with friends. Thanks Steph and Jeff for helping me celebrate! Can't forget to mention the ice cream cake made my my wonderful husband! Thanks honey for making today so special. Here's to year 31!

One More Week

2008-05-30T22:15:00.002-05:00

As Sara and I talk about wrapping up our school years, I can't help to think about all the good and the bad. You can tell a lot about a teacher by how they judge their year. Many will tell you about their test scores; if the scores were good, they had a good year. I'm not that person. I judge my year based the growth of the students intellectually, emotionally, and their maturity. Now we all know you win some and you lose some. I feel that I have won a lot this year. I have been able to see all of my students mature in one or more areas. I'm not saying I had a perfect year; there were some tough times. But the good times far outweigh the tough.
I'm glad to be a teacher. I get to see growth. I get to be a part of molding and changing a life. And I get 2 and a half months off during the best time of the year. (Trust me...it's well earned.)

Gotta go...fireworks at the ballpark. I love being able to watch from my patio!

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T13:49:00.010-05:00

Happy Mother's Day! I was reflecting on motherhood this morning when I was talking to my mom. I can't relate to motherhood seeing as I am not yet a mother. But what an incredible accomplishment that must be! I can only imagine what my mom must feel like, someday I will be able to share in those emotions. But for now, I can relate to being a daughter. So Mom, this blog is for you, Happy Mother's Day...

Thank you for the endless hours of doing the laundry, making lunches, cooking dinners, helping with homework, relinquishing control of the phone, television and car, performing ridiculous amounts of comic relief when a boyfriend broke up with us or a friend acted like a jerk, and for lending an ear every minute of the day. Thank you for driving me to college and listening to me cry for 8 hours and driving me home at the end of the year when I cried for 8 more. Thank you for being my best friend, confident, mother and shoulder to cry on. Thank you for supporting me, financially, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for always being there even when I didn't want you to be, for keeping your distance when you knew I needed to be on my own, for knowing when to give just the right nudge and when to reel me in and for letting me go this summer to marry the man of my dreams. Most importantly Mom, thanks for being you, there is only one and you are the best!

Here is a hysterical link to a video done by comic Anita Renfroe click here, enjoy!

Spring in Texas

2008-05-03T22:25:00.006-05:00

Today was one of those beautiful Texas spring days. After an uneconomically stimulating trip to the outlets, we decided to take a Saturday drive. We checked out a great neighborhood about 10 minutes from where we currently live. I have lived a lot of places but nowhere have I seen what I saw today just 10 minutes outside of the booming metropolis where we live (population 100,000).

This was truly beautiful, only in Texas!

Today culminated with yet another trip to Lochrann's, this time to listen to Kenny Chesney! Patrick thought I was a closet parrot head, tonight was ridiculous! I was standing at the front gate with my head between the metal bars singing along! I was that girl! Are you kidding me! As if that was not enough, I moved to the entrance where I proceeded to stand and sing along. What can I say, I'm a fan!

Hand people...put them down!

2008-04-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

So I'm enjoying American Idol tonight with my wife when Neil Diamond starts to perform. I like Neil...he's a great artist and performer. However, the song Mr. Diamond sang tonight was a mellow ballad. I'll admit, I don't like waving my hands in the air, and I think people who do it look silly; but the girls in the front tonight really missed the beat. Have you ever seen the cartoon where there is a big bull dog walking slowly down the street and there's a peppy little purse dog doing circles around him. Yeah, that's what I thought when I saw the waving. So if you're a hand waver...get it right or don't do it.

It is really only Tuesday?

2008-04-29T20:38:00.003-05:00

Have you ever felt totally drained and frustrated? Let me preface this blog with the fact that I LOVE teaching and I am very excited for my new job...you know where this is going don't you? I feel like I have jumped over fences to get my certification transfered over. I got a copy of my certificate in the mail and I was super excited! Thinking the process was almost complete. I thought I had a year to take all my tests (on my time), but unfortunately, that is not the case. I need to take one of them this summer. Normally, this would not be a big deal except for the fact that it is conflicting with the wedding of a friend. Again, not normally a problem except the test is in Dallas, wedding is in Houston. I think we will be able to do both. I am just a little frustrated. Maybe I shouldn't blog when I am frustrated...

On a much more fun note we are in a walking routine. We have a great little 2 mile route that takes us around our neighborhood. We put a little twist on it today. With gas prices being so high and the weather so nice we took the eco-friendly approach today, WALK to Target! It was a beautiful way to relax from the day and accomplish some errands.

Cheese Burger in Paradise

2008-04-26T21:33:00.003-05:00

So...I just learned that my wife is a closet parrot head. I know, I had to pick my jaw up off of the ground too. Sara and I had a productive Saturday. We started off with a brisk 3 mile walk. After some deep cleaning of the apt. we went to the mall to get some cards and pillows (random, I know). We then drove to 3 different stores looking for a hanging planter for our patio. We were looking for the kind of planter you hang on the railing. When we got to the third store we looked a little more closely at this black thing we had seen at the other two stores that we thought wouldn't work. Turns out it was exactly what we needed...one problem, it was $15.00 more than both of the other stores. So back in the car we go. We finally purchased the hanger, a planter, way too much soil, and some pretty flowers (ask Sara if you want to know what they are). I made sure to plant them as soon as we got home. Next we decided it would be a good idea to iron the freshly washed duvet cover. Yeah...I don't know how Sara talked me into it, but 30 min. later it was neatly pressed.

For dinner we decided to go to our favorite establishment, Lochrann's Irish Pub. It just so happened that Jimmy Buffet was performing across the street at PH Park. Not only was the food and beverage phenomenal, but we could hear Jimmy clearly. It was fantastic.

Welcome to our Blog...

2008-04-21T21:30:00.002-05:00

I have been contemplating for weeks about starting a blog and here we are! Welcome to the lives of Patrick and Sara. With family scattered around the country we thought this would be a great way to keep in touch, you can read about our lives and stay entertained!

Married life has been the most amazing thing that I could have imagined! Life does not get much better than this! We have officially (after 9 months of marriage) become settled in our routines. I will say that living with someone else is quite a challenge. Learning to compromise has been the greatest adjustment. For those who know me, I am a bit controlling when it comes to managing my house. It's not so much controlling as it is just doing things my way, well, I will have you know that I am getting better! I have learned to let go. We are adjusting well and could not be happier!

Well, that is going to do it for post number one...stay tuned for more PS Happenings...