Back to school...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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!