list

I'm not a writer. I don't like to write, I don't like to teach writing to my kids, and I'm jealous of those who can write. I think that's the reason it's so hard for me to keep up with my blog. So here is another list to update myself and you millions of readers. :) * Pre-marital counseling has been ok. The book we are reading is really more for the inexperienced and somewhat naive. The last chapter told us that marriage will not solve all your problems (duh), that your partner isn't perfect (yeah, we both know that already), and that everything in our relationship will not magically get better after we're married (really????). Matthew is worried that we're wasting our money on counseling, but I just feel better doing it. We are starting the Five Love Languages at church tomorrow though, and I'm really looking forward to that. * I'm really looking forward to Valentine's Day. Matthew gets to choose what he wants me to cook, we found a quiz book for engaged couples that we're going to do, and we are finally going to watch Fireproof. It should be fun. * I have lost about 7 pounds since the beginning of January. I'm really proud of myself! My goal is to lose about 8 more before the wedding. I'm doing weight watchers online again and have been walking and doing Wii Fit. It feels good! *School is ok. The kids in my class really have personality conflicts. Plus, they are already starting to like each other!! Come on, this is 2nd grade!! So between the arguing and the kissing behind the slides, I really have my hands full. * I am now starting to apply to some school districts. It's so weird to not have any clue where I'll be teaching next year or where we'll be living. I just need to leave it all in God's hands. I guess that's it for now! I don't have any new pictures or I would post them. I'll try to write about once a week from now on!

frustrated

I am frustrated with blogger. Can anyone tell me how to make it easier to create a post and add pictures? Everyone else's looks so cute and mine is just BLAH!!!

elfyourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

bad blogging

I am being a very bad blogger these days. It's not that I don't have anything going on...I guess it's the opposite. I never find the time to sit down and write something, and when I do have a few minutes I can't think of anything to say!!! Here are a few highlights from the past couple of months: *Wedding planning galore. I have gotten so much done for the wedding and for the most part I haven't been stressed. We found a place, preacher, cakes, dresses (mine and bridesmaid's), caterer, band, tuxes, ordered Save the Dates, favors, bubbles, and more. It's been fun and I know the most fun is yet to come!! *Thanksgiving. I had a very nice Thanksgiving with my family. Matthew and I went to Abilene and ate, ate, ate!!!! We also sang lots of karaoke and watched LOTS of sports. *Christmas shopping! I am so excited about the gifts I'm giving this year! And I'm almost done! I actually have several presents under my tree!! This is seriously the highlight of my life right now.:) *Church. I love it more each time I go. Matthew and I are involved in our small group and are making some good friends. I feel so blessed to have found such an amazing place where the people are so real! So that's me in a nutshell right now. I'm sure there's more, but I need to go bake a cake. Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!!!

we're engaged!!

Matthew proposed to me on Friday! I told him afterwards that it was completely perfect. It just shows how well Matthew knows me because I couldn't have even put into words what I wanted...but he figured it out anyway! This is how it happened... I was not feeling well at all on Friday morning. My throat hurt so badly that I thought I might have to call in sick and I was hoping it wasn't strep. After my shower I felt a little better so I decided I'd be okay, BUT I was going to leave as soon as I could after school so that I could get some rest. Matthew had a football game that night (so I thought) so I would have the evening to myself. I told Matthew sometime during the day how I felt, and I remember him saying, "Well don't you skip out early from school!" Little did I know why he said that. I ran into Matthew's mom (Cathy) during the day (she's the assistant principal) and she could tell I wasn't feeling well. I told her that I hoped to leave right after school. Well, on my way back from dismissing the kids, Cathy told me that she and the principal needed to see me in her office at 3:45. I was kinda bummed because I wanted to leave, but of course I said okay. I went down there and they started talking to me about my Literacy Stations, acting all interested and asking me a ton of questions. I was trying to be short so that I could just get out of there. Finally we were done and I headed back to my room to gather my things. When I returned to my room I opened the door and turned on the lights and I saw this: He said some really sweet things and asked if I'd marry him. Of course I said yes! It was perfect that he did it at school because this is where we met for the first time two years ago. The ring is absolutely beautiful! We went to tell Rachel across the hall from me (who had been in on the whole thing and had let Matthew into my room), and then we went down to the office to tell his mom. It was then that Matthew said we probably needed to get going because we had dinner reservations at 6:00. He wouldn't tell me where. So, we went back to my place so that I could change clothes and then headed out. Of course I had called my mom, dad, brother, and some friends by this point. I started crying in the car because after I told my dad he said, "I wish I could hold you right now." I told Matthew that I wished I could see my parents. We pulled up to A Taste of Italy and went inside. The waitress took us to the back of the restaurant and when we walked in I was so surprised to see this... My family, his family, and some friends were waiting for us. This was such a special surprise. We had a great time eating and chatting about all the lies Matthew had been telling me over the past few weeks. It turns out I'm a little nosy and hard to keep a secret from. Who knew??? Here are some more pictures from the restaurant: Afterwards we went back to the Irby's for dessert where some more friends joined us. This was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I'm so thankful that God has given me a man who loves me enough to do all of this for me. Wedding details to come!!!

fall

I think that our fall weather might finally be getting here! I'm no weather forecaster but the rain and wind makes me excited for the change in seasons. I absolutely LOVE this time of the year for many reasons. Here they are: jack-o-lanterns, cute ghosts, black cats pumpkins, scarecrows, fall-scented candles changing leaves cooler weather thinking about buying halloween candy matthew's birthday our anniversary apple cider and hot chocolate thinking about turkey and what to cook for thanksgiving (to bring to mom and dad's) a change in wardrobe not being miserable at recess fall stationery for the kiddos starting my christmas lists of what to buy everyone anticipating listening to christmas music starting early so that i don't feel like the season got away from me Enjoy your "cooler" week!

my camera's broken!!

I'm not sure how it happened, but my camera is no longer working:( So my posts will be a little boring until I can buy a new one. It's too bad my birthday is the day before Christmas!!!!! The first week of school went very smoothly. A couple of my kids ended up not coming, so as of now I have 19. So far, my kids have been pretty well-behaved and I don't forsee any of them being huge challenges (discipline-wise). I'm really looking forward to the rest of the school year. It was really nice to have a long weekend. Friday night I stayed up at school until about 7 just trying to get ahead, Saturday and Sunday I went to Grandma's and Katina's to hang out, Sunday we went to church, and today I've been ironing, watching Lifetime movies, and that's about it!! Speaking of church, I don't think I've really said much about it on here. Matthew and I are so blessed to have found Bridge Way. We love it! We have made several friends, joined a small group, taught in the nursery...it's a wonderful place. You don't have to worry about being judged when you go there...there are people from every background so we really feel like we fit right in. And the worship is amazing. I look forward to it every week, and I never want it to end!! If you live around the DFW area and would like to check it out, Friends Day is Sept. 28th. Let me know and we can go together! Their website is http://www.bwchurch.org/ Have a wonderful, short week!!