Wordless Wednesday

The Jeans

I didn't plan on dedicating an entire post to jeans, but since you all asked....

For reasons unknown to me, I seem to be the kind of girl who can't own more than two or three pair of jeans at a time. I feel like I'm constantly saying that I only have one pair of jeans. And not just one pair that I like, but one pair of jeans. Period.

Last year I bought a pair of American Eagle jeans at a second hand shop while visiting my mother in law. I LOVED these jeans. They were so comfortable and the perfect color. I could dress them up or just wear them with a t-shirt. For awhile, they were the only pair of jeans I wore. That was fine because I pretty much only wear jeans on Friday and Saturday. About a month ago they started to get a little thin on the thighs so I decided it was time to buy a new pair.

I do not like to spend money on jeans. I'm sure if I were willing to spend a little more, my jeans would last a little longer, but oh well. A little over a month ago I picked up a pair of jeans at Old Navy for $20. They are okay. They are really lighter than I prefer and they are a little big in the waist. They pooch out in the front when I sit down. They only work with long t-shirts.

In the past week my American Eagle jeans finally gave way to a small hole. Friday I was ironing them and hit the hole with the iron making it much bigger. I will still wear them, but they aren't exactly appropriate for school anymore. :(

So... for the past week I've been shopping for jeans. I looked online for the most part but finally started shopping in stores Saturday.

Here's the problem with me and jeans. For the most part I still wear clothes out of the juniors section. 99% of jeans in the juniors section are either skinny legs or have holes all in them or both. Not what I wanted. Oh and the other option apparently looks like this...

Now I like pink, but come on. I did think about buying them just to see what the husband would say. :)

My other gripe is that I wear a different size in EVERY store. Why can't they just make our pants like guys. Go by waist size so that I can wear the same stinkin' size no matter what the brand. Normally I wear between a 2 and a 4, but I went in one store and had to move up to a size 7 before I could even get them buttoned. That's just crazy.

I shopped about 4 hours Saturday with no luck. Sunday the husband agreed to go to the mall with me. Poor guy had no idea!

We went in every store that sold pants. I tried on any and everything in my size. Nothing was working. He decided we should go in Dillard's. That lasted all of about two seconds. The first pair of jeans he picked up were $155. We left Dillards. :)

I just wanted to go to American Eagle and pray they had a pair exactly like the ones I had. However, Aeropostale was next in line on the mall loop. I really didn't think I would have any luck finding "grown up" pants here. I was almost in tears. I completely understood how the people on What Not To Wear could have breakdowns while shopping. I was almost there myself.

I mean I knew exactly what I wanted, I just couldn't find it. So we're in Aeropostale and the husband handed me two pair of jeans and told me to try them on. Note* He does an excellent job of picking out my clothes.

I went in to try these pants on knowing they wouldn't fit or that I wouldn't like them. The first pair fit. I did a happy dance. I tried on the second pair. They fit. I did a bigger happy dance.



Now I just have to take them to be hemmed, but that's not a big deal. So glad to have jeans again!!

Back to Reality

Today is the last day of Spring Break. It's back to work tomorrow. Thankfully it is only a four day week.

Someone (okay several people) asked me if I was ready to go back to work tomorrow. I'm not dreading it at all, but I'm also not just dying to go back. I love my job and I know that as soon as I see my students tomorrow, I will realize how much I've missed them this week. But I have also really enjoyed my time at home this week.

I started the week with a huge to do list. I've been able to mark off some of the items on that list. There's still a lot left though. And you know what? I'm okay with that. My week has been restful and I feel like that is more important than getting through a list.

Yes, I'm writing lesson plans tonight for tomorrow, but oh well. They will get done and probably won't be much worse than if I had done them earlier this week.

This week is going to be busy. Getting up in the morning and getting back into my routine will be exhausting enough. My house is a complete wreck right now and I hope to take care of that this week. I also hope to finish up those last items on my to do list.

As I type this I realize I am ready to get back into the swing of things. As much as I enjoy staying home everyday, it doesn't mesh well with my personality. I seem to linger towards depression when I'm home all day every day. And when I go out it gets expensive. HA! Work is a good place for me to be. I don't get bored and I make money instead of spending it.

Speaking of spending money, I have been jean shopping all week. I HATE THIS!!! I was very frustrated today and ready to give up when I finally found jeans that I like and that fit. Two pairs at that!! I was so stinkin' excited. I did a little happy dance in the dressing room. I'm pretty sure the husband was just as excited. He might have been getting a little frustrated with me. Oops!


Okay I have more to tell you but I really need to get back to those lesson plans. More later.

Look Who I Had Lunch With

Is he not the cutest little boy you've ever seen? His name is Jude and he is as sweet and precious as he looks.

Our friends, Stuart & Laura, had Jude on March 17. I was able to take them lunch today and love on the little guy for the first time. He is absolutely gorgeous!!! And so sweet! He slept the entire time I was there today and didn't mind that I was holding him and loving him and taking his picture (I did not take the above picture).

There's No Place Like Home

I love our home.

When we decided to buy it, the husband informed me that we would only be here a couple of years, three at the most before we moved. I thought that was a little ridiculous. What was the point of buying a new home and moving in for such a short time. I knew that time would go buy in no time and we would still be here.

I was right. We are still here and it has been over four and half years. I really like our house. In fact I would say it has been in the past year that we've been decorating and making this house a home.

Even though we love our current home, we are dreamers. Andrew has house design software on his computer. He is constantly is designing us a new house. We like a variety of styles. Every new house he designs is vastly different from the last.

For the past couple of days we have been looking at land and talking about this whole building a house thing a little more seriously.

We're still far from being serious, I think. I don't know. It's hard to tell. Andrew talks about something for months even years and does nothing. But then again we also decided to buy our current home in a week. We finally decided to go to D.C. even faster than that.

After six years of marriage, I still haven't learned to tell how far he is from just jumping into a decision.

All that to say we are looking at land. We have found some that I think Andrew loves. I still need some convincing. It's A LOT of land. Probably more than we would ever use.

It's closer to my parents. It makes Andrew's commute to work shorter.

It doubles my commute to work.

It's in the middle of nowhere.

I'm still very unsure as you can see. We are just talking right now.

The scary part is that it could be my home for the rest of my life. Yes, I know Andrew and I are still very young. I just think that whatever we do next, is it. It will be our home for a very long time. It will be where we have babies and where we grow old. I just want to get it right.

Wordless Wednesday - Daddy's Girl

Get Into The Groove

Earplugs. I'm sure that is something my husband wishes he had right now. Bless his heart, every time he comes home, I have the same music blaring throughout the house.

Whenever I find a new song that I love or rediscover an old favorite, I tend to listen to it over and over and over and over and... you get the idea.

I'm sitting here now adding a few songs to the play list on my ipod before I jump into the shower. I love getting ready for the day when Andrew is already gone. I take my portable ipod player into the bathroom and crank up and just sing and dance away while I get ready. So much fun.

For the past few days here is what has been blaring throughout the house.

1. Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson
2. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
3. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
4. The Remedy by Jason Mraz
5. Bubbly by Coblie Caillat

What's are your play list?

The Weekend

Something about not going to work today makes posting about my weekend feel a little strange. It doesn't feel like it's over yet, but I guess by definition, it is over.

Friday night involved a relaxing evening at home with the husband. We had considered going to Winter Jam, but ended up not going. I was feeling 100% and he had to work late. By the time we had gotten there, we would have been in the nose bleed section. We decided to take front row seats in our bed to March Madness instead.


I realized Friday night that I've never really watched March Madness before. I know what it is and I watch the final game or so, but I've never watched it this early on. I never realized that all these teams are playing all at the same time. It is totally designed for men. I would get into a game and then the TV would take away that game and give me a different one. I mean seriously. You don't even have to lift the remote to channel surf. Very frustrating to a girl like me who hates channel surfing.

And the commercials. I don't watch commercials anymore thanks to this wonderful little invention called DVR. Commercials are just stupid these days. AWFUL!!

Anyway.

Saturday was a beautiful day! Andrew spent the morning working on the gate to our fence. It was in pretty bad shape and we have been fearful of escape from the insider (Liberty Belle). While he did this, I ventured out to Kirklands and Old Navy for something for spring.

I wanted this from Kirklands They didn't have any. Not they didn't have any W's. They didn't have any flags at all.

I wanted this from Old Navy

It didn't fit.

A little bummed, I headed home to see how things were going with the husband. Thankfully, he had much better luck with the fence. After lunch and a bit of rest, it was off to the garage to work on my desk. He hasn't worked on it in a little over a month, but we made some good progress Saturday. It is so close to being finished. Look at what a monstrosity he is building for me.




Just for comparison, here is a shot of me laying on the desk. :)


Sunday we slept in and then got ready for some more shopping. Andrew wanted to go look at tents and sleeping bags for his 3 day bike trip he is planning. I wanted to go check out the scrapbook section at Tuesday Morning.

Tuesday Morning turned out to be a great stop. Andrew found two sleeping bags that only weight 1.9 pounds for $20 each. Light weight is important because he will be carrying them while riding a bicycle. Of course, he had to try them out when we got home. It was too funny to not take a picture. Liberty & Liam loved this sleeping bag because they could kiss all over Daddy. :)


I found an 18X24 cutting mat for my new scrapbooking desk. It was a steal for $9. Love it. Also bought a chipboard album and some paper.


Sunday night we went to Journey Church. Tonight was Cary and Sara's last night. They are moving to Missouri to pastor a church there. After church we all went to U.S. Pizza to say good bye. We don't spend just a ton of time with them now that we aren't at Journey, but I'm sure going to miss them. They are definitely some of our favorite people. Here are just a few pictures from the night. There will be more to come later.

Getting To Know You Sunday

It is already Sunday. I knew this would happen. My Spring Break is slipping away all too quickly. As soon as I woke up this morning, before I was even out of bed I began making my mental to do list for today as well as for the rest of the week. I don't want next Sunday to get here and my list still be full. I plan to get a lot accomplished this week. We had a great start yesterday, but I will tell you about that later.

For now I'm going to continue to lay in bed a little longer and enjoy the Lord's Day while I play "Getting to Know You Sunday". If you want to play as well just grab the questions and start answering. Don't forget to link up over at MannLand5's blog.


The questions..

1. What year did you graduate high school?
2. What part of your body do you neglect the most?
3. Beach house or Lake house?
4. Mac or PC?
5. Did you wear braces?
6. If you could be one person for a day..living or deceased..who would you be?
7. How many times have you moved in your life?
8. Would you rather cook or clean?


1. What year did you graduate high school?

I just came across my cap and gown and my cords and such last night while going through some things in the attic. Andrew said they must have given cords at Newark just for attending. :( The husband can be so cruel sometimes. Either way, I graduated from Newark High School in 2001. Go Roos!!

2. What part of your body do you neglect the most?




I wish my fingers looked this good. I am a nail biter and it makes for some U-G-L-Y fingers. I know its a nasty habit. I'm trying to break it.

3. Beach house or Lake house?




4. Mac or PC?
I prefer PC. I'm used to a PC.

5. Did you wear braces?
I did not wear braces, but I would like to have them on my bottom teeth now.

6. If you could be one person for a day..living or deceased..who would you be?
As Jesus and Hannah Montanna say (Because how often can you put those two together in a sentence?) "Nobody's Perfect"



I tried to think of someone I would like to be, even for a day. I thought about a famous person, but I think they have more problems than I do. I thought about Mary or Ruth or some other awesome woman from the Bible, but I think they are known for their faith for a reason. I'm not sure I could handle their situations with the grace they did. I even read what other people put on this question so I could cheat. Like I said, nobody's perfect. But I still couldn't come up with anyone I wanted to be for the day other than myself. It's never perfect, but I like my life and I like being me. Guess that's why God made me Me. :)

7. How many times have you moved in your life?


I do not know the answer to this question. I'm pretty sure we moved several times when I was just a baby and obviously I don't remember those. But does anyone remember their first few years? I remember living in 9 different house/apartments/dorms.


8. Would you rather cook or clean?

Can I choose C. None of the above? I'm not really a fan of either. If I must choose then I would probably pick...

Teaching Your Own

The other day, Kelly at Kelly's Korner wrote on her blog that she was an expert at parenting before she had her little girl, Harper. This has got me to thinking. I'm afraid I must admit that I am guilty of being an expert as well.

Someday Andrew and I will have babies (God willing). And Someday those babies will be in school. As far as we can see right now, our kids will attend the same school where I teach. Though it isn't a perfect school, it's a great one in my opinion.

As of right now I am the only 7th grade Science teacher at HGMS. So unless something changes, some day my own children will be in my classroom. I think often about how I will handle that.

Being a teacher's kid is sort of what it's like to be a preacher's kid. Or at least that is what I compare it to. I am not a preacher's kid, only a preacher's kid-in-law. :) They are always in the spotlight. If a teacher's kid makes a good grade or wins a contest all the other students say it's because of his or her mom or dad. Of course this is not always the case. But, it is the case sometimes. I know that I have been guilty of such things so I'm not trying to sound mighty pompous about this. I'm just making observations.

There are definitely some teaching parents who give their children and their children's friends special privileges. I look at them and think to myself that I would never all my child to do that just because I was a teacher. Or I would never ask for that just because I'm a teacher and my child goes here.

But what do I know. I have no children yet. I think that is going to be a big challenge for both me and my children someday.

Are any of you teachers who have taught your own children? How did it go for you? Any pointers?

Just a few thoughts

** I absolutely love coming home. I have the best welcome committee EVER!! These two always run as fast as they can to get to me when I get home. They jump up and down and give lots of kisses. They know how to make a girl feel loved. They understand loving unconditionally like I only wish I could. Especially Miss Liberty Belle. She can always sense when I'm upset and she will not leave my side. LOVE IT!!

**I know I shouldn't wish my life away but I am soooo ready for this week to be over and it is taking forever. I knew it would. Next week is Spring Break. I have no real big plans other than resting, doing some school work, and getting ready for my big yard sale. I'll admit I'm mainly looking forward to sleeping in. Why can't school start at 9?

**This year has flown by. I have the absolute best group of 7th graders this year. I might actually cry when I have to say goodbye in June. I want to keep them.

**I'm praying about a big decision at work. Teaching something different. I'm really not leaning one way or another right now, just praying.

**My sweet husband wants to take our oldest nephew and ride bicycles across the state of Iowa at the end of July. Due to workshops, I won't be able to go. I'm fine with this other than I'm missing a great scrapbook opportunity. Maybe he can figure out to take his picture while riding. :)

Getting To Know You Sunday

It's that time of the week again.... Getting to Know You Sunday! If you have never played before, feel free to join in the fun. Just copy and paste the questions along with your answers. Don't forget to link up at MannLand5's blog.


1. What's your favorite Easter candy?


2. Who do you think is cleaner..men or women?
In my house, we are equally messy!

3. Which do you prefer..wordy blog posts or ones with pictures?
Hmm. Honestly I prefer ones with pictures, but I will read the wordy ones too. I'm probably guilty of having more wordy posts than ones with pictures.

4. Were you popular in highschool?
I would say I was somewhere in the middle. We were a very close class since there were on 38 of us.

5. What's your bra size?
I've never been officially measured, but I buy a 34B.

6. How many states have you lived in?
Just one, but I love it here in Arkansas.

7. What's one blog you read every day?
If it is on my blog roll, I read it every time there is a new post. I have too many too list. If you are looking for a good read, go check it out.

8. Peanut butter or Nutella?
What the heck is Nutella?

From Darkness to Light: My Past Week

It has only been a week since my last my post, but I feel like it has been months.

I never posted about the EWomen Conference in Tulsa because I could never find the words to describe my experience. It was wonderful and miserable all at the same time.

Then by Tuesday none of that mattered. Tuesday was by far the worst day of my life. Yes, I know that sounds dramatic, but it is the truth. I cried harder than I've ever cried on Tuesday. I'm talking sobbing until you make yourself sick. I felt like my body was turning inside out in attempt to comfort myself. Things were bad, very bad.

The week got much better by the time it was over. Things are sweeter now. I'm feeling more in love with my husband than I've ever felt. It's a different kind of love.

We have laughed together and smiled and shared secret glances over the past few days. I have felt like... I don't know how to describe it. I want to say like a young kid falling in love for the first time. Everything seems new and fresh. I've been on cloud 9 and have been smiling non stop for the past few days.

Friday night we went to an ROTC Alumni Ball. How fun!! We got all dressed up and surprised my uncle who was the guest speaker. He was also being inducted into the Hall of Heroes.

After dinner and the speakers, there was dancing. Being all in love, I asked the husband to dance and he actually obliged. :) So we danced to two or three songs. And let me just tell you I'm an awful dancer, but I had so much fun anyway. Other than being silly here at home, I had never danced with my hubby until Friday night. Don't worry. Pictures to come.

After the ball, the husband and I went bowling with my mom, dad, and brother. First game I won!! I bowled a 142, which I think is my best game ever. It upset me though because I was only 8 pins away from my 101 goal of bowling a 150. Lost the second game with a measly 82. :(


The week ahead of me is going to be a long one I'm afraid. It's the last week before Spring Break. I'm ready and I'm sure my kids are too.

I can't believe it is already time for Spring Break. Where has this year gone? I'm not ready to say bye to this group of 7th graders. They have been an absolute blast. Praying that next year's expereience will be just as great. Despite what I've heard and witnessed, I know that prayer can be answered.

Getting To Know You Sunday

1. Are you more of a talker or a listener?
I'm definitely more of a listener. I'm a very quiet person and have to know you for a pretty long time before I will just start talking away to you.


2. Bra. Underwire or wireless?

Underwire. I need all the help I can get. :)

3. I wish I was.....?
Mmm... I wish I was a lot of things. But right at this moment, I wish I was finished with my lesson plans.


4. The Academy Awards are on tonight..will you watch?
Nope, not watching.


5. Do you put your deodorant on before or after you get dressed?
After. Always after. Otherwise I end up with deodorant stains on whatever I'm wearing.


6. Would you rather do the dishes or clean toilets?
Tough to say. Honestly, I am not a fan of either chore. I honestly think I would choose the...

assuming it is my own toilet that is.

7. How much did you weigh at birth?
6 Pounds 1/2 Ounce

8. If you could only buy one thing for the Spring/Summer season..what would it be?
A cute spring dress!


No go ahead and head on over to MannLand's blog and take your turn!

Exhaustion and Excitment

Can I just say that this has been THE LONGEST WEEK!!! Honestly... I feel like I've lived through three weeks in this one week.

Part of it has been because I'm taking my personal day tomorrow and going to the EWomen Conference. I have been looking forward to it and you know how that can make a week drag by.

But it is mainly because I have been absolutely exhausted. I have come home every day this week, taken a hot bath, and gone to bed. I'm not even playing. I'm not getting good rest at night for reasons that are unknown to me. To add to that, I have literally been running all over our school for two days this week trying to keep up with my 7th grade students. We've been having our own version of Greek Olympics and Tuesday and Wednesday were scavenger hunt days. I am so out of shape. After Tuesday, my muscles were so sore. The hot bath and bed had me feeling good come Wednesday morning, or so I thought. As soon as I started running Wednesday, I was in pain again. Seriously. It has hurt to walk this week. Pathetic I know! The kids have had a blast though.

So between complete exhaustion and excitement, this week has lasted forever. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that I do not have to go to work tomorrow. I have a ton to do in the morning before I head out of town, but I'm hoping to sleep in.

As for tomorrow, I am really looking forward to it. Going to a conference in another state alone is not something I thought I would ever be doing. I was bummed when I found out the husband wasn't going to be there and I would be alone. But now I'm actually looking forward to being alone after the conference. I've have been feeling like God is going to do something big at this conference and I'm going to need, no want, some one on one time with God after the conference.


On the vacation front, the husband came home yesterday telling about an island in Rhode Island he discovered.

Anyways... he was really excited about it. Apparently there is NOTHING to do there. The only school on this island is a one room school house where kids attend K-5. After that they ride the ferry to the mainland. I shot it down at first because after vacation I'm not going to have a choice but to lay around and read. I would like to do something a little more than that on vacation. But he was so excited. And we've never been there. And there's a beach. So maybe Rhode Island will be our vacation destination this year. We'll see.

For now I'm going to rest and try to work up enough energy to get some things done tonight.

I Want To Win

That's Right! Prima is giving away two more AMAZING prize packages in conjunction with our BIG SECRET!


We want EVERYONE to have a chance to win so we are changing the rules a bit.


Please copy this write-up and link us on your blog, Facebook, or any other site that you frequent (please follow their TOU).
Then post here with a link to your blog, Facebook or site post for your chance to win BIG with Prima!
One US and one International winner will be chosen on Thursday, March 4th, 2010.

Catching Up

I can't seem to get a post from my head to the computer. Every time I sit down to type I quit after a couple of sentences. So today I'm going to put it out there. I'm not going to worry about what it sounds like. I'm just going to tell you.


Saturday.... My parents came down and we did some shopping. They were trying to find something to wear to my uncle's hall of fame induction. My Mommom and two little cousins, Luke and Livvy, came as well.

Luke had a birthday last month so he spent the night with us Saturday to celebrate his birthday. We took him to Playtime Pizza. I think it was very overwhelming for him. I can understand that. That place is HUGE. He rode go-carts and bumper cars, we played go in the dark miniature golf, played air hockey, and a ton of arcade games. He had a blast.


Sunday.... I drove him to my Mommom's house, which is 1.5 hours away. Lots of time in the car for me.

Sunday night we visited Journey for the first time in a long time. Cary was out of pocket and Alex asked Andrew to lead worship. It was weird being there again. Part of me felt right at home and part of me felt so out of place there. Either way, it was a good experience.

I love watching and listening to my husband use his voice and musical abilities to praise our Lord. It is absolutely one of my most favorite sounds, if not my favorite. I could hear the congregation singing behind me and I couldn't help but smile. I'm pretty sure I looked dopey standing there with a huge grin on my face singing. But for once in my life, I didn't care what I looked like.

There is more that I want to share with you, but I think I will save that for later.