Have you ever tried The Bonefish Grill?

This is our favorite restaurant. We hardly ever go, we've only been three times in three years...but it is kind of our special getaway to celebrate exciting things happening in our life. It is in North Tallahassee...not too far from us. We celebrated our two year anniversary there, a friends birthday, and just recently went the day before Matt left for Texas for his annual sales meeting.


It is the most romantic restaurant (besides The Bistro)!! We love the atmosphere on the outside and inside.


If you ever go, make sure that you get the bang bang shrimp!!! AMAZING!

We already have our Valentine's reservation!

Snow Ball Fights to a Mexican Fiesta!

Snow Day!

We kicked off learning about winter with fun in the freezing cold 19 degree windy weather. Brrr! However, our kids loved it. I can't tell you how many snow balls I got pelted with. One of my kids dad's really got me good...let's just say cold snow down your shirt doesn't feel good. He threw a snowball at me before we even got out on the snow...my jacket wasn't zipped yet..ugh!! I sort of think that the adults had more fun than the kids. My room mother was like a madwoman out there :) Anyway, by the end of our allotted time, some kids were crying because they were so cold. Even hot chocolate and cookies didn't warm them up. So, we had to change everyone's clothes and our day became kind of crazy..haha! I mean, my fingers were so numb that I could barely take pictures of my babies...and I had on gloves. After a tiring morning, it was time for LF training. Then 6 of us went over to La Fogata for a little long weekend relaxation. It was so much fun!!!


We ended up sitting at our table from 3:45 to 9:15...haha!!! It was really great to spend some time with teachers from my new school!

Bride Wars!

Bride Wars is just one of the many movies to see this Winter/Spring for my ladies and I. We branched out tonight and brought the kids...of course I am just a step-mama to Anna Beth (10) and Abigail (soon to be 8). Becky brought them. Lynn had her teenage daughter Kory and neice. LeAnn had her 5 year old daughter Ann, along with her aunt. Lynn's friend Amy had her daughter too. It was a cute movie. Anna thinks that they need to make a sequel...and I'd go see it. I really liked the movie and the music in it!

This is one of my favorite parts of the movie!!

Matt and I had a good day today. We went out to our "soon to be lot" (keeping our fingers crossed) with our builder and marked off where the house would be. It was very fun!!! Blakely came with us...so sweet! We got a little bit scared at the wind...the pines above were creaking and swaying like crazy. Good thing we'll be clearing them if we build. YIKES!! Afterwards, we came home and grilled. Matt looked so cute in his grilling apron! Ooooh I love my hubby!!

Matty on Manning Place!


Matty has his favorite thing in the world on his apron...his golden retriever!!!

Out with 2008....in with 2009!

I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. It was a chaotic, stressful semester. So now here we are in 2009...so far it's been great. Let me catch you up on the rest of last October (Casting Crowns concert,VSU Homecoming, Halloween Parties), November (JSL Cowboy Ball, Thanksgiving in Atlanta), and December (Holiday Parties, Victorian Christmas, The Nutcracker, My Birthday, Christmas in Dublin, and ringing in a new year!). Update: I still love my job. I will graduate from grad school this summer (I'm pretty excited about this upcoming Spring semester)I spent way too much money on my students and my classroom last year...serioulsy it was making us poor. So now I'm on a "flexible" school budget. I read lots of books over Thanksgiving and Christmas break...and became obsessed with the Twilight saga!!!

Here are some pictures from the last few months.


Casting Crowns Concert


VSU's Homecoming!!!!


I think research made us a little bit crazy :)


We attended the Jense's Halloween bash!! I went as a pirate, Matt as a redneck :)


The Junior Service League's Cowboy Ball was a highlight for us!


We were selected as a Georgia School of Excellence...so there were lots of long nights spent in my classroom around Thanksgivng...preparing for all of the visits.


We love our cute town!


Carrie Beth came to visit for Victorian Christmas


My surprise caramel birthday cake!! What a sweet hubby :)


Holiday Parties Galore


My Dad and Hubby cooking for Billy's VSU friends over Christmas Break.


Happy New Year!


One of my oldest friends and I on New Year's Day!


I am changing and rearranging my classroom for the last 2 Nine Weeks. We had a teacher workday/student holiday, so I starting adding things to my morning board.

SURPRISE!

I am on Fall Break right now! Yay! And although I've been out of school for a week, I have not even left my house until today. Sure, we went to the Jacket's game Friday night (we won) and saw Fireproof on Sat. (AWESOME) but other than that I've been glued to the computer writing a....literature review (it is one of the ugliest words I've ever heard, and my husband agrees). I'm talking about reviewing literature and searching for journals, and gathering knowledge and data about a topic that I really have come to HATE. I'm hoping that by the end of the year, I'll love this topic, but right now I despise it. My poor hubby helped me so much. He sat with me, added his thoughts, helped me highlight and organize. I looked rough...but last night at midnight I turned it in! So now I'm FREE!

I am now about to live up my fall break...because let's face it, if you know me well then you know, I really really really needed a break. I am having a very hard year. BUT tonight I'm surprising Matty. I've spent the day out and about Thomasville (my fav. thing to do) gathering supplies for tonight. I came home and straightened up, now I'm waiting. Our house is all decorated for fall, and Matt loves it. We still have one box to get out of the attic, which our wreath, dishes, and a few other decorations are still in.

I bought Matt some much needed fall essentials to his wardrobe. He really only owns dress clothes. So I got him some causual clothing. I also got him his favorite buttered popcorn jelly beans in a pumpkin bag (yuck) and cnady corn and pumpkins! I arranged them so when he walks in he will be greeted by them and a silly card that plays music. I went with the Halloween theme because last year we didn't get to celebrate due to my grad work. We bought pumpkins to carve and had to throw them out.
So tonight I am taking him to Coyaocan in Quitman. It is the nicest mexican restaurant ever. Hardwood floors, stainless steel, granite, AMAZING. He has never been, but I've been with my grad girls. Turns out they have turned the restaurant into a Haunted House. It looked so creepy and fun when I drove by after class on Mon.
I can't wait for him to get home from work! I thank God everyday for such a supportive and loving husband. We've been together for a long time. Sometimes I don't even recognize Matt. He has changed so much since we first met. He is a great business man, and he's a leader in our church and community. He trieds :) to help me with my grad work, he cleans, cooks...his generosity is amazing. He is so selfless and he sacrifices everything for me. I love him with all my heart and try my best to encourage him and spoil him!!

I'm going to have to work on lesson plans and report cards tomorrow..BOO! But, I think Matt and I may do a little bit of our Christmas shopping for family tomorrow. If we go to Tallahassee, we may just have to go to Cracker Barrel. It reminds me of Fall. I also want to go to the book store so I can read magazines about Fall goodies that I can make with my students. I am already planning on making the CUTEST pumpkin cupcakes with pretzel sticks! Oooh, my hubby is here, gotta go!!!!!

Can't wait for Fall!!!!

It's been forever since I've written anything. And my have things been busy!! Like always, I don't have much time. However, I am feeling very blessed right now and feel like taking note of this time in my life.

Work has been rough and great...at the same time :) I have learned that I have a supportive administration that is willing to do everything that they can to help me have the best year of my life. They are my biggest encouragers from the moment I walk in the office each morning and see their smiling faces and get greeted! I love going to recess with Angie..FUN! And I love when Robin comes in my room for the last 10 minutes of the day before buses and we catch up! I also love my new babies. I am getting pretty close and attached to several. Yay! I am learning that I can't do it all by myself. I can't get everything done that I need to and that has to be ok. I'm going to miss my old friends from GP. And most importantly I'm not perfect and I can always grow as a teacher. Some of these have been very tough lessons for me to learn. I have already sufferred through a teary breakdown with my Principal and AP one day after school. Jeanna and Brecca are amazing...hands down I have the best bosses in the world. They're strict but awesome!

Let's see. I was lucky enough to run into KK the other day in Tallahassee (my former Principal). I was coming out of Loli and the Bean and practically ran right into her...we both screamed and hugged!! It was a joyous reunion. CBD got to witness it all!

I have been extremely blessed to constantly be surrounded by friends lately. My grad school girls came to Thomsville to eat dinner a few weeks ago! We had a wonderful night of relaxation and great conversation. No one quite understands the constant stress of teaching, grad school, family, etc. like my grad school girls.

Church has started back, and as I walked across our beautiful downtown last Wednesday I felt a cool breeze and saw a few colored leaves blow across the steet, I felt like I was in Heaven. I love my pretty church and I love Wed. nights with Becky, Lynn, and LeAnn. A new sweet lady, Dawn, has started joining us at our little round table outside and I am excited because I've been wanting to get to know her better. We call our get togethers on Wed. therapy..and Bible Study, prayer time, laughing time, and it really refreshes me. I am so thankful for them and my entire chruch family. Anyway, it was just fun to see so many people back in the swing of the schoolyear, GA's, choir, etc. I LOVED IT and that it truly began to feel like fall to me.

Fall is my favorite season!! I have been stalking Hobby Lobby and all the holiday decorations!!! I already have my fall and halloween decor ready to go for my home and classroom. Now, I'm eyeing thanksgiving!! yeah!! I'm actually teaching a unit on the five senses next week and I'm incorporating fall and apples into my lessons!! FUN!

My old community from Garrison, also had a mini reunion last night.We enjoyed the pasta bar and so many memories and laughter, those girls have my heart. After dinner, I swung by church to catch up with my ladies!!! It actually felt cool, so we sat outside for over an hour after the youth activities got over. Wow! We're having dinner and going to see a movie tomorrow night, since the Jackets game is out of town.

Matt and I have a Blazer game on Sat. night and I have tons of grad work to consume any free second that I could possibly have. Carrie, Bridgett, and I volunteered to basically teach our class on Mon. night. Ortlieb wanted us to do a special project about reading comprehension..so I guess we are up for the challenge. At least we will get it over with! Wish us luck!

Oh, and house plans consume my hubby right now..pray that everything will work out and we can move on!! :)

Overall, I think this is going to be one of my favorite fall's yet! I can't wait to see what God has is store for me! Should be interesting ;)