Have yourself a merry little CHRISTMAS!

It was great spending time with our families this Christmas.  My grandmother had a recent surgery and unfortunately did not get out of the rehabilitation center in time for Christmas.  We all went and saw her at the rehabilitation center and gave her a few gifts and some pie.  Although she had to remain there until a few days after Christmas, her spirits were still high.  She was glad to be in a place that was helpful and looking forward to being even stronger once she returned home.  She is now recovering at home and getting stronger every day! 

We then spent Christmas Eve night, like usual, at my Aunt and Uncle's with the rest of the family (my mom's side).  We had delicious prime rib, several yummy side dishes, and of course dessert.  We always play, what we call "Chinese Christmas".  Where you bring a gift and people draw numbers and can steal and etc.  Anyways, it is a lot of fun and it's always interesting seeing what everyone ends up with.  Then the kids open all of their gifts and we spend the rest of the evening taking pictures, conversing, and letting the kids entertain us.

 

After receiving our stocking from Santa and eating breakfast, we headed back to our house so we could spend Christmas Day with Karson's parents.  His mom also went through surgery recently and we were glad she was feeling better, however she is still recovering as well.  This year they came over to our house and we had a simple meal.  It was nice to spend the day with them.

Karson, unfortunately, had to go back to work this week.  I, however, am off until the 9th.  It has been nice to relax and spend quality time with my friends and family.  I have also had so much more time to cook and get things done I usually put off. 

We plan to have a low key New Year's, spent cuddling on the couch, eating dinner, and watching movies.  Honestly, we probably won't even make it until the ball drops.  We are so "the old married couple".  Haha!  I am looking forward to 2012 and hope it brings many new exciting adventures and blessings to our life, as well as with yours. 

Happy New Years!

Thanksgiving in pictures

  In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   1 Thessalonians 5:18     

Hello again blog world

I know I haven't written in a couple of months. I will try to do better. I have been so busy with my first year teaching, planning, and grading. I also haven't had any pictures to share. I hate posting without any pictures. That's just not any fun.

I have loved teaching and having my own classroom and class. I have 19 wonderful kiddos and I have really gotten attached to them already. I also work with 5 wonderful Christian ladies who are great mentor teachers as well as friends. I love working with my team and planning our curriculum as well as events.

Here are some of the recent bulletin boards I have done in the hallway that also lets you know what we have been up to in third grade.  I would love to post a picture of my kiddos, but unfortunately can't for obvious reasons.  We also went on a fun field trip this fall to Inner Space Caverns.  It was fun and the kids really enjoyed it.  

This is from our novel study we did on The Boxcar Children.

 

This was for Thanksgiving.  Isn't our turkey cute?  Each child decorated a feather and wrote what they were thankful for.  They also made Pilgrims and Indians too.

 

 This was from our family night.  Each grade level has a family night and our theme was "Candy Land".  I thought it looked very cute and the kids had a lot of fun.  We all had different stations for them to go to, such as: peppermint math, a cake walk, decorate a candy mouse, decorate a cookie, and hearing a story.  It was a lot of fun and it was great working with my team. 

 

Last, but not least, my third grade team.  

Thanks ladies, I couldn't do it without you.  Love y'all!

Welcome to 3rd grade!

God blessed me with a teaching position two weeks ago.  YES, it was two weeks after school had already started, and YES we had to get everything ready in one weekend.  When I say "we", I mean me, my husband, my family, and his family.  I am so blessed to have family who support me and who spent their whole weekend helping me decorate the classroom.  Not to mention my "new" class was due to numbers, so 3-4 kids were moved from their orginal class into mine.  So they're also going through a new transition too.  YES, it was crazy and stressul.  YES, it was totally God and his timing.  YES, I know this was God showing me HE is in control and not to worry, because HE will take care of me.  YES, it all happened in a way I never would have thought, but it was God and HE is good and now I know this was what was best for me and how HE planned it.  I am so blessed. 

It has been wild and crazy and stressful, but I am enjoying teaching and I have a great class.  I also have a great team!  They are all so nice and helpful and have answered any questions I've had and have offered to help any time I need it.  I still have a lot to learn, but I know this is going to be a great year and that is where God wants me!

Here are some pictures of my classroom!

Gaylord Texan (Day 2)

We spent the morning at the water park.  Karson watched the airplanes go by while we went around the lazy river.  My dad stayed at the hotel and rode around in his scooter checking out the hotel some more.

Then we had lunch at this outdoor bar and grill they had at the hotel.  All of the food was really good, especially my hamburger.  Forgot pictures again.

Some neat trains in atrium

 Fish in river that ran through atrium

We had mexican food for dinner at the riverwalk cantina.  It was really good, but the wait was 2 hours, so after a whole hour of debating on what to do, we finally decided to get it to go and ate in the atrium at a nearby table.  It actually ended up being a really nice dinner and it is so pretty outside at night at the hotel with everything lit up. 

Then we had ice cream for dessert. Yummy!



Then we took more pictures, again!  Like I said, we like to take pictures.

The next morning, the day we left, we ate breakfast at the riverwalk cantina, where we had dinner the night before.  They had a delicious gourmet buffet, with everything from pancakes and french toast to a lady who made omelletes however you wanted them.  It was so good, but so BAD for you. 

 The one picture of food I took.  Oh well.

We had such a great time and I will treasure the memories forever.   It was the perfect weekend to kick off the new school year and start back at work.