Updated Office!

Good morning!  I know, it's been FOREVER!!  So much has happened and changed since the last time I was here!  I PROMISE that I will be bringing you lots of updates over the next few weeks so you can see what life has been like in our crazy life!

This is a mid move update!  A lot has changed in there now, and I will share more with you as soon as we are done!!  I can't wait!

The first big update, is our OFFICE!!  I have an office back, so it makes it that much easier to sit at my desk now and get some work done!  Plus, now I can work in here!!  We are still working on updating my desktop computer too so it runs a little faster, but I'll take what I can get for now!!

Sorry you've missed us, but I hope you'll enjoy the updates!!

Daily Five

1.  We have termites . . . again!!  YUCK!!  This is the third time that the have appeared in our bedroom wall, so instead of calling our same warranty company I decided to finally go with Terminix.  I was so happy with their service, and how prompt they were.  Now granted it is going to cost me a lot more than the warranty I was paying for before, at least I know that they will repair something if there is more damage!!  When I told them what our other company did they couldn't believe we waited so long.  If only I knew more about what people should do to treat termites!

2.  Our athletic banquet was last night.  It was fun to go and see everyone, and even more fun that a couple of us went out for a drink afterwards.  I forget by not going to work how much I miss my friends at work.  I love staying home with my kids, and if I could I know that I would stay home in a heartbeat, but I do miss them!

3.  I reread Lord of the Flies this past week.  I read the book while I was in high school, but as part of our bucket list this year we are reading 24 books.  I have almost reached our goal, but part of it was that we had to read some classics.  We agreed that a classic was anything that an English teacher might make you read.  I forgot how disturbing Lord of the Flies is.  It's crazy what would happen to a group of kids if you left them alone without adults, and what they could do.  I would recommend it, it is a great book.

buy here on Amazon

4.  I have started planning for next year!  I know it seems crazy, but we will be gone for a big chunk of June, and I have a lot to look into for next year.  Plus I will have 26 kids, so I am trying to figure out how I can best accommodate all of them, and still teach everything.  I have started working on my teacher planner first, and have found some that I really like on TPT.  I am too cheap though, and don't want to pay $8 for a document that I'm going to have to edit any ways, so I'm working on creating my own!  Who knows, maybe I'll even set up a TPT store this year!

This looks like a great planner, and where I got a lot of my ideas!

5.  Looking into next year, I have also checked out our new science standards for the state.  They are very different then the ones that we've had for the past five years I've been teaching, so it's time to look for all new material for science too!  It should be a fun year!

Thoughtful Tuesday

It is amazing how fast life can change, and what a difference a day can make!  We are so happy to be home, and enjoying our time growing and learning as a family of four.  People keep asking how we are adjusting to being a family of four now.  I don't know how much we've noticed a difference between being a family of four, and just having a little one home again.  We are getting use to the nights of not sleeping, and Brandon is starting to adjust to what life will look like for him now.  I think the hardest part for him has been that mommy can't pick him up or get on the floor and play with him.

Last Week Alone

This was our last week B and I had to spend the week alone, because next week, GRANDMA MOVES IN!!  :)  If you can't tell, I am a little excited!!  :)

Anyways, B and I had a great week!  We spent the week sleeping a lot, so I think that he is growing!!  Due to the fact that he slept so much, I was able to get a lot done around the house.  I was able to clean up downstairs a lot, which was nice.  I also was able to put out all of my fall and Halloween decorations.  I love the holidays, and am even more excited that it is already October 1!  That means only a month and a half left until Thanksgiving, and then I get to take out my Christmas decorations!!  Plus my mom will be here this year, so she will be able to help me put everything up, and bake!

Our beautiful china hutch, with "new" wedding pictures above

Our fireplace.  Would look much more fallish if there was a fire in there!

Our downstairs bathroom

I also started volleyball this week, which was a lot more tiring then I thought it would be.  Luckily it wasn't too hot out, which was nice.  I only have 12 girls this year, which will make rotating in a lot easier.  Last year I had 15, and that was hard to make sure everyone had enough playing time.  There were some games when girls didn't get to play very much because the game just went too quick!

Brandon did some tummy time this week, and I was able to take some video.  He couldn't decide if he liked his knees in or out more, so he kept kicking them in and out.  It was really funny to watch, especially since he was making silly faces too.  As soon as I figure out how to get the video to my computer, and then on here, I will make sure to upload some video for you all!!  Until then, enjoy these pictures of us!

Tummy Time, Sept. 29

Onesie from Aunt Megan and Uncle Dan

"If you think I'm handsome you should see my Daddy"

At bible study I decided we needed a picture of all the kids too.  We don't have very many pictures of us adults, so I figured I should start early with the kids so that way we have them to look back at.  It was perfect too, because we were celebrating Kyrie's birthday. She just turned 3 yesterday!

Brandon, 7 weeks ~ Kyrie, 3 years ~ Caleb, 7 months

The last project I finished around the house this week was my DIY picture frame wall.  I love these pictures, and was so excited to put them up!!  Tyler just left for the ASU game, so I hope he enjoys them as much as I do when he gets home.  He won't, but it's nice to pretend he might!

Some of my favorite pictures by Oh Snap! Photography

33 Weeks

It's been another busy week.  I can't believe how fast summer is flying by.  We only have a couple of weeks left, and I feel like I haven't accomplished half of what I wanted to do this summer.  I guess this is how my life is going to be from now on.  The good news is, our living room is complete, the cross wall is done, as well as our new picture wall.  Liz helped me go shopping on Saturday, and we added pillows, and drapes to our windows too.  I promise to add pictures later, as I still haven't taken any.

 Our new photo wall, above the couch

Our new cross wall, where the photo wall use to be.  We need more crosses now!

Last Thursday I went to the doctor, and she said my pregnancy is text book.  I am measuring right as I should be, and all of that looks great.  She explained gestational diabetes to me a little, and told me I was right on the cusp.  Hopefully I'll be able to keep this all under control with my diet, and won't have to worry about insulin or this staying around after Brandon comes.  Thursday afternoon I had my diabetes class, and I was given a glucose meter.  Right now I have to record everything I eat, and take my blood four times a day.  It isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it isn't fun, that's for sure.  I have to eat six times a day too, which doesn't sound too bad, but when you have to over think everything you're eating, it isn't exactly fun.  I am on a 225 grams of carbs a day diet, which when you think about it, isn't really that much.  Eating an apple alone is 30!!  I talk to the diabetes lady again on Thursday to make sure that everything is working out, and that I won't have to go on medication.  We are discovering that my body doesn't metabolize very quickly in the morning, so I'm going to have to start exercising before or after breakfast.  It won't be so bad until I have to go back to work.  Then I don't even want to think about what time I'll have to get up to make sure I eat breakfast by 6:30, have time to work out, and can get to work at a decent hour.  For me, being to work after 7 is late.

Sunday Tyler and I drove up to Sedona to spend a few days.  It was nice to be able to get away, and not have to think about our to do list.  We didn't do anything while we were up there, which was great!!  We really just watched Criminal Minds, and I took a nap on Monday.  We finished season 2, and started season 3.  We didn't get to go to Savanah's this year though, because it has closed!!  We were super sad to find out it was closed, but at the same time glad, because then we saved a bunch of money that we would have spent on dinner.  It was beautiful up there, and the weather was very nice.

We came back home on Tuesday, because I had bible study tonight.  Katie, Rachel and I took the girls to Fashion Square for our girls' night out.  The girls had a good time, and we had a great time shopping.  We had the girls go on a photo scavenger hunt, and they found some awesome things.  It was a blast to do, and I think that they would enjoy doing it again.  We had them find things like headless mannequins, Mickey Mouse, baby converse, an orange purse, and a family with 3 or more kids.  The girls came up with some awesome outfits, for a mix-matched outfit as well.

Today I get to finally do my final presentation for grad school, so I'm excited to finish that and be done with grad school!  My presentation is at 2:00 this afternoon, so all prayers around that time will be greatly appreciated.  I just have to present everything I did this semester, including the reason I created my training sessions, and then what I did.  I don't know how many people will actually "show up" to listen to my presentation, but I'm assuming not too many.  Then I'll be done, and will be able to put my diploma up on the wall.  We're excited to add two more diplomas in our office!

We are also taking maternity pictures tonight, so I'm really excited to see how those will turn out!!  A girl I went to college with is taking them, because she wants to get her photography business started.  I went shopping with Liz on Saturday and got new outfits, so I can't wait to wear them.

Until next week, I hope that you are all doing well!!  We love and miss you all!!

1 year!!

It's crazy to think that 1 year ago TODAY we were moving in our home!  So many things have changed in the last year, even in our house!!  I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me, a roof over my head, amazing friends close by, and a family who supports me!!

February

What a month!!  I can't believe that February is already over!  We had a very exciting month.  We were able to finish our taxes, and get back a pretty nice rebate.  We decided we wanted to finally buy a bedroom set, so we did!  It's really nice.  We were able to buy the bed, two night stands, and the dresser.  We love finally having a bed!!  :D  Pictures will come!

Then we also bought a new couch!  It fits the room so much better.  Then we moved the table into where it should go, and made a little reading room in the fireplace area.  It is so cozy now!  Our last purchase will be a new fridge.  We are just waiting for a good deal!!

Tyler and I are both still plugging away on our masters, and trying to finish as much as we can!  Spring Break is in two weeks, and we are so excited!  We are going to Sedona thanks to mom and dad for a couple of days!  It will be beautiful!

Happy End of January

It is crazy to think that we are almost in February of 2010!! Where has the time gone! At school I just got an interactive white board installed yesterday! It will be a lot of fun, but I feel way out of it because my room is a disaster in the process of moving everything around!

Had to share a funny letter with everyone that we got in the mail today from our HOA. Tyler cut down the tree in our front yard when I went to visit Nicole in October, and just took our Christmas lights down on Sunday. Yes, we were a little behind the times, but we love Christmas, and are a little lazy. Here is what the letter said, "There are holiday lights and/or decorations visible after the holiday. Also, there is a tree stump left in the front yard. See that all holiday decorations are removed and the tree stump is removed." Really though, is that what my $240 a year is paying for!?! This is crazy!! I hate the HOA! First they write me a letter to tell me my tree branches are in the way of the sidewalk, and now they tell me something is wrong with the stump!? Crazy!! Guess what Tyler will be doing this weekend!! Amen for the rain!! At least it made the ground soft! I'll try and get a picture of the stump before it's gone to share with you all!

Sorry every one

I know that I have not been very good at this blogging thing, and keeping this updated!! I apologize to all of you out there who still have not seen pictures of the house, and are waiting to hear how things are going.

So things are AWESOME!! We love the house. It has been good to us for the past two months. It's hard to believe that we have almost lived here for three months now. We got our keys in the middle of March, during our Spring Break. It was an awesome time to move because we didn't have to take off any work, and every one was around to help us move!! Thanks to Andy, Katie and Matt we were able to move all of the big stuff in the morning. Thanks to his mom and dad we were able to finish every thing else in just a couple of loads. His mom did a lot of work helping us pack too, so we are very grateful to her as well!!

Tyler's favorite room in our house. The master bathroom!!

Our living room, including our awesome NYC wall. I love these pictures, and want to go back again some time soon!

The pool doesn't get a lot of sun, so it's still a little cold to go swimming in.

Since we moved in to the house we have had a few parties here. I tried to throw Tyler a "surprise" birthday party, but it didn't work out too well. Instead he found out, but at least I was able to keep the surprise of Jeff and Karlee coming up!! We had a lot of fun that night, and it was awesome to see all of our Phoenix friends in one place.

We have made some awesome friends since we moved here, and I know that God had a plan for us in moving here. Tyler and I will both be returning to our schools next year, and both of us will be teaching the same grade. This next year I will be teaching sixth grade math instead of third grade math. I am pretty excited about this. I love math, and am excited for the change in pace. I think that it will be a lot of fun, and I can't wait to see the relationship that I will have with these sixth graders!! I have grown very close to some of them because of volleyball, and can't wait to spend some more time with them.

This summer we will be traveling all over the place!! I will try to keep you updated on our travels!! Until then, enjoy God's Love!