Well, our month of craziness is over! We had a lot of fun in September traveling and spending time with friends and family, but we are glad to be back home and getting back into a routine.
We started off September with a trip to Cincinnati. Todd's brother and sister-in-law and their family were in town for a few days, so it was good to spend time with them. We made it to King's Island for the first and only time this year, but we're excited that we got a great deal on season passes for next year, so if you want to go with us, let us know! We stayed in Cincinnati for over a week, golfed a little bit, and made sure to eat Skyline and LaRosa's!
Not much more than a week after we got back, we left again, this time for a week in Gatlinburg with some good friends. It worked out well because Todd was able to go backpacking with Arakai for 3 days, while Korie and I scrapbooked and watched the kids. Since we could drop the guys off and pick them up, they didn't have to backpack a loop, so they were glad about that. I think we all enjoyed our time apart, and the kids played great together! Once we were all back together again, we did some day hiking in the Smoky Mountains, walked around Gatlinburg, got hooked on taffy (thanks, Korie!), and just had a really relaxing time. We also rode some go-karts for Jack's birthday. He and Ayden were so excited to be able to drive some little go-karts all by themselves! We can't wait to go again!
On our way back from Gatlinburg, we stopped through Cincinnati for a few days to celebrate Jack's fifth birthday. Diana had Jack's cake baked and ready to go, and then my parents and I trimmed it and decorated it to look like a racetrack. It turned out pretty well! Jack got the playmobil pyramid for his birthday, plus several planes and a very cool pilot's jacket with patches and everything. He was pretty excited!
So we're back in Anderson for the next several months, and we're happy to be home. It's always good to get away; if nothing else, it helps you appreciate home a little more! This will also be my first holiday season not working, so I'm really looking forward to enjoying this time with Todd and the kids. Hopefully I won't eat too many cookies and sweets!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Back to School?
So I realized the other day that this will be the first year since kindergarten that I'm not going "back to school" as either a student or a teacher. Although I'm very happy to be home with my kids, and I know I am extremely blessed to be able to do so, I still have mixed feelings about this time of year. I read all my teacher friends' posts about getting their classrooms ready, and I miss that excitement and nervousness that always comes when you get that list of names and you start planning for what you hope will be your best year yet. I miss hanging up posters and covering bulletin boards and planning getting-to-know-you games. I also miss the friendship and support of other teachers--the only people in the world who know what this job is really like. I will certainly miss the students (at least the majority of them!), making connections with them, and seeing those lightbulbs go off--all those important moments that make all the less-than-gratifying parts of teaching worthwhile.
So for all of the teachers who are heading back to school this fall, or who have already started, I wish you all the best. Take advantage of the small moments that mean so much, and try to ignore the petty distractions and pessimists that try to keep you down. Pay no attention to the negativity that surrounds education these days, and remember why you became a teacher in the first place. I truly hope that this will be your best year yet!
So for all of the teachers who are heading back to school this fall, or who have already started, I wish you all the best. Take advantage of the small moments that mean so much, and try to ignore the petty distractions and pessimists that try to keep you down. Pay no attention to the negativity that surrounds education these days, and remember why you became a teacher in the first place. I truly hope that this will be your best year yet!
Monday, August 15, 2011
August 15-31 Special - Limited Time Only!
For only 17 days, you can take advantage of a fabulous overlapping special from Close to My Heart! As in every month, August has a Stamp of the Month (Wicked) that you can purchase for only $5 when you place an order for at least $50. But for this month only, CTMH is offering an additional alphabet stamp for FREE with the Wicked Stamp of the Month.
But on August 15, Close to My Heart is starting their special promotion for National Stamping Month, which runs until the end of September. When you spend $75 you will get a DOUBLE stamp set (equivalent to two regular stamp sets) for FREE!
So, from August 15-31 ONLY, if you spend $75 and purchase the August Stamp of the Month for $5, you will get 3 additional stamp sets for FREE! It's a crazy good deal!
This would be a great time to purchase the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection ($99) if you've been thinking about that. I just got mine, and I'm looking forward to making some great stuff with it.
Let me know if you have any questions or want to place an order!
Thanks!
But on August 15, Close to My Heart is starting their special promotion for National Stamping Month, which runs until the end of September. When you spend $75 you will get a DOUBLE stamp set (equivalent to two regular stamp sets) for FREE!
So, from August 15-31 ONLY, if you spend $75 and purchase the August Stamp of the Month for $5, you will get 3 additional stamp sets for FREE! It's a crazy good deal!
This would be a great time to purchase the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection ($99) if you've been thinking about that. I just got mine, and I'm looking forward to making some great stuff with it.
Let me know if you have any questions or want to place an order!
Thanks!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Free Crop Night!
Friday, August 12
6:00-midnight (or however late you can stay!)
Scrapbooking and creating is always more fun with friends, so I'm going to try and have a free crop night at my house at least once a month. I will provide snacks and my stamps and stamp pads. Bring your pictures, paper, and whatever else you'd like to work on. I will also have my Cricut available to use :-) I hope to see you there!
6:00-midnight (or however late you can stay!)
Scrapbooking and creating is always more fun with friends, so I'm going to try and have a free crop night at my house at least once a month. I will provide snacks and my stamps and stamp pads. Bring your pictures, paper, and whatever else you'd like to work on. I will also have my Cricut available to use :-) I hope to see you there!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A work in progress
I chose "a work in progress" for the title of this blog because I feel like that's what I am (and essentially what everything in my life is as well). Hopefully I am always getting a little closer to being the person that God created me to be, but I know that His work in me will never be fully finished until He returns and restores everything. Some days that's a very discouraging thought because I'm not a very patient person, and I like to have things right and right now. On the other hand, the fact that God is continually taking the time to work on me (and with me) encourages me and reminds me how much He loves me. It also helps to remind me that everyone else is a work in progress too, and I shouldn't be so judgmental.
On a lesser level, the things in my life are also works in progress. My house is in a perpetual state of "it's getting there" and I'm quite certain that it will never actually get to where I want it to be. But that's okay. My relationships with my kids and my husband and the ups and downs we have throughout the day are definitely full of kinks that need working out, but I do feel like we're making forward progress. I love to scrapbook and make cards and play around with paper, so of course there are always things being worked on there.
"A work in progress" pretty much sums up my life and how I see things at the moment. And I'm okay with that. I would hate to be finished and know that I'm never going to learn anything new or experience something else that will change me. I'm excited to see what God has in store for me and my family because I know that He has greats works in the making.
On a lesser level, the things in my life are also works in progress. My house is in a perpetual state of "it's getting there" and I'm quite certain that it will never actually get to where I want it to be. But that's okay. My relationships with my kids and my husband and the ups and downs we have throughout the day are definitely full of kinks that need working out, but I do feel like we're making forward progress. I love to scrapbook and make cards and play around with paper, so of course there are always things being worked on there.
"A work in progress" pretty much sums up my life and how I see things at the moment. And I'm okay with that. I would hate to be finished and know that I'm never going to learn anything new or experience something else that will change me. I'm excited to see what God has in store for me and my family because I know that He has greats works in the making.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
A whole new world...
Well, here goes - my new venture into the world of blogging. I pretty much know nothing about creating a blog, so I'm going to learn as I go! I simply want to share part of my life and the things that I love and enjoy. I hope you will stop by often. Thanks!
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