My Last Few Days

Just a little bit of what's been going on here in the South over my last few weeks here, staying with the M family !!! 

I had to take a little more of the South with me to TN. These Chicken Man / Ernest Lee Paintings make the perfect addition to our home sweet home. There's not one the same and I have built quite the collection. Although I didn't realize all three of these are some shade of blue till I got home. At least they look great!!! The picture really doesn't do them justice, he's such a talented artist. 

A few weekends back Sarah, her family and Myself went Strawberry picking at the local Strawberry Field. We ended up picking two large buckets full of Strawberry's. That doesn't include the handful's after handful's that we ate while picking. Come on we couldn't help ourselves, they were magically delicious. 

This sign is me made all over!!! I found it at a local shoe store of all places. They had a few other household decor items but this was my favorite. Describes me and my life in the South to a T. Only I don't have a little girl I can dress in cute Smocked Dresses or Big Beautiful Bow. But when I do, you can bet for sure she'll be dolled out in Smocked Dresses and Bubbles every day!!! 

This is going to look perfect in my new kitchen!! 

Bought this beauty off a Designs by Micah, Inc. FB page. You can take the girl outta Texas but you can't take the Texan outta the girl!! Wearing it proudly supporting the Rangers and remembering my Papa James and were I came from!! 

Need I same anything about this picture at all?? Like I said the yellow plaque above is me made all over. Monogram everything and more!!! Absolutely loving these monogrammed pocket T's!!! 

Lunch date with this beautiful momma. I had sweet lil E in my class last year and I'm so sad that I won't get to see baby M at school this coming up school year. Can you believe she had a baby just a month and a half ago?!? She beautiful right. A and I got really close last year when E was in my class, I loved getting to know her and Big E. They are the sweetest most adorable family ever. I've enjoyed spending time with them and watching their family grow. I know we'll carry our friendship forever. Even though we won't see each other every day or even talk every week, A and her fam. will always have a place in my life.

This little dude Graduated Kindergarden on Friday. I've watched him grow over the past 3 years into such a handsome young fella. If I could take one family from the South with me to TN it would hands down be these little ones. I'm going to miss them so much, my heart breaks just thinking about having to say "See You Soonly" to them. I spend just about every other weekend with them and to all of a sudden not be able to see them every day at school and in the evenings when their momma and dad go out is just gut wrenching. Thank goodness for fb, insta, and FaceTime, still it won't be the same. :(

 Life as a MiliSpouse, def. #bittersweet. 

We Can't Say Goodbye to you at a Park….

Being of April I was babysitting for one of my favorite families and had a conversation about something on my Southern Bucket List. I knew with Football season over it probably wasn't going to happen. Little did I know that one conversation led to the best surprise a group of parents and co-workers could put together. 

6 of my sweet co-workers put together a little lunch-eon in our classroom. I was so surprised and shocked. I had no clue at all, they completely caught me off guard and it was the sweetest little going away party. (although I'm so excited yet sad about the party coming up this week that some of my parents are throwing for me.)

Everyone made a dish to share, there was so much food & sweet tea. They know the way to my heart!!

About 12:45 Kristen made the comment "I know something you don't know", she just couldn't hold out any longer. She went next door to the other room and next thing I know is they are bringing food over to my room. Jamie said "You didn't think we were going to say goodbye to you at a park did you". 

(the party this coming week is at a park)

We had enough food to probably feed about 10-15 of us. It was so fun to have our own little party in my room. As if food and drinks wasn't enough they out did themselves with gifts to. 

A beautiful necklace and earrings set, Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon Charm and a Monogrammed Cutting Board. Seriously have I mentioned how well they know and love me.

Because food, sweet tea and a few little gifts was not enough they had one more surprise. Remember that conversation I mentioned about my South Carolina Bucket List?! Well M totally out did herself, she told another one of our parents who happens to work at USC about our conversation. 

I wanted to have my picture taken with Cocky before I moved. USC's Mascot!!! Why? I haven't the clue, but living in Columbia you can't help but become a Gamecock fan. It becomes in your blood as much as it's in the locals. They live, breath and sleep Gamecock Country. 

You can imagine my shock and surprise when Cocky came walking into my classroom. It took all we had to keep our voice's down not to wake up the little ones. I had tears streaming down my face, with excitement. To some it may not be that big of a deal, but for me it was. This move from the South to TN has taken a toll on me. I am having the hardest time excepting it. I've built a life here, made friends that have made a lasting impression on me, I have a job at a school that I absolutely love. As much as I'm ready to go and be settled with my husband, I'm going to miss my life here so much. 

Our Director told us we had Cocky for 15 minutes all to ourselves. What were we to do, it was kinda funny at first we all just stood around laughing like a bunch of little school girls. 

We had so much fun joking around, laughing, dancing and offering Cocky Chicken. He didn't take so lightly to the offer. I tell you he plays a great mascot, not once broke character or talked. Even when little Mac woke up he went over and "patted" him back to sleep. I'll remember this day forever!!!! 

And this amazing lady here, Jamie. My YaYa Sister! I can't begin to say how much I love her friendship.

After Cocky hung out with us a bit, he went upstairs were all the Older Hall kiddo's were waiting. They had NO clue why they were up there or who was coming. They were so excited, Clemson vs. Gamecocks rivalry starts at a early age down in the South. I remember my 2nd week at the school I was subbing in the Kindergarten room and one of the little girls asked me if I went for Clemson or Gamecocks. I didn't even really know who was who at that point but if someone was to ask me today, hands down I'd say I'm a Gamecock fan for sure. 

When me and two of the other girls walked in the kids were CHANTING as loud as they could……..

USC GO COCKS, USC GO COCKS. 

They were loving it, and I couldn't help but think "he's here just for me, all of this was for me". It was such a special day!! A couple of the older hall teachers asked me if I wanted to come work on the Older Hall that afternoon, since after all I was the reason for them being all riled up. lol NOPE, thanks for the offer though. They were so load, our heads were pounding betimes we left. I did have to get a picture with my favorite little man and Cocky though. Future Gamecock right here people. 

I'm really going to miss this place, I've made so many great memories here.

It's not goodbye but rather SEE YOU SOONLY!!! 

Class Canvas's

 For our school Spring Art Auction each class is given canvas's for each child. These are then placed up for purchase as the School's Spring Art Auction at $15.00 each. I think they are pretty priceless it you ask me, although I might be a bit partial. The canvas's are yours to do with as you wish and must be 100% the child's art work. Well since our kiddos are a bit to small to do it all themselves we of course have to help them. And since I'm super anal when it comes to our class art project's, I make it a priority that our canvas's are perfect. This year we went around and around on what we were going to do. I like sticking with a theme were each child's is the same just personalized to them. I originally wanted to take the easy way out and just do the same design that we did last year. But one of my assistants wasn't crazy about that idea. Not that they weren't cute, they were adorable but she suggested we do something different and I'm so glad she did. On one of my late night dates when it was just me and the Macbook I came across this idea on FB. A friends mom's actually posted it and tag another teacher friend in it. I just loved it and though it was so fitting for our class. I showed my assistant teachers and they loved it as well. We got to work that next day on them and were done within less than a week. Once we settle on a theme or idea we don't waste any time getting them done. My afternoon assistant is extremely talented when it comes to her hand writing and we've deemed her the writer of the class. Her work is just beautiful, thank goodness she enjoys it. Other classes were still working on them up to the week of the Auction.  I was so excited for our parents to see them. It was so hard not to show them when they came in. The different teachers I showed just loved them.
*Spring Art Auction evening verdict, everyone LOVED them and we got endless comments on how everyone though they were so cute. Definitely one of my favorite parts about the Auction. I'm going to miss doing them next year for sure. #bittersweetmove

6 Year’s of PURE JOY!!!!

6 year’s ago we said our I Do’s. I can’t believe its already been 6 years. Sometimes it seems longer and then other times it seem’s shorter. We’ve defiantly made the most of the last 6 years for sure. We’ve had good times and bad times, hard times and easy times. All of which have gotten us through the past 6 years as a married couple and were we are today. I can’t say I would change any of it, even the deployments were hard but we made it through more in love and stronger than when we went in. I’m looking forward to the next 6 plus years and everything that they hold. I know greater things are in store for us in our future. 

To celebrate we were in Savannah for my big race, my 1st Full Marathon. (read about it here) As you may remember I ran it on our Anniversary. I was hesitant to sign up for it in the beginning with it being on our Anniversary but it was a great day. Having the hubbs there for it mint everything in the world. Of course the day holds a special meaning for many reason’s now. We had planned to stay a second night in Savannah until we found out about a month ago our dear friends the L family were coming down for the weekend. They were staying at our house so we decided we’d go back to Cola after the race. Of course I wanted to spend every minute we could with them event if that mint on our Anniversary night. We all went to dinner together, all 7 of us (they have 3 kiddos). I wanted to go to dinner some were different, some were we don’t go often. However we settled on Olive Garden and you know what it was pretty perfect. We had a fabulous time, we were able to catch up, there were tons of laughs and jokes and of course lots of celebrating. 

We even attempted to have a slumber party in the floor of our room. Now that’s love if you ask me. The hubbs in the bed and me and sweet Madi on the floor. She’s 4 almost 5 and wanted to sleep with us. However she some how had the hardest time turning her little chatting mouth off and well mom interfered and she went to sleep with them. Of course I managed to make my way back into my comfy bed. It may not have been everything I ever dreamed of for our 6 year celebration but for us it was absolutely perfect. I’m really big on celebrating our Anniversary’s and it will be one I always remember. 

I simply can not ever imagine my life with out this man in it and I’m so grateful I never will. He’s my world, my rock, my everything. He hold’s me together when I’m at my worst and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I have an entire life time with him ahead of me. Let the good times roll!!!! 

I love you baby Always & Forever and Thensome 11-09-07

These cutie pies almost make me want to have one of my own. But in the mean time I'll just enjoy everyone else's kiddos. 

Enjoying a great dinner with fabulous friends. 

My Mistress, I've missed her to pieces. 

Happy Anniversary Love!!!!! 

 A sneak peak of our 6 Year Wedding Anniversary shoot we had taken Yesterday. 

She melts My Heart

Monday this hubbs and I both managed to have the day off. How this happened so early in Red Phase was beyond me. We decided to go to lunch at a local burger place and then did a little window shopping at some of the hubbs favorite stores. Before we headed home we stopped for Cupcakes at our favorite place. I picked one up for my Sweet Lu and we made a pit stop by her house on our way home. 

I'll say she enjoyed it quite well. She had just finished a popsicle but mom was so kind to let her indulge. She makes my heart melt and almost makes me wanna have one of my own. Don't get all excited people I said almost, we still aren't ready to make that 100% commitment yet. So in the mean time I'll just enjoy and spoil this sweet girl. 

I think we'd make some pretty cute babies!!!!

OMG, seriously he melts my heart. He was all over the yard playing with Lu and helping her blow bubbles. I was enjoying watching to much that I didn't take any pictures. He's gonna make a great daddy some day!!! 

and that's all she wrote........

Life Lately via the Gram....Instagram.....

Of course I've been staying up with my running, with my fabulous girls K and her sweet little one. With the thought / idea of running my first Full Marathon in late fall I've got to keep those miles adding up. I feel so much better about myself after each run and I seem to impress myself more and more every day. Is so hard to explain the feeling sometimes but I LOVE IT!!!!! I have two set races coming up and then I don't think I'll do any through the hot summer months but hey who knows. Trying to do 13 races in 2013 and of course my 500 miles in 2013 so gotta keep hitting the streets. I have a race this Saturday and I'm hoping the rain holds out till after. 

The pups and I have been spending a lot of time at the dog park here lately. I feel guilty when I come home in the evenings from work and they've been stuck inside all day. So up to the park we go, 9 times out of 10 we are able to stay and play for a good bit but when other dogs come we have to bounce out because Bailey isn't so social in a confined area. she's kinda crazy They go nuts on our walk, you'd think it was the first time they have even been out. And it happens like that every single time. It's one of those things, you'd better be ready to step out the door the minute you pull the leashes out of the coat closet because they are going to go NUTS!!! 

Friday night I was babysitting K's sweet little one while they went on a date. It was about 8pmish and the hubbs texted me saying he was thinking he was going to come home for the weekend. SAY WHAT.... I know its only been a couple week's since he's been gone but this is the longest we've been apart in almost 2 years since he came home from his last deployment. So to say I was having hubby withdrawals would be a understatement. I had a commitment Saturday night that I could not get out of and I reminded him of that and he didn't mind. When I asked what made him think about coming home he said there really wasn't anything there for him to do over the weekend. Talk about a heart breaking moment. So we agreed that even though we'd only get a day together and a little bit of Sunday morning it was totally worth it. I some how managed to stay away once I got home till  2am when he got home. Saturday we met up with one of my families from school at the bowling alley on post to say a quick Hello and so they could me the hubbs. I love their little guy, he's so stinkin cute and his parents are the best. Little E to right to the hubbs and they were the best of pals, he took E and showed him the "trucks" outside and even offered to share his banana with him. Later that morning we did a little window shopping around town and then headed to Olive Garden for dinner. The weather out was super ugly and a bit chilly even so taking the pups out was a no go. We enjoyed the day together and I was so glad he came home. It was a short visit but nice having him around the house again. lol (you'd think he's been gone for months on end.) Sunday morning before he headed out we went for breakfast (Sunday morning tradition when he's home from work is homemade breakfast ), at least this time with him leaving I wasn't overly sick. GoodByes never get easy no matter how many we go through, no matter were they are going or what they are doing, they just SUCK plain and simple. I can't wait to have my love home again!!!! 

This week at work is Teacher Appreciation Day. Our Parents have spoiled us the last two days and its been super nice. They are so sweet and care so much about us. They always do their best to show us how much they care. Yesterday we received flowers, a Target gift card along with homemade blueberry muffins which were fabulous. Today we were given a jar of M&M's with the cutest poem on it about how much we love our kiddo's it was adorable. Our PTO (parent teacher organization) set up a wonderful buffet of snacks for all of the teachers today. There was everything from fresh fruit, muffins, candies and much more. It was a nice treat and we all enjoyed it VERY much. lol. After work I normally go straight home and I've been trying my best not to eat out since the hubbs is gone (gotta save that money) but today I treated myself, its teacher appreciation day after all, right!!!! 

With the hubbs gone I haven't really done to much, just hanging out with the pups and being a bit of a home body for the most part. I did have a little get together here at our house last night. I invited a few friends over for dinner and dessert and everyone seemed to have a great time. It was nice and I'm glad we did it, I miss having our weekly dinners like we did in Hawaii when the guys were deployed. I def. think I'm going to try and start doing this most often. Who know's maybe I'll actually meet some more wives in the process. 

Spring Art Auction

Each year the school I work for does a Spring Art Auction this is the school's spring fundraiser.

 Part of what goes into that is the Children decorate a canvas. Each child has their own and they are to do what they want on it. There is no direction, no theme or story to go by, simply them using their imagination. Its a lot of fun for the older kiddos and seeing the out come. However with the little ones they need a bit more guidance. We wanted them to be a creation all of its self but knew some help was needed. We've been talking about this since the beginning of the year (Jan. 2013, our school year runs just as a public school August- May) and what we wanted to do. I had some what of a idea in my head that we had been talking about. We had been trying to play off that and add to it just a little. Last Friday we got out Canvas's and set on them for the week. Even though the Auction is less than 20 days away and 6 of those day's we will be on bring break we didn't want to rush into it. We wanted to make sure they turned out perfect and we didn't mess up anything. 

Well this morning we decided we would give it a try, "we will start with one", we said and go from there on what we think. One led to Two which led to Three, Four, Five, next thing we knew we had done all eight children that were there for the day. (we had a few out) We were / are very please with the way they turned out. They were completely done by the children as far as the painting goes. So with out further ado here are our Classroom Canvas's for EDS's 2012-2013 Spring Art Auction 

Step-1

Step-2

Step-3

Step-4

I think they are so cute and I can't wait to see what the parents think of them.
Its going to be hard keeping them a secret from them till April 18th. 

What do you think, did they turn out cute?!?!? or what?!?!

 I do think they look so much better in person, but they are still cute!!!

St. Patties Day & Easter @ School

Since St. Patrick's Day and Easter are semi close together we decided instead of completely changing out board out half way through the month to put up Easter art we would just make one board into two. It worked out really well and we've been extra busy with art over the last few weeks. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of week one, I remember just as I took the last piece of art work down. 

So skipping on to Week 2 or March-

 Fruit Loop Rainbows- lets just say we wont be doing these again next year. As cute as they are, they were a pain in the booty and talk about messy to. Hand Print Lambs- these turned out super cute and were so adorable. Definitely one of our favorites. 

Week 3 of March-

Hand Print Shamrocks in a Pot of gold. Our original plan was to simply do 4 of their hand prints all on one sheet and have them over lap to look like a shamrock. Well after several attempts it just wasn't working out. So we resorted to 4 single prints, cutting and glueing. which I still think came out pretty well. Chick Feet- these little guy's turned out just darlin. Again another one were the original gave us some trouble but we change it and made it our own.

Week 4 of March-
For the last week of March we decided to to go a little simple with our art work. Foot print Carrots & Foot print Bunnies on the Easter side. They turned out super cute. For the St. Patties day side we were a little less creative as we were running out of ideas. We decided to let the kiddo's have a little fun with some extra construction paper we had laying around and they made Mosaic Rainbows. I have to say it took a little explaining of them for people to understand what it was, they we decided to Write on the "sun's" what it was. I'm glad both of these Holidays are behind us and that we don't have anymore in the future. I can't wait to do just free art and not have a theme to go by or a Holiday. 

Bulletin Boards Lately!

We have been busting out the art work at school here lately and the parents are loving it. I'm loving it, its so fun and hearing everyone comment on how cute our boards are makes it that much more worth it. I try to take pictures of the finished products when I remember but I've been slacking. Any how here are two of our January boards and one of our February boards so far. More to come in the coming weeks and months. :) 

THERE'S NO PEOPLE LIKE SNOW PEOPLE! 

Do you see a theme going on here.....its still winter and chilly weather so went with snowmen for January. 

The first one was Cotton Ball snow People. They turned out so cute!!! 

This one was one of my favorite Snow People made out of Marshmallows :) 

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!!!

 Moving into February we've got LOVE to share!!!! 

Our love people with a bit of finger painting. Aren't they adorable!!!! 

 Don't worry there's lots more to come over the next few months!!! 

3 & 1/2 more months till Summer semester starts!!!