IT'S HERE!!!

So, my Twilight countdown is at 2 hours! I am headed out to meet my other nerdy friends for the midnight showing. I am so excited. I have a substitute for tomorrow and everything! Thank goodness I don't need to be at my meeting until 11am. And... it's Kevin's Birthday today too! He's 27!! I made him his favorite dinner and his Mom came over to celebrate with us and she brought cake!! But I am waiting for him to go to sleep before I head out to the movie, I feel less guilty that way!! HAHA

HAPPY 27th BIRTHDAY KEV-O! YOU ARE SO OLD! BUT I STILL LOVE YOU!!

AND YAY FOR TWILIGHT!!!!

My Baby Bro

I just wanted to post a picture I took of my brother as he headed out the door for Bahama Bash last June. I just love this picture of him and wanted to share it. I love you Baby Bro and I am OH so proud of you!!!

Old Dog... New Tricks

Jessi and I are learning how to crochet. That said, it seems my great friend has already mastered it!! I... uh, not so much. Thanks to an awesome youtube video I figured out the first step... but after that I get frustrated. I can start "the chain" but when I have to go for the 3rd loop or whatever, it all messes up.

Any tips?? I want to make a scarf... If that's too ambitious, I'll settle for pot holders. :)

50 ODD Things about me!

1: Do you like blue cheese? Sometimes... blue cheese wedge salads are very good.

2: Have you ever smoked heroin? Not me, I'm drug free. HUGS NOT DRUGS

3: Do you own a gun? that'd be a no. If you don't own a gun, you can't shoot anybody.

4: Your favorite song? Why did the song "creep" just pop into my head? just keep it on the down
low cuz nobody is supposed to know... definitely not my favorite song.. TYLER HILTON please.

5: Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? yes. The gyno. *shivers*

7: Favorite Christmas song? I want a hippopotamus for Christmas... only a hippopotamus will do... no crocodiles or rhinoceroses I only like hippopotamuses and hippopotamuses like me too.... and "creep" is now outa my head.

8: Can you do push ups? ha

9: What's your favorite piece of jewelry? my wedding set and my promise ring necklace.. they all have heirloom stones that have been in my family for a while (my center stone since the 1920s) and special meanings. Oh and my watch. It was my mama's and she gave it to me for my 25th birthday. :) I really do love all my jewelry and everyone who has ever given me some!! :)

10: Favorite hobby? lately.. if I actually have free time, I spend it, baking/cooking with Kevin, reading, blogging or driving to Denton. :)

11: Do you have A.D.D.? I was diagnosed ADD, sure.. who wasn't? but.... look a butterfly! Wait... I was saying something important...

12: What's one trait that you dislike about yourself? hmm... dislike?? but I'm so cool. Maybe I don't like... my hands.

13. What's your middle name? Diane/Coady after my aunt Diane and my maiden name, Coady

14: Name three thoughts at this exact moment? Inna Garten can work a knife, I so should be reading my students journals, and I like my new haircut.

15: Name three things you bought yesterday? dublin DP from Chicken Express, 3 taco's from taco casa and a school Tshirt.

16. Name three drinks you drink regularly: DP, DP, and uh... sprite.

17: Current worry right now? money, money, money, MONEY!!!

18: Current dislike right now? that Kevie isn't home.

19: Favorite place to be? Paris or Possum Kingdom.

20: How did you bring in the new year? I think we stayed in.. I don't remember.

21: Where would you like to go? Paris... and on our cruise in JUNE!!

22: Name three people who will complete this? uhhhhhhhh ANYONE who wants to. I'm not picky.

23. Do you own slippers? ah huh. and I LOVE them!!

24: What shirt are you wearing? a black one?

25: Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't know... never tried...but they look all sexy and fun. :)

26: Can you whistle? sometimes... sometimes I try and nothing comes out.

27: Favorite color? Purple

28: Would you be a pirate? I have a stock answer for this question, because I do get asked it all the time... IS WILL TURNER MY HUSBAND? If so, give me a parrot and peg leg and point me to him!! If not, I'll stay on dry land. Actually, nevermind about the peg leg, he probably won't find that sexy.

29: What songs do you sing in the shower? Walking on Sunshine... I really like showers.

30: Favorite girl's name? Anna Kate Carol Lawther

31: Favorite boy's name? Zachary Edward Lawther and Nathaniel James Lawther

32: What's in your pocket right now? ah, my pockets are empty.

33: Last thing that made you laugh: Jessi snapping along to the songs in my car. She cracks me up!

34: Best bed sheets as a child? And that's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

35: Worst injury you've ever had? cracked my middle finger on my right hand in 5th grade when I did 5 backhandsprings into the wall. Oh and I had to get 6 stitches across my forehead when I was 2 years old because I cracked my head open on a glass coffee table.

36: Do you love where you live? Yes. I do... it's close to everything.

37: How many TVs do you have in your house? 4... but we only use 2 of them and 1 isn't even
plugged in.

38: Who is your loudest friend? I don't think anyone is louder than me.

39. How many dogs do you have? THE MURPH MAN!! (aka, one... and he's so cute)

40: Does someone have a crush on you? I'd say it's a little stronger than a crush... after 11 years, you call that love.

41: What is your favorite book? Harry Potter 1-7 and Twilight 1-4 (LOVE IT ALL)

42. What is your favorite candy? Junior Mints or DOTS

43: Favorite Sports Team? DALLAS (bop bop) STARS (bop bop)!!!

44: What song do you want played at your funeral? We've been spending most our lives livin in a Gansta Paradise :) seriously though, "You raise me up" by Josh Grobin because everyone in my life does and I want them to know how much they mean to me. And my cousin Josh sang it at our wedding and I think that's kinda cool.

45: What were you doing 12 AM last night? hanging out in Dallas with my awesome cousin Emily and her way cool Mama, Aunt Susie. I didn't realize how late it was.

46: What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? hmmmm.... 9:30, that's nice.

47 What time did you get up ? 9:40am

48: What's your favorite cereal? Golden Grahams or Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Captain Crunch berries, or Multi-grain cheerios, OR grape nuts hot.... I LOVE CEREAL!

49: What did you dream about last night? Wow.. last night was a weird one. Kev and I were going on a trip to Jamaica... flying Ocho Rios Air. And when we went to check in, Nicole Kidman was there and she was our friend and we were all going on this trip together. The counter person didn't want to check her in because she was pregnant and her water broke while she was arguing with the people. They told her this proved their point and she asked me how long she could hold the baby in. Like I knew! Then she said calmly, that she was really looking forward to this trip and flying on Ocho Rios Air because their planes are like cruise ships and everyone has their own cabin. In the end, she didn't get on the plane and we got her first class cabin. As we walked through the door of our cabin, I woke up. (Kev and I are going on a cruise to Jamaica and a few other places in June and our cabin is super sweet. I think that's where this dream came from... Now the Nicole Kidman part, I HAVE NO IDEA!!)

50: Do you snore? Kevo says yes.... but I've never heard it. :)

The storm

Kev and I get very excited when it storms... We love to watch the rain. It's something we've been doing since we were in high school... Kev, even longer. He used to curl up in a blanket and watch the rain with his dad. I think it's so special that he shares this time with me and has for so many years.

Last night we both got our blankets and sat on our front porch and watched the rain pour down. It's so relaxing. Our dog thinks we are crazy! Sometimes he'll come sit behind us but most of the time he stays in the house and lays down at the open front door.

I thought Kev looked particularly funny wrapped in his blanket so I grabbed the camera and he hid from me. :) Oh well....

Our new car!!!

(not our actual car- a look a like, if you will)

Well our slightly used car that is new to us! ISN'T IT GORGEOUS!! We negotiated the price and everything. I have to take it back on Monday because Make-Ready was closed so that they can make it all pretty. But Kev drove it and he is comfortable in it (as comfy as a boy can be in a convertible) and we both love it. 10 year 100K mile warranty too!! YAY! Give me a call and I'll take ya for a spin.

2 things!!

First....

Kevin's school and my school played each other in 7th grade basketball last night. I was so torn, mostly because 3 of my students were on the team that played Kevin, so I wanted everyone to do well. Both teams have only been playing for 2 weeks, but it is obvious that my students and their teammates have been playing select basketball for awhile. We won 80 to 13. Kevin's boys were REALLY trying. I am proud of them for not giving up. And I am proud of my boys for how well they played and their conduct, they didn't gloat or boast... they were very polite. I ended up clapping every time anyone scored!! :)

My parents came to the game and I showed them around school. My parents are so dedicated to supporting our family. They came to Kevin's game then took me to dinner and after that drove out to HEB for my brother's hockey game at 9:30pm. They amaze me. I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH AND THANKS AGAIN... FOR EVERYTHING!

2nd thing....



Grey's Anatomy was AMAZING this week. It's been just ok lately... I mean I've looked forward to it but not like before. But last week... I balled!!! Seriously! I'm so excited. And Denny's back. Figment of her imagination... but still!! He's on my TV. I love Izzie and Alex together. They fit, I think. But I am diggin the Denny twist! Ah... I just love it! WELCOME BACK GREY'S!! I'VE MISSED YOU!!!

Oh and I take the PPR today... WISH ME LUCK!!!

YES WE CAN!

I've gone back and forth on posting something about the election. That said...

I am so proud of our country! It does not feel real. I haven't let it sink in yet. The last political conversation I had with my mother was over a year ago. Kevin and I don't talk about it... I'm scared to bring it up in the state I live in. And yet... He's our next president!!!

I think that if the people who spend so much time hating him and believing the most ridiculous things about him... spent that time, reading his book, listening to people who have met him, looking at his website... or even just giving him the benefit of the doubt... maybe they'd see he's not a monster.

He's a man. He has faults. But he has plans and a vision that can bring us out of this slump we are in. That will put the US back in the good graces of the world. Who better than someone who can COMMUNICATE with the world.... who is respected in the world. As someone with a communication background, I see the world differently. I think all things can be solved through communication. AND I'm right. :)

I think John McCain would have been a great president as well. I think that he would have changed somethings... but not enough, in my mind. And the majority of America seems to agree.

I don't know if President elect Obama (wow) will be able to achieve all that he promised. But I believe in him and I believe that he will try.

Please give him a chance. We've been divided long enough. And Jessi told me that even Elizabeth Hasselbeck was supportive today.

*jumping off soap box*.... now. :)

PEACE AND LOVE FRIENDS... PEACE AND LOVE!! haha

Trick or Treat

Kevin and I had a Halloween date night last night. We went out to dinner and then went and got a pumpkin. We made a great pumpkin carving team. Kev went to town on the "gross stuff"...

And took out all the innards for me....

And then I did our pumpkins face....

Ta da!

We put it on our ledge.


It was such a nice night. We sat outside on our front porch and handed out candy. The kids were so cute!! Kevin's favorite was dressed as Daisy Duck. He's a sucker for full on animal costumes. We had a very cute 10 year old "old lady" stop by. She walked very slowly and even had a cane. Her candy bag was a purse. :)

Towards the end of the night we had some junior high kids come by... one was wearing her ID. They were very polite and said thank you. As they were walking away I told them to be nice to their teachers. They laughed and said they'd try. :) That's all I ask for!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween!!

1 year in the classroom...

Yesterday was my 1 year anniversary of teaching. My very first subbing job was at the school I am teaching at now for the amazing Barb Diehl. All the teachers I eat lunch with were talking about my anniversary at lunch yesterday. I did bring it up... but still! :) Every year they have a Halloween party for the teachers. They were all remembering me coming in a year ago and talking to everyone. I asked them if they had a spread like this everyday! :) It's kinda cool they remembered my first day.

1 year ago:

I woke up early and anxious! 8th graders... my first day.. what was I thinking? (I was thinking junior high starts the latest of all schools and I am NOT a morning person.) I wasn't due at the school until 8:40am. But I got to school earlier than the sheet said (8:15am) because I wanted to make sure I understood everything before the kids came in. All the doors to school were locked and only teachers and staff can get in before the first bell rings. I parked in the back and got lucky that someone was walking to the door at the same time I was.

I got into school and made my way to the office. It was locked. The office doesn't open until 8:30am. I sat on the bench and waited. My anxiety is starting to get bigger as I am wasting time on the bench instead of in the classroom figuring out what I am doing for the day. But I don't know where to go! So.. I wait.

8:25am... the front office lights turn on and I hear a clicking sound that tells me the door is unlocked. Oh thank GOD! I go in and sign all the forms and get a map of the school and make my way to the room. I find it pretty quickly. It's not a REALLY big school (when I subbed at Lamar, I got lost). I go to open the door and guess what... it's locked!

I make a note to self: Sure arriving early is smart... but too early just adds stress!

I am waiting patiently outside the door when at 8:35am our wonderful custodian opens it for me. She has a list in her hand and I realize that the school has a system for substitutes and I need to just learn it.

I walk into the room and Ms. Diehl has it all laid out for me. A movie! Fantastic. I go over to the TV and put the movie in the VCR. I turn on the TV and press all the buttons and.... snow. 8:40am the kids will be arriving in 8 minutes and the only thing I have for the day is not working... I start sweating.

I press a few more buttons and it still isn't working. I hear the door open and Ms. Young walks in. She tells me Ms. Diehl asked her to check in and see if I needed anything... Oh thank you thank you!! She gets the VCR to work and tells me she is just down the hall if I need anything. 8:45am, I take a deep breath. I look over the students names and see which ones I won't be able to pronounce. My stomach is in knots.

The bells rings and startles me. Showtime.

1st period went really well. I told them if they did as they were supposed to and paid attention and didn't talk, I would give them the last 5 minutes of class to talk. They seemed to be ok with that. I took roll and a student offered to take it down to the attendance office for me. I thought she was just trying to get out of class. I told her I'd take it down myself at the end of the day. She didn't argue with me... even though I was SO WRONG. You have to turn in attendance every period. Who knew?

2nd period was my conference period. Which was nice... I had time to breathe. I took the attendance sheet down to the office where they told me to just let a student do it. :)

I went back upstairs and looked around Ms. Dielh's room. She had a lot of pictures up. And... I noticed a picture of a blond haired girl I went to high school with... Corey Diehl-Miller. I guess she went here? No, this school was built when we were in high school. I called Kevin and asked him what Corey's mom's name is. (He and Corey were really close friends in junior high and high school.) He said Barb. Same as the name on my sheet. Really... small world. Kevin told me to write Barb a note saying Hi and to tell Corey Hi. I can't believe my first job was for Corey's mom. So cool.

The rest of the day was... fun. I didn't understand the bell schedule... or what advisory was. I was scared to leave the room because I wasn't sure when kids would be coming in. Every time the bell rang I'd look at the door and when kids didn't come in I would get worried. Was I in the right place... Are they out in the hall running around. Eventually I calmed down. But I was a ball of nerves all day.

By 7th period I was starting to relax. No major problems. I even really thought the kids were funny. One asked me if I was tired of watching the video yet... he said, "Isn't it boring to watch it over and over again?" I told him no... because I wasn't watching the video... I was watching them! :) He smiled at that. I made a kid smile.

When the dismissal bell rang at 3:55pm I was so tired. I wrote Barb a note about each period and introduced myself... I cleaned up the room... made sure it looked nice and then I packed up and went home.

I was asleep by 6pm!!! It's EXHAUSTING worrying about nothing! :)

I ended up becoming Barb's personal substitute and I think it was her high opinion of me that got me the job I have now, but that's another story....

THANKS BARB SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!

Go Gators!

Kevin's football team that he helps coach (he is 1 of the 4 JH coaches) made it all the way to the city championships!! They played at Craven's field. Our home field when we were in high school. Kevin played so many games there!!! Last night, the Gators played Boles. The Head Coach at Boles was "my" coach at Martin when I was a football manager. He's such a sweet man! (Regina and Jalei... you know!!) :)

The Band had the BEST time. They were so good!!! I was really impressed. They spent the whole game keeping the excitement up and they had dances to the drumline.

Gators score first!!!

Look how excited they are!

And Kevin had his own cheering section!

Kevin's Mom, Carol and his "like a mom" Kathy

Kevin's brother, Mike and his best friend, Josh (who also played at Cravens... a lot)

My parents came to support their son-in-law!!

I think Josh had the best comment on this picture... he said "Ten years later and now he's the equipment manager." :)

Another GATOR touchdown! Kev really likes this picture because the Gator is cheering.

Our view from the stands.

Kevin... taking it all in!

In the middle of things....

"Newbie" Coach Lawther and Coach Lackey walking back from a time out.

With 1 minute left in the game... the Gators were winning 27 to 7 and boys started celebrating. They got the head coach, Coach Keys first and then it was Kevin's turn for an ice shower!

Gators WIN!! His first year coaching and he helped coach his team to a CITY WIDE VICTORY!! He's so excited!

Shaking hands with Coach Wilkins! :)

Shaking hands with Coach Keys. I'm so glad he's so happy in his job. All the Gator Coaches are fantastic and they have really taken Kev under their wing.

WAY TO GO GATORS!!!!

I talked to Kevin right after the game. I told him I got a picture of his "shower" and he said, "I'm freezing and I don't even care." :)
I'm so proud!
I LOVE YOU BABERS!!!

What a WEEKEND!!

Friday night I had the girls over for Pizza and Wine. We had the best time catching up. I actually left school around 5:30pm. Which is amazing for me!!

Then on Saturday... my Uncle Marty and Tina drove in from Mexico and stopped in the Metroplex for dunch with us and to spend sometime with my Granny.

My Dad and his older brother Uncle Marty

My Uncle Marty and his wife Tina. She brought me the prettiest ceramic duck from Mexico. It was so good to see them!

Kevo and me at "dunch"

My parents

My Granny!!!

After "dunch" (lunch at 2pm) I went and VOTED!!! I am so glad to have taken care of it so that I don't have to worry about it during school. And I am proud to make my voice known even though everyone told me Texas is a red state and not to even bother. Well, I bothered. Maybe if more people "bothered" it wouldn't be such a done deal. Anyway... no matter what I am proud!

After voicing my opinion (silently and in a tiny booth)... I headed out to Denton to get ready for the most fun Halloween party. Jamie did my make-up and hair as the 80's made a come back!

Jamie, as Tonks from HP, me and an 80's Diva and Kate as an IPOD commercial.

The Eselys

I think this picture is so cool!!!

Freddy is so scary! and yes, that is a purple sequined Beret in on my head. I wore it to school today too for "crazy hat day".

We had so much fun taking pictures with the mechanical scary people.

That right! Socks and high heels!!!

Aren't these sisters so pretty!

MJ and his zombies "thrilled" us with a performance.

We all played Rock Band!

Gotta love them!

I so made Ben take this picture... but I thought it was funny that they were dressed similar.

After ti many martoonis!

Oh it was so fun! They had everything you could think of. 3 different types of martinis and every kind of beer. They cooked out and had foosball and ping pong... and and and..... it was just so fun! OH and their house was GORGEOUS!!

I'm still exhausted!

It's about time...

for another blog!!

Although I must say... I don't really have a lot to report. School is good.. but this week is kicking my booty! Pep Rally tomorrow... Detentions after school on Thursday (one of my students busted out Journey while I was helping the sub across the hall get the projector working.) I have to say that I am so sad to punish him... he was actually quite good. But I guess there is a time and a place. And when I say.. "I'm going out in the hall for a moment, continue working on your review, do not get out of your seat, I'll be right back." And 1 minute later I walk in to my student is standing on the stage singing "Don't stop believe'n.. hold on to that feel'n"... well, my hands are tied.

I also had 2 students, working in pairs, speak to each other in English accents the entire class period... One kept saying "mate" at the end of each sentence and the other looked at him and goes, "You know that's Australian, right?" I LOVE MY STUDENTS!

This week is the end of football season for us. :( We do get to play our local rival school at the feeder high school tomorrow. Which is so cool for the kids. They are so excited. Hence the Pep Rally. AND teachers get to wear jeans... on a Wednesday... the whole world's gone crazy!

I am excited for basketball season though... the word around some of the coaches (aka. Kevin) is that my school is REALLY good at basketball. Like... undefeated 16-0 and beat teams by 30 points or more. Competitiveness is ugly amongst married couples... and I gotta say Kevo... what goes around comes around! HAHA (his school is SUPER good at football and just GOOD at basketball...) This is all based on last year.

2 weekends ago was a 3 day weekend! Fantastic! And I OF CORSE had something to do all 3 days. But I had the best time... Ember and ALT's engagement party... I played matron of honor and photographer! THE MOST FUN! And Jessi and I hung out on Monday... SUSHI and catching up.. my favorite. Her house is SO cute. It's so nicely decorated. I am jealous! We even managed to plan a Xmas party that we are going to throw together.

OK... so I did have some things to say! :) PRAY for me this week...

Katie and Alyssa attempt a conversation...

This particular conversation happened a while back, but I was thinking about it today and thought I'd share it with you all...

My best friends Katie, Jen and I were at Barnes and Noble... we tend to go there after we have dinner to read magazines and drink coffee. (And buy books that we can't afford but can't live without) Well, we all picked our magazines and found some very comfy chairs in the self help section. I guess B&N are trying to encourage people to stay in this section... I don't know.

Anyway... I look up and I notice that B&N has decorated their store with huge posters of book covers that are considered great works of literature. These posters are above the shelves. I said none of this out loud.. instead I said to my friends "We should read all the books on the wall." and gestured to the wall behind Katie and around us.

She looked up, and then looked back at me and said, "There are probably a 1,000 of them and I don't really want to read self help books."

I looked back at her and said, "What?" She looked back at me and said, "Wait... what?" I asked her, "What are you talking about?" She countered with the same thought, "What are YOU taking about..."

I told her, "The books on the wall... the great works of literature...." I swear I hear her mumble, "I wouldn't call them that." I continue to gesture upwards, above the book cases... and then I see her light bulb.. "OH...." she says.

Just for that Kate... I think we should read ALL the books on the wall... You start in self help and I'll start in Roman Architecture.

I heart you.

Virtual Pat on the Back

I can't believe it is October already. I've spent the past 7 years not really caring about the date. I mean I paid attention to the seasons and when stuff was due in school... but now as a teacher, I write the date on the board every day and it was crazy to me to erase September and write October. School is going by so fast. The days are flying. I think that's a sign that I am truly enjoying my job. Everyday is something new. I had my observations this past week. My administration is so supportive. They really take care of me. She sent me an email and listed great things she saw me doing during my walk through.

One thing that they complimented me on was my materials desk. I kind of have to brag on this. I don't remember where I got the idea, but I have a desk in the back of the room and it has a basket with golf pencils and computer paper on it. (I had the students bring computer paper at the beginning of the year for an extra bathroom pass.) My students know it is there and if they come to class with out paper or a writing utensil they know to visit the desk before class starts to get the materials.


Well, during my walk through I asked the kids to get out materials to take notes and 3 of them got up to use the materials desk and were back in their seat ready to go before most students even had their binders open. I was so proud. And my VP noticed, obviously, because she complimented me on it.

So.. I am bloggingly patting my self on the back... GO ME!