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!

Thanks Jess

The rules: List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, and 3 facts about yourself. Tag 3 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

3 Joys:

1. Kevie and Murph-dog... Kev and I are celebrating the 11th anniversary of our first date in November. Can you believe it?? He amazes me everyday. We are both giddy.. 10 years later! It's crazy! And our Dog is such a sweetheart! Anybody who meets him falls in love. And believe me... he claims everyone! He's our baby!


2. My family!!! And that includes everyone I consider family... you know who you are... it's a large brood... but I wouldn't have it any other way. They all know they can count and me for anything and vice versa. I LOVE YOU ALL!!


3. My best friends!! Talk about a support group! They all bring totally different things to my life and I couldn't live without any of them!! (Kate, Em and Jordana... thanks for your love and friendship!)



3 Fears:

1. scary movies... even previews on TV freak me out. I tried to look at them as funny.. haha... the woman was pulled away screaming... or how unrealistic.. her head is spinning while she throws up green vomit... but uh... yah, it all just creeps me out.

2. When we finally decide it's time to start having kids, I won't be able to conceive. I've written a whole blog on this fear... I don't think it'll ever go away until I hold my child in my arms. The doubt will always be there.

3. Snakes give me the hebejebees.


3 Goals

1. To kiss Kevin at the top of the Eiffel tower on our 5 year wedding anniversary. (I got to call him from it on our 1 year and we made a promise to each other our 5 year we'd be there together.)

2. To get my masters in education someday (notice no time limit!)

3. to keep my students away from the "bad" things that lurk outside of Junior High... (use your imagination and it's probably something I worry about for them!)


3 current obsessions/collections

1. Well.. Harry Potter Parties... we have so much fun.. so all things Harry Potter!

2. Twilight deserves it's own number because seriously it was all I could talk about this summer. Kevin was VERY annoyed.. but loved that I had friends to talk about the books with... cuz he was so done! :)

3. BLOGGING... but that seems to go without saying. I think the whole idea is so cool and wish everyone had one. It's so fun to read all of your blogs and see what's going on. Makes me want to have a blogging party... hmmm... could be fun!

3 facts

1. I make a mean crepe!

2. I have this ability to make people laugh... I've learned to embrace it.

3. I have no filter between my brain and my mouth... so most of the things I say are sarcastic and not all what I meant to say. I love it when people just get me... I'm really hard to explain.

3 TAGGED PEOPLE:

1. Jordana
2. Emmy (I don't care that you don't have a blog.. get one and do this!)
3. MAMASON!!!

Artsy Smartsy

My cousin lives in New York City. She works as an architect and her office is in the Empire State Building. (It's OK to be jealous... I am) She's always been VERY artistic. She sent us an email at the beginning of the month and told us that she'd entered a contest and won the opportunity to have one of her paintings displayed. Just so happens that it's displayed here in Dallas. Gma and Gpa tried to fly her down her to see it, but her schedule wouldn't let her.

Anyway... I promised her I'd go see it and take pictures and tonight, I kept that promise. The G-rents wanted to see it too, so we went to North Park tonight. And I have to tell you how we found it.

It's a pretty big display and we entered from the back because of the parking situation for my G-rents (more handicapped parking at the department stores). We looked at all the names and after about 5 minutes made it half way through. I was looking closely at all the paintings and someone stopped me, interpreting my attentiveness as passion for art and having no idea it was more pride for my cousin than anything else.

"Have you seen this one?" He asks me. "Look at the colors she chose. The sheer depth of emotion is amazing." I decided to indulge the man, he seemed nice and I looked at the painting and then the little card next to it.. and guess what I saw.... My cousin's name all bright and beaming (or maybe that was me).

"That's my cousin's painting." I told the man, he didn't seem to believe me and moved on. Quite odd. Anyway, I called the G-rents over... "I found it!" I attempted to take a picture but Gma wanted to read the comics on the painting... She wants Emily to know that she got the "I'm so tired" reference.

After a few minutes, Gma moves out of the way and I can fulfill my promise....

Grandma and Grandpa with Emily's painting.

Her painting was near the front and you could see it from the beginning of the exhibit. Grandma told everyone who made eye contact with her that her granddaughter's painting was displayed here. My Gma.. gotta love her!

Oh, and Gma really like the knitted sweater that was in the exhibit. She had me take a picture of the lady's name and wants me to track her down so she can make sweaters for our family. So...

Jennifer Gayda: if you read my blog, please write me a comment with your contact information.
(there... I tried)

So... if you find yourself in the Northwest corner of the North Park Mall, outside Macy's... feel free to stand by my cousin's painting and brag about how you know the artist... if for no other reason, to make my Gma feel better that she couldn't set up shop there with bell and a sign.

WAY TO GO EMILY!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Em & ALT engagement photos

Em and ALT asked me to take some engagement pictures this weekend. I am so honored!! :) I think they turned out super cute. We were going to go take them in a few different places, but we took some great shots just on her parent's property in Mansfield and didn't need to really go anywhere else. They are both so photogenic we were done in under an hour. I think they turned out great, but I'm biased.

Huh? When were you born???

We had our back to school dance tonight. I would say over half of my students were there! I'm so proud! I had a moment when I realized my students were born in 1994 and 1995... They were born when I was in junior high!! WEIRD!!

In class today I had one of my students ask me if I was going to go to the dance... I told him I might make an appearance. He asked me if I was going to dance like they did in the 70s. I started laughing and I told him I had no idea how they danced in the 70s. Disco I guess. Anyway I told him I wasn't alive in the 70s and his eyes about popped out of his head. hahaha! This led to a discussion about my age. I let them guess... 60, 54, 66, 30 (that one hurt) and then I heard 25... I looked at him and smiled as the bell rang... I said "I'm 26... now get out of here." :)

They had a blast and I had a great time watching them. They were SO funny... whenever the DJ played a song they didn't like, they would scream and all walk out of the cafeteria into the hallway until the next song. And if it was one they loved they would RUN to the center and jump in unison.

My ears are still ringing!

Full Circle

Coach Lawther had his first scrimmage last weekend. They played Young Junior High. Rewind to 1994 and picture "short and dumpy" 12 year old Kevin (his own description, and some of you can see it quite well, since you knew him then) learning and playing football for the first time.

You see, Kevin's Mom wouldn't let him play football until Junior High (per her late husband's request) so he began his football career on the Young Junior High field. He played for the Coach who is still the Head Coach at Young.

So last Saturday, Kev walked on to that field for a new first time. He walked on as a Coach. He played his first football mentor... and he won. :) I think this is all just too cool!

But his debut was cut short. He had another first that day. First time to ride in an ambulance. One of his players (and his student) broke his leg and had to be taken to the hospital. Kevin went with him and stayed with the player until his parents arrived. Kevin was so worried about him. (it's moments like this that solidify to me that I KNOW he's going to make an amazing father) Kev promised to buy him new under armor socks since the paramedics had to cut off the ones he was wearing.

Needless to say he'll probably never forget his first game. And I really enjoyed seeing my hubby really enjoy himself. I'm so glad he's happy in his job. It's like we're back to our old highschool relationship... and I can't get enough.

I'm giddy....

GUSTAV tried to make me get a sub!

Lets go back in time to a week ago today... I'm still in Florida and we weren't sure what was going to happen with Gustav so I went ahead and got a sub in case they canceled my flight. The good news is I had laid everything out in my classroom so that I wouldn't have to worry about anything come Tuesday. So, it was kinda Sub ready. Anyway... I had AAeagle on speed dial and they weren't giving ANY information away. I could change my flight if I wanted to... but it wasn't canceled "yet". And moving my flight up would not be helpful because if they were going to cancel the 1:30pm flight, they'd cancel all the flights. And I refused to go home on Sunday because the ticket was too expensive to justify a 2 day trip. So, we decided not to worry about it... dressed Jackson in the cutest hat possible and headed for lunch in Destin.

You can see the storm clouds were rolling in... still can't hold a candle to Texas storms though...

This is Dewey Destin. It is sooo good. Doesn't look like much but probably the best fried scallops and hush puppies I have EVER had. I love JBJB for taking me there.

We decided to take advantage of the ocean being under our feet and took some pictures in the surf. Baby Jack was "this close" to being thrown in. (Jordan requires 2 life vest to go swimming and Brad is determined that won't be the case with Jackson.) :)

Woke up Labor day Monday to a phone call from Kevin telling me they closed the airport in Ft. Walton Beach and my flight was definitely canceled. They rescheduled me for a 8pm flight Tuesday night. Ah... that's not gonna work. I called AAeagle to see if there was anything earlier on Tuesday. There was... I basically got on the same flight as my original flight... just one day later. I accepted this. Some awesome go getter substitute had already picked up my job. I was covered. I got up to go look outside and see what the fuss was about. I mean it had to be bad if they closed the airport right?

Below is a picture of Brad and Jordan's dock when Kev and I visited last July... this is what it is supposed to look like...

And this is what I saw....

Not too bad... Brad pulled the boat WAY up so we weren't worried about it floating away... but still the storm surge had flooded their area a little. Even so, the rain eventually let up and around 2:30pm and by that point the dock looked like this....

Jordan and Brad went to investigate. Jordan is standing on the front of the dock... about calf deep in water.

Below she is standing on the rock stairs she normally uses to walk into the water.

I kinda really like this picture...

A short time after they came back inside... we decided since I wasn't leaving today, we'd go run some errands and get stuff for tacos for dinner. We got back around 5:30pm. Just to be sure, I had Brad check aa.com to be sure the airport was still closed. It wasn't really bad anymore so maybe it was open again. Even so, I didn't think they'd fly over Louisiana until tomorrow but it couldn't hurt to check. Brad told me the 4:30pm flight to DFW was delayed but the 6:30pm flight was on time. There were no flights after 6:30pm. I called aa to see if this was a typo. By this point it is 5:45pm when I finally get someone on the phone. She says they did open the airport and there are 2 seats left on the 6:30pm flight. My eyes widen. But... she can't book me on it because the flight leaves in less than an hour. If we make it to the airport within the next 15 minutes and the flight doesn't fill up, maybe they can get me on it once I get there.

Long shot, I know. But I have to try or I won't be ok missing the 6th day of school. I throw all my things in my bag and we call Kev on the way to the airport. 5:55pm I walk through the doors.

"Is DFW your final destination?" ... yes...."Are you checking a bag..." no. OK... "How about a single seat?" huh? "Just take this ticket over to security and tell them your planes about to leave.

Seriously? I am shocked! I run back outside and kiss all the Boykins goodbye. Man.. I barely got to thank them. And I forgot to steal Baby Jack by putting him in my suitcase. DAMN. I run back inside the smallest airport ever and zip through security. I get to the gate as they close the door. The man looks at me surprised and says, "Sorry." and opens the door back up. I call Kev and let me know I made it on the plane.

I'm in the air less than an hour from my initial AAeagle phone call.

Hour and a half later I feel all three wheels hit the ground after a fairly smooth flight. Kev brought Murph and they are waiting in the car.

I'm Home. I start to cry for many reasons.

Tuesday morning I get up and go to work. :P

Babies... Babies... Babies....

Kev and I have always said around 28 or 29 year old, we'd start trying to have children. We are most definitely on par with that goal... but it seems, just since last week, that my biological clock may be ticking... (thank you Jordan). I have ALWAYS gone back and forth on the idea of having kids. I think the times when I say I don't want children are just to protect myself in case I am unable to conceive. My mom had a tough time, and even when I was younger, I have always had a feeling that it will be hard for me. I can't explain it.. who knows if it's rational... it's just always been in my head. There won't be any accidents... it won't magically happen... we're gonna have to work at it. <--TOO BAD! :)

But... my cousin Sarah is due in February and I am so excited for her. I can't wait to meet the newest little one.

I know, now is not the right time for Kev and me... he is at the beginning of a BIG career change... and I after years of wandering, finally have direction in my life... and a new career for myself. But, there is a superstition in schools about teachers who had the classroom before you who are pregnant... the teacher who was in my classroom last year gave birth this summer.

So... we'll say this.... I wouldn't be upset if somehow I MAGICALLY got pregnant.... if it just worked out that way... but until then.. I claim BABY JACK. :)