Wedding Bells

Well, March 16 was finally here. My good friend Joy married the love of her life, Kevin. The day was absolutely gorgeous. Not a cloud in the sky. And since it was an outdoor wedding, that was a very good thing. I don't have much to say, because the pictures will speak for themselves. Joy, you were absolutely radiant and stunning on your wedding day. Thank you so much for allowing me the honor of being apart of your wedding. It was full of many wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. I love you and pray a multitude of blessing upon you marriage to Kevin. Congrats, Mrs. Lee!

Amazing!

Mark's brother, Clay, is a graphic designer. He can do things quickly on the computer that would take me hours, days, or a lifetime to figure out. I asked him to fix up this picture for me. Tell me what you think!

BeforeAfter

I feel like playing one of those magazine games where you find all of the things that are different in the photos!

Warning: This blog contains underwear!

On Saturday night, Joy and all her bridesmaids drove to San Antonio for a girls' night out and lingerie shower. We stayed at Hotel Contessa, which I now highly recommend. It was absolutely fabulous and right on the Riverwalk. We checked in about 4:30 and then just hung out, had the lingerie shower, and then went to dinner at Mi Tierra. We had a fabulous time together! I can't wait to see all the girls again this Saturday for the wedding!

In the front reception area of Hotel Contessa. From left to right: Katie (maid of honor), Olivia, Joy (BRIDE!), me, Nina

Joy is showing off her "Bride to be" sash. Yes, she wore this all night . . .

Joy and me

Lingerie shower - let the fun begin :)

Joy sporting some panties for a game we played

Ready to go out to dinner

Joy, the bridesmaids, and Jenny who joined us for the night!

Nina, Joy, and me - we all went to high school together

Why I love my job

As I stated in my previous blog, I was sick all last week. My voice is almost back, but my throat is now tired from talking all day. Anyways, this morning one of my students walked in with a bag. She said she brought it on Friday, but I wasn't there. It was a "get well soon" bag! She put in a microwavable cup and filled it with teas, a peppermint stick, and a card. I was reminded once again of why I love teaching, and particularly why I love the age group I teach! Thanks, Lauren!

Where am I?

I know I have been living in they city too long because this past weekend I drove to San Angelo to visit my grandmother, and it was an eye opener! I knew it would be a 4-5 hour drive, so I took Friday off to head that direction. About 30 miles from Abilene I called my mother to help keep myself occupied. I couldn't believe it because I lost cell phone service not once, but twice while talking to her! I called her back and said, "I am literally in the middle of nowhere!" It is 2009 people! I can't believe I didn't have cell phone service. While on the road between Abilene and San Angelo this is what I saw. Please note the lack of other vehicles on the road.

I actually got to see some wind turbines! The last time I saw wind turbines was in Dec. 2004 driving to California with Mark.

I have many fond memories from my Grandparents' house in San Angelo. This is the house my mother lived in since she was 7-years-old. She has two sisters. They lived in this 900 square foot, 3 bedroom, 1 bath house! Wow! My grandmother says it has been 49 years that she has lived there. I was born in San Angelo, but we moved away before I was 2. We spent pretty much every Easter at my grandparents' house, so I have a lot of egg-coloring fun memories.

My sister and her 3 kids came from Austin and met me there to spend the weekend. Here is Grandmother meeting Skylyn for the first time. Skylyn is 3 months old.

Watching the kids play

Aaris found a tree to climb. She was very excited about it!

Aaris and Titus burning off energy after their long car ride. They slept very well on Friday night!

Titus is cooling down and showing off his injuries. You see that window unit? That and one other window unit in a bedroom are the only a/c for the house. Jessica and I shared a bed in the bedroom that had the other unit. We had to leave the door open so that everyone else could get air.

On Saturday we spent the morning playing at home. Jessica brought games and toys for the kids to play. Well, and Aunt Hattie too. Let's see, I believe we played Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Memory, and some game with apples. The two kids older kids were getting over colds. Unfortunately, by Saturday Jessica and Skylyn had a cold, too. So, Skylyn was pretty fussy. By the time Jessica finally got Skylyn to sleep in the afternoon, I told her to go lay down as well. So, I bundled the kids up in jackets and we headed to the park. One street behind my grandparents' house there has always been a school with a playground. I always remember going there. I was so looking forward to taking the kids to a place I had such vivid memories of. However, when we got there I was disappointed. Wouldn't you know they have updated the play equipement in the last 20 years? The kids had a great time though!

Then, across the distance, on the other side of the school, across the street, I spotted this . . . a merry-go-round!!! Doesn't it just look old enough to have been the original? The kids hadn't been one before, so they were very excited. I was careful to watch them closely and told them to hang on tight because I remember the injuries of my youth!

Finally, on Sunday morning we all got dolled up and attended church with Grandmother!

I had a fantastic weekend. I really enjoyed Saturday night after the kids were in bed, we talked Grandmother into pulling out old pictures. Then, we got her to talking about how she met ouir Granddaddy and it was so wonderful to hear stories I had never heard. But, wouldn't you know it, I caught the cold that was going around :( Jess, I'm not blaming you, but here is the chronicle of my oh so sad illness:

Sunday - throat starts to itch about 2 1/2 hours from home
Monday - called in sick to work b/c throat was on fire
Tuesday - went to work b/c of the TAKS test; throat still hurt a little
Wednesay - at work, no feeling too horrible, voice a little raspy but throat doesn't really hurt
Thursday - uh, oh, woke up at a voice that was 90% gone, went to school but it wasn't easy teachig with no voice; wen to doctor after school
Friday (today) - woke up to my voice only being about 5% better than yesterday so I called in sick again.

Tonight I am flying to Austin b/c tomorrow I am supposed to have a girls' night with my friend, Joy, who is getting married, and all the bridesmaids. Hope I can talk since that is my favorite thing to do!

Nothing much

I haven't blogged lately because there really hasn't been much going on. Mark and I have had a pretty relaxed February. We've just been working and hanging out at home. That may sound pretty boring, but it has been nice to take a breather. March will be a very busy month for me. Next weekend, I will meet my sister and her kids in San Angelo to visit my grandmother. Then the weekend after that I will fly to Austin to have a girls' weekend with my friend Joy and her other bridesmaids. Then, the weekend after that Mark and I will drive to Austin to attend Joy and Kevin's wedding. I feel like I am in the calm before the storm . . .

On another note, I did actually try two new things today. The first was that I went to Sprouts grocery for the first time. I really like the store! It was very crowded on a Saturday afternoon, but still had a quaint feeling to it. The produce (on sale) is very reasonably priced and fresher than the average grocery store. The reason I went to sprouts was because they had avacados and tomatoes on sale, and I wanted to try to make guacamole dip to take to a party tonight. I have never made guacamole before. Believe it or not, I had never cut an avacado before. Unfortunatly, my first attempt at guacamole resulted in too much salt. So, I had to go back out to Kroger this time and buy more avacados. These, of course, were not on sale. But, Kroger is a lot closer than Sprouts. I have now finished the dip. I think it tastes pretty good, but I will have to see what other people think tonight.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

On Jan. 30 my dad celebrated his birthday. I was so glad that the shower corresponded with his birthday so I could be there to celebrate with him. We all went to eat at Rudy's BBQ. My sister made a cake and brought it to the restaurant. I was very yummy! I love you, Dad! Hope you had a great birthday!

My niece and nephew, Aaris and Titus, helping put candles on the cake.

Dad blowing out the candles (with help from Titus)

Taking the candles back out. What fun!

My sister and me

Joy's wedding shower

As I previously mentioned, the weekend of Jan. 31 my mom and I helped host a shower. My good friend Joy and I were roommates in college. My freshman year, Joy and I shared a 1 bedroom apartment. Oh, the crazy things that went on in that apartment! Then, my sophomore year, Joy, myself, and two other girls shared a 3 bedroom apartment. My time with Joy in college was very memorable and precious to me. Joy, I am so excited for you and Kevin. I can't wait until your wedding in March! Enjoy this time in your life. You will cherish these memories forever.

Joy and me

All the hostesses with Joy (my mom is on the far left)

Joy is very excited about her cookware!

My mom made this flower arrangement. Isn't it beautiful?!

Two great recipes

On Wednesday night we had a fellowship night with our small group and on Sunday we had a class potluck. I thought I would share the recipes for the dishes I brought to those two things. To my fellowship night, I took fruit salsa and cinammon chips. The fruit salsa I got off of allrecipes.com. A week ago my mother and I helped host a wedding shower for my good friend from college, Joy. My mother made this fruit salsa and I loved it so much I couldn't wait to share it! I still have some left over and I can't stop eating it!

At work, we have a "crockpot club". Everyone who wanted to participate signed up. Then, every week for about 8 weeks 4 people bring a crockpot dish on Tuesday. If you are in the crockpot club you get to eat the dishes. You only have to bring it one time, and you get to eat for many, many weeks. It has been fantastic! One of the rules is that you have to share your recipe. So, I have gotten some great ideas! The one I made on Sunday was Pasta Fagioli Soup.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 8oz. can red kidney beans, drained
1 8oz. can white kidney beans, drained
15 oz. beef stock
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. pepper
2 1/2 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. tabasco sausce (optional)
10 oz. spaghetti sauce
4 oz. pasta

1. Brown beef in skillet and drain fat.
2. Mix beef with all other ingredients except the pasta.
3. Cook 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.
4. During last 30 min. on high or 1 hour on low, add pasta.

ENJOY!

To ease your minds . . .

I know you have all been greatly distressed over my not being able to find Mario Kart. You can lay your little heads down to rest at night now, because we got it! After 6 stores in 2 cities (Plano and Austin), we finally just ordered it online. We should have done that to start with because we got it at newegg.com for no tax and no shipping! We are having a blast with our new game. I can actually play this one!

I love ice!

This morning at 5:45 I was in my bed singing a little diddy that went like this, "No school to-day, no school to-day!" I had just gotten a call from my team leader and was oh, so excited. All last night, Mark and I kept watching the weather. Let's face it, we were super excited about the prospect of having a lazy day off. Here is my to do list for the day:

1. sleep in late (check!)
2. make blueberry muffins (check!)
3. finish sewing some rice packs (I heat these in the microwave for aches and pains)
4. read my current novel
5. watch Lord of the Rings The Two Towers (we watched the first one when we got out of school early yesterday)
6. maybe take a nap
7. do a few lesson plans (ugh!)
8. go to bible study tonight (if the weather permits)

If you are at home reading this because you too have the day off due to the ice - congrats my friend! If you are reading this at work, my sympathy goes out to you.

Thank you, Sarah!

On Thursday night, my friend Sarah had me over to hang out. Her husband, Russell, was coaching his basketball team in a tournament, so I got to spend time with Sarah and Riley. She made chicken quesadillas, which were fabulous! Then she showed me how to update my blog. For the background, I used the site www.thecutestblogontheblock.com and for the header I used www.scrapblog.com. They were both free sites and pretty user friendly. I have always been jealous of my friends, like Sarah, who update their blog seasonally. Now I can, too! After we put Riley to bed, we broke out the Nintendo Wii and played Mario Kart. It was a lot of fun and I didn't do to bad! I drove to 5 different stores today (Sunday) looking for the game, but it was always sold out. I guess Sarah will just have to have me over again to play! Sarah - Thanks for dinner, blog instruction, and an all-around wonderful evening with a great friend!

Today in history . . .

Today marks the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the United States. This was my second chance to be able to go through the election process with 4th graders - the first being Bush's second election. It is a very interesting experience to hear 9 and 10-year-olds thoughts and views on politics. They asked some questions like: What will happen to President Bush now? Will Obama's daughters go to school? and Where does the vice president live? I hung up a poster of all the presidents and I couldn't believe how many of them looked at it and asked, "Are these two Bushes related?" We watched the swaring in ceremony and President Obama's speech. Before the oaths of office there was a prayer. I was very touched when, without my prompting, at least half the class closed their eyes and folded their hands for the entire prayer - and it was not a short one. In moments like that I feel hope for our future. I kept reiterating to the students that this was a very important moment in history that they would some day want to remember. I pray for President Obama and the decisions of our country's leaders. God Bless America!

I've been tagged by Alli

Q. five names you go by:
Hattie
Mrs. Fowler
Sweets (by my mom)
Mommy (by Mark speaking for our cat Oreo)
Friend (by my coworker Katie)

Q. three things you are wearing right now:
my favorite jeans
my watch
my houseshoes

Q. two things you want very badly at the moment:
to not go to work tomorrow
summer vacation

Q. two things you did last night:
watching Disturbia with Mark
ate sandwiches at a church fellowship

Q. two things you ate today:
gelato from Paciugo (for the first time)
tortilla soup

Q. two people you last talked to on the phone:
Sharon
my mom

Q. two things you are going to do tomorrow:
go to work
watch The Biggest Loser on TV

Q. two longest car rides:
trip to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena at the end of 2004 with Mark (go little Pontiac Sunfire!)
trip Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and several other random places with my family the summer before 3rd grade

Q. two of your favorite beverages:
Diet Coke
margaritas

Q. the people you’d like to tag for their very own:
my sister
Miranda
Hollie

And that, ladies and gentleman, is what I call football!

Texas 24, Ohio St. 21

Hook 'em Horns!

What an incredible game to watch! It was the roller coaster, wait until the last second, nail bitter that makes football so great.

To my Longhorn football team: Great year, boys! You make me proud! See you next fall!