Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!

2012 in review:

January:

Ryan left for his first attempt at OCS and was sent home the 2nd day.
Landon turned 4 years old.

February:

Babysat for my niece and nephew for a weekend and realized why I never had more than 2 kids!
Celebrated Valentine's day with my honey at Olive Garden,

March:

Started Insanity with the hubby, made it 2 days and QUIT!
Went to Lucky Mom Prom with my babies.
Went winery hopping for my sis-in-law's bachelorette party.
Went to the Fire Ant Festival.

April:

Spring Break with the kiddos, just hung out and had fun!
Celebrated Easter with the family.
Landon started t-ball practice.

May:

Alexas turned  10 years old!
My oldest brother got married and we attended his wedding.
Went to the American Girl store for Alexas' birthday.
Completed my 7th year of teaching.
Went on vacation to St. Augustine Beach.

June:

Ryan left for attempt #2 at OCS, this time was gone 8 days.
Went on a day trip with friends to Fernandina Beach.
Went on an overnight trip to Panama City Beach.
Celebrated my 34th birthday.

July:

Alexas went to camp for the first time.
Took a day trip to Jekyll Island.
Started my 8th year of teaching.
Landon started pre-k, and Alexas started 5th grade.
Ryan left for OCS again.

August:

Ryan separated his shoulder and returned home.
Celebrated our 12th anniversary at Panama City Beach.

September:

Celebrated Ryan's 37th birthday.
Went to Disney World and Sea World.
Ryan started PT for his shoulder.

October:

Ryan had surgery on his shoulder.
Landon dressed as an Army man for Halloween and Alexas as Cleopatra.

November:

Celebrated Thanksgiving with our families.
Ryan continued to heal from surgery.

December:

Enjoyed 2 weeks of no work, and lots of family time.
Celebrated Christmas with our families.

New Years Resolutions?

Do you have any? I always make them and never stick with them. Usually they have to do with losing weight or getting in shape. Let's pray that this year is the year it sticks! I have got to lose some weight!!! My brother is getting married in April and I would like to be at least 20lbs less by then. My first goal is to lose 31lbs which will put me at my pre-pregnancy weight.

So what are your resolutions?

You might be a teacher if...

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE A TEACHER? By Jeff Foxworthy

You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.
You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.
You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Ms./Mr. ____________ and know you have been spotted.
You have 25 people who accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.
You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period.
You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
You believe the Teacher’s Lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.
You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.
You believe chocolate is a food group.
You can tell if it’s a full moon without ever looking outside.
You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, “Boy, the kids are sure mellow today.”
You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.
You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
You can’t pass the school supply aisle without getting at least 5 items!
You ask your friends to use their words and explain if the left hand turn he made was a “good choice” or “bad choice.”
You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.

The most wonderful time of the year!

We have had a great Christmas with family and friends!  Can't believe 2012 is almost over. Time FLIES when you are having fun!  Here are some photos of our Christmas day festivities.

 

Santa came!

 

Christmas tree and all our gifts!

 

 

Landon LOVES his DS.

 

 

Wearing her ear muffs she begged for and opening gifts!

 

 

LuLu got hungry and helped herself to Santa's left overs!

 

 

 

Future quarterback

 

Lexi showing off her gift from Gma and Papa

 

 

Landon and Daddy opening gifts at Gma and Papa's

 

 

 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

 

Angie



Merry Christmas!

Christmas fun

Here are some photos from our fun decorating gingerbread men tonight!

Why??

Why??? That is the question that keeps ringing in my head today.  Why did someone feel the need to take the life of others? Why did someone go in to a place where children should feel safe, and take their lives? Why should these families have to suffer at Christmas thanks to the cowardly act of someone else? WHY?

As I sat in my classroom reading the reports of this horrific shooting today I was thankful that my students were safe.  I was thankful that my children were happily enjoying the Christmas festivities at their school.  I was thankful that even though the students make me mad as fire some days, that they were safely enjoying movies and time with friends today.

So tonight I will hug my babies a little tighter and pray for the family and friends of the victims in CT.  I will also pray for all students and employees of the school and the terror that they will never be able to forget.

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

I am thankful...

• that tomorrow I get to spend the day with my family and eat til I can't anymore
• that I live in the USA and have the freedom to spend the day with my family
• that I have a loving family
• that God blessed me with 2 beautiful, strong willed children
• that God put Ryan in my life at just the right moment
• that I have a job I love
• that I have 2 parents who love each other and did a great job with their kids
• that I have 3 brothers who love me even if I didn't think so growing up
• that I have roof over my head
• that I have friends who love me and would do anything for me
• that I am a Christian and that Christ died on the cross for my sins
• that I have a chance everyday to show Christ's love to others, though I need to be better about it
• that I have many luxuries in life such as satellite TV, cell phones, and nice clothes, many don't have the simple necessities
• that I am able share my love of math
• that I have 2 sister in laws I love, and soon to add another to the family
• that I have 10 nieces and nephews that I love dearly
• that I have a great mother-in-law
• that I had a chance to get to know and love my grandparents
• that my Grandmother is still alive to meet my children, she is 91 this year

There are sooooo many things I am thankful for and this is only a short list.  I really am a blessed person!!!

Ugh the sickies!

The stomach bug has officially attacked our house.  It started with Landon on Wednesday and Thursday, and this morning Alexas started.  I feel so bad for my babies when they have the pukies.  I am just praying Ryan doesn't get it,  Would be horrible for him to be puking with the amount of pain he is in with his shoulder.  Landon was cute this morning and told his daddy that "God make him feel better, and He will make my sister feel better too!" 

 Reminded me that God does take care of us.  We are having some financial problems right now, thank you National Guard, so we are worried how we will make ends meet.  I know that God will sustain as He always has.  Even when we feel lost and alone, He is there!!

Thank you!

To all the veterans and especially my hubby a former US Marine and current National Guard solider, and to my dad a former Navy Seabee...THANK YOU!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....

....won't you be my neighbor? 

There is nothing like an election to instantly make normally rational people act completely irrational...that or a full moon!  Regardless of the outcome of this election, regardless of the race of our president, regardless of the party affiliation of our president, he is still our president.  As Americans we should support him and pray for him whether we agree with him or not.  We should work together as neighbors instead of tearing others down for the choices they made.  We should realize that no matter who the president is, God is still on His throne, and HE STILL REIGNS! So ladies and gents lets all play nice, and PRAY for our president, the congress, the senate, and all other leaders of our country. Pray that God's will be done, and that we accept that this is HIS WILL!!

And that folks is all I have to say about the politics of our nation. Now can we move on to more fun stuff like reality tv?! :-)

Angie

Christmas List

Decided to post our Christmas lists....

Landon






Nintendo 3 DS, all he can talk about!!!


Of course have to have Mario Kart with it!

Alexas


Razor 360


A bed for her American Girl doll.

ME!


Wanted this last year but never got it.



Have one for work, but would love a personal one.


Boots, please!!!

Ryan


New Wolverine boots

And most importantly to him- a right shoulder that is completely HEALED!

Halloween 2012

Surgery went well on Friday.  Ryan is in a lot of pain today because he over did it yesterday.  Hopefully he will continue to heal and be back to work soon.  We are looking at 4-6 week recovery time.

Took the kids to Truck or Treat at our church tonight.  Here are a few pics of them in their costumes.  We will be trick or treating on Wednesday night as well.

 

 

Hope everyone in the path of Sandy stays safe!

 

 

Angie

Surgery tomorrow....

Say a prayer for the hubby as he goes to have surgery tomorrow on his shoulder.  He is very nervous about the pain afterwards, but ready to be able to use his arm again.  I am super nervous for him!

Will update tomorrow after surgery!

Angie

Fall 2012

Yesterday we took the kids and niece and nephew to Calhoun for some fall fun. The kids loved the wagon ride to see the animals and wandering through the corn maze.The weather certainly wasn't fall like and we were HOT!! 

Sweet little Lizzy Boo

 

Evan Man

 

Lan Man

Lexi Sue

 

See Saw Fun

 

Corn Maze time!

Wild About School!

We are working hard on decorating for Homecoming at school.  The theme is Wild abut the Rams and our hallway is becoming a jungle.  My door is adorable if I do say so!

 

Hard to see what it says, but is WILD ABOUT THE RAMS in glitter letters and has monkeys that my kids decorated hanging from the tree.  We are also hanging vines throughout the hall and posters the kids made.  The students were definitely WILD today, and all about decorating instead of working. Glad I will be gone next Thursday and Friday and will miss out on some of the craziness!!  I will try to remember to take pics of me and the kids on dress up days and share them.

Thankful tomorrow is FRIDAY! :-)

Monday, Monday

Back to school we went today after a glorious 9 days off.  When I informed Lan that he had to go to school today he stated that No he didn't, he had already been! (Same sentiment every night when it is bath time, he has already had one.) Oh my little Lan man if only we could do 8 weeks of school and be geniuses how awesome that would be. Of course then mommy would be out of a job! :)

The Army is frustrating me beyond measure right now.  They have decided my hubby shouldn't get his paycheck, and that no one should tell him anything. UGH!! Oh they also say we owe them money, WHAT?!  Since the hubby is Natl Guard and is not exactly attached to a unit due to schooling he really does not have a chain of command to go up.  I am tired of them giving us the run around and no one seeming to know what the other one is doing.  I am TIRED OF DEALING WITH THIS!!!!  Ok, I feel better now, ha!

On the anxiety front things are better.  Dr. changed dosage of my meds and hoping that will help.  Was confronted with some stressful situations this morning, and though I was shaken I was able to hold it together. YAY!

Cheers to a great Tuesday!

Angie

Anxiety you are not my friend...

The majority of my life I have battled anxiety and panic.  Medication usually helps it, but has never taken it completely away.  Over the last few months I have had more and more panic type attacks, and they are making me CRAZY!!  I had them all night before we left for Disney and had a sense of anxiousness the entire time we were there.  I fought through it, and had fun for the kids sake.  I don't ever want to let my anxiety get in the way of them having fun or enjoying their childhood.  I just wish that one day soon I will be back to my "normal" and able to function without that nagging sense of anxiety gnawing at me.  Until then I will just dig deep and go on the best I can.

Disney 2012

Here are some photos of our Disney trip.

The truth about education...

A blueberry farmer goes to a school to do a presentation about productivity. The first part of his speech he was talking about how his company only uses the best blueberries to make his companies jams and jellies. He was immediately interrupted by a teacher that asked him, “What does your company do with the blueberries that don’t make the grade?” He replied, “We just throw them away.” “Well”, she said. “That really isn’t an option for us.” 

Teachers don’t have the option of picking and choosing the best “berry” all the time. We take what we’re given and we do the best we can!

Please take the time to stop and tell a teacher how much you appreciate what they’ve done for you or for your child. Just that little sign of appreciate can make thier day worth getting up for!!

School House Blues...

We have been back in school for 4.5 weeks now.  Both kids love their classes.  Lan got a write up on the bus yesterday, boo! He was being a wild 4 yr old boy, and I had to break it down to him that he can't be acting crazy on the bus.  He has been fairly well behaved in school, and is really learning alot.  Lex is enjoying 5th grade, and amazes me with all she is learning this year.

So far I have had an interesting year.  I really do love my job, but sometimes I just want to scream with frustration!! It feels like I spend more time dealing with discipline than I do teaching.  It is hard when all you want is the best for your students, but they don't seem to want to put forth that effort as well, UGH!

The hubby came home the Monday after we started back to school.  He fell and hurt his shoulder during training.  He has been out of work ever since.  It has been a frustrating process as we wait for the Army to give us answers, and of course no one seems to know anything.  He goes back to the dr. tomorrow for another check up on his shoulder.  Hopefully we will get the answers we are looking for soon.

Here I go again on my own...

Dropped the hubby off at the airport yesterday morning...boo. I am praying that he does well this time, and is able to complete OCS without any trouble!!  The kids and I are already missing him like crazy.

School starts on Monday.  The kids both had open house this week, and I think they will both be in great classes with great teachers.  Lan clug to my leg for a while, but he finally allowed me to pull him off long enough to check out the room. Lex was excited to meet her teachers, and she is ready for 5th grade.

Gonna try to enjoy the weekend, maybe the kids will stop yelling at each other soon, ugh!

Where did my summer break go???

Every teacher knows the best part of our job is SUMMER BREAK, ha!! This summer we only had about 8 weeks off, and the time has flown by.  Monday I will start pre-planning for my 8th year.  I am excited to be teaching a gifted class this year, and that we will be teaching 4 classes.  I am moving back to 7th grade, and I am hoping for a really good year.

The girl child will be in 5th grade this year (HELLO! When did she grow up so fast?!), and the boy child will start pre-k (Where is my baby???).  They are both excited, and I hope they continue to be excited throughout the school year.  I picked up their new bookbags today, and Landon was showing it off and saying he was ready for school.

Ryan will leave soon for try #3 at OCS.  This will be his final chance.  This time he is going to Maryland/Pennsylvania for training.  If he he makes it through (WHEN HE MAKES IT THROUGH), we are planning a major family trip since the next week will be our fall break from school.

Panama City Beach 2012

A few pictures from our very short overnight trip to Panama City Beach.  We have had a great summer so far, and Ryan came home a few weeks early.  This Army ride is most definitely a roller coaster ride!!

I miss him!

I knew it would be hard.  I knew I would miss him, but I didn't know I would miss him this much.  He has only been gone for a few days, and I already miss him so much it hurts.  I miss his voice, even when he is making me mad.  I miss him laying beside me at night, even when he was stealing all the covers or snoring.  I miss having someone to talk to, even when he looked at me like I was crazy.  I just miss him.

I really do not know how military spouses deal with the longer separations for deployments.  56 days is daunting enough for me!! I know we will have a longer period of separation when he goes to tech school, but at least then we will be able to communicate through phone and skype.  Now I wait another 2 weeks for a call from him, and write him a little note each day to be mailed to him once a week.

Hats off to the military spouses who deal with MUCH LONGER separations, you guys rock!!!

St. Augustine 2012

Here are some pictures from our vacation this year.  Lots of rain the first half of the week, finally got some sun the end of the week.