Friday Night Leftovers... on Sunday

~ School started this week. Chase loves his classes and is happy to be back with his friends.

~ I can already tell this year is going to be a challenge for me. This is my 10th year of teaching and I have really had doubts lately that this is what I'm meant to do. :o( Makes me a little sad. I'm just not enjoying it like I used to (and I know it's totally grade related). Right now I'm making it day to day.

~ I do not like starting school on a Monday. It made for a long week for the kids and for the teachers.

~ The beginning of the school year is always so hard because everyone is trying to get back into the swing of things. I keep telling myself it'll get better.

~ We seriously need some rain. It is hot and dry and miserable. All the stores are moving in winter clothes and yet it's 109 out. Crazy. I don't think we've had a day under 100 in a month now. This coming weekend we are supposed to get rain and temps in the 90's. I pray it happens!

~ Emery is talking in sentences. It's crazy. She is growing up too fast! Her favorite sentence is, "I got it!." She uses this for everything. She also loves to shop. That girl is definitely going to have to be put on a spending budget when she's older!!

~ Chase has grown 2 shoe sizes since the end of May. 2!!!! Talk about a mega growth spurt!

~ Emery was diagnosed with walking pneumonia last Saturday. I'm not even sure what my last post said but when I got home Friday evening she was really having a hard time breathing and was running a fever. Took her in on Saturday and walking pneumonia it was. She is much better now thanks to some awesome antibiotics and lots of TLC. Bad news is now my grandpa has it, although they said it's from going in and out of the heat/ac. He is on some good antibiotics and will go back on Wednesday. Prayers appreciated!

~ Totally not looking forward to tomorrow, Mondays are by far my least favorite day of the week!

****I am grateful for
1) good movies
2) family time
3) Duchess made it home safe and sound
4) opportunities working on the horizon
5) cereal for dinner

12 Years - The Past, The Present, and The Future

12 years ago I married my soulmate, my best-friend, and my companion of a lifetime. It hasn't always been easy and we've faced some really hard moments, but we've always faced them together. We've made memories that will last forever and have cried tears of joys and tears of pain on eachother's shoulders. He makes me a better person and for that I am forever grateful. I know that no matter what, he will always be by my side. He is my protector, my provider, the love of my life. Happy Anniversary Jeffrey, you are the best husband I could ask for (someone really knew what he was doing up there) and I'm so grateful to have you in my life. I am a blessed woman to have you as my husband and the father of our children. Thank you for all you do my love, I can't even imagine a lifetime without you! Here's to our past, our present, and our future!

****I am grateful for
1) 12 awesome years!
2) our past, our present, and our future
3) memories made together
4) the tears of joy and the tears of pain
5) having Jeff by my side forever and ever

Friday Night Leftovers

~ Yoda, the French Bulldog had his "big" vet visit this week and now both dogs are fixed! No French/English bulldogs puppies for us thank you very much! Princess Leia's eyes are looking great and the vet believes her surgery can be deemed a success. :o)

~ Chase met his teacher tonight and is finally sort of excited about going back to school since he got to see his friends. That's one downside to being a teacher, I never get to take him to the functions like Meet the Teacher/Open House/etc. But I guess that's makes Daddy feel important.

~ I am totally and completely exhausted after this week, but come Monday morning school is back in session and I'm ready to go!

~ After working 13 1/2 hours today (had to stay after Meet the Teacher to sort supplies) I came home to a Princess with a fever. :o( Hate when one of them is not feeling well. Guess we'll be making a trip to the pedi in the morning if she's not doing better.

~ My foot has been giving me issues again.in. :o( Not sure what I'm going to do just yet but I think Disney World was just a little rougher than what I was ready for and I should have let it heal longer before pushing that hard. *sigh* It was feeling just a little better but after today it is hurting quite a bit tonight. So frustrating!

~ My house looks like a tornado blew through. Must clean house this weekend.

~ Two people I know found out they are having girls this week. Gives me baby fever... ack! Maybe the fact that my baby is getting to be such a big girl makes it worse.

~ Jeff's cousin, Wade, is back in the hospital. I freaking hate cancer. Please send lots of prayers.

~ We have a very laid back approach to potty training and let the kids lead because we think when they are ready, it'll be that much easier. Chase totally pottytrained himself and it was awesome. Emery has just now started showing some interest. I think when she turns two we'll start with pullups and go from there.

~ Her birthday is less than 2 months away. Crazy!

~ I can't believe my baby boy is going into to first grade. *sniff* I told Jeff that we only have 11 more years and he'll be going to college. Maybe I'm jumping the gun but it makes me sad to think of how fast 11 years goes!

~ Speaking of fast, Sunday is our 12th wedding anniversary. Sometimes it seems like we just got married yesterday and other times it feels like... 12 years.

****I am grateful for
1) class is ready to roll
2) looks like lots of great parents/students this year!
3) the challenges that lie ahead and keep life interesting
4) the weekend, so tired!
5) being home with my Princess that's not feeling well, but I know that she will feel better!

3 Years

3 years ago we, I, miscarried our twins and our hearts were shattered. Looking back it is bittersweet. We long to hold them, wonder who they would look like, and what their personalities would be like, yet we know if we had not lost them then Emery would not be here. I can't even imagine life without her. Not a day goes by that I do not think of them. They are forever in our hearts.

****I am grateful for
1) time heals pain, or at least eases it a little I suppose
2) holding those moments in your heart that change your life forever
3) Chase
4) Emery
5) determination

Friday Night Leftovers

I think I'm going to have to start doing Wordless Wednesdays, Friday Night Leftovers, and all those other routine blog entries in order to actually get something here on the blog!

~ Back to work today. Blech. Whoever was in charge of the calendar and decided that teachers should go back on a Friday is on my short list. We have one full week next week and then kids come back.

~ In third grade again this year despite doing everything but begging on my hands and knees to move down. Same old, "you're a strong teacher and we just need you here" stuff. I miss my babies. *sniff sniff* I've come to the conclusion that if I can't moved down next year then I'll have to request a transfer. Just the thought of that breaks my heart but I want to be back in a grade that I truly enjoy teaching.

~ Speaking of teaching, Chase is going into first this year and is not the least bit excited about going back to school. The only inkling that he is ready is the fact he wants to see his friends. I can't believe I'll have a first grader... time is flying!

~ Chase has got to be the best big brother ever. I love that every morning Emery goes in there, crawls on his bed, lays on top of him, and he actually wakes up happy and gives her a big hug. If I did that he'd yell at me, but he lets Emery do whatever she pleases (for the most part). I love that he will always be there for her.

~ Emery has taking to hopping. Full fledged, both feet up in the air, hopping. On beds, on the couch, everywhere. Adorable.

~ Just ordered Emery a new pageant dress and it should be here any day. So excited! She is scheduled for a pageant in September and November. Fun, fun!

~ Princess Leia got her cherry eyes fixed/spayed this week. She is looking good. Will post adorable pictures soon (along with the black belt pictures and the beach modeling pictures... OMG I am a slacker)!

~ The other night at dinner Emery was trying to stand up in her highchair (like always) and I told her to sit down for the trillionth time. She got right in my face and screamed, "Princesses don't sit down!" Clear as day. I about choked. If I hadn't have had witnesses I wouldn't believe it. I promptly informed her that princesses DO sit down and she would do just that. I think we are in so much trouble with this one!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

****I am grateful for
1) summer vacation, even though it's over
2) ceiling fans
3) technology
4) quiet time
5) big brothers and little sisters

Happy Birthday to My Knight is Shining Armor!

Someone in our house has a birthday today and to give you a hint - it's the elder in the family! (Wonder if Jeff ever looks at this blog?) Happy Birthday Daddy, to the world you may be one person, but to us, you are the world!!! We love you!!!!!

and remember, despite the fact that you are creeping frighteningly close to big 4-0, you are....


****I am grateful for
1) awesome days spent with family
2) waterparks... sooooo nice on the 100+ degree days
3) winter will come eventually
4) central ACs
5) birthdays and my Honey!