No more squinty eyes

Ok this is just really funny.  I asked if Jeremy could make me less squinty in our family picture, because let's face it i'm squinty in all of them.  This is what he came up with . . . .

I give you permission to laugh for hours....because I did!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHA

Thanksgiving

We flew up to Dallas on Wednesday night, the flight wasn't bad at all, though it might take 4 hours (when you add time for getting to the airport, and whatnot) but it was much better than driving 4 hours.  Mom and dad picked us up and we went to OTB for dinner.  On Thursday we went to Nannie and Da's house for lunch.  It was nice to have everyone there.  My cousin Eric's kid, Cole was there.  He is just so cute!!

Afterwards, we went to Lauren's house to watch the Aggie game.  Though we didn't win, it was such a good game. It was fun to see Lauren, Mark, Rachel, and Katherine.  Lots of times it is hard to see them when we come for the weekend, because family takes priority.

On Friday the boys (dad, Russell, and Jeremy) went and played golf.  Leslie had to work, so me and mom went to go see New Moon.  We both have read the books, and both have husbands who don't care. lol.  Afterwards, we went shopping.  We went to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Target and Mardels.  I was looking for a nativity scene, I liked the one at Mardels.  I also ended up getting part of Russell's present from Target.  So half of one present down, many more to go.  I don't know how some people have already finished their Christmas shopping.

On Saturday we took some family pictures.  I seem to be squinty in all of them.  Go figure, that is why I didn't have an outdoor wedding. lol.

After that we drove back down to Houston with my parents, and grandparents. It took quite awhile since we stopped by the Woodlands to see the babies.  But, I finally got to hold Brady, since last time he was a sleep head and didn't want to be held.  A week later, they are still so cute and still so tiny.

On Sunday my cousin Jeff got married to Maria.  It was a really nice wedding, and it was fun to see everybody from that side of the family again.  After the wedding we went and got Rusty back from Russell's parents.  He was very happy to be back!

Russell took the day off on Monday, so it was nice to have some time together.  We went and got out Christmas decorations.  We had gotten our tree a few weeks ago, which was a good thing because the one we liked was sold out at Hobby Lobby this week.  It was fun to get all the stuff so we can celebrate our first Christmas together as husband and wife.  We didn't get around to putting the outside lights up, we will do that later this week, but we were able to get all of the inside decorations put up.  I love Christmas time!

Brady and Olivia

I don't know if some of you know, but my cousin Jenny had her twins on the 10th.  We were able to go and see them today.  Mostly they were sleeping, and then they got a bottle.  I got to hold Olivia for a bit, while Brady was being fed.  Unfortunately once Brady was done eating, he went right back to sleep, so I didn't get to hold him.  They are so tiny and oh so cute.  I can't wait to see them again, once they are a little more active.  Overall, in this week of sadness, it was great to hang out with Chris and Jenny, and see the little ones. 

Me holding Miss Olivia

Olivia's close up

Brady sleeping in his chair

Two Pea's in a Pod

Allison

So Tuesday afternoon came with bad news. My childhood friend Allison Davis had died in a car accident on Monday night while she was driving home from feeding her horses. She was only 22. It's just so crazy to think about. We hung out a lot in high school and then almost every break during college. She was one of those friends that it could be months inbetween when we talked but it was like we didn't even miss a day. The last time we hung out was when I was in College Station for seminar class.

We went to her viewing in College Station (she was the assistant choir director at A&M Consolidated HS). It was obvious that she was loved. A lot of her students were there, fellow teachers, and friends from Huntsville. Her mom was handeling it really well, or so it looked. She was very calm; however, when Ashley, Russell, and I showed up, she started to cry. I think it was because we were some students or friends, but we had been around while, and truely loved her daughter. Tristan, her long time boyfriend, and soon to be fiance, was taking it very hard. It made me cry just looking at him. He loved her so much. Unfortunately we will never know why God decided to take her like He did, but until then she will be greatly missed.

Veterans Day

I was at Waller High School today (and will be for the same teacher tomorrow).  They had a very nice Veteran's Day Ceremony.  I was very inpressed!  They probably had 75 Veterans there, including 8 from World War II.  The choir sang, bang played, drill team danced, and even a reenactment of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.  I'm not going to lie at one point it brought a tear to my eye (one of the senoirs in the Jr.ROTC at Waller presented a flag to his grandfather who was a WWII vet).  The class I was subbing was world history (I have subbed for her once before) and their assignment for today was to write letters to Veterans.  So if their are any veterans reading this (which I doubt but still...) thank you for all you have done.

Speaking of my sub job for these two days, the teacher called me this afternoon to check and see how things were going.  She said she requested me again, because the kids liked me, that she didn't have to go reteach everything, and that they students did their best work when I was there, better than when she is there!! YAY!  That makes me happy to hear.  When she gets back from her conference, I think I am going to ask her if I can put her as one of my references.  

Adventures in Subbing

This past week I worked everyday, a first.  Unfortunately two of those days were half days.  I subbed for the same 4th grade teacher for three afternoons ( on the last day I had a morning job at the high school ).  I can see why some of my friends want to teach 4th grade.  They are pretty cute, yet can function on their own if you need them too.  On the last day one boy gave me this:

What can I say I am pretty awesome (or asome). lol.

On Friday I was at one of the middle schools and during one of my classes we had some drama.  I was trying to get them quiet and one of the girls Catalina decided to help me out by telling everyone to be quiet.  Well another girl, Brooke, did not take this too well.  She said something to the effect of you can't tell me what to do and I'll "slap that smirk off your face".  Well Cataline runs out of the room crying, along with two of her friends.  I"m thinking this WOULD happen in MY classroom.  Well Brooke goes to the office, and they can't find Catalina.  They have to call her over the loud speaker before they find her.  Can we say middle school hormones.  I mean overreactions all over the place.  I guess the AP settled everything, and at the end of the day I got two handwritten apologies. 

On Friday night we went to dinner with Russell's family.  And just hung out the rest of the weekend.  Unfortunately almost all of our sprots teams lost :(  Aggies lose by one, Texans lose on a missed game-tying field goal with 1 second left, and the Aggie soccer team lost the Big 12 Championship Game.  The cowboys won!  Yeah we're boring.  Sorry.

Aggieland

This weekend turned into an exciting one.  On Thursday Russell asked if I wanted to go to the A&M game.  Since I was already going to have to go to College Staion for my seminar class, and because I love going to the games, I said yes!  Cody and I drove up early Saturday morning (though we thought it might be early- we had a long debate whether class started at 8 or 9- it ended up being 9).  Class was ok.  Three hours of talking to my friends is fine, but to be so early on a weekend is not as fun.  Russell came and picked me up at noon when class was over.  The tickets we got came with a parking pass, so we went and parked on West Campus and walked over to all the game day activities.  Russell's mom, Kathy was there with some kids from Texas Children's Hospital, so we tailgated with them.  Our seats were in the Zone.  So it was great to sit in the shade, and have our own area to hang out and eat and drink.  Very nice, that's the only way I want to go from now on.  But I'm sure you have to donate thousands of dollars before you even get offered the seats.  It was a great game, we played so well.  I hope the Aggies continue to play this way!  We got back aorund 7, and were able to still hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.  I got way more candy than needed, so I'm giving it to Cody to have in her classroom, because what all is left is the hard candy, gum suckers, and tootsie rolls.

It was nice to have an extra hour of sleep!  However, both Russell and I didn't sleep in all that long, and it felt like we had forever until church time.  We took two cars to church because I needed to leave at 1:15 to make it over to the Woodlands for Maria's shower.  She is getting married on the 29th.  Russell (and normally me too) help tear down our church, which meets in a middle school, and its normally around 2 when we get home.  Maria's shower was fun, it was nice to hang out with that side of the family.  jenny should be having the twins any day now!!  Tonight we went to Chili's to take advantage for their 3 courses for 2 people for $20 deal.  Now we are stuffed! 

I can't believe it's already November!  This year has flown by.  On the way to College Station, Cody was telling me about two teachers in her department that might be leaving at the end of this semester (one for an AP position, another older man who can't keep up with the technology).  So be praying that maybe one of those positions will open up and they will want to hire me!