Goodbye 2009

I can't believe how quickly this year went- it was a good year overall. Here are some highlights:

1. We refinanced our house at a great interest rate- right after we finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. I highly recommend that you take this course- it really makes you think about your finances.

2. Josh made Varsity Gymnastics and Jake made District Choir.

3. We took our first long haul trip in our travel trailer to Kentucky- it was an awesome trip!

4. I got my School Librarian Certification.

5. I finally went to the Texas State Fair- I've lived here since I was 12 and have had a free ticket every year that I was in school or teaching, and never went before. It was a lot of fun.

6. I sang in front of my students and my in-laws for Veteran's Day- first time I've sung a solo in public since the 6th grade. And, I sounded pretty good!

7. I finally got a dedicated scrap space set up in our dining room- now I can scrap whenever I want to.

8. I went to my 20 year high school reunion- and didn't recognize anyone! I've actually hooked up with several old friends on facebook.

I hope that all of you had a great 2009, and I hope that 2010 is even better for everyone. Happy New Year!!

A Teenager

It seems like just yesterday that I became a Mom. It certainly doesn't feel like thirteen years, but it has been. My baby boy (seen pictured at 3 months old) has turned 13. We've entered the teenage years (though we've had the attitude for a little while now). It seems strange that I have a son who is the same height as me, with bigger hands and feet. But, I do. At least, I still have Jake, who still acts like a kid. :-)

Life has been Busy

I can't believe it's been a month...but life is hectic. I last wrote the day before Jake turned 10. Well, the day after Jake turned 10 he came down with Swine Flu. We were pretty scared there for awhile, but we have a wonderful doctor who put him immediately on Tamiflu as well as the rest of us. So, we survived with no lasting problems. We had a Tae Kwon Do tournament where both boys placed third in sparring. I had my twenty year high school reunion...where I had more high school friends (3) on the deceased list (One died right before graduation, but I don't know when the others did) than were at the reunion (0). Of course, there were a thousand in my graduating class. I have, however, found a few on facebook. Then, we've had several Children's Chorus performances. And, sadly, Emmy's dad passed away last week. He had been sick for awhile, but it was still unexpected. She is, of course, devastated.

It's amazing how much can happen in a month- if you had told me on September 23 that so much would've happened. But, then, that's life.....

My Sweet Baby Boy

It is very hard for me to believe that as of tomorrow, I will be the mother of children who are both in the double digits. Time just flies way too fast now. It really seems like only yesterday that Josh was joining me at school as a kindergartner, and now he's about to be taller than me (and his hands and feet are already bigger than mine). It seems like only yesterday that Jake was crawling around, and now he will be ten and is a student in my class! He is my school baby. I had him my second year of teaching fourth grade, and now he is one. I am so proud of both of them. But, I'm also sad that childhood is quickly on its way out.....

School and the boys

I can't believe summer is over! School starts Monday, which means I've been back at work for a little over a week. I'm excited about this new school year, and a little sad. Jake will be joining me in fourth grade, and I will be his Reading/Writing teacher. I'm excited, because I really enjoyed teaching Josh when he was in fourth. But, I'm sad, because this means my baby is about to be ten. Jake is my school baby. I was pregnant with him during my first year of teaching. Which means that my first set of fourth graders are in college now. It is so strange to think of that. Josh is starting seventh grade. At the beginning of the summer, he was several inches shorter than me. Now, he's just below the top of my head. It seems really bizarre that my baby boy is about to be taller than me. Double digits and teenager are not far away. Time flies too fast.....

Summer is Flying By

Well, July was gone in a blink. We've been so busy, I haven't had time to check in here. We went to the ranch for the fourth again and set off fireworks. Then we prepared for our Tae Kwon Do promotion- we are now Red Belts (that's two away from Black!). Then we set off on a road trip to Kentucky in our travel trailer. It was a wonderful trip- we visited the Louisville Slugger museum, the Corvette National Museum, Abe Lincoln's birthplace, Mammoth Cave and several bourbon distilleries. We stayed at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, in a region that is known for bourbon. It was a great trip and the weather couldn't be beat- it stayed in the 70s and 80s. That is heaven to Texas folk! Now the kids have left for church camp, and I have the house to myself until Friday! (FYI- the first picture is sunset at Natchez Trace State Park in Tennessee, the next is Josh at the Corvette Museum, and the last is Jake at Abe Lincoln's birthplace)

Jake in First Place!

We participated in a HUGE Karate tournament (which by the way are very different from Tae Kwon Do tournaments). Although Steve and Josh did not win anything (though they both did great), Jake ended up winning first place in sparring. The trophy is taller than me! He is so proud!!

I'll post a picture soon!