Hot, Chunky and Orange

Today was going well. My classroom was functioning great and the kids were quiet; it might have helped that five kids were missing but it was still nice. Lunch came, my tummy was rumbling and I was ready for my leftover butternut squash soup from last night. I went to the faculty room and warmed up my soup. Thought about sitting in there to eat for once but changed my mind...darn me. I went back to my classroom. Started setting up to eat and work at my computer like usual. Went to grab the tupperware by the side. The lid must have been not on all the way. As I picked it up, the other side of the lid tipped up while the bowl tipped down and out poured hot, chunky and orange soup. It oozed down my white sweater-vest, shirt, in my apron, desk, dress pants, fabric shoes and covering the floor around me. I spent the rest of the lunch cleaning up and the rest of the day colored orange. My kids were pretty nice even though it stunk and I looked funny.

Thanksgiving

This year we went with my family down to St. George. My aunt, Patrice, and most of her family came down as well. We left Wednesday early afternoon and stayed until Sunday. The weather was 60s all weekend. No complaint there, as always. Wednesday evening was spent grocery shopping for our Thanksgiving feast!

Thursday, we started the day's festivities off with a Co-ed Turkey Bowl. It was the Winn's vs. Nasella's. We had the disadvantage with less bodies but it was still fun and we even got my mom on the field. We didn't eat until about 5:30 because of the turkey. It seems we're always waiting on that turkey. So, I was pretty much full by the time we ate from all the snacking on crackers and herb and garlic cheese while I was cooking! Yum! I was regretting how much I ate for the next day or so. My tummy wasn't happy with me. I don't think I was hungry until two days later.

This year, I participated more than I ever have in Black Friday. I decided to check out the midnight openings of stores that night. I took my mom and Kaitlin with me. We started at Kohl's....that store was ridiculous! There were people every square foot I went. The line was wrapped around the store and through the middle and more. Later, i found out my friend waited in line for an hour and a half. The next day was just as bad there though. My mom wouldn't even go in the store. We hit the outlets on our way home and made a few purchases. The next morning, I dragged my brother out with my friend Allie and I for some more shopping. I ended up finding a few things. Dave and I got an early Christmas present from my parents, a new camera. It's super nice! We have always liked the idea of getting a really nice one but not quite yet but this one is right in the middle of a simple digital and super fancy, photographer camera. So hopefully we'll get back to taking more pictures again.

The rest of the weekend was nice. We played tennis and swam and such. I didn't take one school thing with me! I got read and finally finished my book that I've been working on for awhile. It was a nice break from life.

November 5, 2011

Two weeks ago, we were able to attend one of my old student's baptism. She is sure a cutie and a great girl. I've become really close with the family, her mom, Katie, is my friend too. It was fun to be there. I got to see a few of my other students from last year at the baptism as well! We headed over to her house for lunch and play after. Dave was a popular one with all the kids (not a surprise, I know). Dave did start it by initiating a mini snowball fight as soon as the kids came out the door to greet us. After that, he was the kids jungle gym/entertainment for the majority of the time we were there. See pictures below.

Me, Kayli and Dave

The girls are flirting...Katie's mom even said "at least the girls were going after the good looking one." Should I be jealous?

Think he's enjoying the attention a little too much?

The boys loved him too. Kimball wouldn't let go of his leg for quite awhile.

Stress

This last week was a bit stressful. As I told some, Dave's job and my sanity were both up in the air. Luckily, we are both still here and breathing regularly again. With the budget cuts, rumors had it that they were going to move Dave's department to a different base. There were other things involved but that is the main jist of it. They finally came out and said they weren't shutting the department down at Hill, just switching some things up and weeding out job positions in the next year or so. So for now, we are staying put, but that can always change. Cross our fingers that they won't.

As for me, this year school year has been quite draining overall. I feel as if I am drowning. By this time last year, things had started to ease up and I was able to get a rhythm down but I strongly believe it won't ease up on me at all this year. All of the teachers at my school are feeling a lot of the same ways I am. I've been taking stacks of things to do home each night, especially on the weekends. It's as if my job is around the clock. I even lay awake most nights with it on my mind and then I dream it, too. It's quite exhausting! I love what I do, there is no doubt about that. I am just suffocating. I try so hard not to let it all get to me but it's tough. I about had a melt down Tuesday or Wednesday evening, because my brain was so overloaded by everything that day and with what I was working on, so I kept making little mistakes here and there, and with every mistake I make it just means more time that I need to spend on whatever I am doing. I really really hope that it will ease up sometime soon. But as for now, I was able to get a few breaths in this weekend. Just know why, if you come to my house and it's not clean there are many good explanations. I'm not happy to have a messy house, but I am picking and choosing my battles to help my sanity at the moment. :)

Happy Halloween!

The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf

My munchkins

Most of the clan at Willard

Our Halloween Tree

Pumpkin Carving and More

Last Friday, we had most of Dave's fam over for pumpkin carving and s'mores. Everyones pumpkins turned out great! I was on pumpkin seed finding duty. I end up doing this every year and my pumpkin never gets carved but I enjoy it because then we get to eat roasted pumpkin seeds! Which turned out to be a great snack after roasting mallows. Once everyone was done carving, we started a fire on the back deck and roasted mallows and told scary stories at Cora's request. We ended the night with some you tube videos.

Saturday, I had a tennis match at Ogden Athletic Club. I had a little cheering crowd (Dave, Cora and Cris). Cora made a sign for me and held it up a lot of the match. It was super cute! Thanks for the support!

Hard at work

Dave has vocalized his interest in working in a haunted house.

Roasting mallows

Dave's final product. He was going for the scariest at work but ended up winning the funniest...he was a bit offended:)

Cora's cheering sign