Babysitting

We were SO excited when our friends across the street invited us to watch their youngest child while they attended one of the sibling's soccer game (Playing soccer at the end of April can be pretty cold around here, especially with all of the wind)!   

The mother was a bit nervous when she dropped him off.  She informed us that she hadn't left him with anyone else yet, not even her mother, and was so grateful we would be willing to watch him for them and knew we would take good care of him!

 

We were elated to have the chance to dote on him!

  

We love kids and really enjoy playing with them, reading to them, and making them laugh!  

We also love to watch Lucy Lou's (our dog's) reaction.  Notice her below in the picture keeping a watch on Shay, making sure Shay isn't doing anything wrong. :-)  

For some reason as soon as an infant is in our home Lucy Lou becomes their "body guard."  She stays close.  She watches over them and what everyone else is doing to make sure the child is safe.  If for any reason she feels the child might be in danger Lucy Lou immediately starts to bark at the person who is causing the danger.  At times she is a bit overprotective but we love it!

Lucy Lou even retrieves any toys that are dropped before we can blink our eyes (as you can see her doing below)!  Too bad we are always having to clean the toys after Lucy Lou gets a hold of them .....no doggy germs are allowed near any child's face!

We can't wait to have our family grow and have a baby in our home!

Playing Games with the Folks!

Shay and I love to play games.  It was something we did a lot while dating.  

Here you can see my parents and Shay sitting around the game table. 

We are playing Settlers of Catan, a family favorite.  

If you've never played it we'd highly recommend ti!

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day With Family

I love to host parties!  

I enjoy coming up with ways to decorate the table for a yummy meal:

 

Since it is March and a time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day I decided to use the traditional two colors that represent the two main religions in Ireland (Green and Orange).

We purchased green place settings and added a alphabet code that helps one figure out their Leprechaun name:

When everything was made.....we had broccoli and cauliflower soup (since it is green), green salad, green soda, and my mom brought green jello....my brother, his children, and my parents came over to eat!

Shay and I LOVE spending time with our family!  We had a blast visiting and eating our St. Patrick's Day meal!

So Cute!

Shay and I have loved the opportunity we have had to teach the 3-year-olds at our church. Our hearts are so sad to know that today was our last day!

Our last lesson today was on the creation of the world. We had a great time discussing the six days of creation. The kids really got into the lesson!

Tonight I received a text from a good friend named Devri. Devri texted me to share this video of her son trying to retell what he had learned in our class this morning. We thought it was so stinking cute!





How we are going to miss our little guys!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day!  

On the way home from work today I dropped off a Valentine for my parents.  

Valentine's Day was so fun for me as a kid because of my mother.  My mom would always ding-dong-ditch a "Valentine" for us kids.  It usually was a book with some yummy treat.  I often find those "Valentine's Day" books as a teacher.  I will open a book to read it to my class and see that the cover page has a sweet Valentine message signed from my mom with the date (Of course it says, "Love Mom & Dad).  It brings such fond childhood memories back when I read those inscriptions. My mom would also make tons of Valentines treats and have us kids help ding-dong-ditch them to our neighbors and friends.  Well, my mother hasn't changed.  After dropping off their Valentine and racing away to my home, I walked into my house to find 4 chocolate cakes on my table.  I immediately knew it was from my mom!  I am so grateful for the amazing example of love and service she has shown me over the years!  I hope to become more like her as I "grow up!"  

Below you can see 2 1/2 left.....Shay and I already got our hands on a few. :-)

Once I got home it was time for me to quickly set up Shay's valentine.  This is what I surprised Shay with when he got home.  Shay loves to put puzzles together so I thought the puzzle would be the perfect treat for him this year!

When Shay walked into the house he was holding these roses, a card and chocolate.  He then of course had to come around and give me a sweet kiss and hold me close.  I love that Shay is so thoughtful and tender with me!  I couldn't imagine my life without him!

Happy Valentine's Day!

WOW!

At our school the younger graders celebrated the 100th day of school.  It is a great opportunity for us as teachers to hone in on the number 100 and its place value.  It also allows for everyone to have a fun time with items/games/activities associated with the number 100.

This year was a bit different from all of the other years I have taught school.  Yearly, students are asked to place 100 items of anything on a poster to celebrate the 100th day of school.  When I walked around the corner I saw this:

Upon a closer look, I had to believe my eyes:  Yep, those are bugs, dead cicadas to be exact.  

No, I am not sure who made this poster, but I have to give the parents a pat on the back for being...so creative. :-)  Shay and I can't wait to come up with 100 poster ideas!

Christmas 2012

Like I posted last year:

For as long as I can remember my mom and dad required each Christmas that we children stood by our Christmas gifts and took a picture.  

We then would feel tortured when they required us to video tape ourselves telling the camera everything we got for Christmas, along with thanking the grandparents (etc.) for the gifts we got.  We now laugh at those videos and can see the yearly changes that happen as one grows older.

Well, right now it is just Shay and me 

and I have to keep the "tradition" alive.  

I have a habit of keeping all "traditions" alive 

(I am the perfect Fiddler on the Roof personality!).

So here is to another Christmas year!

To start the traditions right, Shay and I read from the scriptures about the birth of Christ.  That is a tradition that will continue throughout our lives!  We then decided to open one present from my brother and his family!  

They spoiled us rotten!

Trying to get a photo of it all with our dog Lucy in the picture was almost impossible!

I tried every tactic to get her to sit for the picture......I was not too successful!

 Of course Shay comes to the rescue and we get a shot of them both and our load from my brother and his family!  

They gave us items for Lucy, which was SO welcomed!  

Cooking items and way too many gift cards to the movie theaters!  

Shay and I love to go see movies in the theater!

It was a great Christmas Eve!

On Christmas day we were finally able to make it home just before midnight and able to open presents.

Here Shay is opening one of his presents from me.  Shay loves a good movie and politics so I thought I would combine the two and purchase a movie on American presidents.  He seemed to like it!

Shay was really excited about his books that I had a hard time getting him to put them away and take our traditional Christmas photos!  

 

Come on Shay let's take a picture please!

Now remember it is now AFTER midnight!

Shay is a night owl and I am definitely not!

So I decided to let him continue to read while I set up his display!  

Love that Shay is so excited about his book!

He finally peeled himself away from the book.

Taking pictures of all the wonderful stuff Shay received this year!

I have no idea what happened to this picture, too bad because it was the best smile of all of them! :-(

Upon closer look I realized I had missed something:

Not only had I purchased 2 jackets for Shay for Christmas (he sure needed new ones), he also received a new jacket from his brother as well.  This was the year of doubles! 

So I had to take a new picture, which Shay was OH so happy to take! :--)

Shay spoiled me this year!  I have always wanted a large Nativity set and this year he splurged and bought me one!  

It is beautiful!  

I can't wait to put it up next year!  He also got me a pitcher I had been eyeing at Costco and a book I wanted. 

(CAUTION:  Immediately started the book that night and had to take it back the next day!  TERRIBLE language.  I was SO disappointed....Shay then allowed me to pick 3 new books to replace it!  Shay always spoils me!).

Here is me with my Christmas load!  Shay's brother bought me the pillow you can see on the left.  Shay's mother bought me the pressure cooker, sheets, and decorative holder.  She also bought Shay and I the white nativity set you can see below the pillow. 

We LOVE it!

I guess this is the year of nativity sets!  

Wanted to get a closer picture of Shay, Oh I mean the nativity set! ;-)

The next few pictures are the decorations found within our house.

I love to decorate and make our home feel really festive!

This year I went for a hot pink garland.

Each year I try to do something completely different. 

The garland matched my crazy funky Christmas tree that I put up this year!

The whole look:

A new garland look as well:

Went simple in the entrance way:

Santa picture creates the theme in this room.

Shay bought me this picture and I absolutely LOVE it!

I have been putting two trees together for a few years now.  

It is very different but to us it is beautiful.  Adds extra lights in the room and a warm that is very inviting:

As you can see here, I really enjoy collecting nativities from around the world.  The nativity on the very right was our new addition from our trip to Cancun this last summer.

Had to keep a bit traditional with the garland in the front entryway:

We did not lack snow this year, that is for sure:

The next day I took a few last pictures (as seen below):

Then the clean up began. 

This year was very special!  Our friends had us over for Christmas breakfast and to see their children, whom we love dearly.  We then made the rounds to Misty's home (Shay's sister), my grandmother's, Paul's (My brother), and finally to Shay's parents.  We enjoyed see everyone and spending time with them.  I have NO idea why I didn't take pictures during the day.  Super bummed about it!  After spending the rest of the day at Shay's parent's home, we stopped by Mike's home (Shay's old roommate and best friend).  We loved the opportunity to share some Christmas time with him.  Then we made it home at around midnight.  

We feel so blessed to live by so many family members and great friends!  

Merry Christmas All!

Hope it was as good for you as it was for us!