Brooks' Sip and See

This past Saturday, our group of friends hosted a "Sip and See" to welcome little Brooks into our family.  We really are a family after all these years.  We've seen each other through so many different things!  One of the most recent celebrations we've had is the birth of Brooks, Casey's son.  He is beautiful!

We decided to have a "Sip and See" instead of a baby shower so that everyone could really enjoy Brooks, and also celebrate Clay and Casey.  Em and Carrie graciously let us invade their house up in the beautiful hills of Morganton.  It was awesome to be able to have it where we all grew up.  I pray that Brooks has a special group of friends like us!

Our theme was BOOKS!  Not really shocking considering at one time all but one of us was a teacher!  We had a blast planning the shower and everything came together so well!  All of our food centered around books:

Sweedish Fish/Goldfish - One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Brownie Bear Treats - Corduroy Goes to the Beach
Meatballs - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Pickles - Pickles over Pittsburgh
Chocolate Chip Cookies - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Assorted Fruit and Dip - Each Peach Pear Plum
Caterpillar Cake Pops - The Very Hungary Caterpillar
Duckie Punch - Farm Animal Kids Book 

We were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather (I was nervous since the day before the party it was snowing and sleeting!!).  There was still snow on the ground, but it felt great outside!  We were able to take pictures outside and enjoy the day.

 I think Brooks has a nice little library started!  It makes my English teacher heart very happy!  I told Case I hope to have him reading by 2 years.  He has two high school English teacher aunties AND a elementary school teacher auntie!  We'll get him reading!

I say this all the time, but God truly blessed me with the best friends.  As I grow up, I realize how rare it is to still be friends with a group from your hometown.  We've seen each other through ups and downs, weddings, degrees, job changes, and now babies!  I adore them and we absolutely LOVE Brooks and are SO excited to have our first Garland Baby :)

Falling behind in February!

So much for keeping up with the blog once a week!  It looks like once a month might be the winner this year.  School has been busy - frustrating - not because of my kids, but because of drunken mother nature.  I think homegirl has menopause and can't decide if she wants to have a hot flash or freeze us out of the house.  Whatever the case, I'm more than ready for spring.  The weather has definitely put a "hiccup" in my school lessons and plans.  Oh well.

Highlights from the month:

1. Early this month, Em, Carrie, Caro, and I went to visit the newest addition to our family of friends.  We traveled down to Georgia to meet Brooks and visit with Case and Clay.  It was a fun trip and such a treat to sit and hold one of my favorite little guys for awhile.  He's growing so fast!

2. I visited Durham/Raleigh a couple times this past month.  I, of course, had to get in my snuggle time with Thaddeus Rex.  He's growing so quickly!  He's 8 months, crawling, jabbering, pulling up, and still stealing my heart.

While in Durham (the first visit), I got to catch up with my dear friend, Amber.  We've been friends for over 20 years (does that mean we're old?!), so it's always a treat when I get to spend some time with her.  Even though we don't see each other as often as we'd like, every time we're together, it feels like there hasn't been any time to pass between.

On this same trip (it was a really great trip!), I met up with Kelly and Matt for dinner.  As soon as we met up, Kelly and Matt revealed the gender of their baby!  We have another boy coming in July!  They told me in a very unique way.  They handed me a bag of candy and asked what they all had in common...nuts!  Haha, it was a fun way to be surprised!

3. So there was a little snow this month...that, my friends, is called an understatement.  During the second week of February, pretty much all of NC (and SC, GA, TN, AL...THE SOUTH) was dumped with snow.  We had almost 8 inches in some parts of the yard!  I will say it was pretty...but I'm over it now.

4. I spent Valentine's with my sweet friends, Em and Carrie.  We've made a tradition of it, and I look forward to it every year.  This year we went to Target, picked up some Chipotle, and stayed in for a movie night.  Who needs a guy when you have great friends?  (and puppies...I don't have any pics of Em and Carrie, but they're always sweet enough to share their furry children with me!)

5. In the middle of the month I ventured home to Morganton for a quick visit.  I was able to hang out with my family and spend time with my cousin, Leah.  She recently moved back from California and it's always nice to sit back and laugh.  My other cousin, Katy, was supposed to be in town, but again, STUPID MOTHER NATURE halted her plans.  Katy, her husband, and their two daughters were stuck in Chicago for a couple days.  I'm happy to say they're back in NC and loving Wilmington!

6. During the third weekend of Feb., I went to the Rockingham County Distinguished Young Miss competition.  Several of my former students were competing for scholarship money.  They represented our school very well, and I was proud to cheer them on from the crowd!

That same weekend, I went to one of my former students to get my hair cut.  It was so crazy to have one of my kids cut my hair, but Hannah did a FANTASTIC job!  I'm so proud of her and all of her accomplishments!!

7. This past weekend I went to visit my sister, nephew, Caro, Kelly, and Matt.  Lots of good food, fun, talking, and catching up.  I came back yesterday and attempted to be productive, though if you were to look at my to-do list right now, it doesn't look like I got a lot done!

8. I AM OBSESSED WITH MAKING CAKE POPS.  That's all.

Books -

Sad...I only finished one book!  I FINALLY got through Nicholas Sparks' latest book, The Longest Ride.  It was good...it took awhile to get through, don't know if it's one of my favorites, but it was a good read.  Typical Sparks.  I'm actually on the last pages of a book as we speak, and I'm still in the middle of FOUR.  My continuing goal is to finish them!

I just fell in love with a new author - Anne Lamott.  If you've never read any of her work, I highly recommend.  My friend Caro has been a fan for years, and so she was kind enough to share a few of her books for me to read.  She speaks about faith, God, and spirituality.  She's uses wit and wisdom in the best way, and makes me want to read everything she's written!!

I'm reading (for the second time) The Alchemist with my English II Honors class.  If you've never read it, I HIGHLY recommend it.  A beautiful story and it touches on a deeply religious side (I don't go into that with my students, but it was a special read for me).

Hope everyone has a lovely March!  Kick up your feet and enjoy it!

January

It's the end of the day, so the creative juices aren't flowing for a jazzier title than..."January".  I will have to live with it.  The beginning of 2014 brought a lot of excitement!  Casey's baby, Brooks, was born on Monday, January 13th.  I went down a few days after his birth to visit.  It was a wonderful trip.  Meeting the babies in my life make me so happy!  Our group of friends will be blessed again this summer when Kelly has her little baby!

School started back up as well.  We ended first semester with exams and began the second semester towards the end of January.  Mother nature has had other things in mind with her weather and preventing us from having "normal" school days.  I love a good two-hour delay...and who are we kidding...I love no school, too!  However, we've used up all our built in teacher workdays, so Momma Nature needs to hang up her winter stocking for a bit.

My new students seem sweet.  It's hard to tell in the first few weeks, ESPECIALLY when you don't see them but for a couple days here and there!  I'm trying to learn new names and faces.  I never really get into the groove until we're in the second month.  This is the first time in two years I haven't had a student teacher teaching during the beginning of second semester, so it's been nice to be in full teacher mode!  I might regret that last statement come April...

I've finished two books, am in the middle of three, and started two.  Ridiculous.  I finished Mitch Albom's new book The First Phone Call from Heaven and Kimberly McCreight's Reconstructing Amelia.  Both were very interesting reads.  I recommend both, but REALLY recommend Reconstructing Amelia.  It was a fast paced novel and was hard to put down.  It goes through the story of a mother putting together the pieces of her daughter's life after she learns she committed suicide.  Really makes you think about the power of words, friendships, and a mother's love.  I hope to say I've FINISHED all FIVE books this time next month!!  We shall see.

That about sums up the month!  Babies, snow, school, and books!!  Not a shabby start to the new year!  Hope to blog more and keep up to date.  Have some posts in mind, but just never take the time to sit down and write.  Here are some highlight pics from the month:

Brooks

She texted and said, "I have a baby!!"

My heart sighed with relief and my mouth arched into a huge smile.

All night long, I had been texting with Casey's sister, Donna, and she was kind enough to keep me right in the loop.  The whole day I was crazy anxious.  I kept checking my phone, texting Donna, praying, and hoping that Case and Brooks were going to be okay.

I remember this same anxiety last June when Rex was born.  Not being able to be at the hospital was painful.  We (the girls) encompassed Case in prayers and kept a check via texts.  Once we knew Case was in the "homestretch" we switched over to a text with me keeping the girls posted from my texts with Donna.  I'm eager to show Case that string of conversation!

After a very long day, I finally got the happy text from Donna, and then the heart relieving, never-been-so-happy-to-hear-my-phone-ding text from Case.  She said, "I have a baby!!".  I texted back and said, "You have a baby!"

My hands are anxious to hold him.  My arms are eager to hug Case and make sure she's okay.  My heart, though, oh, my heart is so happy.

Welcome to the world, Brooks!  You have so much love surrounding you!

Moments - Special Memories from 2013

Last year, I made the resolution to blog more.  Mainly, I wanted to do this as a cathartic way to release my thoughts and what not.  I have the same resolution this year...among many, many others.  What better way to start 2014 than looking back at the wonderful moments that 2013 captured?

I thought about just doing a huge photo dump, but that would entail loading and posting over 100 pics...and in the words of sweet Brown..."Ain't nobody got time for that."  Instead, I decided to do a top 10 of sorts, except they're in no particular order!!

Rex's Birth - As stated before, I think one of the top moments of 2013 (and my life) would be the birth of my nephew.  After a long wait (stubborn little thing), he was finally born on Friday, June 21st.  Holding him for the first time is a memory I will never forget.  Being able to watch him grow has been such a treat!  Making the little steps that all babies make (rolling over, teething, finding his voice, cooing, smiling, etc) and watching him develop has just been amazing.  I wrote more here and I'm sure that there will be just a few posts about him in the upcoming year!

Baby Journi - Our family is growing so much!  In addition to Rex, earlier this year (March 14th to be exact), my cousin welcomed her beautiful daughter into the world.  I was fortunate enough to make it into town and visit the evening of Journi's birth.  I am beyond excited that they will be traveling back this way.  Watching my family grow is a cherished memory and beautiful thing.

Casey and Kelly's pregnancy - Still in the world of babies, 2 more miracles will be born in the upcoming year!  Both Casey and Kelly found out they were pregnant in 2013.  We are so excited to have new little babies to welcome into our group!  Case told me via a picture in a gift bag - she said she had gotten me a present for mother's day.  I jumped up and down and yelled and was ecstatic!  Kelly's story is funny because it was so us.  We played phone tag for an entire afternoon and finally got in touch.  She wanted to facetime me and then told me the good news!  Lots of little ones to love! Finding out about Case's pregnancy can be read in more detail here.  Excited for all my besties!

Teaching an AP Course - One of the more difficult things I've done in my career happened this past year.  In January, my principal asked if I would consider teaching an AP course within our English department.  I knew that it would be a challenging class to teach, but I welcomed the opportunity.  Throughout the past semester, I have most definitely been challenged.  I've been overwhelmed at the literature, vocabulary, writing, test, so on and so forth.  However, I know this is making me a better teacher.  Maybe not a sane teacher...but, I know I'm growing. More details about my thoughts on the training can be read here.

A perk of all of this is that I've gotten to go to extra training.  This included the AP Summer Institute at Wake Forest this past summer.  The best perk was that one of my best friends is getting ready to teach an AP course too!  It's nice to experience the same things with someone you're so close to!

Visit to Philadelphia - One of my closest friends moved up to Philadelphia a few years ago.  I have wanted to go visit for a long time, but finally made it work this past July.  We ate, walked, toured, talked, and caught up.  It was a wonderful visit, and I'm hoping to make another trek up there again!! Way more details and pics can be found here.

NCTE Conference in Boston - I was able to travel up to Boston and attend the National Conference Teaching English.  It was INCREDIBLE.  If you are an English teacher and ever have the chance to go - GO!  I learned so much and also got to visit a beautiful city.  The presenters and workshops were some of the best that I've ever been to.  I was able to see many of my "teaching heroes" speak as well as young, enthusiastic educators hoping to get their passion out to others.  I was also able to spend time with one of my best friends, Emily.  She traveled to the conference as well.  Always happy to spend time traveling with a friend!

Memorial Weekend Beach - My best friends and I usually try to make it to the beach at least once a year.  For the past six or so years it has become a tradition that we always look forward to.  It's gotten harder as our lives have gotten busier to find a long weekend that fits seven schedules, but we try to make it work.  This past year we traveled during Memorial Day weekend and had a great time!  We missed Case (she was traveling back from Mexico), but got an awesome surprise when she facetimed and shared she was pregnant!  We enjoyed the sun, water, and sand, but most of all, being together.  More pics and details written here.

Baby Showers - I've gotten to celebrate not one, or two, but three babies this year!  (Technically, four, but we haven't had a shower for Kelly yet!!).  The year started off celebrating Baby Journi and her sweet Momma, Katy.  I threw my sister a shower in March to celebrate the arrival of Rex.  Brooks had two showers that I got to attend in November and December!  These babies sure are loved!

Carrie's Walk - In October, I walked in honor of my dear friend Carrie.  We celebrated her fight with Juvenile Diabetes.  It was a wonderful day and they raised a ton of money!  I wrote a post about Carrie earlier in the year.  If you ever have the chance, please help to support this amazing foundation.  Carrie is one of the strongest people I know, and I am so proud to call her my friend.

There were so many more...beach trips, sweet baby snuggles, watching Stevie graduate from Betsy Bus, ending my 5th year of teaching, traveling all over to see friends and family, finding out Brooks' gender at the reveal party, hearing the sweet heartbeat of Rex and Brooks inside the womb, and so many more.  I hope 2014 has more memories in store!  

2013 - Where Did the Time Go?

Two months later, I'm finally getting around to updating the ole blog.  I've said before that this blog certainly isn't written to get buzz or be this thought provoking series of writing, but rather, this serves as a virtual journal for me.

The last day of the year is here!  Once all the "memory rolls" start coming out on all the news channels, I know that we're wrapping up a year.  The slow, sappy music plays.  People we've lost grace the screen.  The "big" moments are put up to be celebrated one more time.  It kind of makes the bad look minuscule and the good look more prominent - which I suppose is how it should be.

It gives me a chance to reflect and look back.  This has certainly been an important year.  It's been a rough year at points, but by going on the motto of the montage...there's been more good than bad.  This has been a year of immense growth and opportunity.  My cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, my sister gave birth to a handsome baby boy, and two of my best friends found out they were pregnant!  The world is sweeter with new life around and babies to snuggle.

Continuing with that thought, my nephew being born was probably the highlight of my year.  I am honored to be his auntie and godmother, and I pray for him every night.  I pray that he grows up with the knowledge of everyone who loves him, I pray he knows how much God loves him, and I pray he will grow up with a heart full of understanding and peace.  I've never been more proud of my sister and the incredible mom she has become.  Seeing her with Rex has been a delight.  My heart is filled with wonder and amazement every time I look into his eyes and hold his sweet little body.

Having two of my best friends tell me they were pregnant was another bright moment.  Going through the journey of "adulthood" with them has been so much fun, and it's been even more amazing to see them turn into soon-to-be mommies.  2014 will be another year filled with baby coo's and sweet snuggles!

With the good, which has certainly outweighed the bad, always comes moments of frustration and confusion.  I have been blessed with incredible opportunities within my career, but with those comes stress and a little lot of anxiety.  Teaching a new course, attempting to fit on a couple more professional "hats", and smiling while doing all of it has proved to be hard.  I've enjoyed all the opportunities, and I love my students, colleagues, and county, but whew....there have been a few times this year where I've thought, "I can't do this anymore."  However, I know that this journey is part of the bigger plan that God has in mind for me.  Learning to listen to Him and follow His lead is difficult.  But...I'm learning, and that in itself is worth the confusion.

I'm not sure what 2014 will bring.  Lots of love, I hope.  Lots of peace, I pray.  Lots of healthy family members and friends, I know.  I love "clean slates" and this is my favorite thing about a new year!

Wishing you and yours a happy New Year and a wonderful beginning to your "clean slates".

Conquer those mountains...or 400 steps ;)

Week (or so...) in Pics

These pics cover a little more than a week.  Even though I feel like there is a lot going on in my life, I don't have many pictures to prove it!  I take a ton of pics, but not as much for everyday life.  Here are some pics...

I've been trying to write a little more in my journal.  Get it out. Write it out.

There is a popular song my kids are listening to called, "Royals".  In it she says, "You can call me queen bee."  Many of my students call me "Ms. B", so I told them to draw me as "Queen Bee".  They never fail to make me giggle.

SO EXCITED TO TEACH THE GREAT GATSBY FOR THE FIRST TIME!!

This is pretty much my life in one picture.

Love.

Got to visit and have dinner with some sweet friends.  Ended on a lovely note - dessert!