Reflections & Ramblings

So we're finishing up dinner tonight and Brandon asks Luke if he's ready to go outside and do his chores, which I know nothing about.  So Luke says, "Mom, Dad is going to pay me to pick up acorns.  That IS NOT a rip-off!"  Cracked me up. 

My husband is in the running for "Husband of the Century" or some such award that he should be given, hands-down.  For the 3rd week in a row, I've come home to a clean house.  The man HATES to vacuum, but he's done it...for me...for 3 weeks.  Wow...hubba, hubba.  And not only that, he surprised me with flowers on our anniversary last week.  Neither of us are gift people.  It's not one of my love languages (have you read that book?).  I'm a words of affirmation person - compliment me sincerely and I will love you forever.  However, I have to admit, my heart did go pitter-pat and my eyes teared up when Brandon told me to go look in the fridge to figure out what was for dinner and I found a dozen roses in there.  Love.That.Man!

We had a great time visiting with friends last Friday night.  The former youth pastor of our church, who is now a missionary in Ecuador, his wife and one of his daughters came for dinner, along with another of our best couple-friends.  It was a great night of visiting and catching up.  I'm so thankful for their friendship - even if we only get to spend a little time together once a year when they come back to the States to visit.  An added bonus was that we were talking about this awesome church video that our friend, Bennie, was part of several years ago that was so funny.  He told us it was on YouTube, so we watched it with them and once again over the weekend.  And I'm not going to lie, I just watched it again before I put the link in.  It is funny everytime.  I'm putting the video below...if you don't think church can be funny, then please watch this video.  It's a hoot!

I LOVE my new job.  I can't stop smiling.  I can't stop gushing.  I'm so happy doing it, it's ridiculous.  I love my new team, I love the kids, I love, love, love, love, love it!  I knew I needed the change.  I had no idea how badly I needed the change, though.  I wake up and I'm excited to go to work.  Someone told me last week that they had never seen me so happy at work (and I thought I was a generally happy-and-even-if-I'm-not-I'm-going-to-look-like-it kind of person), so that really told me something.  Tomorrow is IEP sign-off day and instead of worrying about who will or won't sign all my IEPs, I actually have to go sign someone else's.  How cool is that?  I know - not really that cool, but I'm excited. :)  I know the feeling will likely fade as the year wears on and August becomes December and then (cringe) March, but I hope that even if it fades, that it won't completely go away.

My reading for pleasure is definitely suffering now that I'm back at work.  Between trying to walk the dog, spend time with family, work out, and also get a little extra of my job-work done, I haven't had much time.  Add to that, today one of the sweet girls on my team brought me a Young Adult book that she feels is a must-read.  So sweet of her, but yikes, when am I going to get that done?  I just started The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale a couple nights ago, but haven't gotten very far.  Labor Day weekend isn't too far away - maybe it will be a Labor Day Marathon Reading Weekend?  We'll see!

So, there you have it...my reflections and ramblings on my life as I know it these days!

I Hear Ginger is a Birthday Girl!

Happy 10th birthday to our sweet Ginger girl!  She celebrated the occasion with a cup of Frosty Paws Peanut Butter puppy ice cream...and several restful naps, of course!  We're so thankful that she's such a special part of our family.  Enjoy a look back at Ginger's puppyhood.

Ginger at 9 weeks - the day after we got her.  Couldn't you just die at how stinking cute she is?

Enjoying a treat in the sunshine.

Practicing tricks with her daddy.  If you've never seen Ginger do her tricks, you're missing out.  Not to brag, but she's a smarty-pants.

1st Christmas...

Enjoying a favorite pastime of kicking herself in the face & then biting the foot that is kicking her in the face...she still ocassionally pulls this one out, but don't let her catch you watching her do it.  That'll stop her in her tracks.

Just so pretty.

LOVE this one...she still loves to cuddle up and sleep with her daddy.

Love that ear flopped back. :)

Ginger with what remained of her first birthday present - Hermie (the 1st).  Still one of her favorite toys if she's in the mood to play.

We're so thankful that she survived her illness of 2 years ago and is still with us to celebrate reaching double digits.  Everyday we give thanks for all the joy and love she brings to us!  Happy birthday Ginger!

This Day in 1996

Do you know what you were doing?  I was getting married.  I can't believe how quickly 15 years have gone by...gulp...it makes me feel a little old.  Of course, I was still essentially a teenager when I got married.  I didn't turn 20 until a month later. :)  I'm so thankful for Brandon and for all the amazing memories and adventures we've shared over the last years.  To celebrate, enjoy a look back in time at the two of us...

1994 - High School Graduation

1996 - the spring before we got married.

1997 - in St. Louis

1998 - before graduating from college

1999 - Heading home after visiting Brandon's brother in Des Moines - he gifted us with some of his garden tomatoes...that's what's in the bucket I'm carrying.  Maybe even the whole reason for the picture?  I don't know. :)

Christmas 2001 - Ginger was just a puppy...look how little she is!

2003 - At Graceland II in Holly Springs, MS.  If you ever go through Holly Springs, you MUST stop in & see this place.  It is a visit you'll never forget.  If you go 3 times, you become a lifetime member!  We still haven't made it back that way for visit #2, but we've promised that one day, we will!

2004 - At a friend's wedding.  I think the old couple behind us was jealous of our young love.

Easter 2005 - only 5 short days before Luke was born 8 weeks early!  And I thought I just had indigestion that day...little did I know what was to come.

2006 Arizona trip - Painted Desert & Petrified Forest - beautiful.  Go if you're in the area!

2007 Arizona trip - the lady with us is Rusty.  She and her husband own(?) a Pioneer ranch and restaurant we love to visit.  See picture below.

2008 Arizona trip - Rusty was so kind to help us recreate the previous year's photo.  We brought her a copy of the one from 2007.  I'm sure she still treasures it.

2009 - Utah ski trip.  Brandon's first experience skiing...lots of memories there!

2010 - Summer fun at home.

2011 - I think we're so much better looking now that we're older.

I discovered that 2000 & 2002 must have been really bad picture years - we had NONE that I could find of us together.  I also realized that once we got a digital camera in 2005, I started taking A LOT more pictures.  The first 15 have been amazing.  I can't wait to see what's in store for us in the next 15!

Back to School!

The day has finally arrived...time to head back to school.  It seems that the summer is WAY too short every year, and this year was no exception.  I'm happy to report that everyone had a good first day back and had lots to share about what we did today at school.  Luke had a good day of 1st grade, but he reported that it was not nearly as fun as kindergarten.  However, he says that he already loves his teacher, which makes my own teacher heart feel warm & fuzzy.  I also had a great first day in my new job.  It was so much fun getting to meet my new students and get to put some faces with the names.  I feel like I will remember a lot of names, but I know it won't be all of them, so I'm going to have to work on that.  Normally, I've been able to get away with it...not so much this year! 

 My big 1st grader!

Ginger's got to join in too!

My handsome guys (and Ginger)

First day of 1st grade & first day of 8th grade...and Ginger was so sad that we were leaving her today.

My new team. :)