Passing as a blur

That's what the past week-and-a-half has done. The first week of school went great. I've felt better than I have in the past 7 weeks. Blair and I had a great weekend. We watched football and ran errands. We bought a glider rocker for the baby which I'm very excited about. I've been knitting a pair of socks and finished the first one. I have a good start on the second sock, so I'm hoping to avoid the dreaded second sock syndrome.

The weather here was cool and gray today. I'm so ready for autumn, and today really set that in my mind. Summer is so hot and miserable that autumn is a welcome relief. I'm ready for some autumn crafting of the knitting and sewing variety. I'll post pictures of my socks when I finish the second one.

Sorry this post is short and pictureless, but that's about all my brain can manage right now. Have a great week, everyone!

A Lazy Summer Day

I did so much work in my classroom yesterday that I decided to stay home today and enjoy a little more summer break. We've been exceptionally lazy. We've watched Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch (the fourth movie in German). I'm knitting a shrug from the book Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel. It's the second one of these I've made, and I really love the pattern. For those of you who are knitters, I highly recommend buying the book. After the thunder storm last night, it's been a dreary day...the perfect kind for staying in and knitting. I must say that I am exceptionally ready for autumn. For crisp mornings and sunny afternoons making bread. For tea (decaf this year) early in the morning and football in the afternoons (after the bread making, of course). Lots of football. And knitting. Lots of knitting. Lots of lazy autumn Saturday afternoons with football and knitting and the smell of homemade bread. Ah, I can't wait.

Eleven-and-a-half weeks...and still sick

All day, all night. It doesn't stop or ease. But, I've read that the sicker you are, the more hormones you have, and that's good. We have a doctor's appointment Monday and our first ultrasound! We're both really looking forward to that, and I'm hoping they'll give me some different medicine for my queasiness. With school coming up, I'm a little concerned about getting through my mornings. Most of my start-of-school prep work is done, and I'm really excited about getting in there and getting started. I feel like this post is a little more discombobulated than usual, but that's pretty much how my brain is working right now. I have no way to end this, so I'm just going to say goodnight.

A Haircut

I finally got a much-needed haircut today. I don't know if it was the pregnancy hormones or just the summer heat, but I decided a couple of weeks ago that it needed to go.

The before:



And the after:

We had such a nice day here in West Tennessee today, that Blair and I spent the morning out in the yard. He cut down a small tree for my parents, and I picked blackberries. After that we sat in the swing for a while and enjoyed the sun. I took some pictures and posted them on Flickr.

Of Summer Travels and Babies

Blair and I have traveled more this summer than we have since we've been married. We went to Asheville for Memorial Day and we flew to Tennessee for my brother's wedding. Blair went to Germany for a month and I went back to Tennessee to spend two weeks with my parents. Last week, I traveled to the beach for a faculty retreat, and tomorrow morning at 5:30 we're rolling out yet again for Tennessee. We'll be gone for two weeks, and I'm thinking that will be our last trip for a while.

Several of you are probably wondering what babies have to do with our summer traveling. Well, not much, really, except that we found out we were pregnant during one of those long trips!! That's right. There's a little Chadwick growing and developing right now! We have a very big year in front of us, but we are both so excited and can't wait to go through this journey together.

Learning should never stop

Since returning home Monday, I have been attending new teacher training at my new school. CCS is a school that provides a classical education, which means most of this week has been very philosophical. My brain is very tired. I haven't exercised it like this since I graduated from college (and yes, I know, that was only two years ago). I'm very excited about the education this school provides, and I can't wait to start implementing some of the new ideas I've learned this week. Next week, we have a faculty retreat at...are you ready for this?...THE BEACH!!

A Day Spent in Relaxation

Today, the dogs and I relaxed. We got up early and had breakfast with my mom, and then our day of nothing began. While I did this



the dogs did this.



Then, I did this



and they did this.



A little while later when I had finished this part



the dogs were busy with this.



I was concentrating hard on the next section,



and the boys were working hard at...



Once I had completed the top,



I checked on the dogs.







Then I took myself to a movie. All-in-all, we had a good day!

Time for a New Beginning

Yesterday was my last day at the pre-school. A day of relief and a little sadness. While my administration did not bless me, my parents did greatly. My kids walked in all morning long looking like the magi. I got bags and make-up and treats (a candy apple covered in caramel, white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate chips), a candle, and several other goodies. Thanks to all who thought of me. Here's a little collage of my gifts.

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I know. Big slacker. Where have you been? Has nothing been going on? Do you have a blog or not? Blah, blah, blah. I have been here. Nothing's been going on, and yes, I do have a blog. I've just been focusing more on the photo blog of late. School is going well, my kids are hilarious. Blair's crazy busy, and the dogs are just crazy. So, for now, I'm still planning on spending most of my time at the other blog, but that doesn't mean I've quit this one.

A Wonderful Saturday

Blair and I had a great and productive day today. We ran a lot of errands and got several things done at home. We planted spinach and mint, made bread, went for a walk, and assembled a new patio set just to name a few. We bought a collapsible kennel for Petey and a new leash for Murray (since he broke his yesterday). We went grocery shopping and made a trip to Lowe's. All in all, a beautiful and well-spent Saturday.

A Great Week

I had a great week at school with my kids, but it still seemed like a long week. Not bad, just long. Last night Blair and I went to a Nathan Gunn concert on campus. Mr. Gunn is a very accomplished opera singer who performed for a very bad audience. I felt like that proverbial mother in the grocery store with the screaming child. People walked in and out. They clapped between all the parts of the Schubert song cycle. Someone's hearing aid was screeching, and the ladies in front of us knocked over their cane. The words were printed with the English translation, and the entire audience felt the need to follow along for the entire performance and loudly turn their pages when it was required. Forget just listening to the beautiful sound this man was producing. Forget watching his performance. Let's just follow along. Blair and I sitting among many of the Music Department faculty, and one could almost hear our collective groan when something happened.

This morning I went to my beloved Barnes and Noble and sat and read all morning and walked away with several purchases. I got two books for my kids at school (Little Critter), and The Wizard of Oz, Emma, Robinson Crusoe, and a new journal. I'm very excited about diving into one of these, I just haven't decided yet which one it will be.

When I left Barnes and Noble, I visited the buttercup field right down from our house. It isn't in full bloom yet, but it's still quite lovely.

Fun New Things

I had a good day at school despite the fact that I had a three-year-old terrified of death and another throw rice at me after threatening to take away all my toys.

As promised, these are my new coats. With the rain gone, I had great lighting this afternoon to photograph them. I know I probably could have chosen better backgrounds, but this is what I have.

I really feel like Audrey Hepburn when I wear it. It's very comfortable and swingy. Not to mention the fact that I only paid $4.80 for it!!

This one is the softest wool on the planet! It feels so great, and it's light but very warm.

A Year in Photos

From our trip to ECU yesterday.

Blair and I have taken on yet another responsibility...because we needed another one...We started teaching 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School today. We have a really fun group, and I think it's going to be a great semester with these kids!

A New Year, New Photos

This year, I would like to post a picture day on my blog. Nature, life, the good, and the not-so-good. These photos will be completely candid and completely untouched. I'm not sure I will stick to a picture a day every day, however, I will do my best to post as often as I can.

Today's picture is taken from my porch and is my first nature photo of the year. Nature photos are some of my favorite to take, so you will see many of them this year. Many will probably come from my classroom adventures as well. I have updated my Flickr page today with photos from Christmas and today.

I hope all of you have a wonderful 2009 full of new experiences and good times.

The Mouse Saga Continues

When we got home from our Christmas travels, we walked into our house to find that we had been overrun by mice. The entire place. All rooms. So we got even more serious in our mouse-catching attempts. We set out traps and glue boards everywhere. We were rewarded in our efforts with the capture and killing of two mice.

Now, I enjoy going to work every morning (even those mornings when I'm 30 minutes late), mostly because I enjoy the company of my kiddos. However, there is that extra little added bonus of being in a mouse-free environment for eight hours a day. Today, that joy was stolen from me.

I was eating breakfast at the table with my kids (all three of them...big crowd), when I heard screaming erupt from the kitchen. I tend to consider my work environment to be a sane one, so this was a little more than out of the ordinary. I looked around to see none of my fellow teachers willing to leave their place of safety and investigate, so I took it upon myself to rush to the aid of my distressed coworker. Upon entering the kitchen, I saw my administrator standing in the middle of the kitchen holding a broom to the floor, screaming her head off. I vaguely heard something about "mouse" and pretended I didn't hear it. "What's wrong" I inquired as calmly as possible. "Mouse...in trap...not dead...caught under broom!" She lifted the broom minutely, and I saw it. Indeed...mouse...in trap...not dead. I bravely grabbed another broom and asked her to hold still. I shall leave the rest up to your over-active imaginations and spare you the details. After disposing of said mouse, I was informed that there was another trap in the cabinet. I bravely asked my boss to ready her broom and slowly opened the door. There, to my horror and wonder, was yet another mouse half caught in a trap. It began it's frantic and frenzied rush around the floor. I told the broom holder to "get it!" The mouse quickly met it's demise and joined it's brother in the trash.

Needless to say, I never expected such a task to fall under my teaching duties, but when faced with a challenge, I'm always ready to rise to the occasion.

New Apartment, Same Problem

MICE!!!

Images of a Teacher's Life

Oh, the joys of glue!! Three-year-olds love it (but don't know how to use it). Whenever I have a down moment or things are getting a little out of hand, I pull out the glue. They don't care what they're gluing, as long as they get to use the marvelous sticky stuff. I hand it out with blank paper and confetti, I give it to the quietest people, we put it on construction paper, tissue paper, receipt paper, foam, fabric, not to mention our hands and tables. Glue, how I love thee, let me count the ways...

A Pictureless Post

I know that posts without pictures are not nearly as interesting, but I don't have any photos to put up right now. Today was another perfect fall day. No humidity, great breeze, low temps. Perfect. Blair came to my class today and did music with the kids. They loved it! There's just something about getting to sing with a guitar that makes music time that much more fun. Tomorrow we're going up to Williamsburg for the day, and I can't wait! I've never been before (Blair has), and I'm so excited about everything there is to see. So, tomorrow night (or Sunday afternoon) I plan on having a long, picture-full post for you to enjoy! Have a great weekend!!

It really is autumn

I've spent the past couple of days really settling into my classroom and making it mine. I've gotten rid of alot of things and moved some things around. I put up some fall decorations and redecorated my door.

In other news, I'm still really busy. I had a Women in the Church meeting Thursday and sold merchandise at a concert last night. I was going to go to the beach today with some friends and go out in their boat, but since gas is more than my life is worth we decided not to go. Fortunately I don't have anything extra going on at church tomorrow.

A Birthday Come and Gone

Whew....yesterday was an absolutely insane day at school. It was one of the worst days teaching I have ever had. So, after that and tutoring, I was really too tired to do anything. All I wanted for supper was mashed potatoes (comfort food). Thanks to everyone who sent gifts, cards, and wishes. Right now, we're gearing up for a hurricane weekend of nothing. Thanks Hanna.