Surprise!

My hubby is so thoughtful… or maybe after six years of  complaining, he has finally realized that I like to celebrate my birthday! Ha!
Since my birthday is so close to Christmas, I rarely receive any birthday gifts. This is especially true as I have gotten older. Now, I know that sounds so selfish of me, but please know that I don’t expect a gift from everyone! As long as Brandon remembers and my family remembers, I’m cool. I have also rarely been able to celebrate my day because people are so busy even after the holiday season. This is just something I have come to accept… haha. Bran has actually never given me a birthday present in the six years we have been together! I reminded him of that many times this year, so he decided to do something about it. He threw me a surprise birthday party last night! It was a lot of fun to be able to hang out with our friends.
Here are some photos that my friend Jen took. She is the same girl that took are Christmas photos.

This is my “I wish I would've wore something cuter” face.

Jen, Cathryn, Megan, Me, and Katie
We are only missing Candy… She came later.
They are all great friends!

My birthday face?

Dairy Queen ice cream cakes are the best!

A couple of the couples

Great teacher friends

I wish I had a picture of me and the hubs. He really is a sweetie.
It was a great birthday gift!

Celebrations

Christmas was fantastic! We were able to celebrate with both my family and Bran’s family. Christmas Eve Eve we went to my parent’s house. I spent the night playing with my little nephew Drew. I wish I would’ve snapped some photos of him because he is absolutely precious. I also wish I could spend more time with him because he is so much fun at this age. Christmas Eve was spent at the house with my family. We went to my Grandma’s house for dinner. Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents at my parents, then went to my aunt’s house to eat breakfast and open more presents. Lunch was back at mom’s house and more present opening. We left that afternoon to make it back home to spend Christmas night with Bran’s family. His mom made a delicious dinner and there was even more opening of gifts. I had so much fun! I am very blessed with such a great Christian family.
Today is my 25th birthday. I feel so old! I am halfway to 50!! Bran took the day off to spend it with me. We ate breakfast at ihop. I had the most yummy chocolate chip pancakes. I then went to Hobby Lobby to find some deals. They were pretty much cleaned out though… I was so disappointed. I did buy some Christmas lights, extension cord, and timer for 50% off! I then went to Lowes and spent my birthday and Christmas money on door knobs and paint. Bran hauled off some junk from our garage while I painted our patio doors. He also hauled off a dresser and nightstand to a friend. We took that money from the furniture and ate at Chilis for my birthday dinner. It was so good! However, our check engine light came on, so we spent the rest of the night at AutoZone buying some parts to fix my car. That wasn’t fun!
I am so excited about this year. Even though I hate that my birthday it so close to Christmas, it is nice that it is close to New Years. It’s like I get to make New Years and Birthday resolutions. Ha! Bran and I were talking about what we are looking forward to this upcoming year and I was reminded how truly blessed I am. We are expecting God to do some great things in 2011!!

Christmas Card

Front

Inside

Scroll down a few more posts to see how I got fifty of these amazing Christmas cards for FREE from Shutterfly. I definitely received a ton of compliments this year!

Christmas Vacation!

It was so nice today not going up to school to get ready for this upcoming week. Instead, I was able to take a nice Sunday afternoon nap after church. It would’ve been better if Bran could’ve joined me, but of course he went to train. He might be fighting again in February. He’s still not home… He had to do a little bit of work today too. That boy is always so busy.
Fortunately, he made some time for me yesterday! We spent the entire day in Little Rock. First, we finished up our Christmas shopping at the mall. I do NOT like Little Rock. The traffic was horrible and the people were weird. Thank goodness for our GPS or we would’ve been so lost. I found some fantastic pictures on clearance from Kirklands. Even though I wasn’t supposed to be buying for me, I couldn’t resist.

That’s right! Only $4.97! I bought two: one for each bathroom! Now I just have to go and pick some nails up so I can hang them. We also bought some curtains for our bedroom from JC Pennys. We have talked about getting some, and I think waiting two years for curtains is long enough! Bran is just happy it’s not bright in our room in the mornings.
After shopping, we went to the Tran Siberian Orchestra concert at the Verizon Arena. They played all of the traditional Christmas carols with a rock-and-roll twist. It was awesome. I wish I had some pictures to post, but cameras were strictly prohibited.
We ate dinner at Carinos. I had a Chicken Parmesan Panini. It was yummy. However, the french fries they served with it were to die for. I actually ate the mound of french fries and took the panini home. haha! We had a great time together. It was nice to have all of my husbands attention. However, he really is not a good shopping partner.
One thing on my to-do list for my two weeks off is to get my new doors painted. I only have 2.5 done so far. They take FOREVER to paint.

Here is one that is finished. The door knob and hinges have an oil rubbed bronze finish. All the other finishes in my house are satin nickel… The new knobs were free though, so they will work for now!
 
Here is our door that still needs paint!

And I just thought I would throw this picture in from Bran’s fight last week!

Brrrrr….

It’s COLD outside! I love bundling up and drinking hot cocoa when it’s cold. However, I do NOT enjoy recess duty when the wind chill is below freezing!
Anyways, I am going to Orlando! My principal invited me to represent our building at a huge technology conference in Florida in January/February. It’s an entire week! I am nervous about leaving my kiddos for a whole week and dreading writing the sub plans, but it will be worth it. The only downside, I will be away from my hubby on his birthday.  We will have a big celebration for him when I get back though. I would like to think that the world will not able to go on without me. However, I know that everyone will be quite fine without me!

2-0

My husband’s MMA record is now 2-0. Here is the video from last nights fight. He did a great job!

BFF

Brandon has been gone every, single night this week. I have been so sad. He is busy training for his second MMA fight tomorrow. I hope he wins and doesn’t get hurt!
Anyways, I am so thankful for amazing friends. There are few things that are better than hanging out with your girls. Wednesday night Cathryn, a fellow teacher, and I went to Wal-Mart together to get some groceries and an ornament for a Christmas party. We ended up eating Mexican and having some good girl-time. Then Thursday, Cathryn and I crashed the Kindergarten teachers’ Christmas party. We all brought a dish and sat around the table for a couple of hours just catching up. It’s hard to make the time to just talk at school. It’s always so busy. Tonight, my friend Dara and I had a date at Cracker Barrel. We met at 6:30 and didn’t leave until 9:00!! I had the best time just having a great conversation with her. My friends are so amazing. Even though I have fell out of touch with some after getting married, I have gained so many more.
However, I do miss my best girlfriend… my mom! I wish we could hang out more. She’s the best shopping buddy and the best person to go to Neighbor’s Mill with. Hopefully we will get to go sometime over Christmas break though.

Bran, Mason, and I took our Christmas card photos today with my friend, Jen. She is one of the sweetest people I know! She is a great photographer and has a heart of gold. I can’t wait until she edits them so I can order my free Christmas cards from Shutterfly!
I made Thanksgiving dinner for Bran’s family yesterday since we were with my family for the holiday. I cooked a ham, dressing, rolls, corn, green beans, sweet potato soufflé, and homemade mashed potatoes. It was so yummy! I also baked an apple pie and pumpkin pie for dessert. I can’t wait until Bran and I get a bigger house with a dining room to do more entertaining. I love cooking for other people. I’m not a chef or anything, but it’s a lot of fun.
Bran’s aunt and uncle brought us our Christmas present from Bran’s parents… new doors! They are currently in my in-laws garage, but we will install them soon. I need to call the trash place to get a dumpster out here. We need somewhere to put our old doors. Along with new doors, our friend is coming out to look at our shower soon. It has a crack in the base and hasn’t been used for almost six months. Hopefully he has a solution for us that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
I’m out of grad school until January. I’m super excited that I don’t have any homework for a month! This time at school is so hectic. We have a ton of Christmas activities for the kids and three chunk tests in the next two weeks. I’m looking forward to our Christmas party and caroling and pajama day. It is a fun time of year for both the kids and me!

Dreaming of a Shutterfly Christmas

I have been searching and searching for the perfect Christmas card this year. After browsing several blogs the other day, Shutterfly’s Christmas cards kept coming up as the hot topic. After extensive searching on their website, I have decided it’s virtually impossible to pick just one of my favorite designs! However, here are a few at the top of my Christmas card list:

This design is so simple, which I love. I can envision a ton of different photos that would look perfect on this folded card.

This is a flat card. I love it because you can add five images on it! All you have to do is drag and drop. It cannot get any easier than that! This one also matches my Christmas tree.

This might be my favorite… I love that it allows you to highlight the past year AND add three photos. I think I might be ordering these this year!
To find your perfect card, make sure and stop by their site to check out the hundreds of different images. If you are hosting a holiday party, you can also order some pretty sweet invitations.
I saved the best for last… if you are a blogger, click here! Shutterfly is having a special promotion… You could get up to 50 FREE cards!! For real!! Go check it out!

**EDIT**
I just got an email from Shutterfly!! I have received 50 free Christmas cards in their promotion! Woohoo!! Thanks Shutterfly!

Festive

I know, I know… I did it. I put up my Christmas tree. I just couldn’t help it. I know some of you think it’s blasphemous to put up Christmas décor before Thanksgiving, but it’s my house. And this is what it looks like!

A little blurry.. Sorry. I wish Bran would put lights all around the house, but he refuses. I will refer to him as Scrooge from now on!

Mason’s ornament and ours

Our stockings that are going to get monogrammed soon! We have three other stockings that match for our future kids. haha! I can’t wait to get those out in later years!

And that’s how our humble abode is decorated for this wonderful season of the year! I can’t wait for Thanksgiving this weekend. It will be great to eat some amazing food with my family!

Almost Done

This is has been a crazy week for sure. Last Friday my principal told me that a group of administrators from around the area as well as the creators of the Comprehensive Literacy Model from UALR would be observing my classroom on Tuesday. That made my stomach hurt basically all weekend. I was in a terrible mood… Sorry Mom. Monday was torture as well. Tuesday finally came. I had to speak in front of the group before they came into my room. I talked way too fast… but I just couldn’t stop. I bet they thought I was a young, stupid teacher. However, the observation went extremely well. I had a lot of positive feedback. My kids were amazed that 16 more adults could fit it our little classroom. They did so well. I was a very proud teacher, and a very relieved teacher after they left.
That night I had to go to the school board meeting. One of my kiddos was chosen as our Student of the Month. Needless to say, I took a double dosage of Nyquil that night and slept very well.
Wednesday night I stayed up to grade essays and to fill out my progress reports. My observer from the local university came today. She graded my Math papers for me. I was so incredibly thankful. I need an assistant. I would make an excellent assistant for other teachers.
Tomorrow I am having lunch with a group of teachers and our superintendent. It’s also Hog Wild About Books day at our school. We are supposed to wear a Razorback shirt. So I will be having lunch with the big guy in a Razorback shirt and jeans.
I have drank two bottles of Simply Orange juice. That is the best orange juice ever made. I accredit getting over this cold to that juice. It’s amazing.
Bran is taking me out of town to eat tomorrow night. We are going to eat at Chilis! I’m so excited. We haven’t made a trip to Chilis in a long time because it wasn’t in the budget. Since our truck is paid off now, we have a ton of extra money left in our budget. So we are going to have a date. Yea!

Our Nightly Entertainment

Our entertainment envelope is almost empty for this month, so instead of going to the movies, or bowling, or eating out, or any other fun thing, we bought a $4 pair of antlers. Introducing… Reindeer Mason!

Reindeer Mason

haha! I should’ve recorded the very first time we put the antlers on him. It was a million times funnier than this video.

Dear Mrs. Motley

I hear some of the sweetest, strangest, yet endearing words from my students. The following is a hysterical letter from a sweet and spicy girl in my room. I will call her T and will copy it word for word.
Dear Mrs. Motley,
I hope you know that when your coffen is burried in the ground and your bone dust is burried inside your coffen I will always be thinking about you. You are very sweet, Beautiful, skinny, and loving. You have improved my math, spelling, and writing by your teaching. Although we have had our downwords and upwords you are a wonderful teacher.
Yours to love and to hold,
T
P.S. Love the hair due!
Happy Early Christmas
Bahahahahaha! I am a little worried about me being dead in a coffin, but nonetheless, what a sweet note.

One Step Closer to Dreams Becoming a Reality!

My husband and I have talked until we are blue in the face about taking a huge vacation before having children. We have picked out several places we would love to see. We started with the most affordable…. a cruise. I’m sure cruises are fun. I would like to go on one eventually. However, I have seen so many pictures of over-crowded cruise ships that it was beginning to look very unappealing.
Which leads us to our second vacation idea. We thought about going to a beach somewhere in the States…. you know… Florida, Gulf Shores, the usual. I have been to both of those places, and they are so very pretty. We were, again, worried about the money.
The third spot we talked about was outside of the US… Cancun! I was all about some Mexico! I have been there as well and it was an amazing vacation with my family. My poor hubby has yet to see a beach, so I knew this would make a great trip.
Well then, we started thinking bigger… And started to forget about the money. ha! We wanted an experience that doesn’t come along very often. I have now been talking to a travel agent and tomorrow it will be set. Our vacation to…..

HAWAII!! Woohoo! So excited!

Pumpkin Carving Contest 2010

Last night, our town observed Halloween. All the little kiddos in their adorable costumes were ringing doorbells hoping for the name-brand candy to fall in their bags all over town. I love the silly Halloween. However, I have never gotten into the gross, nasty, scary side of Halloween. Last night, instead of handing out candy, we went to our friend’s house. Meg cooked an awesome dinner, and we carved jack-o-lanterns. It was so much fun. I had a great time visiting with everyone.

Megan and Daniel

Cathryn

Yes, we cheated and used a stencil.

Well, three groups used stencils…. Can you see which one was freehanded?? haha!

 

The Davis’ Pumpkin                   DT and Chris’ Pumpkin

 

The Motley’s Pumpkin            The Shelton’s Pumpkin

We had a blast hanging out with everyone. And there was a three-way tie for first place. ha!

97%

is what I made in my first graduate course. Woohoo! I was proud of myself. 
Today was fifties day at school. We have had crazy hair day, camo day, and red day as well for Red Ribbon week. I LOVE dressing up! The kids feel more comfortable with looking silly if their teacher is right there with them. I wish I could post some pictures of my kiddos. They were adorable. You can find some on my classroom website though.

This was after an extremely long day. And week. I am so thankful for the three-day weekend!

I am also thankful for my hubby. We took a walk together today with Mason. Our dog always gets the most attention when we take him out! It also doesn’t help that most of the students at my school live around us. They always want to come out to say hi and pet Mason. Good thing he is pretty good with kids. Bran said he would take more walks with me. I definitely need the exercise before we go on our vacation in the summer! So excited!

One Class Down….

and nine to go. I finished my first graduate course Friday. It feels good to have one out of the way. I have this week off before my next class starts. It couldn’t have come at a better time! I have been up at school for the past four hours getting my stuff together and organized for parent/teacher conferences and getting my lessons ready. Tomorrow is going to be such a long day!
Bran and I went and looked around at cars yesterday. I found a Chevy Equinox that I really liked. Since our last truck payment hasn’t even cleared the bank yet, we are going to wait a little bit longer before adding a new car payment to the budget.

Bran sent me flowers to school last week. They are so gorgeous!

They were “I’m Sorry” flowers. ha!

And I just realized this yesterday that I never shared my video of my precious nephew eating his first birthday cake. Yesterday one of Bran’s cousin’s baby’s first birthday was yesterday. That was a lot of possessive nouns! It made me think of Drew and his cake. So without further adieu, here is Drew!

Drew!

Why yes… That is all mine!

I just paid our very last truck payment!!! woohoo!!! It feels so nice!
I’m not sure what are next steps will be with our debt and Dave Ramsey. We for sure want to stay on the debt repayment path, but we need to start saving money as well. I will be needing a new car eventually (boo on the car payment!). Bran and I would also like to start thinking about starting a family. So…. I’m not sure where we are going. We are not going to spend $1,000 on our debt this month and next month since Christmas is coming up. Usually I get a Christmas bonus, but I don’t know if we will get that this year. It certainly is nice!  I guess I am off to crunch some numbers and make a plan!

Lovely

Today was lovely. Bran had a ju-jitsu seminar today, so he left at 11:00 this morning. I had the whole day to myself. I picked up the house, did my laundry, caught up on my homework, and made a pumpkin pie. It’s nice to have a day just to chill. School has been so crazy busy. Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up, so I’m trying to get report cards ready. I am not looking forward to conferences… I love meeting the parents of my students and talking with them, but I dread the 14 hour day. It makes the next day so hard to get up and get to work on time. The sad thing though is that I won’t even get all of my conferences in on the day we are supposed to. I meet with parents 3pm – 9pm, 15 minutes per conference, with only a 30 minute dinner. That’s only 22 spots and I have 24 kids. *sigh* That means I will be meeting on other days as well. However, I am going to stop whining because I am blessed to have a job I love! So there.

I found a pair of boots I want.

I asked my sweet husband for them. He said that they’re not in the budget. Bummer. Maybe that pumpkin pie I made tonight will soften him up.