Our Journey in January

This month we have gone on many new journey's both personally and professionally.

• We were staying with Ray's parents due to our house not selling at a convenient time for us, but God always has a plan. We moved into our own place and as of January 12th every box has been unpacked, pictures have been hung on the walls, and this weekend we hope to finish hanging some curtains : )
• While living in our own place we are getting accustomed to well water... we are using purifiers on the water we drink and have to use a special chemical when washing our whites. So far the adjustment is going well! haha
• The girls started a new day care and are enjoying this new experience. They have made friends, the teachers always have complements for us when we pick them up, and the plus is that Emma is meeting and making friends with the kids she will start kinder with next year. OMG my baby will be 5 and in kinder next year!
• Ray and I have started to make an effort in getting healthier and we are doing really well so far. As we workout here at home the girls get to watch and even participate. We are trying to be a better role model to them and demonstrate the lifestyle we hope they pick up and run with for life : ) One day at a time, One step at a time, we will get healthier and reach our goals.
• We have started the hardcore potty training with Miss Abby Grace. Timer, every 30 minutes, praise, and sing... we still have a ways to go but I hope to have this 100% accomplished by her birthday. 
• We have also started to break Abby Grace of her habit of only drinking milk. She would go an entire day without anything if you did not give her milk. Now we are making progress with water. She does not like juice, but will ask for a drink of my light mocha caramel frappuccino from Starbucks. 
• I started teaching 8th grade U. S. History, I was teaching 7th grade Texas History last semester. There was a need and I was deemed the right fit for the position and I am doing well so far. I hope by May I can say we Rocked the STAAR!
• I am currently looking into an M.B.A. or other degree in Human Resources... with this degree I would be able to stay in education or move outside of education, which would give me more potential in various areas. But nothing has been decided 100% at this time. But I will say that LSU has my interest at this time.
• I am currently trying to heal from a foot injury that has placed me in a medical shoe since December 27th. I may or may not have injured the foot by accidentally kicking a steel door frame at work while impersonating an individual : )
• I experienced my first History Fair ever! Let me tell you it is like running a marathon and my entire body hurts. Running around a large campus, helping out doing different things, the stress of students getting project done on time, etc... At least it went well, it was a new experience, and I know a little bit more of what to expect next time. 

I will say that these last 31 days have been an adventure and in many ways I am so happy that they are memories. There will be posts to come to show images of our own place and our girls. So stay tuned to see and hear about all the things February brings our way.

Abby Update

Abby working on her scooter that Memaw bought her for Christmas.

Abby is our tinker! She loves to fiddle with stuff, take stuff apart and put stuff together. She is growing quickly. Abby is currently in a size 5 and she will turn 3 in 4 months! She is very outgoing and loves to perform for anyone who will give her a couple of minutes. She really enjoys singing and her favorite song right now is Jingle Bells. Abby likes to do "homework" with her sister and we use flash cards with both girls often. Abby is still have difficulty sleeping through the night - she wakes up every two hours (when sick) other nights she wakes up 2 to 3 times. We are still working on potty training and we are making progress. Abby is a big defender of big sister and shows her love constantly. We encourage the sister bond every chance we can.

Emma Update

Emma playing with her toy dog that Cesily and Jason Peeples bought her when she was one.

Emma showing off her necklace that she made at school.

Emma is doing very well and I can't believe that she will be 5 in 6 months! She is growing in leaps and bounds. She has hit a bit of a growth spurt and is in a size 6x - 7 (more 7 really) due to her height. Emma loves to be outside playing, she asks to go to the park all the time. We recently moved and she now has a driveway to ride her bike, scooter, and we have half an acre for her to drive her jeep. So we plan on many days of outside play as soon as the weather warms up a bit. Emma is enjoying her school and even asks to do homework! Love this and hope the trend continues throughout her educational career.

Happy Birthday Brandie

Birthday well wishes left on Brandie's door by her former 7th graders

Flowers delivered from her girls.  I also brought her a special lunch delivery.

After eating the King Ranch Chicken I made her, she got a homemade chocolate cake.

Emma and Abby helped her blow out the candles

Emma was being sweet and offered to help Momma open her gifts

Emma and Abby gave her a robe and slippers, while Nana and Poppa gave her a spa certificate

I got her a Kindle Fire HDX

All in all, I would say she had a happy birthday.  She is a great wife, mother, and daughter and deserves it!

Thanks 2013

As we say goodbye to another year I wanted to reflect on the positives some important moments of our lives. Some are super happy, some were life lessons, while others were bittersweet.

In no particular order...

The sale of our house... this was a life lesson, OMG we never thought it was going to sale, it was also bittersweet due to the fact we brought our babies home to that house when they were born. We will always consider Aggieland the home of our hearts. We will go back one day xoxo

Getting our finances in order... this I believe is a challenge for the vast majority of people in the world. With waiting for the house to sell, renters not treating the house like they should, and all the ups/downs and unexpected issues for the year we were able to get things in order : )

Health is a blessing and we are truly grateful that we are overall healthy and have been blessed with two healthy, active, growing girls.

Spending quality time with the Chesser side of the family for Thanksgiving. We have not seen them for a family gathering of this size since 2003. They have always been very supportive and loving of us and it was a great experience for our girls to get to run around and play with that side of the family.

Getting to be a part of several friends' lives as they became parents for the first time. We are grateful that they thought of us and included us in that special time in their lives.

The freedoms that we have and are able to enjoy by being Americans living in America. We are grateful to all the men and women who sacrifice and serve this country past, present, and future.

Through the power of technology we have been able to follow the lives of some super special people and follow their journey in life. Through the journey of these individuals we were able to become more aware of issues, become more compassionate, and be an advocate by spreading awareness. Some of these super special peoples' stories ended bittersweet but will always have touched our lives and hearts.

We are of course always thankful for our families' love and support of us through our own journey in this crazy world we strive to make an impact in.

Bring on 8th Grade

With the start of 2014 I will have said goodbye to 7th grade Texas History and start teaching 8th grade U. S. History. I am a bit nervous about this change due to the fact that I have not taught 8th grade since 2005. This will be an adjustment for the 7th grade students I leave behind and the 8th grade students I will greet on January 7th, not to mention for myself and the teacher who will be moving into my spot in 7th grade.

Things happen for a reason, I was asked to do this for several solid reasons, and as an educator I will always step up to the plate and do what is in the best interest of the students I serve. So with the new year I look forward to the experience of once again teaching 8th grade and all that will bring my way. I am praying for a successful experience as I try to challenge and enhance the educational experience of the students I will encounter over the next five months. I hope that through hard work, dedication, and effort on their part and my own that we will ROCK the STAAR and their scores will reflect all the blood, sweat, and tears that will go into preparing them for what is to come.

Wish me luck in this new chapter in my teaching career.

Decorating Christmas Cookies

Poppa Update

Ray's dad has been having trouble with his kidney, and it has resulted in him having to start dialysis.  As a result, he was in the hospital in downtown Houston for a few days.  We took this picture at the huge Christmas tree at Memorial Hermann. Big Ray is doing great now and happily was released to go home on Christmas Eve.  We all appreciate the prayers on his behalf and are happy that he was able to come home and celebrate Christmas with his family.

Aggie Mens Basketball

We took the girls to their first Aggie basketball game together. Emma went when she was an infant with us while living in Aggieland. They had a lot of fun and even got into the spirit of cheering on their Aggies. We also visited some favorite food spots, did some shopping, and went to Santa's Wonderland. We had a great time as a family and will take several more trips soon.

Emma and Abby Thanksgiving at School

Ray and I with the help of Uncle Eric made homemade mac n cheese, dressing, and sweet potato desert for their feast at school. I was able to attend this year! Everyone enjoyed the tasty food and the girls loved having us with them.