Happy Birthday, J!

Today is J's 29th birthday! We are kind of laying low this year since next year he will be the big 3-0. However, we will be enjoying a nice dinner at Bravo tonight to ring in his last year in his 20s.

For his birthday, I thought it would be nice to list 29 reasons why I love him. I'm sure I could think of plenty more, but since he's 29, I'll stick to that number. It's no 29 dollars, but I think it means a little more.


Enjoy!

In no particular order... (just what came to my mind)

I love...

1. his kindness

2. his love of animals

3. his love of family

4. that he is such a hard worker and has been working so diligently in grad school

5. his soft heart...even though he acts tough sometimes

6. how much he cares for me, Oliver, and Wembley

7. when he wakes up from is sleep really fast then asks me questions that are regarding to work, video games, or space

8. he is so good with little kids

9. his support for me in school and work

10. how much he he loves his new car! haha

11. his good cooking

12. that he will watch How I Met Your Mother and Bethanny Ever After with me and loves both!

13. that he never asks how much I spent or makes me feel bad for buying something nice for our house, me, or him :)

14. that he randomly brings me home flowers

15. that he is learning to be a better husband as I'm learning to be a better wife

16. that he pushes me to do things outside my comfort zone...even when I freak out!

17. when he talks about playing baseball or tea party with our future children

18. that he helps me around the house and takes out the trash

19. that he still plays with legos

20. that he helps me with things at school

21. that he will listen to me cry and vent

22. that he tries to fix situations when I'm upset even when they don't involve him and I sometimes panic he's going to call the people involved

23. his sense of humor

24. his eyes

25. that he drives everywhere we go...I hate driving

26. that he wants to help kids with special needs

27. when he holds my hand

28. when he sings Your Man by Josh Turner (a rare occasion)

29. that he married me!

Happy 29th Birthday, J! Love you lots!!

Graduation Party

My sister's high school graduation party is next weekend. My mom went crazy with my party (we even had monogrammed toilet paper--I sh*t you not) and planned to do the same with hers. However, my mom recently took a new job at the hospital where she works and now has a lot of things on her plate. She will be out of town the Friday before the party (on Saturday) and has given a lot of party to me. So thank you to Pinterest I've put together some ideas!!

There will be a dessert table!

She is playing tennis for the college she is going to so we are going to have a lot of tennis decorations! I was inspired by this center piece!

I also hope to have some of these graduation subway art prints around

There is so much work to do before Friday including baking six dozen cupcakes! I really wanted to take off Friday as a personal day, but it is our class party, so that will not be happening. Let's just say it's going to be a LONG week between moving classrooms, baking, and making more centerpieces!

I can't wait to post pictures when (if) it call comes together!

You can find all of these ideas on my Pinterest page here

Full of exciting updates!

So much has been going on this month. I posted almost two weeks ago and feel like it was yesterday. So much has gone on in those two weeks, it's crazy!

First off, about three weeks ago I found out there was a 5th grade opening at my school. I was really back and forth about it. I love my 4th grade team. We work so well together and have become such a family. I also didn't want to ask for too much. I'm incredibly thankful I have a job. So I prayed about it...a lot. I woke up on a Tuesday morning telling myself that if I'm not going to worry about it or think about it and if I'm supposed to apply then I will know. That morning we had an early meeting and I really concentrated on my team and how we will be working together the next year. After the meeting was over I went back to my classroom to prepare for the day. One of the 5th grade teachers came in my room soon later and told me not to give up and that he and the team wanted me to apply. Hello! Here's your sign! So I applied that day.

I went in for the interview and was a nervous wreck. It's so hard to interview with a team of teachers you know and love. I'm sure I talked a mile a minute and I know I showed my nerdy history side, but I gave it my all and showed them my love for the kids and for teaching. About a week later (this past Wednesday) I found out that I got the position. I had another early meeting and my principal told me right after. I was in complete shock! I had basically told myself the day before I didn't get it; I might have even shed a tear or two. I feel so incredibly blessed and while I'm nervous and very overwhelmed, I feel like this is exactly where I should be.

With my new position comes a new classroom, new curriculum, and a new team. I've never moved out of a classroom before. The room I'm in now was my first room and I've made myself quite at home. I started packing on Friday and boy do I have a TON of stuff. It's definitely been nice to throw away a lot of keepsakes  junk and just clean out! I'm pumped to move into a room that has nothing in it so I can make it my own again. Even though change makes me nervous, I secretly love it! I have all summer to work on creating new and exciting lessons for reading, writing, and social studies. My new team is incredible and I'm excited to work with all three of them!

On Wednesday, May 23, my sister graduated from high school. I really can't believe she's old enough to go to college. We are 10 years apart and I feel like she is still a little girl. She's obviously not and I'm so proud of her! Friday was her 18th birthday and next weekend is her graduation party. She will be going to a college about two and a half hours away, playing tennis and majoring in speech and audiology. She wants to be a speech pathologist. I'm so excited for her to start this new chapter in her life. We will all miss her and it's going to be weird that my parents will have an empty house, but I'm sure the four years will fly by and she will be back for grad school. 

I know I've said this a million times, but I really can't believe May is almost over. We have FIVE more days of school left and I feel like I already have so much to do! I should be counting down for vacation (about 4 weeks away), but I have so much to do here that I just can't even think about it yet!

I have a post ready to go showing all my graduation party ideas! I've been working on her party a lot lately and this week is going to be jam packed with preparations!!

Steals my heart!

I saw this video on FB and had to share it. How adorable is this couple and their friends! Something they will all never forget.

Enjoy!!



ps. J-You're welcome to do something like this for me anytime ;o)

I blinked...

and May was half way gone!

Seriously? Where is it going?? I've been so excited for this month and it's halfway over!!

While not a lot has been going on with us, we some how have managed to stay super busy. I've been planning my sister's graduation party (more on that tomorrow) and trying to get through the end of the school year. I love the excitement at the end of the year but I could live without the kids thinking that everyday is the last day. The last I checked we still have 11 more learning days left. And yes, I'm one of those teachers that will be using  every day I can get to finish our famous Ohioan project, create a government song, and share poetry books!

Because this blog is to document our lives, there are a few things I wanted to share that are just random...

I finally got my diploma in the mail! I was pretty excited! It definitely seems real now and I can finally read whatever I want. Wahoo!!

The kids at school are always in a "war" as to who has the best teacher. I thought this note from one of my kiddos was too cute! Can you tell we talk a lot about fairness?!

My baby sister went to her senior prom! I can't believe it!

Even though we disagreed on her choice of dress (what's new), she still looked smashing!

Such the model

She actually let me do her hair!

She wanted it curly and messy. I don't think it turned out too bad and she told me she had a lot of complements!

Next up?

Sister graduation

Sister 18th birthday

J's 29th birthday

Melanoma May

It seems as though everywhere you look and everything you read mentions the word cancer. It's a word you can't hide from. I wouldn't doubt that every person on this planet knows someone with or who has had cancer. It's a terrible thing and what makes it worse is that there is no cure. Not for any cancer.

I receive several phone calls and emails a year asking me for my donation to many different cancer foundations. It's hard to give to them all and it's hard to say no. For my family, we have decided to give our donations to research for melanoma.

Melanoma is no joke. Melanoma is skin cancer.

Like many people, I once thought that skin cancer is for those who are always in the sun and never wear sunscreen. Melanoma is only something you get when you're older and you've been tanning your whole life. Melanoma is not a big deal.

Boy, was I wrong.

On December 26, 2010 my Aunt Aleisha passed away of melanoma. Aleisha was a 42-year-old mother of two boys Zack (now age 3) and Will (now age 5). Aleisha had very fair skin but had never once been in a tanning bed. She always wore heavy sunblock, a hat, and covered up very well when she was outside. Nothing could have stopped her skin cancer.

I feel extremely thankful to have a blog where I can educate others about the risks of melanoma. It's a very scary thing and nothing to play around with. However, not all stories end badly like my aunts. You choose your destiny.

It's so important to see your dermatologist yearly. That is the best way to catch moles that may look different and could be cancerous. It's also important to do self checks. Just like breast exams, you want to examine your own body. Watch your moles. Take note if they change in size, color, or shape. If you see anything that looks different, call your dermatologist right away. Better to be safe than sorry! Be sure to always wear sunscreen!! While that can't prevent melanoma it definitely can help. Finally, pale is the new tan. Our society is too hung up on having that dark, tan, sun-kissed look. If you spray tan, then that is great, but stay away from the tanning beds!!

There are so many wonderful people out there who have shared their journey with the world. Here are a list of great melanoma blogs that I follow and that you should too!

Adventures of Melanoma

Chelsea is a 25-year-old who was diagnosed with melanoma a few years ago.

Hotel Melanoma

Rich was diagnosed with stage III melanoma in 2003.

Follow his journey!

Black is the new pink

Support skin cancer and melanoma awareness

Melanoma Awareness

All things melanoma

My Journey with Melanoma

Nick, a twenty-eight year old, fighting stage IV melanoma

Jillian's Journey

I just started reading this blog but it's amazing.

Jillian is a young mom diagnosed in 2010. This blog is written by her mother.

These are only a few amazing blogs. I will be sharing more throughout the month of May.

Remember...

PROTECT YOURSELF

Menu Monday

Better late than never!

My meals

Cheese Tortellini 

I swear I took a picture of this meal, but I can't find it.

The version I made was cheese tortellini, spinach, mushroom, and pesto.

{here is the recipe for this picture}

We actually had this meal for two nights because it made SO much!

Turkey Brat

These were delicious turkey brats. They taste better than regular brats in my opinion.

We also had broccoli cheddar rice and a spinach salad.

Delish!

J's Meals

Pancakes

J made some delicious pancakes and bacon of course!

My favorite syrup is sugar free. I refuse to have regular syrup. I just can't handle it.

Not only is it WAY less calories, it's delicious.

Try it!

Friday J and I went out to dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise...yum!

Then Saturday we went to Bravo for my graduation dinner.

That was the most we had gone out in a long time!

Don't forget to share your Menu Monday over at In No Simple Language

Dear May,

I've been waiting for you for quite some time now. I feel like you just creep along and take your grand ol' time, but once you finally get here it's an explosion of happiness. I may even do a happy dance! There are also so many great things we have to experience this month and I have been anxiously waiting your arrival. So what is this month going to be all about? Parties!!

Our last day of state testing is Monday, May 1st (today). Great way to start the month! May 5th is Cinco de Mayo but in this family it's known as my special day! I decided not to attend graduation (for several reasons) which I'm okay with. But since it's my spec ail day it means I get to choose a movie we go see and where we go to eat. I'm hoping to get a cup of coffee (*hint* Starbucks*hint) out of it too. Hey, gotta milk it when I can, right?! haha

May also will include my sister's senior prom, graduation, and 18th birthday. Basically the last two weeks are hers. I can't believe she's graduating from high school. I swears she's still in elementary school!

Besides my sisters birthday, my amazing husband is turning 29 and we will also be celebrating my grandma and aunt's birthday. I've promised my mom I would never have a child with a May birthday because we have so many! I'm sure with saying that, all of our future children will be born in May. I also can't forget about Mother's Day!

In school May is our last full month. Hallelujah! It will be filled with learning (of course), a few extra recesses here and there, end of the year parties, field day, movie day, and lots of planning for next year! I love planning for the beginning of the school year, it's just getting to the end that's the hard part.

So many wonderful things to look forward to this month. I'm so thankful you're finally here.

Love,
B

ps. What are you looking forward to this May?