Graduation!!!  I'm so happy to have FINALLY finished my degree. Here are some pics from the big day. 

 

Where I've Been for the Past Four Months

So its not just been a little while since I've blogged... its been four months!!!!! So where have I been???Daniel and I keep calling this a "temporary" stage of life, a season of time when you simply hang on tight and enjoy the ride. He's been working sixty hours a week and though I began the semester, relatively free, I was quickly swept away by the last bit of my education degree: student teaching. On top of the previously mentioned activities, Daniel and I are prepping to travel with the ministry team this summer. I'm also still juggling fourteen piano students... busy, busy, busy!!!!

Anyways, in case you don't know, after four or more years of method classes and general education, all education majors must work in a class room with a mentoring teacher. Well, I'm pretty sure that all the formal learning I received being a student in a class room doesn't even compare to the amount of learning that took place during my time as a student teacher. Perhaps some of my "lessons" will make you smile or encourage you to step out there and do something. So allow me to share what I learned with you.

Lesson 1: Be Crazy
I taught English for 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. And you know what I love about those kids--they are just crazy. Teenagers just are who they are, especially 7th graders. They do such random things with out rhyme or reason. Random twitches and funny voices. They haven't mastered the adult art of pretending to be some one else. And I kind of hope they never learn to hide their personalities.

So I was listening to the high-school buzz with personalities on day when I found myself wishing I could be a teenager again so that I could be random and crazy like them. And then I started thinking about it. Now, don't get me wrong, adults need to be grown ups... I'm not suggesting we all go crazy... but really, maybe we all need to loosen up a bit. I just worry to much about what other people will think if I do this or if I suggest that. Those kids inspired me to relax and just be crazy sometimes.

The Very Crazy 7th Grade Class!!!

Proverbs 17:22 Laughter is good like medecine...

Prime Rib, Peppers, and Porch Swings

I was really hoping that title would catch you attention!!! 

These three words come to mind as I remember this Christmas... Prime Rib, Peppers, and Porch Swings. Allow me to elaborate. First, the Prime Rib. Mom ordered 14 lbs of meat from Frys Grocery store for Christmas dinner. On Christmas Eve, she sent my dad to go out and pick it up... cause who wants to go to the grocery store on Christmas Eve (Isn't he wonderful!!!). He really "brought home the bacon!!!" The butchers did not cut the rib to the right portion, so they sent him home with 21lbs of prime rib. Dad didn't know what Mom had ordered, so he just assumed it was the right portion and price ($127... AHHHH!!!!) Mom wasn't happy so she called the grocery store and told them she wasn't going back out to return the meat... demanded a refund in the Dave Ramsey way and what do you know we got 21 lbs of prime rib to enjoy for weeks to come!!!

 Peppers... I am quite proud of my pepper Christmas tree!!! I was happy this lil' idea worked out cause sometimes when I have an idea in my head, I leave out the details... like, "How am I going to attach that to that?" or "What do I do with this left over screw?" But the pepper Christmas tree went off without a hitch.

And lastly... porch swings. Would you believe me if I told you I opened a beautiful 32" brand new TV screen (far better than our hokin' thousand pound TV Daniel found in an apartment) and was disappointed??? A couple of days back, mom asked me if I had any idea what she got Dan and I for Christmas, and I guessed a porch swing. She kept going on and on about how I shouldn't tell Daniel so it would be a surprise for Him and how did I ever guess??? I even swept off my porch and thought to myself how fun it will be when we get to bring it home. Well... I was wrong. It was a TV. And don't get me wrong, I am SOOOOOOOOO happy to have  beautiful brand new TV, but I don't think I will ever try to guess my Christmas present again!!!! 

Here are some other random pictures of our lovely Christmas

Lilly Eating I mean, enjoying the Christmas wrapping paper.

Stocking Stuffers for Daniel!!!

The twins enjoying the boots we gave them. Yay for Uggs!!!

To cool!

The nook... Thank you Dr. Suess!!!

A NEW LAPTOP!!! ONE THAT WORKS!!!

  

Stayin Warm and Stylish :)

Tools for Micheal!!!

A Christmas MESS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

And that's a good thing cause Christmas is in three days. I always get really irritated when people call this  a stressful time of year and rant and rave about the busy holiday season. Yeah, its true, but really it is what you make it. If there is anything I have learned from working a seasonal job, people get so uptight about getting what they want when they want it that the word "Merry" doesn't hardly have a meaning. So I am doing my best to just enjoy this special time of year... so here are some of the my holiday endeavours.

My most fond holiday memories as a child would for sure include decorating the Christmas tree. We decorated last year with dollar store ornaments and it actually turned out really pretty. Well this year, I really wanted to try to do a jewel toned tree. So... we called it a twenty dollar date and bought some half-off ornaments from Hobby Lobby, some tulle, and a few snowflakes from the dollar store... I love how it turned out. So fun!!!

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And here is what I did with the decorations from last years tree. 

I am so happy about my little white elephant gift from our church gift exchange. It is the best gift I've ever gotten from an exchange. A cookie jar!!! How cute... I was so exited. 

I named him Eddy!!! He looks like an Eddy, right???

So leave me a comment and tell me about your fun holiday traditions!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year. Mom had to work... and that was not fun... but, because the queen of the holidays was out, my grandma, sister, and I put the holiday spread together. We had so much fun in the kitchen putting the meal together.
I don't believe in canned food (my exception is soup or veggies... and even then). So, I made fresh yams, potatoes, and cranberry sauce. I tried some carrots too, but that didn't go so well. Heather made the mashed potatoes go from amazing to DIVINE!!!! She is the expert on mashed potatoes.  Mom got home a little early, so she still got to hang out with the family.

On the phone with  out of town family :)

Yummy :)

I was thinking that we never actually talked about what we were thankful for, but... some how nothing needed to be said. It was just one of those days where you didnt have to say thankfulness... it just was!!!

Shabby Apple

http://lifeinthethriftylane.blogspot.com/2011/12/shabby-apple-giveaway.html?showComment=1323968317124#c1422715755508502673

A Picture's Worth Ten Thousand Words...

Yes... I know, I just posted a BUNCH of pictures of me and Daniel, but this shot happened on accident. My family... as in the Braswells... were doing some family pictures for Christmas cards and my Dad took this random picture of Daniel and I while our photographer was getting ready for the next pose. I think its my favorite picture of us together... like my favorite ever!!!!