Let it SNOW!

I LOVE snow! It is so pure and beautiful. What fun to watch as close to 5 inches of snow covered the ground in Maumelle! Mike and I spent the snow day playing with Bella in the backyard, and will get the chance to do the same tomorrow. Here are a few pics from Bella's first snow day...

I love that her ears flop like this when she's running around the yard...hahaha!

She loves playing with her frisbee. After about a 5 minute search through the snow, she finally found it and was one happy pup! We also found a toy belonging to her bff, Maizy, from next door.

This is the hop Bella does when she is waiting for Mike to throw the frisbee....very bunny-like!!!

Mike almost done with his snowman...it was hilarious watching him roll the biggest one around the yard. It was so heavy!

The finished product.

Bella notice that we used her frisbee as a hat...

Bella trying to get the snowman's "hat".

What a fun snow day! Now it's time to relax on the couch with a bowl of chili and a fire in the fireplace....ah, how I love winter!

2010 Review

What a year! It doesn't seem like 2010 is almost over. So many things happened this year, and I can't wait to see what Mike and I have in store for 2011. Here are a few highlights from 2010:

To start the year off, we had some major snow! Mike and I enjoyed 3 lazy days off work together at home. I can't wait for more snow!!!

After losing our first dog, Lola, we found Bella. She is a precious border-collie mix with SO much energy. She turned 1 year old on December 20th.

Our fabulous PTA sent all teachers aboard the Arkansas Queen Riverboat as a thank you. What a fun celebration! I love spending time with my co-workers - exhibit A - we did the Thriller dance on the boat :-)

In May, Mike took me to Eureka Springs to celebrate my birthday. It was beautiful and very unique. We were able to visit the historical Crescent Hotel, and stay at our first bed and breakfast.....so fun!

We had originally planned to cruise to Alaska, but because those plans fell through we chose to visit Dallas and San Antonio. We were able to stay with wonderful friends in McKinney and Flower Mound. San Antonio was amazing - the Alamo and Riverwalk were so neat, and I can't wait to go back.

In October, my co-workers and I walked together in Race for the Cure to support one of our own. I also walked to support my mom who is a 5 year survivor!

Finally, I spent a weekend in Branson with some of my favorite co-workers! These girls are so much fun.

I can't wait for 2011 and what's in store over the next 12 months. I know I will become an official aunt (I say official, because I like to think of Elias and Ada as my nephew and niece), and I will hopefully pass National Boards in 2011. Only the One knows what will happen, and His plan is best of all. Let's get this new year started!!!

1st Annual Branson Trip

I must say that I have some of the BEST co-workers ever!!! It is truly a blessing to have found a school where each and every teacher is outstanding! I am so grateful that I have found some amazing friends in my co-workers (and 1 sister of a co-worker). Since I've been dubbed the official "Crestwood Event Planner", I planned for an all girl getaway to Branson at the beginning of December. What a great idea it was! We had so much fun on the very much needed vacation. It was so much fun getting to know these girls even better, and out of the school setting. Here are a few pics from our Girls' Weekend.......enjoy!

After sleeping in and shopping at Tanger, we ate lunch/dinner at Joe's Crab Shack...yum! Crestwood 4th Grade teachers. I absolutely love working with these girls!

4th grade teachers with one of the 3rd grade teachers, Lindsay. Our classrooms are across the hall from each other, so we visit each other frequently throughout the day.

With Lindsay, 3rd grade teacher, and her sister, Natalie. We first met Natalie at Race for the Cure and she immediately fit into our group! She will be joining us on our next Girls' Weekend!!

The Quiet Cottage where we stayed in Hollister. This house was located in a new, nice, and quiet subdivision. We loved it!!! It was nice to be away from the Branson strip and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Sabra and I shared the master bedroom....the king bed had a feather mattress - SO comfortable!

Kitchen - where I made chocolate gravy for everyone...yum!

View from the living room of the upstairs.

Our next Girls' Weekend location - Hot Springs. We plan on enjoying the races and hot spas! We're also talking about going to NYC next Christmas since so many of us have not been.

Save the TaTas

Today I celebrated a wonderful cause...finding a cure for breast cancer. I walked in the 5k with our team from Crestwood - Sisters for Slattery. One of our teachers was diagnosed this summer, so we walked to honor and support her! It's crazy how many people I know that have been diagnosed in the past 5-6 years. It seems like it's becoming more and more common. I walk to honor all the women who have lost their battle with breast cancer, those who have survived (including my mom, granny, & Judy Wingfield), and those who will be diagnosed. The following pictures are from an amazing race with amazing friends:

The "Sisters for Slattery" team! We're ready to go!!!

With Sharon, Grace, and Lindsay before the race...love them!

The crowd headed through the starting line...amazing!!

Little Rock firemen handing out beads

Towards the end of the race, I ran into my family while they were passing out beads...My mom finally wore her survivor shirt! She's a strong survivor...I love you mom!!!

New Purchase

I FINALLY found a mirror to go on my mantle!!! I have been searching for months for the perfect one, and I found it today! I went to Pier 1 after church today with Mike, and I fell in love with the Amber Dazzle mirror. It's now resting sideways on our mantle :-)

Now, I just need to find the perfect entryway table and dining table and I will be set! This is all for now, but I was just so excited that I had to share. I'll put more pics up once I've put some fall decor out!

Weekend Review

Things are CRAZY right now! I feel like I'm finally getting into the groove of school, and yet there are still a TON of things that need to be done. I'm starting to wonder what my year will look like once I start National Board stuff??? I will definitely need a lot of prayers. This past weekend took my mind off of everything that I still need to do at school & all the stresses and "to-do's" to come.

First, on Friday night I got together with several co-workers for a CAbi party. It's like a Premiere Jewelry party, but with clothes!!! My wonderful co-worker, Brandy, hosted one last year and I fell in love with the clothes. Brandy hosted it again this year at her new house...it was beautiful! While the clothes are not the cheapest, I still couldn't resist :-) I bought the "Ballerina Skirt" which is a super soft silver skirt that can also be worn as a dress. I will definitely be wearing it as a dress!!! My second purchase was a pair of amazingly comfortable black pants (the "Cozy Pant"). I can't wait to get them!!! I'm also hopping that the super cute ruffle cardigan I put my name on to get 50% off works out!!!!

My co-workers that went to the CAbi party. The hostess, Brandy, is the one with cereal all over her. This was not at the party...this was taken at our school's Halloween carnival a few years ago. I love my co-workers!

On Saturday, I spent the afternoon with one of my besties, Laura, at War Memorial for the Razorback game! This was the first Hog game that I'd been to since I graduated 3 years ago...so sad! After paying $20 to park right next to University on the golf course, and walking FOREVER in the sweltering heat, Laura and I enjoyed running into old friends & people watching! We sat on the 50 yard line to watch the Hogs defeat ULM!!! We only managed to take one picture, and it was after we had been sweating for a good 5 hours.

I am so excited that I got to spend so much time with Laura because she has to go back to Colorado on Friday :-( Arkansas is ready for you and Phillip to come back!

After such a great weekend, it's been hard to get back into the groove of school. Maybe I'll be there by Friday :-) I hope everyone else had a great weekend, and that this coming weekend will be even better!

just because

I haven't really had much to talk about lately since I've been busy getting my classroom ready for the new school year...which is going fabulously!!! There's really not one thing I can talk about, so here are a few things that I'm looking forward to before the end of the year....

1. Seeing my 3 best friends all together for the 1st time in a year. We haven't all been together since Laura's wedding last August, so I can't wait to hang out with them again!!!!

2. Hog football season!!! I haven't been to a game since I graduated, but I will be going to the first Little Rock game with Laura...so excited!!!

3. Having a great 1st semester at school. So far, things are going smoothly, and I have a great group of kiddos. I just hope it keeps getting better!

4. Starting the National Board process. This is something I've been mulling over for months, and I finally get to start this fall. It's going to be a stressful year, but the payoff in the end will be worth it.

5. Joining a community group through Fellowship. Mike and I have been looking forward to plugging in to the group that the Lord leads us to so we can meet new friends, and grow spiritually. We should be finding out in the next few weeks which one we'll be in!!!

6. COLD WEATHER!!! I HATE hot weather. I'm so looking forward to the fall/winter weather...bring on the snow! I love being able to snuggle under a blanket, next to a fire, drinking hot chocolate...CAN'T WAIT!

7. Thanksgiving...of course! I love Thanksgiving food..everything about it! While I'm counting calories now, you can bet that I won't be on Thanksgiving :-)

8. Last, but not least, Christmas! I love this whole time of year. It's the time we celebrate our Savior's birth...there's just a feeling of happiness in the air that I love.

This list probably doesn't interest many of you, but it's all I've got right now.