Visiting Eeooch!!!

I got a visit from Gloria and Elayna on Thursday night!!! It has been so much fun to have them here. They got here in time to go to my basketball games on Thursday night. We lost but Elayna totally didn't notice because apparently she was sitting up at the top of the bleachers signing my name the whole time!!! She was shaking her hands so fast I think it would be comparable to screaming at me...only in sign language :) I wish I could have seen it. I was too busy screaming "block out" and "get low" and "don't foul" and "where's your girl". Anyway, they came to eat lunch at school with me today. Elayna (and Gloria) got to see where Eeooch teaches and meet a lot of my kids and my friends I talk about all the time. Elayna was the focus of lunch with the 7th grade teachers!!! I was proud :) I'm not sure who was more excited, Elayna or my kids. When I got home today, Gloria had cleaned my house and started dinner! I decided I need to get a "stay at home" husband. It's so nice to come home to someone here and the house busy! Here are some pictures of our visit :)

First of Many....

This morning (day 1 of Thanksgiving break) Diane brought Aaron over so I could keep him and Elijah while she and Lori went and got their hair cut. Matt was holding Eli while he was working so I got a cute daddy/son picture :) Before Lori and Diane left, Aaron and Elayna decided to have a "cousin moment". Eli was having some sleeping time. We'll definitely have some "all in" cousin time very soon! Enjoy the cute pictures cute babies!

T

College Night

Since living here in Gallatin, God continues to bring people in my life that show me HIM! Teaching at Shafer has been such a blessing in countless ways, but one of those blessings that stands out to me is one of my co-workers that has become a great friend. She and I are "about" the same age and absolutely have the same philosophy of what seems to be everything. From teaching to religion, we always find ourselves being "on the same page". The cool thing is that I teach and Reading and she teaches English. We have almost all the same kids, so it has given us a great opportunity to work together in so many ways. Honestly, she reminds me of Diane in so many ways it's like having my sister right down the hall from me. Anyway, we started hanging out every Wednesday night. Sometimes just for fun and sometimes to do work. Although, many times we mix work with fun :) This past Wednesday we decided to take it back "old school" and have a "college day" so that we could get some paperwork finished for school. I wanted to take more pictures of us with our laptops, sitting on the couch, listening to music, and hard at work. BUT, since we were working so hard, we forgot to take any pictures of us and I only got pictures at the beginning of the night.....and it's only the snacks. Because, you HAVE to have snacks for your college night! Right? Natalie has been such a breathe of fresh air for me and a great friend! Enjoy the pictures :)

Log Cabin

I thought I would put some pictures of my parents log cabin. I have gone home that past few weekends to help them work on the house and it seems like it changes so much every day now. Last weekend mom and I got a TON of the painting done. We just have the bathrooms and one of the bedrooms upstairs and it's finished. This past weekend I went back home and we planted all the "shrubbery" that she had gotten. We planted for 12 hours on Saturday, and then I grouted some of the tile in the kitchen all afternoon today (Sunday). I just did the places where the cabinets will go because he is coming on Tuesday. Needless to say, my hands have a few blisters and my body feels like I've been bent in funny positions....but it has totally been worth it! Mom and dad are so proud of the work we have gotten done :) Here are a few pictures of the house so far.

Best Picture

Last week, Diane and Aaron stopped by for a visit on their way to pick Mark up at the airport. We went to eat at a wings place and then stopped by Starbucks! While Diane was getting our coffee, I showed Aaron around so he could appreciate the finer things in life - COFFEE!!!! Here's a picture that we took together!

Weekend with the Boys

I went to Matt and Lori's for the Halloween weekend. Mark and Diane came too so I get a weekend with my two boys! Of course, as soon as I got here the pictures started so I figured I should probably start putting up pictures now before my camera gets full! :) We have already had a great time all together (except for Gloria and Elayna) and there is much more to come (Halloween costumes). Aaron also tried rice cereal for the second time only it was totally successful this time. It was so much fun to be there and get to help Diane with it. He also started experimenting with a sippy cup, which was also a very positive experience. Enjoy some GREAT pictures of Eli and Aaron!!!

Aaron trying Rice Cereal

Uncle Matt, Diane, and Aaron

Aunt Rachel and Eli

The Boys

Here kitty kitty kitty....

What if you had to limit your cat's TV intake? Seriously, everytime I turn on the TV my cat runs at lighting speed to watch the little people dance around on the screen. Naturally, being the good mother that I am, I got it on camera.