Snowmageddon

I KNEW what to expect. I KNEW that with it being in the 70's yesterday even if it was COLD and SNOWY it wouldn't stick. HOWEVER, the last time a snow was casually mentioned and laughed off we missed a week of school. So I irrationally help out hope. I went to sleep after 2 episodes of Homeland and the tweets of snow falling in panhandle...

I woke up to the news and "we will keep you up to date with school closures and delays" and I thought YES!!!

As I tuned in further I heard "At this time there are NO schools that have delayed or snowed" and I thought oh well...

I saw in the last moments pre-dawn a white yard and was so happy. I told Hadley that we could play in the snow before school. They ate and dressed most pleasantly and we went out side in the 28 degree wind and saw the "white" in the yard was pretty much the dead grass... Had was determined to make snow angles anyway until she realized how cold it actually was...

I think our house was down wind becuase we had MUCH less than the neighbors but still.... If it were December 25th I'd TOTALLY count it as a white Christmas!

CHEESE!!!

Got school pics back today. Here is a collage of all the different pictures. Poor Harper is unamused making the same duh face in every picture. The September pictures were worse. This round at least Hadley smiled!

Suzanne's Birthday

Today is my Best Friend's Birthday! We don't see each other too often but we text almost daily.  We've come a long way dahling!

Suz and I met in the hallway of the dorm our sophomore year while waiting on bid night.  We were so nervous and shocked we lived down the hall and were both going to be siggies but hadn't met. It was an instant bond and she was my support when I was always in trouble during pledge stuff, ironing my awful yellow skirt for me and helping me remember all the crap they make you memorize.  I had the worst haircut of my life that semester too and she supported me from the hall as I locked myself in my room crying.  We'd take the danger ranger everywhere because she didn't drive and when my little miss Daisey did drive, things didn't end well (Texaco carwash...)

There were many life events that warrant their own posts but are not entirely all "public record".

To give a brief timeline Suz moved to south Texas and I to Dallas. We went through the "dark ages" and didn't talk for a year or so. Nothing happened, we just got busy living our lives.  We reconnected miraculously on St Patty's day on Greenville Ave and picked up right where we left off.  The year that followed was tough and trying but thanks to a couple road trips we both made it through. Now we have children and are married pretending we are actually adults.  I would have never guess our lives could turn out this good and I'm so glad your my friend.

It's been a WILD ride and I truly believe we were wrong when we thought we'd hit "our prime" in that old house on EN 12th.  You are more fabulous now than you have ever been and I love you more than my luggage!

Happy 25th Birthday Suzie!!! (yes 25, neither of us majored in math so there)

shout out to the truffle shuffle...

Readers are Leaders

It was recently said to me- that since I'm a librarian I'm the "Queen of all nerds". I'm pretty sure it was not intended as a complement, but I choose to take it as one.  After all, doesn't everyone want to be a Queen?

I absolutely, undoubtedly love my job.

I was so unsure and hesitant to make the switch from classroom teacher to librarian for many reasons. One being I loved my students and the relationship I got to have with them.  Teachers get to know students very well and they come by day after day, year after year just to check in and tell you about their lives.  Secondly my content was familiar, and fun! I taught geography for 9 years and I knew it like the back of my hand. There is a comfort and security in "knowing" what you are doing even if the other attributes (kids, problems, IEP's, activities) change year to year. It didn't help that I taught with my really REALLY good friends.  It doesn't feel like work when you see your friends every 90 minutes and get to eat with them everyday.

But change is inevitable. 

My job is about 5 miles from the new house and the girls new school is literally next door to my school. My principal is fabulous and so far people seem to like me.  The constant feeling of "what have I done now" is totally gone!

When I think about the changes the last 6 months there is no doubt in my mind that God has been at work here.  I was sad to leave my students, teacher friends and my subject but the library is truly where I'm meant to be.  I get lonely sometimes because I am not "friendly" with any teachers yet and I know know many students. But I am learning their names and from repeated interactions forming a different bond. 

The best part of my job is the books.  My new friends are in print. It's silly but true. I've been a reader for a long time but now its a new level, much to Jared's chagrin. 

(As a non reader he thinks paying for books is silly)

My Pap always said "it doesn't matter what happens with your school work, as long as you read- you will be fine." I remember him talking about when he went to college and could read in the dorm as long as he wanted.  He would see the sun start to come up and think oh man, i did it again.  Much different than many of my nights that ended at dawn....

On some slow weeks I read about 5 books from the library, and I'm still WAY behind on my YA-Lit (young adult literature).  I've thrown in some regular adult books lately and my favorite is Gabriel's Inferno. It's a love story written by a man, and no Fabio is not topless on a horse on the cover with his flowing blond hair.  I expected it to be 50 Shades-esque but was pleasantly surprised.  I loved 50 shades, but this was a love story minus the dirty.  There was maybe 2% of the entire book that made me blush and no kinky weirdness.  The writing was much better too! It quoted a lot of literature (Both characters are Dante specialist) and was very intelligent.  Julia in the book is the Beatrice/light and Gabriel is Dante/dark.  Their "forbidden love (que Fabio)" is the storyline of the first two books and it draws you in to why Julia is "broken and sad" and how Gabriel the "fallen, dark angel" wants to save her.  This is my favorite line from the book:

"Why not think that sometimes-just sometimes- you can overcome evil with silence? And let people hear their hatefulness in their own ears, without distracting. Maybe goodness is enough to expose evil for what it really is, sometimes. Rather than trying to stop evil with more evil. "



If you need me I'll be hiding behind my nook :)

Here is the book trailer from youtube

Attempted Pictures

Thought the tree would be a cool back ground. Neither H or H were impressed...

My sweet Hoppsy

I guarantee she did something and was saying "Ha!HA! Mommy! That's (chuckle chuckle) so funny" The kid thinks I'm a comedian. Rightfully so.

Had comforting Harps "Its ok, sister- Mommy will loose interest soon. Its called ADD"

I forgot shoes for Harps and she DID NOT like her new boots.

"What's so funny Hopper!"

""Let me tell you something little sister, while you kick back and relax..."

This picture of Hadley looks like me when I was little and this is Harps new thing to laugh and shrug her shoulders. its the cutest thing ever!

I'm sure they were singing.

Had's "she-ra" gold sequined boots reflecting on Harps face

Pretty girl

Gobble Gobble

We had a FAN-TAB-U-LOUS Thanksgiving!

I had all week off so the girls went to school Monday and Tuesday so I could play, nap and shop do laundry and clean the house.

We left early EARLY Wednesday morning and the girls were napless troopers until the last hour.  Then it was a free for all and I was singing and dancing to entertain them all while Jared drove with his earphones in (ahem) at. the. speed. limit.  Not a flash over.  We did see one car that got pulled over twice and I was silently glad that I was not driving but in charge of child care. 

As soon as we got there Hadley found a bat and softball and became "the coach" and gave everyone very specific instructions on what to do and when do it it. She even allowed herself to bat. Mommy insisted on being the audience...

Early Thursday morning Jared and I ran in the Turkey Trot 5k. Why does that 1st mile seems SOOOO LOOONG. I walked more than I should have but the previous evening choice of hydration was to blame. 41 minutes for 3.1 miles is not great but the EXACT time as the last 5k.

I wanted to take pictures for Christmas cards and it could have gone better.  much better. That will be the next post. After a delicious turkey meal we rested and relaxed.

Tracey and I got up Friday morning and went to CrossFit instead of crazy shopping.  It was probably crazier than walmart at 12:30am. DANG! THAT CRAP IS HARD. I never want to experience a burpee again.  Once I recovered, Hadley wanted to see where the race was and go to a park so we went and fed the ducks.

Which of course ended up being "feed the Hoppa"

I took a risk and went to Old Navy Saturday at 7:30am and had the place to myself! Friday evening Target for diapers was a different story and exhausting for all...

Grandma got a puppy and while I'm still unsure of the name, Hadley was convinced his name was Boomer.  Jared was so proud.

Sadly we left Sunday and didn't prepare Hadley that we did have to go home eventually and she was devastated.  Yet, they both slept off and on and we made it home in time to fry fish with Papa and Grammy.



Aboretum Chihuly