Labor Day Weekend

Well obviously I have been a slacker the last couple of weeks. Work has been pretty crazy and it's taking us a while to get back into the groove of things. We aren't there yet but it's getting better! I have wanted to post all week but our internet has not been working very well. This past weekend was also a little crazy. In the beginning Jarod, Allie and I were going to spend time with my mom and dad and my brothers and their families could not. Then on Friday my mom said that Scott and his family would be with us and so would Chad and Jami. I was very excited b/c it had been a few months since we had all been together. I was really looking forward to spending a day with everyone.
Unfortunately plans changed on Sunday morning. The church that my parents and my brother Scott and his family attend had to get everything ready for the victims from the hurricane. Their church had provided shelter during Katrina and were asked to do it again. Since my mom works for the church and my brother is also involved they ended up being at the church all day long. So needless to say plans changed again. While they were working, we hung out at my parent's house and Jarod took the kiddoes swimming. I'm glad that most of us got to spend some time together but we really missed having my mom and Scott there with us.
Jarod, Allie and I spent the night on Sunday and were able to spend a little more time with my parents. My dad was very kind and watched Allie for us so we could escape and go see a movie. It was great to have a mini date!



Karlie, Uncle Chad and Greer.


Annie and Poppy. She has gotten so big and this is the only picture I got of her. She is just the best baby!



Karlie and Allie waiting their turn. If you look close you can see Allie pouting.






This picture is from Allie's first day back at Carmen's. She was so excited that morning. She looks so much like a big girl in this picture.

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho It's Back to Work I Go

I really can't believe that it is time for me to go back to work. Where did the summer go? I've had a blast this summer with Allie. I am so blessed that I got to spend so much time with her. We had a great time going to the water park, swimming with friends, reading, singing, dancing and going to Sam's and Target (she loves going to both places). I feel like there are more things we could have done together, but time ran out. I tried so hard this summer for us to have as much fun as we could. Last summer wasn't great b/c I had hurt both of my knees and wasn't able to do a whole lot, so I tried my hardest to make it up to her this summer. It's weird that I will not be with her all day. I will miss singing with her, reading with her, playing cars and little people, dancing, coloring and playing ring around the rosie with her and her doll. I am so thankful that I am a teacher and I am able to have the summer and holidays to spend with Allie. Allie is excited about going to Miss Carmen's tomorrow and seeing all of her friends. She LOVES being there and I know she will do just fine going back. It makes it easier that she loves Carmen and that Carmen loves Allie. I'm not sure what I would do without her. She has been such a blessing to our lives.

I'm hoping this school year will be better than last year and I hope my attitude will be too! There was a lot of junk thrown at us last year and most of us didn't cope well and grumbled a lot. At the end of the year I realized how miserable I was and that's not how it should be. I love teaching and I need to focus on that. My goal this year is to take everything in stride and to be as positive as I can. I know there will be days when I am frustrated and mad, but I hope I can remember to be positive! Lately Allie has been a gentle reminder to me about praying during the day. At random times during the day she will say, "Mommy, let's pray." It's amazing to me that my sweet little two year old is reminding me to stop and pray throughout the day. When everything gets crazy at school (or in life) I just need to remember my sweet little girls words and stop and pray.

I decided to include a sweet video of Allie singing. She used the spatula has her microphone. I apologize now for my singing. I tried so hard not to sing, but she will only sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame if I sing with her. I was trying hard to sing as quietly as I could and I think it makes me sound funny! Oh well, most people do not like hearing themselves on video and I am one of them. Enjoy!

J. Crew . . . Who Knew?

I just thought I would share some information that I learned last weekend. Jarod, Allie and I were shopping at Grapevine Mills the other night after dinner and we went to J. Crew. I found a great deal on a skirt. It was already marked down, plus I got an additional 40% off. As I'm checking out the girl asked me if I was a teacher. I told her yes and then she didn't say anything. Finally I asked her if that mattered and she told me that I got an additional 15% off. I was so excited! Her manager had to come over and help her with the discount and I asked the manager if it was a back to school special. She said no, they always give teacher's 15% off but you need to have some sort of identification. I was very excited since both Jarod and I like to shop there.
Happy Shopping!

Leadership APTA Program

Jarod got some great news last Friday. He has been selected to participate in the Leadership APTA Program. APTA is the American Public Transportation Association - the primary training and advocacy group for public transportation. This is a great honor for Jarod and a huge stepping stone for his career. He applied last year and did not get in. He didn't think he would ever get in because usually guys his age don't. His boss came to him again this summer and asked for him to reapply. Once again he doubted that he would get in. Only 25 people across the U.S. are chosen. After he applied, God seemed to be opening another door for him in a different career. But we believe that God closed that door and opened a new door for us to follow. I am so excited for him and I know he will learn so much from his year in this program.
I'm so proud of you Jarod!

My Little Bookworm

Allie really enjoys reading books and having us read books to her. I enrolled her in a book club at our public library this summer. I love our library in Lewisville. The entire library was remodeled and the children's area is huge. They have a wonderful window seat with lots of over stuffed pillows, so we can sit and read comfortably. After Allie read 20 books she got a certificate, prizes, and a ticket to the circus. It didn't take us long to read the books but it took me a while to turn in her paper. I'm so glad that Allie loves to read and I hope her love for reading continues as she gets older.

Dinner Entertainment

Dinner tonight with Allie was pretty entertaining. I'm amazed that I got it on video. She is always singing and acting silly but by the time I get the camera she stops. Tonight the camera was already in the kitchen so I quickly grabbed it and started recording. In the video she chooses to sing Happy Birthday b/c she had just had a cupcake (actually played with it more than ate it). She has started to notice that anytime she sings and puts on a "show" we laugh and think she's funny so she says something about that in the video. Sorry for the last 15sec. of the video. I really thought she may sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame.


I fixed Allie a cupcake after she ate dinner (this happened before she had the grapes and sang). At first she just wanted to eat the frosting, then she decided that it was more fun to paint a picture with the frosting on the paper towel. Thanks again Anna for making cupcakes especially for Allie! You are very sweet.

If you look closely you can see the frosting marks on the paper towel. She was painting "people". The people on her paper towel were me, Jarod, Mimi, Poppy, Gabby, Cade, Karlie, Greer, Baby Annie, Hannah, Hailey and Annah. That is only the handful I can think of. I know there were more.

By the way, she asked for grapes after the cupcake. Only my child would choose fruit over dessert!

Summer Fun

Our small group from church got together for a cookout/pool party on Saturday at Karl and Anna's house. We had lots of great food (Anna hands down makes the best cookies I've ever had) and I think everyone enjoyed our time together. I was only able to get pictures of Cale, Hannah and Allie. Thatcher and Karl Michael (sorry if I spelled his name wrong Anna) joined after I got in the pool.

Hannah loves the water. I wish I would have gotten a picture of her jumping off the diving board! She is such the little daredevil!