Movie Night

For those of you that don't know, I work with the 12-13 year old girls at church.  A couple of the girls have been asking to have a get-to-know you night because we have had several girls join our class lately.  Well, do you know what that means?  I kicked Travis out and hosted a get-to-know you/movie night.  There were 8 girls, another leader and her baby that came to my little apartment.  Travis was worried that we wouldn't have room for all the girls to sit, but you decided.

This was the most eventful night I have had in a while.  We ate pizza, watched Enchanted, played fruit basket turnover, murder in the dark, and of course socialized and laughed!  Oh what it would be like to have as much energy as they did!  There was not a quiet moment all night!  I forgot what it was  like to be a teenager, but they reminded me quickly.  Teenagers love to talk, laugh, squeal, and they never sit still!  I loved every minute of it, but I flopped in to bed as soon as they left because I was so tired.

They have decided that they want to do a get-together every month because they had so much fun.  I vote a bigger house next time!  (or maybe I can convince Travis that we NEED to buy a house now)

Substituting

Substituting is waaaaay different than teaching your own class.  I have really tried to get as much as I can out of this experience.  Some days I love it, but other days I hate it and just want my own class again.  Today was a day that I loved, so I decided that I would make a list of things I love about substituting.

• I get to see a lot of different daily routines.
• I get to see a lot of different management strategies.
• I get to see a lot of different reward systems.
• I get a lot of new ideas on how to teach a specific objective.
• I get a lot of new activity ideas.
• I meet tons of new students.
• I get to meet lots of principals (good for next year)
• I see different strategies for preventing behavior problems.
• I don't have to write lesson plans.
• I don't have to prep everything.
• I don't have to deal with report cards.
• I don't have to deal with parents.
• I don't stay up all night trying to think of ways to challenge the student that is way ahead of the class or ways to help the students that are falling behind.
• I don't have to stay up worrying about how to help a specific student fit in socially.
• If the class is horrible, I only have to deal with them for a day and be done.
• I get to be the "nice" sub
• I actually leave work on time.
• I get lots and lots of hugs
• I get to start every day fresh
• I make my own schedule
• And the number one reason (not really): I have students spreading a rumor that I am a model.  hahaha...Let's just say that it made my day!!

Studying

I should be studying right now.  I purposefully didn't schedule any days to work this week so I could study, but for some reason I can not find the motivation to do it.  I think I have forgotten how to study to be quite honest.  I will study for an hour and start to get distracted.  I don't have the studying stamina that I used to.  Now I have to bribe myself to get it done.  Only one more day of it then I have my test.  Then my life will be mine again!  I have never liked studying, but now it is probably one of the top three things I like to do least.  I can do hard things!

6 Months!

Today marks 6 months that Travis and I have been married!  In some ways it seems so short and other ways it seems like a long time.  This past week, Travis spent any free second studying and then was away in Texas for the weekend taking his final certification exam, so we had no time to celebrate.  This week, I am spending every free second studying and on Saturday I am taking my Ohio teaching certification exam, so we will have no time to celebrate.  Boring huh?  Well, let me assure you that the past 6 months have been anything but boring.  Here are a few things that have happened (in no particular order):

• Obviously, we got married.  :)
• I went on my first cruise
• We went on 1 trip to Oregon (reception)
• We went on 3 trips to Georgia (reception, Thanksgiving, Christmas)
• Travis totaled 2 cars (neither were his fault)
• We bought 1 new car and another one on the way
• We took a trip to Chicago (my first time)
• We visited 3 temples for the first time (Chicago, Columbus, Washington DC)
• I got 2 new jobs
• We have been apart 2 times  (1-I was visiting my grandparents. 2-He was taking his exams)
• Travis finished his residency! YAY!
• We both got new callings-Mission Prep teacher/YW Presidency
• We became the "go to" couple because we don't have kids (I love stealing other peoples' kids so I am ok with it.)
• We play a weekly game of Qwirkle (I always win)
• We have made lots of new friends
• We have learned how to compromise
• I am still learning how to cook
• And we fall in love again every day

I can't wait for another wonderful 6 months!

Insanity

I have decided that I don't really do New Year's Resolutions.  I like the idea of evaluating my life at the beginning of the year and seeing things I can change, but I don't like setting unrealistic expectations.  I try to constantly work on something new.  I feel like it is a never ending process. 

Anyways, now that you know where I stand on that, Travis and I began the Insanity workout program at the beginning of the year.  We both keep saying that we want to work out more consistently and this helps hold us more accountable.  It is not a resolution, so if I miss a day I don't have to feel like a failure. 

It is a 60 day cardio program.  We even took before pictures so that we can compare them at the end.  (I will spare you the pain of seeing them)  I am really excited to see the results.  I just know that for now, I feel like an old woman getting out of bed every morning because I am so sore. 

I will get back to you on March 1st with our results. 

Happy Birthday/New Year

My birthday was good and bad.  Good because Travis treated me like a princess and bad because I had a REALLY bad migraine.  I started off the day by sleeping in and then being treated to one of my favorite breakfasts: crepes.  This was particularly impressive because it was Travis' first time making crepes.  He even had Nutella and strawberries out for me.

Next I got to open my gifts!  He got me some super cute boots and a black sweatshirt/jacket that I have been wanting.  The jacket is really soft and warm.  Sorry there are no pictures.  I wouldn't let him take any because I wasn't feeling great and it was still in the morning.  I said we would get pictures later on and we never did.  :(

The rest of the day was spent hanging out and window shopping.  Then, thanks to wedding gift cards, we got to go out to Longhorn for free.  Unfortunately that is when I got really sick and we ended up leaving early.  I didn't even get my free birthday dessert.  :(  We came home and Travis took good care of me.  I took a late nap and spent the rest of the evening taking it easy.  It is times like those when I realize how much Travis loves me.  He doesn't complain, he just takes care of me.  I am so lucky to have him.  He made it a great birthday for me!

Oh, how could I forget, since I took a long nap, I actually stayed up until midnight to celebrate the New Year.  We watched Dick Clark's New Year's Eve Special.  I watch it every year and for some reason this year was especially emotional for me seeing how old Dick Clark has gotten.  We drank our sparkling cider, went outside to see the fireworks, and went to bed.  I have the coolest birthday ever!  There is always a party for me!