So Thankful

What a joy it was to have a day off. I enjoyed spending the day with my little doodlebug. We played and attempted to take a Christmas card photo. This isn't the chosen one, but I thought it was pretty darn cute! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! We all have SO much to be thankful for!

Pumpkin Fun

Wordless Wednesday

Like Father, Like Daughter

21 Favorite Quotes from Emma

To celebrate Em's 21 month birthday. I thought I would come up with 21 things she loves to say.
1. "I love you, ___________." Fill in the blank with Mommy, Daddy, Granna, Baby,etc.
2. "Bye,Bye. C-ya."
3. "Choc Milk" for chocolate milk
4. "Peas" for please
5. "Mommy peepee in potty. Daddy peepee in potty" Can you tell what we are working on?
6. "Five 'lil unkeys, Sitin on bed. Mommy call doctr, doctr said. No more unkey jumpin on bed." She loves to sing this while jumping on the bed and waving her finger to tell them not to jump on the bed.
7. "Ank, you" for thank you
8. "Crunch Berries"
9. "Sowee" for sorry
10. "Peace out."
11. "ganna" or "nanna"

12. "Mommy shoe, Daddy shoe, Emma shoe" She's really into labeling.
13. "side,side" Code word for Outside
14. "Go Tigers" Yes, we finally got her to say it!
15. "I go church." She says this EVERY time we pass the church. (or any church for that matter)
16. "Goldfi" for goldfish crackers
17. "bees" for any bug. She is deathly afraid. Wonder where she gets that from?
18. "Emma Muuuuuney" in her cute southern drawn-out accent
19. "Pappa, Pappa" She still sounds like a little french girl calling out for my Dad.
20. "Charwee, Charwee" Em's friend, Charlie came to visit this past weekend. Every time he leaves, we hear "Charwee" for days and days.
21. "Night, Night. Sleep tight." This is the last thing she usually says to me before going to bed.

**Random pictures from our trip to a local fair and Em's first Krispy Kreme.**

Wordless Wednesday

All work and no play.

First Day

My mom had surgery Friday and can't keep Emma this week so she can recover. Em left this morning for her first week of preschool. A trial run I guess you could say. It was a last minute decision to even GO to preschool. My mom's doctor had told her she would be up and back to her normal self the day after the surgery, but failed to mention that she couldn't lift anything over 25 pounds. Emma tops the scales at a whopping 26 pounds. We thought about putting her on a "No no-no's (donuts) and No cheese diet", but decided that preschool was a better option.

I spent Friday trying to find a place that would take her for the week and luckily the place I worked at last year decided to take her in. One of my best friends teaches the class and has graciously offered to take Em home with her every day after school.

Emma LOVED her first day of school. She has talked about it ALL night long. Apparently they learned about firetrucks, Elmo, and jumping monkeys. Her teacher said she was very well behaved. I have to admit, I teared-up a little bit watching her get excited about her backpack and lunch box. I know it won't be long until we will be walking her into her kindergarten classroom. Time flies. *Tear*

PS. Sorry for the el-crapo picture. My stinkin' camera decided to stop working correctly today. I think something is wrong with the focus thingy or the lens. It is having trouble focusing and actually TAKING pictures. I tell ya one thing, Canon better fix it.

A new kind of tired

• It's the kind of tired when you don't think you can even stay awake to watch Entertainment Tonight let alone your favorite show, Grey's Anatomy. Why do all the good shows come on SO late?
• It's the kind of tired when you seriously think about all the different fake illnesses you could come down with so that you could crawl back in bed.
• It's the kind of tired that makes you put body wash in your hair instead of shampoo.
• It's the kind of tired when you walk by the sink of dirty dishes and think..."Man, I should really wash those." but then you just lay down on the couch. If you can't see it, it's not there, right?
• It's the kind of tired that allows the laundry to pile up higher than you. (and that's tall, I'm 5'10")
• It's the kind of tired that makes you ponder the idea of joining your kindergarteners for rest time. Do they make adult nap mats?

Well, I finish Research 1 and chapters 1-3 of my Grad school research paper is turned in. Thank the Lord! I start another class next week, but I am hoping it will be a little less stressful. Some days I feel like things around here are falling apart at the seams, but the weekends are for mending. And that is just what I plan to do this weekend. Lots of mending!

First Clemson Game

Emma and her Clemson Dollie enjoying the nice weather and tailgating!
She got scared when the canon went off.

Here come the Tigers!

Crazy hair! It got a little hot during the game. I think Em liked Half-Time with the band better than the game.

3rd Quarter-She is done!

20 Months

Growing up way too fast
Your baby stage did not last

You are 20 months old.

and you have a heart of gold.

My Little Emma Doodle,

I simply cannot believe you are almost two! You are at a fun (and trying) age. You love to dance, be chased, read books, and be outside. You are wearing 18-24 months clothes and you weigh 27 pounds. Your feet are growing like crazy and you are now wearing a 7! You are very girly...you love to shop and have your toes painted. You are fascinated with "pretty" jewlrey. You always notice when Mommy wears something new. You have been in time out a good bit lately for hitting and throwing toys. We are working on listening. You broke the space bar off our computer last week and now it sticks when you type. (Which makes it so easy to type your grad school thesis!) Little Stinker!

I love you so much Doodle. I am so blessed to be your Mommy!

Catch up

Oh, we have so much to catch you up on, but until I finish Educational Research and successfully (hopefully!) finish chapters 1-3 of my thesis...it will have to wait. I promise to catch you up soon to the happenings of our happy household, but until then enjoy the pictures.

I Survived

I made it. I survived my first full week of Kindergarten. Caught a NASTY cold in the process, but I survived! Not to mention.....I LOVE IT!




Emma made it too. I missed her SO much, but I know that she is in good hands. On my first day of school, we came home and painted with watercolors for the first time. She loved it! I think we may have a little Picasso on our hands!

Job= Found

Sorry for the lack of blogging, but as of 5:00 yesterday...I AM A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER!! I was called in for an interview yesterday. The interview was at 4:00. I was hired 15 minutes after my interview and started work today. It's been a whirlwind of a day. Open House is tomorrow and my classroom is still a wreck, but I am so thankful to FINALLY have a job! Thank you God for many answered prayers.

Will try to keep up with Teacher Week. (but I might post it over the weekend!)

Meet the Teacher

I am participating in Open House at Babbling Abby this week. Today is meet the teacher night. (The picture was taken at my school baby shower. I was 8 months pregnant.) Here are ten things you should know about me....the teacher.

1. I have taught for five years. A hodge podge of grades...student teaching in third, two years in fifth, two years in second, and one year in preschool. My favorite has been second. I love the age of the kids and how they are still excited about learning, but they are a little more independent.


2. I came from a family of educators. My grandfather was an elementary school principal, my mother and six of my aunts and uncles are teachers. (or were teachers before retirement)


3. My mom tried to talk me out of teaching. She said "It's hard." (and it is!), "It's not much pay." (no argument here), but" It will be the most rewarding experience of your life." (SO TRUE!)


4. I have an insane love for all things paper. I love notepads, paperclips, freshly sharpened pencils, "good" writing pens, and of course Sharpies!


5. I am currently working on my Masters of Education while job seaching for my next awesome teaching experience. I think I would eventually like to get my Doctorate and teach at the college level. (but that depends on finances)


6. There is no better feeling that watching children learn. I love the looks on their faces when they "get it" for the first time. Priceless.


7. I didn't get into this profession for the money, but it would be great if they would recognize that without teachers we wouldn't have any lawyers, doctors, IT specialist, etc. AND...don't even try to say "But you don't have to work over the summer." Come and spend a week with me. You will see how many hours I put into my job every week.


8. I really miss getting my classroom ready. It was one of my favorite times of the year. All the anticipation...wondering what the next year would bring.


9. My favorite subject to teach is reading. I love books and my classroom is full of them. My favorite children's book is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.


10. One of my favorite quotes " A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Henry Adams

We've been busy...VERY busy!

Fried Graham Cracker

While I was cooking dinner tonight, Emma decided to whip up her specialty dish....

FRIED GRAHAM CRACKERS. Yummy!

Our Silly Monkey

The Double Nose Pick (gross!)

Just doing a little shopping!

She may be silly, but she sure is sweet!

Four Fantastic Years

What a wonderful four years it has been...

We built and purchased a house and moved away from family.

We sold a house and moved back home.

We struggled to get pregnant and then felt the joy when we saw our daughter for the first time.

We've gotten job offers, been un-employed, and struggled with money.

Through it all, there is no one else I would rather do it with.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

Emma's First Dog

Today Em ate her first Skin's Hotdog. If you are ever in the Upstate of South Carolina, you have to eat one. They are the best hotdogs on the planet.

Saltines and Ginger Ale

I've been sick. Yuck. Just hoping that no one else gets it. Finally starting the feel better. THANK GOODNESS!

18 Wonderful Months

A year and a half. Has it really been that long? Here are 18 things that I love about you...things that make me giggle, things that make me cry, and things that (well) are just YOU.

1. You will do ANYTHING for a "kno-kno." (AKA doughnuts)
2. You like to ride Daddy like a horse and you get mad when he doesn't make horsie sounds.
3. You've become fascinated by your little kitchen and love to make "treats" for Mommy and Daddy.
4. You wear 18-24 month clothing and size 5 shoes. (little feet)
5. Mommy and Daddy think you are so smart.
6. You can point to every body part correctly. (even elbows and knees)
7. Your newest words are "See ya" and you say it whenever someone leaves. SO STINKIN' CUTE!
8. When you dance, you look like a dog chasing it's tail.
9. You love to watch "The Fresh Beat Band."
10. You are so sweet most of the time and love to give hugs and kisses.
11. You know how to get to Memom's (my grandmother) house. When we leave to go to her house, every turn we make, you say "Memom! Memom!"
12. I can't believe how much you have grown! You weigh 25 lbs and are VERY tall for your age.
13. You like to climb in the snack cabinet and pick out your own snack.
14. Helping Mommy is one of your favorite things to do.
15. You still love to golf with Daddy outside.
16. You are a little swimmer! You have NO fear of water and will swim by yourself across the pool. (with swimmies on of course)
17. You know how to hold your hands when you pray. We say prayers every night before bed.
18. You are the BEST. We love you so much. You are our perfect gift and we can't believe you are already getting to be such a "big girl!" We can't wait to see what the next six months bring.
    

Wordless Wednesday

Sleeping Beauty and all her royal subjects!

New Obsession

Emma has always loved books. That fact makes my heart swoon. I love reading and I desperately hoped to pass that down to Em. Last night before bed, Em and I were reading books. She was cracking me up. We would finish a book and she would hop down and get another out of the basket. She would say "Mommy read?" Now I don't know if this was a clever plan to extend bedtime or that she was genuinely interested in reading, but we read EVERY book in the basket.

These are some of her favorite books. She loves to look for the firemen and doggies in the Fireman Bill book.

She calls the Peek-A-Boo I Love You book "Pee Pie Book" and she always grins so big when you get to the last page. She makes me laugh so hard when she "reads" the Where is Baby's Beach Ball book. She will babble and then lift the flap and say "No." When you get to the last page and lift the flap to find the beach ball, she says "Oh, find it."

I would say that this is Em's favorite book. She calls it "Momma" book. We read it 8 times per day on average. It is adorably cute and I'm glad that she loves it so. It is a paperback and I am pretty sure I need to invest in a hardcover edition soon. I also want to get the other Llama books. I've heard they are all wonderful!

Do you recommend any other childen's books? What are your favorites?

Some of my favorites are The Giving Tree, The Great Kapok Tree, Oh The Places You Will Go, and The Polar Express.