Wedding Gifts: Make it Count.

One of my favorite things is giving gifts.  I will admit: it can be scary sometimes, though.  Christmas time is kind of frustrating.  As much as everyone loves giving gifts, what's the point if you don't even know what to get them?  Why buy a gift just because you feel obligated?  I figured out the solution: only give personal or sentimental gifts.  Or a mixture between something they need and something personal.  I posted over the summer about my BFF's wedding and how we made them their tiered-towel-cake in their wedding colors:

The best parts about this gift?

1. We purchased the towels from their registry, so they got what they needed/wanted.
2. I made it myself and gave it a personal touch.
3. It matched their wedding colors and looked so darn cute on the gift table.

So, at the last two weddings that I have been to (both in the last month) I wanted to replicate that feeling (but still trying something different.  For my friend Meghan's wedding, I decided to make them some picture frames to remember their wedding.  Meghan and I had been talking about how she wanted more personal stuff in her house, so I did it for her :-)

I purchased three white frames:

An 8x10, a 4x6, and a 5x7 shadow box.  In the 8x10 I printed a big monogram "R" (for their new family name) on white cardstock and stuck it in there. 

not a very good pic

For the 4x6, I found this cute card at WalMart and LOVED the little love birds, so I bought that, cut it to size, and placed it in the frame.

I put them in a pretty bag (which I forgot to take a picture of) and gave them a really nice card with some cash.  Once again, they get the personal side and something that they need/want (money!).  I also told them that there was one more frame to come.  While at the wedding, I took this picture of Meghan holding the train of her dress by the little ribbon "strap".  It is about as artistic as my photo-taking-skills get.

I also stole the place card with their new "Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Rice" name on it from their actual table at the wedding.  I kept the stamp from the invitation I received from NY because it had her wedding themed stamp on it from her hometown postal office.  I also dried some leaves and flowers from my bridesmaid bouquet, put them in the shadow box frame, added the other stuff, and gave it as the final part to their gift a week or so later.

also not a very good pic

I did the same thing for my brother and sister-in-law's wedding on Saturday.  They were registered for a bunch of kitchen stuff and I knew they needed it.  Some of my favorite things in my kitchen are the little gadgets that I picked out and received for our wedding.  Especially because they all match and are in the same drawer.  Yeah, I'm type-A like that.  So I bought all that kind of stuff off their registry.

I also needed to give a personal touch.  So I bought them this beautiful and inspirational book:

He is the author of The 5 Love Languages.  And this book is basically a collection of a bunch of very inspirational faith-driven love stories that test time and test everyday life.  I thought it would be a beautiful and motivational way to start a marriage.

Another cool thing in this wedding was that my brother married a woman who already had a daughter from a previous relationship.  In the ceremony, they wrote and spoke beautiful vows to my new three-year-old niece, Baelee, and presented her with a necklace in which my brother promised to love her as his own and keep her safe forever.  It officially made me cry.  Here is a pic last Easter of my family with my dad:

My dad is holding sweet Baelee.

And her is a picture of Baelee on the wedding day showing off the flower girl dress (that I bought for her).  I just needed to throw that in there because I am proud of it :-)

So, I thought it was really important for me to give a gift to them that could be appreciated by their whole family.  I saw a few things online about creating a Thanksgiving jar.  So, I bought a little jar and put some cute gold stickers on top to say "give thanks".

I tied a ribbon around the jar and decorated some cards using white cardstock, markers, ribbon, some rhinestone stickers I already had, and a hole punch.

I wrote on their card that every day from now until Thanksgiving, they could each write something that they are thankful for, fold it, put it in the jar, and then on their first holiday as a family, they could pull them all out and read them together.  And if they kept the jar, they could make it a tradition each year (which I also plan to do someday when I have a family 'cause its just so cute). 

I also included a pack of colorful dry erase markers because 3 year old Baelee can't really write her thanks on cards this year, but she can decorate the jar with markers.  And the best part, she can wipe it off and redecorate it each year.

I bought matching gift wrap, bag, balloon, and tissue paper from the dollar store and bought hot pink ribbons and bows, too.  (Her colors were black, silver, and hot pink).

Once again, it looked absolutely adorable on the gift table.

There you have it.  Give sentimental gifts.  Take a few extra minutes and make it personal.  Think about your gifts ahead of time.  They will be remembered forever.

Where Have I Been?!

I have been in a Twilight Zone for the past few days.  Seriously.  Last weekend we traveled to York, PA for a friend's bridal shower.  We were there Friday and Saturday and left Sunday morning.  When I got home on Sunday, I had to unpack, clean, and start my paper for grad school (which is due this evening).  See, I've had the assignment for some time, but you know how it is.  Well, I gathered all research, organized it, and wrote an outline on Sunday night.  Monday I went to school at 8, taught til 4, then started my new after-school program job from 4-6.  Then I came home, made dinner, actually started writing the paper, then had to continue reading my book for book club (Sarah's Key).  Tuesday was the exact same thing as Monday.  Except when I got home around 6, I got ready, went to the grocery store, made dinner, worked on my paper, then read for book club.  Wednesday: school, after-school, then Book Club.  I went to a friend's house for dinner and book-related discussion with a little gossip mixed in (it's a bunch of girls, what do you expect?!)

Today I went to school, came home (no after-school on Thursdays), started getting ready for dinner, continued writing my paper, wrote this post, then I am going to finish writing the paper and edit it quickly, finish dinner (will probably be featured on Tasty Tuesdays next week) and then take my class from 8-10 tonight and submit my paper.

Phew.    I get winded just typing all of that.

Thankfully today was a casual day and the kids were awesome.  Tomorrow is a professional day.  Boring and useless, yes.  But does it take much energy?  Nope.

This weekend I am: relaxing, yard sale-ing, doing some house projects, and going to see The President's Own on Saturday night with friends.

Hopefully life will slow down soon and I will get to post more often.  Have a great Friday :-)

It's All in the Cards

When I was a little girl, I was a pen pal... with my great grandmother.  It was my mom's mom's mom.  She lived over an hour away so I didn't get to see her often.  So we would write each other letters.  I always used a goofy Lisa Frank type of stationery and she would always use the same flowery white card.  I was probably between the ages of 6 and 10 while I was writing and receiving letters from Great Grandma Dot.  Because of my young age, I wasn't thinking ahead very well and either lost or threw away all of the letters she ever sent me.  I didn't think much of it at the time.  She died when I was a senior in high school.  I remembered the letters and searched high and low for them but never found them.  A while later, my grandma (mom's mom) was going through all of great grandma's belongings and found a stack of all of the letters that I ever sent her, full of brightly colored stickers and even some silly jokes:

Yes, that is Pocahontas.

I still have all of them to this day.  Which is why it is hard for me to throw away cards.

Every year you get what seems like millions of cards for your birthday, Christmas, Easter, and any special events like a wedding or graduation.  Some of them are lame (let's face it), and some of them are really special.  But you always seem to keep them for a little while because you just feel like you have to.  For goodness sake, some of them cost as much as five or six bucks!  But... eventually you realize that there's really no point in keeping them and throw them out.  That's what I have a hard time doing.  So I have a ridiculously large box of cards from all sorts of events and from all different points in my life and from all different people.  But, because I am really weird, I keep the most special of all cards in a file in my filing cabinet.  Yep, I know it's weird, but it's true.  See?

And to this day all of the cards/letters I ever wrote to great grandma Dot live in the special card file.

When I saw this spring green beauty at Michael's (of course), I knew immediately what would go on it and where it would go.  It had to go in my closet and I had to put some of the most special cards I have ever received on it so I could see them every day.

Some cards are from family, some from Josh, and one from my best friend.  And I don't feel bad about keeping them anymore because they are special.  And my "card" file is a tiny bit lighter :-)

Perspective

If you ever have 55 minutes and 34 seconds free, it will be worth your while to watch this video.  I had to watch it today for one of my grad school classes and something as arbitrary as a really long YouTube video turned into one of the most passionate online experiences I have ever been a part of.  An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube:

One Whole Year :-)

Yesterday, Josh and I celebrated our one-year-anniversary!  We celebrated with a budget-friendly day!  That's what happens when you buy a house, guys.  Budget-friendly anniversary celebrations!

We woke up, had our usual breakfast, and went to the gym.  I took a Zumba and a yoga class (which were awesome, by the way).  We came home, took a nap, got all prettied-up, and drove to West Ocean City.  My favorite OC restaurant, The Shark on the Harbor, offers $5.99 lunch specials every day!  They are a local and organic restaurant with an incredible chef and their menu is always changing and original. The best part is that there are lunches for $5.99 or lunches for $26 and everywhere in between.  The same goes with their dinners and desserts.  Lots of choices for everyone, but everything is delicious. They also serve local craft beers.

On our way home, we stopped at the furniture store and picked out a couch and love seat that we want to buy, but haven't done yet.  Then we stopped at Panera and got some coffee (with a gift card).  Then we stopped at Starbucks and got some coffee beans (with a gift card).  We went home and Josh made us dinner.  He made omelets with green pepper, onion, and tomato.  That's right.  We had omelets on our first anniversary.

We had free movie tickets so we went and saw Hangover Pt. 2 late last night.  It was pretty funny at times, but not a fall-out-of-your-chair-with-laughter movie.

All in all, it was a great day.  In one year, we got married, moved to another state, both started new jobs, started grad school (well, one of us), finished our new jobs, bought a house and moved again!  But we are happy and excited to get to work on our new house.

Happy anniversary, Josh!

WINTER

Here is a list of my favorite winter-time things:

1. Soup.  I love my crockpot and I love the comfy, warm feeling of a hot, hearty soup.  Recently I have made white cheddar corn soup and white chicken chili!
2. Sweaters.  They are the best.  I bought this beauty at NY&Co. recently:

3. Snow.  I can't wait until the first snow.  I love snow days where I can sit at home, snuggle in a blanket, and watch a movie while the snow piles up outside.
4. Blankets, especially my heated blanket.  The heated blanket is the BEST invention ever.  Using it in the winter to snuggle up makes me soooo happy.
5. Christmas.  Christmas trees and Christmas music.  That's a given.
6. Baking.  I will be the first to admit that I am not the greatest baker, but I do love cookies and apple pies!  So I bake.

If you asked me what my favorite season was, I would say summer.  The beach, weddings, my birthday, being outside, the weather, etc.  But winter definitely comes in at a very close second :-)

What the He!! is a Fog Delay?

I grew up in a town where if there was a quarter inch of snow on the ground... BAM. Two hour delay.  Oh, it's 8 degrees outside? Two-hour delay.  Even where I taught last year in West Virginia... any snow was a two-hour delay or cancelled school.  Okay, it makes sense (a little).

Which is why I was surprised to wake up to a delay this morning.  Hmm... It's 46 degrees outside... probably not snowing.  What could it be?  I look outside to see this:

No, this is not a personal photo... I stole it from the internet, but it definitely captures the effect.  Apparently, in Maryland's eastern shore, fog is a very common thing.  Who knew it would be so dangerous?  They delay school until the fog has lifted.  Even then, I heard about some accidents this morning.  Kind of sucks, but guess what?  I got to sleep in!  Which was great :-)

Friday evening, my school had an auction.  It was crazy.  There were donated items for both a live and silent auction.  Everything from restaurant gift certificates to lunch with the mayor to Disney passes.  The PTA hosted a spaghetti dinner.  I can't even imagine how much money they made.  Tons of people came and they auctioned off hundreds of donated items... that's right: everything was donated!  They had to have made thousands and thousands of dollars.  It was the best PTA fundraiser I have ever seen!  The kids were all piled into classrooms and given potato chips while they watched movies so their parents could attend the auction and spend money without having to watch their kids.  It was genious.  I helped out a bit with the kids auction (mp3 players and wii games!) and with the movie.  It was a good night :-)

Yesterday, it was our intention to go to Ocean City for the day and spend some time together.  This was the plan:  Wake up early.  Make breakfast burritos (which we love!).  Do all the laundry.  Go to Ocean City and have lunch at my favorite OC restaurant, The Shark on the Harbor.  Walk the board walk.  See the ocean while the leaves are turning color and falling... which we have never done.  We promised ourselves that we would not go to the beach until all laundry was washed and folded.  Well, we share a laundry room with the other townhomes in our development.  It has 5 washers and 5 dryers, so it's not a problem if someone else is already doing laundry... we use the other ones.  Well... don't you know that every single washer is full of already washed, wet, stale clothes.  Hmmm... We say, "Well, we will come back in about 15 minutes and hopefully they will be gone."   6 hours later it was gone.  We didn't go to the beach.  Meh.

This week is American Education Week at school.  The parents get to come in during school and observe/participate in classes with their kids.  Here are the pros and cons:

Pros:

• If I was a parent, I would be excited to see what my kids do in school
• As a teacher, I am excited for parents to see what they are learning
• It puts kids on good behavior if they know mom or dad is watching.
• Good way to get parents involved.

Cons:

• Last year there was an incident with an attempted child abduction so now they are SUPER protective about who comes in the school and when and how they sign in.
• Sometimes kids show off for their parents
• I feel like my room needs to be spick and span all week
• I hate punishing kids in front of their parents, but it sometimes needs to be done.
• When the parents sit there and talk while their kids are being attentive, I want to punch them in the face.

Long week ahead... How was your weekend?

Yeah for Us!

Today we did something that we should have done a long time ago:  Got gym memberships.

I was doing very well with exercise and eating healthy.  Not to make excuses--but this was literally why I have slacked off A LOT in the last few months:

• Last day of school last year:  my grandfather dies.
• Two weeks later: I get married.
• Two days later: I go to Cozumel with Josh for a week.
• Two weeks later: We move to the eastern shore.
• Two weeks later: We go to the beach with my family.
• Two weeks later: School starts.
• Two days later: I realize what I am in for with this job.
• Since then: So tired when I get home.  Also:  been very busy since then.
• But most of all: We discovered a Rita's down the road. 

Now: No more excuses.  We signed up for a gym membership for a year.  No getting out of this one.  Here are all of the pros:

• We get a VERY discounted rate for being teachers.
• It's right down the road (across from Rita's)
• The hours are really great.
• With our membership--we get free Chipotle on Wednesdays.  Which means: If we go every Wed. we will get almost $60 of free food each month.  The gym membership has basically paid for itself!
• They have lots of exercise classes: Which I LOVE!  Pilates and yoga and zumba and cycling!

Now I just have to cut down on the Rita's...

I Heart Fall

Although summer is definitely my favorite season, I LOVE Fall!!!  Look at these images and try to tell me that this doesn't make you feel great.

On the list for this month:  Make lots of soups.  Go on some walks in the local parks and take pictures of leaves :-)  Break out some sweaters.  Watch movies under a blanket.  Roast chestnuts.  Buy a scarf.  Make pumpkin stuff (pie, cookies, pancakes, etc.)  Go to a WVU game.  Travel and visit some family.   Wish us luck!

What the Eff?

Josh's phone reached its end today.  It has been sputtering about for a few weeks now.  This time it just will not turn back on at all.  We went to at&t (he has a Blackberry) and as soon as we walk in the guy asks what he can do for us.  We say that the phone shut off and won't turn back on.

The guy's exact response: You need to upgrade.
Us: No, sorry, we are not interested in that.
Guy: Why? Huh? Why do you say that? (forcefully)
Us: We really can't afford to do that right now.  Also--the plan doesn't end until December anyway and we hadn't planned to renew it.
Guy: Well you can get one of the two new Blackberry's for either $230 or $300 with a $100 mail-in-rebate.
Us: Is there anyway you can look at the phone to see if there is a mechanical issue?  We would like to see if it can be repaired or if the battery is broken or something...
Guy: Well an average lifetime for a Blackberry is about 2 years, so it's right on track.
Us: Thanks for all your help.

So we left.  Josh currently does not have a working phone at all. We don't know what to do.  We really wanted to switch providers in December when the plan ends because we have had some bad luck with at&t.  But if we get a new phone now, we will need to renew another 2-yr contract.  Crap.  So we are going to sleep on it and go back in tomorrow to see if we can talk with someone who is more helpful.

On the bright side, thanks to Maryland's Election Day, I do not have to work!  And yet another funny quote from today in a kindergarten class:

Me (speaking in an obnoxiously high squeaky voice): Who can tell me if this is a high voice, a low voice, or a whisper voice?
 Little Kindergarten Girl: Necklace?

Still Moving In!

Josh's mom and brother came to visit for the last two days!  They were our first official visitors and it was super exciting :-)

We took them to Ocean City and played on the beach a bit and walked on the boardwalk.  I also got some Fisher's Popcorn, which was amazing, as usual.

I am currently organizing all of our important papers for our 'new' (slightly used from Craigslist) filing cabinet.  I am listening to Live while doing that and Josh is downstairs setting up all of his speakers.  As soon as we do those two things, our townhouse will be completely finished with the exception of putting up our decorations!  We are so excited.  Pictures will come soon :)

A bunch of my friends are at the Orff-Schulwerk teacher training right now in Rochester, NY.  I am beyond jealous.  I went last summer for Level I and I have to wait to go back because level II isn't offered until 2011.  Sad Face.

Well, Josh's job interview went really well.  They have asked him to come back for a second interview.  They have it narrowed down to two candidates.  They said the only thing that holds them back from hiring Josh is that he doesn't have much experience in diverse environments.  You know, growing up in Central PA and going to college in West Virginia.  So we will see how it goes.  We REALLY need this job... wish him luck!

By the way, if you want to come visit us, please do!  We are getting bored.

It's Official...

...We are moving to Salisbury, MD!!!

I accepted a job at Pemberton Elementary School about two months ago but was waiting a while for an official announcement... as if I am a celebrity or something ridiculous.

Josh and I spent Monday and Tuesday in Salisbury looking for a place to live and found the most adorable, awesome townhouse.  I just can't wait to move in!

Here's the kicker.  Crime rates in Salisbury are high.  The city used to be beautiful, and now it is pretty ghetto.  Including the neighborhood of our new home.  But if truthfully was the best we could find!  We actually had to submit to criminal background checks to be tenants of this place!

Regardless, I am super excited to move and I can't wait to start a new life in a new place in our adorable new home.  My school is awesome.  My new job is awesome.

Josh has applied for a few jobs in the area and is still looking for something.  He actually has an interview on Wednesday and I am so excited for him!

We are exactly 30 minutes away from Ocean City.  Which is cool.  And there will always be plenty of stuff to keep us occupied... I am particularly excited about the huge organic farmer's market.

Just onnneeee little thing:  We know absolutely NO ONE.  I have a few family members a little north of us, but in our town: nothin'... nada zip.  So if you... yes, you... would like to come visit us, PLEASE DO.  We have a guest bedroom and can't wait for it to be occupied.  I will make you dinner, I promise.

We are moving on Monday!  Soon after I get everything settled in our new home, I will post pictures.  Eek.  Can't wait!

Dear God, Thank You...

...for giving me 23 years with my Pap

...for a very supportive and loving family

...for an awesome future husband

...for providing us with what we need to live

...for what will be a beautiful wedding

...for giving me time to get to know you

...for Oreos

...for the things that make me happy:

art.

love.

and relationships.

What I Read at My Pap's Funeral: June 10, 2010

If you had asked me two or three years ago what I would have done if I lost my pap, I would have told you that I could not even fathom the thought of life on earth going on without him.  I literally could not squeeze that huge thought into my brain.  I honestly believed that if my pap died three years ago, life on earth would have come to a screeching halt… stopping everything in its path.

Ask me today how I feel about my pap being gone and this is what I would tell you:

I have many, many wonderful memories of my pap.  When I was just a little girl, he came and set up my swing set.  The very same swing set that my brother and sister and I played on for over a decade.  He could and would fix anything.  Whenever anyone had a problem, we always called pap.  I learned all of my curse words from my pap!  I have used those for almost two decades. 

And in the last five years, he had cancer.  We have all been angry that cancer exists and we have all seen what it does to its victims.  And I used to pray, “Lord, help me feel better.  Help my pap feel better. Make my grandma feel better.  Make this easy for her.”  But He creates these circumstances in our lives for a reason… and that is to make us more like Him.  We exist for God’s purposes, not vice versa.  I heard someone once say, “Why would God provide “heaven on earth” when he’s planned the real thing for you in eternity?”  God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven.  I have tried this prayer instead, “Lord, Use this to make me grow and be more like You.”

Paul said, “Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long.  Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory.  If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.  What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.”

When I look at my pap’s earthly body, I can’t help but to just smile.  Because I am thankful for knowing him for almost 23 years.  And in the last five, I have gained more respect for him than ever before.  I truly saw him not grow old, but grow up.  And that is what I will remember.  And I am genuinely happy for him now that he is in Heaven.  Both of my grandparents will be at my wedding in two weeks.  And although it might seem like forever away and it will be a long road, it’s really just the blink of an eye before we are all at that family reunion again.

Are They Allowed To Do That?!?!

This morning, I was so excited to see my little kindergartners.  I only have one more class left with them and then I will never get to see them again!  So I had the most beautiful and fun songs and games to play with them.  I even planned to take them outside and have music in the sun! 

So I walk down to their room to pick them up and take them outside with music and instruments.  They are all dressed up and all of their parents are in their classroom taking pictures.  They are apparently having an Author's Tea.  Whatever that is...

I walked in with a surprised face to see all of the parents and the kids dressed up on a little stage.  Their teacher says these exact words to me in front of all of the kids' parents, "OH!  No music today!  You have a free period!"  

So, in front of the parents, I yelled back across the room, "OH!  I was unaware that there would be an Author's Tea this morning.  I planned for a music class."  She says, "Well, you can stay and sing the songs with us..."  Me: "No thanks."

Argh. Are they allowed to do that?  I would NEVER take a WHOLE class out of their classroom without any notice.  Why do they think that their class is more important than mine?  This is almost the last time that I will ever see them.  In addition,  I have a degree to be their teacher... just like she does. 

I am sure that their Author's Tea is going to be adorable and wonderful for the kids and parents, but she could have asked me and not told me.  And she could have done it a month ago. 

It honestly hurts my feelings that some teachers believe that we (specials teachers) are there to just babysit their kids when it is convenient for them.  Again, I became a teacher to teach children about music.  Not to just go wherever they need me for whomever need a plan period.

Sorry, if you know me well enough, you will know that I am a complainer by nature.  You can ignore me if you wish. 

I feel like I need to say something happy.  I heard on K-LOVE this morning about what some people say to themselves when they wake up.  Please watch this little girl give herself a morning pep talk.  Click on Jessica's Daily Affirmation.

An Eye-Opener

But God wills our good, and our good is to love Him... and to love Him we must know Him: and if we know Him, we shall in fact fall on our faces....  Yet the call is not only to prostration and awe; it is to a reflection of the Divine life, a creaturely participation in the Divine attributes which is far beyond our present desires.  We are bidden to "put on Christ," to become like God.  That is, whether we like it or not, God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want.  Once more, we are embarrassed by the intolerable compliment, by too much love, not too little.
                                                                                         C.S. Lewis

Cancer.

I have come upon a revelation.

I HATE cancer.  Why is it that everyone is destined to get cancer?  Why can't we do anything about it?

It doesn't even make me sad anymore.  I mainly just get angry.  I even get angry to see people die who I don't even know.

Josh lost his grandfather last night to lung cancer.  My grandfather has lung cancer.

I have always thought that if I could do one unrealistic thing to save the world, I would get rid of war.  I have changed my mind.  I would get rid of cancer.  We would save so many good people.

Why Am I Still Awake?

Do you ever wonder why your brain can keep you awake?

No matter how tired my body is, or my eyes are, or my brain is... All I have to do it think about stuff.  And I am awake all night.

We have ANOTHER snow day tomorrow.  And I have been trying to get back onto my normal sleep schedule.  It's not working. 


For some reason, I am completely bored out of my mind during the day.  I am occupying myself with the most mundane activities to keep myself busy.  However, at night, the time when I most want to be bored, I am totally awake.  I want to move.  I want to talk.  I want to clean.  I want to work out (I wish this would come during the day).  I want to build a jigsaw puzzle.  I want to read.  I want to write.  I want to be productive.

What the heck?!?

I decided to write a blog.

I Spoke Too Soon

Well, soon after I last posted, it DID start snowing.  A LOT.  We now have about a foot and a half and it's still coming down.  Thank God I don't have to go anywhere.

So Josh and I are both officially unemployed in June.  We are in the process of searching for jobs... everywhere.  We are looking in WV, MD, PA, VA, DC.  And maybe Hawaii--in my dreams.

We will go wherever we can get jobs in the same location.  An ideal location would be in the Hagerstown/Frederick area.  It is about halfway between both of our families, which would be nice.  But who knows... no one is really posting jobs yet.  We are keeping our eyes open.

Today, however, we are stuck inside cleaning, cooking, and watching movies.  Oh, the busy life... :-)

Snow Day!

So, they were calling for over a foot of snow.  It was supposed to hit at 6am.  So, at 5am they canceled school.  It is now 3pm and there is still no snow.   Of course.

I am not complaining.  Believe me.

Today, I woke up late, Josh made me bacon and eggs for breakfast, I laid around and watched Roseanne, talked on the phone, and played online games.  Now I am drinking a cup of tea and doing a puzzle.  What a great day!

I think I will make us a nice dinner tonight, drink wine, and watch a movie.

Tomorrow I will be productive, I promise.