Today marks my last day to have any teenage siblings. Allison turned the big 2-0, and I believe she deserves a blog dedication for this milestone.
So happy birthday to the best sister I could ask for. Thanks for being the butt of so many jokes, the recipient of so many pranks, and cheap labor when you didn't know any better. You've turned out okay, kid.
For those of you who aren't privileged to know my sister, she is
beautiful inside and out,
has an incredible eye for photography,
is a stud on the soccer field,
is a completely genuine goofball,
has a heart to serve others,
doesn't settle for the status quo,
sings and plays piano like nobody's business,
tells it like it is,
and has a maturity beyond her years.
And as much as I've always told her how annoyed I am that she copies everything I do (even down to the name of her significant other, I mean, come on), I am so honored to say that she's my sister.
Allison, I truly do look up to you (even though I know it's supposed to be the other way around since I am the older, wiser one, lol). And even though I have to love you because we're family, I genuinely like you. That says something.
So enjoy the rest of your birthday and check your mailbox this week.
1. Yesterday was a day of tears. I seriously just bawled about everything. I cried when I read this blog. I cried when I watched the news and saw the stories about the Arlington police officer who was killed on Wednesday and the devastation in Haiti. I cried over our backyard neighbors who are so miserable that they insist on making our lives just as miserable. I cried, and I cried, and I cried. Ugh. I'm not usually such a baby.
2. Today marks the end of the fall semester at our school. I can't decide if I'm relieved to be halfway done with the year, sad that it's my last fall semester to teach (for awhile anyway), or overwhelmed with all the last-minute paperwork I'm required to turn in. I think I will choose to be emotionally numb today so I don't resort back to yesterday's seemingly automatic response.
3. I hate February and usually dread its arrival (more on that later). However, January's end this year means that I have my husband back in the evenings (school musical is over), my student teacher will start taking over some of my classes, and my birthday will be over and done with (I haven't had a great birthday in awhile.).
4. This will probably make me unpopular, but I'm more than a little skeptical about the $100 million in aid that Obama is sending to Haiti.
Please don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that we should be helping them out in this time of massive destruction and devastation. I'm so heartbroken when I think about how little these people had to begin with and now they have even less. And that "even less" now means that so many are left without moms, dads, children, friends, and countless loved ones, and it burdens me to help somehow. There are many organizations and charities that are now working with the Haitian people to provide aid, and I believe we, as individuals who are blessed beyond measure, should give (either financially or of our time or both) to help organizations like the Red Cross or Compassion International.
But please someone explain to me what good it is going to do to give $100 million to an already corrupt government who has let the billions of dollars our government has given to them since 1993 go unaccounted for. I just don't get it.
5. And finally, just in case you didn't click there while reading #1, you need to check out this blog entry by MckMama. I love everything about her blog: her crazy stories, her writing style, her photography, everything. Her topic yesterday though ("I'm Gonna Miss This") is something I think about a lot now that Avery's here, and I think she expressed my sentiments better than I ever could. If you have kids, go. read. it.
***Edit: After re-reading my five random thoughts, I realized just how negative I sound today! Yikes! In actuality, I'm just overly hormonal at the moment and will back to "normal" soon.
Ah, the weekend is almost here. Enjoy it! I know I will.
There's nothing like listening to genocide memorial projects all day long to get you in a swell mood. We had a fantastic research project assignment to close out our Night (Holocaust) unit, and there were some pretty amazing finished products turned in today. One student even admitted how unaware he was of these other genocides in the world because all he ever learned about in school was the Holocaust. Ah, it's nice when they understand "the point." Well, awareness isn't the whole point, but I love it when students have the "aha" moment that bursts their small-town bubble, even if it only is for a single moment.
Anyway, my original point was that it was a little bit of a downer (to say the least) to listen to stories about rape and massacres all day long. My relief tonight came in the form of baby laughter and even my own laughter at The Bachelor.
Matt had rehearsal until 8, so I was a good wife (hehe) and took him Sonic and a sweet baby girl while he wasn't directing. Yes, I was supposed to make spaghetti for dinner; no, I did not want to cook at all today (even spaghetti, aka the easiest thing in the world to make); yes, we had Sonic gift cards (thanks Uncle Vernon and Aunt Tina!). Needless to say, the decision was relatively easy to make.
I even got some precious Avery time when I got home. She even LAUGHED for me! Okay, I know babies are supposed to laugh all the time, so I shouldn't think this is a big deal. But if you've spent any time with Avery over the past couple of months, you'll know that she doesn't laugh anymore. Don't get me wrong; she's a very happy baby, but whenever she's excited about something and wants to laugh, she snorts. Like a pig. Sure it's cute and all, but sometimes it's just really fun to hear a sweet baby laugh.
And okay, okay, I caved. I swore off The Bachelor after Jason's fiasco of a season. But that (stupid) show is my guilty TV pleasure. I can't help it! Pardon the tired cliche, but watching these desperate drama queens fight over one (admittedly pretty cute) guy is like watching a train wreck. And tonight was drama-filled. Sigh. (I pick Alli, btw.)
Fortunately, my life is not fraught with such theatrics, and I think I will return to living it away from the computer screen.
p.s. I'm so beyond ready for the weather to warm up again. My puppies are total weenies when it comes to the cold, and they're driving me nuts inside the house.
p.p.s. I can't wait for Dear John to come out in theaters. If you haven't read it (yes, I know it's just a cheesy Nicholas Sparks novel, but don't be a literature snob; it is SO GOOD), go read it before the movie comes out. Seriously.
The Friday Five has taken a temporary hiatus until I finally catch up on my late blogging. Perhaps I will resurrect my end-of-the-week randomness next week, but until then...
Sweet Avery,
You're becoming such a big girl! January 3rd marked six whole months since you entered our world; Daddy and I knew we would love you from the beginning, but we had no idea it would be this much. Aunt Allison took some super fun pictures of you the other day, and I couldn't choose just one to post. I love seeing your personality come out in each one! So here's what you're up to these days:
You sit up all by yourself-- you especially love to do this in the bathtub so you can splash extra hard!
You eat rice cereal, bananas, green beans, and sweet potatoes (although I don't think you share my love of green beans quite yet; you'll get there!). You also like to blow raspberries when you eat; I need to wear a bib, too!
You love to jump. In fact, you don't reserve your jumping for your door jumper anymore; you jump in stationary exersaucers and even on Daddy and me!
You make all kinds of noises now. You love to squeal and make this high-pitched dinosaur noise. I also think you forgot how to laugh because now every time you try to laugh you snort. It's pretty cute for now, but if you ever want a boyfriend, you might rethink this laughing thing. On second thought...
You wear 6-9 month clothes
You like to sleep with your little bottom sticking straight up in the air. I can't even try to put you to sleep on your back because you roll over immediately and get that little booty up. You "talk" in your sleep, too. Cute!
You grab everything...especially hair (ouch!) and your feet, which you like to eat.
You have discovered your tongue and like to just stick it out all the time, but you still don't have any teeth yet.
I think my favorite things that you do though are "singing" all the time (you'll fit in this family just fine!) and patting our backs when we're trying to pat yours. It's just too sweet.
You're just growing up way too fast already, but we can't wait to see the beautiful young lady that you're going to become. We love you!
So Avery loves loves loves her doorway jumper and gets REALLY excited when we put her in it. She was just bouncing away when I was working on the computer earlier, so when she was being strangely quiet, I turned to check on her to find that she had successfully jumped herself to sleep.
I'd like to thank the school district for this perfectly timed ice day. I have an unreal amount of items I'd love to accomplish today, and Matt was supposed to have rehearsal until 8 pm. So now I have the whole day to get things done (with help, too!) AND hang out with my two favorite people and two favorite puppies!
Avery is just bouncing away in her Graco Bumper Jumper (the girl loves that thing!), Matt is playing Wii Super Mario, and I'm (obviously) taking this rare opportunity to update the blog with a long overdue Christmas update. Did I mention that I love ice days?!?
So here's our break in pictures...
We had to have our sibling gift exchange early on the 23rd since Aaron and Chelsea weren't going to be with us for the rest of the break. On Christmas Eve, we bundled up and headed out in the snow to get free Whataburgers. Merry Christmas to us! Christmas Eve also means family, friends, and tamales at my parents'. This is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions. And this year it only took us about 30 minutes to get there (note the sarcasm); holy cow, the roads were icy!! That night we also got our Christmas Eve gift of pajamas. Avery got ruffles! We spent the first part of Christmas morning at home. Not that we were really expecting any different, but Avery was more interested in the wrapping paper than her actual presents (a Gloworm and the aforementioned jumper). She sure did have fun tearing into that paper though! Round two was at my parents' for stockings, breakfast, and even more gifts. Round three was in Baytown from the 26th to the 28th. After we got there we had to make a mad dash to Target because we discovered upon arrival that Avery's packed bag was left at home. Score. It was so fun to catch up with Matt's family though; we were sad we couldn't stay longer! Matt and I celebrated our third anniversary on the 30th by sending Avery to Grandma and Grandaddy's house so we could go on a real live date. I have no pictures to post because Matt got what we thought was just food poisoning, effectively ruining the rest of date night.
On New Year's Eve though, my favorite friends came in town from Austin and Houston for our first annual roomie NYE party. :) We also discovered that Matt did not, in fact, have food poisoning. It was a lovely stomach bug that made its rounds among all who were present at our house. Sorry, guys! Whew! So that's what we've been up to. Maybe this will teach me to blog more frequently so I don't have to go on these marathon picture-posting sessions. Maybe? Or perhaps I should emulate my friend Kati and aspire to blog every.single.day. I might just have to try that later. February? Time will tell.
New year, not-so-new busy schedule. Therefore, lack of consistent bloggage. Sigh. Even now I really need to be in bed. So here's the quick rundown...
Avery turned 6 months old yesterday! I still haven't taken her cute little 6-month onesie picture, so keep your eyes peeled.
I officially started my new position at the church as Children's Ministry Director. Things have already been interesting, and I'm not sure I'm ready for what I just got myself into. :)
It is very cold outside. Like very cold.
I won a prize on a blog today. It wasn't the one I worked my little booty off for, but it will suffice. And now I can't say I never win anything! Yippee!
My student teacher started today, so to break him in, we took 200 sophomores to the Holocaust Museum. Okay, fine. Those two things weren't cause-and-effectual (yes, I just made up that phrase), but I'm sure it was an interesting way for him to start his teaching career. And just think, we get to take 200 more tomorrow.
If I'm going to have any energy at all for this week, this post must. end. now.
I am a wife, mommy, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, soccer coach, children's ministry director, and wannabe craft queen who loves her life enough to write about it.
Ps. 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Today marks my last day to have any teenage siblings. Allison turned the big 2-0, and I believe she deserves a blog dedication for this milestone.
