Move Over Cake Diva...

Alyssa and I started our cake decorating class tonight! It's something we've both always wanted to do but kept making excuses not to do it. A couple of weeks ago, I just called and signed us up. We had so much fun. Of course, it's a basic class, so everything was fairly easy tonight, but I'm sure it will get harder. I meant to take my camera with me, but Lee took it out of my purse and forgot to put it back. Never fear, we brought our tools home to show Sam and Lee what we had learned. I think they were impressed!

We're Home!!!

Lee and I have been out of town for the past three weekends, but we're home now for a while. Two weekends ago we were in Pontotoc. We had a really good time just relaxing, and we bought a crib, which was so fun. Actually, we took Lee's parents with us for some help in picking one out, and they surprised us by buying the crib for us! We were so shocked and excited.

Last weekend we went to the Coast Friday night. My parents met us there that night. We went to a surprise part for Lanette's husband Michael and left from the party to come back here. We had some serious work to get done! My sweet family worked so hard all day Sunday and Monday. It was my mom and dad, Alyssa and Sam and Lia. Those were some late nights! But we did get the nursery painted. We've had a bit of trouble painting the chair railing. The guy who sold us the paint was supposed to also sell us a color primer...but he forgot to do that. We found this out after painting four coats of paint on the stuff! So I still have to finish that this week.

This weekend Lee and I flew to Houston. Lia had her first home football game as a Standleader, and Lee got to go to the Texas A&M game with a guy from my parent's Sunday school class. We almost didn't make it on Friday. We got on the plane and then were taken off because there was a flat front tire on the plane. At that point we were told that they would either fix it or get a tire flown in from Houston! We were hoping they would just fix it, but instead they canceled the flight all together! There was a 6:40 flight, but by the time we got up to the counter to see about getting switched, it was sold out. So we were on the standby list. I literally sat down in the airport and cried. Some of that was due to exhaustion, but I really wanted to see Lia at her game, and we weren't sure if we'd be able to go again. Thankfully, we got on the flight and made it to the game by halftime...just in time to see Lia on the field for most of the time. Their outfits are so funny, but they do a great job getting the crowd involved.

Lee had a great time at the game on Saturday. Little did anyone know that it would be such a great game. Triple overtime!! Lee got to spend some time on campus looking around and learning some of the traditions that are really neat. The game was really hot. Apparently they were carrying people out of the game after they had passed out! What dedicated fans! Definitley would not have found me there.

While Lee was at the game, my mom and I went to see Kelly, who is helping us decorate the nursery. Her own is AMAZING, and she has been such a huge help to me. I am so not creative. I need someone to tell me what to do and send me in the right direction. And she has done just that. The nursery is going to be vintage cowboys. We found the fabric a few weeks ago, and Kelly painted this canvas for us to put over the crib. It is so amazing. I mean, it is almost an exact replica of the actual fabric. I actually think it's better. Thank you, Kelly! Check out the cute stuff on her blog.

So we got home after midnight last night. I was really sad to leave my family, but it is nice to know that we'll be home for a while. I'm just not sure how much more we could go. With Lee being in class and studying all week and me working and having little things to do in the evenings, it's hard to get anything done...basic things like cleaning the house and cutting the grass. I'm looking forward to a late Saturday morning! It's weird because I want to go and do things because I know that our time left to do that is getting shorter. But we also have so much to do here before this sweet baby comes!

I added music back to my blog. I love this new song by Casting Crowns.

A New Familiar Sight

Lee started school this week! He has been so excited all summer and couldn't wait for this past Monday to finally roll around. He had orientation for three days last week, but the real thing started Monday. He's been trying really hard to form a routine for himself. He gets up early and gets to school to start reading, goes to class, eats lunch in the library while he's reading, goes back to class and then back to the library to read or study more until 6:00 or so. YUCK! Lee's sort of a geek at heart...he loves to learn. But even this has been different for him. We're hoping that after this week we'll get more used to the routine and things will settle down a little more. Just a little bit of both would do us good! I'm so proud of him for working so hard...even though I've had to go to bed by myself a few nights this week!

We're going to Pontotoc to see Lee's parents this weekend, and I am so excited. We have both had some long days this week and are exhausted, so it will be so nice to just relax and take a break. That's become one of my favorite things about going to stay with Lee's parents...you really do unwind and rest while you're there. It couldn't come at a better time!

Exciting news!

Well.....it's now official. We went to the doctor Monday and found out we're having a BOY! We are so, so excited. The funny thing is that we came up with all kinds of names for girls but none for a boy, so we're stuck! But we have come up with a few options. Because I grew up with two sisters, I know almost nothing about boys, so it will be fun to learn. Things looked great, and I'm feeling really good. My new students are so sweet and have been really excited when I tell them the news...it's been kinda fun. I guess it's time to get to work! We have a nursery to get together...but it needs to be cleaned out first!



Some of my sweet friends from school gave me this "little boy gear." I was so excited. It's the first real boy thing we've received!!







Another friend of mine decided that since the baby is due on Elvis' birthday, he needed this tshirt. She's a little obsessed with Elvis and jokes that the baby's name should also include Elvis!

Graduation!

Well, we finally finished the past year and a half off with graduation yesterday. It's something I was reluctant to do, but it was a nice closure to the past year and a half since everyone in our cohort participated. The actual graduation was very short - only an hour - so it left the afternoon to do other things. We met Alyssa and Sam for lunch to "celebrate" and then came home for a nap.

As glad as I am to be finished, there is a part of me that is sad. I'm certainly glad to be finished with the homework and projects and late nights and class meetings, but I did enjoy making new friends and seeing them on a regular basis. I also know that going through this process has made me a better teacher, not only because I learned new things that changed my views on how we do things in education but also because I was once again a student. It's always good to be reminded of what it feels like to sit in a class for hours or to be given assignments that seem like "busy work!" Overall, this was a wonderful experience, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was something I wanted to do for myself, and something that no one can ever take away from me. I know that the new friends I made and even the friendships that were strengthened will continue to grow...they will just take more work now to maintain.

And so it's on from one thing to the next. Tomorrow is our first "official" day of school, although some of us have been up there so much this summer it seems like there was no break. We have professional development for 4 days, and the students come on Friday. Time again for schedules and routines and long days. But I have vowed to not stay at school this year until 6:00 every evening. We'll see how that goes! I'm off to enjoy my one last night before the craziness begins...

I know, I know...

Ok, so it's been a really long time. I know. We have been going nonstop for the past three weeks or so trying to fit as much as we can in before school starts. We've been traveling, spending time with family, celebrating, and getting ready to go back to school. I'll spare most of the details but will try to recap most of the past month's events.

I started off with a trip to New Orleans with my wonderful senior project teacher friends and our principal. We had a really good time together, and it was good to catch up with everyone. During the school year, we spend sooo much time together, so it's weird to not see them for a month in the summer! We went to lots of workshops but still made time for Cafe du Monde.

I came home from New Orleans for a day and left for Branson with Lee's family. We enjoyed spending time with his family and got to see lots of shows. Our favorite was the Riverboat Cruise. We ate dinner and saw a show on an enormous riverboat. This is us on the two hour train ride!

We returned from Branson and had my grandparents come up to visit us for a few days. Alyssa and I took them to Philadelphia to the waterpark one day, but it rained, so we never got to do anything. But we did get rain tickets that we are still waiting to use!

My grandparents left, and I left the next day to go back to New Orleans for the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) conference. This time, about 25 people from my school went. It was fun to see everyone, but I was tired of New Orleans by this point. I was just ready to come home! I came home early for Alicia's shower on Saturday.

After Alicia's shower, my mom and Lia came down for a few days. They had been in Europe for over two weeks, so they had lots of stories to tell and pictures to show. It was fun to just spend time together. We even went to Starkville for a day so that Lia could "officially" visit Mississippi State. Although she went a lot as a little kid, it was different to really be looking at it as a college choice. We're keeping our fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers!

In the middle of my mom and Lia being here, Lee and I snuck away to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. We went to eat at Char - a first for both of us. Lee had made reservations, and we ate in the kitchen, which was a real treat. There's so much action back there! Our food was really good, and we had a good time just sitting and relaxing and talking.

As soon as my mom and Lia left, Lee and I left for a short trip to Destin with his parents and brother. It was sooo relaxing and came at just the right time. The weather was great every day except the very last, which always makes it easier to come home. I didn't feel like I was missing anything!

On our way back from Destin, Lee and I stopped on the Coast to stay with my grandparents. My mom was already there. We were all secretly planning a surprise party for my grandfather's 77th birthday. Lee left early the next morning to come back to work while my mom and grandmother and I convinced my grandfather to go to the waterpark. (He loves the waterpark but was afraid it was going to rain.) Little did he know that he had no choice because everyone else was meeting us there! He was so shocked. We spent the entire day at the waterpark and had so much fun...and no rain!

I rode back from the Coast with Alyssa and Sam only to leave early the next morning for the Neshoba County Fair to campaign for Lee's boss, Commissioner Hall, during the political speakings. Lee got some boys from his bible study to come and support Commissioner Hall, too. It was a really hot day, but we had fun.

Thursday and Friday I spent in my classroom at school just trying to get things ready for the first day. I have a new computer lab this year with all new equipment. So I've been making curtains and painting things and trying to get everything in just the right place. I'll post pictures of that later! And I spent yesterday resting. I washed tons of clothes and picked up the house before Lee and I met Alyssa and Sam at the pool - it was just too hot - and then we all went to eat at McAlister's.

So, you see, things have been busy around here. I have one more week left before school officially begins. Lee and I are about to go back up to my classroom to finish moving the big things around. I'm planning to spend tomorrow catching up on my to do list. That could take more than one day! Although I'm sad about the summer being over, I do love the routine and schedule of being in school. Maybe I'll be a more consistent blogger!

I'M FINISHED!!

I am officially finished with graduate school...finally! I actually finished yesterday but was so tired of looking at the computer screen that I just couldn't bring myself to post anything. I turned in my last two projects yesterday and did my last presentation. I am so, so glad to be finished. I have learned so much in this past year about how to be a good school administrator, which has spilled over into my classroom and changed the way I teach and deal with almost everything. So I have loved learning about all those things. And I'm going to miss my girls so much, but it was certainly time to be finished. It was so nice to come home yesterday and watch TV last night and not feel like I had something I needed to do...write a paper, read a book, complete a project. Graduation isn't until August, but class is officially over!

I'm leaving this afternoon to go to New Orleans for a Senior Project conference, which is the main class I teach. I'm pretty excited. I'm looking forward to learning how to do things better in my class, and I'm real excited about seeing my friends I haven't seen all summer. There are only six Senior Project teachers, and we are a really tight team...and we have a great time together. So it should be a fun weekend.

I come back Friday night to leave again on Saturday for about a week. Lee and I are going on vacation with his grandparents and aunt and uncle. Every year, Lee's grandparents take us all on a big trip. I started going before we got married, so I've been going for a while. We have been to some great places - Jekyll Island, GA; Vail, CO; and even a tour of the west from Washington down to Jackson Hole and back. Lee and I weren't able to go last year because of all that we had going on, and we doubt we'll be able to go for a while after this year. So we decided to work hard to make sure we could go this year. We committed and THEN found out where we're going. Surprise! We're going to Branson, Missouri!! Lee and I have spent a lot of time laughing about it and decided that it would be a relaxing trip and good time to spend with his family. His mom and dad and brother can't go this year, and we'll miss them so much. We're leaving Saturday for Pontotoc to leave for Branson on Sunday. We're staying at a pretty nice resort...with a nice pool! I'll try to post some while we're there. I should have plenty of stories to tell...


Thanks for all of your sweet comments about our big news! I'll keep you posted on how things are going.

Lots of stuff going on around here...

We have been super busy around the Hill house. I only have three more days left of class, and I'm completely finished!! I go tomorrow and then Monday and Tuesday of next week. Class doesn't officially end until next Friday, but I am leaving Wednesday for a Senior Project conference in New Orleans with my fun teacher friends. I'm excited, but that also means that I have to turn in all of my projects before I leave, which is kinda stressing me out right now. The weekend is devoted to school work. Yuck!!

We've also had a little secret surprise that I'm sure most people have heard already. We're going to be having a baby in January! Obviously, we're really excited. I'm three months along...I know, we kept the secret for a long time. We just wanted to be sure that things were ok before we started spreading the word. We did tell our parents and siblings soon after we found out and told our grandparents a few weeks ago. We went back to the doctor today and heard the heartbeat again, which is so neat. I've been really lucky and haven't been really sick...just really tired, but even that is starting to wear off. Please continue to pray for us as we journey through this new phase.