Thankful- November 30th

Today, I am thankful for my friend Bonnie. Bonnie and I met at Townley last year and we were both first year teachers. I don't think I would have survived my first year without her! We ate lunch together every day and spent many planning periods just chatting. When I left Townley, I was the most upset about leaving her! She is so dear to me and I miss working with her every single day. I'm so blessed to call her my friend and I'm so glad that we still keep in touch even though we don't work together! Oh, and one more thing... Bonnie is in labor right now! Baby carney is almost here! I'm thankful for baby carney as well! :) :)

PS. I'm kind of sad that this is the last thankful post! Just know that even if I didn't write a post about you, I am still thankful that you are in my life! But there are only 30 days in November, so I'm all out of days! :)

Thankful- November 29th

I am extremely blessed with so many wonderful people in my life... I could go on and on about people I'm thankful for. But today, I am thankful for a night spent at home alone. I don't remember the last time I sat in my apartment, ate dinner, and caught up on TV shows by myself. I'm the kind of person who *always* has to be on the go and always wants to be with someone else. I almost invited people over tonight just so I wouldn't be alone! But now that I'm here, sitting on the couch, eating my sandwich, and watching TV... I must say that I am extremely thankful for a night by myself. After this crazy week of visiting tons of people and a crazy day back at school with my kiddos, a quiet night is exactly what I need!

Thankful- November 28th

I know I gave thanks for these people before the break, but again today I am thankful for my group of friends in Dallas. I loved being home for a week, but I missed sharing life here with these people so much. I feel like we have become a little family here in Dallas and I have missed hanging out with them! I am so excited that we are all back in town now. Most of us went to dinner tonight (Travis, Holly, Cali, Scott, Katie, Sarah, Kirk, and me!) and looking around the table, I was reminded of how blessed I truly am here in Dallas. I'm so, so thankful for my group of friends here in Dallas!!

On the road again...

After 8 days in Alabama (and a total of 38 hours in my car!), Thanksgiving break has come to a close. And honestly, I feel like I need another break to recover from this break! We traveled literally all week. Honestly, it made the week seem so long! I was at Lacey's just a week ago... but it feels like that was months ago! Here is a quick recap of my week:
Saturday: Left Dallas at 5:30AM. Arrived in Enterprise, Alabama at 6:00 PM! Spent the evening watching A&M football with the Martin's and just catching up on life. (Total Car Hours:12 1/2)

Charlie Man watching the game- he looks cuter in Crimson, but maroon will have to do!

Sunday: Slept in (you know you're an adult when "sleeping in" refers to 8:30AM...) Lacey cooked a marvelous breakfast of homemade cinnomon rolls... they were AMAZING! We then layed around the house until lunch, when Baron cooked the best ribs I've ever had! Then we got ready and headed to Dothan, Alabama to do some shopping (because there is literally nothing in Enterprise!). I learned that Charlie man hates hates hates the car (and singing Lady Gaga as a lullaby does not work!) When we got home from shopping, Baron had cooked another meal of King Ranch Chicken and it was to die for! (Did I mention that Lacey and Baron spoiled us rotton with scrumpcious food for every meal?) We ended the night watching "Grown Ups" (which was hysterical!). (Total Car Hours: 1 1/2)
Monday: We slept in (to 8:30, again!.. ha...) and then Lacey cooked another yummy breakfast! Holly and I got ready, packed, and said our goodbyes. It was so good to spend a few days with Lacey and I hated leaving her! I miss her so much in Dallas but I'm so thankful that I had a weekend to spend with her. I loved seeing Baron and baby Charlie, as well! Then Holly and I were off in the car again. We went to Trussville, but on the way we made a few stops. We stopped at Sikes and Kohn, which is right outside of Montgomery, and I bought this adorable purse:

I know, precious, right? I think so, too. :) Then in Montgomery we stopped at Momma G's for lunch. De.Light.Ful. It's probably my favorite place to eat- ever! Yum yum! Then we finally made it to Trussville! We ate dinner at the house with my dad and just caught up with him. Then we headed over to our good ol' alma mater and watched their production of White Christmas with Becky. My little brother was on the tech crew. It was a good play and it was great to see Becky! After the play, we headed to good ol' Applebee's for dessert and girl talk with Becky. (Total Car time for Monday: 4 1/2 hours)
Tuesday: Holly and I got up and headed out to Hackleburg, Alabama. We spent the afternoon with our good friend Tiffany and her sweet baby girl, Tenley. I fell in love the moment I saw her! She looks just like her daddy that it's scary. But she was the sweetest baby and I didn't want to leave her! Isn't she adorable?

It's scary how much she looks like her dad!

Then we headed back to Trussville to pick up our little brother and then we headed to the Galleria to eat at Wings with my dad! (Gooey Fries- yum!) After that, I watched a movie at my dad's house with my friend, Darren. It was good to catch up with him as well! (Total Car time for Tuesday: 5 hours)
Wednesday: Wait for it, Wait for it... I spent the entire day in one city. Crazy, right? Well, that doesn't mean I wasn't in the car. I went to lunch with Charlee at the palace and I loved getting to catch up with her! After that, we met Katey on the other side of town for coffee. Then Holly went off to the movies with Julie, and I shopped all day with Katey. (What else is new?) I bought the cutest houndstooth rainboots and an Alabama rain jacket. I also bought a new sweater from Old Navy! (I'm addicted to that place...) That night I ate dinner with my family and then spent the evening in the church parking lot with Katey and Nick. We also ran into the Lowe Hoe's there, which is always a treat! It was a typical, relaxing, non exciting day in Trussville! (Total Car time for Wednesday: 1 Hour)
Thursday: On the road again, oh I can't wait to be on the road again.... haha! We headed up to Gadsden for Thanksgiving lunch with my mom's family. It consisted of a lot of yummy food, a lot of football, and a lot of talking about the Iron Bowl! I ended up taking a nap on the couch and it was just so nice to relax with my family. Then it was back on the road to head back to Trussville. Holly and I packed our stuff up and got BACK in the car and went to Tuscaloosa that night. We cooked breakfast for dinner with Nikki, watched the A&M/Texas game, and painted canvases. Overall, my Thanksgiving was super relaxing! It was great! (Total Car Time for Thursday: 3 hours)\
Friday: Again, I stayed in one city this day! It was finally time for the Iron Bowl. I woke up bright and early. Chris arrived at about 8:30, and it was off to campus. We tailgated and trash talked all day, and it was so much fun! Then it was off to the game. My dad has amazing connections (cough Mal Moore cough) and scored us some *FREE* iron bowl tickets! (That's right, free. Thanks, Mal!) They were amazing seats too... see?

I know, amazing. And for the first half, it was truly that. Amazing. I was so excited! And then the second half rolled around. And not only was I freezing, but apparently the cold had frozen all of our player's minds and they forgot how to play football. We handed the game over to Auburn and walked out of Bryant Denny with a loss. What a shame! An amazing (free) ticket to the Iron Bowl and you lose? What a waste! I still love my boys though. And honestly, after everything Auburn has done for my family this year, I am cheering them on to that national championship victory. (GASP! I know, it's shocking. Trust me, this is the only time that will ever happen!) After the game I went to dinner with some friends and then went to bed. What, I can't help it! This week wore me out! (Total Car Time for Friday: 1 hour. That was thanks to the traffic after the game!)
Saturday: 6:00 came around bright and early. We loaded up in the car and headed home to Dallas. We made it in record time (rolled into the apt at 2:30!) and it was so great to be back! I loved being home for a week, but I'm now exhausted and counting down the days until the next break! (Total Car time for Saturday: 8 1/2 hours)

Total Car time for the entire trip: 38 hours.
PS. When I come home for Christmas, you can drive to me. I will not be doing this crazy driving thing ever again!

Thankful- November 27th

Today I am thankful for my sister's boyfriend, Travis. He is a great friend of mine and I've loved getting to know him. He also makes me sister super happy, which is always a plus. He serves our country in the army and is an amazing man of God. He is so funny and always fun to be around. He is a man of his word and I love that. But the reason I'm most thankful for him today is because he just spent the past week dog sitting our puppies! That is a big task and I'm so thankful that he volunteered to do it so that we could spend a week in Alabama! Thanks, T$!!!

Thankful- November 26th

After Ann Marie's Wedding- 2009

Today, I am thankful for my Christopher. I met Chris the summer before my senior year of college. We had some mutual friends and we met at my friend Jessie's wedding. (Chris was my friend Natalie's date to the wedding.) We hit it off instantly and had quite an interesting evening together (crazy machines and drawers hahaha...) Anyway, we've been friends ever since! Since Chris went to Auburn and I went to Alabama, we didn't see each other often. But any time I was in Auburn or he was in Tuscaloosa, we've made it a point to hang out. We've seen each other every Iron Bowl since and multiple weddings. (Why do we always end up at the same weddings?) Anyway, he has been such a blessing in my life. He has an incredible testimony and I love the way he points it all back to the Lord. I am so glad I got to spend time with him today! (Even if he is a barner and his team went and beat mine...) I can't wait until the next time I see him (hopefully we don't wait for a wedding or iron bowl!)

Iron Bowl 2010

After KBK's wedding in April

Iron Bowl 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, obviously I have been a terrible blogger! My trip to Alabama has taken me around the state, and I haven't had internet in most places. Therefore I will have to come back and finish up my thankful days I've missed and catch up on the 30 day challenge as well!

For now, I just want to wish you all a happy thanksgiving! I'm spending my thanksgiving night watching the texas/aggie game in Tuscaloosa with my bestest friend! And tomorrow I'm going to the Iron Bowl thanks to my dad and his amazing connections! I'm so excited!

So I'll leave you with a happy thanksgiving wish, a big ROLL TIDE!, and a promise to blog again soon! It may not be until I'm back in Dallas on Saturday night, though!

Thankful- November 25th

Today, I am thankful for my mom's family. My mom passed away a few years ago, but we have always done Thanksgiving lunch with them. My mom was an only child, so we always got together with my grandmother's family- she has 6 brothers and sisters. It always turns out to be a lot of people and a lot of good food and a lot of fun. I'm thankful that we still do it even after all this years without my mom. It is a tradition that I truly cherish! I wouldn't want to spend my Thanksgiving day any other way.

Thankful- November 24th

Today, I am thankful for one of my college roommates, Charlee. Or, Charmander as I call her! Charlee and I went to the same highschool but we didn't become friends until my sophomore year of college. We had geology together and started studying together... after that, we became really good friends! We lived together my senior year of college and had so much fun. We spent so many nights laying in the floor and in my bed talking about life. I loved living with her! I'm so thankful for the chance to catch up today at lunch and can't wait to stand by her side in her wedding in June. I love you, Charmander!

at lunch today...

Charmander and me :)

me and Charmander

Thankful- November 23rd

Today I am thankful for my sweet friend, Tiffany. We met my sophomore year at UA and my college life would have been so different without her! She is seriously the happiest and most laid back person I know! Her husband is wonderful too! And of course, her sweet baby Tenley. I loved spending time with Tiff and Tenley today and I'm so thankful for Tiff's friendship!

Holly and I with sweet Tenley today and the bunny we made her!

Tiff and me :)

Tiff and me :)

Tiff and me at her wedding :)

Day 30

I'm kind of sad that this 30 day challenge is over! It was fun having something to write about every day!
Day 30 is a picture, so I'll leave you with one of my favorites...

I was deleting pictures on my camera the other day to make room for new ones, and I came across so many of the 6 of us together. I don't realize how much I miss them until I see pictures of us. I especially miss Betsy, since it's so much harder to see her. The other girls live in Alabama and I can see them anytime I go home, but with Betsy being in Cali it's harder to see her and I miss her so so much! I love these girls and I think we need to plan a reunion soon! :) :)

Thankful- November 22nd

Today, I am thankful for my hilarious little brother. He is the funniest person I know and I love, love, love spending time with him!! He might be my favorite person in the world. I love seeing him this week!!

Day 29

Day 29- 3 Wishes
Let's see... what would my 3 wishes be if I had a magical genie?
1. That my mom would still be here. I miss her daily.
2. That I'd meet my "one" soon... yes, I'm tired of finding the wrong one.. over, and over again! ha!
3. That my kids would all pass TAKS- I know, a lame wish, but it's obvious that I'm a teacher. Now that the first semester is coming to a close, I'm super stressing out about that stupid test!

Thankful- November 21st

Today, I am thankful for my beautiful, amazing, twin sister. There is no one else that I would want to spend this entire week road tripping with. She laughs when I sing delirious songs and stops with me at random places. She is not only the best road trip partner, but the best friend ever! I am so thankful that God blessed me with a wonderful built in best friend. :)

Day 28

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Oh that's easy- TAKS test. It stresses me out to the max to think about getting 17 students ready for 3 different TAKs tests! I can't even talk about it without getting stressed out.

Thankful- November 20th

Today, I am thankful for my dear friend Lacey. She was my first real friend in Dallas. We met at the new teacher academy a week before school started and we instantly clicked. Honestly, I dont remember a time when Lacey and I weren't friends. Which is crazy since we've only been friends for a little over a year.

  She is just so like me. We have the same sense of humor and we just get along so great. She is up front and honest with me, makes me laugh, lets me cry, and is the kind of friend who I can always call when I need her. I have loved getting to know Lacey over the past year and a few months.

 I especially loved getting to go through her entire pregnancy with her. It was such a joyful 9 months! From the morning she told me in my classroom that she was expecting, to watching Lacey's tummy get bigger (and not be able bend over to close the car door!), to sewing and painting to help the days go faster, to shopping for hours trying to go into labor, to the moment I held that baby boy for the first time- I loved all of it. It was such an honor to share it all with her!

 She moved to Alabama in August (of all places!) and I have missed her terribly since she left. Sometimes all I want to do is go sit at her apartment with her, but she isn't there.

However, today I am on my way to see her! I will be spending time with her, her husband, and their beautiful baby boy until Monday afternoon. I absolutely cannot wait to cuddle that baby boy and laugh with her. It's going to do my heart so much good to have a Lacey weekend! I am overjoyed about it!

Day 27

Day 27-Pets

I have a yorkie, whose name is Julio. He is named after Julio Jones, the Alabama football player 

Julio loves to snuggle and watch Alabama football :) 

He was so tiny when I first got him!

Holly's puppy, Gus, on the day we got him :)

Gus Gus :)

Thankful- November 19th

Today, I am thankful for my entire group of Dallas friends. We have gotten so close and I am going to miss them so much over the break! Tonight we are going to eat dinner and watch Megamind. I am excited about spending one more night with them before I leave and I am so thankful that God has put each of them into my life!

Day 26

Day 26-Picture of your family

Thankful- November 18th

Today I am thankful for my Kimmay. We have been friends since second grade and I have loved growing up and living life with Kim by my side.

 We always share so many laughs and good times. We have had our share of ups and downs, but I have always known that she will always be there for me.

 When I first moved to college, Kim stayed back in Trussville. I really had no idea how to survive without her around every day. Thankfully, she would come visit often! I was so glad when she finally moved to Tuscaloosa. :)

 I miss laughing with her, dancing in the car while driving around Trussville, and just hanging out together.

 She's the kind of friend I can be completely stupid with me, and she doesnt care!

I can't wait to see you next week, Kim! I miss you so much!