A Wii Bit of Fun

We're home! Jake and I brought the wii and Jake's projector. Check out the fun! We'll be down for about a week and a half.

Almost Over!

First semester is almost over (two more days)! This has been an exhausting 16 weeks. I literally mean exhausting. I basically get to school at 7:30 and I try to leave before it gets dark. After that I come home, eat something get my clothes ready for the next day and then I lay down until I fall asleep.

I now have 28 students and am expecting one more soon. Everything will kick in to over-drive after the break. The TAKS test is HUGE down here! And 5th grade has to take 3 during the second semester. I will be doing after school tutoring almost every day for at least an hour. It's crazy. I don't want to think about it!!!

Admist all the stress and pressure, the cats do give me joy after a long days work. Freddy is still big and Chloe is getting bigger. I bought them a new toy today and they have been enjoying it. Here is a video of them playing together. You'll hear Jake and I talking on the phone. I asked him to pick up a cherry coke for me, but he didn't have his wallet. I try to get off the phone and do as little talking as possible. It sounds funny!

We'll be coming home this weekend. I'll see everyone soon!

The Gingerbread Boy

On Thursday I went home to see Kasen perform as the Gingerbread Boy in the Kindergarten Christmas program. It was one of the cutest plays I've ever seen. Here are a few pictures and short video clip from the day.

The cats napping during our lazy weekend.

If the skittles weren't upside down, it would be a cute ad!

This is from Carson's program.

Kasen as the gingerbread boy!

Chipotle

So some kind of exciting news. Jake and I put our names in for a drawing at one of my new favorite eating places, Chipotle. It is kinda like a mexican subway. Its really good. Anyway, I won the drawing! It is for a free meal for 10. The only predicament we have is... we don't really know anyone down here... expect for the school faculty. I thought maybe I could treat the office staff (it is always good to be on their good side!). We'll see.

Update on Jake's games. He won his first two basketball games. 33-17. 41-24. Not bad. He says they can do better. Oh, his fantasy football team is currently in third place, but he says I shouldn't put that on here.

This is going to be a busy busy week! I can't wait to see the family on Thursday.

What's New

This is where Chloe rode on the way back.




















Cooper. I'm not sure what he was doing, but everything he did was hilarious!











Me with Abbie.




We went home for Thanksgiving. It was not long enough! We went to three Thanksgiving dinners and an OU watch party. I left my makeup bag and camera charger at Dad's, so I can't post any new pictures. I will be home on Thursday to go see Kasen play the Gingerbread Boy in his school play.

This Monday of school was one the hardest days ever! I did not want to go back to school at all. I've learned that this is pretty normal though. We only have two more full weeks until Christmas break. yay! I can't believe this school year is half-way over.

Yesterday, Jake and I did a little shopping at Northpark Mall in Dallas. It is by far the best mall around. It is three-stories with almost every store imaginable...even Juicy Couture and Armani. It also has a movie theatre and a TGI Fridays. After doing some shopping we watched Four Christmas. It was pretty funny.

This morning we went to church, walmart and an antique store. The antique store we went to was huge! The biggest one I've ever been to and I've been dragged to a lot of antique stores. Grandma they had a whole aisle of Wall Trees. I found a wash cabinet that I liked, but I haven't decided if I'm going to go back and get it. They had one big building of just antique furnitures and then another building for collectibles.

Overall we had a pretty good weekend. Now I've got to get ready for school tomorrow. Goodnight!

Its good to be home!

It is so nice being home. We are currently at my dad's hooking up webcams. They are pretty neat if you haven't ever used one. We bought one for us and one for my dad so that we can talk to the kids.

Thanksgiving was good. Everyone showed up at Aunt Debbie's and the food was amazing. Then we went to Jake's sisters and ate again. They deep fried the turkey and it was really good.

Today we did all of our Christmas shopping. We didn't go before the crack of dawn though. We waited until about 11, but it was still busy.

Well, we need to finish getting these webcams set up. I found my camera charger so I'll post some pictures soon.

Go Sooners!

Two More Days!

Two more days of school and then.... home sweet home! Jake will get out of b-ball practice at 4:15. Oh, by the way he won his very first game! 33-17. Anyways, I plan on leaving at 4:15 on Tuesday.

This weekend, Kaylee, Kasen and Carson stayed with us. We stayed in most of the time watching movies and having coloring contests. Today we went to Build-a-Bear workshop. You should go if you haven't been. Its really neat. Kaylee made a pink Hannah Montana cheetah. Kasen made a football player zebra. Carson make a spiderman cat that resembled Freddy. I wish I could post pictures but I can't find my camera charger. Anyone seen it?

Well, I hope to see everyone soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thoughts

Today is Thursday and thank goodness tomorrow is Friday! I cannot wait until 3:15 tomorrow afternoon, because that means the weekend is here! yay!

Just as an update on my class... I now have 28 students. I have gotten three new students in the last four weeks. I got the third one yesterday. Getting new students is really a pain. The first two times they were walked to my room during the middle of lessons. And, did I have desks for them? No.... I have to get desks, put them in the gradebook, explain my discipline plan, catch them up.... and the list goes on!!

With all that said, I do have a pretty good class.

Jake started basketball yesterday. He is doing tryouts this week. He is the head 7th grade B team coach! Wow what a title!

Oh, some people have asked if I get more things being a teacher in Texas. Like in Oklahoma if a teacher needs something for her class, she buys it with her own money. Down here, I just ask! The other day I asked for 30 three ring binders... "Sure, no problem," my principal replied. I asked for 3 spiral notebooks and four folders per kid... got them! I have four student computers and one pretty new Mac teacher computer in my room. I have a video projector to show movies and powerpoints on.... This aspect of Texas I will miss. The teaching....I won't!

Craigslist!

We made our first craigslist purchase today! I've been looking for a decent table for a decent price and I finally found one. We bought this table today for $120!

Leaving Doesn't Get Easier With Time

This past weekend, I drove home, picked up dad and the kids, and drove to OKC. We went trick or treating at Frontier City and then stayed at Uncle Doug's for the night. I had a good time. The kids costumes looked so good!

And then I had to drive home alone. I thought saying goodbye would get easier, but that hasn't happened yet.

Here are some pictures from Frontier City...

What a day!

Bass Pro overlooking the lake
At the Arboretum



These lillypads are huge!

Today Jake and I did all sorts of things. We went to the Dallas Aboretum. It was gorgeous. There were two weddings going on and I think we saw 6 brides taking bridal pictures. People were having picnics and some were laying on the grass reading. Little kids were running around everywhere.

Then we went to Bass Pro in Rockwall. It is overlooking this huge lake. After playing there for awhile, we walked down to a Mexican restraunt on the lake. It was a really relaxing atmosphere and we ate on the terrace overlooking the lake.

Then... we went to Frisco in search of flip flops and an OU hat. The Frisco area is really nice I might add.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we got lost in a Dallas ghetto. It was almost the scariest time in my life!

Jake's Game

I have pictures from tonights game. The B team won their game and I didn't stay for all of the 8th grade game.

Jake's team is in white!

Home is Where the Heart Is

Home is where the heart is, and my heart is not in Texas. I understand this saying now. We went home this weekend and had a great time. Kaylee danced at the football game. She also turned 8 and we held a party for her at the Bosa. After that we went to SNL at J-Mils and Shan-nays house. I miss hanging out with all of our friends. It was really hard to say goodbye to everyone.

Jake has some good news... He passed his OPTE! This means we might be moving back this summer! I can't say anything definite, but I can hope.

State Fair

Trumpets like the Toyota Robot played.

The last ride of the day...
Awww! lol


Waiting for the parade!

That ferris wheel is huge!
This totally fits her personality!
He had so much fun!
I still can't believe Kasen went on this ride!
It shot up rally fast!

On Saturday, my dad, the kids, Jake and I went to the Texas State Fair. I will add that the Texas fair is really nice. We had a blast. We got to see the 2009 cars, including Hondas. There was also a trumpet playing Robot... so cool. We watched a parade and the kids rode a lot of rides!

Update

A plane that Papa might have flown!




Chloe's new toy!







Mom's new kittens! There are four more!






Jake playing with Chloe!








Wow. It has been two weeks since I updated this! Sorry!

Lets see....

A couple weekends ago, we went out with a couple that go the church we're going to, Blake and Stephanie. Blake is also my principal's son. We went to TGI Fridays and then ice cream by the lake. It was a nice to get out of the house for a change!




Last weekend I went to PV and picked up the kids. Kaylee did a cheer at the half-time show at the homecoming game. I brought the kids back to TX with me. We had a lot of fun with them!


My dad came down today. We went to an airplane museum in Addison, TX. It was pretty neat. I got to see some of the planes like my Papa Baxter worked on and flew.



Other than that, things down here are busy! I go to school at 7 and leave around 6 or 7 at night. I pretty much spend my whole day doing school things. Jake had his first football game last Monday. It was fun to watch, but sadly they did not win. I didn't know anyone at the game... so if anyone wants to drive down on a Monday and watch a game with me... that would be great!

Weekly Update

Hey All!

Tomorrow is Friday. That means that I will have survived two whole weeks of school. This week has been sooooooo much better than last week!

I also was able to go home over the weekend. It was much needed time spent with family. My dad had our house all fixed up for us. He had a lady who works for him come clean it up! He even had the air conditioner turned on! It was really nice. We were able to spend the whole weekend with the kids. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was laying out in the pool. It was so relaxing!

I know you are all wondering about Freddy and Chloe, right? They have adjusted really well to the move. The first day, they spent most of the day inside a kennel, together, in my closet. They were also leary about the window sill. We live on the third floor next to a busy street. So, the scenery from the window is a little different than their view from Oklahoma. Freddy is also not able to go outside here... But, they seem to enjoy themselves. I have an adorable picture of Freddy that I'll post soon.

Love,
Ashley

I made it! and We're coming Home!

First off I just want to let everyone know that I survived the first week of school! Whew! There were a few low points, but the last two days were great! I sent my "bad' girl to the counselor's office today. I don't know what they did, but she came back a different student. Wow, thanks counselors!

Secondly, we're coming home tonight! Yea! I can't wait! As soon as Jake gets out of football practice, we'll be on our way.

Thats about it. I am going to go pack! See you soon!

Ashley

I Wanna Come Home!

First Day of School - Great!

Second Day of School - Not so great!

Third Day of School - So-So.

Am I ready to come back home?

Yes!

I miss my family too much.

Maybe I can make it till Christmas...

First Day of School... Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is our first real day of school. We've been going to staff development for the last two weeks. We had one full day to work in our rooms and now school is starting tomorrow.

I would still be working on my room if it weren't for Jake helping me. I planned and he did all the work. Thanks sweetie!

Our apartment is still not quite settled. We put all unpacked boxes in the guest bedroom. Our living room consists of a futon and a folding table with a tv on it. Hopefully some of that will change when we get our first paycheck!

We plan on coming home Labor Day weekend. I can't wait to see my family and friends. I miss the kids like crazy!

Well off to finish laundry and then go to bed. I need to get as much sleep as possible.

I'll post pictures soon.

Love,
Ashley