Positive Intentions

Okay so I know it has been a while (a LONG while) since my last post. Of course there is a ton to catch you up on but I guess I better just hit the highlights. Over the past summer Preston and I had a blast and accomplished a ton!

We became an aunt and uncle in May! We are totally in love with our nephew and enjoy spending time with him when we can! I think being around him makes us really excited to think about what the future has in store for us as parents.

Throughout the summer we tried to get away as much as possible! Last year we spend a majority of our time painting. This year we were looking forward to accomplishing a some projects but we were mostly excited about having fun! We were lucky enough to spend a couple weeks at the beach with both sides of our families. We also spent a week on a cruise! We were able to visit several counties which was an amazing expierence. Our favorite county was Honduras! What a beautiful county. I wonder where we will go next summer?



Aside from all the fun I also began a new chapter in my achademic life. I began graduate school this fall. Of course being back at my alma mater makes it even more special! My plan is to graduate with my Masters in Education with a concentration in Reading. When I finished I will be lisenesed K-12 in reading! It is very exciting and I am really pumped to see what the future has to offer! For now I will use everything I am learning to better my teaching! I have already learned so much!

As far as the present goes we are enjoying fall. Halloween was a sucess and thankfully I did not run out of candy as I did last year! We barely made it but we made it and that is what matters! Aside from Halloween we have also been celebrating football season! This past weekend we visited Blacksburg, VA for the UNC game at Virginia Tech. We had a great time making new tailgate buddies. Of course the game was AMAZING so that made our experience even more exciting. Although our heart belongs to the Tar Heels we can definatly appreciate Hokie fans. They put us all to shame! They are amazingly devoted to their team! Their fans certainly created a unique experience for us. Beating the Hokies was the highlight though!

It seems our life is crazy but we are enjoying every single minute of it. Until next time... (which I promise will not be months from now!) Go Tar Heels! Beat Dook!

Spring is here and so is the pollen...

Well the snow has certainly come and gone since my last post.  Unfortunately the weather is still confused on whether or not it would like for it to be warm or cool.  One thing is for sure... it is green!  The pollen was giving me a fit but thankfully I had an appointment with my ENT just in time!  They saved the day for sure!  Without my allergy meds (yes that would mean I take more than one) I would be miserable!  

Signs of spring are all around us!  March has come and gone (and so has our 1 year anniversary) as well as half of April!  Our yard looks beautiful with all the new blooms and blossoms!  We are thrilled to finally have some color  to look at!  Of course my two favorite signs of spring are warmer weather and baseball season!  Both have graced us with their presence and I couldn't be more happier.  

Speaking of baseball... Friday Preston and I went to the Thrill to see the Diamond Tar Heels.  They beat Miami so we left very happy!  The new stadium is really nice!  I hope we can get back to at least one more game before their season ends.  

Yesterday Mom and I had a fun girls day.  We started our day with manis/pedis and lunch.  Then we headed to Durham to see Legally Blonde The Musical.  It was wonderful!  After we left we admitted it was much better than we had expected.  It was funny, touching, and sweet!  We finished our day with dinner and shopping at South Point.  It was a wonderful day!  I can't wait to do it again soon!  

Our weekend ended with a fun trip to Gander Mountain in Greensboro.  Preston bought a new gun!  Who would have thought he needed one more?  I guess I should be happy too because now I have one more I can use too!  Those turkeys and ducks better watch out!  

Overall spring is going great!  I cannot wait to see what the rest of this season has to offer!  My birthday is next weekend so I know more fun is in store for certain!   

Celebrating our first anniversary at the Front Street Inn in downtown Wilmington.  We were about to eat our wedding cake!  We were surprised by how good it was!  :)

"Baby it's cold outside!"

Well today was snow day #1!  I was lucky enough to see it start early this morning.  Reese woke

me up to get in bed with us (this is her usual habit) around 3:00 and I took advantage to see if it had started!  It had, but it wasn't accumulating very much.  By the time Preston got up to go to work (around 7) it was a winter wonderland outside!  It was so nice to spend the morning with a cup of coffee in hand while the snow fell outside!  

I also tried to take advantage of having a lazy day off from work!  I spent the day taking in inauguration festivities on tv, completing my grad school application online, and baking.  I am proud of myself for making history and for taking care of my application!  Now I only have to take the GRE.  YIKES!  I have made it through studying for the literacy part... now I just have to tackle the math!  Of course math is a struggle for me so I will really need to buckle down!  

I thought I would post a couple pictures of two of my favorite things.  My new Kitchen Aid Pro mixer and my grandmother's swiss chocolate cake recipe.  Preston has asked me to try the recipe for a while now so with time off I gave it a shot!  It turned out yummy!  I can't wait for him to come home tomorrow and have a big slice!  I love cooking for my man!  :)

Snow day... two words a teacher loves to hear!

It is funny for me to think about how the same snow days I loved as a child I love now as a teacher.  Even though school is not cancelled as of now it is still fun to imagine waking up tomorrow morning and seeing all that bright white all around!  It would be nice to have an extra day off... but remember.  We do have to make it up at some point!  

This weekend was so much fun!  I am happy to have had a nice long weekend off.  On Friday I went to Wilmington to help Gwen celebrate her 25th birthday.  We had a ton of fun!  I am happy I was able to go and visit for a while.  Saturday Preston and I spent the day hanging out, grilling (yes we grill in 30 degree weather), and building a fire.  It was nice to just relax.  Sunday Maggie and I went to church and out to lunch which is always a treat!  I spent the afternoon in Chatham County visiting my parents.  Monday was another great day I spent catching up on all the things I avoided all weekend!  I even found the time to make a batch of soup!  

So I guess snow or no snow... this weekend was great!  I can't wait to see what this week has in store!  

Hello 2009

Happy New Year!  

It is hard to believe that 2008 has come and gone!  It was a quick year that passed by before I knew it!  Even though it is over, it was a pretty awesome  year between marrying the love of my life and best friend, buying a house, finishing my first offical year of teaching, and traveling.  Needless to say 2009 will have to be pretty amazing because 2008 was great!  

WDW 2008 

It's okay to say "Merry Christmas!"

As a teacher, during the holidays, I am made particularly more aware of religion each year.  In Wake County we are not allowed to celebrate the holidays with discussion of Santa, trees, stockings, or anything else associated with the traditional celebration of Christmas day.  Let's just say it is very much different than when we were kids!  It is unfortunate but necessary as our world today is so diverse and PC.  Plus... I love my job and don't want to loose it any time soon! 

Today at church we learned that Christmas means "the celebration of Christ."  We were also challenged to imagine what it would have been like to be there on that day when Jesus was born.  When you think about it, it is hard to wrap your mind around how incredible that must have been.  The church play was called "Imagine" because there is no way the birth of Christ could be recreated.  I thought that was a beautiful way of celebrating! 

As our new little family begins to celebrate its first offical Christmas we want to wish you a very merry Christmas!  Throughout the celebrations I hope that Preston and I will be able to keep in our hearts the true joy of the season!  

Candy anyone?

Last night I gave out candy at my home for the very first time in my 24 years of existence on Halloween.  Growing up in rural Chatham County (aka outside the city limits of Siler City) we never had trick or treaters.  We always had to go to family and friends houses to give or receive any.  I can still remember helping Lindsay Brown every year starting in middle school because I wanted to hand it out so bad!  Well last night I had my chance and guess what... I wasn't at all prepared!  I had gotten  three really big bags throughout the last month (I tried to catch it on sale).  I thought I would have plenty but I guessed wrong!  I almost ran out and only had 10 or so little pieces of bubble gum left.  

Here are a few things I learned from last nights festivities... 

1. Three bags of candy are not enough.  There are a lot of children in our part of town!  

2. Scream mask are not so scary has an adult.  

3. Children can be greedy... therefore hold the tray far away from their little hands.  

4. I must have little kid friendly candy next  year.  Six month olds cannot chew gum.  

5. Andrea Melahn is a great cook... with microwavable dips. 

6. I love hearing the magic words THANK YOU!