A Photo Catch Up

As promised, here are a few photos of the last little bit of our lives. One rainy weekend we decided to go to the Kansas State Fair, about an hour away. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the exhibits, eating the yummy fair food, and going to the petting zoo. Though we were quite disturbed that they were selling hamburgers in the same place they had the cow exhibit. We did not consume any that day!

My mom came for a visit. She, a newly empty nester, couldn't stand the though of all her children being so far away, so she said she had to come to "stock our pantry". She also treated us to Sushi, a movie, and almost bought a nice "pleather" (plastic and leather) jacket for herself at Target.

Tay and Me at Sushi

Mom loves the popped collar...seriously.

That weekend we also created a Facebook Monster: MOM. She is now on the good ole' FB. I never thought I'd live to see the day. She's pretty cool now. Watch out.

We have also enjoyed our Saturday date night tradition and have found some great places to eat here in Wichita. This is Taylor showing off our "Boba" at one of our favorite little Tai/Asian fusion places. It's a smoothie/shake with these gelatinous little black balls at the bottom. It's supposedly all the rage in Asia. I had to try it (What was I thinking...I'm the one who can't handle weird food textures), took two sips and was done. It tasted nasty and then I got a boba, and I was done. Needless to say, it was a waste. But worth the adventure!

Lastly, I have to rave about my husband for a minute. He is so sweet to always come to my school. He usually brings me lunch once a week, and comes when we have special events like popcorn parties and our Fall Party. This little boy loves "Mr. McFarland" and is always quick to latch on to him and not let go. The kids love him, but I love him more!

Life in Wichita is good thus far, though we don't want to be here our whole lives. We are excited for what the future has in store for us. Hopefully in the next few months we will be making some life decisions that will map out the next couple of years. We can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas and being with family.

Fall Favorites

I love fall. I love the crisp weather. I love the trees changing color. I love wearing sweaters. Last night, I unpacked all my fall/winter clothes and I don't think I've been that excited about switching my wardrobe in a long time! I was near giddy and Taylor patiently listened to me talk about all the new outfits I'd have to wear!

Things I don't like about fall: the weather makes my students crazy. I always know when it's going to rain or snow because the decibel level in my room goes way up! Another thing i strongly dislike is Halloween approaching and trying to wrangle them to actually sit still and focus. There has been more tears this week than I can handle, and when one shut himself in his locker yesterday, I just about quit. Today I am teaching my own class, but watching over a 3rd grader that has in-school suspension. Got to love fall!

To celebrate Fall, Tay and I carved pumpkins, drove around aimlessly trying to find a pumpkin patch, made lots of chili and grilled cheese and tomato soup, cuddled on our couch in our freezing apartment, and tonight we might just hit up the circus (not really fall, well with all the freaks it might as well be halloween under a tent!). Tomorrow we are celebrating Halloween by going to a a college soccer double header, where Taylor is the administrator in charge. That means I get to sit in the press box and read, grade papers and hang out. I'm just thankful I made it through another week.

I am savoring fall because I know all too soon the leaves will die and fall off the trees, the ice storms will come, and I'll be hating winter. At least it will mean one more season before summer!

Quick Catch-Up

Lots has been going on around our house lately, but with no internet, I have had to wait to catch you all up. People have called just to make sure we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, and to them thank you! We haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, just been insanely busy. Seriously.

Last Sunday Taylor got called to be the First Counselor in the Elder's Quorum. He is doing a great job so far. Unfortunately, his meetings start at 9:00 a.m. and mine, for Primary, start at 10:00, so we don't really see each other until after church.

Last Tuesday was Tay's birthday. The big 2-7! We celebrated all weekend by going out to dinner, treating ourselves to a movie and popcorn, and being together. On his actual birthday, I had to work and he had school (ugh. Midterms), so when he got home (two hours early!!!) I had the house all decorated, his presents all laid out, and dinner in the oven. I even attempted to make an ice cream pie, but because he was 2 hours early, it didn't really have enough time to set. It was yummy anyways. Now that he is 27, Taylor says he's an "old-man" and has been going to bed before me! Who would have thought I'd ever see that day!

Today, after work, I am headed up to Topeka with a few other teachers to attend a conference. It will be our first night apart! It seems wierd to think that I slept by myself for so many years, and now I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it. Taylor said last night he rolled over and got an elbow to the eye. I don't think he'll mind having the bed all to himself for one night! But I do know he'll miss me.

This week is also parent teacher conferences, which I am NOT looking forward to. Though it does signal that we are already 1/4 done with the school year, I am not excited about sitting down to talk with the parents of some of my "naughties". Taylor was reading my notes for conferenes, and just laughing. Yep, some days I wonder why I chose this. I guess I'm just a glutton for pain.

On a positive note...5 1/2 weeks before we go to California to see the McFarland Clan, and 9 1/2 weeks till we go to Boise to see the Peterson Posse. I'm so excited!!!!

An Indoor Tornado

I reached a new level in my teaching experience today. I had a tornado in my classroom. A child who had been expelled from another school was placed in my class on Wednesday. Today, as we were finishing our spelling test he became frustrated. I quickly took the rest of my class to P.E. and left the student with the nurse and another teacher in my room. When I came back it looked like a tornado had been through the room. Desks were overturned, computer monitors were on the floor, and he had a chair over his head, which he proceeded to throw at the computers. We had to call the police to get him escorted from the room. Let's just say, on Monday my class will have one less first grader.

I have never had that happen in my classroom. It was interesting trying to figure out how to talk to the rest of my six year olds about how their classmate made some bad choices. They were very sad because they had tried to help him. One kid said, "I tried to help him, but he just said no." I of course cried. Anytime I get a surge of adrenaline, I cry and shake. I was shaking like never before. But now we are watching a movie. We all need a little break. Plus I called Taylor and told him tonight I just need to relax.

Goodbye Internet

No, we didn't drop off the face of the planet (though sometimes it feels like we did) we just have no internet at home anymore. Long story. Let's just say you get what you pay for. Now we are reduced to having to come to the university to use the internet, and that's not always the most convienent. We now have to scheudle time into our day to go on dates to use the internet. At first it was hard, not being able to check everyone's blog when I wanted to (heaven knows I never have ANY time at school to blogstalk!), but we have gotten into a routine without it. Now, that being said, I'm not opposed to taking donations to the "poor teacher and student internet fund". Until we actually get internet (and who knows whent that will be) all you faithful followers, all three or so of you, will just have to deal with pictureless, infrequent, and all too short posts. Sorry!

Oh, the Freedom

I used to be very daring. Well at least I think so. I used to shoot guns, play sports, play with worms. I was the only girl on my T-ball team. I have been to Mexico, swam with sting rays in the Caribbean, lived with 8 other girls (that's pretty daring). Met and married my husband after only dating for three months...I'd say I'm slightly daring. Lately, my daring meter has been stuck at 0. Absolutely none. (Unless you call moving halfway across the country to the middle of nowhere daring).

Today I felt more daring than I have in a long time. And it was by far very lame. I drove from the mailbox to my apartment without my seat belt. Laugh it up. I know, that's not what you were expecting was it. But, if you knew me, you'd know that was a big deal. I like to think of myself as the seatbelt police, and may have been accused of the title by my own father. Driving without a seat belt (through the apartment complex, mind you) was the most freeing thing I have done in the last few months. I think I may do it again tomorrow. Call me a rebel.

Haircuts, Comforters, Butterflies, and A Nice Treat

Oh, is it only Tuesday? Really? Can't it be Thursday? Or better yet Friday? I guess I'll just have to be patient. I can't believe it's only Tuesday.

Saturday I was trying to save me and my grad-student husband a few dollars by getting my hair cut at a "discount/thrift" hair place. We are talking the walk in, wait, and get whoever is next, kind. Though I was nervous I convinced myself it would be fine, and that I would be saving us a few dollars. Well, I learned not to do that again. I asked for 1/4 of an inch off and got about 3. I asked her to shape up my layers, and I got LOTS more layers. I asked for a bang trim, and lets just say I got much more than a trim. By that point I was not going to pay an extra $5 to have them blow dry it. I came home completlely upset and soaking wet. My sweet husband tried to tell me he "didn't see a difference". Oh, he saw a difference after it was blow dryed. It's not the end of the world, and thank goodness I didn't dye it! Now I just have to let it grow, sigh.

Sunday I got called to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary president. I guess I'm just bound a determined to be with children 6 out of the 7 days of the week. I'm excited for the new calling, but sad that I won't be able to go to Sunday School with Tay anymore. He has become quite the church history enthusiast (which has made Sunday School very fun!)

Yesterday I decided to wash our comforter. Tay had washed it in the washing machine a couple of weeks before, and it was just fine. But of course when I do it....the washing machine EATS our comforter. It started making the most horrendous noise. I pulled it out and lets just say it was shredded not to mention SOAKING and full of soap. We quickly put it into the tub to rinse it. By this time it was past bedtime, and I didnt' know what to do with it. We just left it in the tub. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it (which means I'm assessing my sewing skills. Jenni, no comment!)

Today, well today was a rough day at school. The morning was rough, so I knew the afternoon was going to be rough too. One exciting thing: a few weeks ago my students found caterpillars, so we put them in a jar. I came to school after the weekend to find them both in their chrysalis. Today one hatched (is that the right word?) into a beautiful monarch butterfly. My kids were SO excited, which made getting our work done tricky. I'm hoping it was just the excitement of the butterflies which made them so crazy/cranky today.

But, alas, today one of the moms in my class came in carrying about 7 bags of groceries. Snacks for my little ones. Not only did she bring snacks for them...she brought me chips and salsa and a 24 pack of Diet Dr. Pepper. Oh, what a gem. What a nice treat on a hard day! I had never gotten a "school" gift like that. Wow.

My mom is coming on Friday...if we make it.