McFarland Christmas Letter

This year has been such a whirlwind for the both of us. We met in January, spent countless hours driving back and forth between Ogden and Lehi, vistited both our families, got engaged, and then got married in Salt Lake on June 27th. Our honeymoon consisted of a 2,000 mile drive from Utah, down to Costa Mesa, and back up the coast, stopping in Laguna Beach, Newport, Huntington, Santa Barbara and L.A, to Taylor's parents for our open house. We then drove another five hundred miles to Boise, for our reception there. After that it was back to Utah to pack up our stuff for the move to Kansas.

We have been in Kansas for five months now, though it seems longer. Taylor is enjoying his masters program in Sports Administration and even got straight A's this semester. He works so hard, and balances an Internship as well. As for me, I have adjusted to teaching first grade here in Wichita. Some days I come home and wonder what I was thinking, but most days I love it. We have also enjoyed our callings, Taylor in the Elder's Quorum Presidency and me in the Primary Presidency. We have made some good friends, and even been invited to watch some BYU games with them!

We have enjoyed a visit from my mom, and visited Taylor's family in California for Christmas. Though Taylor really wants a dog, I convinced him that a flat screen would suffice for now (there wasn't much convinving I had to do). We have loved being married and are approaching our 6th month anniversary. This year has brought such wonderful blessings, and we know there are many more to come in 2010.

What's Goin' On?

It's been awhile since we updated, so I figured I've give you all lucky readers the low down of our lives in good ole' Kansas.

We had so much fun going home to California for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be with family, and to be with Taylor for five whole days. It was just the vacation we needed. The morning after we got there we had family pictures. Taylor is not a fan of pictures and thinks that our wedding pictures should fill up the picture quota for the next 10 years, but he made it through and there were some really cute ones. The next day, we had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, complete with fancy table settings, chocolate turkeys, tons of food, and delicious mashed potatos (my favorite). By far the highlight of the weekend was getting to see Wicked in San Fran! My in-laws knew how much I wanted to go see it, so they got tickets for the girls to go. The guys drove us down and then decided to go too! It was great that Taylor got to go cause he has heard me talk about it non-stop, and he liked it more than he thought he would. I think his exact words were "That was better than that modern dance show!". We loved being with the McFarlands for Thanksgiving and can't wait to see them again!

This past weekend Taylor and I roadtripped down to Norman, Oaklahoma for the UofA vs. Oaklahoma basketball game. We stopped in Oaklahoma City for lunch and to check it out. After leaving we were thankful that we are in Wichita. Sometimes I get homesick, but Wichita isn't that bad! We feel fortunate we ended up here, out of all the other choices. Overall it was a fun day, but all the driving reminded me of our endless roadtrip this summer (and coming again next summer!) We watched a blowout game, but to Taylor it was the "game of a lifetime!" Can you tell he loves sports?

We are gearing up for Christmas, and 13 whole days with my family! I am so excited. Only a week and a half of school to go! Today we got our first taste of a "Midwest Winter". It was freezing rain today when I left, and the roads were so icy. To me a winter storm isn't a storm without snow, but today was pretty scary driving into work. They are even talking about cancelling school if the weather gets worse! The best part is, we wouldn't have to make up the day later!

It's hard getting in the Christmas spirit without a tree, without my mom's decorations, but knowing that I get to go home and see family and friends, makes it feel a little bit more like Christmas!

The most emotional people I have ever met... and not in a good way.

First graders may be some of the most emotional people I have ever met, and not in a good way. Daily, I have at least a handful in tears. "She touched me" "He laughed at me" "He stepped on my fingers!". It never ends. It doesn't help that I have one that doesn't care about anything I say and will frequently tell me, "I don't care what you say". I have a handful that stomp around, pull their hair over their eyes when they are mad at me and glare at me. I have a few that if I ask them to sit in thier chair the right way, will fall over into a sobbing melting mess on the floor. It's daily walking on eggshells. I'm tired, sick, and need a break. Thankgoodness we only have 4 more days of school before Thanksgiving.

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.