Heading to Texas!!!

Evan and I are heading out in about an hour to head to Texas for the Labor Day holiday and to get away from Gustav. Luckily we will be more north. Please pray for us as we are on the road. We are taking the truck and it is 8 hours before you start including traffic from people evacuating. Pray for Evan because I have a really hard time staying awake at night. I am very excited though. We have not been to Texas to see Evan's family and friends since January. I also found out that I am off on Tuesday...which is not good because of the storm..but I am glad it's now a 4 day weekend! I am sure that I will update with lots of pictures from Texas when we get back. Everyone stay safe and know that God is in control!!!!!

Gustav Kindergarten Wisdom

Today during Bible my students were discussing Tropical Storm Gustav and how it will probably head this way. One of my students shouted out "Yea...it's already been to Denver." with confidence and another shouted "Well, maybe it can just go to California!"

Jaimie turns 21

My sister turned 21 this month. It is amazing to see how she has grown over the years, especially since she has had Audrey. I am very proud of her. I feel like I was 21 yesterday and to think that she is now 21 makes me realize I'm not getting any younger. Time really goes fast! Here are some pics from her birthday

Shannon's bump is starting to show!
The sign I made for Jaimie. It's now hanging in her kitchen..and looks quite cute!

We call this picture "The Spice Boys" Jaimie got a spice rack for a gift (she wanted stuff off of her registry) and before we knew it, all the guys were digging in and sniffing all the spices...maybe a little motivation to cook??????
Audrey is the present!I call this one "Fishy Face" Lool at Ryn's kissable cheeks!

Brooke is getting big too and smiling all the time!

Keyboard Kids

Uncle Evan and Audrey jam out together on the keyboard!

Putting on the Ritz!!!

This would be the Ritz Carlton in Cancun Mexico AKA my vacation destination in November for 5 days!!!! My dad is taking me on his company trip which is fully paid for!!! I cannot wait. I have never been to Mexico and it looks amazing! I have already looked up some of the events they offer. I am looking forward to yoga on the beach in the morning!!! Trust me by November, I will need this vacation. Between September and Thanksgiving there is the longest stretch of school with no break and at this point I will be in need of some R&R. I am just sad that I can't take along my hubby:( It will be some good time for my dad and I though. I can't wait!

Jamie's Apron

This is the most recent apron that I have made. I made it for my sister-in-law Jamie. The top came out a little small, but I love that you can wear it 2 ways. Maybe since we will be moving and won't have cable..I can get a sewing machine and sew more!!!! Yea...we'll see!

Moving

Evan and I have decided to downgrade our lifestyle a little. If we ever plan on getting into a house and starting a family...we have to save money. We talked about it and decided that we really don't need a 2 bedroom apartment for just us. So we went on a hunt for a cheaper 1 bedroom so that we can start putting money aside. It's hard to downgrade rather than upgrade as time goes on, but God is working on me to help me realize that I don't need "stuff" or a super fabulous place to live to survive and be more than ok.

Well, our search ended yesterday. We were hitting brick walls trying to find something in our price range. I decided to e-mail the teachers at school. Luckily, one of the high school teachers said she had something. Her dad has a mother-in-law house in his back yard. We went to look at it and it is smaller than where we are now...but it is cute and nice for the price. Of course I looked at it and immediately saw all of the potential it has for me to make it our own. My favorite features include a bench seat inside a bay window that has 2 built in book shelves from ceiling to bench (a perfect spot for quiet time with God). The living room and bedroom have wood floors and floor to ceiling white shelves built into the walls. I LOVE THEM!
The older gentleman that we are renting from seems nice. He and Evan even struck a deal that if Evan keeps up with the yard, he'll subtract the cost from our rent. That makes it even cheaper!!!

Now as excited as I am to decorate a new place and start saving money so we can go to the next pahse of our life I am also sad. I love our place now! We live next to Shannon and Brian and Soryn and love seeing them all the time. I have been so close to Ryn since her birth. It will be hard to be away from them. No going up the stairs to borrow a cup of milk:( Also th pain of packing and unpacking. BLAH!!! We will also have to find storage for some stuff and get rid of some stuff. 1 closet is also going to be very difficult...I guess God is going to really have to work on me when it comes to minimizing a little more!

Nevertheless, it is a move that we must make if we ever want to go to the next stage and not be in debt when we do it. Not sure when we will be able to move but it will be within the next month. I can't wait to take pictures and show you our new pad.

Girls Girls Girls

2 weeks ago, my family went to take pictures at good ol' Olan Mills in the back of K-mart. We had not done family photos in a while. My family consists of all women, with the exception of the men who have been married in or are half or step siblings. We took these pictures for my grandparents and did just the ladies of the family. My grandparents had 5 girls (2 passed away at a young age), who had 5 girls (that would include me and my sister and cousins), who of all of us have had 3 more girls. That makes 13 girls in a row without a single boy in our bloodline.

Shannon will find out in 3 weeks what she is having. We'll see if anyone ever breaks the chain. If there ever is a boy, I feel for him. We're not going to know what to do! All of the guys take bets on who will be the first to have the strongest genes to break our vicious "cult" as they jokingly call it. So here are pictures of my wonderful family. I have been blessed so much by these women and babies. We are all very close and I think that is a rare find. My cousins have always been like my sisters. I pray that we can always be this close! The first pic is of the whole family, and the 2nd picture is my mom, sister, her baby and me. Yes...I look like I was adopted..I resemble my dad more. Maybe next time we'll let the men join in the pic!

First Days of School

I started school On Thursday. The first day I had just the boys. It was a long day because we don't do ancillary classes the first 2 days of school. Which means....No BREAKS! I had 9 boys. I thin maybe it is just because I am sooo used to girls...it is hard to deal with little boys. They are so active and when you put 9 of them together with no girls to kind of calm them down...WOW! Everything was Star wars and swords and battle. Needless to say, I came home, popped some Tylenol and crashed on the couch for an hour. On Friday I got just the girls. I had 7 of them. It was a whole different world. They were all so polite and calm and wanted to play with babydolls. It was what I needed on a Friday. I am not saying I prefer the girls to the boys...it's just different. I am hoping that tomorrow when I have all 16 of them together...they will balance each other out.

I told myself that I would not go up to school at all this weekend since I got all of my lesson plans finished on Friday. But living on the same street as school, does not help. I went up to school for about 15 minutes so that I can bring my lesson plans home. There is always this fear at the beginning of a new school year that I have forgotten how to teach. Now, I know that once I get into the swing of things...it just flows from me..but it's anxiety getting the best of me. I am always amazed at how much I need to teach these little 5 year olds and the task ahead always seems impossible. So much to teach and not enough hours in the day. But I know God will give me everything I need to do the job He has set before me. One day at a time..that's all I can say for now.

For Daniel and Dayne

I heard this song for the first time yesterday and it made me think of my brothers. So, I decided to make a little slideshow with pictures over the years. You will have to pause my playlist on the right hand side to hear the music. The song is very emotional for me. I miss them both so much and can't wait to see them again and just be a family. (For some reason after it says The End it plays the song over again with a black screen...but it's over)

Kingdom Kindergarten

Today I started back to school for inservice. I get to meet my students on Tuesday and they actually start on Thursday. It was a long day of meetings and talk about insurance, 401 K and expectations. I did get my class list and was able to label my desks and sort supplies. I will have 17 kids this year (although someone always adds). It will be boy heavy again this year: 10 boys 7 girls. I am teaching a set of twins for the 3rd year in a row, although this year they are girls. I am anxious to see all the little personalities that will be in my room. I pray that this is a great year..I need it to be!

After today, my eyes are killing me as is my head. Summer is officially over:( I am pretty much finished setting up my classroom though. I thought I would post some pictures of my classroom for those of you who have never seen it. My theme is Kingdom Kindergarten. We are all princes and princesses of the King. We are heir to an amazing kingdom! I want my students to realize that we have to act that out in our lives and also be warriors for Christ. Plus, I love to be a princess! So, here is an inside look into my classroom. Enjoy!

Our class verse

Sir Wolverine, who reminds us to put on the full armor of God

One of my many centers: SAND BOX( the boys love it).

My new cabinet that was built over the summer. I needed storage soooo bad!
My desk area with the awesome castle mural that my mom painted in the background. The phonics/writing center and game center are around my desk.



The castle (My reading and listening center. It's 2 stories and the kids love it!)
The side of the castle where you get to the top story with all of the books

The view from the doorway

What's in a Name?

So I am obsessed with the idea of starting an apron business. I think about it day and night sometimes and look at other aprons on the computer constantly. I really want to pursue this but it will have to come some time probably after Christmas (When I hope to get a sewing machine). Anyway, I am trying to think of a name for the business. I have posted a new poll to the right. Please vote on a name. If you have a creative one, please share by commenting here. I'd love to get some more ideas. The problem is that a lot of them are already taken such as: hostesswiththemostess, apronstrings, etc.
Even if you do vote on one of them...try to come up with some other cute names also. I had chosen Proverbs 31 Aprons because I love the picture of Proverbs 31: A woman who takes care of her family and all of her duties with joy and brings glory to God through it all. Here is a picture of the logo I had designed for that name. I wanted to make it look kind of fun and modern. What do you think? Don't forget to vote!

I had to include this:

The Proverbs 31 Woman :
10An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. rare, precious 11The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. trustworthy 12She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. kind	Her Character as a Wife
13She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. works joyfully 14She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. goes extra mile to get choicest goods 15She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. disciplined 16She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. enterprising, prudent with money 17She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. energetic 18She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. good steward 19She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. diligent	Her Devotion as a Homemaker
20She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. compassionate, generous	Her Generosity as a Neighbor
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. provident 22She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. elegant 23Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. influential 24She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. industrious	Her Devotion as a Homemaker
25Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. poised 26She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. wise	Her Influence as a Teacher
27She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. manages her home 28Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: praiseworthy 29"Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." distinguished	Her Effectiveness as a Mother
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. God-fearing 31Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates. honored	Her Excellence as a Person
~ Proverbs 31:10-31

Water Babies

Today I went with Shannon, Ryn, Jena, and Brooke to the Mandeville Trailhead. It's a great place to bring your kiddos if you live close by. The ground has fountains that just spring up and it's fun to watch the kids run from the water. I was supposed to go to school to work in my classroom but then I realized that I only have 3 more days until I have to be at school and I wanted to spend some time with my family. I realize how much I post pics of all of my nieces. Shannon continually reminds me that right now I am the "cool aunt" since I have no kids. So all of you get to see pics of everyone else's kids. One day I will have my own to post about. Until then...... Here are some pics from today:

Baby Brooke (Jena's Baby)

Ryn feeding me some of her slobbery cookie (she likes to share her food)

Country Roads

This past weekend, Evan and I went to visit my Paw Paw in Plaucheville (we have always called this "The Country") Life moves at a much slower pace over there. The most exciting things we did were sit on the porch drinking sweet tea and riding the tractor to feed the cows. I cherish each time that I get to go visit Paw because as he ages and has more and more health problems, I can't help but wonder which visit will be my last. Hopefully that won't come for a long time. My paw is a simple Cajun man with a big heart but who tells you like it is. He kept Evan and I laughing this weekend between his silly songs and witty comments. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

We call this 2 sillow (Sp?) lane. We don't actually know the name of the street, but my family has always used this landmark in order to get to Paw's house.

Evan feeding Buddy the baby Bull.
My Sweet Paw
My paw is a Bordelon and even though this is not our family store....we pretend like it is. It is the only place around to get groceries.
I love kitties and this one reminded me of my old cat Shadow.
Evan in the beans.
Paw showing off on his tractor
Evan driving the tractor
Feeding the cows
Riding on the tractor...Yikes that country heat made me look rough!
Each one of us grandkids has a cow and we named them. This is mine and I called her "Crazy Claudine" She used to jump the fence all the time.A country sunset from the porch

We love that porch! Evan trying to take a nap
Paw's house. He has lived in this house for 60 years. He had 12 brother and sisters. The house needs a lot of work...but its a part of our family.