The death of me!

Yes, these little babies right here are going to be the death of me! E's Gimme ordered them for her back in the fall and they finally fit. I let her wear them on Memorial Day and she pretty much hasn't taken them off since...well except for yesterday morning when she took off her black Crocs and threw them across the floor and marched to her room to get her black polka dot mary janes. I did not fight this battle! I just let her wear them...at least she picked something that matched.

Last night she slept in these Teva sandals and right now she is prancing around the house in them. I think she's beginning a new stage where she wants to pick out her own clothes. She sticks firm to her choices too. If she would only learn how to put these shoes on instead of following me around holding the right one (it won't stay on) in her hand screaming "Shoe off!!!!".

School's out...seriously!

So, I knew when I accepted my position in December that it was an emergency hire and I would have to reinterview for a position in the spring. Our school earned almost two additional teacher units on top of the positions that another emergency hire and I were working in. I love the school I worked at. It is where I would love to see Everly learn and grow. As spring got closer the more nervous I got and the more excited the students became. I interviewed in early May. By this time we were informed that there would only be one position total at our school, mainly because of proration. My emergency hire co-worker and I (who I also graduated with) knew that one of us would definitely not have a job in the fall at our school. Both of our interviews went wonderful, so we thought if we didn't get a job at our school maybe we get one at another one of the county schools. Either way, we were going to be happy for one another.

We had to wait almost two weeks after our interviews to find out the verdict. My poor students...that was the most stressful two weeks all year! We were called into the conference room at the same time. I already knew what this meant...neither of us got the job! I do not know the person that got the job, but I've seen her around. She looks nice and hopefully she will do a wonderful job. It just stinks when you've poured your heart into something and it's gone. I described it as being broken up with...it's the only thing I could compare it too. I cried all night and woke up at 2 am and cried some more. I cried the next day and woke up at 2 am the following morning. Heck, I'm crying right now!

My fellow co-workers and the parents couldn't have been more supportive. I am so thankful to each and every one of them. They made me feel loved and reminded me that this is all in God's hands and he has a plan, even if I can't see it yet.

SES will definitely always hold a special place in my heart. I went to observe there a little over two years ago when I was very pregnant with E. I remember walking in the halls and the smell hit me. It was the same spell as my elementary school. Then and there I knew this is where I wanted to intern. Low and behold I ended up interning with the very teacher that I observed with, who is now a wonderful friend. I was ecstatic when I was offered a job even before I graduated, this is unheard of. The children are wonderful and the faculty like family.

Teaching is my calling, that I know. It's what I have wanted to be since I was 9 years old. So many great people and opportunities have led me to this occupation...finally. I got a job at the Elmore BOE when I was 17 and worked there six years while I was trying to go to school part time. Finally, 12 years after I graduated high school I finished college. 

One of my parents came to talk to me after school one day. She said that she had prayed daily that I would get the job. She quoted a very fitting scripture. I know it was from Jeremiah and I remember the gist of it...but of course I was crying again!! 
I think this is it-
Jeremiah 17:7-8
  "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

If this wasn't it...it's what I needed to read today. As of now my plan is to substitute a lot and keep my faith in the Lord...and pray!!

Camping Days 2 & 3

On day two of camping I had to go buy a swimsuit...yeah...couldn't find my one that fits(long gone are the days that I had a draw full to choose from) and we needed to go to my favorite store Target to buy a few items that first time campers didn't know to pack. While we were out we also went to eat at Shuckums. I had a delicious baked oyster trio and B had an oyster po boy. E will pretty much try anything that we do. She ate crackers and cocktail sauce. Healthy...I know! We got back and headed to the beach. At the state park they have two swimming areas. We chose to swim at the pass. It was so clear and beautiful and we felt really safe having E there. The water was really shallow for a long way out. I was really worried about how she was going to like the beach. Last year she had a breakdown in the sand when we went to Orange Beach. No problems at all this year. She loved it! I'm talking about making sand castles and everything. We were only out tree about an hour. It looked like she was getting sunburned but thankfully she didn't.  We headed back to our campsite. E took a nap and B went fishing. I sat out under our awning and did yesterday's blog post. The weather was absolutely perfect. When B got back he started a campfire and I took E across the street to the playground. She was fearless! She went on all the big slides, ladders, and tunnels...until she tripped on a step and bit her tongue pretty good. It took a while to stop bleeding.
We had camping favorites hot dogs and fire roasted corn for dinner.
After dinner E and I took a walk to the shower house. She got her second ever shower. The first was also here earlier in the day. When we got back B made one of my all time favorite foods s'mores!
Last night E and I really didn't sleep so well. She slept between B and I since fell off of her bed the night before. We feared she would so we had lots of pillows on the floor. I was freezing and B thought E was too, so we slept really close to her. I felt her and she was burning up. She and I got up to sat on the sofa. I was afraid she had a really high fever and I didn't have anything to treat it. After I held her for a few minutes she cooled off. So we got on the single bed with her Disney princess comforter. My gosh...I was still freezing. This popup has the most powder AC I've ever felt. B says he offered to turn it down but I refused...I really don't remember. Evie seemed to wake up every thirty minutes. Neither of us rested well last night. We woke up to a completely cooked breakfast. Yummy! B took E back to the playground while I went to shower. He said she was still hesitant. We packed up and headed home a little later.
Before we go camping I would really love to get a granny bike with a wicker basket and baby seat. Everyone rides bikes A LOT while camping. I think E would love it too. Also I would love to start C25K. A very fit family had their popup in the spot next to ours. The father and daughter would get up every morning and go for a long, long run. This girl was so fit. Brett noticed that I would just watch her. He reminded me that I could do it too...I used to do it all the time.

I know this is very, very long...but I wanted to make sure to include lots of details of our camping adventure...including this stynx lizard that appeared when we pulled and funny enough when we left.

Camping Day 1

Yesterday right after church we set out for PCB. It only takes about an hour and a half to get here. We decided to get everything set up before we headed out to the grocery store. The pop up is really is easy to setup and we got everything unpacked. We decided to just pick up some steamed from my favorite Buddy's seafood, but we were 10 minutes too late. They were closed. So we went on to my very favorite grocery store...well besides Fresh Market...Publix. We had their seafood department steam crab legs and shrimp. We got some crab dip and key lime pie (one of my very favorite desserts). We sat out under our asking complete with rope lights and devoured our meal. I think we were all in bed by 9:00. I don't think a baby could be more happy than Evie was last night. She filled her little Vera Bradley purse full of rocks and went to town. I can't wait to watch her around the campfire tonight. Today has been amazing also. I'll post about it soon. I hope this looks good. I am typing on the new Blogger app on my phone. E is awake and B is back from fishing.

Vacation Home

This coming week is my spring break and we have bought a vacation home! Ha! Probably not exactly the kind you imagined when you read this blog title. We bought this pop-up from Brett's friend at work.

We had a Mexican beach vacation all planned out when Brett came home with this idea instead. For the same price we were going to spend on one vacation we could have many, many vacations. So we went last weekend and made the purchase. It sleeps seven if you can believe that. It has a queen bed on one end, a full on the other, the u-shaped table lets down to make a full bed and the booth table lets down to make a single bed (Evie's bed). My only requirement was that is has AC...which it does and a heater with a thermostat. It has an awning that lets out in the front and you can cook inside or bring the gas stove outside and it hooks on the side of the camper. Who knew that pop-ups could be this nice? I am so excited about it!! My parents had a pop-up and we always loved camping.

Our first family trip will start tomorrow and I CAN NOT wait! We're going to St. Andrews in Panama City Beach. Perfect timing too, because our Realtor is showing our house to a young couple after church (please pray it sells soon!!!). We're spending our day today cleaning and packing. I think we're even going to spend the night at B's parents tonight to start the vacay a little early. I might even give a little update from the wilderness...ha ha. I got the Blogger app for my phone now. Maybe I can keep up with this thing a little better now!

Lately I've Had the Strangest Feeling...

Remember that song? I think it was by Jodeci...
Anyway, lately I have been really down about Daddy. Maybe it's just seeing pictures of his headstone and knowing that it truly is real. He won't be here to see Everly grow up. Now that she is talking so much more and showing her hilarious personality I can imagine them interacting. If you knew my daddy, you know how much of a character that man was. I think it rubbed off on me alot. I would rather be known as a little crazy than a stick in the mud.
Another reason I'm probably so down is because Easter is upon us. This was a holiday that we always celebrated with the whole family. What to do? What to do? Should I try to plan something here at our house or is it easier for us to travel? No one has even mentioned it. I think we are all a little scared!
We bought a pop-up camper over the weekend and I am so proud of it. I have so many wonderful memories of camping with my family. No it's not a luxurious vaction (I gave up a trip to Mexico to buy it) but the memories we make will be more meaningful to me.
I guess I just needed to get a little of this off my chest. Take pictures with your loved ones this Easter. We didn't take a whole group shot last year. I would give anything to have had one more family photo.

What's Up with Us?

Over two months and no post! I guess nothing really exciting has been going on and we've been so busy that I haven't had time to post. I've been getting adjusted to my teaching position and all that goes with it. Last week and this week we've been completing testing in the fourth grade. Funny, I have been posting on my class blog. You can check it out at Mrs. Mack's class. It is a useful tool for parents I think.

We now volunteer as small group leaders for sixth grade at our church. Last night was our first official meeting as solo leaders. We had the boys last night. I don't have brothers...so wow! was this eye opening. We really enjoy the teachings of our youth pastor. We feel like we're learning as much as the students are. We're also involved in a small group book study of David Platt's book Radical with three other couples. It has been truly life changing. It is so nice to be able to share and learn in this small group setting. Another big deal for us is our house is officially listed! I have been praying that it sells sooner rather than later. I am still commuting about an hour each morning even though the school I work at is only eight miles from our home. I take E twenty minutes away from home to her school. I know the easy thing to do is to change her school, but I won't do it. These ladies have kept her since she was seven weeks old. I am comfortable with her there and I feel peace knowing that B's mom works right next door. Her care is much more important that my convenience. We bought 42 acres between my school and her school. Hopefully we can get out of "town" and out to the country soon.

Brett has been gearing up for another busy hay season. Right now he is getting all the equipment ready and some odd and end projects that needed to be done around the farm. He's also the chairman for our county Young Farmer's group. We have a petting zoo for all the kindergartners in the county. He's held several meetings for that and we attended the state young farmers conference in Huntsville in February. We always have so much fun at those with all the families from our county and the others that we have met from throughout the state. He has also gotten to go turkey hunting a few times.

E has probably had the most going on. She has been battling allergies. We thought she had RSV, but were so thankful she did not. Miss E weighed 24 lbs. 2 oz. at her appointment. I can't believe it!! She is growing so quickly, even though most people still think she is tiny. I love being her mommy. She is my world. Her personality is so bubbly. She loves to sing and dance. About two weeks ago we went to the zoo. I was talking to B and telling him how I need to learn to bake a coconut cake. She starts singing patty cake!! This is the second time I "accidentally" found out that she knows a song.
These are her favorites as of now-
Hokey Pokey (or Pokey Pokey) as she says
Pattycake
The Wheels on the Bus
Jesus Loves Me

She has counted to nine without making a mistake. She recognizes several shapes, especially a circle. We're working on recognizing letters and numbers now with flashcards...kind of like a homemade "Your Baby Can Read". I am amazed daily at all the things she knows and learns. I worked with some children while interning in kindergarten that came to school knowing less. That just breaks my heart.

E still loves books and likes to "read". She really seems to be studying her books. I know this is getting extremely long winded, but I just wanted to give a general update on us.