Hip Hip Hooray! It's a Blog Giveaway

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Follow me over at the new blog www.nestingnwa.blogspot.com, and it just might be your lucky day!

Stop by before it's too late! 

Two Blogs Are Harder Than One

SO....I'm thinking it might be best to combine them.

Hop on over and follow me at http://www.nestingnwa.blogspot.com!

I've mentioned it before, but this is an exciting new venture in my life--come along for the ride!

Summer is upon us!

Where has the time gone???

With the dawn of summer, I always vow to be a better blogger.  With more time on my hands, my blog usually becomes a bit more active.

Let's hope this remains true this year...

Extra! Extra! Read All About it!!!

I've been away for a while.  This may have had something to do with it...

www.nestingnwa.blogspot.com

Hop on over and check it out!

A Weekend in the Windy City

A Top 10 15 Countdown of Our Weekend in Chicago

I just couldn't stop at 10...

15.  Train rides to and from the city.  I love people-watching, and this is the prime spot to do it!  Just be sure not to get caught...

Will and Sean headed to the city

Ready for the city

14.  The Hancock Building was the ONLY thing Will wanted to do in the city.  How could I not let him go to the top???

13.  The Northface store.  I'm hoping for a rainy day soon, so I can sport my new rain jacket.

12.  Delightful shopping at some of my favorite spots - J. Crew and Anthropologie (nothing beats shopping in a big city--if only we had these here)

11.  Touring Mikki and Sean's neighborhoods - Naperville and Wheaton.  I think they are so charming I might want to move there...

10.  Driving around town and house-shopping (for pretend, that it).

  I'll take it!

snow + a cottage = absolute perfection!

9.  Stuffed pizza - need I say more???

8.  Taking pictures with my new camera.  Because Mikki and I are both new-found photographers (she more than me), we stopped to take in a lot of the sights.  

view from the top of the Hancock Building

7.  For months, Will has been wanting to find a hobby that we do together.  When I asked what he meant by this, he replied, "Well, you know how people say "Jane and Sam are always hiking,"  we need something like that."  I laughed out loud, but he persisted.  I think our new hobby might just be traveling.  He is a master packer/travel organizer; I handle the shopping and eating.  It works! I think his search is over.  Praise the Lord!

6.  Great food!  You know it's one for the record books, when half the pictures are of the food...

5.  A great sandwich shop in Wheaton - not quite as good as Stonemill, but it was definitely a close second.

4.  Chicago Dog - this one is solely for Will.  I don't think I'd be a fan.  

There's nothing better than an airport hot dog!

3.  A perfectly sunny day for some shopping and sight-seeing in the city with Will.

2.  Homegoods - Never have I ever been to a more chock-full-of-goodness store in my life.  I am a convert and anxiously await my return.

1.  Mikki and Sean - Time spent with good friends is always a recipe for greatness.  I am so blessed by our friendship, and Will and I loved spending the weekend with them!  Thanks for having us!

Good byes are always hard, but leaving with such happy hearts certainly made the rainy/snowy flight home sweeter!

A Valentine's Creation

Valentine boxes are all the rage these days!  Will and I spent the weekend before Valentine's Day in Mountain Home.  While we were there, we helped a few sweet girls create some boxes for their school parties.

How many grown-ups does it take to decorate a Valentine's box?

A view from the top

Bekah helping Libby create a box of her own.

Lauren had a hard time decided just which doilie to use...

perfectly pink!

the hard work paid off!

Libby hurt her finger (resulting in lots of tears)...

but it didn't keep her from dancing!

Even teachers need a box to hold their Valentines.  

Snow day + crafting = a big mess

But it was so worth it!

Let It Snow!

In case you were wondering, I've been taking full advantage of these snow days.  I LOVE snow more than any 23-year-old should.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that snow=snow days=fun times in my life...

Anywho, I've been busy.  Normally, I kind of waste my snow days; however, I decided to take advantage of them this time.


25 things I have done during the last 4 days:


1.  laundry - I love a freshly made bed!


2.  dishes


3.  made and enjoyed snow ice cream for the first time with Will (Apparently I never got to eat it as a child because the atmosphere was too dirty...)

4.  watched a bit of Teen Mom on MTV (embarrassed to admit my love for this show)


5.  caught up on all my DVR'd shows at Will's house (I tape things when he isn't looking.)


6.  prayed for sweet Muh (Will's grandmother who is in the hospital)


7.  checked the school website approximately 1,264 times to see if school was cancelled


8.  saw When In Rome with Will- cute movie, but a bit disappointing since only about 15 minutes actually occurred in Rome

9.  ate pizza and donuts with the roomies

10. scraped some cars

11.  thought about driving somewhere but changed my mind

12.  ate Mexican


13.  went to Target (and bought flip-flops -- maybe secretly ready for summer???)


14.  visited with friends

15.  thought about/planned trip to Chicago with Will to see Mikki and Sean


16.  wished I was going to the beach


17.  checked the school website again


18.  ate dinner at Chili's with my family + Will (We give their new menu a thumbs-up!)


19.  played with (and bought tiny jeans for) Hayes


20.  ate a sandwich at Stonemill


21.  read a new book ---can't remember the name off the top of my head, but it's about a knitting shop by the sea (how dreamy)


22.  graded and filed some stuff for school  (gotta make a living)


23.  ate yummy lasagna prepared by my momma


24.  went on a winter walk and froze my nose off


25.  watched The Today Show TWICE ---What a treat!

Ooh, it'll be hard to go back to work.  Maybe we'll get another snow day...

Look Who's Getting Bigger!

Happy 4 week birthday to little Hayes!

(I think I'm his favorite aunt...)

I love snow days!

Now, being a teacher has its perks.  Snow days are definitely at the top of the list!  Some say that I'll regret this come June, but I don't think I will.

I'm home for the second day in a row, and I couldn't be more excited.  I'm like a little kid--snow days make me giddy.

From the looks of things, I may have a few more days to come...

The Year in Review

2009 was a good year!

January:  We rang in the New Year with a little bowling in Mountain Home.  I headed back to school to finish the second half of the MAT, started my action research project, had an ice storm, and missed a week of school.

February:  We celebrated the upcoming wedding of Mikki and Sean with a couple's shower and made homemade gifts for Valentine's Day.

March:  Mikki got married, and my mom and I took a spring shopping trip to Dallas.  I started my last internship placement in 1st grade and loved every minute of it!

April:  We journeyed to St. Louis to take in a Cardinals game (a belated Christmas gift), and I presented my action research project (whew!).  Mel had a birthday!

May:  I graduated and officially finished my school career!  Amy turned another year older.  Rest and relaxation filled my days for the rest of the month.

June:  We found out that "Baby Lucy" was on the way, journeyed to Mountain Home for the annual fireworks extravaganza, and I got my first teaching job at Willis Shaw Elementary.  I also went my first ride in a police car (not arrested, mind you).

July:  We loaded up and took a family vacation to Seacrest, Florida, took a girl's trip to Austin, and enjoyed summer to the fullest.  We also rented a cabin in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Arkansas for a girls' weekend getaway.

August:  I celebrated my 23rd birthday, worked like crazy to get my classroom ready (with the help of a nice boy), and started teaching 23 crazy 3rd graders.  Kate also got a bit older.  Three of my best friends moved away (insert tears here...)

September:  We watched a little football, and I settled into the routine of a "workin' girl."  I also survived my first round of parent-teacher conferences.

October:  We watched more football, celebrated Rachel's birthday, and welcomed two friends back home for visits.  Erin had some baby showers.  Mikki had a birthday!  Will turned ANOTHER year older, and we found out that the Hopper House was expanding by one tiny member.  I went to school as a scarecrow for Halloween.

November:  I got a new camera, started documenting every moment of life, and prepared for "Baby Lucy's" arrival.  Annie celebrated a birthday!  Brooke and Reece got engaged!  I had a WHOLE LOT to be thankful for this year.

December:  Baby Lucy turned out to be a sweet baby boy.  I fell in love with Baby Hayes.  I loved every minute of Christmas break and prayed for a speedy recovery for Will's dear Muh.  Lots of time was spent catching up with those friends who have moved away--loved this!  We finished the year with a night of games in Mountain Home.