Holiday time with Brit's family

Chad unfortunately had to travel to Billings on Thursday the 17 of December and then to Gardiner on the 18th for a funeral.  I was feeling extremely under the weather still on Thursday so I stayed back in Glendive with Chad's dad.  I took Nora back to the vet (which I'll post about later) on Friday and just had a low key few days trying to get feeling better.  On Saturday I went and helped Michelle wrap presents and then we had Christmas with my Grandma early since Chad and I could not be there for the real thing.  We had a nice time playing with the kids and seeing everyone.  Nick, unfortunately for us, had to work but he was able to be home on the actual holiday to spend it with the family =)  I did get to see him for a little bit Friday night before he headed out to work on Saturday morning.  The weekend was short but they always are.  We were able to catch up with Cody and Melissa and their little guy Trace =)  Here are a few photos from our holiday with my family:

This is myself with L, L, and L haha! 2009

This was from 2008! They are all getting so big!

Dad and Michelle!

A little backwards =)

So, I'll post a little backwards because it's easier for me =) so bare with me!

On Christmas Day Chad and I spent the day being lazy, playing wii, and shoveling snow. Chad made a small turkey breast and I made some garlic mashed potatoes and corn. Chad also attempted a pumpkin pie, but it didn't work out to swell, so he tried another one the next night and it came out wonderfully! We received a lot of snow over the holiday weekend, so we received a white Christmas!

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day (Chad worked while Sadie and I played =)):

  

 

 

I'll post pictures soon, but here is a short video clip of Sadie playing in the snow. We were finishing up shoveling the car out and clearing a path for our upstairs neighbor lady (she's older) so she could get her car out of the garage if needed. I also cleared the lids of the garbage cans =) there was about 6.5" of snow on top of them!

Goodbye Fall semester...

Goodbye Fall semester..........HELLO STUDENT TEACHING!!!!!!!



Today was my last day of Fall semester.  I just finished up presenting my final project about thirty minutes ago and I must tell you, the weight has been lifted.  This semester proved to be tough and tiring.  I will admit, there were times when I felt like quitting because I had one page and a half of another filled with assignments and projects that needed to be completed within a week or so, and already another list of to do items started for when those were finished!  This semester was tough, but I'm so glad it's done.  I learned quite a bit of useful projects and information that I can hopefully one day take into the classroom with me.


The weight from this semester has lifted, but my anxiety and nerves are already kicking in about what student teaching will bring.  A few weeks ago I got my first placement in Mandan for 1st grade.  I was bummed that it is in Mandan, since it's about a 20-30 minute drive over there, but I'm starting to be okay with it.  Today I received my second placement for Kindergarten, which is here in Bismarck.  Luckily it's about a 5 minute drive from where we live right now!  So January 4-March 2 I will be a driving fool to Mandan and March 3-April 28 I will be secured in Bismarck! 


Sadie is at the groomer's today getting pretty and smelling clean.  Chad's getting a haircut tonight too, so we will all be looking sharp to see everyone this weekend!  I'm going to sit and relax (for the first time it feels like in the last three weeks!!!!!) this afternoon.  I have to run to walmart however to exchange the stinken ink cartridges we bought last night, I'm also going to buy some items to make dipped pretzels (my fav!), cheerio bars for Chad (his fav!) and probably some stuff to make oh henry bars because they are scrumptious too!  But I won't be making any of that stuff until next week when we can be home to enjoy it.  Looking forward to seeing Johnboy this weekend, but am saddened for the reasoning (we have not seen John since the wedding!). 


I'm going to eat some lunch now, just thought I'd write about the weeks happenings so far so I don't get behind again!

Just a little inspiration.....hope, courage, and strength

Just wanted to leave you all with a few quotes of inspiration today.  The loss of a loved one is always tough.  

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in need of them today; whether they are needed for the loss of someone, to relieve the stresses, or hope for future events.

We acquire the strength we have overcome.  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.  

~Author Unknown

Today's adventure

I'm finally caught up on my blogging, phew! Now, for today's adventure!

I got my hairs cut off again =) I did not tell anyone what I was doing so when I got home it was a total surprise to Chad; thankfully he liked it!

Before

After

It's a little puffy from her styling it, but I think I will like it.  We'll see in the a.m. when I'm the one who ACTUALLY has to do it haha

Once I got home from work I talked Chad into going to the Pride of North Dakota crafty fair at the Civic Center.  It was a lot of fun and there were TONS of people and booths set up!  We walked away with two reusable shopping bags and a jar of strawberry rhubarb jelly for Nick!  There was a lot of amazing stuff there, just nothing that really caught out eyes to buy this year.

Christmas card photos!

Chad's cousin Kayla is an amazing photographer =) She took some great snapshots of Chad and I, along with the dogs, on Thanksgiving Day. Here are just a few that I have edited using Picnik!

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Kayla worked her magic on this one for us =)

Thanks again Kayla!

Bowling with Bumpers!

So, on Saturday during Thanksgiving break Linken made up some games that he had missed during his league. Sarah asked if I wanted to come (as Chad was out hunting the day away) and so I said sure; my dad and Sarah's sister Jen also came along!

I bowled with Lukas and Jen. We had bumpers and I'm ashamed to say they did not help me out AT ALL!

Nick's Birthday Party!

Nick turned another year older the day after Thanksgiving this year.  Sarah set up cake and game night for him; and it was a lot of fun!

 

 

 

 

 

We played some new fangled game, I think it was called Band Hero.  It had some really good songs on it.  I of course was a bystander for the majority of the night until Nick MADE me sing the YMCA, thanks again Nick.

Happy Birthday!

Chad's 2009 hunting season

Chad was able to go on a family hunting trip to Circle, MT over November 13-15. He had a marvelous time with his family. They camped out and ended up shooting 2 deer! It was a successful trip.

Over Thanksgiving, he took my brother Nick out for the first time in almost 12 years (so Chad says).  They went out locally on Nick's birthday (the 27th) and didn't shoot anything.  The next day Chad, his dad, his brother Chris, and Nick took a trip to Circle where Nick shot a big ole buck!  Chad has reported back to us that they all had a good time, so that's good!

Chad opted to not get a tag this year because he would have to hunt as a non-resident; I told him who cares, but apparently he does.  Maybe next year he'll decide to, but who knows!

Happy Thanksgiving (a little late!)

Just wanted to say Happy Turkey day late =)  Please enjoy some of the beautiful cornucopia pictures that the 5th grade students composed for the holiday season: