The Christmas Card...

Remember when I posted a Christmas card giveaway? Yeah...the only two to enter were my sisters and I ended up using the third code as a thank you to the man behind the camera for my Christmas card photo shoot. I love Shutterfly. Love, love, love them and picking a card was no easy feat. I did however, have an idea of the picture I wanted to capture for the front of it.

I am a fan of coffee. Particularly anything that ends with the word mocha. Doug hates coffee. Particularly anything that ends with the word mocha. Jani loves the idea of coffee and particularly loves saying the word mocha. Doug indulges my addiction, surprises me with coffees on occasional Saturday mornings and will even go so far as to go to a coffee shop with me to talk (he orders hot cocoa). I love the warm feeling coffee gives you, like that feeling when you climb into the shower in the morning and your feet are so cold and the hot water hits them and it's almost painful but the rush of warmth that follows is totally worth it. Yeah, that good :) This was the feeling I wanted our card (or at least the picture) to evoke. So, it seemed fitting to have us all with our own cup of joe. So one very cold Sunday morning we went to church and then proceeded downtown. Doug got his hot cocoa, I got my peppermint mocha, and Jani got her milk. All in our pretty little Christmasy coffee cups. Our friend Jordan agreed to meet us and took our photos in a variety of downtown locals. I love them all. I love our coats, I love Jani's hair, I love how warm we look, I love the rosy cheeks...I am getting one of these framed because I am filled with that warm fuzzy feeling every time I see them. So thank you Jordan, thank you family, and thank you coffee :)

I Heart ABC Family

Every year this happens. ABC Family suckers me in with their 25 Days of Christmas marathon of Christmas movies. Tonight was no exception. The kicker? December isn't even here yet and I'm hooked. Those ABC movies get me every time. I know the acting isn't phenomenal and the plot lines are completely predictable but there is something about a cheesy Christmas movie that puts me in the holiday spirit. Going along with my vow to really cherish winter and enjoy every moment, I'm promising myself I won't be a scrooge. I always LOVE Christmas but I let myself get too worried about keeping everyone else happy and trying to appease everyone. Make it to every party, have every present wrapped just so...but this year, little things will not stress me out. I will not spiral down the tunnel of bah hum bug and I am going to remember what the real reason for the season is. I'm focusing on family, and friends, and my faith. Happy that we are healthy and able to celebrate together. This month I want to do more "ABC Family movie" type things. Little favors for people, Christmas surprises, random acts of kindness. I know our lives aren't the movies and not everything can be perfect, but I can work at it....and to keep me motivated I'll just keep watching those cheesy Christmas movies. Everybody needs a little holiday cheer. Snuggle up and enjoy one. I know you'll love it...and you don't ever have to admit it!

Winter Wonderland...and Being Thankful

Here it is the night before Thanksgiving. My break has started. I had today off to just enjoy my husband and daughter. I am so thankful for all that I have...all that I've been given. We did some shopping, had our favorite lunch, and are now located at my in-law's in preparation for the holiday. It's no secret that I absolutely love the holiday season. Unfortunately, I don't respect the turkey. I love Thanksgiving, don't get me wrong it's great to focus on everything I am blessed to have, but I had to put up my tree last weekend. My hubby and I put on fun pajamas, dressed Jani in her Santa jams, and played Christmas tunes while we strung lights, put up the tree, and placed our favorite ornaments in all the right places. We had a fun time walking down memory lane, remembering all the times we had put up the tree and where each ornament had come from. It was wonderful and just what I needed to put myself in the holiday spirit.

I think here in Iowa, it's easy to enter a state of depression when winter draws closer. Everyone says they hate the cold, they hate the snow, they hate the darkness. We complain, and complain, and complain incessantly about how we'd love it to be done and how summer just needs to get here. I realized last week how easily I slip into this state of mind. Then, while listening to my fav Christmas CD, I started really hearing the words..."Walking in a winter wonderland", "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow", It's a marshmallow world in the winter"...These songs make winter seem so amazing, so completely wonderful. How is it that years ago, winter was embraced? And now we wish it away?

So I swore to myself...this year? I'm embracing all that is winter, all that is Christmas, all that is Iowa. I'll go for walks in the snow, savor my hot chocolate and peppermint coffee, put a smile on my face when the weatherman says to prepare for a storm. I'm going to enjoy seeing winter through my daughters eyes, wearing warm sweaters and comfy fleece pants, and cuddling with my husband on dark, snowy evenings. This year, the seasonal depression isn't going to get me down. I'm not going to spend winter like a typical Iowan. I promise.

And in two months, when there is three feet of snow on the ground, it's 30 below, and our heating bill is sky high, please remind me of this. I'll probably need a gentle nudge :)

All Smiles

We finally got Jani's 2 year pictures done. Since football is done, Doug is with us on Saturday mornings now. So we packed up the camera, drove through Starbuck's, got mommy a mocha, and headed to Hartman. We had a great time on a beautiful morning. Jani was all smiles and was ready to ham it up for the camera. I never know what I'll get from her. Sometimes she wants to perform for mommy...other times she just wants mommy to hold her. We got lucky on this one :)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! (giveaway)

Can you believe it's time to start thinking about Christmas cards already?! Last year, I made some amazing cards from Shutterfly.  The adorable character on the card helped too ;) So this year, after much deliberation, I'm looking at a few designs. They had more Christmas cards than I even knew what to do with!! This one, or this one,  or this one...or a slew of many others. I seriously can't decide. I think I'm going to have to figure out outfits before I select the cards! I'm also planning on making some Christmas gifts on there this year. I made an awesome picture mug that I love using at work. It's such a great way to keep Jani with me all day long and people get to see her as I walk around school! Pretty sure a calendar is going to be in the works as well. I've been trying to find a way to showcase a lot of photos to put on display. It definitely is the most wonderful time of the year....

But the most wonderful part about this!? I have 3 sets of 25 free Shutterfly holiday cards to give away!! So three winners are going to win free Shutterfly holiday cards!!

How to enter: Become a follower of this blog and then comment on this post with your favorite Shutterfly card design. If you already follow, just comment with your fav. Three lucky winners will get codes to go on and order their free cards! Good luck!

Giveaway ends on November 14 at midnight.

Pay It Forward

Go into any store right now and you will be greeted by Christmas trees, Christmas music, and Christmas sales. We just said goodbye to Halloween, haven't even welcomed Thanksgiving, yet there Christmas is...slapping us in the face. Don't get me wrong, Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the music, love the food, LOVE the shopping. So today, instead of being ba-hum-bug and cursing the sales industry, I embraced the holiday spirit. I decided to go to Starbucks this morning, ready to grab myself one of those signature red cups and a peppermint mocha. My favorite holiday indulgence. After ordering, I got up to the window to pay. I quickly decided to pay for the car behind me. I have wanted to do this for a very long time, hearing many people talk about either doing this or having it happen to them.

Upon glancing in my rear view mirror I saw that my lucky receiver was a college student. The B parking sticker hanging in her window gave her away. I was quickly caught up in knowing her story. What was her major? Was she headed to class? Was she hung over from the night before? Questions ran through my head as I watched her pull up to the window. I realized quickly that it was worth the money. The smile on her face, the sheer astonishment that she didn't have to pull out her wallet, was something that I hope keeps the holiday spirit alive in my heart for the next 51 days. 'Tis the season people...pay it forward

Dear Parent

Dear Parent,

Thank you for coming to Parent-Teacher Conferences. Thank you for valuing your child's education and coming to hear about their progress. I need you to please remember that we are a team. I am not out to judge you or your parenting. I am not out to make you feel like you aren't giving your child what you need. I'm here for your student...and I'm here for you. When you have questions about how to help your child at home, ask me. When you are wondering what your child spends their day doing, ask me. When you are worried that your child isn't  making the progress you want, ask me. Please don't feel like school is a bad place, or a scary place, or a place where your time and opinion isn't valued. Together, we need to challenge your child. We need to stretch their abilities, stretch their minds, help them go to places they didn't think they could go.

We also need to help this child see that learning is valued, speaking to adults in a disrespectful way is not acceptable, and treating others the way we don't want to be treated is not how we make friends. I need you to help your child understand that I do have authority, that my opinion does matter, and that I can set consequences for poor choices and less than desirable behaviors. If your child does not see me this way, I am unable to help them learn to the best of their abilities.

Allow us to work together. See me as an advocate for your child. Help your child value their education. Remember that I love your child, I want them to succeed, and I am going to do everything I can to see to it that this happens. Please, let me teach them.

Signed,
Your child's teacher

(I felt compelled to post this after I wrote it during a break at conferences...sums up my thoughts and feelings for these few days.)

2 Years Old

I don't have a witty post title for this one. I couldn't even wrap my head around the fact that my little girl is going to be two. Two years ago, I got induced the day before Halloween. All I wanted was to not have a Halloween baby. It seemed very demonic...like she'd be a little devil baby  if she was born on Halloween. 25 hours later though, Jani entered the world on Halloween and she has been anything but a little devil.

It's amazing to watch a little person grow up. I've had nieces and nephews, I've babysat lots of children, and I've obviously worked with a million little kids at school and watched all of them grow up. But watching your own child grow up, seeing them every single day, getting to be there for all the little milestones, is just different. You have a different connection to it. It's WAY more emotional. Jani has changed our lives in more ways than we could ever have imagined. We've both added another hat to our repertoire.

So here's to Jani at age 2. Our little spitfire...our little angel...our little princess.

1. She adores playing with play dough. She cuts it, rolls it, pretends to eat it. She's downright hilarious when she's "baking". She brings us plates of play dough and tells us it's a variety of things. Hot dogs, cupcakes, bread...the girl has an imagination.

2. Along with pretending to bake, Jani just loves to play pretend. She pretends to go shopping with her babies, pretends to cook food in her kitchen, pretends to be me. I love that she has an imagination. I always loved playing pretend with the kids I babysat and am glad we have been able to instill this in our girl.

3. Jani is a sleeping rock star. Very early in her life Doug and I vowed to sleep train her. We knew that for our own sanity, it had to be done. We wanted a child who napped well and slept well at night. She's been a good sleeper since about 2 months. Now at age 2, she says "I go to bed" at about 7:30, grabs her night things, and lays down in her crib. No tears, no talking, no whining. She just goes to sleep. I adore this about her...and am so thankful she values her sleep like I do!

4. Kindermusik is the highlight of Jani's week. She loves playing drums, singing, dancing, anything musical really. I enjoy getting to watch her try new things. It's amazing to see her figure different things out.

5. Coloring and drawing is still at the top of Jani's list. She is always writing something and telling us what it says. As a teacher, I love that she does this. She is definitely in the first stages of writing development!

6. Jani loves to sing. She sings her ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Muffin Man, and a variety of other songs. It's hilarious to listen to her because she butchers some of the words. Takes after her dad :)

7. Fall has been great for Jani because she adores football. If it's on TV or we're at a game, she is enthralled. Doug got lucky with this one!

8. Favorite words and phrases: Whatever, I do it, What that?, and I pretty. I am amazed at the amount of things she says. I swear she wakes up with new things to tell us. I'm sure that's what we get when Doug and I never stop talking. In my future I see a teacher saying "Jani is a bright little girl but she talks too much".

9. Jani adores the iTouch. I am amazed at how she can navigate this thing. I use them in my classroom and have found quite a few different apps for her. She now knows what folder they're in and how to open and close them. She loves listening to books and playing music.

10. She is a social butterfly. Her Halloween costume this year is butterfly and I keep telling her she's dressing up as a social butterfly. Jani would love to be surrounded by people from sun up to sun down. She takes after her mama.

Happy Birthday Little J! We love you so very very much!!

The Birthday Week

We have a birthday girl on our hands...almost. But she sure thinks she's already two. We celebrated her birthday last weekend with a Panther tailgate again. She is such a football lover so we had a cheerleader party. She had a new tutu (the old one was much too small), a personalized shirt, and some new pretties for her hair. The girl was in her element. Lately, we can't get a word in edgewise. She talks nonstop and loves being around people. Parties are her thing :) We had family and friends there to celebrate our little pumpkin. The day was gorgeous and we could not have asked for a better time. More birthday fun to come...

Feeling Sentimental....

I think I'm feeling sentimental. Chalk it up to seeing my little baby growing into a little girl or watching her slowly find herself and her personality or the quickly approaching second birthday...whatever it is, this morning I teared up while prepping her 2nd year photo book. I don't feel like I change from year to year. But babies? They become completely different beings each year! I don't think I really realized this until I did a side by side. Case and point...

I see some resemblance. But to go from scooting little baby to a running little girl...I feel like I should have soaked it up a little better.

So I have vowed to myself to really soak her up this fall. I heard from many people that they had made wish lists for the fall. I don't have the dedication to sit down right now and do that but I have a few things I want to get done. I want to pick pumpkins...go on a picnic...rake leaves and jump in...bake fall cookies...go to an apple orchard...curl up on a couch on a cold night and watch a movie with Jani, hot cocoa and all (that may be more of a winter thing)...

There's more but for now, I just know that Doug and I both know we want to spend as much time with our little as we can. Plus, fall is my very favorite season! So now we start planning the birthday, prepping for the terrible twos, and watch Jani prepare for another holiday season :) It's the beginning of the very best time of year.

Welcome October. I embrace you with both arms wide open.

Hi, My Name is Staci

And I used to blog regularly.

But seriously, school started and it's like my brain has turned to much and I am incapable of putting words together coherently to resemble anything close to noteworthy. So here's a brief update...with hopefully more to come after I recover from the start of another new year.

Me??: Biggest news yet...I am about to hand in my Master's paper. FOREVER! I am doing the final revisions and will be walking across the stage in December as a Panther grad again. I am beyond elated to have this off my plate. Changing jobs and having a baby put a serious cramp in my school work. I had to start my research all over and pick a whole new topic. Not a top priority with a newborn in the house.

Doug??: Football....teaching....football....throwing out his back....football. See a common thread here? Football dominates his time and when he isn't there he's trying to soak up time with his amazingly beautiful, wonderful wife. And by wife I mean adorable daughter. Which leads us to...

Jani!!: This child is a 22 month old ball of spitfire. 22 MONTHS! Two years ago I was ticking the weeks off until she would arrive. Now I'm trying to slow time down as much as I can. She talks nonstop, loves football, runs everywhere, adores Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa, and loves to color. She is really into drawing right now. I'm amazed at what she actually can draw beyond scribbling. She is a master at drawing balloons and loves making anyone around her write names on paper. We had a wonderful summer just watching her soak up her world.

So I will try harder to give some more updates...like about our zoo trips, our home improvements, and our transition back into a daily schedule....after I get these paper edits done :)

Wordless Wednesday

Iowa Summer in One Picture

Happy Day Mommy!

I heard this all day today. I woke up to it...I heard it while I showered...I had it whispered in my ear at bedtime. Jani loves birthdays. She hasn't quite wrapped her head around what that is but she loves a party. She doesn't say Happy Birthday. She prefers to shout "HAPPY DAY!" at the top of her lungs.

I am officially 29. Hard to believe when I really sit and think about it. I can still vividly remember a number of birthdays. 13...16...18...21...25. Each memorable in their own unique way. I was surrounded by different people at each of them and fondly remember the place I was in during each stage of my life. Sometimes thinking about being alive for 29 years blows my mind. It seems like such a long time. I feel like I was just in high school. To look at my life now, I just wonder how time flies by so quickly. I'd love to be able to post a picture of my day but the camera never even made it out of the bag. We worked on the patio and then sat on the patio and admired the work :) Busy day. I feel like I blinked and it was gone.

But here's to my 29th year. May it be filled with happiness, love, friendship, and family. I am a blessed girl.

Explosive

This word thoroughly describes my daughter's diaper at supper this evening. My hubby and I went out for a nice relaxing dinner with some good friends. As we are about to leave the restaurant, Doug lifts Jani onto his back. No more than 5 seconds later, another friend points at his back. Poop. And lots of it. Streaming down his shirt, her legs, into her shoes, and all over the floor. I grab Jani as fast as I can and attempt to go into Supermom mode. I hate big kid poop. I rush her to the bathroom. Which brings me to a very important debate I just had with my husband....

When we got into the bathroom there were 3 stalls. Two regular and a handicapped. The changing table was of course in the handicapped stall....as most changing tables are. I was desperate to get to the changing table and, lo and behold, someone was in that stall. The other two stalls were completely open...but that one had to be occupied. So we stood there. Poop dripping down my child's leg, tears streaming down her face, and me, totally panicked, just wanting to clean her up and calm her down. And we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, the door opened and a girl, about 10 years old, comes walking out. Most definitely not handicapped nor did she have a child that needed changing on the changing table. So now here's the debate...

Upon entering a bathroom do you automatically go to the handicapped stall simply because there is more room or do you stop to see if other stalls are available first, and if so, choose one of them? I argued that if other stalls are available, it's courteous to choose one ESPECIALLY if the changing table is in the handicapped stall. Doug disagreed and said you should take the roomy one and look out for yourself. Now, I know there are special circumstances. When I was ginormously pregnant, I used the handicapped stall. I most definitely needed the hand rails and the extra turning space.

So what do you think? Use it...or be courteous?

Secret Garden

This post feels like just yesterday. Jani was just crawling, barely saying anything, and could be entertained by a simple toy. The girl we attempted to take on the Garden Tour yesterday was very much NOT this child :) Yesterday was hot. The kind of hot that tries to suffocate you. You feel it when you walk outside and sweat instantly. This type of weather makes for a very uncomfortable walk through sweltering oasis's. But we had fun...as we always do. We had our typical Panera lunch and headed out. Jani really did have a great time and would have preferred us to just let her run amok. This is typically frowned upon :) Here are a few shots...

And here is how she ended the day....a laugh a minute this one :)

The End

(Blog Challenge: A recent picture of yourself and 5 good things that have happened since the start of the challenge)

Doug called me out. He said I totally ditched the final post. I don't know why. There is really no rhyme or reason. Posting a picture of myself didn't sound exciting and I didn't feel like thinking up 5 things. Maybe it was the day...who knows. But here I am for the last post...

1. I started my boot camp. It's kicking my butt. I'm considering this a very good thing. My booty needed a good kicking.
2. I have made significant progress on my Master's paper. I need to just finish it. It is time.
3. I am getting to spend some wonderful time with my mini-me. She's feisty and I am loving to watch her personality continue to develop. The girl cracks me up daily...make that hourly. She's a riot!
4. My hubby and I are getting some projects done around the homestead. Stay tuned for the finish of the back yard project. We're hoping within a few weeks. We definitely bit off more than we could chew!!
5. I'm working on my Happiness. Ever heard of the Happiness Project? Google it :)


And now...me...

Happy 4th of July....or Happy Halloween??

She's a bit confused about which holiday it is!

Fun with sparklers!!

Genie In a Bottle

(Blog Challenge: 3 Wishes)

These may be slightly superficial but they are things I want right now. If I had to pick life wishes they would be much different :)

1. That my body would stop hurting from the insane workouts I am participating in.
2. That someone would come and clean my house from top to bottom, deciding what I should and should not keep and organizing everything in their path.
3. That my Master's paper would write itself.

You're Stressin' Me Out!!!

(Blog Challenge: Something that stresses you out)

I'm pretty high strung. My mom would tell you I worry too much...about EVERYTHING! Yet, at the same time, I'm laid back about other things. So along with what stresses me out, there are many things that do not stress me out...but probably should.

So first, a non-stressor. Doug and I started dating in college. Freshman year to be exact. Living in the dorms can be quite an experience. He had the privilege of living by himself...starting with a roommate but then he moved out. They never replaced him and he lucked out. So, being a guy living by himself in a dorm room, you can about imagine how gross his room got. It was smelly and messy and yucky. It was a guy's dorm room. Being the wonderful, amazing, beautiful, (nagging) girlfriend that I was, I got him on the path to keeping his room CLEAN. Because of this, my husband is now OCD about a clean house. Now, I should have been drinking my own Kool-Aid because I am a very messy person. Not dirty, just messy.  So what doesn't stress me out (usually) is a mess. Jani can demolish the house and I'm fine. Doug, on the other hand, practically starts hyperventilating and has to start cleaning up immediately. So, I am blessed. I have a husband who loves to pick up. He, however does not like to clean, which brings me to my stressor.

CLEANING THE HOUSE!!! I don't mind picking things up. I don't mind putting things away. But the actual on your knees, scrubbing, cleaning, completely stresses me out. So much so that I probably don't do it often enough because the whole task seems daunting. Scrubbing showers, scrubbing floors, scrubbing sinks, it's never ending. A dream gift for me would be someone to clean my house....the down and dirty cleaning. Along with cleaning the house, STUFF stresses me out. I am a hoarder. I have a hard time with letting go of things. It has been my goal this year to get rid of stuff and purge 100 things from our house. I'm doing pretty good with this but hoping to focus on it this summer. More on that to come I'm sure :)

Stressed? Just chill to this guy....

My new obsession....thank you Kelly :)

Small Town

(Blog Challenge: Original picture of your hometown)

Are you familiar with this song?

Or this one?

Both of these songs bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them. I'm not sure why. I don't know what moves me so much. I grew up in a small town. I LOVED living in a small town. As an adult, I live in a much larger town but often talk with my husband about going back. Everything about small town living was my cup of tea. I loved knowing all my neighbors, being able to walk or bike everywhere, just that comfortable feeling. Sure, there were times when you didn't want the entire town knowing your business or you didn't want to have to drive a distance to get to a Wal-Mart or a mall but it was worth it. I don't really have pictures of it though so here's what I found on the interwebs....

I Do

(Blog Challenge: Your Dream Wedding)

I loved my wedding. It was simple. We made a lot of the decor, we had a very simple caterer, we didn't spend very much money. I was fresh out of college and had the kind of day I wanted.

Having said that, what woman doesn't want all the bells and whistles on their wedding day? I've seen quite a few wedding shows and sat in awe of how beautiful they were. My dream wedding? A great big ceremony and a huge party to celebrate us. On the flip side of that coin, though, I think a simple wedding on a beach would be equally as amazing. As each year passes different trends come and go and I always think "I wish I was getting married RIGHT now so I could do that".

I am also a simpleton when I think about these things. I think that it can get excessive and over the top. While it's fun to look at pictures and watch them on TV I can't help but think about how much of a waste it is. Is it necessary to spend upwards of $50,000 ( and probably more in some cases ) on one day? This is the case for not just weddings but birthday parties, graduation parties, etc.

So, stepping off my soap box, I had my dream wedding. It was perfect in every way :) Was yours?

Shuffle

(Blog Challenge: Put Ipod on shuffle....first 20 songs)


1. I Play the Road - Zac Brown Band
2. These Are The Days - Sugarland
3. Deck the Rooftop - Glee Cast
4. Good Morning Dear - East By Air
5. Not Every Man Lives - Jason Aldean
6. A Grown Woman - Jason Aldean
7. Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast
8. Johnny Cash - Jason Aldean
9. Hey, Soul Sister - Glee Cast
10. Monster Mash - Boris Pickett
11. Learn to Live - Darius Rucker
12. One of Us - Glee Cast
13. Angels We Have Heard On High - Glee Cast
14. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Glee Cast
15. Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
16. If I Had Wings - Darius Rucker
17. Skip the Charades - Cold War Kids
18. Alright - Darius Rucker
19. Nothing - Zac Brown Band
20. Joey - Sugarland

That was actually fun! An eclectic mix. It actually stayed on a few albums. Didn't even break into my rump shakin' music that Jani constantly jams to!

To Teach Is To Learn

(Blog Challenge: Something you have learned)

I have learned a lot of things in my life. Some lessons easier than others but all most definitely worth learning. Teaching, though, has opened my eyes to a whole new world of lessons. Some funny, some sad, some completely monumental. Kids are smart. Much smarter than people give them credit for. They think about deep things, they contemplate life, and they love hard. This year, I learned a lot of lessons. Being a classroom teacher has taught me more about myself and life than any of my previous years as a reading teacher. So here are a few lessons from some of my greatest teachers....my students.

Bullies suck. They make life difficult, they can ruin a perfectly good day, and every single school has them. We definitely don't do enough in the way of educating students about bullying.

A hug can turn a day around. My kids saw me laugh and they saw me cry...numerous times. When a child sees another person cry, they do what they know best. They give hugs...and darn good ones at that.

Farting is funny. It's a bodily function adults don't talk about. But kids do. CONSTANTLY! I learned that kids can giggle about a fart for HOURS! The look on a child's face when this happens is priceless. That is enough to send me into hysterics.

READING IS FUN! I truly believe my kids walked away knowing this. I wanted to teach them that and in turn they showed me what pure joy in reading is.

When all else fails, smile. It is contagious.

Blog Rinse Repeat....

Today's blog challenge is supposed to be your favorite movie but it's been done. I'm not sure why one day is "Favorite Movies" and another day is "Favorite Movie". I covered that topic. There is nothing left to day. Unless I talk about my excitement about the final installment of Harry Potter about to hit theaters or the fact that Hunger Games is going to be made into a movie.

Instead....a little Jani for your day

I Have It All....and I Carry It All With Me

(Blog Challenge: What's in your purse)

When I was younger my aunt gave me a bag with the cartoon character Cathy on it. Remember her?

As an adult, I now really relate to Cathy. She was never happy with her body, loved chocolate, loved shopping, and had a great relationship with her mother revolving around these very things! Back to the bag...on it there was a cartoon that had Cathy and said "I have it all and I carry it all with me!" She's lugging around a huge bag and shopping. Me in a nutshell.

So you can about imagine that the purse I carry is huge and has everything in it. So here is a list of things in my current purse:
1. Wallet
2. Three diapers
3. Bib
4. Small Ikea plate
5. Tide To Go stick
6. 3 kinds of lip gloss/chapstick
7. Sippy Cup
8. Applesauce packet
9. Nutrigrain bar
10. Baby wipes
11. Keys
12. LOTS of crumbs
13. Book
14. Camera
15. Hair bow

.....and that's a light load!

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

(Blog Challenge: Favorite picture of yourself)

I know there are others from when I was young. I vividly remember one of myself on a horse on a ride at Valley Fair. Unable to put those on here, though, this one will have to do. I love it because I just look happy. It was taken August of 2008. Doug and I were really trying to have a baby and it had been months upon months. I was frustrated but that summer we had an amazing time with friends, family, and each other. We created our own happiness when all we wanted was to create a family. I was about to start a new job and I was feeling beautiful. It doesn't get any better than that.

"Who you callin' Fuzzy?"

(Blog Challenge: Nicknames)

Did you like that post title reference to Shag? I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that 99.9% of you had no clue. MAYBE my sister got it. The only nickname I've had my entire life that has stuck is ToeFuzz. I know I've blogged about it before because of this.

I'll spare you the story again. I was in A-town a few weekends ago and ran into the man who gave me this nickname. From across the street I heard it loud and clear, "TOEFUZZ!" Some things will never change :)

Days Gone By

(Blog Challenge: Something you miss)

Today, while riding in the car with my mom, we were discussing my generation. I was asking questions about what it was like when my mom and dad were first married and having children. During those times, couples focused on getting a starter home, having kids, saving money if they could, and just being a family. We were talking about that now, young adults get out of college and expect everything handed to them on a silver platter. They want the nicest cars, the nicest houses, the nicest toys, the nicest clothes...you get what I'm saying. I was puzzled as to why so many people think they don't need to work for what they get or that they should be able to buy whatever they want and not pay their bills (I'm ranting a little....if you don't agree with me, that's fine). We were also talking about that so many people today ask what is wrong with my generation yet the people asking it are the ones who raised this generation. Though, on this note, we discussed that the people asking that question are often asking it about individuals who are quite different than the ones they raised. Does that make sense?  But I digress.

What I miss is the times when it was about family. When kids played outside and didn't sit in the house and watch TV and play video games. I miss my childhood. Running around town, reading books, playing pretend, and spending time with my family. We ate meals together, we read together, we played together....we talked. I think that is something that is starting to become an anomaly in today's society. Doug and I have decided we need to make it a point to do these things with our children. To turn off the TV, to put down our phones, to go outside, and to enjoy each other's company. All too soon, Jani will grow up and these precious years will pass.

So I miss my childhood. I don't think I enjoyed it enough or soaked it in the way I should have. The days go by way too fast.

Eat Me

(Blog Challenge: Favorite restaurant to eat at)

I pondered on this one a long time. There are a lot of places I love to eat. Doug and I actually eat out WAY too much. It has been our goal to cook more at home. Going out is just so much more handy when we have a busy schedule. When I sit and think about the place I eat the most and absolutely love, it is hands down....

We have our order memorized here. Doug gets a burrito. No beans, extra rice. Steak. Cheese. Lots and lots of Cholula. Did you know they have to get this from the back? It is no longer an option on the line. I think the people making burritos secretly hate Doug for making them get it every time. As for me? Burrito Bowl. Both kinds of beans. Rice. No meat. Cheese. Mild salsa. Lettuce. Jani and I share the bowl. I think she was meant to be raised in a hispanic family. The girl would eat beans for every meal if she could. We also order her a kiddie quesadilla. This meal is a staple in our household. I've been working on a burrito bowl recipe from this website. It's amazing! I've tried it a couple times and keep getting closer to what we want. If I could master the tortillas we'd be set!

Close runner-ups in the Cedar Valley? (in no particular order...)
1. SoHo for sushi
2. Mulligan's
3. Montage
4. Sakura
5. HuHot
6. Toad's for cheese balls
7. Panera

Rock A Bye

(Blog Challenge: Something you look forward to)

Right now, I have been thinking about this a lot.

I loved being pregnant. I had a fairly easy pregnancy...once I finally got pregnant. I wasn't very sick, had lots of energy, and loved the feeling of a little baby in my belly. Aside from gaining an insane amount of weight and swelling like a balloon, it was amazing. Am I pregnant? No. Is that in our plan soon? No. But I can't help but get a little sentimental as my baby gets bigger and bigger. I look forward to carrying another child (God willing) and rocking another baby to sleep. I look forward to breastfeeding and the Moby wrap and late night snuggles. I look forward to picking out another name and designing another nursery and sharing that time with my family. I pray I get to do it again someday.

The House That Staci Built

(Blog Challenge: Your dream house)

Doug and I have actually talked about this a lot lately. A friend from my online mommy board is actually building this house. We went to the website and found quite a few houses we fell in love with. So here are two. We'd love for these two houses to fall madly in love and make a baby...a beautiful combination of the best features of both plans. Are we building a house? No. Is this in our future? Probably not. But a girl can dream. Doug and I LOVE entertaining and our house is just not conducive to doing so. We want a home that is OPEN with lots of gathering spaces. But not too much space that all of our time is spent cleaning. So here are our two favorite homes :) Enjoy...and happy browsing if you decide to start dreaming as well!

 

 (all images borrowed from thehousedesigners.com)

Words to Live By

(Blog Challenge: A favorite bible verse)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6

This verse gives me inspiration. It reminds me that I am not in control. That I should trust that things will happen the way they should and not to worry. This is something I struggle with on a daily basis. Worry is my middle name. 

Changes

(Blog Challenge: A picture of you last year)

Our anniversary last year. I haven't changed a large amount but look at my little girl!!!! Where has my baby gone?

Aim High!

(Blog Challenge: Your goals)

1. Finish my Master's paper. I've put this off long enough. Changing jobs really messed with this whole process but I'm inching closer to being done with this. Goal is to walk in December.
2. Complete a 10 week boot camp and start to get back into shape. Babies change everything. Having a baby made me give up on myself. I haven't been taking care of myself or taking time to exercise. I had a good run a few months ago and felt great but life got in the way. Starting June 27th it becomes a priority.
3. Sew more. I have a sewing machine, I've done a few projects, but not near enough. This goal cannot be a priority, though, until #1 is complete.
4. Get organized. I'm horribly unorganized. My closets, my bedroom, my classroom....I am a scatterbrain and have a difficult time keeping things together and keeping things clean. Pinterest has been a great resource for gaining ideas about how to organize my life :)

Don't Leave Home Without It

(Blog Challenge: An item you never leave home without)

10 years ago this answer would be different. Heck, 5 years ago it may have been different. My answer is completely predictable. I can't leave home without my phone. I am attached to that thing. It isn't anything special. It isn't a smart phone. I just hate to feel like I can't get in touch with anyone at any given moment. Isn't that crazy? Growing up, you just went somewhere. You didn't worry about calling people or sending text messages. You went, you enjoyed the company, and if you needed to make a call when you got home you did so from your land line. I'm a true believer that technology is killing conversation. I think it's the reason that many teenagers and kids today have a hard time holding a conversation. In the car on the way home from our vacation, we were all on some sort of electronic device. We weren't talking....we were in our own worlds. We know how to hold a conversation because we grew up that way but I truly worry about the children of our nation.

Really Witty Post Title

(Blog Challenge: Your favorite TV shows)

I'm struggling to title this post. The moment I begin thinking about my favorite TV show my mind goes to one in particular. Dawson's Creek. This show got me through high school. It followed me into college. I cried like a baby when the last episode aired. I always wanted to date Pacey (and have seriously considered it as a child's name). I wanted to be Joey. I think everyone has a show like that. A show that they buy every single season on DVD so they can relive it over, and over, and over, long after the show is off air and it is done being syndicated. Because I'm lacking ideas and we are dashing out of town for a much needed vaca here is my list of favorite shows (in no particular order).

1. Sex and the City - who doesn't love the witty banter?
2. Friends - Pivot!
3. The Wonder Years - Kevin and Winnie...the perfect couple
4. Life Goes On - Obladi, oblada, life goes on!
5. Malibu Shores - Short running but I loved it!
6. Saved by the Bell - oh Zack :)
7. Full House - anyone remember the song Uncle Jesse sang?

8. Parenthood - There are rumors this has been cancelled :(
9. The Big Bang Theory - makes me want to live with 4 nerds
10. Grey's Anatomy - love!

You Have Nothing to Fear...

(Blog Challenge: Something you're afraid of)

But bats! Hello. My name is Staci and I am afraid of bats. Deathly afraid. I'm not entirely sure where this fear began. Growing up I lived in an older home. Bats called our attic home. I have memories from very early on of bats in our house. My mom and dad kept a tennis racket under their bed. I believe it was the day I discovered this that my fear stepped up to the next level.

I have vivid memories of a slumber party in elementary school. My friends and I were laying on the carpet in the living room and thought we saw a bird. Nope...bat. Then there was the time I was laying in my bedroom, trying to fall asleep. I squinted in the dark and saw a black figure swooping around my room. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Nope...bat. In all my pregnant glory I stayed with my mom and dad and thought I heard a knock at the door. I thought it was someone stopping in to admire my growing belly. Nope...bat.

I think what I hate most about this animal is how sneaky they are. They can hide in the tiniest spaces and are essentially  impossible to spot. My fear was so out of control that once dusk hit in the summer, I hated going outside. If I could look up in the sky and see the bats, I was done. I hated sitting outside at softball games. I hated being at the pool at night because I knew the bats would be swooping overhead.

I had a student this year who LOVED bats. The child researched them, wrote about them, drew pictures of them. Every time the student learned something new about them they would run to me and share it. It helped a little...like the tiniest bit. I am still completely terrified but am doing a little better with being outside at night.

Now I feel like a complete baby. Andplusalso, I am terrified of death.

Keep Smilin', Keep Shinin'...

(Blog Challenge: A favorite picture of your best friend)

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure, that's what friends are for!!

I've done a post about friends before. I got emotional doing it and don't think I can go through that again. It's been rough since Amber moved away connecting with other women my age and finding someone who just got me. Amber and I are planning a getaway to finally get some much needed girl time. We are even considering a big trip for our 30th birthdays next year! That's been in the works since we turned 25 :)

I don't want to get sentimental so here is a favorite pic...

Can't wait for our trip!!!

I've also been blessed to have a dear friend from college move back to the area. We get to go on a trip with her and her husband soon. Very excited for that getaway as well!!! I've been able to grow close with work friends and neighbors as well. So while I miss Amber with all my being, I know she is near family and is happy. Doesn't make it any easier though :(

I Would Walk 500 Miles...

(Blog challenge: A place you have traveled)

This challenge is not about 90's songs that get stuck in your head for hours on end (your welcome!). It's supposed to be about travel and I am supposed to narrow down my travels to one trip and write about it. Seriously? How can I pick???

This challenge actually brought back a lot of memories. Family vacations, school trips, honeymoon...trips that gave me treasured moments I will never forget. So....a few highlights....

Senior Trip - My senior trip was wonderful. It was a getaway that was much needed after 13 years of hard work and 13 years with pretty much the same people. We had fun. We talked. We laughed. We cried. Well, I cried. I was a bit sentimental. One moment that sticks in my head, though, was when our tour bus got in an accident. We took our trip to Chicago and took the bus everywhere. Not sure where we were headed at this particular point but we had to sit tight for awhile. On this trip, we were able to play our CD's on the bus, watch our own movies, etc. During this little accident we heard this song over and over and over. I cannot hear this song and not think about Michelle singing this nor have fond memories of alcohol delivery services.

Europe - Did you know that there isn't a drinking age in Europe? Yeah, me either ;) In high school, I had the privilege to travel to Europe with our french teacher. We went to Italy, France, and England and it was spectacular. I was also privileged enough to have my mom accompany me. She had another friend going with her so she kept her distance but it was nice to be able to have her there just in case...and for when I needed money! I vividly remember a group of kids going out to the disco one night, though, and I was too scared to go, for fear of getting caught and having my mom right there to punish me. Everyone else's parents were an ocean away! In the middle of the night, my roommates came back and I heard the sound of peeing. I could tell the person hadn't gone into the bathroom and got up to see what was going on. Sure enough, peeing in their suitcase. It was at that point I was thankful for my mother being there, for not having gone to the bars, and for clothes that weren't soaked with urine. YUCK!

Honeymoon - By far one of my favorite trips. We did a cruise and I wasn't sure about the whole being on a boat thing. If you ever consider a cruise, DO IT!!! You will not regret it.

This picture is of the bathroom. Bathrooms (and rooms in general) on the boat are small...TINY....and if you have ever met my husband you would know he is not small...NOT TINY...so seeing him try to manipulate this room was hilarious. I am literally standing on the threshold and could touch every wall, every corner, from where I stood. I think things are small to encourage you to be out on the boat. DO NOT drink too much on the boat and try to come back to your room and use the bathroom when you are a little tipsy. Nothing good comes from this. Actually, bruises and bloody noses come from this. Consider yourself WARNED!

Movie Time!

(Blog Challenge: Your favorite movies)

Ahh....movies. How I love thee!! I've always loved going to movies. In the theater, in my living room, on the lawn of the quads freshman year in the dorms. MEMORIES! I had a tough time going about deciding how to rank my top movies. So I decided I would just write about the ones that stick in my head. The ones I had to buy on VHS (and have actually considered buying on DVD to update the collection!!).

To begin, my childhood favorite. I rented and watched this movie a MILLION times.

When I was young I would walk to the public library and rent this movie over, and over, and over, and over. If you have never seen it, there is a part of the movie where Pippi cleans her kitchen by strapping sponges to her feet and skating on the floor. Bubbles are everywhere, they are dancing and singing, it's amazing. I wanted to play this scene out in  my kitchen so many times. I'm pretty sure I thought about inventing Sponge Skates for the Invention Convention more than once. Rent this with your kids. It will not disappoint.

Moving onto high school I latched on to one of my sisters' favorite movies and took it on as my own.

Shag. Just one word but oh so amazing. Four teenage girls escape their hometown and make some seriously amazing memories. The boys in this movie made me long to go back to the 60's and fall in love with a boy named Chip. I tried to imitate their dances in my living room. I sang the songs numerous times. I wanted to run off with my friends to Myrtle Beach and wear pearls. I have wanted to name my daughter Carson ever since (I will never use this name now because it does not work with the last name I have...--tear--) I tried to introduce my friends in college to this movie but they didn't get it. They didn't see they authenticity and the amazingness that is SHAG!

A few other favorites, part high school...part college.

I watched both of these movies so much I practically wore out the videos. Just writing about them makes me want to run to Amazon and buy the DVD's so I can watch them this weekend. I love them. Nuff said. I had a crush on Freddie Prinze Jr through most of my teenage and early college years. I can recite them in my sleep and if you have never seen them, I'm not sure we can ever speak again :)

This next one holds a very special place in my heart....

I saw this movie the month I moved to college. Myself and two of my friends went to it in the theater. My friends were staying back in high school and I was moving away. I was devastated. We were having a last hurrah. It's crazy when you think about your high school friendships. How much time you spend together, how many nights you stay up talking, how many secrets you share. Then you go to college, you grow up, and you lose touch with so many of these friends. I will never forget this night in the theater. It holds a very special place in my heart. And the movie just rocks :)

I have so many other favorites. Knocked Up, Juno, Wedding Crashers, SATC....the list goes on. I could seriously write about my favorite movies for days. We'll stop here though. I think when you're younger movies have a different meaning. You search to fill a part of yourself. You watch romances when you feeling like you'll never find love. You watch comedies when you need to laugh with your friends. A scary movie is all you need on Halloween night. I need to watch movies with the same attitude as I did when I was young. Sometimes the perfect movie can give you just what you need.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

(Blog challenge: A picture that makes you happy)

Tomorrow is the last day of school and it is bittersweet. This day has felt like it's been a long time coming. We are one of the LAST schools in the state still in session. The kids are tired, hot, and ready to be done. The teachers are tired, hot, and ready to be done. But a part of me tears up at the thought of letting these little kiddos go. They are my first set of kids. My first team. My first group that I have been responsible for. Straight out of college I got hired as a reading teacher. I embraced the role (as any newbie does...it was a JOB!) and ended up loving it. I got specialized training, moved schools, and taught a large number of kids how to read. Who can say they've done that?! It was challenging, it made me grow as an educator, and it was fairly low stress. I was told numerous times how crazy I was when I made the decision to move to the classroom. I was sure of myself though. I needed this. As an educator, I think you need to experience the classroom.

When I embarked on this year, I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I'd been in the 1st grade rooms constantly. I knew their routines. I knew what was expected of me. I knew what my kids needed to know. What I didn't realize was just how attached I would become to these little humans. When I'm at school, I have 20 more children. I wipe noses. I bandage wounds. I break up fights. I soothe hurt egos. I build self-esteem. I never realized just how involved the classroom teacher is. I also never realized how much of a bond you build with the children selected to spend 180 days with you.

So right now, what makes me happy? Knowing that these special children grew as learners this year. They are all readers. They are all writers. They are all sponges ready to take on everything that is thrown their way. I love each and every one of them and will look fondly on my first year in the classroom. It has been a year of stress, tears, sweat, tears, smiles, tears....you get the point...and each and every moment has been worth it all.

What's Your Mood?

(Blog Challenge: A song to match your mood)

With our anniversary yesterday, I'm feeling sentimental. This wasn't our wedding song but it was in the running. I think it sums up our weekend and how we are both feeling at this current stage in our lives :)

Back Where I Come From

(Blog Challenge: Your parents)

On October 31, 2009, I became a mom...a parent. I accepted the challenge to be responsible for another human being's life. To teach them, watch them grow, love them, guide them, discipline them...in short, I agreed to be her everything. I often look at Jani and think "Wow! She is part me! How cool!" Then reality hits me and I can't even believe that I was privileged enough to be given this gift.

When I became a mom, I looked at my own parents differently. I saw myself in my mother and my father. I understood how my mom must have felt when she welcomed three girls into the world. Through Doug's eyes, I was able to see how my dad must have (and still does) looked at us...his girls. It was a monumental moment. It made me feel like I would NEVER be able to thank my parents enough for all they have done for me...for who they have made me. In short, my parents rock. They are the best parents in the world. That sounds so cliche but I feel like they were truly everything parents were meant to be. Kind and gentle yet they had expectations and standards for us. Their parenting has taught me so much about the kind of parent I hope I can be. 

My mother is one of my very best friends. We were most definitely cut from the same cloth. Many of my friends talk about how they had a period of time where their relationship with their mother was strained. I never experienced this. We fought about things (like the fact that I needed to finish eating my supper) but I can't say I was ever so angry with her I wanted to run away, never speak to her, or rebel against everything she stood for. We are two peas in a pod and I appreciate and love her more every day. I can hardly make it a day without talking to her and if I have to go a week without having coffee with her I go into withdrawal.

My father, the silent leader, is someone I look up to and strive to be more like. Doug often tells me that my dad taught him that silence is okay. This is something I love about my father. He is a man of few words so the words he does say are worth listening to. He knows how to have a good time, he goes to church every Sunday, and he puts his family first. He visited my grandfather every day until the day he died. I always admired his loyalty and devotion.

My parents are my foundation. My foundation is strong. It is because of them that I am the person I am today.

And They Call It...Puppy Love

(Blog Challenge: Describe your first love...)

I'm truly a romantic at heart. I read a variety of series growing up and always loved the plot line that dealt with the budding romance. Lurlene McDaniel, Ann M. Martin...I created perfect relationships in my mind and decided that my love life was going to be epic. I would have great loves. Not just simple loves but great ones.

One of the first memories I have goes all the way back to preschool. We carpooled out to my preschool. Higglety Pigglety. There was a small group of children whose mothers rotated each week. We'd pack into the car, backpacks ready to go, and chat all the way down the gravel roads. One young boy, let's call him Boy A, had my undying love. I vividly remember coming home from preschool one night and getting ready to take a bath. I always had the best talks with my mom while getting ready for the bath. I'd usually perform a dance or two to my Little Mermaid soundtrack, have a discussion about how to do my hair, decide which roll-on soap to use (thank you Avon), you know...girl stuff. This particular evening, though, my mom informed me that Boy A's mom had talked to her about having a play date. I was elated. I could not believe I was going to get to go over to his house! After an extensive conversation about the event, I remember telling my mother,

"I think I should bring Swiss Cake Rolls. That would really make him happy."

When the day arrived, I packed my little sack up with Swiss Cake Rolls and practically bounced to his house. It wasn't epic. Pretty sure we played with baseball cards all day. But it was the beginning of a long line of puppy love memories. 

Elementary school, middle school, and high school brought it's own set of great loves (or so I thought) and great heartaches. I don't think I ever prepared myself for that. We'll put Boy B, Boy C, and Boy D in there. In the stories I read there was always a happily ever after (except in Lurlene McDaniel...those usually just ended tragically). It never crossed my mind that my heart could be broken. And it was. In the worst way. My first love was in high school and in my mind it was epic. I fell in love and I fell hard....never thinking that I would be faced with heartache. Boy E. I don't really want to write any more than that. I think it's pointless to dwell on the past. When I remember high school, I remember it fondly. I look back on those years with no regrets. I loved, loved hard, and was taught great lessons about dusting myself off when I got knocked down. 

And it brought me to Boy F. He doesn't need to remain nameless. Without all those other roads, I never would have made my way to Doug. And we'll save that love story for another day.

It's All In The Name...

(Blog Challenge: Dirty details about the name of your blog)

Doesn't every little girl dream about a happily ever after? We grow up watching Disney movies...watching as the heroine ends up with her knight in shining armor. She encounters some sort of challenge and is swept off her feet and saved. I was pretty partial to Belle. I felt like she was the only brunette, the only one who liked to read, she was in France (and I loved France). I related to her. She could have been my BFF.

Fast forward many years to the day I met Doug. I remember my friends talking about how huge he was...not only in size but his personality as well. He definitely made his presence known. He had long scraggly hair and if you had the pleasure of seeing my hubby when we met you know he was nearly twice the size he is now. He always jokes that he was the beast and I was the beauty.

And so the name of this blog is born...Our Happily Ever After. It evolved after Jani was born and we added A King, A Queen, and a Little Princess. We are enjoying life, living our dreams and being the leading stars of our very own love story. I may not end up in a castle but I think what we've got is pretty special :)

 

 A blast from the past....like 7 years ago!!! What a beast :)

Let Me Introduce Myself...

I agreed to do a blog challenge with a friend. After looking at many blogs today, I see quite a few people are embracing June as the month to do a challenge! We'll see how it goes. I've tried to do this before, just write everyday but I sometimes lost focus, lacking anything blog worthy. Not that what will come from me will be worthy of reading, but it gives me a focus and will keep me writing. So....here goes Day 1. A recent pic of myself and a description of myself in 5 words....

 Here's me finishing Run Like A Mother. I was pointing at Jani :)

5 words? Just five....I have never been good at being succinct. These will not be related in any way. Just 5 random words.

Forgetful  -  Social  -  Maternal  -  Romantic  -  STRESSED!

I'm just describing myself at this current moment in time :)