I love you, Athens

I've yet to blog about my trip to Athens last weekend. It's no secret that I wish I was living there but I will just have to settle for frequent trips to stay with my sister! Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? That's always been my motto. I was lucky enough to visit two weekends in a row so this upcoming weekend is bound to pale in comparison! 

Two weekends ago I finally got to see my sweet girlfriends from college! I'm still shocked we settled on a date and everyone could come in to town. Thanks to Liezl and Kellie for having us over and for letting me over stay my welcome as usual. Let me say, my girlfriends can cook, y'all! I love that we all bring food instead of going out - we get to spend much more time together catching up and have yummy food at the same time. It is so wonderful to hear about the big changes happening in everyone's lives. I am so blessed by these ladies. Love you girls so much!

Oldie, but goodie! I don't have one with everyone - missing you Liezl!

This past weekend I headed to Athens on Friday to spend the weekend with Haley. Chris was working so I headed out around lunch on Friday to try and beat the traffic. I got into town before Haley got off work so I couldn't resist stopping by Goodwill before I headed to the house. Actually, I stopped at both Goodwill's now that there is one on the Eastside! Just another reason I need to move back! I can't believe we don't have one here in Dalton. 

I didn't score anything ridiculously awesome, but I am so excited about what I did find. I've been searching for something to use as a utensil crock but am really picky about what I want. I found this gorgeous blue ceramic vase and I knew I had to have it! I bought this American flag tray and I can use it in several ways - in a classroom, on the wall, for July 4th decoration, or as a tray on my coffee table (where it is currently sitting). I can't turn down anything with a flag on it, y'all. Just call me Aunt Sam. Lastly, I found a stack of twelve almost new dry erase boards for get this, only five dollars. I couldn't leave without it and I'm glad I didn't. I knew it was a good score when a teacher in line behind me bragged about what a great find it was! Now, I just need a classroom to use them in...

Saturday we headed to Atlanta to a baby shower for one of Haley's friends. Is there anything better than a baby shower? Seriously! There are babies everywhere and I am loving it! I can't wait to buy more sweet baby things for my honorary sister, Beth, in the coming weeks before her baby boy arrives. Saturday night we stopped in at my cousin's house to visit with them. Matt spoiled us with a delicious dinner as usual and I got to hang out with my favorite girl!

Sunday morning was spent lounging around the house until time to head to the UGA Women's basketball game. Dad has been wanting to go for a while so Haley bought us tickets for the game against Texas A & M. The girls have been doing well but unfortunately they didn't pull out a win on Sunday. Of course we love them anyway!

Elaine, this one is for you! That hair is looking crazy! 

I love my people. Here's to another great weekend! Stay warm, safe, and have a great one, y'all!

All hail to dear old U-G-A!

I will always love my team no matter what! I am so proud of them! Dawgs on Top!

Happy news on a sad day

Today is officially the day I no longer "live" in Athens. Even though I got married two months ago and graduated from UGA almost three months ago I had yet to completely move out of our little green house. Today Haley's new roommate moves in, so all of my things had to be out this morning. Don't worry though, there's an empty bedroom with my name on it for spontaneous visits! Right, Haley? My heart will always be in Athens (the happiest place on Earth), but it also feels really good to get my things more organized. 

While in Athens I got to visit with my old mentor teacher, Mr. Oulevey. He took the other Social Studies teacher and me out to Loco's for lunch. I've spoken with him over the summer but this was the first time I'd seen him since before the wedding. Walking into Hilsman brought back so many wonderful memories - I truly had the best student teaching experience anyone could ever hope for. Y'all know I'm a sap so here it goes - Mr. O was the best thing that ever happened to me. He brought me out of my shell and helped me become a better teacher than I ever thought I could be. I decided not to teach this year since we are living in Dalton. I wanted to take some time to familiarize myself with the area, schools, and the kids. The best part is - all my best teacher friends have their own classrooms so I'll live vicariously through you all!

Mr. O gave me the best news I could have dreamed of today at lunch. He told me that this year he had the highest Social Studies CRCT scores he had ever had. This is saying a lot since he typically has the highest in the district and has been recognized by the state for his scores. As teachers we know that tests are not the end all be all of assessment, but it feels dang good to do so well! It's like a little pat on the back for all of our excruciating work. I'll sleep well tonight knowing my kids learned a little something from me. Speaking of, one of my girls just texted me. Let me go handle another middle school crisis! ;)

The life of a nomad

Chris and I have traveled a lot of miles in the past few days! Chris works a crazy schedule at his job with Oglethorpe Power that theoretically includes a "seven off" about once a month. I say theoretically because this is the first one in a long time where he has actually had a full seven days off. He is usually busy with meetings, trainings, and overtime shifts during his days off. We crossed our fingers and knocked on wood this time and got our wish (so far!). On Friday we headed to Athens, also known to me and mine as the happiest place on Earth, to get the last of my furniture there and run some errands. Last month we had a close call when we came back and found this: 

This is our back door - which was surprisingly still shut.

Devils helped themselves to our ladder to hop the fence!

Our cute ferocious guard wolf!

Dad and Chris replaced the door with a new, sturdy, and windowless one and we put a lock on the back gate just in case. We haven't had any problems since and hopefully it will stay that way. Our neighbor was hit three different times and several other houses on our street have been hit as well. On Friday Chris helped dad put up a glass door out back to let some light in since we put up that heavy duty door. Jasper and Lolli really enjoy it - Lolli looking out, and Jasper looking in! We spent a couple of days in Athens and hit up my favorite places: the dollar theatre, Barberitos, and Menchies to name a few. Can't resist posting a picture of my two favorite snuggles -

Lolli

Jaspy

Can I just say really quickly that I loved Snow White and The Huntsman (and not just because my ticket was $2)? I hate to admit that I've never read this original Grimm Brothers' tale but I definitely plan to now. If you haven't seen it I won't ruin it for you but I suggest you watch it. It was definitely a bit gory at parts, but if it wasn't too much for me or Haley, then you're probably good! It had a great story line without the romance Disney falsely adds to the mix. That was the best part - it had a heroine who saved her kingdom without totally relying on men or getting married. You know this Feminist loved that! Stay tuned years down the road to see if I let my girls and/or boys buy into that nonsense ;) 

Anyway, after a couple of days in Athens we headed back to Dalton to meet mom and dad at our house. They brought over the last of the furniture at their house and we had a big project party! Dad and Chris finally got the spot over the oven fixed - it has been driving me nuts! The lady before us ripped out the microwave and left a hot mess so we covered it and it looks so much better. We found that coke sign behind the oven - I'm going to make it a magnet for the fridge.

We headed to Chattanooga for dinner - my husband is obsessed with Mellow Mushroom - and then headed back home and my parents left for Habersham. Chris and I spent the next couple of days finishing up hanging pictures and organizing book cases and it looks so great. We spent one day exploring Chattanooga and shopping for goodies as usual! I'll post some pictures of everything soon but for now, here's our cute new wreath compliments of Pier 1. Hydrangeas of course...

We came back to Habersham today but we took the scenic route since it was such a beautiful day. We grabbed a peach milkshake and were on our way. We went through Elijay, Blue Ridge, Hiawassee, and around Lake Burton before heading home. It made me wish it was fall even more so we could be doing all those fun fall things instead of hiding from this heat!

My favorite!

In Blue Ridge today

I'll dream of pumpkins and a cool breeze when I lay my head down to sleep! Sweet dreams, all!

Procrastination at its best

Why is it that every time I promise myself I will become a more disciplined blogger I fail? I seem to follow a certain pattern - I churn out one blog post and then don't return to the blogging world for several weeks. Granted I was so busy for a while there my eyes were permanently crossed... but I can't make excuses anymore. Now that I am officially graduated and officially married things have calmed down significantly. I am still living in limbo - somewhere in the middle of Dalton (where my husband lives), Clarkesville (where my parents live), and Athens (my home for the past two years). I didn't move a single thing before the wedding - I don't know who has time to do all that nonsense! Plus, it kind of feels like saving the best for last! I'm moving things slowly but surely, unpacking and playing as I go. I have lots of new things to blog about, and a ton of crafting ideas in the works so stay tuned for more interesting posts!

Talk to ya later UGA!

I last wrote at the conclusion of my most hectic semester at UGA - student teaching in an eighth grade Georgia Studies classroom. I now write as an official graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Middle Grades Education. What? It's amazing how faithfully life goes on, even when time doesn't seem to be passing. As I sit here looking through graduation photos I am constantly reminded of my mother's most used phrase, "You'll miss this one day." Even when I was very young she warned me not to wish my life away. I am only now truly beginning to understand what she meant. Though I hate to admit it, she couldn't be more right. How can I already miss college? For me it is more of missing the familiarity of being a student than the tests, projects, papers, and anxiety. My identity has been completely intertwined with being a student for oh, what? Almost twenty years if we count pre-school. I guess it's okay to mourn the end of familiarity. At least for me, I've still got a good thirty or so years until I'm really done with school. Thanks, mom for instilling a love of education in me. There aren't many people who love school enough to go for the rest of their lives! And thanks for loving me through the tests, projects, papers, and anxiety. Happy Mother's Day!


A few pictures - more to come.


My sweet parents

Sanford filling up for the ceremony Friday night

A few photos of my sweet teacher friends - I could't have made it through middle school without them

We did it!