My Last Day At Liberty High School

Today is my last day at work. Yesterday was my last day with students. It was a great day. My student's threw me a party in one of my classes (the instructional assistants help them of course) and I just got to sit and talk with them and enjoy being one of the kids for the day. One of my students even stood up and serenaded me with "Time To Say Goodbye" in his "opera voice". You have to know this kid to know it was pretty hilarious AND awesome! He sang the WHOLE song in Italian. He is a big guy and quite the jokster! I loved every second of it.

My department threw me a little party on Tuesday after school. So many people came down to chat and say goodbye. I was really touched and feel really lucky to have worked in such a great school. Today they are having a cake for me (and I WILL be having some) and then me and some of my co-workers are getting some lunch.

I know I will be really sad to leave my classroom for the last time. It was definitely a place of many memories and moments of growth as an adult and teacher. I went from a new teacher right out of college, not married yet, and now I am a tenured teacher, married with kids. Wow. Time changes things.

I'm not sad though. I know my family is where I belong and that these past 5 years have just been stepping stones to the new adventures that await me. I am really ready to go. Two months ago tears formed in my eyes everytime I thought about having to leave my job. Today. I am just ready.

The Christmas Post That Never Was

I've been slacking big time. I left my camera in Utah when I went out there for Christmas. Christmas 2011 was so wonderful! It was my 1st Christmas not being with my parent's. I sure did miss them and our traditions, but being with Jake's family and Zoey and Logan was so special.

I flew out Christmas Eve. I was so happy to see the kids and Jake. We got to go see Santa at the Mall. Zoey went running up to him. She loves Santa! Logan wasn't scared either. My kids amaze me with how content they are with everyone. We got our family picture and then the kids got the messiest chocolate lollipops and had a field day with them!

We spent the evening at Grandma Joy's house. It is ONE PACKED HOUSE with all of Aunt, Uncles and cousins! We did presents, and dinners and sang some songs and took lots of pictures. During presents Zoey had a moment of true concern when we saw other people opening presents, and she didn't have anything to open. Oh how they learn quickly!

The whole family love Zoey and Logan and it feels good to see them getting to play with other kids and be loved-on my everyone. I mean, they are freakin cute, so it's not hard to love them!

We put the kids to bed and started getting out all the presents for Christmas morning. Wow. They had a lot of presents for two little ones who really have no clue what's going on!

Christmas morning was so simple. Once the babies got up they played with a few toys left unwrapped from Santa and played with the toys in their stocking. Linda and Lloyd went to church and we got the kids down for a nap. We got to open presents will all of Jake's siblings while the kids slept. It was really nice to be with all of them. We all got some nice things and got to play with our own toys before the kids woke up.

Zoey and Logan loved opening all their toys. They got a play kitchen, Little People Farm, play camera and lots of good stuff. Zoey is very into opening presents now!

Christmas night after we put the babies to bed Jake and I headed to Salt Lake City for a little over nighter! We had a great time relaxing and sleeping in a king bed!

The rest of the week we just did fun things and I loved every minute being there!

The day before I flew to Utah I got a wicked tooth ache. It got so bad in Utah that the left side of my face was swollen up to my eye! I was miserable. The dentist thought I might need to go to the ER to receive antibiotics through an IV. Luckily Jake's uncle had some pretty awesome antibiotics he couldn't used and they helped so much! You can see in one of these pictures that I'm having a hard time smiling!

It was a very Merry Christmas! So fun to see them having fun and enjoying the holidays. Hopefully next Christmas we can get the WHOLE family together!!

Logan is 1!

Logan turned 1 on December 8th! Here is a summary of who he is at this age...

I just melt everytime I look into his face. His brown eyes and ivory skin are so adorable! He has my eyes and my dimple, but otherwise he is all Jake!

He also has these really spaced out teeth on the top and when he laughs he looks so funny.

Logan is about 21.8 lbs.

He still only has 7 teeth (has had them since about 8 months).

He is still taking 2 naps a day and for the last 2 months has been sleeping 12-13 hrs a night.

He goes to bed/nap with a bottle and binkie.

He says, "mama" and "dog" and the other day Jake walked into the room and he looked at him and said "dada". sometimes he will try words you ask him to say, like "bubble" or "cupcake" but it comes out "baba" and "caca"

blows kisses

Will go down a slide by himself...usually head first

He still does "If your happy and you know it" and "roll your hands", and "so big"

He likes to feed himself with a spoon and eats whatever we are eating. He is a good eater!!

He pretends to talk on the phone by holding the phone behind his head

He likes to jump off things (sound familiar) but is more cautious than Zoey

He of course walks and climbs up and down stairs, on couches, coffee tables, no problem

He loves to run and give you hugs and kisses with a big open mouth

Loves Ice Cream

Starting to want more independence to do things himself

Growls when he is tired

Loves peekaboo

Logan is definitely his own little person. He is just as busy as Zoey, but he is so even tempered. He doesn't mind when Zoey comes stealing things out of his hands yelling at him "No Gi Gi, Mine!" He just let's her freak out and moves on to the next thing. Smart boy to learn so early to stay out of the way of a woman freaking out!

Sometimes I just watch him amazed that he is mine! What a lucky mommy I am to have such a sweet and beautiful baby boy!

Trip 1 To UTah

My weekend trip to Utah beginning of Dec was PERFECT! The flights were on time (early even) and I even managed the whole row to myself on one of the flights! Dream come true, except I was too excited to sleep. Seeing Jake was wonderful!!!! I love my husband. We got to stay overnight in Salt Lake since Jake had to work in the morning and I didn't get in until 11:30pm. My husband all to myself... It was as good as a carribean cruise! Kinda.

I was so giddy to see the kids the next morning! I just hugged and kissed them to death. I couldn't believe how grown up Logan looked! He took a second to warm up to me, Zoey too. It was like they didn't believe I was REALLY there. We had so much fun though, playing and celebrating Logan's birthday.The only bad thing is being with Jake I just eat like crap!! Why is that? Popcorn and soda at the movies, a soft taco inbetween lunch a dinner. I would even think of doing it in Baltimore. I have to figure out where those choices are coming from and get a hold on it before I move out there.

Here we are at Kangaroo Zoo! I couldn't get Zoey to sit still long enough to get a picture!

It was so hard to leave, but in just a few short days I will be with them again! I will post tonight on all the fun stuff we did for Logan's birthday! Can't believe my baby is one!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow....

November came so fast and before you know it I had to say Goodbye to my little family. It was so hard to kiss them goodbye. I miss seeing their faces everyday and holding them and hugging them. I miss Jake and just being in his presence. Absence sure makes the heart grow fonder. I know how lucky I am to have a family that I just adore!

I can't wait for the 1st week of Dec when I get to kiss their faces again!

Look at this picture of Logan at the airport.... talk about breaking my heart!!

I'm coming soon my little man!!!!!!

Halloween In Pikesville

Our street really knows how to do Halloween! Every year the neighborhood has a parade down our street....the skinniest street in the neighborhood....and of course they insist on leading the parade with a fire engine!

My parents and Charly came down for the festivities! We had a great day!

My duck and lady bug!

Charly was the CUTEST waitress with her costume made by my mom!

The fam

My lil duck boy!

Zoey got the hang of trick or treating really fast!!

She also got the hang of eating the candy really fast too!

Fall Time At Clarksville Farm

We spent a perfect fall day at the Clarksville Farm! We will really miss this place!!!

Logan with the goats!

Logan and Daddy on the Cow Ride!!

Zoey Kissing on the Animals!

"Uh Oh!" Zoey opened one of the gates by accident letting 3 little goats escape!!

We could not get her off this Cow Ride!!! She loves it!