Six Year Anniversary

Today is our 6 year Anniversary! It totally doesn't seem like it's been that long! Maybe because the past 3 years or so have flown by with pregnancies and babies. Ha!

Last night we went to church and the 1st reading was the SAME reading we had at our wedding for the first scripture! (Genesis 2:18-24)

"The Lord God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said:
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body."

Justin and I found it so fitting that this was the scripture last night. In fact, the whole mass was centered on marriage. The priest was visiting...and he was so neat. He spoke of marriage as a sacrifice...a perfect sacrifice that gives ultimate joy.

The past six years have had their ups and downs. Never once have I doubted the love I have for Justin. He makes me whole and he's my very best friend. He gave me the greatest gifts...my babies. When I look at them...I see Justin & I...and that is so amazing!

What I love about Justin...Top 10 in no specific order:

1. He laughs when I'm unhappy...and it makes me happy
2. He's an AMAZING father...AMAZING...it's what he was meant to do in life!
3. He's perserverant. There's not ANYTHING he cant do!
4. He's HANDSOME! I always wanted a tall, tough, handsome dude!
5. He takes care of me...always...
6. I come first...he's so selfLESS. If I need something...he always makes sure I have it. 7. He's the most loving, caring man I know (well...Daddy comes close!)
8. He's tall--helpful when I need something up high! haha...
9. He drives a truck (was a 4x4 when we met...it was the BEST)
10. His growing faith and love in God. It amazes me!

Sooo...looking forward to the next Six-ty years AT LEAST with Justin!

Amazing/Sad story

Through Kelly's Korner blog, I came across a blog "family" she had asked her readers to pray for.

http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/

It's the blog of a couple married for 5 years. She got cancer...and found out she was pregnant. She carried the baby to 37 weeks and delivered her. The baby was in ICU for a while, but she grew healthy and they were able to take her home. After being home for 2 days, the mom got VERY ill and died in the hospital.

It is such a sad, sad story...but the amazing part is the faith and strength that the husband/dad has. Please pray for this sweet little family...

It's stories like these that make me eat up every single minute I have with my babies. Every night as I nurse Natalie to sleep...I remember that day when i was 7 weeks pregnant and I thought I was having a miscarriage. I remember those 11 weeks that I REFUSED to get attached to the baby...because I just knew something would go wrong. And then I remember the day I found out she was a girl. When I hold her at night I look at her hands and think that one day...this hand will wear a wedding band...one day it will hold her baby... I feel so BLESSED to have two healthy and wonderful babies!!

House progress...

Front of our House with Old Screen Door

Old Screen Door (and new door) It was aluminum with ugly trim. (We still have one just like it in the back...it REALLY is a good door...just ugly IMO)

Old Front Door

New Front of house with new Screen door & new front door. Now we need NEW windows! Is it bad that I hope they get busted out?

New Front Door



Front Living Area before


Front Living Area with new paint...Still need to add new trim & paint the ugly wood trim in parts By they way, that's blue tape. there's a trim piece there. Not sure if we'll leave it white or paint it red. We still have to put the Crown Moulding up. :)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I found this recipe link at Kelly's Korner, (one of my FAVORITE blogs!)

It is AMAZING and there are pictures to guide you on your way. Justin told me I need to make these and take them anywhere we have to brink sweets. He said, "It's a perfect muffin". Hmmm...I thought it was a cupcake?

Chocolate Chip Cookie dough Cupcake Recipe

(ps...I made the homemade icing...1st half was plain vanilla...2nd half I added 1/4 cup of cocoa.)

Photostory Friday :)

Pics of Taylor and Nat's last BFF meeting before Taylor and her mommy & daddy move far, far away. :(

Taylor and her gorgeous Eyes!

BFF's!! I love how they are polar opposites in the looks..brown eyes, blue eys, brown hair, blonde hair, olive skin, pale skin, curly hair, straight hair!

Janet & Natalie and Amber & Taylor (BFF's and the NEXT generation :))

Taylor giving Natalie "bye bye kisses"

Sweet thing! She's getting soooo BIG!

The "brat pack" of ducks at our park. They are the misfits. Maybe the other ducks are predjudice? The white duck has some kind of wierd thing going on with it's head. The feathers are all messed up. It always makes me laugh!

Nat touching her first fish! GROSS!

Looking at the ducks!

Wordless Wednesday

Teaching Tip Tuesdays

I miss teaching soooooo much, so I thought I'd share a few of my "tips of the trade". Maybe I'll do this every week, maybe not... :)

Grading Slips

I have always had issues with grade books and grading in general. While searching online one day, I came across a GREAT website! Class with Sanders This is where I got the phenomenal idea for my grading slips!

Grading slips are a class roster/grade book for EACH assignment. There is a place for the title of the assignment, what type of assignment, and grades (and other stuff). You have a template for each class. Every time the class turns in an assignment, you staple a grading slip to the top. You grade each assignment and write the grade on the slip. The roster can be in any order you like, but i prefer alphabetical by last name because that's how most grading programs are. I give my students "numbers" and they write them in the top right hand corner of their papers. When I grade, I just look at that number and it coincides with the number on the grading slip. (Also...their names are under the staple...so it helps a little from me being biased....hey...you know we all do it sometimes).

When it's time for assignments to be turned in, I have one student ( a reliable one...or someone who needs to feel special) put the papers in numerical order. They hand it to me with a sticky telling me which numbers are missing. I staple the grading sheet to the top & quickly ask those kids who didn't turn the assignment in where it is. This made it all SOOO worthwhile!!! Instant knowledge of where the late assignments were!!

For each class I have a manila folder for each 6 weeks (1st Period 1st 6 weeks...so on). I group the "like" grading slips together and staple them on top of each other when I'm done grading (along with me using a highlighter to put a check mark over the slip when I've inputted it). I usually have these groups:

1. Daily Journals 2. Homework 3. Tests 4. Projects 5. Classwork

When I have parent conferences, it's easy to take that class's folder with me, rather than a grade book. The grading slip also has a space for comments. This is where I write, "Late", "Excellent", "tardy"...whatever...

I also have a color system. If they were absent that day, I highlight yellow. If they didn't turn it in, orange. If it's late, I write "late" in red next to it (it was already highlighted orange).

Here you can see examples and Mrs. Sander's explanation of the grading slip!! My friend Jen & I use these and they have made our life so simple!