My Valentine...

Happy Valentine's Day 2013
It's our 1st Valentine's Day together!

We had made reservations at the Melting Pot in January so I knew we were going there for dinner. Before dinner we exchanged our gifts at home. It was fun. He surprised me with a new Vintage Pearl necklace that I love. He got me the secret love message heart. It's adorable. It has a secret message on the inside of the heart. He gave me a beautiful necklace for Christmas that was a longer one, made up of charms representing our love. I love it, but it was hard to wear everyday. I wanted something I could wear everyday, and this is perfect. I made him an "Alphabet Book of our Love" that I created off of a Pinterest idea. It was cute and he loved it. He also was super excited about his own copy of Battleship. After we did our little gifts we headed to dinner.

The funniest thing. As I got into the car I noticed something different. The music started playing. Chris's music plays through his iPhone in his car. It's bluetooth. It's always the same music and I recognize most everything. This time it was different. I knew this song. It was Donna Lewis' song, "I Love You Always Forever". I started singing it. As we were pulling out of the garage I looked over at Chris, smiled, and said..."Um, that's funny. This is a new song. Did you plan that or something?"
He just smiled at me and said, "Maybe." It was the cutest thing ever. He had made a playlist for our drive to dinner! Too cute. Too creative. I love him so.

We had been to the Melting Pot one time before, with a special Teacher Discount event. This evening was much different, but totally wonderful. It was a fantastic meal and we loved every bit of it. It was a special time with just the two of us for our First Valentine's Day together. We finished our lovely dinner, headed home and relaxed for the evening.

Happy Valentine's Day, Chris. I love you.

Pre-Valentine Dinner -- It's an iPhone front camera picture...so it's a little blurry.
But, it's us. I think we're cute. 

YUM. 

I heart him. So cute. He accidentally picked out the pink fondue fork for dessert.
I ended up with the black one. I thought it was funny.
His favorite was strawberries.
My favorite were bananas. 

School Valentine's Day...

Most of you know that I teach school. I am a Special Education teacher for upper elementary, er...middle elementary kiddos. I teach 3rd and 4th grade kids this year. I love them. Apparently, they love me. I was showered with love on Valentine's Day. I didn't even expect it, so it was a nice little surprise for me! Here are a few pictures from the day. 

I brought these for my assistant and her sidekick. He loves donuts.
I wanted one, and I thought it would be a special treat for Valentine's Day. 

This was the 4th grade Language Arts Conversation Hearts  love story.
They all had conversation hearts and each  kid had to use one of their hearts in a sentence.
The story built up over time. It was cute.
I hope you can read it. 

Here is some of my loot from my kids.
Chocolate, ring pop, necklace, fresh cookie from home (brought in a tissue), & a coffee mug and stuffed puppy!

Wow! Flowers. I have no idea what kind these are.... but they smelled amazing.
However, the smell was so strong they gave me a headache! :) 

Fantastic Saturday...

We had the best time one Saturday in February. Our math specialist, Mrs. H., has an Annual Mother-Daughter Cupcake Cookie Party around Valentine's Day. I saw the invitation in the Teacher's Lounge earlier in the week and thought it was too cute. I was trying to figure out how I could show up to the party. It sounded too fun. Clearly, I don't have a daughter. I am a daughter, so I thought about my mom. But, I also thought about taking my only niece, Kate. So, I grabbed Kate that morning and my mom met us at the house. 

I can't even begin to do it justice by describing it here. I should have taken better pictures, but I just didn't do a good job with that. Her house was decorated all out for Valentine's Day. Pink, Red, Hearts, and everything you can imagine. She had baked hundreds of cupcakes and cookies. She had made all the icing you could imagine. She had all the decorations you would ever find at Hobby Lobby. There were boxes for the desserts and crafts to decorate the boxes too. It was just too much. We had the BEST time ever. It was a nice slow morning of eating a great little breakfast snack that she had prepared, mingling with school (old) friends and meeting new friends. Kate had a lovely time, my mom had a fabulous time, and I'm dying to go back next year! Here are a few pictures of our adventure. 

Mom, Kate, & Myself 

Kate modeling her cupcake decorating skills with her cupcakes she had already designed!

My mom entertained herself by decorating one of the cupcake boxes. She loved it! <3

I had a hair appointment that afternoon to get my hair chopped off. I didn't know what I was going to do, but I had a few images pinned to my Pinterest board. I was going to a new lady at a new salon and was hoping for the best. Turned out, she was amazing and I loved it! Here I am, the new Emily! I'm such a short hair girl. I don't know why I was growing it out. I was CRAZY to think I could do long hair. This girl needs a bob. 

And, this is me...post haircut. Ah, soooooooo much better.
 I don't know why I thought I would grow it out.
I am just a short hair kind of gal. It's super cute and I LOVE IT! 

Evolution of an Artist

Ah! I'm an artist! 

I had the chance to go to the coolest local place, Pinot's Palette, for a girl's night out for fun! 

It is the greatest thing invented since sliced bread. 

It's a step by step guided tutorial like program that walks you through painting a picture. 

They have a billion designs, and this is the one our girl's night out did that evening. 

We started with a blank canvas and ended with the final product. 

I have to admit....I'm still amazed at myself. 

I was so proud of the work that I showed the process through pictures to all my kiddo's the next day at school. They loved it. They couldn't believe their eyes. And, to be honest...I couldn't hardly either!

It's February...

I can't believe it's February! 

In honor of the month of love, here is a post with my favorite song for my sweet Chris, whom I love more. 

Picture with a print from somewhere in the blog world. I'll do better to bookmark next time.
Banner is from the $1 bin at Target.
Colored with love by yours truly. 

Never knew I could feel like this

Like I've never seen the sky before

Want to vanish inside your kiss

Everyday I love you more and more

Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings

Telling me to give you everything

Seasons may change winter to spring

But I love you until the end of time

Come what may, come what may

I will love you until my dying day

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place

Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace

Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste

It all revolves around you

And there's no mountain too high no river too wide

Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side

Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide

But I love you until the end of time

Come what may, come what may 

I will love you until my dying day

Oh come what may, come what may 

I will love you 

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place...

Come what may, come what may 

I will love you until my dying day 

Come What May 

Moulin Rouge Soundtrack 

Wonderful weekend...

Chris and I had a great weekend. It was about two weeks ago when we happened to have a three day weekend for school to celebrate MLK, Jr. That weekend I decided to go in on Monday to do work for the week instead of my regular Sunday. See, since the beginning of the year I had gone in every Sunday to work on school things, paperwork, lesson planning, cleaning up, etc., to get ready for the next week. It became a stressful thing for me. I dreaded Sunday afternoons and it was beginning to depress me.I would honestly cry a little to him before I left for school on Sunday afternoon. That wasn't good. I felt like I didn't have a full weekend. So, that weekend I decided I wouldn't work anymore on weekends (at least at the school...). So, it's my goal to work really hard during the week, staying late or whatnot to get caught up and leave on Friday ready for Monday. I've now had two full weekends together and it's AMAZING! Chris and I've been able to really enjoy two full days together and it's been the most wonderful thing. Seriously, it's the littlest things that make the biggest difference. I feel less rushed on Sunday and I just have more time for me. It's so nice. This weekend I did work a little Saturday night on the computer to get some paperwork done, but it wasn't a big deal because he's on his computer and I'm on mine.... and I like that. We're in the same room at the same time. I'm always perusing blogs and pinterest for classroom ideas..it's my newest obsession/hobby. Anywho...back to this weekend...... 

We enjoyed the outside weather with the pets. If it's nice outside we tend to leave the patio door open for the animals to come and go as they please. They love it. Zoe is in the picture below showing you her acrobatic skills. All three will go out there and sunbathe together. Saturday we ate lunch and ran some typical errands, including showing Chris some of my new favorite pieces at Vintage Pearl, while also eating some yummy FroYo from Orange Leaf! I fixed delicious chicken alfredo with broccoli for dinner and it was a relaxing evening at home.

Zoe loves to play outside. She really loves to scare me by leaning over the edge. 

We love our fro-yo dates. He also entertained my wish to go visit one of my favorite stores, The Vintage Pearl. 

It was her lucky day to go along with us. She loves to take trips!

Sunday was a nice day for us too. We were up and out of here by about 11:30 and headed to the grocery store. I'm trying to cook more in the kitchen each week and determine our favorite meals to put in the rotations. Chris is guy who loves to eat fast food, which I love that he loves and he spoils me that way too, but I do want to learn how to be a better cook at the same time. So we balance it out. I plan some meals and we plan to eat out each week. I made my list and we were out the door to Wal-Mart before noon, along with everyone else today. I should have known...it was the beginning of the month. We finished and grabbed some Arby's on the way home. Speaking of trying to be a good cook...I was going to make Taco Soup for dinner today (in the crock pot). While at the grocery store I asked Chris if we should get dark or light kidney beans and he said neither. I discovered he didn't like beans. After deliberating I realized he really wouldn't like dinner tonight at all....(we ended up getting him Subway!). I was telling him it's such a balance to figure out things that both of us like, cooking for two (that doesn't leave us with a million leftovers), cooking healthy, and cooking on a budget. It's so hard. Anyhow....I went totally off subject. For the record, I still made the Taco Soup and it was delicious... soup for me for lunch for the week!

After we ate lunch we decided to detail my car inside and out! We switched car spots and pulled mine into the garage and gave it the works. We probably spent two hours on it. He did an amazing job. It's as clean as it was the day I drove it off the parking lot. He did such a good job. We worked together, but he did most of the work. He's so darn handy. I love him to pieces. Took it for a drive through the car wash and it's nice and clean! Then we were off to the dog park with the dogs. They had a great time and enjoyed themselves. Met a few new dog friends and ran around until they could hardly stand up anymore. They love the dog park and it's so good for them. We've been home for a little while now. I've had my bowl of Taco Soup, watched some of the Puppy Bowl, and now I'm about ready to relax for the evening and crawl in bed and get ready for my week!

We had a great weekend!

Did you know he was a car detailer in an earlier life? Just kidding. Although, he could make a good living doing it. He does a mighty fine job of it! 

I think the last time my car was this clean was the day I drove it off the lot! 

The canister was full of junk from my car. Yuck.

Confessional Friday...

Well, there is a first time for everything.... let's get confessing! I'm joining Leslie from A Blonde Ambition with her Confessional Friday. 

I confess that I've written a blog before. I had a previous blog but I decided to start this new blog to symbolize the story of my sweet Chris and I. I still have the old one for my own sake, but I don't post to it anymore. I think this will be the one for now.

I confess that I really missed my kids when I was sick this week. I also confess that I'm glad they sort of had a hard time on Wednesday with the substitute. It made it nice returning to the classroom Thursday. They were all so happy to see me. Those hugs were extra special. They were still hugging me today, my second day back.

I confess that I am crazy in love with my dog B'Elanna. She was the best cuddler ever when I was sick this week. She has the biggest brownest eyes. She's a border collie and the most well behaved dog I've ever met. I sure love my Chris, but he brought along a great dog with him too! :)

I confess that I'm no longer Zoe's favorite. She is always wanting to be with Chris. Case in point. See the above picture. She's always wanting to sit on his lap and help him play his computer games. It's okay though. I've got B'Elanna wrapped around my finger!

I confess that my newest favorite thing is photo stream. Chris hooked up my photo stream and streamlined my iphone, ipad, and computer to all by synced together. It's a wonderful thing. I love his technology skills. He's so handy like that!