Happy Texaversary Blog Post

In the last two weeks I have had the privilege of seeing some of the TOP Language Arts writers and teachers in the country. I met and was photographed with the "Two Sisters", and was in a small group setting with Kelly Gallagher. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. I am very excited about the ideas they shared and their passion for literacy. I am , and will always be a science girl. I love everything about teaching science. However, my current job (and thank God for it) is teaching Language Arts & SS. I think I am finally getting excited about teaching reading because I can see how it affects every area of a person's life. I am excited to get back in the classroom and set up my one on one conferencing and really teaching my students to become passionate about reading.

Today marks two years ago that our family moved to Texas. I remember that day well. We had spent the previous day with ALL of our family packing up our house, that had yet to be sold, into a giant moving van. The next day we all drove to Texas to move in our new apartment. We fit what we could into our new place and everything else was brought to storage. After we were all moved in and settled my mom had to leave. I remember putting my head down on the fence and crying as my mom pulled away. (yes, I was very pregnant and emotional). From that moment, I knew I had to grow up just a little bit more. I had to make new friends, not based on who my family was or past connections..but all brand spanking new. I would have to find a job..not based on any connections I already had..because I didn't know a soul in Fort Worth..not ONE! Those of you who have moved far away know what I am talking about.

The question I usually get when meeting someone new is "So what brought you to Texas?" I usually answer sarcastically, "My Honda van." The truth is, when it came right down to it...Education brought us to Texas. Yes, mainly because Kenny is following his dreams of becoming a minister and attending DTS. But honestly that is just a small piece of the bigger picture of why we left Louisiana.

I think the last 2 weeks of training really brought light to what I already knew. After seeing these two sets of amazing educators I am began to mourn my own education. Most of what I can remember about school,( which I LOVED, btw)centered around textbooks and worksheets. Somehow I always managed to get the best teachers that WBR parish had to offer...but it still wasn't a quality education. I wasn't taught to feast on books or think critically. It wasn't until college that I really learned how to write a good paper. This isn't a woe is me blog post but I needed to explain that to tell you why I am so thankful that we live in Texas now. Even one of the best private schools (no names mentioned) in Louisiana can NOT come near to compare to the public schools here. The teacher's here have challenged me to become a better teacher. I just thought I was a good teacher before...boy, was I disillusioned. I am thankful that my Avery is getting a great education here in Texas..one that I wish I would have had....and one that the children of Louisiana deserve too. Yes, we have had to sacrifice the comfort and security of home, but the benefits of moving here have far outweighed the tough times. Now if we could just get more of our family to move out this way...

Toy Story 3-Movie Date Night w/Avery

Summer Photographs

Another look at our week of summer fun.

The Magic of Summer

With the hustle and bustle of the school year, it is easy to forget just how great summer can be. I love fall, with the crisp air and the colorful leaves falling...but soon that leads to winter. Winter is my least favorite time of the year. Short days and bleak skies. I just push through hoping to make it past February..then I know there is hope. Hope of days like last night. Nights where I walk out to let the dog in, and Andrew decided to play in Kramer's water bowl...which reminds me to refill it. The next thing I know their are two kids shrieking with glee while splashing water at each other in the yellow pool.

I had planned out my Photo-a-day picture already because it was also our 8th Anniversary..but I just had to run with plan B when a pool party broke out in the backyard. TO top things off, Kenny brought home snowcones for all of us from the BEST snowcone place around. It was a fun evening, followed by quick baths and kids in bed early. Here a few pictures from our magical summer.













I know these summer days are long but before we know it, we will be back in school. Already looking forward to the aisles of aisles of school supplies at Walmart and 20 cent boxes of Crayola Crayons...shopping for backpacks...I get butterflies just thinking of all the fun.

Avery and I sat down to write a list of all the fun things we could think of to do this summer. On Sunday nights we will plan out our week. Today is a picnic in the park and tomorrow the Keller Pointe. She is reading a chapter book a day (easily). One of my newest rules of summer is the 'quiet hour.' Andrew goes down for his nap at 12, so from 12-1 we are quiet in our rooms or on the computer. I bought a 60 minute timer to help her know when time is up. Speaking of time I must get to packing my picnic...Andrew sure can eat a ton! Take care fellow bloggers!

Avery & Andrew

In the middle of moving, we had Kindergarten Graduation and Avery's 6th Birthday party AT our new house. Yes, I plan a huge party for 25+ people less than 2 weeks after I move in. I like the pressure. :)
On a side note: you will notice all of Avery's graduation pics are in BW. Yes, well she had Fifths Disease that was going around her class. She was perfectly fine except for a rash on her arms and face. If you look closely you can tell.

Is this really happening?

So, loyal blog friends...It has been awhile since I really shared the nuts and bolts of what has been going on.
Timeline Recap:
Summer 2007-decide while visiting Seaside, FL that we should move to Texas
Jan. 2008-Put House for sale
April 2008-Kenny moves to Dallas to start his new job.
June 2008-We all move to our new apt in FW
August 2008-Sell House
Oct 2008-Andrew is born
August 2009-Alesha gets job in Keller, A starts Kinder

Some things are just painful to write about when you are going through them. Rather than be fake about what was going on, I chose to be silent to the blogging world. March 2010 we decided to go house hunting and found the perfect house for us. March 17th..it was St. Patrick's Day..I was on Spring Break and K and I spent the day together. We walked into this house and we both just looked at each other. We knew it was the one. Thus the torturing process of getting this house began. Let's just say getting a house in 2010 is not nearly as simple as it was in 2003 when we bought our first house. We ended up dealing with 2 lending companies, hundreds of emails, faxes and signatures later...May 17th came and we finally closed on this house. Those of you who work with me know just how draining this process was. It was just awful. I could accept it if they said no, but it was the not knowing that made it so hard. My faith was shaken and I just wanted to go to sleep and be awoken when everything was settled. My dear husband was a trooper through the whole process. He never gave up and was there for me to dry my tears and the two months drug on. He handled 98% of all the paperwork and without his diligence we wouldn't be in this great house today.

Having said all of that, can I just say how much I love our new house. I can NOT believe the 2 years of living in the small dungeon are over. We are in natural light heaven. The layout is perfect. We have a very open floor plan with a guest bedroom and full bath downstairs. The master suite, and 2 kids bedrooms are up with a little office loft as well. Perfect sized fenced in backyard with two Japanese Pear Trees. The neighborhood pool is at the end of our street, too. I look around and I can't wrap my head around this. How blessed am I? I am about to celebrate 8 years with my best friend, I have 2 healthy beautiful children & a great job. WOW! Please don't think I am bragging...because I am not in anyway doing that...just in awe of how much God has blessed me with. total. awe.