Lost....

NO I am not lost, kidnapped, stranded, or any other random place!  Life is just BuSy!!! Wheewww I am finally sitting down for a moment to get my BLOGGIN FIX!!  Why have I been so busy?

Let's see, Chris has done an amazing job at work!  Thus his great performance arrives his great reward!  Well this award was given out this past week in San Diego....so of course I HAD to go!  I mean what kind of wife would I be sending him out there alone (did you read that with sarcasm??) I was excited to be able to sneak away and enjoy this trip with Chris.  I could not be more proud of him.  There were many things I learned on this business trip.  Most of which that I love personally love the perks of his job (aka getting that trip) also the people there were so great.  However, the biggest thing I learned was that Chris' company does an AMAZING job of showing their employes great appreciation for hard work.  Not only do they appreciate the employees but the families that support them through it all.  It was so fun to see all the HAPPY workers...and I don't mean happy because they just headed to San Diego.  Truly it seems everyone who works for his company loves their job so much.  I think the key to a happy work environment is appreciation and enthusiastic workers...of which they have accomplished!

Okay so with 3 days in SD, so what did we do!! WALKED all over the places...we stayed in the Seaport Village area.  This place was great because there were tons of cute shops close by....as well as the Gaslamp district!  We also toured the Midway aircraft carrier, which was fun to see up close.  The rest of the time was spent at work dinners and mingling with others!  Here are some of the pics....such a wonderful place there in SD! Oh and just think....I narrowed these pics down, ha.

 Just acting a little silly....

 a look of our hotel...and the bay area

 the view from our room

 just hanging with friends

 some of the flowers I loved them all...and a little bee

the crew that keeps the Midway floating 

 the HUGE statue by the Midway

 Chris on the Midway flight deck...

 Padres opening day

 love the palm tree lined roads

 and...my sweet hubby showing me some LOVE!!! He is such a mess! 

A quick word...

Did you do it today?  Did you help raise awareness?  I did for some of the morning!  It was One Day WITHOUT Shoes day today!!  Here is a pic of my cute little toes that took me around a bit today! If you don't own a pair of TOMS and think you want to...buy some!  For each pair bought a pair is donated...just think a small way to make a difference.

Once we get home from CALI I will be doing a better blog post...this one was just an ON THE GO post!  I have loved the weather here, it couldn't be better.  Tons of fun in the sun that is FoR SuRe!  Have a great HUMP DAY tomorrow!!  We head home and then back to work for 2 day!!

Could it be Happiness in a Box!!!

HELLZZZZZ YEAH!!!!  I absolutely love my blog swap partner Janna!!  She is so wonderful and really knows what I love!  I have enjoyed getting to know Janna...we are so similar!
Okay for the much awaited HAPPINESS!!!  Let's just say this box made quite a journey, but it finally arrived.  The funniest thing is that the 2nd package arrived only 2 days later than the first (which was sent 2 weeks ealier...or so we all thought!) Thank you Janna you are too much, really!!!

 Finally it has arrived! I couldn't wait to open it...but did wait for the hubby to watch! 

 Janna even added a super cute note! 

 Plus Reese sent Winston a treat...he couldn't resist! 

 Oh my heavens...this is everything!!!  Look at all the SPRING FUN!!! 

 I love all my new beverages and cups to enjoy them in...plus I love YELLOW!

 These were super too...I think the stickers are so amazing! I plan to use them soon for Chris to know JUST what I really want! HA

 HOLLY MOTHER, the most amazing thing ever! SHARPIES and a Life is Good shirt!  ROCK ON!!!

 How cute are these sticky notes too!  I have great uses for them as well. 

Just wanted you to have a close up of my new 80's glam and Caribbean SHARPIE love!

These goodies were sent in the 2nd package. It never fails that once you mail something you realize you FoRgOt a part! HA.

 Some wonderful OPI polish...love it! Can't wait to get my nails done!  Oh and the thing I covet more than anything in the world....the nice chrome SHARPIE!  I have wanted this Sharpie for the longest time, Janna you're my hero!

Oh and to top it off...another Life is Good Shirt, super cute head band, a bath "puff" and so much more!
I have loved doing this SPRING BLOG SWAP so much.  Meeting Janna has just brightened my past month.  I have great faith that we will be super snail mail buds (as well as more) for a long while!  Have a super weekend everyone.  I, well I will be enjoying all my goodies!

Getting to Know you...

Well as a teacher there is one thing I have learned to do very well...and all teachers do this, don't let them tell you otherwise!  BORROW other peoples ideas!  Ha ha, well I borrowed this post from Amber.  She does it on Sunday, but my Sunday post was already done.  Plus I try not to post more than once in a day...unless it is super important.

Here ya go:

1. what inspires you?
My sweet husband and his determination to meet goals.  Also my family...they are amazing people.  However, I would have to say that my sweet 2nd graders inspire me a lot as well. 
2. what was the last thing you bought yourself?
This weekend, I bought some new tennis shoes.  After playing on a semi slick court I realized new ones were much needed.  Oh and I bought a few new dresses at Ross the other day thanks to my friend Amy! 
3. would you rather watch a movie in a theater or from the comfort of your own home?
Movie Tavern is the best way to watch a movie...we love that place you can enjoy your show as well as a meal!  Normally we try to hit up the early Sunday showing after church! 
4. household chore you don't mind doing?
ummm....can I say none?  If I have to pick I would say cleaning Bob's litter...not because I truly enjoy it but because I am the only one who will do it.  Chris really, really, really enjoys unloading the dishwasher (read with much sarcasm).
5. coffee or tea?
Sweet tea all the way!!!
6. what could you eat every day and not get sick of??
Ruffels chips and ranch dip...my favorite treat of all time!
7. what's the last book you read?
Well I can't tell you the last ADULT book I have read, but I can tell you the children's book.  The book we read on Friday was called "Library Mouse" it is very cute and was donated to our room from the Book Fair!  Gotta love my kids and parents.
8. do you think you "look" your age?
Heavens no!!  For those of you who don't know my age,  how old do you think I am?

Spring Blog Swap

Okay so you have heard (or read about) me talk about the spring blog swap I am doing!!!  However, I have not really followed up on it.  Anyway long story short my swap partner is Janna!!! LOVE this girl.  I love how we match up so well.  Isn't it funny how you can become friends so quickly.  I feel like I have know Janna forever....yet it has only been 3 weeks.  We are very similar in so many ways.

I mailed out Janna's goodies at the very end of spring break.  She has finally gotten them!!  YIPPEE, I was so excited to hear they made it to her.  Plus I wanted to know if she liked it!  I love buying for others!  If you want to see what all I sent to her......click here!  She posted about her goodies yesterday.  Silly me, I didn't take pictures before I mailed it out.  I blame that on the "moving" phase I was in at the time.  Anyway, swing by and check it out.   I can't wait to post about my goodies when they arrive (we are having a few mail issues, but soon it should arrive).

Weekend Recap

Please ignore my awful sunburn!

WHEEEWWWW!!!  I think this is the first time all weekend I have actually sat down and relaxed!  We had yet another busy weekend on our hands.  For starters I was playing with Claire in a tennis tournament. Thankfully the draw was not too large....allowing me to find a way to leave Saturday night open.  Our first match was on Friday night...but let's not talk about it!  Um, it was not the best tennis either of us have ever played!  Enough said!!

Saturday morning, Chris went a head and finished up our flag stone walkway.  It looks SUPER!!!  I hope it will help sale our house too.  Then we (Winston too) ran to Lowes and picked up some other things.  Of course we had to eat a hotdog while we were there too!  We really love the Lowes hotdog guy, actually we prefer them over Home Depot.  (if you have not tired their hotdogs you should...mmmm...) Next we rushed home and I took off for match number 2.  The good news is that we got on court a bit earlier than scheduled, the bad news is we took forever to play!  Once our match was over I had to RUSH RUSH RUSH home and clean up.

Last night my school had their annual art auction.  For those of you who have no idea what this is....well let me enlighten you!  Basically our sweet art teacher works on projects with each grade level.  They start working on these projects around October besides the normal art class items.   Each grade level has a theme!  My second graders had Andy Worhol (he did many piece with silk screening)  and Charlotte's Web!  The kids made time capsules of items to be opened in 2015.  They placed their items in a screen printed box....it was so cute!

Okay back to the info...so there are a total of 12 "master pieces" that are student created you can bid on.  But also there is a HUGE HUGE HUGE silent auction.  The items in this area vary from food, house decorating, romantic getaways, and teacher parties.  There were a couple of things Chris and I wanted to win!  When you arrive you may begin bidding on the silent auction items.  That continues on through the meal and then ended around 8:30.  Of course you have to keep "stalking" the items you really want!  We bid on a cooking package where a chief came and cooked 5 meals at your house!  Also on a cooking party for up to 20 people.  Chris wanted a golf package.  Also we found something for our sweet little pup!!

Though out the night we got to mingle with all the parents and teachers that were there.  I really enjoyed getting to chat with many of my moms in a more informal setting.  You know I wasn't having to be the "teacher" telling them how good their child is or what they need to work on at home.  Once the silent auction ended the fun really began!  Now it was time for the bigger items...the art!!!

I am completely amazed at how much our parents were willing to spend for their child's class piece.  Now keep in mind all this money is going to improve our school...they want to build a running track around our play ground!  The first few pieces went for 300-400 dollars...then we hit a fourth grade piece!  Man that piece really got things going.....if I remember correctly it went for 2,500 dollars.  I love that our parents want the school to be amazing.  I love that they are willing to help out!  I also love that they enjoyed all the art pieces the kids have worked on....each piece was created with such love!!

The company was wonderful, the event was amazing, we raised tons of money, oh and we won one of the silent auction pieces.  What was it?  Well.....only the best for our pup!  We bid on a 100 dollar gift card to Winston groomer...and won it!  Winston will now get 2 hair cuts for the price of one! ROCK ON!!!

Our goodies for Winston! 

Oh yeah and did I mention...Claire and I got 2nd place today after our very LONG match this morning.  That's right folks it was a rough start but we pulled it off in the end.  Enjoy your Sunday!

Amazement...

everyday I see many wonderful things happen in life.  If it is not one of my students helping another child in class it is something else.  This week I saw amazement in you my blog followers and dear friends.  I posted on Monday about my high school friend and her new son Seton.  I wanted to thank you all for stopping by their page.  I noticed that over 90 people read the post and can only hope that those extra 90 prayers or thoughts helped little Seton gain more strength.

As of yesterday, they have taken their sweet son home.  Of course his venture home comes with many extras such as feeding machines, oxygen machines and much more.  However, I am surety are loving life with their son at home with them.  Thanks again for your sweet thoughts for the Olivers  I know the Olivers' are very grateful as well.

A nice surprise

Today I was headed home from work just thinking about what I would do with the rest of my evening.  You know trying to plan out how to fit everything in for the night/week.  Of course when I got in the house there was a sweet face greeting me!  The weather was so very nice (minus our crazy wind)  I couldn't pass up a little walk with my friend.  We headed out...and stopped by a Dylan and Jessica's also know to Winston as Playa and Carmen's.

Normally I make Winston keep going, but today I had some things to chat about with Jessica...you know neighborhood talk and good old gossip.  I love that they live on the block behind us!  It is nice having good friends as neighbors.  Anyway, there sweet little girl greeted Winston and I at the window.  Jessica and I got to chatting and time got away from us.  Wouldn't you know I ended up staying and eating dinner with them!  I love unexpected events like this in life!  Thanks Dylan and Jessica for having me for dinner.  Jessica is a great cook...maybe I should happen by more often!  Winston and I loved catching up....and well he loved running in the yard with Playa and Carmen.

If you have some extra time

I have a small request!  If you're a frequent visitor of my blog you probably noticed the link on my side bar.
 LIFE WITH THE OLIVERS
Well, one of my sweet high school friends has recently given birth to her first son.  Her pregnancy was pretty routine, until the 34 week check up.  It was at that doctors visit that her and her husbands life changed.  They found out that their soon to be son's brain had stopped developing.  From there they spent many days in different doctor offices....traveled to Dallas to seek more information for their unborn son.  None of the information of course was positive...many test were done yet no true answers had been found.

Since then Shawna has given birth to Seton, as of today he is 11 days old.  Each day they face new challenges with their son.  Today Seton has been moved from the NICU to a "rooming in" space.  Basically Shawna and Zane (the parents) are able to live in this room with Seton.  They are learning the many things necessary to keep their baby boy alive.  From this point the doctors have little hope he will survive much longer.  Of course he has already over come many difficulties that none thought possible.  If you have a moment please swing by their blog....Zane (the father) has an amazing way of sharing each and every feeling they have with you.  Also if it is not too much to ask please add them to your prayer list.  Seton has proven to be a very strong baby, but every little thought helps.  Thanks for taking the time to send up an extra thought I know they are very appreciative!

Just for fun...

I was checking out my blog swap partner Janna's blog and she had something fun.  She is linked up to another blog that is doing a little get to know you blog.  I thought it would be fun to link up too!  Head over to Jennifer's blog to link up!

Q: What is your middle name? 

Rebecca....after my mother

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

 I was always going to be a meteorologist! I even studied it in college for 2 1/2 semesters! YIKES!!

Q: If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be?

~ Our dream home

~ Enough money to be have a happy life

~To have a health family

Q: If your house was on fire and you could grab only 3 things before leaving, what would they be?

~ Winston

~ Bob 

~ wedding pictures

Q: You wouldn’t be caught dead, where?

Living in a freezing cold place, I dislike major coldness!  Give me a beach any day.

Q: If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be?

This is probably the hardest one on here!  I have no true love with any character but my niece LoVeS Belle, so for her I would be Belle!!

Q: Who was the last person you hugged?

 since it is the end of a school day...25 sweet 2nd graders! 

Q: What do you think of when you hear the word "yellow"?

My favorite color!!  I love yellow it is so happy and warm! 

Now you need to go link up…