Best Friends Wedding

So yesterday [September 8th 2012] one of my best friends finally married her boyfriend of 9.5years. They were high school sweethearts and are such a cute couple. I met Lindsay [the bride] in college. We were both majoring in Early Childhood Education. Had pretty much everyone of our classes together, basically since most the classes we took each week were major related. The two of us have some fun memories between hanging out between classes at Kent or going to the mall or where ever to kill time, to going to Cosi and bowling for school trips. We have hung out playing guitar hero with the guys at my house and passing out candy one year all dressed up except Nick [Lindsay's husband]. We went to Atwood Fall Festival together and talking all the time online. Two of my favorite memories of us were one: when she agreed to be one of my bridesmaids in my wedding and we spent all that time together doing all the wedding related events...

Here is me and Lindsay on my wedding day 6/12/10

Now the time has come for her to have her special day and I was so glad I was able to be there and watch her marry her best friend and become a Mrs. and have such a blast. Her dress was beautiful and everything looked amazing. The ceremony was so nice and all so unique to them. The reception area was so pretty and set up lovely. Everything was just as you'd except it to be for those two. Very country, 4-wheelers, and baseball hats involved. So cool to see the wedding party ride in to the reception on 4-wheelers and had their helmets sitting on the head table which they used to collect the money for the "dollar dance". I am so happy for her and Nick and a lifetime of happiness. It was such an amazing wedding and a nice way to spend a Saturday. I hope to see more of her now that all the craziness of planning a wedding is done and she is now a wife haha. Here are some pics of the journey from bridal shower to wedding.

Lindsay and myself at her bridal shower

The new Mr. & Mrs. Staten :)

Their first dance as Husband and Wife

Us during the "Dollar Dance"- I returned the dance she danced with me at my wedding

Me and the beautiful bride at her wedding :)

2nd Anniversary- Alex 27th Birthday

We are getting closer to our 2nd wedding anniversary. It is so exciting and can't believe it's been two years already. So much has changed and we have been through a lot in the last two years. I found a full time Monday through Friday job which I can take most days hehe. Alex finally got a managers job which is what he has been trying for since he graduated in 2009. He says he likes it for the most part but the hours kind of suck and it is an hour away. But it will give him good experience for later on when he can look for something else. We are finally hoping to get the settlement all sorted out from his wreck back September 2011. Now I only have to get through a week and a half pretty much of work. Next week-this coming week, I have Monday off and then field trip Thursday. The following week is field trip Tuesday, water day Wednesday, and library lady comes Thursdays so not much going on.

Ours plans for our anniversary are to go to the Pittsburgh Zoo the weekend of 9th-10th  we havent picked a day yet or decided if we just going to stay the night after or not we will prob just wing it.


Then depending on the day we go to the Zoo possibly have some down time and time to pack for rest of week. We also are to go to his moms at some point for dinner. Then on our anniversary which is also his birthday we are spending the night at Donna's Premeir Lodging (pic of our cabin below). We are going to pack food to grill for dinner and hang out, hike, and just relax. I plan to get some special things to set up for his birthday as well. I hate for his birthday to get lost in the mix.



Once we check out of Donna's on Wednesday we will go home grab what else we need and head out to Tall Timber's and go camping for about 3-4 nights staying in a cabin as well (pic of the style of cabin we will be in below). There is a specific cabin I was hoping we would get and since I didn't make reservation I wasn't sure if you could pick or you were just assigned a cabin. Well Alex said we were assigned one and luckily got the one I wanted. The cabin I was hoping for was called "Alex Co-Jail" and we got it. I thought it would be neat to stay there since my hubby's name is Alex.



Should be a fun week and I am so ready to be away from the kids at work for a week, no offense to them they just pushing my buttons lately. If we get some free time I am hoping to also go horseback riding again or maybe a water park. Should be a fun filled packed time off.

I feel Like A [Day Care] Mom

So about October of last year we gained a new kid in our class, he was 18months and the CUTEST thing ever. He came in using a bink still which we learned quickly at the start was the only way he would take a nap. But my co-teacher was on vacation the first few days he started so it was my and the float teacher. He spent his first few days, maybe weeks hehe crying almost the whole day. We found though that he stopped to eat and take a nap after of course he gave him his binky.  But the first maybe two days he was there I had to hold him with and give him his binky in order for him to fall asleep. I knew I probably shouldn't because we don't want the kids getting use to being help to go to sleep because you can't hold 8 kids til they fall asleep that would take forever. But since then he has become my, well say favorite. Again you don't ever want to say you have your "favorite" but every teacher has that child that is their "day care child". In short time it was known I was his "day care mama". Other teachers joked because if one of them would get on him for doing something wrong he would run to me to be saved, or for anything he came to me for most things.

Well in the last month or so it seems to be like I feel like I really am his second mom. His mom just had a baby like two weeks ago and I think right now he is feeling that "im not the baby anymore" feeling and wants the attention somewhere. But I have given into him and babied him from the get go so he knows if he wants something come to me. Well shortly before mom had her baby he began having trouble going to sleep. It was like he just started again and he would just lay their and scream and it hurt me to hear him cry like that I couldn't do it. I tried just sitting there and patting his back and ignore it figuring he would tire out but I hated hearing him cry so I picked him up and he pretty much fell right to sleep, but every time I tried to put him on his cot he woke and cried til i picked him up again....he wouldnt even open his eyes it was like he wasnt really awake but he just knew I wasn't holding him. I wasn't sure he would ever let me put him down, but finally did. But that continued everyday. Then another teacher suggested putting my hoodie down for him to lay on so he has my scent to help. And thankfully it worked. Now my day goes like this... as soon as I get there he comes running up to me and gives me hugs, then he ready to go back to play. Through out the day he comes over to sit with me and hug me and he has to sit with me during circle time, but my co-teacher trying to stop alot but for me its like you' be like this with your daughter and he is like my baby lol. Then at nap he sits down and pulls at my sweater so ill take it off and put it down for him to sleep on, then most days he gives me a kiss(es) and a hug before he goes to sleep. Then first thing he normally does when he wakes up is runs to me. I love the feeling and I always tell Alex now I know how it feels to me a mom. I have said almost everyday that I would take him home and keep if in a split second if given the chance. I love the little guy and can't wait to see him everyday. Other teachers have also commented on how he calls me "mom" occasionally. I feel bad for his mom, especially cause there a few times he has said it when parents there to pick up....but there a lot to his parents that make me not feel bad. That my rant for the day haha......

Family Time

This year has started out great! We've been getting to see family, who we normally only see maybe two times a year, every other weekend. We started game night many times and it goes for maybe a week or two then dies off. But this time it has been working out pretty well. This is the first weekend it hasn't happened, or if it does we wont be able to go due to we usually have it on Sundays, and this Sunday is my father-in-law's birthday party. But me and Alex did have a mini little game night with just my parents, since my dad hardly EVER gets to come to game night since he works Sunday's. But anyways it just was us two and my parents and then my future sister-in-law Beth. My brother had to work so he didn't come but it was nice that Beth was able to. We played for a couple hours ate some pizza and called it a night. It was a quiet evening but still enjoyable.

Normally for game night we switch between our house or my cousin Andreina's house. One weekend we had it at Andreina's parents house because the offered to house a Super Bowl/ Game night party.  But we do it about every weekend, just switch houses. And normally it me and Alex, my mom and maybe dad, my cousin Liz, and her mom occasionally if she doesnt work, and my grandpa comes to watch he doesnt really play thought, and my cousin Andreina and her mom occasionally and sometimes her dad as well. We talked about adding in going bowling once a month in place of game night, since my grandpa LOVES to bowl and he hasn't bowled in a while and he really misses it.

On our list of typical game night games is Pictionary, Quelf, Scategories, Quesstures, Taboo and Uno, I think that most of them. Pictionary gets interesting depending what version we play and if we play with the alternative rules. Scategories is funny to see what answers people come up with. Quesstures is the best to watch people act out things. Taboo is fun as well and Uno just takes for ever but is funny watching people pick up hundreds of cards and a rush to go out. The best is probably Quelf... it a new game and is so funny. You laugh your ass off and people have to do completely stupid things but it is a great game. :)

A New Year

Well another year has come and gone. I can't believe 2011 is over already. It has been a good year and I know 2012 will be even better. Through the course of 2011 I got to spend 6 more months with the amazing kids I babysat (and still occasionally do), and watch the twins grow and learn new things. I got to finally quit my job at the hotel, which was bittersweet, I don't miss the job but I miss some of the employees only one of them still works there, and I miss the interesting and crazy things that happened as well as the crazy guests haha. 2011 brought us our 1st wedding anniversary, and a vacation to Virginia Beach to celebrate as well as celebrate Alex's 26th birthday. I started a new job at a preschool, teaching in the Early Head Start room. It is a room full of 2-yr-olds. There are only eight of them but that is enough some day. I love it there, and there are some down falls but what job doesn't have that. Some down sides, Alex got into an accident on his bike and it scared me but other than losing his bike he only broke his wrist and he is fine. He is not finally back to work after being off for like three months. Ended the year with all the holiday fun, of Thanksgiving and Christmas and of course New Years Eve. A great couple months getting to see family.

Now on to a new year, and see what adventures the preschool brings and what new kids it brings to my room. As well as what new adventures me and Alex come across. we, well I, have been looking into where we can go on our anniversary vacation. He not helping much and I'm at a loss. It doesn't help that I dont know how much we can spend. Any suggestions???? New Years resolutions is to start working out. I am not saying I am overweight or really fat but I am extremely out of shape and to look back at some pictures of be 2 or 3 yrs ago I liked how I looked them, and I know I am getting older and it comes with age sometimes but I am tired of being so lazy. I also want to stop drinking so much pop.
Resolutions:
1. Start working out on a regular basis and stick to it, get work out partner to help (my mom).                    2. Drink less pop- I drink between 1-2 cans a day, and that doesn't count if we go to speedway which I normally get a small or medium but occasionally a large or at Circle K same thing. I would like to get down to 1 a day at the most of whatever, can or cup or whatever from speedway/circle k. Then eventually down to maybe 3-4 a week or something.
3. Lastly I want to stop eating all the time, maybe by like 9-10pm no more snacking....such as junk or pop, try to stick to veggies and healthy foods for munchie snacks.

Merry Christmas

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and got at least 1 thing you wanted. My holiday was very fun and packed full of visits. It started out on Christmas eve, we made sure to have everything done that we needed and started out at my Uncles house, for my moms family, and spent a little time there. Ate dinner and opened presents before we had to leave. We got a bunch of nice stuff; some cheese and trail bologna(he good kind), scrapbooking stuff, a James Patterson book, a new movie(Green Lantern), and some clothes. Then we headed on our one hour drive to visit Alex's grandma and his moms side of the family. Enjoyed some good company their as well, and got some nice things; brownie mix, bath and body works, dish towel and gift cards. We finally made it home by like 11:45pm and I put Alex's stocking stuffers in his stocking and put out the rest of the gifts I had hidden then went to bed. My cousin liked the letters I made her which I was happy it took me a while.

The letters I made my cousin....

Christmas day started out at my brothers apartment with my parents as well. We ate some awesome brunch, and spend sometime hanging out and enjoying the company. There we got a new clock, a board game, couple more new movies (Rio and Despicable Me), ornaments, hoodies and DSi game. My mom loved her griddle we got her, and the DVD player from my dad and she got a ereader from my brother but he gave it to her early. My brother liked the aromatherapy heat pads I made him. My dad got some nice work boots and we got him some pj pants and a zipup. After my brothers we came back home and opened presents. Alex got me the first two movies in the twilight saga, and The Christmas Wedding, James Patterson book, and a iHome, its an alarm clock and iPod charger in one. I really like it, now i can listen to music to wake up 2 and better then our crappy alarm clock. After our house we went to his moms then to his one aunts house in Carrollton and then stopped by at his other aunts. Finished off our holiday season today, the 26th with his dad....we see him on Christmas but open presents with him later.

A lot of stops trying to fit in both of our families but I wouldn't have it any other way, I hate all the driving and stops but I love spending time with family. I couldn't imagine not going to his families house or mine ON Christmas day. A fun filled day. I can't believe this was me and Alex's 6th Christmas together and 2nd Christmas together as husband and wife, where has the time gone?!? :)

Christmas morning before going to my brothers....

Christmas Eve

Preparing for the Holidays

Well a little late, but we had a great Thanksgiving. It started the week before at work. We had a Thanksgiving family dinner, during lunch time. We all sat together in the school agers room, and any family members that could attend came and sat with their child/children and we all ate turkey and mashed potatoes, and all that comes with it. After wards the parents left and the day went back to pretty much normal. Then it continued on to Thanksgiving Day. We woke up early and made breakfast while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! We started the cooking and finished up last minute things while we waited for people to arrive. We had family over like we have since we moved into our place. This year consisted of my mom and dad, his mom and step-dad, and his dad, my brother and his girlfriend, and his grandma and cousin, and his older step-brother. We ate great food and enjoyed great company. Overall a great day. We finished out the Thanksgiving holiday with getting together with my mom's family out at my Uncle's like we every year. It was a blast their as well. Hanging with family and watching my little cousins play and be silly. I will end Thanksgiving with a picture.

Now on to the Christmas season. It has been a craft filled season so far at work. We have made everything from wreath's to gingerbread people, to candy canes and snow men. As well as snow flakes, and mittens, and Christmas light bulbs. I will make a separate post and include pictures of their art projects. For them being two they turned out really cute and I love completing the projects with them. We also decorated a little tree for our room.

At home, Alex and I got our tree up and some of the lights done on the front porch still have a few to go. We got pretty much all the decorations up now. And have watched a few Christmas shows and movies throughout the week. I had a vacation day today and we went shopping and got a ton of presents bought. I plan to go Sunday with my mom and try to make a huge dent in my shopping for Alex. So far we have my Mom-75% checked off as well as my Dad, My cousins, Liz and Andreina-are both CHECKED off. We got his Grandma checked off, with the ornament we bought her. I have the materials for my brothers gift, well part. And part of the joint gift for him and his girlfriend. I plan to get something little for his girlfriend as well. Not sure who else if I am forgetting anyone...oh yeah my secret santa at work, who knows what to get her because I have never really talked to her.

All that we have left is to make our cookies, and gingerbread house, and wrap the presents. I am getting really excited. And getting pretty excited for our Christmas fun day at work on the 23rd, with the kids watching movies and eating some snacks and letting them just play.