Leap!

Hello there! I was so bummed this morning when I realized that I hadn't Googled to find ways to celebrate leap year (I've been otherwise occupied with Dr. Seuss week at school... more on that Friday). But Andrew and I had our weekly breakfast date at Brueggers this morning, so maybe that can count.

Anyway, a couple weeks ago we found mold growing on my desk. I was desk-less for about two long weeks. Searched on Craigslist ( which = emailing many, many people re: desks which usually went: "would you accept $50 less for what you're selling it for"), then went Goodwill and thrift store shopping for two weeks. Last Saturday I was feeling pretty bummed because I just hadn't found the one. I decided to go to Sleepy Poet, where I had been the week before, just to see if they had anything new. (Live in Charlotte? Go to Sleepy Poet! So wonderful!) I was so discouraged and felt like I was on this wild goose chase until I walked up and found it. I just knew I had to have this desk. Check the price... $80!! I can do that. Called Andrew for transportation help and within 25 minutes I was setting up the desk. I decided that the best fit for it wasn't in the living room, but the guest bedroom where it went perfectly. So thankful!!

Sunday night we went to an Oscars party. I quickly learned how boring I am because by 9pm all I could think about was a full week of school ahead and wanting sleep. :) It was a good time, though!!

I also framed one of our niece's artwork and put on Andrew's bedside table. It makes me so happy to see all those colors!

Tonight we had a life group social where we each brought a meal entree from our favorite Charlotte restaurant... kinda like a big taste of Charlotte. It was wonderful to have a sample of different foods from round town. I made this for dessert. Yeah Queen City!

The last thing I'll say is something that's been on my heart today. I had my on-the-way-to-work chat with my Mama this morning and we were talking about my grandmother, Gigi, and how she's in the final days/weeks/maybe months of her life. My Mom and her sisters have been thinking through funeral arrangements and what all of that will look like. We're going to visit her this weekend and one of the things that came to mind of what I want to say to her is, "Gigi, you're getting so close to seeing Jesus!" Can you imagine?! Of course, we're not sure the number of any of our days, but we've been told that hers are drawing quickly to a close. It truly boggled my mind that really, my grandmother who has loved the Lord will soon be with Him. Oh the joy!! Until then, I will treasure every moment with her.

"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" -1 Corinthians 15:54b-55

Men

Not only is it fun to shop in general, but it's even better when I get to shop for my man! I ordered this print off Etsy and will have to find a frame for it. Speaking of bowties, I spend some of my day yesterday trying to make a bowtie. It is so hard to sew it then pull the fabric inside out. I need to work on my sewing patience. We could save money in our clothing budget if I can learn to do this.

Also, I was working on a photo collage of bridesmaids pictures to hang on the wall, when I came across this one from Michelle's wedding day. Oh good golly peaches. If it wasn't her soon-to-be husband and all of his men standing on a small waterfall. Can you imagine if they had fallen in right before the wedding?! No one did. Such a rad picture.

Speaking of men, here's our nephew. I desperately wanted to Skype with sweet baby Charlie so we arranged for a five minute date with our new, favorite lil guy.

Weekend Update

We had a lovely long weekend!

It started Saturday morning with waffles and fresh flowers.

A trip to Raleigh to visit with that Ginna girl and Jeff!

This morning was so relaxing.

We all then went to Oak Ridge for a huge family dinner. Zuzieloving didn't care too much about it.

There was snow!!

Dad a grillin.

Hoooooray! While were in a blizzard on our way back to the Queen City, we found out that our sweet little nephew, Charlie, had been born! :)

Oh the things kids say

So I thought I'd write a post on funny things kids at school have said to me. Hope you find these as funny as I did... although I know you won't because most of the fun comes from knowing the little personalities that go along with what they say.

Setting: cafeteria (hardest part of my job: keeping 125 2nd graders somewhat quiet and opening stupid GoGurts and impossible-to-open barbeque sauce packets)

Child raises his hand. I go over.

Child: "Mrs. Day, do you want to go out?" *said child and boys around him snicker*

Me: "Oh, I'd love to go outside, but I can't right now."

Child (a couple minutes later): "No, I don't think you understood me. Do you want to go out? Like out on a date?"

Me: "Oh honey that's so sweet. But I'm married."

Setting: 2nd grade classroom. I'm grading papers in the back of the room when a child knocks over a crate with lots of file folders onto the floor, face down.

Another child comes over to pick it up, and I rush over to say:

"No, I'll get it." So I put my hand under the crate, flip it over not having anything fall out.

Child watching: "Mmh, Miss Day's got skiiiilz."

That's right, folks, I have crate flippin skills.

Setting: Computer lab. I'm dismissing a Kindergarten class. Hurrying Child along.

Child: "Wait, Mrs. Day, look."

Child then pulls left arm sleeve up and flexes his muscles.

Child then puss up right arm sleeve and flexes his muscles and does so very, very seriously.

Child: "The p.e. teacher says I have biceps."

Setting: another classroom. I'm cutting something.

Child who just walked over to where I was: "Wow, Mrs. Day, that's great cutting. That's the best cutting I've ever seen!"

There are so many more. Maybe I'll post again when they come to mind. :)

Speaking of kids, I stopped by Anthropologie after work for a little retail therapy. I ended up finding these two children's books on sale (along with a cute notepad) and spent about $10 on all three. I guess because of my new found love for children's books, it's been fun to start collecting for our future kid library.

I love that they're clever and non-traditional. Working in a school makes me really, really want to prepare my kids for school.

Happy weekend! :)

Life lately

Feels like a while since I've been here. Last week was such a hard week (just to be honest). Maybe it's wishing for warmer/lighter days, maybe it was being exhausted, or perhaps the fact that we found mold growing on my beloved desk as a result of the Great Flood of 2012, as I like to call it. Bleh. I feel a little lost without a desk but hopefully I'll find "the one"... or at least the next one.

But! This week has been much better! :)

Here's what we've been up to...

Last week we had a date to the Mint Museum!

I love walking through Uptown. It feels a little like NYC.

Beautiful paintings and refreshing colors.

On Sunday I went to my friend Victoria's baby shower. One of the gifts I gave was this dainty onesie from GAP Kids and then had a lady monogram it with the baby's name.

Valentine's day was sweet.

Andrew made this for me!

I also spent almost 4 hours making Valentines for my second graders. :)

I think Valentine's Day is best spent with family. I was thrilled that my Paparoni was in town on business a couple days this week and stayed with us. We had a great dinner with him and one of Andrew's good friends, Tim. I made this but was actually more impressed with this dish that I made on Monday night.

I'll end with the best thing EVER.

Take lots of pictures in life!!!

You'll be so glad you did!!

Projects

Inspired by a friend who made a red wreath like this for Christmas:

Superbowl food:

Why I have a new iPhone

Well, folks, it was two weeks ago and I was making dinner for our neighbors {and he happens to be the head chef at a local restaurant}. Yeah, you might remember when we went to their place for dinner. So I was a little nervous. I planned the menu and everything was perfect. I had made fried shallots {stupid fried shallots!!} when I put the pot of grease on a different burner to cool down. I turned on the burner behind the pot of oil to heat up water for ravioli. Went to get ready. Came back to see a smoking oil pan. Turned out I actually turned on the burner with the pot of oil.

I called Andrew over and all I could think about was "baking soda, we need baking soda" as the smoke turned into a small flame. He turned around and I saw the whole thing happen in slow motion. He put the pot under water and there was a massive, MASSIVE flame {think Hibachi dinner grill size} that reached the celing. I screamed, the lights went out and our kitchen sprinkler went off.

I was hysterical. Called 911 and 10 minutes later my TOMS shoes were floating away in our apartment. That's right... those sprinklers put out a whole lot of water. So then the firemen, our landlord and someone else came to turn off the water and then vacuum up the water. I had to leave so Andrew took me to our friend's house for dinner and where we would stay with them that night.

Needless to say, I was quite traumatized, especially by the fire. I have to say, the Lord really protected Andrew as he easily could have had third degree burns. The rest of the week we had blowers in here trying to dry up the carpet. It was a mess and with working full time, I was exhausted. I'm still recovering from it.

Anyway, what got ruined in the Great Flood of 2012 (as I like to call it), was my camera and my phone. So I guess the pictures from here on out will be taken from my iPhone.

We had dinner with a couple friends of ours last Friday night. They informed us that that they went out to buy a fire extinguisher that week. Please, please learn from our mistake and get one! :)

On a lighter note, yesterday Andrew and I went to the movies and then had dinner at Dish in Plaza Midwood. It was so yummy.

Here's my new oh-so-easy snack: get a paper bag and fill it with popcorn (1/4 cup). Fold it over twice and put it in the microwave for 1.30. Voila! Air popped popcorn. It feels like you're eating popped air, though. I add some chocolate chips for that sweet/salty treat.

Hope your weeks have been less eventful as ours have! :)