Why I haven’t blogged in forever

So I would like to say that I have a terrific reason for not blogging recently. Maybe I was curing cancer. Perhaps I was paving the way for water wells in Africa. Instead I haven’t been blogging because of this.

What is this, you may ask? That would be my pregnant belly. As I inch closer to 7 months of pregnancy, I have found my ability to stay awake becoming increasingly difficult. I think I may have even mastered the ability to sleep with my eyes open when the opportunity arises.

So, blogging world, sorry. Sorry I have been a sleeping giant. I want to write more posts, but first I must… zZzZz.

Then comes a baby in a baby carriage

So, in case you didn’t get the memo… My darling husband and I are having a baby! We kept a secret for so long that I felt that I might literally burst if we didn’t spill the beans soon!

We found out at 4 weeks and didn’t tell our families until nearly 12 weeks because we wanted to tell both families in person. How did we tell them? Here, I will show you!

We told our parents we had something we bought at a yard sale and then presented the picture. After shock and tears, they finally believed us.

After calling some other friends and family, we posted this gem onto Facebook.

The dogs look so happy, huh?

Next up, I wanted to tell my students. After asking them what their favorite things were about their Thanksgiving, I told them I wanted to share my favorite thing through hangman.

Here was the first part.

Some students started shouting out other teachers’ names, so we did this one.

Then they started beginning to not have a substitute and for me not to leave (third graders are precious!), so I did this one.

Since then, they have been ecstatic. Each day I get a hug, and “bye, baby!” from several of the students.

Last, but not least, here is our 12 week sonogram of baby Moore!

Fall or Autumn?

One thing I have always been stumped about is what I like better – autumn or fall?  The word-loving side of me wants to say “autumn”, but the laziness in me wants to say “fall.”  Yes, I obviously have too much time on my hands.

I love fall.  And I love autumn.  Because it is my favorite season, I’d thought I’d share a few tidbits about what makes it so special to me!

1.  I love changing leaves, from the vibrant colors to the crunchy yard.

2.  Nothing is better than watching two dogs jump through a pile of leaves. (Well, maybe kids, but we’re not there yet.)

 

3. The smell of burning leaves. And my husband writing secret messages to me while doing it.

4. Getting to dress up for Halloween.

5. Roasting marshmallows by the fire.
6. Turning off the air conditioning unit (and saving money!)
7. Boots!
8. Not being so sweaty every day!
9. Soft blankets and cardigans.
10. Thanksgiving where I get to visit family and eat. A lot.

What do you call fall/autumn? What are your favorite things about this season?

Things I learned from marrying a tall man

Most of you who have met me have also met my 6’6″ mammoth of a husband. Next to my 5’4″ shortness, he seems even bigger.

Yep. That’s us. Aren’t we precious?

I have learned a lot about tall people from marrying my darling husband.

1) Tall people actually don’t like being asked how tall they are. (Or maybe that’s just him.)

2) A queen size bed is not big enough for the both of us. We get excited to visit my family in Tennessee because they have a king size bed in which we get to sleep.

3) Shopping for pants, especially jeans, is a nightmare unless you want grandpa jeans. When he finds some that fit, he typically will buy at least two of them in different faded colors.

4) Did I mention the shoe shopping dilemma? Just a couple of weeks ago, he bought size 15 shoes and is having to return them because they are too small.

5) Tall people cheat when they “steal” your stuff. I can’t jump 3 extra feet up in the air to retrieve my phone dangling from his fingers.

6) It is so nice to have someone whose arms are long enough to hug around my extra padding.

I love my husband and his tallness. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Top Reasons to Love Football

Let’s just start this thing off right.  I am a woman.  And I love football.  

Down here in the south, it seems inevitable to cheer for some SEC team (whether you like football or not).  Hounds tooth.  Check.  Tiger earrings.  Check.  Bright-as-the-sun orange.  Check.  

I have heard many women complain about their husbands spending all of their time watching games in the fall.  

I am here to tell you, ladies, count it is a blessing! Here is why:

1) You can play college pick-em fantasy football with your husband and watch him as he cries when you beat him.

2) You can ask, “Honey, can I get some new boots to go with my new cute football jersey?”

3) You can take a nap while your husband is watching the game. 

4) You get to prepare delicious party dips and appetizers to devour share with company.

5) You will have something to talk about the next day in Sunday school. (This is never a problem for me.. talking, that is.)

 

What are some more reasons that women should love football season?

Oh yeah, and GO VOLS!

 

The State Fair

My wonderful husband was manipulated into indulged me in a night visit of the Alabama State Fair as I have never been to one.

I came, I saw, I ate. A gigantic corndog to be exact.

Apparently all state fairs needs a lion, tiger, and snakes. Snakes are omitted.

Who knew you could win bunnies at the fair? After the glare from the hubs, we moved on.

One of my favorite parts about the fair were the rides. The problem is/was that Lance hates rides with a passion. Finally, I convinced him to ride on the teacups with me.

Thankfully, I was tall enough.

We decided to pass on this beauty due to germ concerns.

All in all, we had a great time.

Have you ever been to the fair? What is your favorite part?

Camping

Can you tell that I have started back to teaching this fall? I haven’t had time to write a blog or read any either. Hopefully my ten hour work days will decrease sometime soon!

One of my favorite parts about the beginning of school is that two weeks into it, we get Labor Day! This year the hubs, mom, and step-dad decided to go camping. My brother and his girlfriend joined us for their first experience with us camping, too.

Unfortunately, this was out first night.

Now I know these pictures are terrible, but they were taken at 2 AM when were flooded out of our tent. If you look closely, you can see the three inches of standing water. Oops!

After that night, we considered packing our bags and making a run for it. I am glad we didn’t because we wouldn’t have experienced the rest of this!

Hope you had a great Labor Day, too!

Never Again

Have you ever tried something that you have thought you would never ever ever do but you somehow got coaxed into doing it?

My wonderful husband has some annoying miraculous effect that urges me to join in on activities that I would prefer not to do. For example, once he convinced me to go down a BMX track on a mountain bike. Yes, it ended as badly as it sounds. That same day, we also went biking on the mountain biking trails. It was my first and last day to do that.

Some time before that, the hubs convinced me to ride with him to look at some lake property. Five hours later, $150 to the towing company, and a few dents in the truck, we were able to get the truck wedged through a small forest of trees.

Who can forget the time that we went hiking in May near some water? I sure can’t forget the sight of the coiled rattle snake inches from my feet.

Looking back, these are some of my favorite memories we have shared together. Regardless, I never want to experience these again!

What is something you never want to do/experience again?

The Interview

So, I had to bribe my husband. In exchange for a ten minute back rub, he consented to doing a little experimental post. I told him that I would give him questions to answer about me.

Disclaimer: We are very honest with one another. And no offense was taken to any of the answers given.

1. What was the first thing that you noticed about me?
Your calves. Because they were white. And you had curly hair. And a small nose.

(Uh.. thanks? I can’t help it that I am Casper-like. Also, I used to have permed hair, but it is straight now. )

2. If you could describe me as any animal, what would it, and why?
I don’t really hang around any animals. How many more questions do we have before we are done?

(He wasn’t being really cooperative with this question.)

3. What is one thing that I do that embarrasses you?
Sometimes you talk too much. You don’t know what not to say sometimes. You have no filter.

(I would have to agree with him on this one. Working on it!)

4. Do you want our future children to be more like you or me? Why?
Both. Because we make a great couple.

(I think he is trying to make up for the last question.)
He continues with It’ll have hair if it has your traits.

5. What is the most annoying thing that I do?
How you can sit on the couch for hours and watch tv. And not be bored. And then want to do it again the next day, the next day, and then the next week. And then you’ll find something else to watch even though you really don’t even like it.

(Guilty.)

6. What is your favorite thing about me?
I don’t know. There’s a lot. You’re beautiful inside and out. And you give good back rubs. And you can cook well.

(Aww! How sweet!)

7. What are three words that you could use to describe me?
Loyal, outgoing, and impatient.

(Yes, yes, and yes.)

Boone

There are some people like me who are kid-less. Instead of posting cute videos of our darling children, we post annoying photos of our pets. So I am sorry, but you will just have to get pictures of my dogs.

This picture is of my puppy, Boone (plus my foot). When we got him at two months old, he was 8 lbs. Now, at six months, he is 60 lbs-ish. In comparison to our 5 year old dog, he is quite a beast.

As I am writing this, he is walking around with a piece of torn magazine paper in his mouth.

Here are the remains:

We have certainly learned a few things since adopting our precious bundle of fuzz.

– First, do not expect to sleep the first two weeks. As precious as they are, puppies do not want to sleep alone so they whimper all night.

– Second, be prepared that they will eat anything. I mean anything! So far, he has eaten fuzz out of doggie blankets, the wood on our deck, a two inch hole in our carpet, and an Ethernet cord. He also occasionally likes to nibble on Bella’s (our other dog’s) ear.

– Third, plan on laughing a lot when you see him chase his tail. It is some of the funniest stuff I have seen. Also, watching him trying to jump on the couch or climb up the stairs was really funny when he was little.

– Fourth, I have found that God made them so darn cute so that you wouldn’t strangle them when they use the bathroom anywhere but in the yard.

– Fifth, there is nothing better than their sweet little faces coming and laying their head on your lap or following you around the house because they can’t bear not being by your side.

Now is your time! What is your favorite thing about your precious non-human?