$70 coming my way

just a little post about my seven gun-chewers... that's right.  7 students in 8 days.  i'm rockin' and rollin'.  

technically, only 1 has paid so far.  but don't you worry, i will prevail.  i'm looking forward to a little shopping spree soon.  

and this officially starts a new label: gum money.   will update as the year progresses. 

amy

Dave-O-Rama has arrived!

Yo, 

I've been a complete slacker not contributing to my own family's blogity blog. Sooooo. Here I go (again on my own, going down the only road I've ever know, like a drifter I was born... {sorry the song just popped in my head})   It is a good song though... very 80's glam pop. ANYWAY (I ain't waistin' no more time... whoops, there's that song again). 

I thought I'd brag on my beautiful wife, she just finished teaching her first classes of the school year- she is doing such a great job & already racking up the GUM MONEY. I love when high schoolers chew gum in her class, it means we don't have to budget extra money toward fun, so if you chew in her class... HERE'S TO YOU MR & MRS REALLY HIGH-DOLLAR CHEWER, the price per slice of gum would go down drastically if you chew-baka  the gum after school hours! Give your molars a rest & the hard earned money your mommy gave ya this mornin' man.

Also props to our boys who both received great conduct marks the first few days of class. Peace in the middle east, all the way to Tampa Bay, So I'll Shout, Shout, Let it all out to my rockin' family. OUT.

school

so we made it through the first week.  most people take pictures of their kids in the morning before the first day.  but we're above that... or really i was out of the house before they were awake.  so here's a photo AFTER school.  they're smiling!  school is kicking in and they love it.  

i am TIRED and probably will head towards school tomorrow, yes- on a saturday, to write some tests and lesson plan. ahhhh, the work of a teacher never fails.

my classes overall are great.  i really enjoy some of the class dynamics this year.  :) hope it stays that way!!!  dave and i prayed together the night before, settling my nerves.  i think i had so many things running through my mind.  

the 2008-2009 school year: praying it's a good one!

a little gift

i have such a great husband.  :)  look what the boys came home with after a run to publix.  (note the mug/vase as all of my vases are still in cleveland.  oh well, making the best out of what we got.)  

a little story:  dave used to shower bouquets on me through our dating and engagement times.  however, he started slowing down with the surprise gifts after i forgot to put some in a vase.  in my defense, i was REALLY busy at the time and was not home often.  anyways, he just thought i didn't appreciate them anymore.

but i do. even simple carnations: flowers on a budget!  plus it makes it more special as my little men walk through the door, give me kisses, and tell me they love me.  dave is truly bringing up little men.  i hope they treat their future spouses just like the way their daddy treats me.  simply wonderful!

micah pics

i finally uploaded these pics from heather and micah's visit.  it's been a bit crazy as school starts tomorrow, and tropical storm fay has come and gone.  enjoy the pics!

micah was asleep when i first saw her in the airport.  what a sweet baby!  

drew especially loved micah.  he is pushing her in the swing (she loved it too!).

the boys cuddling with their cousin.  aiden was a little shy and made silly faces (hence why he was cut out of most of the picture).  but drew gave plenty of kisses!  she obviously loved being pampered.

aiden is still making the silly face!  they are so crazy.... but their mine!  :)

camp life

dave and aiden went to a preteen camp this week as dave was the camp pastor.  we figured aiden was the most apt to sit through a message.  then again, he is the most obedient carroll boy at this moment.... that helped the decision too.  poor drew, he's going through his terrible twos at, um, four. 

i asked dave how aiden sat through the messages.  so cute:  apparently, dave was speaking and aiden would raise his hand (as if in school) periodically though the message.  my little boy.

dave allowed aiden to drive the civic all over the campground.  of course, dave was at the wheel with aiden on his lap, but i get a little chuckle to imagining this buzzed head peering over the wheel.  

AND.... aiden made the scoring run during his first kickball game.  ahhhhhhhh..... a proud moment. (i'm not competitive, am i?!?!?!)

during this absence of the campers, drew and i had good bonding time for the most part.  i found out that he still gets incredibly emotional when he misses his nap.  anywho.  a little ditty: during a bath, i asked drew if he was making any friends at the school's daycare.  he said that there was this "cute girl named T** but she's not like the silly girls on tv." 

i said with raised brow, "oh, really?!?!"

drew replied,"yes.  you know those girls that are all 'wiggly'."

i guess he doesn't like dancers.  sorry hannah montana.  i thought drew was a good match for you.  too bad.

cincin-nasti

a good 'ole trip from cincin-nasti to west palm does a body good!  heather's trip was stellar and we had loads of fun.  it was quite funny that her first comment as we're walking through the airport parking garage was, "wow, it's hot here." 

um....  if you can call overcast and slightly drizzling at 85 degrees "hot".  i was secretly thinking that she should just wait until the florida sun was blazing down on her body a little later.  thank goodness monday afternoon did not disappoint.  it was hotter.

heather's baby, micah, was beautiful and looks just like her until she throws you a what-in-the-world-are-you-doing-idiot look.  then she looks like her daddy.  pictures to come at a later post.

considering that heather had 4 hours of sleep friday night, we had a GREAT saturday and lounged around for most of the evening.  sunday was church, sunday night- girls gymnastics (the most important part of the olympics which any girl in her right mind would agree.  dave highly disagrees, but then again-he's not a girl.), monday was puttering around jupiter, and tuesday she flew out.  

she came, she went.  too fast.  

we did have some chuckles along the way.

drew could not remember micah's name and arbitrarily called her "jackson" or even just "him".  poor kid loves babies but can't think past his boy cousin for the life of him.  even if the baby has earrings. 

the boys definitely don't remember spitting up all over me, but they reel back at the slightest bit of baby slobber.  if only they knew what they put me through.  aiden was the worst.  he actually physically starts to gag and we quickly have to shoo him away.  

i think we had a total of 10-12 people point out that we look alike.  uh, yes... we're twins. 

i love the fact that no matter who is visiting who, coffee is always made first thing in the morning.  that always adds to the visit.  my friend, julie holley, also appreciates this little bit of glory in the morning.  that's why she's a friend.  anywho.....

the first morning as we're laying in bed (dave was moved to the couch.  thanks dave! such a sweetie.  then again, usually craig moves for me too.  what great guys.), drew came into snuggle early in the morning and heather had grabbed micah from an early rising.  such sweet bliss to have some kiddos cuddling with us.  drew kissed on micah who apparently LOVES to be pampered.  that's my girl.  :) she also loves baby massages.  she truly knows how to be loved!

a great visit loving on family. more to come.

aiden reads jane austen.....

2 more days until heather arrives!  the countdown continues.....

exciting news is about my dear aiden trace: he is reading as of this week!  the funny part is this was a goal of mine for the summer.  ask me how many times i've REALLY sat down and worked with him.... that would be a big, fat ZERO. (now dave claims that he has, but we all know that's not the truth!!)

as of 2 weeks ago, i took the boys to the library to receive their official library cards.  hey, i am a teacher and figure that's the least i can do for my children.  anywho- we love to read dr. seuss books together (who doesn't?) and drew borrowed "Hop on Pop."  gotta love it.  aiden took so well to it that he read the whole book out loud with just a few helps from mom, the teacher.  

so great.  right before kindergarten, my oldest can officially say he is a beginning reader.  we're practicing every day, twice a day.  i'll admit that i'm looking for the praise from the kindergarten teacher! ha.  maybe even some denari from her check since i've done her job.  either that or she can trade me places and teach the high schoolers.  let's face it: 1 child out of her class is already reading. 

now just to work on drew......

wednesday

3 more days!!! the countdown continues....

i stopped by the school to drop off some bulletin boarders.  i'm starting to get excited about the year.  it's been a great summer though.  sleeping in, doing whatever i want, uh.... is it too early to look forward to christmas break?

off to walmart we go.  i spent $79 on school supplies.  is that a lot?  i was actually thinking it would be closer to $100, so i was pretty impressed.  i'm missing 2 little things so i'm currently giving my inner self a high five for completing that task 2 weeks before school starts.  i know i rock. 

now if i can just hide the school stuff for awhile.  the boys last year ripped into the supplies and i had to shoo them away continually. it's pretty bad. 

did i mention my biggest reason why i'm excited for school?  i lose weight.  that's right: dropping dress sizes.  staying home increase the waste line and going to work drops it.  

so i'm looking forward to being skinny and dumping some knowledge into those high schoolers.   

tuesday

the countdown begins until heather comes to visit: 4 more days!  heather and her daughter, micah, are traveling from cincinnati to jupiter.  i'm pumped to see my niece for the first time since her birth.  too bad i didn't get them direct flights.... oops.  anywho.  at least we have a flight!  i received a voucher when i was bumped from a flight back in march, resulting in a FREE visit from heather!  :)  

i haven't posted since this weekend as this weekend was very busy.  we had a rally at church saturday night and then church on sunday.  this was the first week back in the facility after CRAP literally flowed into the building.  it was nice not having to set everything up but.... very difficult to get out of the house by 6:30 a.m.  i have had a wonderful summer sleeping in to 9-10, so waking up this early has been the pits. :)  i have a headache today from trying to go to sleep earlier last night.  of course, i didn't go to sleep but tossed and turned until the wee hours of the morning.  it didn't help that drew climbed into bed to cuddle with his mommy at 4 a.m.  

movin' on....

monday went pretty well until i took the boys with me to the dentist.  i literally was in the office from 2:45 - 5:30.  the boys were pretty good except for the first 15 minutes in the waiting room and another 15 minute stretch occurring right around 5 p.m.  i was not a happy camper, but i did get to meet the pediatric dentist who i now feel like we're on a first name basis.  (well- we should be after 3 hours of looking at each other.)  did i say that i was there for me, not the boys?  

needless to say, i did not get the cleaning i thought i was going to receive but only x-rays and another appointment for cleaning and... other things. :)  i sheepishly walked over to dave to let him know about my cavity and some other work needed to close some gaps between the teeth , only to find out that he needs WAY more work than me! hahahaha.  1 point for amy.  minus points for dave as his work will cost us roughly 8 times more than mine!!!!

so happy tuesday to all.  the aleve is starting to kick in.....

cleveland flashback

here's some pics from cleveland (1 1/2 years ago. i can't believe it's been that long!) .  we really enjoyed our time there and LOVED the snow.  i personally loved wearing scarfs with my rockin' nine west jacket.  dave also bought me a jacket on sale from ann taylor (brown with the fur).  it's not hard to love that man!!!

this picture was at EASTER!!! look at the snow.  i remember sweating it out in the humid florida air, hiding easter eggs,  and constantly reminding myself (as my hair was fro-ing) that i was serving Jesus.  cleveland was a different story.  who knew that it could snow 6 inches over the easter weekend?!?! not these "flor-idiots".
this was the first playtime in the snow.  i was warm and cozy in the apartment!  
drew's face the day we moved in.  he jumped into the snow, grabbing the white stuff with his bare hands.  he didn't do that again!!! sweet boy. 

aiden and his love for snow angels!  good times.....