Chicagoland...

Well, we arrived in the great city of Chicago on Friday night, to a light dusting snow and a TINY apartment! After I got over the shock of the small apartment, we started unpacking my things and trying to organize everything. We went out to dinner, and I was feeling a little overwhelmed. I told Matt that I felt like country mouse goes to the city! Although I've been to Chicago several times, the thought of actually living there seemed a little stressful. Once we settled in and got things situated on Saturday, I was starting to feel much better. Saturday evening we went to dinner with a couple that Matt knows from church, Blake and Julie. Blake and I were actually at OC at the same time, although I didn't know him really well. It was good to have friends to hang out with, and helped me to feel a little more comfortable. Sunday, we went to church and I was warmly welcomed with many hugs from everyone! Since Matt has been here for a few months, everyone has been expecting me to come. My first weekend in Chicago also brought over a foot of snow. One of the snowiest weekends they have had all winter! This week there is supposed to be a blizzard...and there hasn't been a blizzard in 8 years! So, I'm quickly being introduced to Chicago winters! Matt and I are spending this week in the small town of Galena, IL for a little vacation before he starts back to school. It's nice to have a few days together to reconnect, after spending a semester apart. Here are a few pictures from our first weekend in Chicago:

Me in front of our apartment building (I'll post pictures of the inside of the apartment when we get back to Chicago)

Matt and I on the snowy streets of Chicago:

Oh, I forgot to mention that we parked Matt's truck at the church building for the weekend when we got to Chicago to avoid the expensive parking fees downtown. We're planning to leave it in Missouri at his Aunt's house for the semester, but we needed it to get my stuff to Chicago and then to travel to Galena. When we went out to get in the truck after church on Sunday morning, this is what we found:

After quite a bit of shoveling (I did help, I just paused to take some pictures), we finally got out of the church parking lot! With snow like this, I see why most people walk everywhere! It's too much trouble to shovel your car out and then try to drive on the snowy streets. Besides, it's fun to stomp around in the snow!

An update...finally

Well, I've obviously been a little behind on updating lately. Ok, a lot behind. We have been so busy for the past month that I haven't had a chance to sit down and write. And the longer I wait, the more daunting the task seems. So, I thought I would backtrack a bit, and try to catch up on what has been going on with us lately. Let's go back to....

Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving break brought welcome relief from the stress of the 5th grade & school work. By the time the break came, I finished my 2 weeks of teaching in 5th grade (although I continued to teach after the break), completed all of my school assignments and had my exit interview for my Master's program. Whew! It was a lot of work to get it all done, but it was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy the break! Another exciting thing about the break was that I got to see Matt. We hadn't seen each other in almost 7 weeks by the time he made it to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. Thankfully, our time of living in separate states is now over & we survived! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although I wouldn't really recommend it or want to do it again! Anyway, I wasn't very good about taking pictures on Thanksgiving, but here's one pic that I have. It is of me, my mom, my dad, and my cousin Brook. We were all busy cooking Thanksgiving dinner. If you're wondering what Brook is holding, it's the Tofurkey. Don't worry, my family isn't weird or anything. We have regular turkey & ham, but Brook (being a health nut) thought she wanted to bring a tofu-turkey. Gross!

Busy 2 weeks:
The 2 weeks after Thanksgiving was a flurry of activities, packing, and goodbyes. I still can't believe I managed to fit so many things into 2 short weeks! I finished up with my 5th grade internship. Although the 5th graders mostly drove me crazy, I did start to love them by the end of my time with them. I learned a lot during those 8 weeks, and when I finally realized the best way to relate to them, I actually found myself enjoying them more and more. On my last day of 5th grade, all 3 of the classes gathered in the cafeteria to tell me goodbye. They gave me a framed picture of all the kids, and each class made a book for me, with each student writing why they thought I would be a good teacher. I must admit, reading what they had to say brings a tear to my eye. It was very touching. After they presented the presents, the teacher asked if any of the kids had anything to say to me. A few kids said "goodbye" and that they would miss me, and then one boy raised his hand. To be honest, I was surprised that he would have anything to say because he was one of the "cool kids" that always acted like he was too cool for school. So, when the teacher called on him, I wasn't sure what was coming. Well, he proudly announced, "I think you're pretty!" All the kids clapped, and I cracked up laughing. It was so funny, especially the proud look on his face. The teacher said, he's probably been waiting 8 weeks to say that! That definitely helped end the day on a light note!

Packing was a challenge all of its own. No matter how much I tried to get rid of stuff and clean out my room, the boxes and bags of things seemed never ending! After several trips to the trash can and the storage building, I finally managed to get all of my things together, and did my best to get the things I would take with me down to the bare essentials. After all, I am moving to a 12x14 apartment & I have to share with Matt who already lives there! Clothes and toiletries are all I have room for, although I did manage to pack one small box of scrapbooking stuff to take with me. I will need something to keep me busy while Matt is busy studying and working! I have to say, although I was excited to get to live with my husband again, I was sad to leave Rebecca's house. We had some good times over the semester, and I really enjoyed living with her. However, I'm sure she will be glad to get her guest room back!

Goodbye Parties:
I've never understood why it's called a "party" when someone is moving away. Personally, I don't like goodbyes at all. Although, I did have a good time with all our friends at the 2 parties I had before I left. The first one was with friends from work at Peggy's (my boss) house. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon, and her house is absolutely beautiful & the view is spectacular! It was nice to spend a few hours with people I have worked with over the last 3 years. Time went so quickly, and I developed some wonderful relationships with all of them. They were so sweet and started a scrapbook for me, so I could keep a record of the places that Matt and I live. The first page was of Alabama & had a picture of everyone in the office, as well as my Master's class. I also got a giftcard to Lowe's, since it's our favorite place to shop on our Friday night date nights! Now we can actually buy something there!



































The second going away party was the night before we left Alabama. This one was with the many wonderful friends we have made in Montgomery over the last 3 years. Thankfully, Matt got to be there for this party, so we could say goodbye to our friends, and Montgomery, together. To be honest, when we moved to Alabama I didn't think I would be sad when we left. I just felt that it was a place we needed to be for a short while, but that I wouldn't ever feel at home there. However, as the time came closer to leave, I quickly started to realize that I would miss it. Well, not necessarily Alabama, but the people. We made some wonderful friends and have wonderful memories there. Matt wrote in his blog about our time in Alabama in the last paragraph of this post, and expressed how I feel about it so well. I will cherish the last 3 1/2 years in Alabama forever. As we were saying goodbye after dinner, Emmy Hunt gave me a hug and took off her scarf and put it around my neck. She told me to wear it in Chicago and always remember that she was thinking of me, praying for me, and giving me a hug when I needed one. Even as I write this, her support and encouragement over the past few months bring a tear to my eye. Without being asked, she looked out for me and gave me encouragement at every opportunity. She was truly like my mom, and I only wish I had more time to spend with her. She always made me laugh, and made my heart happy, even if I was feeling a little sad or lonely. Thank you, Emmy!















Graduation:
What a relief it was to finally graduate! Although I may have been more excited and relieved when Matt finished law school (it was longer & more intense than my Master's), I was so happy when graduation day finally came. Although the happiness was mixed with a little sadness, since it was also our last day in Montgomery. My graduating class was the first class to complete the Master of Education program at Faulkner, and it was a great sense of accomplishment as we each crossed the stage and received our diplomas and hoods. Although everyone in our program was close over the 2 years, those of us who did our internships in Elementary Education this semester got especially close over the past few months. We leaned on each other for support, encouragement, ideas, and sometimes for our sanity! But, we made it at last!

Matt and Me at Graduation















The Elem. Ed. Graduates: Monica, Me, Vivian, Whitney, & Frank















Whitney & Me















Dad, Me, and Mom















Christmas:
Our "Christmas Break" has been quite extensive this year. We left Alabama on December 15th, and Matt doesn't start back to school until January 20th. So, we took this free time to spend quality time with family and friends. We spent a few days in Duncan with my parents, went up to Oklahoma City for a surprise birthday party & a graduation party, spent several days with our nieces, went to Broken Arrow for a few days & Christmas Eve, back to Duncan for Christmas Day, to OKC for a weekend visit, back to Duncan for New Years Eve, to Grand Lake with our friends, and we're now in Kirksville, Missouri. Wow! It's been a busy few weeks. We also added in a few trips to OKC and back for Christmas shopping and visiting friends. I just realized that I wasn't very good about taking pictures, but here are a few that you might enjoy.

Aunt Paula, Aunt Robbie, and Mom in their matching Christmas pajamas















My cousin Zack & Me















Austin, my cousin Amy's baby















Chloe & Allie with Santa















Allie















Well, like I said, it's been a busy month! We have had some wonderful times with friends and family, and spent a lot of time travelling! Tomorrow we head out for Chicago, and I will get to see just how tiny our apartment really is! But our vacationing isn't over just yet! Thanks to the generosity of Matt's cousin Heath, we're headed to a resort in Galena, IL to spend a few days together before Matt starts back to school. I pray that God is blessing you in this New Year, and that you take advantage of every opportunity you have to make precious memories with friends and family. We have been so blessed over the past few weeks & look forward to many more adventures to come!

I've been tagged...

Emmy tagged me (maybe a few weeks ago), so I thought I'd follow through and answer below...

8 Shows That I Watch:
Brothers & Sisters
Law and Order
Law and Order: SVU
Desperate Housewives
NCIS
CSI
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice

8 Favorite Restaurants:
Taco Bueno
Ted's
Girodano's
Salsarita's
Zio's
Jim 'N Nicks
Panera Bread
Carrabba's

8 Things I did this weekend/week
(we'll go with the last 2 weeks):
Graduated with a Masters in Education
Said goodbye to Alabama & many friends
Celebrated Christmas with my mom's family
Drove from Duncan to OKC and back 4 times
Spent time with my nieces
Ate lots of Party Mix
Met my uncle's wife
Saw old friends I haven't seen in a long time

8 Things I Look Forward To:
Moving to Chicago
Worshiping with the church in Chicago
Going to Galena, IL for vacation
Seeing my nieces open Christmas presents
Meeting Aidan for the 1st time
Seeing Caleb again (& Gina)
Having friends visit us in Chicago
Finding out where we're moving next

8 Things On My Wish List:
Matt to get a job
Safe travels over the next few weeks
Visit Europe with Matty
Not freezing to death in Chicago
Matt to get a job (this is a big wish!)

Well, I can't think of anymore wishes right now. I guess I must be satisfied with life right now!

Ol' Red is Dead (almost)...

Well, it looks as though it's time for me to part with Ol' Red. We've been together for 10 1/2 wonderful years. She has always been good to me. We have traveled together over many, many miles, and only once has she decided to leave me stranded on the side of the road (at 2 am in the middle of nowhere), but I don't hold that against her. So many memories have been made in Ol' Red. Driving to OC on the first day of college, Spring break road trips, trips to Duncan with many friends, making the decision to move away from Oklahoma on the way back from Alabama, and so many good memories, but I'm afraid all good things must come to an end! In case you haven't figured it out, Ol' Red is my car. A 1997 Mercury Tracer. No cruise control, no power windows, no power locks, no cd player, and now missing an air conditioner. Despite all those things, she's been a good car. A really good car. We've driven back and forth to Alabama MANY times and, as I said, she only broke down once. Luckily, it was close enough that my dad and Paul (our wonderful friend and mechanic) were able to come pick us up and haul us in to Duncan (only after we spent a long night sleeping in the car!).

Anyway, it seems the end to our long relationship has finally come to its end. I took Ol' Red to the mechanic yesterday. (Side note...if you're in Montgomery and need a good mechanic, I would strongly recommend Joe McClendon. His shop is downtown on Decatur, and he was SO nice! I got to his shop at 3:30, expecting to have to leave my car overnight and pick it up the next day. Although he closes at 4:00, he took the time to drive the car, put it up on the rack, figure out what was wrong, show me what was wrong, and then give me some good advice which did not include me paying him to fix it.) Now back to the demise of Ol' Red. I knew it wouldn't be good when Joe heard the noise my car was making and said, "Hmm. That's strange. I have never heard a noise like that before." Keep in mind that he has been a mechanic for a long time! Nonetheless, he was determined to figure out the problem. After a quick trip around the neighborhood, a discussion with the other mechanic, and a few minutes looking at it, he came inside the shop and said he wanted to show me what was wrong. As we were walking to the car he says, "have you ever thought about trading it in?" Again...not good coming from a mechanic. Apparently, I have inplay in the crankshaft. I may be saying that wrong because I know nothing about cars. Basically, from what Joe said, the motor is moving back and forth, causing a piece of metal to bang into the back of the motor when it moves. Apparently this is a bad thing. I told him I needed to drive it to Oklahoma, and then to Chicago. Apparently this is not a good idea. He said it might make it, it might not. After talking to Matt, dad, and Paul we came to the conclusion that it is, in fact, time to put Ol' Red to bed, or at least sell her. So, if you know anyone who wants a cheap car that may or may not last awhile, just let me know! Perhaps it would be a good option for someone who knows how to fix cars. On the bright side, Matt and I don't really need a car since we're moving to Chicago, and we can drive his truck up there with our things. Well, I know it's been ages since I've updated and I'll try to give more updates on our lives soon!

India...

So, Matt is India right now, New Dehli to be exact. He left this past Sunday night, and he'll get back early in the morning next Sunday. He went over there for an international debate competition with another student from John Marshall, but they will also have time for some sightseeing too. Anyway, he sent me a message, and I thought everyone might like to see what he has to say about his trip so far. Enjoy!

"India is unbelievable and not always for the good. The poverty and living conditions of the majority of the Indians is astounding. The air is so dirty with smog that looks like you are a near a fire constantly. I took 20 or so pictures today and tomorrow will be even more because we go to the Taj Mahal...I saw a lot of chipmunks but no monkeys so far. I took some pictures of the 'sacred' cows laying in the roads and we went to the India Gate (Memorial for the Freedom Fighters)...the gate was very impressive. The opening ceremony dinner tonight was very nice and really made you realize the two distinct classes of people in India. The haves and the have nots are not even close in this country. There is no middle class from what I can tell. The food was nice but very spicy...they encouraged everyone to dance but my roommate from Austalia and I were successful in avoiding it. The entire ceremony, dinner, party was outside in a very nice courtyard. I made friends today with a guy and girl from Vienna, my roommate from Australia, a couple fellas from Dubai, Singapore, Sweden, London, South Africa, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Ireland, Canada, and Hong Kong. I was told there would be other American schools here and there is a team from DC but one member is Canadian and the other British...so I am the lone American in the group thus far. There are many more people to meet and mingle with tomorrow I believe. For lunch today we found a pizza place that was actually very good...Lenka and I split a pizza and got two cokes for $5. We are going to a very good market place during our Delhi tour on the 13th so I will try to buy most things then. One thing everyone seems to be struggling with is the lack of toilet paper in the hotel...they have a bidet. Everyone has complained and they should have toilet paper for us all tomorrow. Perhaps in the morning I will try to post some of the photos thus far but right now I am so exhausted that I must get some sleep. I should also mention that the Indian people are some of the nicest most hospitable people I have ever met. We walked nearly 3 miles today to a marketplace and to exchange money and we got lost twice. When we asked for directions, instead of explaining where we should go (maybe because there are not street signs) the person would walk us a good bit of the way and talk to us about where we were from. Some vendors are out to get money from you for doing this but we would usually ask a woman walking by herself and they would help and actually refused any offer of a tip. Hopefully the debate will go well tomorrow, the trip to the Taj Mahal is going to be a long one we have heard but should be an amazing experience. So apparently traffic lanes are only suggestions, as is which side of the road to drive on...we have seen multiple people driving the wrong way and buses with 15 seats loaded with 50 people. It is crazy. The streets are so dusty that you don't even recognize your shoes when you get in from walking around. I got a 2 liter bottle of water today for 40 cents...so I can brush my teeth and stay safe..."

I'm sure he'll post a long blog when he gets back, but internet for his laptop is $5/hr, so he's trying to use it sparingly. I'll try to update on his trip as I hear from him.

The Bar...

Well, it's official!! Matt just found out that he PASSED THE BAR EXAM!!!! The results weren't supposed to be posted until Friday, but he checked during class tonight and they were already posted. Yes, ladies and gentleman, he is OFFICIAL!! I am so very proud of him, and I am sure I will write more later. For now, I'm trying to tone down my excitement so I can go to sleep! I am a little disappointed though, that he's all the way in Chicago and I can't celebrate with him. Congratulations, Matty!

Absence makes the heart...

They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder." But is it really true? Does the simple absence of someone really have the power to make your heart grow fonder of them? I've thought about this question many times this semester, and I've decided that someone's absence doesn't change your heart. Rather, I think it simply has the power to remind you of your heart's feelings. Let me explain...This semester while Matt and I have been living apart, there have been many times when I start to miss him. A lot. But I don't think missing him means that I'm growing fonder of him. I think absence just reminds me of the things I already love about him, but may have taken for granted before he moved to another state. Or maybe not even taken for granted, but the little things you forget to notice because they're always there. The things that I didn't realize I would miss until I started to miss them. For example, sometimes I just want a hug from him, sometimes I want to talk to him about what happened that day and have him tell me it will be OK. Other times, I would like nothing more to just sit next to him, in that comfortable silence that is only possible with your best friend. With Matt away, I have realized how very much I appreciate the little things he does. Cooking dinner for me, helping me clean (even when I have to explain exactly what to do), encouraging me to actually buy something when I go shopping (for those of you who know me, I never spend money!), leaving me sweet notes, surprising me with trips and special dates, and so many other things. (If my mom is reading this, she's probably thinking that I'm terribly depressed, but please be assured that I'm NOT. Yes, I miss Matt. But at the same time, the semester is almost over, and I know that I can handle a few more weeks). I say all this to say that this semester, I have realized that I need to take the time to truly appreciate the wonderful husband that God has blessed me with. So, after 15 weeks of "absence," I think I would change the quote to say "absence helps the heart remember."

Social Hour...

The 5th graders have "social hour" on Friday afternoons. This is really just a glorified name for recess. I guess it makes them feel more mature to call it social hour. Anyway, it is also part of the discipline plan, and the teachers can take away the privilege of social hour for various infractions in the classroom, including misbehavior and failure to complete homework. Since I have started teaching, I now have the ability to take away social hour privileges if I deem it necessary. Today, one of my students felt she needed to clarify just exactly why I took away her social hour. This was her question: "Mrs. Bell, do I have to sit out at social hour because I was cheating, or because I was talking during class?" Really? Did she really need to ask me that? Shouldn't she know that BOTH cheating AND talking during class are not allowed?!?! She definitely should have known after I had to give her conduct checks EVERY DAY THIS WEEK for laughing, talking, talking back, and one day for cheating!!!! Oh, but it wasn't her fault that she was cheating (that's what she told me today anyway). I still haven't figured out how you can accidentally cheat. Any ideas on that one? Oh, and another boy got in trouble for sleeping during class. Apparently that wasn't his fault either. 5th graders come up with some great stories and excuses for why they're misbehaving. They generally don't deny the fact that they were doing something wrong, but boy can they spin a tale as to why they were doing it!! They're very creative...it's pretty impressive really.

I start my 2 weeks of teaching on Monday. This means that I'm in charge of all of the classes, by myself for 2 straight weeks. It should be interesting, but I think it will be fun. Definitely a good learning experience. I have a lot of fun activities planned, so hopefully the kids will cooperate and we'll get to do them!! Well, it's late and I'm sleepy. I hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween!

5th graders...

Well, I haven't written much about my experience in 5th grade so far, and I'm in my 4th week of the placement! I guess there are several reasons for this, but the primary reason is that 5th graders are not nearly as cute as 2nd graders. The second reason is that I'm not enjoying this experience as much. All elementary interns are required to spend half of the time in a lower grade (K-3rd) and half of the time in an upper grade (4th-6th). Some people love the lower grades, some love the upper grades. One of my friends started the internship thinking she would hate her 6th grade placement, and has ended up loving it. I don't hate being in 5th grade, and I guess I don't even dislike it that much, but I just don't like it as much as 2nd grade. So, perhaps this is the reason why I haven't written much about it. So, let me give you a quick update on my life in the 5th grade. I'm in a science and social studies class, and we have 3 classes each day. For the last week I've been teaching 2nd and 3rd period. Starting next week I'll teach all day long! I'm looking forward to it, and I have several experiments and fun things planned to do with them. It's going pretty well, and I like that 5th graders can do more independent work than the 2nd graders. This allows for more "projects" and even science experiments. It gives more opportunities for them to do things besides worksheets. The main thing that bugs me about the 5th grade is the attitudes. I can't stand it when they huff and puff when they get in trouble, or when they talk back with some grand explanation about why what they were doing really wasn't wrong. Makes me crazy! Back talking...no good. (I should probably take a moment to apologize to my parents for having a sassy mouth when I was younger! But, I don't think I got sassy until at least Jr. High!) Anyway, the attitudes just frustrate me. And, I have found that my "mean voice" does not sound very mean. I'm working on that. Not that I want to be a mean, grumpy teacher, but sometimes you have to put on a serious face and let them know you mean business. I think I'm getting better at it, but I've got some work to do! ha ha. So, with all that being said, I just try to approach each day with a positive attitude and hope that it will be a good day. Most days are good, some days I want to pull out my hair! Overall, 5th grade is not terrible, but I definitely prefer my cute, little, precious 2nd graders!! Well, I'm off to Open House night at school in a few minutes, so I better go for now. Have a great day and a Happy Halloween tomorrow!!

An encouraging word...

I was teaching history. It was 3rd period, the kids were tired, and we were learning about the French Colonists settling in the "new land" (that would be North America, for those that aren't history buffs). Not the most exciting reading. They leave France, they come to America, they set up a colony, end of story. Same thing that happened in yesterday's lesson with the Spanish. I'm doing my best to make it interesting...after we read the text, I try to retell it like a story, using the map to point things out and trying to sound excited. But I'm looking at their eyes, seeing some of them day dreaming, and thinking to myself "I don't blame them, I would probably be bored too." Time runs out for the class, so we have to stop in the middle of the lesson. Relief sweeps across most of their faces. The dismissal bell is only minutes away, and they hurriedly pack their things to leave. But, as one girl walks out of the classroom, she stops for a second and says, "Mrs. Bell, why do we have to leave just when the story was getting good?" All I can do is smile at her. "Yes!!" I think to myself, "at least one person is interested and paying attention. Maybe I'm not as boring as I thought!" How nice it is when a student is enjoying learning (and being sincere when they tell you)! It made my day!

Question...

So one of my 5th graders asked the following question at the lunch table the other day...

"Mrs. Bell, is fish a meat or a vegetable?"

What?!? Was he serious? Yes he was. Pretty sure a 5th grader should know the answer to that! But I just kindly answered that fish is indeed a meat. He said that's what he thought but he didn't know what happened to the meat when you cook fish. Strange.

Matty Came to Visit!

Well, Matt was here for the last week, and just left yesterday. We had so much fun together, and I realized just how much I had missed him when I saw him. He actually surprised me by taking an early flight & showing up at the end of the school day on Friday. I was completely shocked to see him walk in the classroom, especially because it was 5 minutes before school was out, and I was busy telling all my little 2nd graders goodbye (it was my last day in 2nd grade). needless to say, I was VERY excited to see him! I was planning to drive to Birmingham that night to pick him up at 10:00, so it was nice to have him in early & to not have to drive by myself! That evening, he surprised me again by telling me we were going to spend the weekend at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery. A friend of ours works there, and she got us an AMAZING deal on the Executive Suite! It was a great weekend! The room was beautiful, on the corner of the building with a view of the Alabama River. It was a nice way to relax, and get away from the world for a couple of days.
This is a picture of the hotel:








On Friday night, we checked into the hotel, and then met some friends for dinner at the Brew Pub downtown. We were able to walk over from the hotel, and we enjoyed our friends. It was obvious how much Matt had missed everyone because he barely stopped talking long enough to take a breath the whole time we were there!










Matt & Me









Matt, Steven, Allen









Angela, Kayla, Me

We watched some football on Saturday, had pizza at Tomatino's (a local Montgomery favorite), and then went over to the Frisby's that evening so Matt could see Lucy. He missed her too! We ended up at the Frisby's house almost every night so Matt could see her. I was off on Monday (for Fair Day...it's not a real holiday, but the State Fair was free for kids that day), but I had to work (well, go to school) the rest of the week. So Matt would do homework during the day, and then we would get to hang out in the evenings. It was a great week, but of course it passed much too quickly. I think spending time together is going to make the next 6 1/2 weeks even harder than the last 8 weeks! Although it's a shorter time until we see each other again, having him back to visit made it so much harder for him to leave again. I know the time will pass quickly, and so I'll just find ways to keep busy and not think about him being gone! I'll see him again at Thanksgiving...along with his new school friends from Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay and maybe Switzerland (they're joining us for Thanksgiving)! Should be fun! It's actually only 8 more weeks of living apart (not counting the week of Thanksgiving) until I graduate and we'll be back together for good! I'm looking forard to that for sure! Have a wonderful day!

New Clothes...

So I have decided that I need to update my wardrobe. This decision came after the conversation I had with a second grader as I was walking in to school this morning. This precious little boy in the class next door is really one of my favorites...he is always so happy and he's so cute! Anyway, I met him in the hall this morning as I was walking in. He says, "Mrs. Bell, you put on a black shirt this morning?" I said, "Yeah, I wore a black shirt so it would match my flip flops" (it was Flip Flop Friday at school today). He says, "but I can't believe you put on a black shirt, you usually put on a blue shirt." Apparently I have way too many blue shirts if a 2nd grader thinks that's all I wear!

Another funny comment from today was this...one boy told me that his friend was sad because one of the "big kids" called him a nerd. I said, well that's why you weren't supposed to be playing with those "big kids", they're not very nice sometimes. Then the boy says, "well, being a nerd just means you're really, really smart, and it's good to be really, really smart. So I told my friend that he shouldn't be sad that someone called him a nerd, because a nerd is good." What a great perspective!

On another note, the same boy was telling Mrs. S (the teacher) a very sad story about his mother getting beaten up by her boyfriend. As Mrs. S was listening, she said "now you're never going to hit a girl, are you?" to which the boy replied "heck, I ain't never gonna hit nobody!" We felt better to at least know that maybe this boy hasn't been tainted by the bad influence of his mother's boyfriends. Thankfully, he no longer lives with his mother, since she obviously did not provide a safe environment for her son.

I made it through my 2 weeks of teaching by myself in the 2nd grade! It ended a week ago, and it was actually really fun, and I'm looking forward to having a class of my own (someday...but probably not in Chicago). Before the internship began, I couldn't imagine having to teach by myself, especially with another teacher watching me. But, it really wasn't too bad. Most of the time when Mrs. S was in there, she wasn't really paying attention. The only thing that was tough is I felt like I needed to do things just like she did, instead of like I would do them. Anyway, it was good for the most part! The teacher was gone for 3 days during my 2nd week of teaching, so I really got to see what having a class to myself would be like! There was a sub in there with me, but she stayed busy making copies and doing projects for other teachers. This week was a little less exciting, since I was back to observing and trying to find things to do! The kids had several tests to take this week, so I really didn't have many opportunities to teach. I did get to teach one afternoon because the teacher had to leave. I can't believe I'm almost done with my 1st 8 weeks of my internship! After next week, I'll move to 5th grade. It will be a completely different atmosphere, and I'm interested to see what it will be like. The teacher (I'll call her Mrs. C) I'll be with also has a totally different personality than Mrs. S, so that will be fun to see a different perspective on teaching. I'm looking forward to it...but a little nervous, especially since some of the 5th graders are bigger than me! Well, I better go for now. I need to get back to the homework I've been trying to avoid! Have a great day!

Kids say...

So I'm not sure when people develop the sensor that tells you that some things shouldn't be shared with the whole world, but 2nd graders definitely don't have it. They will tell you anything, often whether you ask or not. They want to share everything they know with you, and many times 12 of them want to share at the same time. At times this can be overwhelming, since there is obviously not time to listen to what every kid has to say all the time. Asking one question in class elicits 17 hands going up, each with something to say. Sometimes the hands are actually in response to the question; other times...you call on them and they say something totally unrelated to the topic at hand. For example, " Are we going to computers on Thursday?"(it's only Monday, so the schedule on Thursday is not really important right now) or, "I can run really fast" (good information, but not in the middle of social studies!). However, if you take the time to listen to their stories (not necessarily in the middle of the lesson, but at appropriate times) the things they say may provide critical insight into a child's home life, help you relate to a child because you know what they're interested in, and help you get a glimpse of why they may act the way they do. Not that their moms or dads necessarily want them to say the things they say...in fact, they would be completely embarrassed to hear some of what is said! I've had kids tell me all sorts of things in my 5 weeks in the school..."My mom says she doesn't want to help me with my homework," and"My dad's big black mustang got taken away from him yesterday because he didn't pay for it," and "I can only see my mom at DHR (social services)." Obviously, once kids develop that "sensor" they wouldn't tell a teacher things like that. They would be embarrassed, or ashamed, or just not comfortable enough to say anything. And although their parents probably didn't want me or their teacher to know these things, it does help us to understand and relate to these students better. The innocence of children is so refreshing. They hear, see, and understand much more than adults often give them credit for. They know exactly what is going on at their houses, even if their parents try to hide it and keep it a secret. So, when all of the sharing starts to overwhelm me, I try to remind myself how precious their honesty and openness is and show a little more patience and caring as I listen to them tell me stories.

On a funny note...today while we were standing in line for the bathroom (I was actually not standing in line, but the kids were), one little boy looks at me and says "My doctor hits me with a hammer." Not sure where that came from, and it kinda took me off guard (and I didn't want to laugh because kids are very serious when they tell you things)...but I did verify that it was the reflex hammer on his knee!

My internship is going well. I just finished my 5th week, and my 1st week of teaching all day. I really enjoyed it. I felt like the kids were actually learning something (most of the time) and I didn't feel like I was boring them to death, so that was a plus! I have had my first 2 evaluations by my professor at school, and I did well on both of them. She loved the games and activities I included in my lessons, which was good. I must confess, I made the lessons a little more interactive and exciting because I knew she would be there! There just isn't enough time in the day to play a game, do an activity, complete the required worksheet, and teach the lesson for every single lesson that must be taught in the day! But I do try to incorporate something interactive or "hands on" in every lesson. Kids are going to move around while you're teaching...so you might as well give them something productive to do while they're moving! This allows them to wiggle while still learning! Sometimes I feel like I might be too idealistic since I'm new to teaching, but I truly enjoy being in the classroom. I certainly have moments (and occasionally days) where I just feel frustrated and irritable, but those moments come no matter what occupation you have. Overall, I'm enjoying my time and can't wait to be teaching "for real" in a classroom of my own! Well, I should go for now. Have a wonderful weekend!

Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

A quick update...

So the same kid that I wrote about in my last post had me laughing again yesterday. Here's the conversation...

Kid: I am so tired, I just can't do my work
Me: What did you do last night that made you so tired?
Kid: My dad pooted in the bed all night and I couldn't sleep.
Me: No response...what do you say to that?

Things are still going good at school. Today I taught the morning reading lesson for the first time. The reading series that we use is pretty complicated and it's new so the teachers are having a hard time figuring it out. I think I did OK. Thankfully, the teacher left the room for most of the time that I was teaching. She makes me nervous when she's in there watching me, and the kids are always looking at her instead of me. They're probably wondering why some random girl is teaching them while their teacher is sitting right there. I also reviewed the calendar and started their math lesson today as well. I feel pretty comfortable teaching, and I'm really enjoying being in the school. Our class is well behaved for the most part, although I did have to sternly remind them that they have to behave for me just like they behave for the teacher. I think they were just testing the waters to see if I would get on to them, or let them talk and not pay attention. I gave one kid a "stick" because he kept acting up (a "stick" is what they get if they're doing something wrong. They have to put the stick-which is just a straw cut in half- in a pocket with their name on it. The # of sticks they have at the end of the week determines their conduct grade). Anyways, after I gave him a stick everyone else seemed to settle down. I guess they just needed to see that I meant what I said. Tomorrow I'll be teaching Math and one or two of the reading small groups. I really like the teacher I'm with, although I don't know how comfortable she is having someone else teach her class. She seems reluctant at times to let me teach, but it might be that she just doesn't want to give me too much. Next week I have my first evaluation by my professor. I think the lesson will be fine, I'm just nervous about having her watch me.

Other than school, my life isn't too exciting. I'm missing Matt, and I still won't get to see him for another month! I try to keep myself occupied in the evenings so I don't get lonely and so far I've been doing pretty good! Maybe I'll try out some new hobbies this semester! Well, I must go now because I'm getting hungry and I need to make dinner! Have a great day!

The Internship...

I'm sure I will have many stories over the next few months about my experiences in my internship. I'm in a 2nd grade classroom for the first 8 weeks, and already we have had some interesting experiences & funny comments by kids! I thought I would list just a few (in no particular order)...

1. We spent the first 2 hours of the school day this morning in the hallway downstairs. A tornado warning was in effect, the sirens were blowing as I was driving to work, some kids were crying...what a way to start a Monday!
2. My first Friday, the teacher I'm with had to leave at 11:30. So, I was responsible for the class that afternoon (although we did have a substitute, as required by law)...on the way to PE, as we're about to walk out the door, a lizard runs in the door. Before I know it, one little boy jumps out of line to try to catch the lizard and throw it outside. Just as he reaches the lizard, the lizard's tail falls off and starts flipping around. The tail is flipping, the body is flipping, and all the kids are going crazy. I couldn't do anything but laugh (and rush the kids outside so the kindergarten teachers didn't hear the commotion!)
3. Same day as the lizard...about 10 minutes later...I'm sitting in the classroom during my "planning" time, while the kids are OUTSIDE at PE. The principal comes over the intercom saying, "attention teachers: no one is allowed outside until further notice. NO ONE is to go outside!" The substitute rushes back in the room and says we're on lock down and we're supposed to lock ourselves in the room. But my kids are OUTSIDE and I don't have a key to the classroom! So, we just sit there and thankfully the PE coach brought the kids inside!
4. One of my students lives with his grandma. He came in one morning and said he couldn't do his homework the night before. His excuse? "My grandma is like 60 years old...she can't help with homework!" Obviously 60 years old is ancient!
5. Same kid is trying to do the math problem 9 + 2. He says he can't do the problem. I say, "well, if you don't know the problem in your head, you can count on your fingers." His response? "I don't have 9 fingers." So I ask, "How many fingers do you have?" and he responds..."10". Kids!
   

That's just a few of the things that have happened over the last couple of weeks. The kids definitely keep me laughing! Have a great day!

Our Crazy lives...

The Wedding (cont)... Well, the day of the wedding was perfect! When I got to Jen's apartment that morning, she and Chloe were snuggling and talking about everything that was about to happen. It was a precious moment between mom and daughter...










The bridesmaids, Jen and the girls enjoyed a tea party lunch, followed by getting our hair done. Allie LOVED her first "tea party with grown ups", and Chloe even tolerated it and I think she had fun. Allie thought she was very grown up, drinking out of the tea cup & she got some Hannah Montana gear at Wal-Mart that made her feel like a movie star after she got her hair done!













I absolutely love this picture of Chloe. She looks so happy and beautiful! I know Misa will truly be a blessing to her and Allie's lives.













There were so many sweet moments during the wedding, but this was probably the most emotional. Misa gave Chloe and Allie a locket that said "always together" and made a promise to each of them. Absolutely precious!











This is a pic of me and Matt at the wedding. One of my favorites!










The Day was upon us...On Sunday after the wedding, we headed back to Montgomery with Matt's dad along for the ride to help Matt move to Chicago. We got back Sunday evening, and stayed at our house in the guest room (which was a little strange, but our renters had already moved in and were so nice to let us stay with them!). Although I was excited for Matt to get to start his LLM and fulfill his dream of living in Chicago, I couldn't help but feel the dread of him leaving as I went to sleep that night. I support him 100% in going to Chicago, but at the same time I didn't want him to leave! It was with mixed emotions that I got up the next morning and prepared for my first day of my internship! I was excited about starting school, sad that he was leaving, and nervous with anticipation as I thought about the months that lay ahead. So, I told Matt goodbye, held back the tears so I could make it to school without my ugly cry face, and headed off to start the next 4 months of interning.

The last 2 weeks...Well, we've made it through 2 weeks of Matt being in Chicago and me in Alabama. My internship has been going great so far! The teacher I'm working with is wonderful, and the kids really have been good. I've already gotten sick, and have spent the entire weekend in bed, but I was warned before I started that I would get sick, so I expected it! Matt started school on Thursday, and besides feeling slightly overwhelmed, he is enjoying it! Matt and I get to talk online everynight via our webcams, so that helps us not miss each other as much (although I definitely still miss him a lot!). But, I've come to realize that things could certainly be worse, and it's only temporary, so we're making the best of it! I'll try to keep updating more often. Love you all!

Well...

Contrary to popular belief, I am still alive! It has just been a CRAZY few weeks! I keep thinking that I need to get on here and write, but then I don't have time. At this point, it seems like a daunting task to update on everything, but I'll give it my best shot. We'll start with the last week of July...

The Bar Exam: Matt felt good about the Bar Exam. It was a pretty intense 3 days, but he made it through! Now comes the LONG wait...he'll find out the results in November! I think I may have been more stressed out than he was all week. Neither of us could sleep, but while he was testing all day, all I could think about was his test! It could have been my hurried attempts to finish packing up the house and cleaning that had me stressed out. It was a busy week, working all day, (worrying about Matt's test), and going straight to our house after work to pack and clean. Everyday when I got to the house I would tell myself that I would probably finish that day, then as I was leaving that night, I would tell myself that I would probably finish tomorrow. I finally finished around 10:00 or so on Wednesday night. Everything was packed, the house was clean, the bathtub was caulked, and I was ready for...

Leaving on a Jet Plane: After my last day of work (July 31st), I drove up to Birmingham to fly to Dallas and meet Matt. The flight went well, and I was entertained by a tipsy construction worker on his way home. We spent the night with Jared and Emily (Tomberlin) Burns on Thursday night, which was lots of fun! It was good to catch up with them, and see their beautiful new house! Friday we planned to go shopping and camping, but I ended up getting a TERRIBLE muscle spasm in my neck. I was just taking the towel off the towel rack before my shower and all of a sudden I couldn't move my head, or straighten it up. I tried to stretch it out in the shower, but to no avail. I was in tears and pain! So, we headed up to David and Kay's house (emily's parents), where Kay had a heating pad and some medicine waiting. After several hours of heating pad and the oil she had that was supposed to relax the muscle, I still couldn't move my head. I wasn't in as much pain, so we left and headed north of Dallas to meet Matt's great aunt and cousin for dinner. By the time we drove the hour to dinner, I was close to tears again and my neck was right back where it had been. So, I called my parents and told them I needed to skip the camping. They met us in Ardmore with an ice bag and muscle relaxers. After a muscle relaxer, a pain pill, and several hours, I was finally able to relax enough to go to sleep. Lucky for me, my brother is in massage therapy school so he was able to work on my neck over the next few days. The drugs mixed with the massage did wonders, although I still have a little pain in my neck when I move in certain ways...and it's been over 2 weeks! We spent several days in Duncan, just hanging out with the family, and then we headed up to OKC for...

The Wedding: Jen & Misa got married on 08/08/08, but the festivities leading up to the day began on Wednesday. We made it to OKC just in time for Matt to pick up his tux (he was an usher) and head over to Heather's house for dinner. Thursday was a day of decorating, manicures/pedicures, rehearsing, and eating. The rehearsal dinner was very nice, and Jen & Misa had sweet things to say about everyone involved in the wedding. Thursday night the girls had a "slumber party" at Jen's house...at the request of Chloe and Allie. We got started kind of late, but did have time to watch Shrek the 3rd and all pile in the living room for some fun girl time. Here are some pictures from the day...

Well, the pictures wouldn't upload, so I'll stop here for now, and update more later. Love you all!

Retraction...

Please Note: Matt has pointed out to me that I called him this morning, and he called me yesterday morning. Please note this as you are reading the post about my morning. I thought he called me because the reminder on my phone went off and it sounds like my phone ringing and I was half asleep during it all! Thank you.

Good Morning!

So, anyone that knows me knows I'm not a morning person. This morning this was especially true...Matt called before my alarm went off to tell me he was up and ready for Day 2 of the Bar. I turned off the alarm because I was "awake," but then I fell back asleep and didn't wake back up until 7:20. I have to leave at 7:40 for work. Needless to say, I didn't leave on time. My work and boss are pretty relaxed, so I wasn't really worried about running late. So, I arrive at work about 8:10, only to find the whole office awaiting my arrival! Tomorrow is my last day of work full-time, so they decided to bring me presents today! I was so embarrasesed because I was late and I had 5 people just sitting and waiting! Then, when I realized what my present was, I was even more embarrassed!! Here's a picture...

Amber and Shelly decided that since Matt moved away I needed an inflatable husband to take his place! He was sitting in my chair when I arrived at work! The box says "Low Maintenance Partner for a stress free, easy life." I laughed...A lot. Peggy (my boss) got me a strand of freshwater pearls and Loye bought me the pearl earrings. I'm wearing both in the picture. Anyway, it was definitely a good way to brighten up a somewhat stressful, running late morning!

The Bar Exam...

Well, the day has finally come (or at least tomorrow it will be here)! The Bar Exam starts tomorrow morning at 8am. Matt is nervous. I am nervous. Please pray for Matt over the next 3 days!

Packing...

Well, I didn't reach my goal of having everything packed up and ready to go by yesterday. It has been non-stop packing since I got up this morning. Well, to be honest I haven't really been that motivated. So it's been more like pack awhile, check my email, pack some more, look at facebook, and so on. Our TV is disconnected, so our only form of entertainment is surfing the internet! Anyway, I have realized that packing up a house takes much longer than packing an apartment, or a dorm room! And, when you're packing things to go to 3 different places I think it takes even longer! I feel like I have been packing for months! I did start several weeks ago, just so I could spread it out a bit. I have now taken 4 loads to the house where I'll be staying, each time saying to myself "that should be my last load, except for a few clothes." Today I took a car full of stuff over there and again I thought it would be my last load...WRONG! Although I knew I would have some hanging clothes and my toiletries still to move, as I sit on the futon (the only piece of furniture left in our living room) and look around, I can already see things that I need to take to Rebecca's house! I have come to the conclusion that we have too much stuff. I'm not even a pack rat, and it seems like our stuff just keeps multiplying! Oh well, I'm sure I'll finish in time to fly to Texas on Thursday!

Matt's stuff is all piled up in the dining room, and besides a few things from the kitchen, he is actually pretty much ready to go. He leaves tomorrow to drive to Texas, relax on Monday, and start the Bar Exam bright and early on Tuesday. Already the nerves have started to kick in. He handles stress really well, and generally I can't even tell if he's stressed, but it's starting to show just a little. I have no doubt that he's going to pass with flying colors, but I can imagine that it's probably one of the most stressful situations he will ever face. He has been in school for 3 years, studying intensely for 8 weeks, and now it all comes down to a 3 day test. I think I might be more stressed than he is! Well, I should get back to packing, and trying to find something for dinner. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

2nd post today...

So I changed the header for our blog, since Matt will be in Chicago and I'll be in Montgomery. Is it even called a header? I'm not sure. I couldn't think of a catchy title, so I settled for this. Any creative ideas for a catchy title would be given consideration for replacing this title! And...what do you think about the new look?

Our Life...

Our life is a little crazy right now. We've been busy packing up our house and organizing all of our things into 3 piles: going with Matt, going with Lori, or going to storage. I always thought moving was difficult, but moving to 3 different places at once is outrageous! And, Matt has been so busy studying for the Bar, I've been trying to do all the packing by myself so I don't take away from his study time. Passing the Bar is much more important than having everything neatly packed into boxes! He has helped during his "study breaks," although I think he uses packing as an excuse to stop studying! I have most of my stuff moved to Rebecca's house (my new place of residence for the next few months), and most of Matt's stuff is stacked neatly in the dining room. We still need to move the furniture that he is taking to the dining room and a couple of "big" items (the coffee table, washer/dryer), out to the storage shed. I'll definitely have to enlist Matt's help (and most likely the help of some other boy) to move that stuff! My hope is to have everything packed, moved or stacked up by Friday, because after that things will be really crazy! Here's our schedule for the next week:
Friday (25th): going away party for Matt with a few friends
Saturday (26th): final bit of Bar Exam study Saturday morning, attend a wedding Saturday night,
Sunday (27th): Matt teaches his last Bible Class Sunday morning and leaves immediately after church for Dallas.
Tuesday (29th): The Bar Exam starts and lasts until Thursday
Thursday (31st): my last day of work (full-time) and I leave work early so I can fly to Dallas to meet Matt. Stay the night Thursday night with Emily in Dallas.
Friday(Aug 1): camping in Oklahoma with friends on Friday & Saturday night
Sunday (3rd): go to Duncan for a few days (my dad's birthday)
Wednesday (6th): to OKC for wedding preparation
Thursday & Friday (7th-8th): Jen's Wedding (matt's sister)
Saturday (9th): to Tulsa to unpack wedding decorations
Sunday (10th): drive back to Alabama
Monday (11th): Matt leaves for Chicago, I start my internship.

Whew. Ok, so that's actually the next 2 weeks and probably more than you'd want to know, but I thought I'd share. I think writing it all out helps me feel less stressed (until I read back over it). After Matt leaves for Dallas, I'll have to pack up the final few things (the kitchen essentials that he'll take with him, my "work" clothes that I haven't moved yet, etc). All the craziness will probably help me keep from getting sad that Matt is leaving (maybe). I feel like I've prepared myself for it, but we'll see on August 11th when it's all over and he is driving to Chicago! Anyway, just thought I'd put a quick update on our lives for the next few weeks. Please pray for Matt next week as he's taking the Texas Bar Exam! Have a great day!

The Possum...

Matt and I went to see George Jones (the "possum") tonight. As with most pictures from concerts, they're not very good. But I did take a video of "He Stopped Loving Her Today," one of George's most famous songs. I just tried to upload it but it's not working right now. So, for now, here's one picture.

This is a picture we took before we left for the concert. I thought it turned out good! Now I'm off to bed. Love you all!

The Perpetual Student...

Matt decided to start his own blog. Check it out: The Perpetual Student
P.S. He thinks I'm his secretary and he dictated his newest post for me to type. Yes, I was bored at 10:45 at night and sat here and typed it for him!

Chicago (cont)...

When I left off on the last post, we had just finished watching the fireworks with over a million people! Well, those 1 million people had to get home somehow, and since the Chicago public transportation is the primary source of transportation, we rode back home with what felt like a million people. We were so packed in the subway that at one point I couldn't even fit both of my feet on the ground. And we were packed in so tightly that there was no need to hold on when the train started because no one could move anywhere! In fact, Matt was at the door and someone was pushing him trying to get on the train but there were so many people not one more person could shove in. I wish I had a picture, because I'm sure it looked pretty crazy!

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxed, and we had a good time just enjoying the city. Friday morning we slept in so we could recuperate from the all night drive the night before. Then we headed down to Wrigley Field for some pictures.













After Wrigley, we went back to the commune for a cookout. (Side Note: I just realized I may not have previously explained the commune. It's where we were staying during this trip to Chicago, and where Matt was planning to live when he moves there. We call it the commune because it actually used to be a commune in the 70's, but now it's an "intentional community." The easiest way to explain it is dorm-style living for adults. The people that live there are all really nice. They live in this dorm place and have a janitor that cleans the bathrooms and a cook that cooks dinner every night. They "share resources" so it's more economical and environmentally friendly. Matt found out about it because a guy that goes to the church we visited on our last trip to Chicago lives there. I know it sounds weird, and it kinda is). Anyway, we stayed at the commune and they invited us for a 4th of July cookout. So we went back (free lunch can't be passed up) and helped get things ready for the cookout. The only strange part of the lunch was, instead of saying a prayer, some guy started talking about our reason for gathering and asked what spirit we should invite to be with us for the occasion (me, Matt, Kayla and Stephen all had the same thought...how about the Holy Spirit?!?). Anyway, that was strange and we all just kind of looked at each other, but it was free and certainly a cultural and educational experience! After the cookout, we headed downtown so Kayla & Stephen could visit the Field Museum. Matt & I had already been, so we just walked by Lake Michigan and chatted. It was a beautiful day outside, although slightly chilly on the lake!

Matt thought I looked funny wrapped up in his sweatshirt!














There were SO MANY boats on Lake Michigan!









We took a water taxi over to Navy Pier where there were tons of people! We decided it was too crowded & we were starving so we headed over the Giordano's (the best pizza ever) and decided to go back to Navy Pier on Saturday. If you ever get the chance to go to Chicago, you should DEFINITELY eat at Giordano's! i can't even describe how good this pizza is, but it's amazing!! Saturday started with a trip to IKEA!!! If you've never been to Ikea, and you like decorating, you should DEFINITELY go! I could spend an entire day and a TON of money in there! Those of you who know me know that I don't generally spend money on anything, but take me to Ikea and I'm in trouble! Since Matt's planning to move to Chicago, and we thought we had his living situation figured out, we had a few things that we needed to buy and this was the perfect opportunity. We got some curtains and storage boxes and a few other things and it was so fun! Kayla loved it too! Then it was back over to Navy Pier for a ride on the ferris wheel and some putt-putt golf for Matty's birthday. Oh yeah, Saturday was Matt's birthday! I got him a new digital camera that took all the pictures in this post (I gave it to him when we got to Chicago, a little early).

In the Botanical Gardens at Navy Pier














Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier--Stephen didn't tell us he was scared of heights until we were at the top!















Top of the Ferris Wheel...










Playing Putt-Putt




Our last day in Chicago ended with dinner at Cheesecake Factory and one last train ride back to the commune. It was Saturday night that made me decide perhaps the commune was not the place for Matt to live (especially if I am going to join him in January!). While we were all trying to sleep, several people were having a fight down on the street corner. We could hear them yelling for a couple of hours. Although the commune seems safe, the neighborhood made me pretty uncomfortable. So, when we got home, Matt started looking for a different place to live. He found an apartment, closer to downtown in a really good part of town. It's about the size of a shoebox, but I think it will be better all around. Matt will be closer to school (only 3 train stops away, instead of 12) and it's in a really nice part of town. Here's a link to the website... http://www.bjbgoldcoast.com/site/property/general/2
If you go to the site and click on "virtual tours," his studio apt should be like Studio 2 on the virtual tours. Check it out! And, I mentioned it earlier, but I think I'll be joining Matt in Chicago in January. I had thought about not going up there (it's really cold, and will be harder to figure out the school systems for substituting or getting a job), but I really don't want to be away from Matt for longer than I have to be. And, he really wants me to come up there. So, I guess I'll brave the cold & head up to Chicago after Christmas! Well, this post has been pretty long, so I guess I'll end here. Our trip was great fun and I'm glad things are finally coming together for the Fall! Love you all!

A Holiday Weekend...

We had quite an eventful 4th of July, so prepare for a marathon post!
For this year’s 4th of July celebration, Matt was up to his usual scheming. He decided to plan a trip for the long weekend that, of course, included a surprise destination! In addition, it also included surprise travelling companions, and a surprise day off work. He was all about the surprises for this trip! So, on Tuesday night (July 1st), he told me that I needed to pack for our trip because we had plans Wednesday evening, and would be leaving on Thursday. I later found out that we were actually leaving on Wednesday. Matt called me Wednesday at work and told me to call him when I got off work and he would tell me where to meet him. So, after I ran to Wal-Mart to finish buying his birthday present, I called and he said to meet him at Stephen and Kayla’s house. They were going with us on our trip! We loaded up my car, and headed north on I-65. We stopped for dinner in Birmingham and continued on our way. We took this picture at our dinner stop...we all look happy and excited to be travelling:

I still had no idea where we were going, and by this time it was about 8:00 pm. I assumed we would reach our destination by midnight, or 1 or 2 at the latest. Boy was I wrong. Pictures at our 3 am gas stop...the boys are not looking quite as excited!

After 13 hours in the car and driving through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, we arrived in Chicago at 7:30 am!! Matt drove the ENTIRE way, without a wink of sleep all night! I couldn’t believe that we actually drove all night long, and I couldn’t believe we were in Chicago! I had a brief suspicion early in the evening that we might be headed there, but quickly dismissed it since Matt will be moving there in a month. However, there we were and we had the whole weekend ahead of us.
When we arrived, we drove by a few of the “sights” (the White Sox stadium, Soldier Field, University of Chicago), we stopped for breakfast then headed to the place we were staying for showers and naps! Refreshed and ready for the day, we headed out to tour the city! This was Stephen and Kayla’s first trip to Chicago, so we had the chance to show them around. After a short train ride to downtown, we stopped for lunch at Ed Debevic’s. It is one of those restaurants where the waiters are rude on purpose, and Matt had so much fun being sarcastic right back. Maybe he should get a part time job there when he moves to Chicago! They also have hats to color and wear while you're eating.

Matt's eyes look a little scary in this picture!

Chicago has their big fireworks show on July 3rd, instead of the 4th. I’m not sure why. They actually had fireworks on the 4th and 5th too, but the big celebration was on the 3rd. So, after stuffing our self at Ed Debevic’s, we headed to the Magnificent Mile to do some shopping before the celebration that evening. If we had money to shop, I definitely could have spent quite a bit on Michigan Avenue! Next we headed to the "Taste of Chicago," which is in a park right beside Lake Michigan. Restaurants from all over Chicago come to the park and you buy tickets to sample the food. It was a lot of fun, although there were SO MANY people! We walked around and ate some snack, then found a place by Buckingham Fountain to wait for the fireworks.

We're still looking a little sleepy in this picture! Although the fireworks started late, we did have some excitement to watch while we waited. First, we saw a kid get arrested for flashing gang signs. Apparently that's illegal in Chicago, and the cop was REALLY UNHAPPY about it! He grabbed the kid by the shirt, slapped handcuffs on him, and dragged him away. Kayla tried to get a picture, but Stephen wouldn't let her! Next, we saw a guy get arrested for climbing on top of the police truck. Don't know what went through his mind that said it would be a good idea to climb on a police vehicle, but the little voice in his head was clearly wrong. The police officer came out of the truck, jerked the kid off it, and threw him inside. He proceeded to bang on the side of the truck for the rest of the night. Quite the exciting time! Oh, and did I mention there were 1.2 million of our closest friends watching the fireworks with us? 1.2 million! I've never seen that many people in my life! Well, this takes you through our first day in Chicago, and now I have to go. It's almost lunch time! Maybe I'll write more this afternoon.

It's been awhile....

So, apparently I subconsciously decided to take a blogging hiatus. I just realized I haven't updated in almost 2 weeks! We have actually had a little excitement in the last 2 weeks...a surprise birthday party & a trip to Chicago! So, tomorrow when I'm bored at work I'll try to write a long update to get everyone caught up! We'll see how it goes.