Let the Holidays Begin!

Sooo, today was my first day of official Christmas holiday! :) It was wonderful to go and play instead of heading to work... I found myself at my MIL's house decorating her tree and then going to get pedicures. She sent me home with vegetable beef soup- SHE IS THE BEST! :)

In addition to Christmas being this week, I also get to look forward to:

*A dentist appointment (I love, love the dentist!)
*Lunch with Katie- and discussing her dress decisions and guaranteed giggles
*The 24 week doctor appointment- it is always awesome to hear my sweet son's heartbeat!
*Dinner with my wonderful cousins and our spouses (YUM!! I love The Brickery)

Then it is official holiday festivities:

*Christmas Eve dinner at Erik's mom (My above mentioned wonderful MIL!)
*Christmas breakfast with Erik's Dad's side of the family-- always a blast!
*Flying to Chicago on Christmas night (I can't wait to see my side of the family!!)

I hope your week and it's plans are just as fun as mine will be!

I Won the Lottery

I definitetly feel as though I have won the lottery... there are so many things that I am SOOO lucky and blessed to have. This weekend we spent with great friends celebrating and sharing in festivities that it made me stop and realize just how fortunate I am. Here are a few things I was thinking:

1. My ever patient husband has been working like a dog to get our house prepared for our son. He has moved furniture so the downstairs can be tiled, sealed the grout of the tile that was layed, cleaned our entire house Saturday, redid the caulking in our half bath, loads of laundry, tons of trash, and on top of that- he has a smile on his face!!

2. My friends are so wonderful. They are thoughtful, considerate, helpful, giving, and perfect for me! I had such an amazing time on both Friday and Saturday evenings. We laughed and caught up, played the white elephant game with funny gifts, we ate yummy appetizers, and shared a wonderful evening.

3. I get to be a mommy in about 4 months! :) I could not be more excited for Lucas to arrive! The more we prepare for him, the more real and exciting it becomes!

4. In the next few weeks, we will be lucky enough to spend good quality time with our amazing family. (and I am not just saying this because we will have about 4 Christmas dinners!) I love this time of year because it is jam-packed with time spent with those we love.

5. I have an amazing group of teachers that I work with. Since I have moved to 5th grade, I have found a new love for teaching. Perhaps a new grade level, new curriculum, and a new age of students is what I needed for that to happen.

I love driving home in the evenings and seeing the homes I pass all lit up with decorations. I love that when I get home, I come into a safe, loving atmosphere where we laugh and play with the sweetest dog I know! I am lucky for all of these things all year long, but there is something about Christmastime that makes me focus on it a little bit more. I must say, this really is the most wonderful time of the year!

I just got an Ella Fitzgerald Christmas CD. It is wonderful and is definitely putting me a festive mood this Friday afternoon!

New Carpet Day

Today Erik and I are getting our place re-carpeted! I am soooo excited! We have needed this for a while, and who doesn't enjoy the feeling of nice, plush, thick new carpet?! It is a few shades darker and A LOT thicker. I can not wait to see the end result!

Also today, we are getting our Christmas tree!! ;) YAY! I can not wait to see it up and begin decorating it!

What a fun day, I hope your Thursday is just as wonderful!

Thanksgiving Trip 2009

Erik and I went to Michigan for Thanksgiving this year. It was wonderful. We arrived at his Grandfather's house in Milan on Wednesday about noon. My parents came over from Chicago to have a late lunch with us! It was wonderful... (my parents had not yet met his Grandfather, as he had knee surgery during our wedding and was unable to travel.) Then my parents headed off to Clarkston to stay with my brother, while we stayed in Milan for another day. We had a DELICIOUS Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Erik's mom worked her fanny off! And it was worth it- VERY yummy!!!

Friday, we woke up and went to David and Leah's house. It was about an hour away from Milan. Their house is simply beautiful... I couldn't be happier for them! We had a fun afternoon cooking and visiting with them and my parents. Around 3 or 4, had another TASTY Thanksgiving meal! I love turkey and the trimmings, so two days of it is FANTASTIC to me!! ;)

We had a few pictures taken, courtesy of Leah's fancy camera. The one of all of us will most likely make my parents' Christmas card...

IT'S A BOY!

Erik and I found out on Tuesday that we are expecting a precious little boy in April! :) It was so much of a surprise because both of us were expecting the lady to say girl... We nearly fell out of our chairs when she said boy!! It was wonderful and we could not be happier! It is so much fun now to be able to call the sweet baby a "him" or a "he" instead of an "it". It makes it feel more real to me! I loved seeing him on the monitor, it is amazing!! We saw him wiggle his little legs as if he were riding a bike and turning his head. It was absolutely incredible.

As soon as we found out it was a boy, we had a flood of sweet texts and calls from friends and family expressing their excitment for us- that always makes you feel good!

Lucas Gregory Neikirk, we can not wait to meet you~ We are going to spend the next 4.5 months getting everything ready for you and are thrilled to have you join us in April!

Our baby is the size of a...

Cantaloupe!

Isn't that cute?! We go to the doctor tomorrow afternoon for the ultrasound that will tell us the sex! I am so excited.. it is like Christmas Eve, only a bit more cool!! I can not wait to tell the world what we are having~ and I hope our little cantaloupe looks like my sweet husband!

Getting Caught Up

It has been brought to my attention that I have been neglecting my blog... my sincerest apologies to you. ;) I will catch you up on what I have been doing in a fun list.

Things that excite me as of late:
1. Going to the lake the first weekend in November with the Kennedy family of THREE!!
The leaves and weather were fantastic. And so were the caramel apples.

2. The chicken parmesan that Erik bought from The New York Butcher, it is SLAP YOUR ITALIAN GRANDMOTHER good!!!

3. We got a new dryer... it makes laundry so much more fun. (if that is possible?)

4. Conferences with my students' parents- they had only wonderful things to say, which was encouraging and makes me want to try harder!

5. The fact that my friend, Mark, is the Elementary School Teacher of the Year in Gwinnett County!! We were teammates at Holt and he is an excellent teacher.

6. Seeing Katie last weekend. Her new engagement ring was gorgeous and the time we spent together was great. Who doesn't like Buca di Beppo's and fun errands and giggles??

7. We find out the sex of our baby on Tuesday, 24th. I can not wait!

8. After our appointment on Tuesday, we are headed to Michigan for Thanksgiving.

9. I am feeling great. Not so tired, no more nauseousness.

10. My mom is going to decorate (sew the bumper pads, curtains, dust ruffle, etc.) for the nursery and we found the BEST fabric!! Check it out here.

11. That I have the GREATEST, most considerate husband in the world. He has taken up most (ok, pretty much all) of the chores and the cooking and still smiles. He is amazing.

12. My brother is recovering and is seeing an PT to get his muscles stronger, drives, laughs, seems to be doing wonderfully.

And that is my "lately" in a nutshell....

David is Home

David is home, he was released yesterday, no surgery required! HOORAY! I am so grateful. It is times like this that it is hard to be so far from family! My dad was with him this week, so I know that was good for both of them. David is incredible and remarkably paitent.... I can not believe all that he has overcome in the past 4 months. I am a proud big sis.

Erik and I head to my parents' house in Chicago a week from today for my dad's retirement party.
It has been too long, I am looking SO forward to it, and SO happy that David and Leah are still able to come, too! They will all get to see my baby bump, that I feel is getting bigger by the second! :)

Happy Friday! I am so glad it is here. This weekend will be fun... and relaxing! :)

On Another Note

Please keep David in your prayers. He was readmitted to the hospital for an infection in his intestine. The kid can't catch a break. The infection was causing a fever of 103, lower BP, and higher heart rate. Since he is considered high risk, they wanted him to stay. He is currently on 4 antibiotics trying to reduce the absess in his stomach. If that doesn't work (and they are deciding that today), he will go into surgery for them to clean him out again. Please God, do not let it come to that. Things are doing ok, and for now going in the right direction. Lets hope it stays that way.

Doctor Knows Best

I went to the OBGYN on Friday, seeing how I got in a bit of a fender bender. For peace of mind, I wanted to know that everything was fine with the pregnancy; which is was, thank goodness! While I was there, the doctor said I lost three pounds, and he was ok with that. (ME TOO!! ;)) The protection of a baby at 14 weeks is so much greater than that of a larger baby. I learned that there are still 4 layers of protection.

The thing that probably threw me off was that he said since I was a teacher, I should not only get the flu vaccination, but also the swine flu vaccination. YUCK! I have never had a flu shot!! I figured since I am surrounded by the germs, my tolerance was fine and there was no need. (Knock on wood, I have never had the flu in the 8 years I have taught.) Oh well, he said that because I was surrounded by it, there was a greater need for the shot- and antibacterial soap!

So, sometime this week, I am getting my first flu shot. The things we do for our unborn children! :)
(That felt cool to write, I have yet to say that I will have a child.... so exciting! I can not wait!)

What Awesome News

Two huge and exciting things to share...

1. Erik and I went to the doctor for the 12 week appointment yesterday. We were able to hear the heartbeat and it was wonderful... 152 beats per minute! YAY! How exciting!! The doctor said that it was a perfect number. (and as my Daddy says, "As long as it is perfect, I don't care!")
WHOO HOO

2. KATE CHRISTEL KENNEDY IS HERE!! She arrived about 30 minutes ago! I can't believe it! I am so excited, my sweet friend Jeanine is now a mommy! I can not wait to see Kate and kiss and hug her to pieces! Get ready, child, you are going to be spoiled!

What awesome news....

I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm.so.scared...

This weekend so far has been great. Friday, my husband and new 5th grade teammate, Lauren, helped move furniture and all of my things into place for my new classroom. WOW, that was love, because I am sure they could have found about 1000 other things they would have rather done! Anyway, they did a fantastic job and it looks great. It feels more like my classroom... so thanks, guys! :) I can not believe on Monday I will be a 5th grade teacher with 30 (yes, 3-0) kids!!

I was craving Chili's Quesadilla Explosion Salad after that, so Erik and I got "to-go" and ate our dinner at home... exactly where we wanted to be after a long week.

Then, Saturday, he was up early at work, and I met Allison and Jeanine at Einstein Bros for breakfast... what a GREAT way to start a day... it was wonderful to catch up- are you aware that Jeanine's due date is ONLY TWO WEEKS from today?! Meaning she can have Kate any day now! YAHOOOO!

Kim took me maternity clothes shopping, she is the sweetest and most thoughtful, It was as much fun as "back to school shopping" used to be.... I can not wait to sport my new clothes!

I have almost finished The Time Traveler's Wife. It is such a good book (and better than the movie... the movie does not go into much detail and leaves out so much, but is still good!) I recommend reading it, especially if you're going to see the movie.

I was craving pizza for dinner last night, so we tried ordering Papa John's online and it worked out fabulously. Your first order of $10 or more comes with a bonus medium cheese pizza... PERFECT! I ordered a meat one for Erik and I indulged on the cheese. We both won!! :)

Here's to a perfect Sunday, I hope it is just as I hope it to be.... lazy and quiet.

Crazy

I found out today that starting Monday, I will be teaching 5th grade. WHAT?! I am excited for the new adventure and to work with those wonderful 5th grade ladies, but scared to death about the curriculum and sad to leave a wonderful group of 3rd grade teachers... I know it will work itself out and I will be fine, just the initial jitters setting in right now! :)

When I went from 1st grade to 3rd, I was so nervous. Those kids were "so BIG". But now, I couldn't imagine teaching anything else but 3rd. Funny that I am going from 3rd to 5th, I feel the same way... those kids are SO BIG!!! I know I will love their independence.

I will let you know how it goes.

Documenting

We decided that we will start taking pictures every so often so we can see the baby grow! Today marks 9 weeks, 5 days. (Tuesday starts our 10th week) We are doing well, excited and happy!

Celebrating with My Hubby

Today has been wonderful! After a delicious country breakfast at a place called "The Front Porch", we headed to the Yellow Daisy Festival.
It was fantastic, tons of great booths and millions of things that I wanted to bring home. The weather was perfect for milling around browsing. Next, we bought some steaks to grill for dinner along with potatoes, corn on the cob, and salad tonight... delicious! A fun tidbit? We are going to eat on our fine china in celebration of our first year of marriage!

It has been a great, relaxing day... now, we are vegging watching movies and reading while the steaks marinade.....

Even though the first year's gift should be of paper, my sweet hubby got me a very special gift. This clock now sits on our mantle, I love it! He had it personalized with our names and initials, how thoughtful is he?!!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Today is our first wedding anniversary! I can not believe we have already been married that long! WOW! I do not know how I got so lucky to be Erik's wife, but I plan to show him everyday just how happy he makes me. I am so blessed to be married to the perfect match for me! Happy Anniversary, Hubby ~ I look forward to many, many, many more anniversaries with you!

My Sweet Brother

I called David yesterday and he told me that he is back in the hospital... they have found a fluid buildup in the area where he had an infection before. They are going to try and treat it with antibiotics, please pray these work. If they do not work, they may have to go back in- yes, more surgery! This is hopefully going to help his nausea and enable him to keep food down. (The guy is 6 feet and currently weighs 157!!!) I hope they are able to give him food through an IV to give him nutrients and strength. I am so ready (and I KNOW he is...) for him to be completely healed.

He was sweet for answering his phone, even though he definitely wasnt up for talking. He said that he had to answer when I called, to see how the nephew was doing. (So he thinks it's going to be a boy, too??)

Life is Good

I am loving being pregnant. Not necessarily the symptoms, but what the symptoms mean! I would SOOO much rather have the symptoms and get to have a baby than not have the symptoms... know what I mean? It is so exciting, I love thinking about it and reading about it...
We go back to the doctor for our second ultrasound on September 29th. We will be 12 weeks that day, I can not wait! ;)

I just got back from taking a walk with Elizabeth and Lillian. L is getting SO big! She will be 4 months in a few days! wow! Grace loved the walk, she will be relaxing and enjoying the rest of the afternoon. As for me, I am going today with Jeanine to get much needed pedicures, yay. Then, on to Atlanta to join our hubbies and friends to watch the first Georgia game. I know Erik will be sneaking peeks at the Yellow Jackets while this is happening!! ;)

It is a gorgeous day, and a start to a wonderful weekend! I hope you celebrate Labor Day exactly the way you want... My fantastic parents will celebrate 35 years of marriage on Monday, now that is something to celebrate! Congratulations, Mom and Dad!!

Guess What?!

We are having a baby!!!

And couldn't be more thrilled!

I AM FREE

I just quit Facebook. I think I just added many hours a day back to my life. I will miss the ease to communicate with long distance friends, but will not miss the addictiveness of it. Now... on to more interesting things than the computer. Like HGTV. Or a nap. (It is Saturday after a long week, for crying out loud!)

A Man's Gotta Drink

My brother is back in the hospital, a satellite campus of Henry Ford in West Bloomfield. He is there because he is dehydrated. He was given fluids yesterday and sent home, but apparently that wasnt enough and he ended up coming back in today. When I talked to my sister in law, she mentioned he was eating a cheeseburger... so that is good! We just need to keep liquids in him....

My mom told me that your colon helped absorb fluids into your body. Well, since he does not have one of those anymore, he needs to consume a lot more liquid. I guess there is a balance that he will figure out. Until then, he is in good hands so I do not worry. I can't wait until he is well.

Today was long, was it just me? I think I am tired. It may not be long before I climb under the covers and nod off to dream land, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

One Week Down, 35 More to Go...

School started back with a bang, my class is a vivacious group of students. It is going to be great! I am having the writing coach work with my kids while I get to take notes on how to teach writing the right way... and I am stoked! So far, it has been AWESOME! :) Already one week of school is over. I can not believe it.

Totally different note, my sweet brother is home from rehab. He will have the OT and PT visiting three times a week, and I know will be back to new soon enough. What a huge improvement it is being able to see the outside world or watch TV on your couch! I can't wait to see his smiling face. I am going to look into when would be a good time to visit... I don't want to go too early, but don't want to wait much longer, see my dilemma? ;)

The couple shower for Jeanine and Chris is this weekend... Jessica and I are going to get things ready for it Thursday, I am excited, it should be a lot of fun!

Last Morning to Mill

I do not sleep in, never have. I am up, just like my mom, earlier than most. And that is ok. However, there is a difference when I get up at 6:45ish on a summer morning and can mill around in my pjs with a good book and when I have to get up during the school year and immediately have to start getting ready for work. Why? I dont know, but to me, it is a huge difference. Today marks the last day of waking up and milling around for the summer... tomorrow is officially back to work. It will be my second year at Ivy Creek, and my 7th year teaching in Gwinnett.

I am going to enjoy this day as much as I can, although I would be lying if I didn't say that I am looking forward to seeing the girls I work with and getting my room "perfect". I like that. Preplanning has always been fun to me, despite the showering immediately part of the day. I will meet my new class on Thursday as they file in for Registration and Open House that morning.

Weirdest thing? These kids were born AFTER 9/11. They have only heard stories or seen books, but did not live through it. Kind of makes me feel old. Kind of. ;)

We are so fortunate...

Erik and I got home from a FANTASTIC lake stay.... We arrived Friday with Ryan, Liz, Joey, and Katie. The Kennedy's arrived shortly thereafter, as did Chris and Nick. We enjoyed spaghetti dinner and plenty of front porch sitting. The next day was spent in the water or on the boat or playing a 7 hour cornhole tournament... whatever we chose to do, it was lovely. David Bustle arrived, then we grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and chicken wings... the epitomy of health. Don't judge, it was heavely. Sunday, as people left, Erik's mom and Terry arrived, we had a nice day and phenomenal steak dinner that evening. My hubby sure is a grilling master, yay for me! Monday, we spent the majority of the day on the boat, awesome. Then, when everyone went home, Erik and I found ourselves in a romantic lake getaway... so peaceful and quiet. I loved it. We boated, played games and just simply enjoyed eachother's company. Tuesday, before the rain came, we went to LaPrade's for an ice cream treat... for lunch.

We got home yesterday afternoon, and I went to the gym. I am back and BodyPlex and already in such a better mood about going. I finally decided I am NOT a fan of LA Fitness. So, here we go, my official comeback, and I am now actually looking forward to it!

My brother, the miracle man, is now eating solid foods! He sits and stands for moments at a time, although that wears him out. He hopefully will be released into a Rehab facility today and will stay there for 10 days. I am SO grateful that he is recovering so nicely, I can not wait to have him back to 100%. I look so forward to seeing him again soon and hugging his neck and talking with him... in. his. new. home!! Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers, they are obviously working.

Erik is not going to work until Monday, so until then, we are on a stay-cation! ;) I am planning on enjoying each moment until I must return to work to the max.... I can not believe the summer is coming to an end.

Whew. that is all for now. I am going back to reading a delightful book, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. I am a sucker for a good "girlfriends" type book. Especially those that are nice & light...

HE PASSED!

I am SO HAPPY, David passed the swallow test this morning! YAHOOOO! He can now have pureed chicken and nectar juices, mashed potatoes and chocolate ice cream... hooray!! :)
They decided he was through with dialysis, so they took the port out of his neck for that!! I am so glad, I know he is, too! I just talked with Leah, and she says he is sleeping soundly. He had a busy day, he sat up in a chair twice and stood for a few seconds. I can not wait, I know it won't be long until he is out of ICU. Leah made a carepage for him, if you are interested in his progess, check it out... www.carepages.com/carepages/DavidMeyer. (Not only can you see D's excellent progress, but also one of the messages left yesterday was from my cousin's husband, John Gennett.. hilarious, and definitely worth the read, enjoy!)

Jeanine and I had a fun day, we went to a new restaurant called Parma... Oh. My. Goodness. DELICIOUS! Go try it, and make sure you invite me when you go, I think it is my new favorite place to eat! mmmmm.

Tomorrow I can say, "tomorrow we go to the lake!" YAY!

Good News

Here is some GOOD NEWS:
I am here to inform you that the Millgate Crossing's First Annual Grillfest was so much fun! I am really proud of us for putting it on and meeting the neighbors! The weather was great, the food was plentiful, the people were friendly, the music was awesome, so much fun! I am so glad that Erik met Kevin (Elizabeth's hubby) and Ryan (Jessica's hubby)! They seemed to get along great and we are all talking of doing this type thing again! YAY for fun in the neighborhood, I love liking the neighbors! Now, for the second annual grillfest, I know there will be an even bigger turnout... however, I am good as long as Vonnie, the chef of the most DELICIOUS greek orzo salad EVER, comes back!! :)

Here is some EVEN BETTER NEWS:
I talked with David today, my mom called me from his ICU room and let him talk a minute. It melts my heart to hear him and in good spirits no less! It does me so much good to hear him, I miss him. My mom says he is doing really well and if all progresses, he should pass the swallow test next Wednesday and then hopefully after that, get out of ICU! Wouldn't that be huge! I am greatful that my brother is as stong as he is; he amazes me.

Another beautiful day. I am headed to the gym before I talk myself into spending yet another day reading on the porch, not that I would mind entirely!!

A Few Things

David is improving, which makes being here in Atlanta easier. He is breathing on his own and all the vitals are stable. Now his kidneys are working better and his white blood count is headed down! :) All great things! He is being visited by the speech therapist to practice his swallowing, which he is able to do a little... keep working, D, and soon you will be able to eat liquid diet! (I bet after this long, broth and jello never sounded so good!) The physical therapists are working out his muscles and having his sit up in bed for two hours at a time, twice a week... huge improvements since I have seen him last! My parents got there on Thursday, and are with him until tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers, I know they are helping!

In my neck of the woods, our neighborhood's first annual "grillfest" is this evening! I am excited, because the HOA Board is putting it on, and I hope it is a huge success! There will be live music and hot dogs and hamburgers! Keep your fingers that the weather is nice and there is a big turn out!

Friday we are headed to the lake... our friends will join us for the weekend, and then my sweet hubby and I are staying through the week! I can not wait! I love the lake. I love sharing it with our friends. I am sure that the relaxing week with Erik will be amazing, too! I can't wait to post pictures of the fun we had! Look for those soon!

Happy Saturday to you and yours.... it should be a GREAT one!

My Amazing Hubby

While I was in Michigan for 11 days, Erik supported me and encouraged me. He never asked me to come home or made me feel guilty. Instead, he sent my parents and me a care package! It had a card for my brother, one for me, and tons of goodies for the hotel room. What a love, He is so considerate! He worked crazy long shifts when I was away. Instead of vegging when he got home, he walked the dog, did the dishes, and went grocery shopping. When I got home, he picked me up from the airport and took me to a nice dinner. I had missed his face so much, his sweet smile and kind eyes. I truly am grateful for him and know that I am so fortunate to be his wife!

A Change of Attitude...

The past 2 weeks have been eye opening, scary, sad, amazing, dragging, and quick all in one. My brother's surgery had some serious complications. A long story short, he went back into ICU on June 29th. My parents and I went up there as fast as we could on July 1st. He is still in ICU. I came home yesterday. Over the 11 days that I was there, I saw an amazing amount of strength in David. He has come such a long way. He has quite the journey to full recovery ahead of him, but with his amazingly positive attitude, I know he will be ok.

It was incredibly hard seeing him as he was when we arrived, but to see him now, he has come so far! He is breathing on his own and may get to have a liquid diet soon... He is smiling, his mind is in tact, his vitals seemed to have stablized and his kidneys are beginning to work again! I know God had his hand right on David as he made these remarkable changes. You could feel it. The doctors and nurses there take such good care of him, I am so grateful for that.

This experience showed me not to take anything for granted. My brother was in a medically induced coma for a week, and I could not wait to hear his voice or even see his eyes open. When they did, it was soooo wonderful. These small baby steps that he is making remind me to open my eyes and be grateful for all I have and all I can do. I am so blessed that I do not need to sweat the small stuff like laundry, or if the car is clean, or how much I weigh. There is so much more to life than worrying over these things. My attitude may never be the same again about certain things. And I think it may be a good thing.

Good and Different Eats

When you are going out to eat and want something different than the usual "chain restaurants"; try these. I have discovered a few that you should try out if you are in the Atlanta area. delicious.

Fritti in the Virginia Highlands- (http://www.frittirestaurant.com/)
Contemporary atmosphere with yummy Italian food. Lunch is salads, bistro-styled pizzas and calzones, or apps. It's a great place to sit on the patio and eat lunch with a glass of wine, which is exactly what I did when I went!

Zaya in the Virginia Highlands- (http://www.zayarestaurant.com/)
A classy, modern, sophisticated mediterranean style restaurant. You can also make it for a late night drink if you are not interested in the food... Very cool. and VERY delicious.

Souper Jenny's in Buckhead- (http://www.souperjennyatl.com/)
The menu changes daily, which is cool... urban and eco-friendly and very chill... delicious and most definitely fresh eats!

Noche in the Vinings- (http://www.heretoserverestaurants.com/)
If you're into tapas, this is a fun place! The food is great, the place is fun, and fills up fast in the evenings, so a great mingle-if-you-want-to place, or just grab a table with your favorite friends... must recommend the crab cake. So good that I did not want to share it!! :)

I like finding new places to go, let me know what you think of these! Do you know any restaurants that are a bit different than your everyday "same ol'- same ol'"?

Pray for David

My sweet brother is in surgery right now. Please pray for a successful outcome with a managable recovery. He is a "tough cookie", so to speak, but he is still my little brother and I hate that I am not with him right now. I know he is in good hands and that this is truly something he needed, however it is still stressful. I am just so grateful that this will be the end of the Colitis and he will be "fixed" and back to 100% for the holidays. This is the first of two surgeries he will be having. The second will be in a few months.

Gracious Father, Please watch over my brother and protect him like I know You can. Keep him safe and give him the strength to get through the recovery. Let him know You are there, and show him the positive side of the next few weeks.

Good In Bed

I have been enjoying myself to the 9's this summer... Walks with Elizabeth and Lillian (and of course, Grace!), fun lunches and dinners, squeezing in quality time with my hubby when he isn't at work, watching Netflix movies, and getting good chores done. I would love to be a stay at home wife and be this productive;as well as see this many friends throughout a week, but seriously, even I know I would spend too much money... and it isn't because I went "shopping"... it just somehow disappears.

For example: I ordered the book, Good In Bed, by Jennifer Weiner. I have heard wonderful things about it, and am really excited about it! Now, I did order it off of Amazon, and it was only $4.49. But so was the frozen yogurt I got with Jeanine when she found herself in my neck of the woods... opps. Then I went to Sam's. Ah, well. It was fun, and not that it broke the bank, I just know if this was my profession, I would become so good at it, I would need to find another job- STAT! :)
Until August, I plan to enjoy every minute of it, though....

We head to the lake on Sunday morning, my parents will be there, I can't wait!

Happy Birthday, David

Today my little brother is 28 years old!

I can not believe it!! What a fantastic man he has turned into. He is an amazing person with the heart of a saint, humor of a comedian, and a brain of a scientist. He married the perfect match for him almost 3 years ago, they closes on their house, a GORGEOUS home, in a week, so exciting!
I remember when he was born, looking at him through the glass at the hospital. That was a lifetime ago... since then, we have shared so much. He is truly an amazing man and I am honored and blessed to be his sister.... Happy Birthday, David!!

My apologies

It occured to me after reading a friend's blog that mine was turning into more of day planner than of a blog. Sorry for that. A promise to you, I will stop giving a play by play schedule any more!

A few things are on my brain. One in particular is babies.
Babies. Babies seem to be everywhere. I love it. It must be the season for pregnant women and babies to surface... I can't wait until it is our turn. Can you just picture how precious a little Erik would look!? Adorable.

Another Great Day

Today was so great. It started off with a kiss from my sweet hubby as I walked out the door to meet Allison for breakfast. YUMMMM. We went to Einstein Bros. bagels and coffee. The conversation was wonderful and it was truly great to catch up with her. As she headed to prepare for attending a wedding, I went to Loganville.

Jeanine is back from France and there was plenty to catch up on. We went to Ruby Tuesday and had a DELICIOUS lunch. I lived vicariously through her trip as Jeanine told stories. Then we had the plan to lay out at her pool, however, the sun didn't come out until we decided to go get pedicures... After pedicures, we did manage to squeeze in some time for the sun. You should see her maternity suit, adorable. I headed home about 5:45 and watched a movie and vegged. A fantastic day, truly. I plan on inviting myself over to J's pool A LOT this summer. YAY.

Speaking of Jeanine. She finally did it, she has her VERY OWN blog... go check it out!

Erik is off work tomorrow, hallelujah! We have a great day planned, we are going to see Dave and Katie. Dave and Erik will golf while Katie and I walk. (When we do this hike, we walk from the pro shop to the mountain, up the mountain, then back... all in all, it is about 10-12 miles. We usually do it in 2 hours and 45 minutes.) Whew. I can't wait, it always feels great!

Summertime Fun

The past three days have been great. In these days, I have been lucky enough to walk Little Mullberry Park with Jayme, Mandy, and Lauren; shop with Allison H. and Mandy; take two spin classes; go shopping, to lunch, and a movie with Katie; and dinner at Noche with my cousins. Wow. It has been a blast. This doesn't count the sweet morning movie date I had with Erik on Wednesday morning. We watched Taken, if you haven seen it, GO SEE IT... fantastic. He has been working nonstop lately, I can't wait for our trip to the lake in a few weeks!!

Tomorrow will be no exception, Jeanine will be home from France today and tomorrow we have a poolside date... can't wait to see her and hear about the trip! (...And of course see how much bigger Kate has gotten!!)

Cheers to the weekend already being here....

AH-MAY-ZING!!!

Urban Flats is Phenomenal. Delicious. Different. Fun. Wow.
I can't wait to go back~
Thanks, Ladies! Your company was even better than the food. And the food was to. die. for.

Check it out.

I love summertime. I love doing chores and don't mind a few errands, either. Everything seems so much more managable when the sun shines and I dont have to use an alarm clock! :)

Thursday, I woke up and went to the spin class at 5:45... felt great all day. Then I went to CPR training. I am certified for 2 years. I feel more comfortable teaching when I have this renewed every so often... Then I went to see my precious newest neighbor, Lillian. She is already noticably bigger, and is only 3 weeks old today! I love holding her, she is perfect.

Yesterday was a great day... I had the morning with my hubby and it was just wonderful. Then, I squeezed in my bathing suit, grabbed a "pool bag" and headed to Woodstock to get some sun! It was a blast, and the weather was perfect! What a relaxing way to spend a day... It was Katie's first official day of summer, so we kicked it off in grand style! :)

Today, Diana and I walked to Mimi's (4.4 miles round trip) for some breakfast... delicious! It was another sunny morning, so we ate outside! Lots of fun, and great to catch up with her.
I came home, took Grace on some errands, she got brushed and walked, then guess what!! I signed us up for Netflix! (Yes, that is right, we are JUST now getting Netflix!) I can not wait until the first two movies get here! I figured chick flicks are a fantastic solution to evenings when Erik closes the golf course and doesnt get home until 10pm!! This evening, while the boys play poker, I am headed to Urban Flats for dinner with Mandy and Allison H. I am looking forward to it, it has been a while since I have seen them.... I am excited about the place, never been, but heard it is delicious! I will let you know!

Tomorrow, I am going to get this place in order... and probably take a nap when Erik gets home from work. Then we are grilling out! (Maybe I can talk him into eating on the patio!!) I love our grill dates, they are so fun! Hope your weekend is going as wonderfully as mine....

Well....

So, the Braves won Saturday, it was an awesome night! We were under the covered part, so we didnt get rained on, which is good because IT POURED that night! We went to Maggiano's before hand, and as always, it was delicious! Sunday was fun, even though it was drizzling that morning, the four of us got to golf before Shawna and Chuck were Alabama bound. The Memorial Day party was a blast at the Kennedy's. Jeanine looks soooo stinking cute all pregnant!! It was great to see everyone- and it worked out well that they had tents set up on the patio.... the bottom dropped out of the sky that evening.... no worries, the boys still played cornhole. in. the. rain.

My hubby turned 29 on Monday. We celebrated low key. I had honey buns and a few little gifts for him when he woke up. Then we met Ryan, Kim, Liz, and Justin for lunch. Afterward, I took a nap, and we went to the farm with the Kennedy's, Jeremiah, and Grace that afternoon.... so much fun! Chili's topped off the night for dinner, and then we made our way back to Buford.

David and Leah got the house, it is awesome! I am so excited for them, they close later next month! Proof that good things come to those who wait! Cheers, you two... it is so great!

Tuesday marked my last official work day of the 2008-2009 school year. I am done. Officially in summermode, yahoooooooooooo!! I am joining my neighbor on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 5:45 for the spin class at the gym. I am excited... looking forward to trimming back down this summer. Summer's here. I am ready. Let it begin!

Weekend of Fun

This weekend is not only Memorial Day weekend, but also my sweet Erik's birthday weekend. I invited Shawna and her hubby Chuck in town for the weekend. Shawna is a friend of Erik's from high school days... they live in Alabama. We are going to go to a Braves game tomorrow night and then golf Sunday morning before heading over to the Kennedy's Memorial Day party... cant wait. This will be my third and it is always a blast. I hope the weather is accomodating for our fun weekend plans! Monday will most likely be family celebration of Erik's birthday... should be fun!

Tuesday will be the last work day for us teachers in Gwinnett.... I can not believe it!
I am ready to indulge in the summer lifestyle.....

My brother and Sister in Law put an offer on a home in Michigan. He sent pics, it is GORGEOUS... keep your fingers crossed for them that it is accepted and they can get this fantastic place!

Happy Memorial Day to you and yours!

Prize Picture

Here is Erik's birthday treat, it was fun getting it all set up last night!!

Now off to the first of three teacher work days.....

Traditions....

As tradition has it for the Neikirk household, we give presents a bit early, especially if they are "good ones" and the surprise is too much to keep! So even though Erik's birthday is still a few days away, his gift is in the den, ready to be used... and it is fabulous! Click here to check it out. The stand is ready to be unloaded from the Explorer, but I must wait on his muscles to get that one up and running!! I will take and post pics when it is all ready!!

Another tradition for us is to go in the store for one thing, and come out with something even BETTER! For example... We went into the store for cat food- and came out with Grace. (The Humane Society was having an adoption day outside of the pet store, how could we resist her sweet face....) Also, we went out to buy frozen yogurt, and came home with a mattress- which, by the way, is FAN-didally-TASTIC! So it is no surprise really, that we went into Best Buy for a movie and came out with a TV to watch it on... now is it?! :)

Now, to clear our names from the "impulse purchaser" list... we have had the "BETTER" items in the back of our heads for a while, it just happens that we get them somewhat unexpectedly... and to me, that is fun. Isn't that what it is all about??

Another year down....

Today is the last day of school for the students... it is always so bittersweet. I have been so lucky with my class, they are truly a special bunch of kids! Just look at 'em...Today also marks a fun time of rejuvenation.... summertime relaxation here I come!!

GOOD NEWS!

I have two more days of work with my students this year... wow. Tomorrow is it. I have been so blessed with a fantastic class this year! I mean, I am always ready for summer, but it feels like this year just flew by!

Erik's special gift arrives today, I can hardly wait!

We have out of town guests coming this weekend, I am looking forward to the visit... we are going to a Braves game Saturday, golfing on Sunday, Memorial Day festivities, and my hubby's 29th birthday on Monday!! Tuesday will be my last work day of the school year, I can not wait!!
:)

Waiting on paint to dry, I mean, pictures...

I have been waiting for the majority of the pictures to surface from Lauren and Mike's wedding; however, it is taking longer than I had thought... so when they do, I will post. She was a GORGEOUS bride and everything was so perfect. It was beautiful, it was great to spend so much time with family... and you know I always love a reception! :)
I can not wait to see the Mr. and Mrs. when they return from the honeymoon....

This past week at work was awesome, it was my last full week of the school year, I CANT BELIEVE THAT! Only three more days with students.... and only 6 more days for me, total!
I have loved this class, what a spectacular group of kids! Monday is our class party and it is "Bring a Game to School Day"... should be a riot, I love days like this!

Thursday I was able to meet Elizabeth's baby girl, Lillian! She was precious and tiny and perfect! She was such a fantastic sleeper... that will come in handy! Elizabeth looked great and seemed so at peace and comfortable with everything. YAY for them!! Lillian was born on Lollie's wedding day!

Erik and I made a special birthday purchase for him... it arrives Tuesday and I am excited to see it!! I will post pictures when we get it! :) I think he is really excited about it!!

Friday, we cruised up to the lake and spent the night. My dad and his friend, Norm, are spending a "guys week" up there, so we crashed their party. It was a very nice Saturday... started with a cup of joe, relaxed, played scrabble, boated, fished, and ended with a steak dinner (YUMMMM) and a sun-down boat ride... FANTASTIC way to spend a Saturday! :)

Today, I am going to tidy up and catch up- and read my book club book! We are reading The American Wife. It should be a good one....

The Gift

OH! Want to see what we are giving Lauren and Mike?? SO CUTE- It is becoming my gift of choice to give... Obviously it will have their last name and their wedding year, but it is the same color scheme as this one.

Tomorrow I can say "Tomorrow Lollie's getting married!!!" EEK! It is finally here!! Tomorrow is the bridesmaids' luncheon, and I have the MOST PRECIOUS dress to wear! I could not find a pic online, so you will have to wait to see the pictures from the luncheon. I got it at The Loft, and it is gorgeous... my new favorite article. Here are two other things I purchased... I may wear the favorite dress for the luncheon and the rehearsal dinner, but if not, then I will wear this one:I am wearing this cute top for breakfast the day after the wedding... I love it, too! Lots of room for lots of breakfast!! ;)I am headed now to get things packed, situated, and ready... because tomorrow is a full day for both of us, and it starts early!! We will be staying in Roswell for the festivities all weekend... I love it, because I can share coffee in the mornings with my Momma, one of my most favorite things to do!! I hope you enjoy your weekend as much as I intend to enjoy mine!

*I will post pictures and details about the WHOLE weekend when I get back home! Get ready!

Fun girls, tasty salads, and good conversation...

What a fabulous night! I thoroughly enjoyed book club! We made delicious salads with baked chicken and then had great conversations, which mean so much to me! I loved it girls, thank you!! I can't wait until next time.....

Good News...

1. There are only three Mondays left of the school year! ;) I can make it!!

2. Erik is back from Talledega, I was so happy to see him!

3. My cousin is getting married in 2 weeks, that also means my parents and brother and sister in law will be here! WHOO HOO!

4. My foot hasn't hurt (knock on wood) and I have been running more and more... still following the training schedule.

I had a fantastic weekend... It started off with dinner at Provino's with Elizabeth! YUM! Who would have guessed that their soup is almost identical to one my grandmother made, wow. I was pleasantly surprised and now have a new favorite there... Saturday was fun, I had brunch with Jeanine and Jessica. Then I took the car to get maintenanced. While it was in the shop, I went with Jeanine to the outlets to shop for her maternity clothes-- that is a whole lot more fun than regular clothes for yourself! We ended up at Jason's Deli for dinner, because the car was still being worked on and then I had a quiet evening with Grace at home. Sunday started off with a run, then I went to church at TheVine and it was great. I made a yummy lunch and got some errands done and cleaned the house. I love productive days!

It is a GREAT morning and it's going to be a GREAT day!

It's the little things...

So, it is early. I am back from a successful run, YAY. I am icing my foot and sipping Dunkin' Donuts coffee, delicious. The house is quiet, I am feeling very accomplished and dreaming of a yummy breakfast. My sweet Grace is on the chair, curled up, and sleeping. She is precious. And she is snoring. It is making me giggle, because I had no idea dogs would snore... oh, but she is. It is so cute. I couldn't resist snapping a pic. And she didn't wake up... for the record.

I guess it is the little things like this moment that can simply make my day!

PET PEEVE

Ok. I am not opposed to being nice to telemarketers, I mean, hell... they are just doing their job, right?
What does urk me is when they call me and still ask me the infamous "for security purposes" questions. I mean, really. It is just annoying. Don't call me and then ask me to confirm my address and phone number AND social security number... Not to mention this is the 5th time they have called me in two days! AHHHH! This gets under my skin just as much as computer problems!!! whew. Thanks for the vent session.

Lollie's Bachelorette Weekend- Redneck Style

Well, it was a blast! The bachelorette weekend came equipped with sunshine, jello shots (with gummy worms), redneck games, sweet tea vodka, and temporary tattoos... Lollie's friends are wonderful, they were and are so sweet to her. Anne (Lauren's sister) was the most amazing host. She put on such a fantastic weekend, complete with a delicious made from scratch mexican dinner... to die for!

Saturday, we got up, went for a run, laid out and got some sun, then started the redneck games... it was a hoot! Then, Anne's delicious Mexican dinner and we ended the evening by building the bonfire and everyone sitting around it chatting. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Emily, Mary Elizabeth, Catherine, and Lauren.... it was a blast!

Sunday, after a delicious breakfast, we departed. I got home to a sweet husband and we since have a had a fairly uneventful week.... My students have finished testing, HALLELUJAH! Erik goes to Talledega this weekend, I am glad for him!

Lollie's Bachelorette Weekend....

This weekend is Lauren's Bachelorette weekend! We are going to our cabin at Lake Burton, it will be a blast! There are going to be about 15 girls, I can not wait! I will let you know how it goes, but I am thinking it will be fantastic.... We are playing "red neck games" on Saturday, hahahahahaha! Anne is the best at throwing fun parties!

I am headed that way after my run this afternoon.... Must run off the delicious treats I shoveled in my face last night at the Tastefully Simple party! :)

Today the training calendar has me running 2 miles. I am doing it after work- then walking with Elizabeth!
After that, Erik and I are having a date night because for the next two weekends, we will be apart! :( I am going to Lollie's bachelorette weekend at the lake this weekend and then Erik will be in Talledega with the guys next weekend! Two very fun things, though!

Tomorrow is the Tastefully Simple party! I am excited, I love those!!! I am excited to try the new products, I know they will be awesome! :)

Keep off the rain, my students need recess! Especially with the CRCT going on this week!! :)

Week One, Day One

I ran this morning, it feels great. I am icing my foot, hoping we are in the clear! This week on the schedule it has me running Monday, Wednesday, and Friday... a good way to break me in! :)

Now I must go refill my coffee and get ready for work. Only 30 days left until summertime! WHOO HOOOO!

Spring Break- in a Nutshell

The past week has been amazing... I enjoyed every minute of it! It started last Friday, when my parents flew into town....

*Saturday, my mom and I put on a wonderful bridal shower for Lauren, who is getting married May 9th. It was so much fun! I think everyone there would say so! Then we joined my dad and Erik and went to my aunt's house in Roswell and did dinner with the big family.

*Sunday, my mom fixed my garage door, AWESOME!!! We did some chores around the house, hung out and then all 4 of us went to Provino's for dinner. Delicious!

*Monday was exciting, my parents and I went to Athens... my old stomping grounds and met with Wingate Downs (the world's best photographer!!) and picked out my mom's book of our wedding and I opted for a large print to hang on the wall of the two of us... then we went to have it framed. It is going to look sensational, very classic, and I will post a picture when I get it! Then we had lunch at East West Bistro, YUMMMMM!

*Tuesday, my mom had to leave- so we had a fun lunch and then Erik went to work, and my dad and I drove her to the airport. On the way home, my dad and I took a trip through GT campus, his old stomping grounds. If it had been warmer (anything above 50 degrees!!) we would have stayed for the baseball game that was going on then... it was fun to see where he spent his college days. Then we had a date at Shane's Rib Shack. We love BBQ! (and I LOVE spending time with my dad no matter what we do!)

*Wednesday was fantastic- Erik had off, so the three of us got up and headed to The Dillard House in North Ga for an amazing lunch.... it was not only in a gorgeous location, but the food was sensational, if you have never been... you must go! We headed from there to our lake house and enjoyed just hanging out in the mountains. We watched Erik catch a few fish and headed back to reality.

*Thursday, Daddy and I went to Stone Mountain to have lunch with my hubby at The Commons. Dad got to see where Erik works. We sat outdoors on the patio, it happened to be 75 degrees and slightly breezy at that time... amazing. A fantastic way to spend a lunch hour! Then, we headed back home, and fixed a DELICIOUS steak dinner... my Dad is an amazing griller- needless to say, I cleaned my plate!

*Friday came all too quickly, I had to take my Dad to the airport. It makes me so grateful for the time with my parents. I can not wait until we live near each other again! On my way home from the airport, I stopped to watch my hubby and Nick play a few holes of golf and then had dinner at Longhorn.

*Today's agenda is a good one..... I am meeting Kim, my fantastic Mother in Law, to get massages at Evergreen. (Erik gave us a gift certificate for them for our birthdays!) We will do lunch and then I will head back this way. Tomorrow, after church, Erik and I will head to Nanny's for an Easter dinner.

Monday starts the official Marathon training... thank goodness, because I am eating everything under the sun right now!! ;) If you have noticed each day this week we have had a meal from a restaurant... I am sooo full!!!! I am really looking forward to the next 26 weeks and how the training will make me stronger physically and mentally. I will keep you posted as to how it goes! Here's to a leaner, healthier me!

Guess what I did??

I woke up early, before the coffee was even finished brewing, so I could finish the book! O-M-G, it is FANTASTIC! I want to read it again.... I highly recommed it, and commend Allison for picking out such a wonderful read. Never would I have read it on my own.....

Now I am off to refill the cup of coffee and start breakfast- only three more work days until spring break and only 4 weekends until Lollie gets married! WOW! This year is flying!

This weekend was wonderful... although it rained the entire time, the lake has a magical way of evaporating stress. The guys fished on and off the entire time. They took a break so we could ride into Helen on Saturday and to play a few games in the evenings. We played Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Balderdash, and Sequence. Jeanine and I were able to read a good part of what is turning out to be a PHENOMENAL book, Redeeming Love. I can not wait until book club, we definitely have a great book for discussion!

One downer to the lake trip was that Grace sliced her paw... the skin between her pads and the edge of her foot is cut pretty deep. We took her to get staples. She walks so funny with a bandage, but is one trooper of a patient! I have come to the conclusion that dogs are much like children, they are both very resilient.

We went out for frozen yogurt...

... and came home with a mattress! It gets delivered tomorrow evening, I can not wait!! :)


**sidenote- most of my BEST purchases are quick and spontaneous!**

Two more days

I decided last night that I am not making coffee at my house this morning, and in fact, going to Starbucks to get a cup before work.... I can not wait! I love how the little things such as this still can make my morning!

Erik is headed to the lake this afternoon. He is going with Chris and Ryan and they are taking Grace. I do not know who is more excited, Erik or Grace! She loves the lake and is so good while they fish. She will ride the boat or just chill next to them, but the funny part is, she WILL NOT get in the water! :)

I will head up there after work on Friday with Jeanine. Because the weather is not going to be super sunny this weekend, we are bringing our new bookclub books and will get started... doesnt that sound PERFECT!? Sitting on the porch, in a rocking chair with a cup of coffee and a blanket? Ahhhhhhhh!YES PLEASE!

Here is the view from the porch...

Now to just get through two more work days! :)

It's been a while...

The surprise weekend treat?? Guess what it was! My sweet husband planned the best treat in all of the world for me.... he had my parents, David, and Leah come down to visit for the weekend! It was a BLAST!!! They got here on Saturday morning and we just vegged, visited, and went to a DELICIOUS birthday dinner (planned by my hubby!!) at Atlantic Seafood Company. Kim, Terry, Ryan, and Jess joined us!

I had book club at Jeanine's last Tuesday, and it was so good to see those girls and catch up a bit! The book we are reading now is called Redeeming Love, and I have only heard wonderful things about it! I can not wait to get started reading it!

This weekend was AWESOME, it started off with a lovely walk at the Environmental Center with my neighbor Elizabeth and Grace... a good way to start the day! Then, I got semi-cleaned up and met Demi and Wil for an early lunch at Mimi's!! YUMMMMMM! It was soooo good to catch up with Demi, we worked together in Athens and it has literally been years (I want to say 4 or 5?) since I have seen her!! She has an adorable 2 year old that I immediately fell in love with! Then, I changed shoes once more and met Jessica in Loganville at a park near her house for a walk. I think we did about 3.5 miles. Needless to say, I spent as much time outdoors as I could because the weather was AMAZING! It was great to catch up with her one on one.

The day ended with a birthday dinner at Erik's Nanny's house with the family. We celebrated all the March birthdays... yummm! Did I eat too much? Of course!

Sunday, we woke up and had a great morning together. Then, we went to Stone Mountain. Erik and the boys played golf and I walked... and when I say walked, I mean Jeanine and I walked 5 miles around the mountain THEN when Katie got there, she and I walked 5 miles to the mountain, hiked the mile up the mountain and back to the golf course... you do the math, but it was a daily total of 3 hours and 24 minutes of serious moving.... the best news? My foot didn't hurt!! Tingled, yes... but no aching. WAH-HOO!!! After golfing and walking, The Kennedy's, Dave, Katie, Nick, Erik and I went to Outback for dinner. Yum. It was great!

Today, I got off work and took Grace for a walk and then will have a HOA Board meeting later... should be productive. I like that I feel a part of the community. Dorky, I know.. but whatev.

The week's great so far, and why shouldn't it be?? 8 more work days until Spring Break... but who's counting?

HAPPY 6 MONTHS!!

I can't believe I have been married to Erik for already 6 months! Amazing, it seems like just yesterday we were in Florida! It has been a wonderful start to our lifelong journey together!!

Happy 6 months of marriage, Erik!! I couldn't have asked for a better husband, I love you! Cheers to us!

TGIF!

Want to know some news that is crazy?? A boy that I used to babysit on a regular is old enough to be an engaged man! Congratulations, Lucas!! She is a lucky girl!

Last night, I had a fun dinner celebrating Jayme's birthday! There was about 8 or 9 of us and it was a great time! I loved seeing these girls outside of work and getting to talk to them for more than a brief passing in the hallway!

Tonight, Jeanine has planned a fun dinner celebrating my birthday... who says you cant celebrate the whole month??!! haha. We are headed to Aqua Terra in Buford, it is going to be spectacular!! I have been three times and always something delicious! I am excited to see the girls who are coming, it has been a while! I get to wear my new dress if the weather permits... if it is too cold, I will wear another cute outfit from my husband! :)

This weekend is the one that Erik has been keeping very secret... I am so anxious to see what he has up his sleeve!! So, Cheers to a very fun next couple of days!! I hope to have some cute pictures to post of mine!!

Whirlwind...

It has been a whirlwind lately! Let me catch you up... Since I last wrote, we had a snow day!! Can you believe it?! There was tons of snow, there had to have been a lot for Gwinnett to have cancelled school! I was happy to have it. Since we had off; we painted the top tray of our bedroom, lounged around, made calzones, and I read an entire book in one day! It was SO good! It is called Remember Me? (it is from the Shopaholic series.) I very much enjoyed the day!

A few days later, I had a very special birthday... my friends and family made me feel very loved! My morning started off with a sweet card and a massage gift certificate from my husband. Then my teammates and I ordered lunch from a fun restaurant around the corner from the school. My parents sent the most beauiful arrangement of flowers I have ever seen!! The pictures do not do it justice, but it was stunning! Mandy and Jayme had goodies in baggies and periodically sent to me, there was 30 of each goody!! :) Then, My sweet husband took me to the Loft and I got some new clothes, I love them!! Here is one of the dresses I got, how cute is it!? Finally, to top it all off, we had a delicious italian dinner date... how can you not go wrong with Olive Garden?! YUM... I had spinach and cheese manicotti... mmmm, phenomenal!

This past weekend, I attended a shower for Lollie at Chequer's Seafood Restaurant in Atlanta, fantastic time! She looked so good and was so happy---- I sat by Pie, and it was a blast! It was good to catch up with her. Erik and I are dog sitting for the Kennedy's, so we went to Loganville Sunday and spent the day! It was a lot of fun, we had lunch with the Schmidt's (which ended with Baskin Robins!! YUMMMM!) We also saw the Cucuzza's and both couples have done so much fantastic home improvements to their places, it was great to see!

I have enjoyed this whirlwind... it isnt stopping though. Tonight, I worked at The Teacher's Pad until 7. Afterward, to celebrate the gorgeous weather, Grace and I went on a walk with our neighbor, Elizabeth. I love hanging out with her, she is so fun! Tomorrow night, we have plans to do that again!! I look forward to it!

Turning over an old leaf, again...

So, I am bragging a bit.... but not just to boast. More to hold me accountable.
I went to the gym this morning at 5am and feel FANTASTIC!! Not only did I get a workout in already, but now... all day long, I feel healthy instead of sluggish. Icing on the cake? Now I don't have to go later!! :) I do love to exercise, and need it as a release each day.... but I am having a hard time sticking to a routine lately. My plan is to continue each work day to get to the gym at 5am. I plan to do an hour of cardio Monday, Wednesday, and Friday... and then on Tuesday and Thursday I will do 35 minutes of cardio and then do weights. On the weekends I want to do different, outdoorsy type activities... hiking, walking to breakfast!!, etc.

Enjoy your weekend, and here's to old leaves turned over yet again!!

I am so lucky!

I went to McCray's in Lawrenceville last night with Kari, Monica, and Laura. It was a blast! I love that we (and usually, Patti, too) get together once a month for dinner to catch up and chat! It always makes my day! I love it! We try new restaurants and just enjoy each other's company. Well, those girls surprised me with the most thoughtful early birthday treat! I received a box of D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S chocolate covered strawberries and apples... WOW, they are amazing! It made my evening that we got together, not to mention they thought to remember my birthday!! This is just another example of the fact that I am blessed with such phenomenal friends!

Today, I am a bit sleepy from all the excitement this week~ you know I am usually in bed before my students~ I am thinking a nice, lazy, quiet evening with my hubby would be what the doctor ordered.... of course, we will indulge in chocolate covered fruit! :)

Today

I am looking forward to today. I am working a normal teaching day, but then going to do the shift at The Teacher's Pad, which is a store co-owned by my two friends. Then, I have the HOA meeting tonight. I like these meetings because it makes me feel more of a part of the community and it answered a lot of questions I had previously.... (such as, Why do they STILL park on the street?)

I feel good. I did the bike at the gym yesterday afternoon for about 35 minutes. Not terribly long, but I felt like I got a great workout. Because of my foot, it was the first time in a long time I left the gym feeling that way... I have missed it and now am looking forward to tomorrow's work out! I am positive with my foot healing, that I will be able to make up for the months that I have not been exercising and that I will be where I want to be soon! I am anxious for my doc to say I can run... then the marathon training will begin! Hopefully he will say that on March 6, YAY!
As for now... the bike and walking will have to do. :)

Sweet Night Out With Erik

My sweet husband took me on a date this past Thursday, it was wonderful! First, we ran into Barnes and Noble and grabbed the next book club book, The Next Thing On My List. Next, we got his hair cut, and finally ended up at Bella Vita in Buford. OMG, we stumbled across one of my new favorite restaurants, it was absolutely delicious!! The owner was an Executive Chef in Buckhead at Chops... now he makes all the dishes here from scratch... and let me tell you, they are PHENOMENAL!!! It is attached to a wine shop that has tastings and specialize in unique labels! Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area and into new, awesome places to eat! I can not wait to go back... hint, hint!!

Weekend of Fun

This weekend, like the past week or two, was jam packed.... but in a good way! I had such a great time! Here is us in a nutshell this weekend:

Saturday, I woke up (first day "boot free") and Erik and I cleaned up the house. Then when he went to work, I met Diana for brunch at Mimi's Cafe! YUM! I was sooo great to catch up with her, and who can resist Mimi's muffins, delicious! Then, I went to my first 3 year old birthday party! I can not believe Nathan is already 3! WOW! It was so cute and filled with lots of hugs and laughing... and best of all, I got to play The Price is Right on the Wii!! Such fun! After that party, Erik and I went over to the Kennedy's for a delicious calzone dinner! YUM!! We got to make our own, it really was creative and fun... a great visit! Can you believe all of that fit into Saturday?

Sunday, we woke up and took Grace for a walk at the Gwinnett Environmental Center, it was the perfect day for it! There were awesome trails through the woods and it was cool and breezy, I loved it! After the walk/hike, we went home and got ready to meet Katie and Dave for lunch! It has been a few weeks since we have gotten to see them, and I was loving that we got to this weekend! After lunch, the four of us went bowling! It was fun, I had not been bowling in a long time... I bowled better the first game, but still had a blast! Then we went home and vegged... yes, I admit it, I was in bed at 8 last night, it was wonderful! :)

We have been action packed, lately... all in good ways, but definitely on the go! It doesn't look like it is slowing down any time soon! This week, I have a board meeting, a shift at The Teacher's Pad, and dinner with the Holt ladies at McCray's in Lawrenceville. I can not wait!

Catching up by way of rambling.....

Well, I keep waiting for something exciting to happen so I can blog about it... and then realized I was simply living my life, and it was exactly the type things that I should write about... So here are a few things that are going on in the little bubble that I live in...

1. I get my boot cast off in two days, I am so excited I may through a party! :)
2. I am hopeful to be able to run again in a week or so...keep your fingers crossed the doctor says I can!
3. I signed up for the Chicago Marathon in October, I will run it with my brother. It will be one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I look so forward to the training and to the feeling of accomplishment when we cross the finish line together!
4. I will be 30 in about two weeks. What a crazy thing!
5. One of my girl friends just told me she is pregnant... I can not wait for the next months to follow and live vicariously through her... What an exciting time for her!
6. I am throwing a bridal shower for my cousin in April, and can not wait!! My parents are coming into town for it, should be lots of fun!
7. I realized that I am one of those people who thrives in warmer weather and sort of hibernates in the cold... I do not like to admit it, but I am. I am so ready for spring break and summer vacation... I am ready to be tan and rested and healthier.... I think I am more active in the warmer weather and need it to warm up before none of my pants fit!!
8. I am on the HOA Board of the neighborhood and have met two fantastic girls that live in my cul-de-sac, how lucky is that?? One of them is pregnant and I hope to take walks with her and the baby... and Gracie, of course!!

I have turned over an old leaf again.. I am packing a gym bag and taking it to work so that I go straight there after work. I did this last year and it was foolproof... I look forward to seeing some results soon!! That being said, I am headed straight to the gym after work and then to Barnes and Noble to meet Jeanine for coffee and book browsing. We are going to get the book for March's book club, The Next Thing on My List. I am excited about the visit and the book....

What a difference some years make....

Now a days, if I choose to stay up late, and by late I am talking 10:30 or so..., that it affects me for the whole rest of the week!! It baffles me because in college I could stay up to wee hours of the morning and function to the fullest the next day?! I know you may say, well.. you are getting older, but I am not that old (regardless of what Erik says!!) and I am in MUCH better shape than I was back then, anyway....

So, I am remaining in the state of confusion as to why this is...

I am also remaining in the state of exhaustion... I am tired and tend to get frustrated easily!
I guess I knew it was coming when I stayed up late for the Super Bowl, a game that I support, but did not watch one minute of! (I mean, it was on TV and my friends were watching, but I was too busy talking and munching on peanut M&Ms... )

Toffee Crunch

Well, my wish list is getting shorter!! :)

Friday evening, Erik and I went to pick out a paint color for our bedroom. We chose Behr's "Toffee Crunch", sooo pretty! Saturday, I woke up with him at 6:ish; and when he left for work, I started painting. I have never done a room by myself, so even though it is not perfect, I still feel VICTORIOUS!! Today, he touched up the trim that I missed, and now we have a BEAUTIFUL bedroom! What a difference some paint can make!!! I absolutely love the color... I woke up and was instantly happy looking at the walls.... what do you think??

When the enlargement of our favorite wedding photo comes in, we will have it framed and then hung over the bed! I can not wait, it will look sooo good! (We got the enlargement in "sepia", so it will have the brown tones)I can not wait to show you.... :)

I am headed to Sam's to get Turbo Tax... the sooner we file, the sooner it gets returned! Then, off to a Superbowl Sunday fun-filled evening!! I love this weekend!

New Habits, or *Eh hum*, New Obessions

I have gotten in the habit of reading one blog and that leads me to another and another... Now I am finding myself ademently checking TONS of great blogs... and I feel like these awesome authors are my friends. Isn't that funny? I can see getting a drink or coffee with many of these girls!! Keep up the good work, ladies, I am enjoying my nightly reads....

Spring Fever... in January??

I have a problem, I am SO READY for spring!! My students are fine, work is fine, the days go by fast enough, I am happy... but OH MY GOSH I am having the hardest time wanting to go to work and stay focused!! I would SO MUCH rather be doing home projects! I think by painting the bathroom, it has motivated me to want to do more!!!
The list that I would like to see done now is:

1. our bedroom painted a sand color
2. new mattress - click to see what we would LOVE to get!!
3. paint the upstairs hallway and the stairwell
4. stain the deck
5. paint the outside of the house (shutters and door are in need!!)
6. re-mulch the gardens

I think that by running I am able to release some of this pent-up energy, and since I can not run right now, I am going stircrazy!! :) I am ready for the windows to be open and spring breezes to come through... I am ready for wearing shorts and getting sun.... I am ready for spring! :)

Here's to the next few weeks flying by.... and to projects getting started and completed soon! :)
And of course, here's to spring that is just around the corner!!

My Man is So Handy....

Erik is fantastic, he recaulked and painted our bathroom yesterday... it looks phenomenal!

I absolutely love it! Here are some pictures of what he did...

As they say, "Happy Wife, Happy Life"...

....and Wife is Happy!!

Here is what room I hope we paint next.. ... and by "we", I mean "my wonderful husband"!! :)

So many good things are happening right now... My brother is healthy, school is going well, my husband is a saint, and my parents are coming in town in a few months!I am getting around fine on the "boot", and only have to wear it for another two weeks. I am pain free and can not wait to get back in the gym!! I look sooo forward to running again, I can hardly wait!! :)

Do you know what today is??

The 13th of January... that means I have been married to Erik for 4 MONTHS already!! WOW! Time flies when you are on cloud 9!!
Cheers to us! :)

Guess what?!

Crutches are not half as fun as they look... OUCH!

I am doing better ~ I can walk on my foot with the boot on, which is FANTASTIC news!! (I could not imagine another minute walking with crutches!) Now for the count down to recovery.... I am soooo looking forward to being able to go for a run again, and it will happen in about 7 to 8 weeks. Guess what else happens about that time?? I TURN 30!!!! GEEZ! :)

My First Cast

Yesterday I had surgery on my foot. I have had plantar fasciitis for 7 months. The doctor (who is WONDERFUL!) said that since all conservative treatments have failed, we needed to opt for surgery to get me well and running again! If all goes as planned, I should be able to run (painfree, what a concept!!) in 8 weeks! I am soooo optimistic about this and know it will be great. Until then, I get the luxury of sporting an aircast and crutches... crutches for a week and then as needed and the air cast for a month.

I am a novice at using crutches. I look clumsy and can not figure out how to move cups of coffee and water from one room to the other yet, but baby steps, right?? Soon, I will simply walk on the aircast and feel like a new woman!

I can not wait to wake up and stand up and not have pain in my foot... it has been a long time coming, and soon it will be here! HOORAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!! :)

First day back in the Real World

Today is the first day back at work with students. I am trying to stay focused, but it is hard when this entire break has been a whirlwind! And I have gotten quite accustomed to the leisurely schedule of the past 2 weeks. But here I am with a new hair cut and some new Christmas clothes in front of 19 third graders teaching animal adaptations.

Today is also the 90th day of school, meaning that after today, the school year is officially half over! I can't believe it... the first half flew by, I can only hope that the second half goes just as quickly! :) Not that I am already thinking of summer vacation....

... oh, but that is a lie. I am. I love to think about traveling and vacations!! Where is the coolest place you have ever been?

Toys these days...

My sister in law, Leah, got a new camera for Christmas... it is a super fancy one ~ 35 mm and digital! The things it can do are amazing to me! Check out this one picture at my parents' house.... I love how she did black and white and then the tree in color! The things they come up with these days, I tell you!

On another note, it is our friend Jeremiah's birthday tomorrow. We are celebrating tonight by going to Olive Garden. I can not wait to dive into the minestrone soup and a bucket or two of salad!! DELICOUS! It will be fun to catch up with him and his lovely wife, Jessica. We have not seen them in too long!!

Happy 2009 to you!

Are you eating your pork tenderloin, greens, & black eyed peas?? If I was at home with my parents I would be! Today, I will have to make do and fend for myself while Erik is at work! If you are eating the New Year's Day meal, eat an extra bite for me!!

We had a WONDERFUL time at the Eubanks' house... Allison and Chad always do an "over the top" job of hosting a party! Allison put a lot of work into making it special for her honey; there was tons of delicious food, great people, and pictures of Chad's first 30 years decorated the house... it was awesome!

As Erik and I were driving home, we thought about some resolutions that we would like to make for the New Year... it was fun seeing how some of them were the same!

My New Year Resolutions are as follows:

1. Get out of debt.
2. Exercise more often and eat with portion control in mind!!
3. Enjoy the "everyday" things.
4. Find the good in people and in situations.

What are your resolutions? It is my last day of vacation, so I am off to enjoy each minute of it.... I am thinking I will finish this coffee I am drinking, go to the gym, then take Grace for a walk at the park, and come back and start a good book... with a delicious (small portioned, of course!) salad for lunch!!