Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween! I know it's been a little while since my last post. I have been substitute teaching most days of the week now, so I'm staying pretty busy. Yesterday and Weds. I had 5th graders. A bit different from subbing in high school where I can kick back and read my book all day! The teacher found out I was certified and asked if I would mind teaching a lesson to them. So, between that, an unexpected fire drill (every substitutes worse nightmare) and their anticipation for Halloween, it was a CRAZY day. Clint and I did manage to carve our pumpkins last night. We have been so busy this week and almost forgot! We went really simple and turns out that both our jack-o-lanterns look goofy. But, I think that is how we were feeling since it took longer than we thought and it was getting late! I'm not sure if we will get any trick-or-treaters at this house. But if we do, Chloe will be back in her chicken outfit and ready to greet them!

We were too tired to pose with our pumkins. Since it was Chloe's first Halloween, we let her.

Looks like she is leaning towards her favorite...mine!

Clint's goofy guy. I was impressed he free-handed this one!

Survival of the Substitute

After today, I have a huge appreciation for all the substitute teachers I had over the years...especially during high school. While I'm on the job search, I signed up to substitute teach to bring in a little income (and I mean little). It's a great side job because I can always decline to work that day if I have a job interview.
I have been waiting for my background check to come back so that I would be added to the sub roster. I had planned on putting in a call to the central office today to follow-up with the process. Well, no need! At 6:50 a.m. I got a wake up call from a high school asking if I could come in and sub. Somehow I stumbled out a "sure" in my half asleep state. (I had trouble sleeping last night and didn't go to bed until after 1 a.m.) I was then given a choice between music and spanish. I was thinking "well, if I have to pick..." I chose Espanol. (I ended up in both since they still couldn't find a sub for music.) Before I hung up, she told me what school and said I needed to be there at 7:30 a.m. Sure, sure, no problem. Except for the fact that when I stumbled out of bed, I noticed the time! And when I looked up the school on the computer I realized that it was in a town (Jonesborough) that was 30 minutes away. Ahh! Needless to say, no shower, no washing of the face and no breakfast. I had time to jump into clothes, trample all over a dazed Chloe and swipe the toothbrush over my teeth.
When I was asked what age I wanted to sub for I had said middle school or high school. Was I crazy? Well, it really wasn't that bad. But, I do kinda feel sorry for the student looking back on it. I was very strict and made them do their work. (Not my experience with the subs back in my day.) I felt like I was on them all day. I'm sure the teacher will appreciate it but I remember the feeling of walking into a class and finding out a sub was there for the day. The equation pretty much went like this: No Teacher+ Substitute= Free Day! I know they were highly disappointed after about 5 minutes into the class. I defiantly didn't win "cool sub of the day" award. But, my mind doesn't think that way with my teacher background. I was operating under the mode of, this is my class and trying to have some classroom management. I have now decided that I'm not getting paid to teach them. I'm really there to just make sure they are quiet and don't get into trouble. So, I'm going to go to adhere to that philosophy. Still, I'm not going to let them pull one over on me. And believe me I got so many excuses and had a few try some pretty clever things. (Were we that devious in HS?) I think the school is desperate for subs because I had only been there 10 minutes when the French teacher knocked on the door to ask if I was available for Weds. Before I left I was asked to come in tomorrow for Driver's Ed. Ha! This should be an experience to say the least. (And no, I already asked, thankfully I will not have to get in the car with any kid behind the wheel!)

Learning a new script

Since I have a little time off, I decided to do something I've always wanted to do: take a calligraphy class. Most of you know my love for stationary, office supplies and note cards. I have always enjoyed sending cards and letters in the mail. I think, especially in today's world with technology, nothing is more personal than a handwritten note. While I do love e-mail, there is something to be said about opening your real mailbox and getting that good old fashion snail mail!

A few years ago I purchased a calligraphy pen with the hopes of teaching myself. Nice thought! After printing off a "how to" guide, I set forth to try my hand at this craft. One problem, I couldn't figure out how to get the dang ink working with the pen. After one ink stained shirt and two ink soaked hands, I gave up.

Fast-forward to a few months ago before my cousin Tom's wedding. While visiting my family in Jackson, my aunt asked me if I would address Tom's rehearsal dinner invitations. The request sparked an idea. If I could learn calligraphy, I just might be able to do this as a side hobby. I decided I would try again to learn. One difference...I would not try to undertake this myself. After moving here, I began looking for a calligraphy class. To my luck, I found a beginners class offered at the local Hobby Lobby (I love that place)!

I quickly realized having an instructor was a smart move. It really is like learning to write your letters all over again. I remember in 3rd grade having to practice our cursive letters everyday. That is just the kind of practice you need for calligraphy. I took the intermediate class today. I had a wonderful instructor who really had a heart for teaching. I feel so much more equipped to learn this art from her instruction.We'll see how it turns out. So far I'm really enjoying it!

Happy Halloween

Chloe really didn't have a say in what she was going to be this year for Halloween. If she did, I'm sure she wouldn't have picked to be a chicken. But hey, it was on sale and I thought it was cute!

Vote for Chloe in Caption Splash Halloween contest:

http://captionsplash.mylifetime.com/captions/chicken-dog

Welcome to the World

Reagan Elizabeth Rice

Yesterday, at 10:15 a.m. our good friends Joey and Amanda had their little girl. Reagan Elizabeth Rice surprised everyone by coming 5 weeks early! Amanda hadn't even had her baby shower yet. I can already tell this is a little girl who likes to get her way...my kind of gal! Both Amanda and Reagan are doing good. And Joey certainly is a proud dad. Clint and I are anxious to see and hold her. Congrats Joey and Amanda!

a-MAZE-ing tradition

This past weekend Clint and I made our traditional fall outing. We went to a pumpkin farm and corn maze. We always buy the pumpkins we carve from a farm. The first year we were dating we went to one in Murfreesboro, last year we went to one in Clarksville and this year we went to a farm in Jonesborough. (Our new favorite place!)

We both agreed that we will have more of an excuse to go to these when we have kids, but each year we always have fun. This corn maze was the best we have been to. It took us over an hour to find our way out of the tall corn. After we made it out we got a drink and sat on the porch to cool off. We didn't have long because we were just in time to watch the pig races. What a hoot! The piglets were so cute. Next year we will have to try out a different farm.

We got lost a few times in this maze.

Chloe was glad we brought her back a baby pumpkin!

2 days and 3 coats of paint later...

Tadaaaa...


I'm finally finished painting the living room. It took 2 days and 3 (in some places 4) coats of paint to cover the yellow and brown/gray orignial paint. The new colors are tan and white. I learned some lessons in painting, this being my first time painting a big room. The main lesson learned: Always use primer, no matter what the guy at Wal-Mart tells you! I was fortunate to have Lo come over the first day and help paint the first coats. The rest I finished up yesterday. I'm glad to have it done and I think it looks much better. I will post more pics of our place once we get it decorated!

Before:




After:

Before:


After:

We're In

We are all moved in! I'm sitting here typing with Chloe in my lap and we are exhausted. Really, more me than her! It's taken a few days and there are still boxes to sort through, but for the most part we are all set up. I'm going to paint the living room on Thursday (yellow is not really my color!) and then I'm going to take some pictures.

In the mean time, I am still continuing the job search. Still no luck there. I am still holding on to the faith that God has a plan and it will all work out. If nothing works out in a few weeks, I will start looking in a different direction. I've never really been one to think any kind of work is beneath me. (Although, I must say that I'm not really the best with physical kind of work...ha!) If I gotta sell jeans at the Gap to make a paycheck that's what I'll do. I never understood people who remained unemployed because they couldn't find a job. I'm looking for a job in my field of study. But hey, if that doesn't work, you can always find a job, it just might not be a career.

In other news, the fall weather is here and that makes this girl happy! We have had our windows up and the front screen door open from the first day we moved in here. We haven't even touched the AC and haven't needed to. It feels wonderful! It reminds me that I need to start changing out my summer to fall clothes. I hate jackets, but love long sleeved shirts!

Now that I've found most of my belongings in the boxes, I thought I would post a few pics of Chloe from the past month. She loved her time at the lake house. She is still looking for her buddy Charlie and doesn't understand why he's not here to play anymore. We'll have to take her over to Joe and Lo's for a play day real soon!

This was after my dad helped us move all our belonging into the Budget truck. He was getting in some playtime with his "grandpuppy!"

I love this picture of her with her flower necklace. We went to eat dinner in Jonesboro during "Music on the Square" and picked up her a little present at the cutest dog shop. Jonesboro has the sweetest downtown I have ever visited. If you have never been, you should take a trip...it is the oldest town in TN after all!

I thought this was a funny picture. She looks like she was "caught" and she was. She had her nose stuck in Clint's stinky work shoes...gross!