Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Decade in Review

Updated: I remembered a few more things!

Ashley at The Happy Little Home wrote a neat post about her decade "in review". I thought it was a great idea and wanted to steal it for my own. It was pretty difficult to remember things. 2004 was especially blank for some reason but I’m proud for getting down as much as I did!

2000:
• Turned 16 & got my driver’s license.
• Got my first car: My grandma’s red Ford T-Bird.
• Started my Junior year of high school.

2001:
• Received “the” email from Kevin that began our “romantic” relationship on April 1st and thought he was joking.
• Visited New York City at the beginning of July.
• Started my senior year of high school.
• Found out about 9/11 while walking to my locker after 1st period Spanish class.
• Traveled to visit Kevin in California for the 1st time.

2002:
• Spent many hours in airports and on planes between here and California.
• Graduated from High School as Valedictorian of my class.
• Debated scholarships at Baylor, Texas Tech, and ASU.
• Moved into my first apartment in June.
• Kevin and I became engaged in July.
• Started college at ASU in August.
• Married the love of my life in November.
• Honeymooned in the mountains of California.
• Receive Tootsie as a present from my parents and Kevin.
• Spent my first Christmas away from my family in California with Kevin.
• Whew, this was a busy year!

2003:
• Watched Kevin leave for deployment at beginning of January.
• Continued college…
• Kevin entered Iraq on the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Changed my major to Business from Early Childhood Education.
• Met Kevin’s ship in Hawaii on the 4th of July when he returned from Iraq.
• Spent summer in California with Kevin, Sarah, and Juan.
• Drove home with Kevin when he got out of the Marines.
• Bought our first home in December.

2004:
• Continued college…
• We went to Buick Nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky with my parents and brother.
• Inducted into Alpha Chi National Honor Society for being in the top 10% of Jrs and Srs at ASU.
• Kevin has panic attack and is diagnosed with PTSD. Scariest day of my life...

2005:
• Continued College…
• Took 18 hours in one semester and made a 4.0 GPA.
• Turned 21 that very same semester…
• Had my first car accident when a teenage girl ran a stop sign.
• Received Reese as a 3rd Anniversary present.
• My Grandpa died on Thanksgiving Day.
• Graduated from ASU in December with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration.
• Started my first “real” job helping teenagers stay in school and find jobs.

2006:
• Sold our first house. Bought our current home.
• Had my second car accident when I hydroplaned in the rain.
• Started working in Accounting.
• Went to Las Vegas with my family & Lacy and Dusty.

2007:
• Bought my Chevrolet Tahoe.
• Returned to school to complete my teaching certificate.
• Kevin and I cruised to Puerto Progresso and Cozumel with Lacy & Dusty.
• We used the cruise to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary…
• Found Gracie by the highway and tried to find her owners but Kevin bought her a bed and dog tags.
• Got my first job as a high school business teacher.

2008:
• Joined Weight Watchers and lost 40 pounds but fell of the horse and haven’t lost anymore.
• Started Blogging
• Survived my first year teaching and loved it.
• Made the hard decision to leave Eden.
• Began teaching computers to Pre-K and Elementary Students.
• Stood as Matron of Honor in Lacy and Dusty’s wedding.
• Traveled to Washington D.C. and Quantico, VA to see Kevin's picture hanging in the United States Marine Corps Museum.

2009:
• Started graduate school at Texas Tech University.
• Kevin started college at Howard.
• Taught Kids Kollege and Senior Adult summer classes for ASU.
• Kevin and I went to Aerosmith and ZZ Top concert in Las Vegas.
• Started my current teaching assignment.
• 10 year anniversary of the death of my Grandma and Gran-Gran.
I hate that they missed so much and miss them everyday.

2010:
I'm praying that 2010 will bring positive, happy, and exciting events in my life and the lives of those I love!!!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The many names of...

The first time we met...everyone knew him as Riley.

The second time we met...he went by the name Ace.

Our most recent meeting...his buddies called him Doug.

But his momma named him Justin...

and I think he is absolutely ADORABLE!!!

Although I would never trade my Kevin for anything in the world...

Justin Bartha is soooooo cute!!!

Does anyone agree???



Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas!!!



Gracie, Reese, and Tootsie 2008

I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! We are celebrating with our families right now and I hope you are celebrating with yours. I'm setting this to auto post on Christmas Eve because I know we will be busy. I was given this poem by a friend this year and I wanted to post for everyone to read. I loved it and it helps us remember what our focus should be this season. God Bless!!!

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir cantata,
but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's home that has coordinated
Christmas china and table linens.
Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return;
but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust;
but giving the gift of love will endure forever!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Holiday Photo Contest

Updated: Kevin entered another picture of our three girls in the contest also so we would appreciate it if you voted for Reese's picture or the picture of Gracie, Reese, and Tootsie! Thanks!!!

Kevin and I entered a picture of our dog in a Holiday Photo contest. I know we're goofy but we would love it if you would go vote for Reese! If she wins the will put her picture in the paper. You have to register to vote but can vote once everyday until the contest ends at the end of the year!!! I would appreciate it!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

It's Christmas Time Again!



I love the holidays! Seeing family and friends and the overall good cheer (of most people) just makes me so happy! I've been Christmas shopping today for my adorable husband and I was so happy to have a little money to get him some things he would like. I'm even more grateful especially after last year when we felt money constraints the hardest. I know that there are many people that have a hard time during the holidays due to many reasons be it financial, distance, or any other. It makes me realize how blessed I am to have all the many great things that make up my life. I have an amazing husband, brother, mom, and dad. My in-laws are so sweet and and I have friends that I would do anything for and can count on.

I have a job that I love and can say I enjoy even when it wears me out. It is few and far between but I literally get to see the effect I have on a students life. I've been working with a senior boy helping him complete a credit he needed to graduate early. He had been struggling with completion and had no plans for after graduation. His parents are not in the picture and his elderly grandmother really didn't know where to start. He is really intelligent and could do great things but just had no one to help him. I talked with him about college, financial aid, and helped him fill out an application and his other paperwork. He now has classes figured out and financial aid on the way. On Thursday he came in for his final exam to complete his coursework. I helped him complete his remaining assignments and gave him his grade. Once I told him he was a graduate he got so excited that he ran across the room and gave me a big hug while I stood there shocked. He thanked me so much for the help and said he was coming to visit in the spring so I could see how well he was doing in school. I'm glad I have a job where I actually can do something to improve the lives of others.

I'd be lying though if I said that everything is wonderful during this time of year. Sometimes it can makes things that we perceive are missing in our lives seem even more obvious. I catch myself looking at baby clothes or toys sometimes while shopping or wishing I had someone to read the nativity story to and then get a little pain in my heart but I remind myself that God has a plan for my life. If the only children I am meant to help are my students then he will help me do that to the best of my ability. I hope everyone is having a very Merry Christmas and remembering the reason for the season. I'll be back again soon since school is out for Christmas break. Enjoy the picture of our Christmas tree. It was taken with my cell phone so once again not great quality but I loved how you can see Reese peaking in at the bottom of the picture. Until next time...

This makes me so upset!

There are a handful of things in the world that get me really upset but this is one of them. I hope whoever did that to this cat has something horrible happen to them! I have a HUGE soft spot for animals and anytime I hear of their mistreatment I just get furious!

As I was leaving work the other day I saw a boxer puppy that was about 5 months old running around on Armstrong (the 5 lane road next to the school). It almost got hit twice and still didn't run out of the road so I turned the car around and tried to get it out of the road. It ran up to a house facing the street so I got back in the car and started to leave but then it ran in the road again! I got out and chased it back up the same driveway again and this time I chased it all the way up to the front door. This is where I proceeded to knock and ask the homeowner if it was there dog. Once they confirmed that it was I told them that the dog had been playing in the street and had almost gotten run over several times. The owner said he was sorry and put the dog in the backyard. My mom was FURIOUS! She said I could've been murdered but I was so mad I just wanted it to be safe. My miniature schnauzer Gracie is an escape artist and has gotten out when people (Kevin's coworkers etc) have left our gate open but I never just left them play in the front yard! He acted like he was just annoyed that I rang his bell! Ugh! Well that is just my vent for today!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

BB

Hi my name is Katy and I am a BB. Yep, you heard me...a bad blogger. Although it isn't the only facet of my life that lacks attention it does make me feel guilty. Things have been going well but very busy. The holidays are always crazy with traveling, shopping, cooking, etc...
Updates:
-I got my wedding ring back the day school got out for Thanksgiving.
-My oven was returned in working order early in November.
-I had a wonderful time celebrating my 7th wedding anniversary with Kevin!
-My brother is doing fantastic in his firefighter recruit training.
-I got an A in my graduate class this semester.
-I really need to suck it up and take more classes in the spring or I'll never graduate.
-Work has been going well. Today was a little rough...I was assigned an extra "duty" today. We'll talk about that later.
-I'm feeling old. I'll be 26 next month and Kevin will be 29 in March. I know we're not...but I can't help feeling that way.
-I've been keeping up with everyone's wonderful blogs but I just never seem to think of something to write for myself.
-A few exciting but messy projects have been underway in our house since December 1st. It looks like a bomb has gone off in my guest bedroom and most everywhere else. I'll fill you in on the details and post pictures this weekend. It should be almost complete by then.
-Everyone should go see the blindside as quickly as possible. It is the best movie of the year. (Yes I've seen New Moon. Adore the books but the movie was lacking details I love.)

Now, off to bed I go. I've been all warm and snuggly in my soft pj's and robe wrapped up in a down comforter with my girls and now I'm sleepy.

4 regular school days and 3 days of finals (2 of which are half days) to go! Just gotta make it a little bit longer!!!