Happy Meal

Disclaimer: Sorry for the sideways pictures but I uploaded them from my phone, and I'm not sure how to fix it.

 Tonight Natalie had her first Happy Meal! She's growing up so fast, and it is so much fun! I know most moms complain about how fast they grow, but I have truly enjoyed every new stage and age Natalie has been through. I also look forward to the new things we get to do with those changes. What joy she has brought to our little family=) Imagine what one more will be like!

 This was her "cheese" face in case you couldn't tell! She is really quite the little ham at times.  She's also a show stopper. We truly cannot go anyway without someone ooooh and ahhhh over her. It's so sweet!  She is mostly friendly when they oogle over her. We always tell her to say 'hi' and she usually does. Now Brian has taught her to give fist pumps so that is a crowd pleaser. Especially for the men!

She ate 2 full pieces of chicken and half of another, several bites of fries, and all of her cinnamon apple sauce. Did you see the new little pouches that they can just squeeze right in their mouths? Now it's part of the Kids Meal. So cool!  Anyway, she played a little in the play area, but she was still too little to do any of the climbing. Such a fun little outing for a Friday evening. It's the little things......

Teacher of the Year

For those of you who don't know I was awarded Teacher of the Year on my campus just before Christmas break. I was completely shocked! I never in a million years dreamed to ever win that. (Believe it or not, there are some on that campus who don't like me. What is that all about, right?! =) I'm the coolest person you know, right peeps? Anyway, my principal pulled a fast one on me to trick me into going to the luncheon. She came to me and told me my friend and colleague, Amber had won. I was THRILLED! I have been voting for her for about 3 years now because she is amazing and never gets the credit. Anyway, we made up this scheme that I would tell Amber to try to get her to the luncheon without her knowing she had won. All the while, she was doing the same to me, and I was the actual winner.
  Once we got to the luncheon location, someone asked if we were there for the teacher of the year thing and we both looked at each other, smiled, then said 'yes.' I immediately hugged her, jumped up and down and screamed, "I'm so excited for you!" She looked at me crazily and said, "Whitney, it's you!" I, of course, said it wasn't and that this was just a trick for her. I mean I totally fell for this lie my principal created! We literally argued back and forth for 2 minutes as we approached the building.  Once we got to the door, we stood there awkwardly, one trying to get the other to walk in first and vice versa. FINALLY, one of the board members told Amber she could leave now, and my eyes must have bulged out of my head. I didn't know what to think or say. I think I said something like, "Uh, what? It really IS me?" I scanned the audience and noticed Brian standing there and was just utterly dumb-founded.  Later he asked me if I was excited because I hadn't said much. I told him I was still in shock and still didn't really believe it. I was almost a little disappointed that it wasn't my friend, Amber.  All that said, it was a great lie, and I totally fell for it. Made for a great surprise!
   The honor was nice, and I was very humbled by it. However, it came with a price........writing an essay and taking part in an interview=( Blah and blah!  I despise writing with a passion, and I HATE being put on the spot. Well, I battled through the essay thanks to my sweet hubby and several friends. Today I completed the interview, and felt very good about it. I asked the Lord to give me peace and to help me speak eloquently and as usual, HE delivered. What a blessing to call on HIS name! So I can officially breathe now. YEA! I have nothing weighing on my mind=)
   The fun part of the honor is getting gussied up for a Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the end of the month. Date night!
 

Yea!

What lovely friends I have to continue to follow this boring blog. You guys rock! Thanks to Kim and Maria too=)
Have any of you heard the new (well, new to me anyway) song by Shane & Shane called 'The One You Need'? If not, go to YouTube and listen. Here are the words....... so moving!

The One You Need Shane And Shane Lyrics

Hey hey sweet daughter
I am so proud to be your father
Each day is like a gift from God

Hey hey sweet daughter
There’s no music like your laughter
And your smile is like a rising sun

You know I loved you from the start
So come in close
Take my hand for
Daddy shares his heart

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one you need

No matter what you walk through
He will always love you
Just the way you are
For there’s nothing in this world
That I’d walk for my baby girl
That she’ll be happy ever after

The story of your life is still untold
I pray the King of all the Universe
Would make your heart His own

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one

Who will never leave
He’s been there all along
All ready You can find to love

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for meDarling, Jesus is the one you need

And Kim, I'm just glad other people do those things besides me!

Just a cute pic to share of her on our Christmas tree excursion=)

OOPS!

Thanks to my THREE friends who are faithful readers.... MICAH, Sarah, and Susan. Love you, Micah!

Happy New Year

I guess I should make a New Year's Resolution to update this blog more than once a 6 months, BUT that's not going to happen.  =) I do appreciate my faithful friends, Sarah and Susan, for sticking with me!
I will give you hope that come June when I am free from work, I will make an effort to post at least once a week.
Here are a couple of sweet photos of my girlie! She is SO much fun right now as she is trying to say almost anything you ask her to repeat. She can also tell you the sounds the following animals make: cow, kitten, tiger, monkey, and sometimes a dog. She laughs a lot, and is running all over the place. Natalie absolutely loves books. She has a couple of them memorized. I will have to get a video to prove it to you. Not reading it, of course, but responding to it at the appropriate times. Too funny!

 Cousin Audrey and NJ

 My mom made this train for all the presents to go in! How cute is that?!

Mimi and Poppi and the grandkids