Wedding and Relaxation Plans

Tonight I am back in Omaha and it feels so good to be back!!! Nick is feeling good which is great and he is studying for his third CPA exam right now, which explains the time I have to type this. This weekend we are going to work on some wedding stuff and try and get some taken care of. Tomorrow I am going to go to Hy-Vee and talk to the head Florist about wedding flowers and see if I can't get a price estimate, then on Saturday Nick and I are meeting with our Pastor for the first time and are going to start getting wedding ceremony stuff taken care of which is exciting!!!

Think we may hit the mall on Saturday after our meeting at the church and then we are just planning on relaxing and enjoying couples time together :) Well, it's time for me to kick back and relax :) Ciao!

Me

I was browsing some of my friends' blogs this evening and found an interesting idea to make into a post tonight. The following is supposed to be a list of 25 things (but ended up being 18) that you may or may not know or care about me, but I had fun doing it :)

1. I hate cheese with a passion. Not just cheddar, but mozzerella, pepper jack, colby jack, swiss, etc.....When I go to restaurants I order my hamburgers with ketchup only and get the weirdest looks when I ask for no cheese :P

2. I once tried to rescue a baby rabbit that my uncle's Beagle, Desperado, got a hold of. I bottle fed it and fixed up a bottle warmer for it to snuggle up to. A few days later it died while I held it.

3. Sometimes I have a hard time feeling sympathy towards people even when probably the most hardened person would feel something. I'm really not a horrible person, but I'm sure some may think of me like that.

4. I used to be afraid of the music played at the intro to the show "ER".

5. I am addicted to sci-fi novels and movies (i.e. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Earthsea Cycle)

6. I always drive 5 mph over the speed limit ;)

7. I want to own my own pet boarding kennel someday.

8. I don't think I will be able to wait long after getting married to start our family.

9. I have an absolutely atrocious (sp?) short-term memory but can remember things that I shouldn't be able to (i.e. playing on the playground in Kindergarten).

10. I think I have Rosacea.

11. I am not a morning person whatsoever...stay out of my way when I get up :)

12. I think that my creativity has diminished over my past few years in college.

13. I actually really like my future in-laws!

14. Playing board games is one of my favorite past time's in the winter!

15. To relax I either play Xbox 360, surf the net, or watch tv.

16. I am not nearly as active as I should be, but need to be because I have a wedding dress that I need to stay the same size for :)

17. I have officially had my heart broken once, and it wasn't until after I got over it that I met my future husband.

18. I have broken only one heart (that I'm aware of).

So I have found that I am too tired to finish this tonight and may pick up on it another day....Oh I feel like an old lady sometimes :P Off to bed!!!

Lazy Days

This weekend has been a much needed break from the past few weeks! As you know by now, I am incredibly stressed by the Senior Seminar class I am taking this semester and from working on lesson plans for my student teaching which will begin a week from tomorrow. So, this weekend I vowed to relax, even if it killed me :) So incase anyone is wondering just what this weekend, I have put it below...

Friday Evening: Ethan came home and we played Xbox 360 for a while, then I went to town with Mom, watched tv, and then went to bed around 9:30p.m.

Saturday: Slept in, played Xbox 360, watched Ethan and Dad play Wii Mario Kart Racing, sorted through all of my clothes and decided what I will sell in a garage sale this spring and what I have to wear for student teaching. Grandma and Grandpa came over last night and we had a Thanksgiving dinner (complete with whole roasted Turkey and all!), then Ethan played piano and I sang with him. After they left Mom, Dad, Ethan, and I played "Scene It Squabble" (a boys vs. girls one) and then I played nintendo for a bit. I ended the evening with a nice chat with Nick.

Sunday: I did absolutely NOTHING today. I played Xbox and watched Ethan play, and then we played the Wii Mario Kart Racing. I made a Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich for supper and am now half-watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

As you can see, this was the most unproductive weekend in months, but it was badly needed! This week will be another story, so it was nice while it lasted!

Busy as a Bee!!!!!!!!!!!

These past two weeks have been the busiest that I can remember in a long time........and not a good busy either! I swear my Senior Seminar class is going to be the death of me! We have class every day from 8-12 Monday-Friday for three whole weeks. It's essentially like having a weeks worth of homework everyday. I have been going to bed at 10p.m. for the past few weeks because I have just been so exhausted! I can't imagine how tired I will be when I start my student teaching. I am almost afraid that I won't be able to get everything done or do anything justice and still have time to breathe what with student teaching, the planning that goes along with it, wedding planning, going back and forth to Omaha, etc.....Not to mention job hunting and interviewing before too long (hopefully!). May 9th can't come fast enough!!!

Playing Nurse

Tonight I got my first taste of what it will be like to have a sick kid someday and having to run to the store for meds at hours when any sane person is at home in bed! I am in Omaha at mine and Nick's house watching tv while he rests upstairs in the bedroom. He seems to have come down with the flu or something. I made us chicken and noodle soup for supper and hope that he didn't get sick off of it, but I haven't and I ate it, so maybe it wasn't the food. I sure hope not! I hate seeing him feel bad, especially when we have such limited time together, but oh well! At least I am still here getting to be in the same house :)

Tomorrow we are supposed to go to a new member orientation/dinner at the church we have been going to, but I would prefer to stay home so he can rest up. He is just so sleep deprived and I think that it has weakened his immune system. I'm sure he will insist on going and say that he's feeling better, but I have reassured him that there will always be another time to go to new member orientation a few months down the road, so we'll see how tomorrow goes.... :P Hopefully he gets to feeling better soon, but until then I'm playing nurse!

Hmmm

My first day of senior seminar went pretty well today and I must say that I really feel ready to do my student teaching. I am also ready to get my sp. ed. praxis results back so that hopefully I can get job interviews underway and maybe even have a job secured by mid March or so. It would just be so helpful for me to have a job secured for next year fairly soon because with graduation, the wedding, and moving to Omaha, it would just help to take a lot off of my plate.

I know that I just drone on on here, but I'm sure no one looks at my blog too heavily, so I'm sure no one will mind the may pointless blurbs I stick up here :P

Blah blah blah

It is back to school tomorrow for my final semester and I couldn't be more ready! I have a student seminar class for the first two weeks of this semester, then starting Feb. 2nd I am going to be in the high school full time, which, suprisingly enough, I feel pretty ready for. I think that the class I will be student teaching for will be the ideal setup: I have 3 LA2 classes and 3 LA3 classes so that means only 2 preps which will be nice.

I realize that my blogs lately have not really consisted of anything of importance, but have gotten into the habit of just letting my brain spill thoughts out here. Maybe I should do it right before bed so that my mind is empty and I sleep better........hmmmm...may have to start tomorrow!

Testing the Dress

Well my final Praxis test is over and done with (considering I passed :P ) and I actually feel pretty good about it! As soon as I get my passing (hopefully!!!) grade back I am supposed to get ahold of Dr. Eicher who seems to have become my personal advocate because he is going to set up job interviews for me in Omaha, which would be amazing!!! I am hoping to have a job lined up for next school year by mid March.

Martha and I went to David's Bridal today and they wouldn't even let us look at or try on Bridesmaid dresses because the only help people with "appointments" for that day :P What a joke! It's not like we needed any help or anything...just to try on and maybe get a bridesmaid dress for her. So instead we went to a few other places to look, but to no avail. I did find a very cute dress that i wanted to get for our rehersal and rehersal dinner, but there was no way I could bring myself to spend the $69 they wanted for it. Sigh. Maybe I can find it cheaper on Ebay :) After we got done in the city I tried on my wedding dress here at home for Martha to see and she liked it. However, it seemed a bit more snug up top than it did last time I tried it on (at the end of November) so I am going to have to make sure that I don't gain ANY weight whatsoever because it fits just like I need it to. I am just planning on trying it on every month to make sure that it still fits and such......Hopefully by June 27th it still is fitting just right :) Only a few months left, so as long as I can stay away from the chocolate until then I should be okay ;)

Just thinking...

Tomorrow at 7:30a.m. I take the test that will really determine the rest of my life as far as work goes. It is my second and final Special Ed. Praxis test, and if I pass (I will get my results Feb. 10) I will be fully certified to teach K-12 special ed!!!! Hopefully it goes well! I am actually pretty confident and feeling good about the possible content, so now all I can do is work hard and pray. I should actually probably be in bed right now because 6:10a.m. is going to come early tomorrow morning :P

After I take my test Martha and I are going to hit David's Bridal in KC and see if she can't find her a bridesmaid/maid of honor dress for my wedding. I have been looking at a lot of wedding stuff this past week and think I have finally found a hairstyle that i am going to try (and practice a LOT) for Kati's wedding....so we'll see how it goes ;) Still not sure how I want do my hair....I am thinking either half-up or similar to Herminone's at the Yule Ball. Hmmmmm.....really it is a huge choice when one thinks about it.....your hair really can affect how you look so it has to be just right.....May do some more looking at hairstyles before hitting the hay. Maybe next post I will actually have something to say. Ha!!! Right ;)

Feeling Uninspired

Over this Christmas break I have gotten totally spoiled by getting to stay a week at a time in Omaha with Nick. Today I had to return home in order to prepare to take my second Special Ed. Praxis (which, after passing, I will be totally certified to teach k-12 sp. ed!) and because I think the family was getting anxious to see me. However, I returned home to Mom nagging me about this and that which didn't make leaving Nick any easier! It makes me wonder if after Nick and I are married if she will be the same way (nagging) when we come back to visit......I think part of it has to do with still having the sense of being my "boss" while I am here home. Sigh.
I do love being up in Omaha.....It gives me a sense of actually being an adult and being my own master ;)

Monday it's back to school for me for my final semester! I'm not exactly looking forward to student teaching, but the idea of graduating in May really tickles me :) The woman I am doing my student teaching under this semester is going to be a good on to have supervising me. I don't officially go into the high school classroom until February 2nd as I have a 3 week "senior seminar" on campus until then. I am on the fences about whether or not I am excited to do my student teaching. On one hand, it will make the time go by faster and will keep me busy...but on the other hand I almost feel like doing my student teaching in English is not really going to benefit me in the long run because if I do pass both sp. ed praxis tests then I will be persuing that as my career. I am also just not sure if I am confident enough in my abilities and knowledge to teach English because it's been so long since I have been in a high school english classroom and I just feel out of the loop, and almost uninspired. Sad, eh? Maybe it won't be as bad as I am making it out to be.............I can hope, at least :P

New Year's Resolution........or not!!!

So 2009 was ushered in but a few days ago and Nick and I celebrated staying in a nice hotel downtown Omaha where we were able to watch fireworks and then swim afterwards. We waved goodbye to 2008 (which was the best year for us so far!) and welcomed 2009 with a kiss. I have vowed not to make a New Year's resolution as I am never able to keep it :P But who can!? I just want to remain as happy as I have been this last year and be a great wife for Nick.

I finally was able to snap a picture of my new car:

My 2006 Toyota Camry!!!

So now to be totally unoriginal.......I found this questionnairre on another blog and thought it would be fun to fill out myself and reflect upon 2008 :)

Where did you begin 2008?----With my friend Martha at Melinda Morrow's apartment in Maryville playing games and chatting.

What was your status by Valentine's Day?----Single and sad about it.....I could hear my biological clock ticking :P

Did you have to go to the hospital?----Yes....to have a bump on my chest/breast checked out (turned out to be a bilateral cervical rib)

Did you have any encounters with the police?----Not one..........ask my brother about his speeding ticket thought ;)

Where did you go on vacation?----Took our last family vacation to Florida and Disney World :) Nick and I went to Adventureland around Des Moines as well.

Do you know anybody who got married?----Several cousins including Sarah Hamilton, and my friend Mark Henderson.

What sporting events did you attend?----None.....I am not really a sports fan.....hopefully next year I can say I have been to a Husker's game, though :)

Where do you live now?----Still living at home in Maysville, but that's okay with me. However, I also call Omaha, Ne, home now and will be moving there within the next few months!

Describe your birthday?----I don't celebrate my birthday on my actual birthday because we enjoy doing stuff outside, so we celebrated it at the beginning of September. Nick came down to spend the weekend and we all gathered out at Gma and Gpa's to celebrate my turning 23 and Lauren's turning 7. It was kind of rainy and so we weren't able to have the traditional bonfire...however Nick, Dad, Greg, and I shot our bows. I remember also that I was still hurting from having my wisdom teeth removed back in early July so that made it less enjoyable. Nick ended up asking Dad for permission to marry me that weekend, and then on the 19th of September Nick proposed!!!!!

What's the one thing you you thought you would never do but did in 2008?----Decided that I want to teach elementary Special Ed!

Any new additions to your family?----Two adorable kittens--Luna and Socks :)

Favorite Month?----It would either be April or September...I met Nick in April and we got engaged in September :)

Any regrets?----Thankfully none that come to mind!

What do you want to change in 2009?----I want to become more comfortable with the idea of living away from home and such. Right now the thought is very intimidating.....I am close to my family...

Overall how would you rate last year on a scale of 1 to 10?----I would have to say an 8 or 9....this year will be a 10 when I marry my best friend :)

Have any life changes in 2008?----Not really...but 2009 will definitely be the opposite!

Change your hairstyle?----I let my hair go back to it's natural state, which sure is a change for me!

Get a new job?----No, but I went back to an old one at Grand Paws Kennel which I absolultely loved!

How old did you turn? 23

Did anything embarrassing happen?----I'm sure it did.....sadly my memory is not what is once was (I think!)

Be honest--did you watch American Idol?----Nope.....only watched the very first season and then the auditions.

Start a new hobby?----Does planning a wedding count as a hobby???

Drank Starbucks in 2008?----Never tried it and never plan on it.

Are you happy to see 2008 go?----It was a wonderful year, but this year is going to be even better, so how can I be sad?

What school did you go to?----Missouri Western State University

What's something that you shouldn't have done, but enjoyed doing?----Not sure there is anything.......boy am I boring or what!!!???

Did you change much?----I'm sure I did, but it's not evident to me. I know I have made peace with myself and such, so I guess that's a big change...

Are you happy with who you have become?----Incredibly....I can only hope that I continue to evolve for the better.

Did you fall in love?----Sure did!

Did you kiss anyone?----I don't kiss and tell ;)

Did you go to any camps?----Haven't been to a camp for many years.

Did you see any movies at theatres?----At least three I can remember: Leatherheads, The Dark Knight, and Twilight.

What song were you hooked on?----The whole of the new album by Panic! at the Disco and "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.

Did you go to the beach?----Daytona Beach, to be exact :)

Did you get really dressed up for anything?----My friend, Mark's, wedding.

What are some inside jokes for the year?----I never had any, but am sure I was the butt of some.

What is the funniest thing that happened?----Not sure if I would say it was funny, but I'm sure the family would......I fell down the staircase on Christmas Eve.

What is the saddest thing that happened?----Honestly, probably quitting work in December....I loved my job and the people there.

What is something that really made you smile?----Watching Lauren open gifts on Christmas Day and her being my shadow on Christmas Eve. I guess she told Wendy, her mom, later that she wished I were her big sister! Made my heart melt!!!!

What are your plans for New Years?----Nick and I stayed at a hotel downtown Omaha, watched fireworks, t.v., a movie, and swam!

Think back to the beginning of the year and now think of now....what's different?----I have this shiny rock on my left ring finger ;)

What's the same?----The love of my family, friends, and God.

How was your last winter?----We got more snow than I can ever remember, which resulted in many days spent inside and a bout with cabin fever ;)

Spring?----Wonderful.....I got to travel to London for a second time and really became amazing friends with my roomie (Kati Atchison).....and I also met Nick!

Summer?----The best I can remember....I worked, traveled between Maysville and Omaha almost weekly, went on vacation, fished, swam, etc.

Fall?----School was extremely hard this semester....probably the second toughest yet. On the other hand, Nick proposed and we began wedding planning, so that was a boost!

Was 2008 your best year?----It was so far :) I know that this year and subsequent years will be amazing as well!