Life Happens.

In 157 days I will be here

With these girls

Spending lots of time here

And here

I can’t wait!

• Last Friday Steph and I enjoyed a relaxing, post-Freedom evening.  We went for manis and pedis, during which we were practically comatose in the chairs.  Following our hour of being pampered, we went to the store and rented a movie.  We enjoyed chips and tortillas with queso followed by strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows with chocolate fondue, all while curled up on the couch watching Love Happens.  It was the perfect way to spend a Friday night.  And we were both in bed by 10:30.
• The rest of the weekend was a great blend of relaxing, getting some work done, and spending time with friends and family.
• This past week was Teacher Appreciation week at work.  We were so spoiled by our PTO!  They had a “W Hotel” theme, complete with a lot of great food and pampering.  The students came walking in with flowers on Wednesday and sweet notes on Friday.  This has been such a stressful year, so it was nice to feel so appreciated!

• I got a Smartboard in my classroom this week!  It’s an interactive white board that is like a giant touchscreen.  My kids were so excited that they couldn’t focus on me anymore, but I’m secretly just as excited.  We’ve already been using it all the time!  The kids love writing on it and moving things around on it with their hands.  See, learning can be fun!
• Getting said Smartboard will require a lot of work outside of school however.  I have to find and create activities for our units that can be used in the classroom.  The good news is I only have to do it once and then I’ll have it to use every year!
• I caught up with my dear friend Ellen on Friday night.  For some reason we always catch up over enormous amounts of good food.  Friday was no different at P.F. Chang’s.  I love her and how much our friendship has grown over the years.
• Kristin, Steph, and I had brunch at Breadwinner’s on Saturday.  It had been too long since our last brunch, and it still wasn’t complete without Jen!  However, I’m looking forward to the four of us seeing each other more now that Kristin moved closer to us!
• Stores have received their spring lines of clothes.  Tomorrow is March 1st.  I’m over winter.  I’m ready for sun, flip flops, and spring dresses.  Therefore, I bought two such dresses this weekend in preparation.

Work has been stressful and overwhelming lately.

I battled a crazy sinus infection for about 2 weeks.

Freedom was last week and I was trying to give Steph the gift of sleep by helping out after work.

By Thursday my body literally ached from exhaustion.

And then it came.  The perfect storm.

I woke up Thursday morning to several inches of snow.  It snowed ALL day.  I took my class outside to catch snowflakes.  I felt so bad that they had to sit in a classroom and watch it snow…all day.  They constantly reminded me that it was STILL snowing.  I was so happy for them at 3:00 because I knew they had been dying to go play in it.

After shoveling several inches of snow off my car and taking the slow way to and from work, I made it home.  Due to the weather I didn’t make it to Freedom on Thursday night.  I was bummed, but thankful at the same time.

I was finally able to sit, relax, and enjoy God’s beauty.

After delaying school for Friday at about 5:30, I got a call at 10:00 p.m. that school would be closed.

Another gift.  Time to sleep before Freedom weekend.

By Friday morning we had gotten over 12 inches of snow.  It was a record setting day: the most snowfall in Dallas in a 24 hour period of time.

In the midst of this crazy life, the Lord reminded us of His beauty, His grace, and His mercy.

I will be still and know He is God.

This past weekend was Freedom Weekend at Prestonwood North.  It was truly an amazing, God-filled weekend.  Over 300 students, along with over 150 adult volunteers, leaders, host homes, and staff spent the weekend worshipping our Lord and diving into the Word.  We saw 34 students come to the Lord and over 30 more rededicate their lives…that’s over 60 students committing to live their lives for the Lord!  Praise the Lord!

Keep these students, as well as the staff at Prestonwood North, in your prayers.  Pray that they continue to seek the Lord and grow in Him.  Pray that they will encourage each other and hold each other accountable.  Pray that these students will develop relationships with Christian adults to provide wisdom, guidance, encouragement, and teaching along the way.  And don’t forget to praise the Lord!  In the midst of this sinful world we have teenagers on fire for Christ, fighting to live a different life.

I had the strangest fitting room experience on Friday night, but it makes for a great story!

I was trying on a dress at LOFT.  (It’s super cute and I got it for $19.99!)  Steph and I asked one of the salespeople to help us find a cardigan to match it.  The lady first looks at me in my dress, turns to Steph, and says “She’s so tiny!”

She later returns with a cardigan…in ivory.  We were looking for purple or navy, but here she is with a piece of fabric the color of my skin.  She proceeds to help me put it on and then button it for me…right under the ruffles…that were on my chest…as she looks at Steph again and says “She has beautiful eyes, doesn’t she?”  Can we say awkward?

Needless to say, it looked terrible.  We had no luck finding a cardigan.  But her solution to the problem was by far my favorite of the night.  She ended with “Maybe she can come back in a few years and will have grown into the clothes.”  Really?  Last time I checked I hadn’t grown in 10 years, and there are 4 sizes smaller than me there, including a 00 petite, which is about the equivalent of a kids’ size 10.

So, just to clarify:

1. I am a 25 year old adult.

2. I’m not a munchkin.

Last year Mom began to make bows for Alli and I think she has one to match every outfit now.  Mom’s latest adventure has been creating clothing for Alli.  We find cheap outfits and embellish them with trim.  And, of course, there will be a matching bow.

Outfit #1 – Mom’s Design

Shirt and pants – $10

Trim – $8

Custom outfit, with matching bow – $18

Outfit #2 – Cat’s Design

Shirt and Pants – $6

Trim and Buttons – $10

Custom outfit (will have matching bow) – $16

Well, it’s a new year again.  2009 flew by.  It was quite a rollercoaster of a year, but those are the ones that you see God in the most.  Through all the ups and downs I was always reminded that our Lord is faithful and I am truly, truly blessed.  All that to say though, I am looking forward to a new year!

Can you believe it’s 2010?  I think I’m still struggling with the idea.

• It’s a new decade, which marks the 4th decade I’ve been alive in. Weird!
• It’s been 8 years since I graduated from high school and 4 years since I graduated from Baylor. Wow, where did the time go?
• This is my third year to teach.  There’s still part of me that’s surprised I made it this long!!!
• The kids I teach now were born after I graduated from high school.  The 80s to them is like the 60s to us.
• This is the year of turning 26.  That’s officially late 20s.  If the years keep flying by as they have been, we’ll be 30 before we know it.  But no worries, discussions are in the works for starting a “30th birthday trip savings fund.”
• Because we can’t wait 4 more years though, we will take the first of hopefully many girls’ cruises this year.  Hurry up August!

Ok, so after that somewhat depressing look into what 2010 means, here are a few “resolutions”, if you will.  I don’t really make New Year’s Resolutions, or goals, but here are my 2010 thoughts:

• Spend more time in God’s word.  Be more focused and disciplined in my walk with Christ.
• Be more genuine and authentic.
• Let go of the past and press on in this life God has planned for me.
• Be more positive in my job and continue to find ways to be a better teacher.
• Continue to invest in my friends and do a better job of keeping up with those who are far away.
• Learn new recipes.  Cook and bake more.
• Be more spontaneous.  Have fun.  Laugh a lot.
• Love people.

Here’s to another great year!  Love you all!

I’m back and have a lot of updating to do!  My 2009 came to a great end.  My family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I had some much needed time off and enjoyed spending time with my wonderful friends, old and new.  Work has calmed down tremendously, at least for now!  I have successfully completed my 30 hours of GT certification as well as a science curriculum field test.  YAY!

So, I know this is WAY late, but here is the December update!

My Uncle got married!

Steph and I saw lots of movies!

The Pearsons, Billmans, and Suttons got together for the first time in a LONG time!

Christmas on the Square in Frisco!

Awesome Christmas party with friends!

My family all spent the night at Chris and Amy’s to enjoy Christmas morning with Alli.  The Christmas Eve snow was BEAUTIFUL, but I must admit, traveling with the whole family, 2 dogs, luggage, and all the gifts was a bit stressful!  Once we were all together by the fire, we had a great time together.

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day!  I got the family matching Christmas plaid pajamas for our sleepover!

Of course, you already know, the day was all about Alli.  And she loved every bit of it.

It’s been a very long time since I have blogged.  Needless to say, life has been crazy lately.  On top of working long hours, taking a 30 hour course, and field testing a science program, I have kept busy outside of work as well!

Here are some October highlights!

The first weekend in October Steph and I gave ourselves a last minute staycation weekend at the Westin Stonebriar Resort.  Jen joined us on Friday night for queso, a movie in bed, and the hot tub.  Steph and I literally spend the rest of the weekend being lazy in those amazing beds and relaxing in the hot tub.  We desperately needed to check out of our daily lives for 24 hours!

The fourth weekend in October was Baylor Homecoming.  We had so much fun catching up with college friends and going to all of the traditional homecoming events: bonfire, alumni breakfast, parade and football game.

The last weekend in October was Halloween.  I joined Steph and her mom as well and Jen and her mom on a day trip to Canton.  I only bought one thing – the cutest little outfit for my perfect niece Alli!  That night my family went to the fall festival at Prestonwood.  Alli was the cutest little flower! (Pictures to come soon!)

I can’t believe it’s already November!  I am so excited that Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks and then it will be time to decorate for Christmas.  This will also mark a time when my work life starts calming down!  One more GT class and then I’m done getting my 30 hours!  And I finish my science field test in December!

Looking forward to another exciting month!  Don’t forget to check out www.suttontexas.com … I posted Alli’s most recent pictures there!

I will be joining several students and a few other teachers in donating my hair to locks of love in honor of a third grade student battling leukemia.  We will grow our hair out all year and have our ponytails cut off at a spirit day in May.  We are hoping to have at least 15 students participate.  The thought of seeing all of these children donating their hair in honor of a friend and classmate almost brings tears to my eyes.  I’m sure I will cry that day!

If you’ve known me for a while you remember me with long hair, so this is no big change for me.  But I must admit, I’m already getting a bit frustrated with my hair!