Happy Saturday!

Right now I am sitting on the couch with hubby, baby girl, Darcy and Finn (who got a bath today!)...we have a fire going in the fireplace, just finished the best dinner (beer can chicken!) and watching the movie "Hook" on tv. It is a perfect night! :) So here is a random post...
Loving listening to Adele music lately. Man...I so wish I could sing like her (or at all!)

Any math cartoon makes me think of my fabulous PLC group at school...love those ladies!

Would this bag not go with everything!

Seriously I am a dork and love math!

This pretty much sums it up most days...

How appropriate would this cake by for a "Hoppe" birthday around here!

I laughed at this because I feel like I have been on a YA reading kick lately....

I think this movie looks so cute! Oh course, how can you not like anything that Drew Barrymore does...

I so want this iphone cover! LOVE IT!

I think this says it all. So far (fingers crossed!) I so love teaching! I think I found my career...

And of course, my favorite munchkin! I love Norah! She is so cute! She seems to feel better but is tired and still has a little cough. Well back to family night!

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Happy Saturday!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well I turned 34 today...I personally cringe a little as I get a year older. I know it is silly but it bothers me some. However, today was overshadowed by poor, sweet baby girl being sick. She was up all last night with a cough so we weren't sure what today would be like. We ended up getting our babysitter to sit with her today as we knew she needed the rest and to see if it was just a random thing...well by late day you could tell that she just didn't feel good at all. Luckily my mom has graciously agreed to come watch her tomorrow so we can both work and then if I have to take Friday off...I will. I hate when Norah is sick...it makes me so sad :(

So to celebrate the birthday we ordered "cheap Chinese", had cake (at least Norah enjoyed the Chinese and cake!), watched a movie "Midnight in Paris" (movie is okay...but it does make me want to read "The Paris Wife" as I think Ernest Hemingway was an interesting person), did a little work, and of course read blogs. Since I am trying to start getting all organized...check out this to see a laundry room redone on a budget...so cute and realistic! So now I am off to get ready for tomorrow and probably to be up a few times tonight with baby girl. I so hope Norah starts feeling better tomorrow!!!!

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Happy Birthday to Me!

Random Thoughts....

Random Thoughts...

• Norah has a cough...please pray that it does not turn into anything!


• Two more days and I'll be 34...whoa!


• I am absolutely loving being a teacher!


• Jeff has not had a sip of alcohol since late summer and I have only had wine on Thanksgiving and Christmas since late summer...if you know us...that is huge!


• I have got to get back into the routine of working out in the early morning...I cannot motivate to it after work or at night.


• I have officially read all the Harry Potter books and watched all the Harry Potter movies. I really loved it! If you are at all hesitate about reading it...it took me the first three books to get hooked on it. Once you get into book 4 it starts having more complex plots/concepts so keep reading!


• Now that I have finished Harry Potter...I get to finally start reading on my Kindle that I got for Christmas!


• We have made a big improvement with our organization in our house and I feel like I am also getting better at it in my classroom.


• Jeff and I are watching "House"...I forget how much I like that show...House cracks me up!


• Well off to prepare for tomorrow...pack lunch, clothes ready, etc. Then off to bed to read on the Kindle...I think I will stick with YA books and read "Matched" :)

So I'll leave you with a quote from one of the Harry Potter books....

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Random Thoughts....

Potter and the Wobble....

So far 2012 has been a great year! Really nothing "big" has happened so I haven't had to update the blog with pics or anything. I have just been busy doing the usual...work, mom stuff, home life and Potter reading. That is right...last night I finished book 6, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

Now...tonight I sit bookless as I do not have the last Harry Potter book (it is driving me a little crazy as I want to find out how it all ends!)...but have no fear...because 1. I talked to my students today and one of them is bringing my the last book tomorrow to borrow AND 2. I borrowed all the Harry Potter movies from my niece so I can watch HP and the Half-Blood Prince tonight to fill the Potter addiction until I get the book! :) Win! Win!

So I really like the HP books...I wasn't sure at first but once I got into the story...I really think it is fascinating. So since I teach middle school and (obviously) read Young Adult books lately...you would think I would be cool enough to know the latest dances....that would be a "no." :)

So all the kids at school do "The Wobble" dance...and it is so fun to watch! Today we were supposed to go outside for our Healthy Activity time but due to it being super muddy (you know some kid would have fallen all in it!) we took them to the dance room and played music and they danced "The Wobble." Seriously it made me feel old as I not only have never heard of the dance but I have never heard the song either!! So if you haven't seen or heard it...google it! It will remind you of a updated version of the ole' electric slide concept. I need to learn it myself!

Well I am off to do a few housekeeping items and then it is Harry Potter movie time!

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Potter and the Wobble....

Random thoughts to start 2012...

Whew! I cannot believe my Christmas break ends tonight! It was strange being off for so many days and I must admit that I did not do one school related thing!!! I really intended too but I just never did...so now I am scrambling for tomorrow!

I am on the 4th book of the Harry Potter series and now I am hooked! The bad part to this is that one of the great gifts I got for Christmas is a Kindle (thanks Santa!) and the Harry Potter books are not on it yet! So I haven't gotten to read on the Kindle yet as I feel as I must finish the series!

This is the Kindle I got (keyboard-3G) and love it! I cannot wait to start reading on it...I already have a couple books downloaded and ready to go! (I still cannot believe all the great gifts we got for Christmas!)

So this last week and a half off has been time for being lazy (PJ days), being with family and friends, seeing movies (Mission Impossible, Dolphin Tale, etc.), reading books (Harry Potter), and eating WAY TOO MUCH food (like I hope I fit into "real" clothes tomorrow!) It has been fun to be with Norah and we have played with all the new toys and really just hung out together.

So reality kicks back in tomorrow as I return to work and Norah to school. I am excited for 2012 and know it is going to be a great year! I always make some goals for the year and one of them this year is to.... I started some organization over the break and hope to have it in full gear this year as we declutter and really start to organize everything. I really want to get to a place where everything has its place and we really start to simplify around here (get rid of all that extra "stuff".) I have started to find some really great blogs that discuss organizational tips and hope to start implementing a few. Well I am off to get ready for tomorrow... :)

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Random thoughts to start 2012...

The Day After....

Wow...it is so hard to believe that Christmas Day has come and gone. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas (minus an unfortunate incident). Santa was really good to us...we got way too many presents! But of course, we love them all! Now we are having a "pj" day and relaxing, cleaning up, and enjoying being together. We also are wearing, using, or playing with all of our new loot! But alas....we are eating a salad as we have been on food overload this last week!

Of course, there is this one last holiday item I want to make...I need to go buy some candy on sale and make these awesome candy trays....LOVE THEM! (Mom, if you are reading this....let's make these!)

Norah was so excited that Santa had come! She actually went and checked out the plate of cookies first to see that he had eaten them and that the reindeer had taken bites out of the carrots! Santa also left Norah a note! She loved that!

She loved seeing her Daddy open gifts too....

She wrote Santa a letter earlier and asked for "princess, a prince, flamingo and a treasure box"...he came through on all of it! Hence, the flamingo!

Finn checking out the stuff with Norah! Darcy just hanging out...

Norah hanging out on her bean bag chait with her big lolly pop!

Jeff with "our" new cover for the tablet we have...

Norah got these books and it came with a device that is shaped like a cell phone with speakers and you press the buttons and it plays music...she calls it her "iphone" :)

After we opened all the gifts, Jeff's parents came over and we ate a big breakfast. Then we moved to "our positions" for the next couple of hours...

Norah also played with lots of her toys...she spelled her name with her new play-doh! :)

Now we were ready to head to Jeff's brother's house for Hoppe Christmas.

My awesome Neighbor came over to snap a family pic of us! Thanks Sarah!

We headed over to Jeff's brother's house and Jeff's other brother, wife, and son came in town too. We were getting ready to eat when Jeff's dad had a bad fall. It was very scary and we had to call 911. Jeff's mom went in the ambulance with him to the hospital and Jeff's brother, Glenn and Denise, followed by car. The rest of us stayed behind and just waited to hear....

Can you believe these are my niece and nephews! Jonathon is 14 yrs old (in red shirt), Allyson is 17 yrs old and Wil is 18 yrs old (plaid shirt)...Norah loves all her cousins! They were also amazing and entertained Norah for the 7 hours that we were there and in wait mode. Thanks guys and girl...ya'll are the best!! Norah already misses ya'll this morning!

When we finally heard that Mr. Hoppe had a cracked rib and they were sending him home...so when they arrived....everyone was worn out especially those who went to the hospital. Mrs. Hoppe and Jonathon getting in the Holiday spirit and ready to open presents!

All the kids opened away!

Jeff and his Dad. Jeff was so worried all day that it was hard for him to enjoy the day but once he knew he was okay...he was better and able to enjoy the rest of the night! (it is so hard to see my hubby Jeff sad...I don't like it!) :)

Norah got a princess tent and she wanted to see if Daddy could fit in it with her...barely!

So I did a terrible job of pictures...no pictures of Glenn, Denise, Robyn, Allan...or the dog, Kaylie (SP?) as she did a good job of entertaining Norah too!....so as always I need to be better about being a photo obsessed person and snap more pics! :)

Well back to a day of relaxation...there is football on at 5...UNC vs. Missouri so that will be watched. Other than that, just enjoying our time at home. I still cannot believe I am off all week...I have never had the week off at Christmas in all my working years so it is a TREAT! I guess I'll start taking down all the Christmas stuff down and packed away this week (we think it is bad luck to have any Christmas stuff up past the New Year!) Also it is the first time in a few years that I am excited about my upcoming birthday (haven't been a fan of getting older lately...) but this year I am! I hope everyone is enjoying their time with family and friends during the holiday as much as I am!! :)

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The Day After....

We wish you a Merry Christmas....

It is so exciting that it is Christmas Eve! Jeff and I are sitting by the fire with the Christmas tree all lit up...love it! I was thinking about how Norah is so into Christmas this year and has been really good about remembering that it is Jesus' Birthday tomorrow too and not just all about Santa....

So here is a run down memory lane via the Christmas cards we have sent since we have had Norah...
Christmas 2011 (Norah - age 4.5 years old)

Christmas 2010 (Norah- age 3.5 years old)

Christmas 2009 (Norah- age 2.5 yrs old)

Christmas 2008 (Norah- age 1.5 yrs old)

Christmas 2008 (Norah- age 6 months; couldn't find electronic copy...)

This was fun to see and makes me realize how next year...I am going to put the year on it so I can remember! :)

Today has been a great day...Norah and I ran a couple errands this morning and then came home and Norah was playing with some of her presents from yesterday. We watched Christmas movies and tv shows...just hung out. We also walked the dogs and she rode her new "bike."

Norah concentrating on her art work :)

She also helped the neighbors with putting out their luminaries...I am totally doing it next year...I just didn't think about it. And today there is not enough money for me to go shopping anywhere with crowds to get the bags! :) (If you know me....I am an online shopper...I am not a big fan of going to the mall or stores...unless it is super necessary...)

We decorated cookies for Santa and Norah had me write a note to Santa...she also asked for me to leave carrots and a knife for Santa so he could feed the reindeer! (The knife thing made me laugh!)

Well it is time to put on the new PJs my mom got us and head to bed....hope Santa comes tonight!

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We wish you a Merry Christmas....