Simple Act of Service

Most of my summer break has been spent getting ready for the upcoming school year. School is pretty much all I know how to do. It is what I eat, breath, and sleep.

A large portion of this prep work has been creating file folder games. Dozens and dozens of them. They take FOREVER.

I'm going to start working in my classroom this week, so I made a goal to finish my file folder games by today. It was a lofty and pretty unrealistic goal. I finished coloring everything yesterday, but I still had a rather hefty stack of papers that needed to be cut and glued. Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to more than half of the work completed by my sweet husband who stayed up till who knows how late just to help me out. Suddenly my goal is not so lofty and unrealistic.

It's the little things in life that let us know we are loved. :) I'm grateful for a man in my life who cares so deeply about me, who gives with no expectations of anything in return, who sacrifices his own time just to see me smile. I love you, Nathan!

Top Ten...

Places I Want to Re-Visit Right Now

In no particular order.

Can you guess any of these amazing locations?

* I can't shrink any of the pictures. :( If you click on the photo, it goes full-size. It also usually has the name of the place in the URL so if you are guessing, don't cheat! :)

2010 Year in Review: March

I had an idea to start this post off in the following way:

Silly, teacher! Blogs are for people with time on their hands!

Then I realized that most of the blogs I follow are written by moms, people who work full time, pregnant women, etc. It's true that I'm in up to my ears in things to do, but somehow these amazing women (okay, and a few men too) find time to blog. I just haven't (and probably won't if we're being honest) made it a priority. It goes without saying that this post is long overdue, but truthfully, I'm surprised I at least made it to February before the Kindergarten tidal wave came rolling back in on my life.

Tonight, "lucky" readers, you get to take advantage of my lack of motivation to complete my homework for my SEI 45 class. Procrastination: 1 Emily: 0.

So back on topic...

March. I honestly have no clue what I did in March. Allow me to consult my photo library and I'll be back shortly.

Evidently, March was a month of randomness filled with super inexpensive dates. Fun. :) Cue the photographic evidence of our simple, awesome lives:

On a GORGEOUS Saturday, we went to one of Nate's mission buddy's rugby games. It was really interesting, but I had no clue what was going on. My wonderful public education never included rugby rules.

Inexpensive (aka free) Date Night: Game Night- Cities and Knights

Bowling with friends

More fun with friends: Ugly outfit night (Nate's was complete with lovely pit stains... Thank you missionaries of Cleveland, Ohio)

Inexpensive Date Night: Painting random pictures? Not sure why exactly we chose this, but we did have fun.

Hiking at Peralta (my personal fave)

Fun with family: Bowling and arcade games

Justin

Anna

Les and Nate

Hopefully I'll get to April before next year. :) Love ya'll.

You're welcome, Mom. ;)

2010 Year in Review: February

Happy New Year!

In February, Nate and I spent Valentine's Day together. :) At the time, Nate was looking for a job and I was working for a preschool at an hourly wage. Being on a smaller budget just made Valentine's Day more fun. I can home after a long day of work to find Nate waiting for me in a suit. He had decorated the dining room. We had a nice dinner and danced in the living room.

In February, I also went to Disneyland with my family. We had a great time with lighter crowds. I got to visit my BFF, Morgan who now works at Disneyland.

Hidden Mickeys

2010 Year in Review: January

I can't believe 2010 is nearly over. I'm starting a new blog, but until I can make it cute, I'm posting on the old one for now.

2010 started off with promises of a better year. And it certainly was! I started the year as a single gal, spending lots of time with my friends. I had a crush on my friend Nate and, like any single 23-year-old woman, reverted back to the lessons I learned in Junior High. I recruited my friend Tanner to find out if he was interested in me. Mature, I know.

Nate and I started attending institute together. I would pick him up and take him to class. After, we'd stand in my driveway and talk about religion for hours on end. We had a bad habit of staying up until wee hours in the morning talking about life, scriptures, family, church, everything. We talked about his mission and about my teaching. We'd discuss our beliefs, our goals, our fears, our shortcomings. He became my best friend. I'd never met any one I could talk to so easily. I found that even after staying up so late, discussing everything under the sun, I couldn't wait to talk to him again.

Nate finally asked me on a date. I completely misunderstood what he was asking (It was 2 am...I was tired) and I told him "Um, maybe." Ah, yes. True love. I awkwardly patched things up the next day when my brain turned back on and played back our conversation (which I relived in full horror).

On January 31st we went on our "second" date (depending on who you ask). Nate changed my life with the oh-so-romantic proclamation, "Um. So. I think I kind of like you."

Please excuse the awfulness of this picture. Nate's being a goof and I look as though I've just rubbed all the mascara off of my face. Lovely.

Happy New Year! Check back for new posts and the address of the all-new married person blog.

2009: Year in Review (Better late than never, right?)

January

• I started the year off right by taking a quick trip to Disneyland with my mom.


• I started student teaching.

February

• I had laryngitis. So exciting.


• I was nominated by my cooperating teacher to be ASU Poly's Student Teacher of the Year.

March

• My sweet cousin, Elise, left on her mission.


• I finished my student teaching evalutaions.


• I went to Disneyland over Spring Break!

April

• I finished up my student teaching.


• I became a certified teacher.

May

• I graduated college.


• My students threw me a surprise party. :)


• I went on a girls (plus Landon) cruise to celebrate graduation.


• I went to Disney World.

June

• Another Disneyland trip


• A quick day trip to Denver


• I started swimming lessons. I love swimming lessons!

July

• Did some hiking. :)


• I broke my toe. Ouch!


• Went to... (let's all say it together) DISNEYLAND!


• I saw Wicked for the third time. :)

August

• Went to Disneyland. Again. :)


• Was sad about not starting the school year.

September

• Another trip to Disneyland. :) ( I know, it's a bit excessive)

A day trip to San Diego.

October

• I turned 23.


• I lost my flight benefits.


• I went to Disneyland for my birthday, of course.


• I FINALLY got a job.


• My computer crashed and took all my documents with it (which is why this post has been sitting as a draft for 3 weeks. I hate tracking down pictures. :) ).

November

• I worked a lot.


• I was sick a lot. (Due to working with so many little kiddos again. :) )


• Thanksgiving! :)
  

December

• Went to Disneyland and bought a new annual pass. :)


• Had a blast. December was such a busy, crazy month. I love Christmas. :)


• I had a great New Year's Eve with my family and Morgan's family.

All in all, 2009 was fine. Let's see what 2010 brings! :)