We've Been Busy

Long time, no blog again!  I've thought about it several time, but work and the boy are keeping me busy!

We went to Dollywood earlier this month.  Wheeler always loves to go there.

Love him!

On the obstacle course.

With mom.

With mom again.

Then the next weekend we met some friends at the pumpkin farm in Sevierville.

With my new friend!

Here we are again!

Baaa!

After the pumpkin farm that day, we went to Cherokee and Wheeler saw his first concert.....Charlie Daniels.  He wasn't too impressed......

On the way to Cherokee on this afternoon, we saw a mamma bear and her cub in a tree.  I tried to get pictures, but you can't really see the bears.  Wheeler and I got out of the truck and stood under the limb momma was on.  It was a little frightening to me.  Wheeler loved it!

We went to Oaks farm with Daddy the next weekend and had a ball!

Sliding!

I loved jumping!  Mommy got on, too, but those pictures won't be posted!!  haha

The rabbit was soft.

Finding the perfect pumpkin!

In a field of pumpkins....aka....pumpkin heaven.

A Wheeler sized pumpkin.

Riding back with daddy.

Just hanging out and exploring.

We had game night last week, and since Sophie was sick and couldn't come, Wheeler entertained himself.....

He said he was in his car driving.

And this one just cracks me up..........

I love John, and all he does and tries to do for us!  Notice what he's trying to teach
Wheeler.......including the square root sign!

In My Backyard

It's unthinkable.  We live so close to the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains, and we hardly ever go visit her.  The land of the blue smoke.  She's majestic and regal.  There is so much to see and do (and I'm not talking about going to Pigeon orge or Gatlinburg, but actually IN the mountains we call home.)  We had never taken Wheeler into the mountains.  We told him yesterday morning that after nap we would go to the mountains and he yelled in excitement, as if we go there all the time and he couldn't wait for another adventure.  He was so excited he didn't nap at home, but he did on the way.  When he awoke we were almost to the Alum trail.  We got out to see what we could see.

 I can't believe we don't go see this more.  Take in this beauty God gave us.

I loved this one.

We walked for a while.  We climbed rocks.

And we threw rocks!

Kids actually got quite an arm!

We looked and little creatures.

We drove on up to Newfound Gap.

Blue Smoke

And on the way down we made a few stops, one for a snack.

Today Wheeler woke up and asked if we were going to the mountains.  When we told him we weren't going back today he got pretty upset.  I then told him it was Sunday, and he was ok, since it was church day.  As soon as we got out of church he asked if we were going to the mountains.  I think he likes them.  So do we.

Help!

I have posted a project with Donorschoose.org.  We could REALLY use an ELMO projector in the classroom.  It would help me so much in teaching.  The students would be able to see demonstrations that are projected onto the screen.  Please check out my donors choose page and help if you can!  Thank you so much!

My donors choose page!

Exhaustion!

Whew! It doesn't take long to forget how hard it is to be a mom and work outside the home (not that it's easy to work at the house either!)  I haven't meant to ignore this little blog, but the beginning of the school year always takes it's toll on me.  This year it's never ending, though.  With new standards and a new teacher evaluation system, and me just being the overachiever I am (ha!) and trying to incorporate so many new things for the kiddos, I am almost overwhelmed with work.  Add to that two hours a day on the road and by the time we make and eat dinner, clean the kitchen, and there's Wheeler time, that doesn't leave much time for anything else.  I keep thinking to myself "what's more important, work, or family."  While I overwhelmingly believe my family is more important, I don't have a choice but to work at this time.  When I'm at work I feel like I'm neglecting my family and when I'm spending uninterrupted time with the family, I feel like my kiddos at school are suffering because I have soooooooooo much I should be doing.  It's such a tricky balance.  I'm not sure I'll ever master it.  I give all I've got to both, and still try to find a little time for myself (thanks to my wonderful husband!)

Have you ever looked so forward to weekend that you overpack it with fun and stuff that's not so fun (but you gotta get it done!)  I believe that's what I've done with this long weekend upon me.  I am so blessed that I have Friday and Monday off for the Labor Day Holiday.  But I've got too much I wanna do.

First and foremost is getting back on a meal plan.  I let it slide the last 2 weeks or so, and we've been eating a hodgepodge of stuff I had stocked up on.  I'm getting tired of the the mid afternoon texts "What's for dinner?"  So that's on the agenda.  Wheeler and I ventured out to stock up this morning. He's seriously been asking for a week or so when we are going back to "Albi's", well kiddo, that time was upon us, to "Albi's" we go went.

Other things on the agenda for the weekend: get John's brakes changed, play some cards (hopefully) with some family, lesson planning, blogging, church, dinner with family, the park......hmmmm, sleep sometime!  haha

Even though I overplan, I love this unofficial start to fall.  It's my favorite time of year.  I love the crispness of the mornings, the leaves changing colors, and the decorations.  I can't wait to go to the pumpkin farm and ride the hay wagon and pick a pumpkin with my boys.  I can't wait to see what he wants to be for Halloween this year.  And the anticipation of Thanksgiving is almost too much to bear.  This is my favorite holiday.  I love the smells of cooking turkey, gravy, bread, and everything else.  I love getting together with the family.  And I LOVE the day after Thanksgiving sales and spending time with my sis on that day.  We always have so much fun together.

Ok, so it's off to finish putting up the "Albi's" groceries.  I still need to go to Kroger, but first I had to get the boy down for a nap, or we would have driven everyone at the store CRAZY!!

I wish you all a safe, fun, and relaxing weekend.

God is Good, God is Grape

God is good, God is grape......this is how Wheeler begins all of his prayers.  I love hearing him pray.  Lately he asks to pray.  One day earlier this month, we were driving down the road, he said "let's pray for daddy's test."  John's stat final was that morning.  So I pulled to Sequoia over, and we prayed.

When we pray at dinner, we usually say the old  God is good God is great, let us thank him for our food......., but at night we all three sit together and each of us prays.  It's one of my favorite times of day.  Sometimes Wheeler goes on, and on, and on......and on, thanking God for jelly toast, ranch dressing, peanut butter and jelly, milk, juice (a lot of food!) and then he goes on to thank God for daddy and mommy, grammy and Poppa Allen.  He thanks God for all his cousins, his aunt Kelli and Uncle Scott and Aunt Kay and Uncle Randy.  And lately he ends his prayers with "I love you, Jesus.  Amen."  My favorite time of day.

Beginning of a New Year

The beginning of a new school year is exhausting!  I leave early and come home late.  I bring work home to do.  I lose my voice.  I love my job, though!  I love the kids, seeing them make new discoveries, helping them.  This year I am blessed with a wonderful class.  They are energetic, enthusiastic, and relatively well behaved!

While I am so excited about this year, I feel a bit overwhelmed.  A couple of my teacher friends and I have decided to change things up a bit, and change them up is what we're doing!  I looked over at my WONDERFUL!!!! assistant at one point today and said "tell me this'll be worth it!"  She quickly told me yes, that what we were doing, while time consuming in the beginning (to learn the routine) is one of the best things we've added in a while (love her and her encouragement!)

I can't wait to see what the year brings, and how these kiddos do. I see great things on the horizon!

Also, I have to give props to my wonderful husband.  He has taken Wheeler to school and picked him up almost every day since school started so that I could go to work early and stay late.  Even though it is in totally the opposite direction of UT.  He also makes sure everything possible is done around the house.