Formal Observation

My first formal observation is tomorrow!!! Say a little prayer...I am doing a whole lesson on POLYGONS- MATH! If you know me, you know Math is my weakness so...say a prayer! No time to really talk gotta get ready for tomorrow... but wanted to post this- these girls are amazing! (I cant remember if I have posted them- I don't think I have)





Update: I finished my lesson! Here is photo of my interactive board I made to go along with my lesson. I am pretty proud of it! : ) Each thing is attached using Velcro so they can take it down and check themselves as they go.

Whirlwind

Phew...I write this as a sit down directly after getting home. If I wait until later this blog will never get done. But since soooo much was accomplished this weekend I feel the need to share everything. Friday we left and drove to Dallas- we got there and had pizza and set up shop in Jessica's living room. Jessica got out all of her wedding stuff and together we went through everything I had already collected and what she already had. Saturday morning we got up and got going. First we went to Stardust and looked at dresses and bridesmaid dresses. There was a trunk show going on so the designer of the dresses was there and all of the dresses were discounted! I made Jessica try on a number of different dresses but fell in love with this one! We decided we would think about it and went on to the next stop which was JUST wedding gowns! I tried on so many gowns but found THE ONE! It is beautiful and I cant wait to wear it! We decided I needed to sleep on this dress also so we left once again so I could sleep on it and see if it really was the one for me...and it was! Sunday morning we got up and went back to Stardust, purchased the Bridesmaid Gowns, looked at invitations and then headed to try on my dress one last time...I tried it on and didn't want to take it off! I LOVE IT! The only picture of it you get is this...After we had purchased the dress they blow bubbles and play the bridal march! It was super cute! My aunt came and had fun with us! After the wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses were purchased we were off to College Station to spend the night in 7F Lodge, The Barn! I was sooo excited! Today we had a grand tour of the location. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! It is perfect! Justin and I both really like it. However, when we got to the office to discuss numbers and dates and what not- they had booked a wedding for July 25th! I was crushed and cried for probably the whole afternoon. However, they called and told me that those people now have canceled and they have it open again...so the saga of the location and date continues....It is very stressful for me to talk about it so I'll just leave it at that....Anyways...enjoy the photos--- isn't it beautiful!?

Slacking with good reason...

Life has been crazy since last Saturday! School is going great! I love my kids and my teacher! I look forward to going to school every day. I have been trying to do wedding plans but nothing has been set in stone yet...still just lots of ideas. However, 7f is available on July 25th so that is what we are looking at. Anyways....my birthday was great. I kept forgetting it was my birthday. I have so much else on my mind : ) I still haven't stopped smiling. For my birthday morning mom got me a cinnabon and put two candles in it for 22. She sang to me before school and I had a very sugary breakfast. Dad got me a big balloon that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY so I took a picture in front of it before heading off to a wonderful dinner. This is such a great start to my new year! I am so excited! Last night I created our wedding website:

http://www.mywedding.com/laurenandjustin.com

so go check it out! Granted it is still in the works...majorly...I am just adding a little a time when I have time! Life is good!

We're Engaged!

Lauren Hardy will soon become Lauren Hardy Knight!!! : ) I am so happy!! YEAH!!!!

My 1st Day

Whoa- what a day! This morning I woke up and showered before going to pick up Brenna so we could ride together to the district office. We got there 30 minutes early and sat together patiently awaiting our meeting. We had our meeting and got our ID's. I am so excited about this, I could hardly wait through our meeting to get our name tags- I'm so official now! After our meeting where we went through our handbook and just got acquainted with each other we headed home and stopped at Wendy's : ) I went home ate lunch real quick and headed to Greentree. When I arrived 3rd grade team was planning so I went and sat in on the meeting and after we had gone over a bunch of scores we were done and ready to get busy in the classroom. This whole first week I am supposed to be observing but my teacher must trust me already because she sent me home with Spelling Tests to grade along with a test over The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Also a math book to look over before I do it on Thursday and a book which lets them learn their word wall which I am doing TOMORROW!!!

I am so excited! Today was great. Mrs. Parker and I seem to really get along and I like her a lot. I am looking forward to this semester and what is to come. Something I am super excited about is our field trip. I have been begging Justin to take me to the zoo for 2 years now and still have yet to go...well...on March 24th I will be going to the zoo with all the 3rd graders!

I guess I'll go and start grading and getting my word wall words ready for tomorrow...

P.S.- This is how the kids choose their lunches- I already told her I was going to print out some aggie things to cover up her longhorn gear...

Project of Today

**Update**
This is how my board looks as I go to bed...and this is what an amazing artist Elissa is (She painted while I wrote verses)So I start school tomorrow and I am super nervous. Tomorrow I have to go to the district office for a meeting then actually start school Tuesday. I am excited nervous. I just want things to go smoothly and with Mrs. Parker's recent lost I am nervous.

So...when I get nervous I turned to the Lord. My cousin, Elissa's friend from Camp Ozark died on Halloween in a car accident and I have looked at a lot of pictures they had up of her on Facebook and how she lived for Christ and something she did really caught my attention so I have decided that during this stressful time (starting a new school- being the teacher- being apart from Justin- Justin starting training in Corpus- Dad still looking for a job- living at home) this would be something that could calm me and keep me thankful and worshipful every time I enter my room. The following is a picture of Caroline's (the girl who died) bulletin board which I am modeling mine after. It is a bulletin board completely full of bible verses in colorful sticky notes and note cards and a few pictures. I'll add a picture of mine once I am finished with it.

P.S.- something else I found amazing and so sad at the same time this is the letter she left them (she was leaving to go home and left this note for them)

Every day God gives us is a gift- we should be so thankful every day!!!

2008 in Review

Project 365 has been so much fun and I cant believe that is over. i love being able to look at any day over the past year and tell you exactly what I did and what happened. It is so awesome to me! I love it!! I have decided to continue with this and make it Project 365: Part II 2009. This year is a year of change and am looking forward to documenting it. However, instead of what I do each day this year is going to be "God's Gift." I am going to try to look for my gifts each day and capture them. Not a good frame, but a great frame! I am excited to get started!! So to start this year, I decided I would choose one photo from each month, my favorite or the most momentous thing that happened that month- so here it goes... (Some months have more than one exciting thing- but I only chose one photo per month)

JanuaryI turned 21 and got to spend my birthday not only with my baby but all of my best friends!!

February
It was the best of times: Kaylee was born
It was the worst of times: Grandpa went home to be with Jesus

MarchBaby Pip was born

AprilRagan's Baby Shower- Little Avery was on her way

MayWent to Disney World for Jordan's 21st
Colleen got married

JuneWent to Dallas to visit Justin with Carla & Kason
JJ got married
Stat Summer School
Pip got trained and spent all his time with me...or was it I spent all my time with him?

JulyWent to Florida with the parentals
Cole turned 1
Ella turned 1
Avery was born
Mom's turned 56

AugustWent to Dallas
Went to Virginia
Started Fall Semester
Justin started looking for a job in College Station

SeptemberHurricane Ike
Passed out at the tire store
Heart Monitor
Aggie Ring Day

OctoberTilt Table Test
Justin moved to College Station
Nala & Rajah were born
Got Food Poisoning from Sonic
Halloween

NovemberElection 2008- Obama elected President- a sad day for Republicans
Pip got fixed
Brad & Avery Baptized
Thanksgiving
Family Pictures
Decorating the Christmas Tree

DecemberFinished school
Last Meal with the girls as roommates
Saw Kason perform with RV's
My first snow
Moved Home
Went to the 3rd grade Christmas party @ GreenTree
Kason & Carla got engaged
A wonderful Christmas
Ice Skating & Bowling
New Years @ the Lake

Wow- This year has been full of many many memories and I cant wait to see what this upcoming year has in store for me!!!

Yesterday is the past- Tomorrow is the future- but TODAY IS A PRESENT!