Lately...

As I write this, we are soaking up the sun and drinking margarita's in San Diego.  And I know that we are having a blast.  I will share all about it when we get back, but I thought I would let you know what we've been up to before our trip!

First of all, check out this email from my sweet husband.  Seriously, I have a keeper. 

And he's right...God has always had it planned, and He's not going to stop now.  It would be offensive for me to not trust that!

At Jack's daycare, they celebrated summer birthday's this past week.  I brought cupcakes and we all sang to Jack.  And he thought it was just grand.  Seriously.  I guess he's seen this happen with all of the other kids so he was a pro.

On Thursday this week, I just had to finish packing up my room.  So Jack and I took our time in the morning, folding clothes while watching the Today show and stopping for doughnuts.  My boy loves him some doughnuts.  And I love time with my Jackie.

Here's my room all packed up.  This has been such a rough week for me emotionally.  I love my job.  I love working with middle school kids.  And I never thought I would leave this job after a year.  Seeing my room all empty and bare was so hard. 

Here's my buddy boy on the first day of school this year and the last.  

Ohmylanta, has he grown!  Bech and I watched some old iphone videos the other night.  He has gone from a little baby, barely walking and saying so few words, to a toddler who runs and jumps and talks in complete sentences.  

I will be back soon with some pictures of San Diego!

Katy's Bachelorette Weekend!

My sister is getting married in a little over a month...YAY!

As matron of honor, I was in charge of planning the bachelorette.  My little sister, Ansley, was my co-partner, as maid of honor.

First of all, location.  We had almost decided on New Orleans (even though the beach sounded better!) when Katy's sweet friend Marianna offered up her parent's place.  The house was on Ono Island (in Orange Beach) and slept 12...perfect!

I had never been (or really even heard) of Ono Island before, but it is BEAUTIFUL!  And the house was perfect.

Everyone arrived Friday night at dinner time, although Team Civic pulled up closer to 10.  We talked for a while then headed to bed.

Saturday morning, Ansley, Paige, and I were up bright and early to get everything ready!  We made some muffins to tide the other early risers over then set to work on brunch.  We decided to have a lingerie brunch to enable more beach time!

Here's the brunch spread.  Marianna's parents house was beautiful, which made setting up easy!

Aren't these the cutest!?!  These bra and panties cookies are from Janie's in Brookhaven.

We also had a Nothing Bundt Cake, cinnamon and cream cheese bites (a variation of this recipe and seriously one of my favorite things to make and eat!), fruit and strawberry dip, and sausage rolls.

We had mimosas to drink.

Also, how cute are these plates and napkins.  I had already bought some plates and napkins but found these at Target Thursday night.  I couldn't resist!  If you know my sister, you know these are totally her style!

The lighting isn't great, but I made a scrapbook paper banner.  It says:  "Boom!  Last Fling!"

One of Dave's favorite words is "Boom!"  I don't know why, but my whole family loves it!  In fact, when they got engaged, we had pettifores made that said: "Boom...she said yes!"

Side note.  I just tried to find a picture of those pettifores on Katy's blog.  Instead, I found that Dave commented on the post with (you guessed it!) "BOOM!"

And what southern bachelorette weekend is complete without koozies?  Katy actually made these, and I LOVE mine.  

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating Katy.  She got lots of fun (and sexy!) lingerie to wear, there was lots of fun conversation and laughs, and we all came back nice and tanned.  

Just kidding...I came back seriously burned.  But I hope everyone else is tan.

Moving Stress

And again it's been a while since I posted!  Thank you all for your sweet blog and facebook comments about our move.  It was fun to realize that so many of y'all had Pennsylvania connections.  I am sure I will be asking some of y'all lots of questions in the comings weeks!

I have had a crazy past couple of weeks.  School is ending.  Actually yesterday was the student's last day and today and tomorrow the teachers are just working in their classrooms.  

I am so sad to leave this job.  I knew that I would like teaching middle school Latin, but I didn't realize how much!  I absolutely love my kids and I love my jobs.  I love the school I teach at.  I love taking Jack to daycare when I go to school and running over to the Lower School once a day to check in on him.  I am going to miss this job so much!

I am really struggling right now with the move.  I think it's because, for the first time, I have nothing set up in our new spot.  We moved to Malawi first and foremost because I wanted to go back.  We both wanted to move to Jackson, but I got my job at First Pres there before we moved.  We moved to Vermont for my graduate school.  Even though we were planning to move to Baton Rouge for the special student program at LSU, I already had my current job lined up by the end of March.

For once, I have nothing set in stone in Pennsylvania.  I have applied for several jobs and plan on applying for many more in the coming weeks.  But there are no Latin teaching jobs in that area.  

And, to be really honest, this is hard.  I am willing to do whatever so that we complete Bech's graduate program debt free (he already has a stipend and free tuition).  And I know that God will provide me with a job (He always has, wherever we have moved!).  

But even though I know all of this, I am still stressing out.  

Here are some old school Caedmon's Call lyrics that always comfort me when I am stressing out and doubting God's provision:

Well this day's been crazy

But everything's happened on schedulefrom the rain and the coldTo the drink that I spilled on my shirt'Cause You knew how You'd save mebefore I fell dead in the gardenAnd You knew this daylong before You made me out of dirt 
And You know the plans that You have for me And You can't plan the end and not plan the means And so I suppose I just need some peaceJust to get me to sleep.

Anyway, sorry for such a downer of a post!  I would love any and all prayers (and job offers...just kidding...mostly!).

We're...

Moving!!!

I know, I know...you are thinking, wait, you just moved to Baton Rouge?

Yes, that is true.  And now we are moving again.

We knew our time in Baton Rouge was short (but I was hoping it was a little bit longer than this).  Bech's plan was to apply to graduate school full force next year.  He felt like he wasn't ready to apply this year.  But he did apply to one school, Penn State.  It was just a practice application (his words, not mine), but it was his number one choice.  He's been interested in their graduate program since undergrad.

Back in February, we found out that Bech got into Penn State, but he was on waiting list for funding.  And so I thought that was it, we probably weren't going to move.

But through an amazing series of events, we found out about 3 weeks ago that Bech has full funding for an MFA in ceramics at Penn State in the fall!

So this August, we will be making this 1,300 mile trip back up North!

Yeah, you all are jealous that I will be driving this distance with Jack.  I know, I know.

Seriously, though, car tips for 2 year olds are very much needed!

We are moving to State College, Pennsylvania, a town of about 40,000 (not counting the college students).  Bech's program is two years long.

Here's State College--right in the middle of rural Pennsylvania.  2 1/2 hours from Pittsburgh, 3 1/2 from Philadelphia, and 4 hours from D.C.

I am really excited about being in State College, PA.  It is supposed to be a really cute, really safe town.  There is a PCA church there and I think I have found a daycare for Jack (we're on the waiting list).  I have started the job hunt (please pray!).

I am also excited about having four seasons again!  I can't wait for fall...I have already looked up the local corn mazes and harvest fests.  I am not necessarily looking forward to winter, but I am excited to see what Jack thinks about the snow.

Most of all, I am so glad that Bech is going to grad school.  He is beyond ready for this.  He has worked so hard to get to this point, and I can't wait to see the way he changes and grows as an artist.

More good news:  State College has a Target. 

Bad news:  no Sonic.

Because, let's be honest, that's the first thing I looked up.

Finally, I'm really sad about leaving my job.  I LOVE the school I teach at (and I love my students, although they may not always believe that).  

So there's my big news (see, I'm NOT pregnant).  I don't know how many northerners read my blog, but I would welcome any and all advice/tips/stories/recommendations about State College (or even Pennsylvania in general)!

Weekend Updates

Remember when I had a blog and I actually used to post?  

Yeah, me neither.

Seriously, though, life has been busy lately.  We've been back and forth to Jackson.  We're nearing the end of school, which means lots of extra things to do.  My sister's bachelorette weekend is this coming weekend!  Lots on my plate right now.

Plus, like I mentioned in my last post, we have big news.  Big news that I will share later this week (and that I am excited to share!).  But I do want to wait until later this week, and so I've stayed off the blog purposefully too (so I don't share too early!).

Side note--would you like to know the reason I'm waiting?  Because my students read my blog.  Yup.  Weird, right?  If you are a student, and you are reading this right now, stop.  Go do homework or take selfies or listen to One Direction.  My blog is boring and lame.  

Alright, back to the post.

Last weekend was my little sister's birthday.  To be honest, her birthday last year sucked.  So this year we all planned to make it extra special.  In fact, she didn't even know that Bech, Jack, and I were coming.  I had convinced her that Bech had to work and we just couldn't come.  

We drove up Friday night and stayed at Bech's parents house.  Then we stopped for a Coke Icee (one of her favorites) and woke her up in the morning.  We had a great day--lots of food, laughs, inside jokes, and shopping.

We finished the day with dinner at Bravos...one of all of our favorites.  Here I am with the birthday girl!

In between, we had a crazy week.

This weekend was jam packed, but very fun.  

Friday night, we had our friends Bess and Julian over to eat.  We love spending time with them, because we can just completely be ourselves around them.  They are hilarious.  We made some yummy mexican food (homemade tortilla chips!) and had so much fun.

Saturday, Jack and I ventured out to join Bess and Julian for the farmer's market.  I can't believe that I have lived in Baton Rouge this long and just now went!  It was not near as big as Burlingtons, but it was a good size.  I got some local grass fed beef (for a better price than Whole Foods!).  Jack and I also shared a peanut butter and Nutella crepe.

When Bech got home from work, we decided to hit up Sonic happy hour and the local park.

We weren't planning on getting in the splash pad, but somehow it just happened...!

Jack was scared at first, but he LOVED it by the end.  We let him run around in his clothes and he had the best time.

About two minutes after this picture was taken, Jack asked to take off his outfit.  We agreed and were just going to let him run around in his diaper, but then he tried to pull his diaper off.  Yup, time to go home.

This picture was actually taken before (notice that he's dry).  I love my little bud.  Also, he needs a haircut.  He has been called a girl many times this week.

We weren't going to go home for Mother's Day (we were just there last week), but my dad asked us to come.  We both decided that we don't know how many Mother's Days we'll be near by for in the coming weeks, so we should spend this day with our family.

We had a whirlwind trip: Faith Pres for church, lunch with my family (and grandparents) in my parent's backyard, dinner with Bech's parents, and back to Baton Rouge by 10:15.

This weekend also included some Bubbie cuddles.  Seriously, Jack may love my brother more than he loves Bech and me.  Bubbie is the favorite by far.  

Also, Blaise is currently single.  Just letting all the ladies know.

Check back later this week for some news!