Good Times with The Gray's

It is with great pleasure that Josh and I announce...we are pregnant!! That's right 8 weeks and 3 days!! We found out on November 2 and have been keeping this gigantic secret for 5 LONG weeks!!

When I got pregnant back in April, we shouted the great news from the rooftops, then a few weeks later we had to eat our words!! When it ended so suddenly we were devestated and had to deal with everyone saying "I am so sorry". I did NOT want to go through that again. So when we saw the two solid pink lines on November 2, Josh and I decided we would be a bit more guarded this time around. However, my doctor did assure me that what happened last time(a blighted ovum-a sac but no baby) was a fluke and it would most likely NOT happen again.

We went to the doctor today and heard the small but very strong heartbeat!! 179 beats per minute!! What a relief!! It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard in my life. I already knew how precious this little miracle would be before I even saw it. Not that all women don't feel this way when they see their baby for the first time, but it is truly even more special when you have gone through heartbreak first. We wanted this baby so bad! I do know that the reason that it happened so fast for us again is because we stayed positive and did not dwell on the past. We just let fate take it's course. I am so blessed and I thank God every day for all that I have. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have prayed for us, all prayers have been answered! I will post the sono picture soon!! My next doctor's appointment will be January 6, I will be 13 weeks, stay tuned for the updates!!

Much Love,
Bronwyn

Wow!! I have not blogged in two months!! I am such a slacker. However I do have some really good reasons as to where I have been and what I have been doing. Back to October- My very near and dear Aunt Mary passed away suddenly. If you do not know about my Aunt Mary, she was as close to my brother and I as our own grandma. She kept (raised) us from the time my brother was six weeks old until we I mean he was self sufficient (ha). She was the BEST! We built forts in the living room, sold lemondade in the driveway using tv trays, watched soap operas on 5 different t.v.'s (no lie)- then locked Aunt Mary out of the house because of the soap operas...can you blame us?! We had so many good memories with her! She was very special to us and we both had a very hard time saying goodbye to her.

I have also been spending A LOT of time with Amorey, my brother Brandon and my new nephew Hadley!! I LOVE being an aunt!! Hadley just melts my heart. I give him kiss after kiss and I just can't get enough of him!!

The school year is flying by! Next week is December already! Yikes! This year has been great! I definitely feel like I know more the second time around! I still have a lot of learning to do about teaching but it is a learn as you go process! I have a great group of kiddos and I enjoy every (almost every) day at work!

Right now I am enjoying one of the best perks of being a teacher....a holiday break! That is why I have had time to sit down for once and catch you up on the past few months. I am looking forward to being with my family this week! Thanksgiving and Christmas are very special holidays to me and my family as I am sure it is to all of you! We take the time to reflect on all of our blessings and how lucky we are to have one another. I am truly thankful for all I have! I hope everyone has a wonderful Turkey Day!! Gobble Gobble!!

Much love,

Bron

My mom called me one day in September and she said I have a proposition for you. That already had me thinking great...what does she need me to do for her?? I would do anything for her because she is such a wonderful mother, so of course I said...okay lay it on me. Much to my surprise it was not at all a proposition!! She proceeded to tell me her friend Connie who works for the Dallas Cowboys had 4 tickets and a parking pass that she would like to let us borrow for the September 28th game against the Carolina Panthers!

My family has always been football fans! Yes, even my mom and I! Some of my favorite memories were spent on the couch watching Troy Aikman and Emmit Smith lead the team to victory time after time!

My mom said I would like for you and Josh to have the tickets, and Brandon and Amorey can go with y'all for a fun night out! Even better the game was going to be on my 25th Birthday! I said YES!! YES!! YES!! I would LOVE to go! She went on to tell me that the seats were on the lowest level, row 8! WOW! A once in a lifetime experience to have those incredible seats! Amorey decided to stay home with her Baby Boy Hadley and gladly let my brother's bff Josh go with us!! We had a BLAST!! It was the first Monday Night football game to be played in the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington! Here are just a few of the photos!

Tailgating with some friends before the game!


Sportin the Romo jersey of course!





Josh, Brandon and Josh getting ready for the game...next to a Panther fan!


Our seats were INCREDIBLE!




Can you tell we were having fun?





This is Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers. We were on the visitor's side and Josh, Josh and mainly Brandon spent the ENTIRE game shouting at him! And I do mean shouting! Enough to where the man actually heard us. He turned around time after time and was clearly rattled by these trash talkers in the stands. I was laughing hysterically! I was hoping that Steve Smith didn't go out and catch the winning touchdown of the game. If that would have happened the entire section 137 would have been raging at my trash talking men for pumping him up enough to catch the winning pass. Luckily this did not happen! So I am officially 25 years old and I had the best birthday a girl (that loves football) could have!

I am supposed to be doing lesson plans, however blogging sounds like more fun!!

So about 2 months ago a friend from high school messaged me on Facebook and said have you ever heard about the OV Watch? I said no of course as I had no idea what she was talking about. She wrote me back and explained that it was exactly what it sounded like, an ovulation watch that predicts when you are most fertile during your cycle. She continued to explain that she used it when the doctors told her that she would probably not be able to have children. I am happy to report that the doctors were wrong and she is very close to (if not already) having her second child!! This definitely got my attention. She was so nice to offer to mail it to me to use! I said Wow, of course I will give it a shot! Plus, I looked it up later and these things are NOT cheap! Super sweet of her to lend me this great tool, to aid in our baby making! ;) A week passes and I get the watch in the mail! I was extremely excited because you MUST begin wearing the watch on day 1, 2, or 3 of your period and it was about that time for me.

I read up on the watch prior to receiving it in the mail and I was stoked to begin as soon as it arrived at my door! So I open the box, re-read ALL the instructions again so that I followed EVERY direction to the T! I am now ready to activate the watch!! Each cycle that you use the watch a brand new sensor ($50.00) is required!! These suckers are expensive!

I put the sensor in and try to turn on the watch...NOTHING!! I am like maybe I am doing it wrong. So I take out the sensor and try again...NADA!! OMG I was crushed! The sensor was expired. I know what you are thinking, go get another one. Well, I would have but they only have two stores in the state of Texas that sell them and they were in Dallas and Frisco. I was not going to drive there for a sensor, ridiculous. I was already on day two of my cycle I had to have the sensor by the next day, it just wasn't happening. It took a few days, but I got over it! I decided that if I didn't get pregnant that month that I would order a new sensor and try again.

I ordered the sensor a little over a week ago, and got it in the mail a few days later. I was pumped...round two! At this point I was just waiting on my period to come! And it did, no baby yet. This time I want to make sure that nothing gets in my way of wearing this watch! I decided it would be smart to replace the battery just in case, luckily the battery is a very common watch battery and you can get it anywhere! So now all the parts are updated and ready to go.

Last night, day 2 of my period, I am trying to remove the screws on the back of the watch to swap out the batteries. I get two of them out and the other two are stripped!! AHHHHHHH!! Yes me screaming in frustration. I am running out of time and I need to get this thing on my wrist ASAP! You are totally laughing right now, I just don't understand why this watch and I are not vibing! So I leave it alone so that I don't ruin it completely. Josh says he promises he will take care of it when he gets home! So I go to bed, hoping that my hubby will save the day tomorrow! He got the screws off!! YES!! I get the new battery and sensor in place...hit buttons B & C and nothing!! I wanted to throw it across the room...I disassemble it AGAIN!! The battery was upside down, I put it all back together and finally...it worked!! We are in business!! I have gone into so much detail about how troubling this has been for me that I won't ramble on about how it works. However if you are interested check it out at ovwatch.com.

Wish me baby luck!

Hopefully this watch and I will finally make amends!

Welcome to the world little guy!!

I am so excited to announce that my nephew Hadley Tate Jackson arrived Saturday (8-29-09) morning at 5:12 am! He is 8 weeks early but he is a fighter, weighing in at 4 pounds 2 ounces, 17 1/4 inches long! Brandon and Amorey are doing so good! Emotions are high, but that is definitely to be understood! Each day Mr. Hadley will get stronger and stronger and hopefully be able to come home in just a few weeks! I was lucky enough to get to meet him on his birthday in the NICU. Amorey let me go in with her and it was such an amazing feeling! She and I and baby Hadley had a special few minutes together! What a gift from God!! He is so perfect and is loved by so many already!! I will share pictures of him when I get a few more minutes. Congratulations to my little brother, Brandon and his precious wife Amorey!!

I am blown away as to how fast Summer really went!! It was my first Summer to not have to work and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I know some of you will gag when I say this, but there were many of days that I didn't even get out of my pajamas! Hehe! But now it is time to start buying school supplies, think of ways to improve from last year and to STOP staying up until the wee hours of the night!

Speaking of school supplies, I visited Teacher's Tools on the day they had their big sale to shop for new classroom goodies!! They were having a huge drawing on this day! They had 12 different baskets to give away and it was your choice as to which basket you would enter yourself in to win. My favorite one was the Treasure Chest! So I dropped my slip of paper in and NEVER expected to win. I mean I put 1 slip in there...I figured slim chance of me winning for sure!! A few days later Amorey and I were hanging out and to my surprise I get a call telling me that I had won a basket from their drawing!! I made Amorey drive me to Teacher's Tools (we were close by) to redeem my prize! To add to my excitement I had won the most valuable one!! WOO HOO! It was definitely my lucky day!

When we got back to Amorey's house we dumped it all out on the floor and went through every single thing! We had so much fun!! Here are some pictures of my awesome prize!!

Big Brother has been a favorite show of mine for several seasons now! However I can honestly say it has recently taken over my nights, I'm addicted and cannot stop watching the show! I am convinced there are far worse things to be addicted to. The show's normal times are Tues, Thurs, and Sun for an hour,the bonus is it airs on Showtime every single night of the week for 3 hours (11-2 am). You would think that 3 hours a week would be enough, but no!! The live, unedited 3 hours a night is sinfully addicting. The show is a social experiment (taped 24/7) of who can outsmart who, but of course it is tangled up in lies, lust, backstabbing and "showmances", the term was coined by BB for a romance on the show.

The whole point is to win challenges and allign yourself with people that will get you to the end. Then it is up to the Evicted Houseguests to determine who played the game the best and then ultimately decide who wins the game.

This habbit of mine is fine now since I am still on my summer break, but things could get interesting in a week or so when I will no longer have the hours of a teenager.

So yes, I should be getting back into a normal routine just a few weeks before school starts, but I will remind myself of that tomorrow. Right now it's back to the Live BB Showtime feed!!

I am so lucky to have In-laws that love me and treat me just as if I was one of the family! I have always felt at home with them, probably because they act just like my folks! The first time mine and Josh's family met, we knew it was love at first sight! When I say that I am talking about my dad and Josh's dad, Tibby. Those of you who know my dad, know that he is the craziest, laid back, loving man EVER!! He loves to dance and sing and just say the silliest things, literally! So when he met Tibby I know for sure he met his match! These two grown men crack me up!! They say some of the most obseen things to one another (our families are used to this by now), and carry on for hours! They are a hoot at family gatherings, holidays and most current, our family vacation to San Antonio. I am not sure you understand their love. So let me just show you! And by the way, they are sober...Honestly!

Isn't the little white dog with the red bow in her hair just the cutest thing you have ever seen.....well thank goodness she is or I wouldn't resist popping her a few times for her immature-ness this morning!!!

Well I have to give her a tad bit of credit (not much though) she has been on allergy medicine for a week now and on the label it says...increased urination! Are you getting a picture now as to why I want to beat my 3 year old West Highland White Terrier??!! Yes she wet the bed! Not one, two, but three times (in all different spots) on our brand new adorable royal blue, paisley bedspread!!! Awww you are probably feeling sympathetic for her because of her medicine??? Here is why you should not: 1.she has been on the meds for a week and has only had one accident she was asleep and did it mid nap)I let it slide, 2. For the last 5 days she has had two doses instead of one like she did last night, 3. I even took her outside at 1:15 AM!!

So when Josh wakes up at 6am, he says oh s#$t Ellie pissed on me!!!! LOL I have to laugh a little, because he was in such disgust. There were two pee piles right by his elbow!!!! He was livid...Ellie went outside and we had to clear off our bed, take our comforter to the cleaners and try to clean the wet spots that leaked through to the mattress pad!!! OMG what a way to start your morning!

But the story gets just a little bit better...Josh is in the living room and he yells out to me, who finally settles back to some sort of sleep in the unmade bed..."She pissed all over the living room floor" She had a pee path!! Luckily we have hard wood floors, but still!! WOW! My dog who never (honestly never) gets into trouble was,(OOPS I mean IS)in BIG trouble today!

On a better note: I am going to New Braunsfels and San Antonio this weekend! Maybe I will actually take pictures for you to see when I get back!

We were playing around in the kitchen (or shall we say I was) and I decided to doll up my little tom-boy. She hates it when I do this to her and I just think it is so cute! Dogs are really not my style, so the fact that I love her more than life itself it bizarre! I think red is her color! Enjoy! Happy 4th of July!!

Summer has been wonderful so far, except for the fact that during the first week I found out I was not pregnant anymore and had to have a d&c, yuck! :( Even though we had a rough start things are finally getting back to normal. The past two weeks have been rather uneventful and I am definitely okay with that! Sleeping in and staying up late are two of my favorite things in life! So as you can imagine I love my job more and more each day that I wake up and realize that I have about 7 weeks left of this!

However I am a tad bit sad because for about the last ten, yes 10 years my family and 40-60 of the craziest, funniest, wildest friends you will ever meet all boarded an airplane and headed to somewhere in Mexico for an entire 7 days!! That will not be the case this year.Tear. With the economy sucking the way it does everyone wanted to take a year off and this was the year to start thinking babies, little did we know it would be my brother's baby on the way! The Texas heat has been awful and will continue to rise over the next two months, so I can't help but think about our Mexico adventures! I can't even begin to explain how amazing these getaway's were so I thought I would post some pictures! As I sort through and select some photos to share I will be reminiscing and missing Mexico!!!


Starting with the most recent...just last year!


Leverett, Aaron, Josh and Anthony


Jayme and I, I swear we didn't plan! Jayme has been going to Mexico with us since the beginning!



Oh my gosh, this has the funniest story behind it! Let's just say this was a reinactment!


This was taken two years ago!


Josh and I in the airport two short years ago.


You know we did this a few times each summer!


The family of six!!


Linsey, Me and Jayme a few years back...the college days!


Sporting the Boston hats in Mexico...My B really just stood for Bronwyn!


Just a few more pics and I will stop...all the memories are coming back. This was just a day out on the Cabo town. Amorey, B, Me and Jayme


Ashley and I with lovely flowers in our hair, probably 4 years ago


This wasn't the first trip, but probably one of the best! 2003 It was our senior year of high school! There were about 5 couples and a few other girl friends that came that trip!

I wish I could share so many more, but it would take forever! This was just a peek into what has gone on for over a decade! Mexico will not be the same this year without the large, crazy group from Texas! You will be greatly missed...until next time!

I didn't know if I could muster up the strength to blog about this, but I think I am ready to share and heal. My family and friends have been absolutely wonderful and Josh and I appreciate all that they have done for us. So here goes...Last monday was our first doctor's appointment and I was about 8 and 1/2 weeks pregnant. Or so I thought :( We immediately went in for a sonogram and to my surprise she did an abdominal sono, needless to say we didn't see much of anything. The tech said she just thought that I wasn't as far along. Let me clear up that I did not see my doctor that day. On the first visit you get a sono and speak with the nurse. This was totally not her fault.
WhenI left the doctor that day we thought things were normal, well no we didn't. I had a deep gut feeling that I can't explain. I told Josh that I wasn't happy with what we saw and that maybe doing a transvaginal sono would help us see much more. So I called the doctor's office and they checked my folder and it said the sono tech checked off for hearing heart tones and everything looked fine. So I hung up the phone a little happier but still not convinced that things were okay. Brandon and Amorey were having their 20 week sono on friday and they wanted me to go. I said okay, that way I could see my little nephew and ask my doctor about my concerns from earlier in the week. So friday rolls around and B, Ammy and I meet my mom at the doctor to see little Hadley. He was precious by the way! He has dimples and all! So sweet! So while we were in the sonogram room with the same tech from monday, my mom asks her if she will do a vag sono on me. The lady said of course no problem! So I was a little hesitant because I wanted Josh to be there but I was going to do it anyway. So my brother stepped out of the room and I got set up and while the sono is going on I, we see nothing!!!! There was a sac but no signs of baby. I was in total shock!! I am no dummy so when she went to go get the doctor I just knew I was about to be officially disappointed. My doctor was out of town and so in came another doctor to talk to me and confirm there was no baby. I am glad my mom and Ammy were in the room with me, because this is when I started getting emotional. They moved us all to a room so that we could talk with a nurse and ask any questions that I had. Here is the just of what happened, my body still thought I was pregnant and my mind and my heart now knew differently. The body began acting as if I were pregnant but the fetus never formed. So I could wait and let my body miscarry on its own or I could have surgery to have a D&C so that the doctor could clear out the sac. I chose the surgery, I could not go on with my body thinking I was pregnant and knowing I wasn't. So I booked my surgery at 7:30 mon morning! I still had not told Josh because I wanted to be outside so I could burst out in tears and tell him what happened. It has to be the hardest thing I have ever done, telling him that our first pregnancy is over. He was obviosuly devastated. My mom drove me home to him and he just held me as we cried. Josh was supposed to go out of town for the weekend and he decided not to go of course, so we could wrap our minds around this together. So we got out of the house and spent the day together. He was incredible!! You know you have chosen a great husband when they catch you when you fall. I was definitely falling. I love him so much and I know we can make it through the hard times! So the weekend passed very slowly and finally it was time to get the surgery behind us so that we could
heal and move on! We had to be at the hospital at 6 am and I was in and out of surgery by 8:30 or so. It went very well and I was able to leave by 9 am. Josh stayed with me all day and pretty much watched me as I slept. I am feeling much better and optimistic about the future. This has happened to so many people and I know that a healthy pregnancy is in the future for us!Again I want to thank my friends and family as they are helping me through a very tough time. All of the prayers are working because my spirits are lifted and I am much stronger emotionally.

It has been over two weeks since I have posted!! That is because I am the most boring person ever! On a day to day basis nothing interesting happens to me. I will take that as a good thing! No news is good news right. Well I actually had an eventful weekend so I will share. Thursday was a half day at school and at 1:15 I said "Goodbye" to my very first class. I have to admit I was not a bit sad. Friday was a teacher workday, but I did not mind being at school for a few hours to know that I will not return until August!! Leaving school on friday was a wonderful feeling!! So that night Josh and I went to the Horse Races to celebrate my end of school and my mom's birthday with friends and family.
Amorey and I at the Horseraces!

We had a great time! It was so relaxing to hang out and to know that I had a successful first year of teaching behind me! Words could not express my excitement! Friday night my mom came to me and said that she and my dad would be going to the much talked about George Strait concert on Saturday. I was bummed because she only had two tickets. Well if you know my dad you would know that tons of people, loud music, and obnoxios drunks are not on his list of fun things to do. So I gladly volunteered to take his place, he was thrilled and handed over his ticket! Mom and I left for Arlington at 1:30 Saturday afternoon. I thought she was crazy, being that the concert did not begin until 5:30. I knew traffic would be bad but really 4 hours early! What she didn't tell me was that we had to go to the Ballpark in Arlington to visit (in a suite) with the guy who had hooked her up with the floor seats to the concert!! He is a client of hers, who deals with celebrity athletes. Nice I know! So during the visit in the luxurious suite I got to meet George Strait's road manager, Tommy! Wow! So about 4:15 mom and I began the short, but very hot walk to the Texas Stadium! When we walked in I was in awe! It was incredible! We slowly made our way to our floor seats where we sat just 39 rows back from the stage! We had a great time and my mom and I danced and sang the night away! The only downfall was when we had to wait in the food line for over an hour!! BOO! But we didn't miss Reba or George!

We are only 7 weeks pregnant and the baby's name has pretty much been decided on. I know you are thinking wow it's too early! Are you kidding I have been thinking about baby names my whole life :) May I have a drum roll please....if our little darling is a girl her name will be Aven Gray! I love the name Aven and it is original! It means radiance and is also the name of a plant with white, red and yellow flowers. I first saw the name Aven in a magazine and I saved it in my phone, it has stayed with me ever since!! The middle name is still undecided although I am pretty sure it will be Harper. There is a chance her middle name will be Tyler, after Kourtney Tyler Williams, a family friend who passed away at the age of 16 from Leukemia. But first name is definitely set!

If Baby Gray is a boy his name will most likely be...Cooper Jackson Gray. I have been trying to convince Josh to use Jackson as a first name, but he is set on using it as a middle name. We have been going back and forth on Cooper but I like it better than anything else we have come across so far. So as of now Cooper is in the lead!

I know I am taking a risk posting these names for all of you to see! ;) Baby names are a big thing now days and no one wants their names stolen if you will. So I guess you could say I am calling dibs!

Now that I have told you our name choices, you will have to wait patiently with us to see which name we will get to use on our first child! I will keep you updated!

1. Mention the person who tagged you, Erin :)
2. Complete the list of 8's
3. Tag eight of your blog friends

8 Things I look forward to:
1. School coming to an end! 7 1/2 more days!
2. Spending the summer resting and doing fun things.
3. Getting one of the extra rooms cleaned out for a nursery!
4. Reading a book, I love to read in the summer!
5. Meeting my nephew, Hadley in October!
6. Growing a baby bump.
7. Being pregnant at the same time as Amorey and Jayme!
8. Finish my wedding scrapbook, yikes it's almost been 3 years!

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Slept in!
2. Cleaned my house.
3. Ate Chick Fil A, Yum!
4. Went to my mom's for some rain and a little sun
5. Hung out with the family
6. Went down to the Tomme's house with lots of friends and family!
7. Instead of beer, Amorey and I enjoyed orange slices and water :)
8. I was asleep by 10:00

8 Things I wish I could do:
1. More exercising, I am just too tired right now!
2. Snap my fingers and my classroom would be ready for summer!
3. Go on a shopping spree!
4. Clean out my closet for our upcoming garage sale, but it's too soon!
5. Get paid twice a month.
6. Grow my hair out faster!
7. Get my roots done, not for a few more weeks!
8. Come up with better lesson plans, some weeks I am just not creative!

8 Shows I watch:
1. The Biggest Loser
2. Chopped
3. The Bachelorette
4. Rules of Engagement
5. Dancing with the Stars
6. Two and a Half Men
7. Real Housewives of Orange County


8 Bloggers I follow:
1. Jenn
2. Megan
3. Molly
4. Erin
5. Leah
6. Amanda

I am pretty new to the blogging world, who else blogs?!

Well it has become official news people!! Josh and I are going to be bringing a little one into this world come January! I am so excited I cannot stop smiling!! We found out last sunday and we decided to keep it a secret ALL week so that we could tell the entire family at once on friday night. Josh's dad came into town as well my aunt and uncle from Houston. (They were in town for my cousins college graduation.) So Josh and I schemed a plan...we created a dinner around our "little" surprise! We have such a close family and we are always looking for a chance to get together! So everyone thought we were just having a dinner with all of the out of towners! Little did they know they were in for a BIG surprise!

We arrived at my parents house around 6:45 or so and I was busting at the seams to shout it out right then...however we were missing one special person, my DAD! I could not do it without him there. He was at a friends house helping him with his pool. So the longer I waited and the more anxious I got, I mean I have kept the secret all week!! So finally my dad pulls into the driveway and my heart begins to race. That's when I tell Josh "we have got to do this now!" So we tell our mom's that they need to open their mother's day gift to get it out of the way, so we can eat dinner. We present the presents at the same time and hand our mother's their cards first. At this point I am just waiting for the yells!!!! And soon enough they both figure it out!! We had placed a picture inside each card that said Baby Gray is on the way! We are pregnant!! And it had a picture of my positive pregnancy test! FINALLY it was out and I was shaking! My mom and mother in law were bouncing up and down screaming and crying! It was so exciting! One of the coolest moments of my life! So now my mom is going to be a double grandma, my brother and Amorey are having a little bundle of joy in October! Lynda my mother in law is thrilled as this will be her first grandbaby! My sister in law Amy heard the news and she bought Baby Gray his/her first ATM shirt! So sweet! So everyone keep praying for a healthy FULL term Baby!!

For the last 3 weeks my crazy dog has been interrupting my sleep! Most of you know I LOVE my sleep, so this has been SUPER frustrating. You are probably thinking it is a good thing you don't have a baby right now, and I would say that is different! We are talking about my dog here people! The fam goes to sleep all together each night. Then around the time of 1-3 am Ellie decides she has had enough sleep and she wants to sit, yes sit in the middle of the yard. She loves to stargaze??! So instead of getting off of the bed and crying at the door, she walks back and forth across our feet. Who do you think eventually notices and gets up?? Me of course! So I get up and stumble to the door while she happily flies off the bed rearing to go. When this all first began I would sit sleepily by the back door to see if she would come back in. Now, with no remorse I shut and lock the door and tell her I will see her in the morning. That is until this morning...As usual I let her out at 1 am and head back to bed only to hear a faint dog cry at 3 am. That's right she had figured out where my window was and she was crying right beside my bed! So once again I have to feel my way through the dark living room to let my whiny dog in!

This is all so ironic because I have NEVER been a dog lover. I still feel that way, I don't like other dogs I just LOVE my Ellie and of course my nephew Tye.

p.s. It pisses me off when I get home from work and Ellie is exhausted! I will post some pics of my sleepy (during the day) dog later.

25 and 1/2 days left of school!!!!!!!
Can you tell I am ready for summertime??!!

About three weeks ago I decided that I need to get serious about working out! I have been slowly gaining weight. A few pounds here and there, I am not quite sure how this has happened because: I am on my feet ALL day EVERYDAY, I barely have time to scarf down a frozen smart one or a turkey sandwich in my very brief 30 min lunch and I have been steadily working out my whole life!

So anyways, enough of the excuses!! A friend of mine, Hailey has agreed to do the best thing ever for me! She has paid lots of money for a trainer at Gold's Gym and works out every morning at 8 am! I am sure you are wondering how that benefits me?! Well, she meets me at the gym at 4pm to do the exact same workout she does in the morning. So I am getting a "trainer" made workout at the fabulous price of FREE!! I am so grateful to her for giving the extra effort to help me out, but as you would imagine I am physically exhausted when I leave the gym an hour later. What else should I expect I am recieving a really good workout!!

Each day of the week we focus on a different part of the body, and as the week progresses my body is very fragile!! Tonight my arms are killing me! She gave me a double dose of arms ( two days in a row) YIKES!! My upper body strength is pretty much non-existant, so yes I am in pain right now!

Well I made it through my first field trip as a teacher! Field trips have always been fun for me, of course being the child, but now being on the responsible side of it. Aghhh!! It is a lot of work!!! You have to make sure that all money is accounted for, chaperones included, schedule buses, a strategic plan for the day, keep up with lunches and ice chests, head count of all the children and chaperones, bathroom breaks, more head counts and unplanned trips to the bathroom, etc. So exhausting!!

All 82 second graders, 5 teachers and 15+ chaperones loaded the buses at 8:30 this morning and headed to The Dallas Museum of Nature and Science. We arrived at 10:10, our activities began at 10:00. Oh well they waited on us :) From that point forward the entire day was busy! We participated in a Dinosaur Discovery dig, then had lunch by the pond at the museum, then it was time for exhibits, an IMAX presentation on Corral Reef, then back to the exhibits, and finally back on the buses to head back to school at 1:45, we arrived at 3:10. (The bell rings at 3:15).

We had such a good time and the kids were great! There was no time for the kids to get in trouble, we kept them super busy! I have to say it was very entertaining,even for adults. I had a good time and I am sure all the kiddos did too! So overall I would rate this experience as successful!!

Saturday was my brother's 22nd birthday!! We (some family and friends) went to Kincaid's and had burgers then went bowling at the old Don Carter Bowling Alley, which is now Cityview Lanes. The bowling alley had been remodeled and it was awesome! The bowling alley wasn't filled with smoke, loud music, and lots and lots of young, punk kids. It was great to have a nice night of bowling with friends and family.

My brother is so special to me!! We have always had such a good relationship and I am so proud of the man he has become. I am the big sister, but sometimes I feel like he is more grown up than me. He is going to be a daddy in October and I cannot wait to see him in that role!

I hope you had a great Birthday! Love you B!

Nine years ago today Josh and Bron became and official couple! Wow! I was 15 and Josh was 17. My how our lives have changed for the better. He and I were right from the start! We have been married for almost 2 1/2 years and each day is even better than the day before. I absolutely love, love, love my husband.

Yes, we are corny and still have a "dating anniversary". Let me clarify, I do not use the day as an excuse for an anniversary gift. LOL ! It is simply a great day to celebrate the love that we experienced as "kids" and appreciate how far we've come as a married couple!