Well, well, well...it's been far too long since my last update. I often think, "Hmmm, I should update my blog" but when I finally get five minutes to do so, I usually opt to catch up on the latest
16 and Pregnant or
Hoarders that's recorded on my DVR. Sometimes, life makes you make difficult choices, and updating my blog or watching my catalog of DVR'd television shows is a regular choice I have to make.
Work has been very busy, but very good. It seems like every day I make more progress with my students. They've really adjusted quite well and quickly. I'm learning to choose which battles I fight with them, or how to even approach it when they're having an issue. It's still hard to believe that I'm finally working and doing what I've always wanted to do, because it just feels like a dream sometimes. Although I came in 2 months after all of the other teachers, I could not have been more ready for this holiday break. I have had several of my co-workers tell me that coming in mid-semester for my first year of teaching is going to make it the hardest year; much harder than had I started back in August, because the kids had to have a major change suddenly. Life at work is good. :)
Since my last post, we've hit a major milestone:
Our 1st wedding anniversary was December 12! We decided to take a long weekend in Dallas to go to Six Flags, shop and enjoy ourselves. We decided to go to the Gaylord Texan to eat at their restaurant, The Old Hickory and then see
ICE! featuring Peanuts by Charles Schulz. It was really neat, and I would highly recommend it as well as go again. It's an exhibit of outstanding ice-sculptures that are 10-times better than the swan ice-sculpture at your aunt's wedding last year. The whole thing is remarkable. They bring in artisans from China who make massive ice-sculptures every winter and hire them to make this wonderland of awesome at this hotel. Just go. It's amazing. Here are a few pictures that don't even do it justice:
It was a good weekend. Six Flags was kind of a bust due to EVERY high school in the Dallas area (and other parts of Texas, including the school that I work at) decided to bring their extra-curricular groups there that day, but still, a good time was had. I still can't believe it's been a year.
Today, Travis and I decided to start our vacation off right...with DENTAL WORK!! Yay! When I first started working, I was having horrible pain where a wisdom tooth was growing in, so I made an appointment to get it checked out and they said it was time to pull them. So I made the appointment. Then Travis went in about a week later for a check-up, and they said he would most likely need a root canal, so he scheduled the appointment. Coincidentally, the appointments were made for the same day. So, today he got his root canal and I had my wisdom teeth pulled. Thankfully, I only had 3 wisdom teeth, (because I just don't have a 4th one) and that's probably helping my current state of little-to-no pain. It was 2 on top and 1 on bottom, and only the lower part of my mouth is sore, but even then, not very much.
I will say, however, I wish I could eat solid foods, because Wendy's Chicken Nuggets sound heavenly.
I am so glad that Christmas is almost here! The house is decorated, the majority of the gifts are purchased/wrapped and the plans are made for Friday and Saturday. I know you're all dying to see how our home looks, so I give you this wonderful gift:
You're welcome. Really. :) I'm quite pleased with how everything looks, and although most of the gifts under the tree are for us to take to family's houses over the holidays, I like how it looks with all the presents wrapped underneath.
That's the bulk of our holiday decorations that are out. We don't have many tables/shelves to decorate, so anything left over that I wanted to put out landed in front of the TV.
Now, let me be the Yankee Candle spokesperson for a moment, but first a small back story.
As a child, we had this wonderful Christmas book that was scratch and sniff. There was a page that smelled like gingerbread, one like peppermint, etc. It was a neat little nostalgic book, as it was a book we'd pull out every year. They say that scents and fragrances jog your memory, and for me, it always does. Anyway, there was one page that smelled AMAZING. It was my favorite page, and I can't even begin to describe its fragrance to you, except it almost smells like a Christmas tree, but not.
For years now, every single Christmas I seek out in attempt to find a candle that is similar to this fragrance that I loved as a kid, and every year, I come close, but not close enough for my satisfaction. Until now.
Yankee Candle wins the award of "best holiday scent ever in the world" in my book. The scent is "Holiday Garland." I encourage you to give it a sniff if given the opportunity. I've had it burning all day and it just makes me feel festive. See my lovely little candle?
What's funny to me is that my sister, Sarah, came over recently and picked it up to see what this candle smells like. When she smelled it, she looked straight at me and said, "OMG. It's THE smell."
I didn't know it, but she'd been looking for that wonderful smell for years as well.
If Yankee Candle discontinues this fragrance, I'll sue.
I hope everyone has a phenomenal and safe Christmas holiday! :)
