27...

Yep, that's how old I am now. Forgot to mention in my earlier post that yesterday was my birthday. It was a nice, low-key birthday. I am just thrilled it didn't fall on the first week of school this year. Last year I was so exhausted on my birthday that I came home, took a bubble bath, and went to bed early.
Santi got me a bouquet of roses and took me dinner to Maria Maria La Cantina. I told him I didn't want to do anything big since I had just spent quite a bit of money on my girl's trip to New York. Dinner was fabulous. As a lover of good food, I usually avoid "chain" restaurants. Maria Maria is technically speaking a chain since it has several locations....but it pales in comparison to most chain joints. It is owned by Carlos Santana (love) and run by an executive chef. It is basically an upscale Mexican place. The environment is really great...very chic. They had a live band playing Bob Marley and I enjoyed some amazing steak tacos and of course a margarita. It was a lovely birthday.
Day one of being 27 has almost come to an end, and so far I don't feel much different that I did at 26...that's good right? I'm still young and fun, right? Okay, it's 9 on a Saturday night and I am lounging around in my p.j.'s playing on the computer. Who am I kidding? That's okay, I am kind of a homebody these days. It's nice just to relax in my favorite place. I am hoping that 27 brings many wonderful things my way, and really praying that this is the year I become a mom. I don't want to see my 28th birthday without a baby in tow.

Happy New Year! (and yes, I know it's August)

Wow. On Monday I will begin my fourth school year at Desert Oasis...that's right, I said fourth. That means we have been living in Arizona for three full years. Where has the time gone? I feel like just yesterday we were packing up our cars with wedding gifts and starting the journey to our new adventure out west. This is our home now, it's where we began our lives together as husband and wife. Where I began the career I love. We have had so many wonderful experiences since moving here. I know this is where God wants us. Maybe in the future we will move on to a new adventure in a new place, but for now this feels like home. I will always be a Hoosier, but you can have roots and wings.

There is something very refreshing about starting a new school year. Teachers are lucky. We get to have two "New Years". Two times each year where we get to "start over". When the back to school supplies roll out at Wal-Mart I start to get a little excited about the prospects of yet another year, a new bunch of personalities to get to know. While beginning a new year with a new group of kids is always challenging, there is nothing more rewarding than watching a group of 5 and 6 year olds grow and change and learn. I love it. I love my career. I am so blessed.

I have spent the last few weeks getting my room prepared for my new arrivals. Here is a sneak peek:

Special thank you to my wonderful aunt Julie and my grandma Jo for helping me out with the colorful seat sacks. The kids were so thrilled with all of the bright colors when they entered the room for "Meet the Teacher" night.