Spent TOO Much Already

Been shopping two days in a row. I've spent too much money. I've eaten way too much. There is a reason it's good to only have breaks once in a while. If you're too busy working then you don't have time to spend money and gain weight!!!! And to think, it's only day two of spring break. Yikes!!! Spending time with my family and boyfriend...priceless. Ha ha, y'all saw that coming.

Last Days

So here I am enjoying the last days of my summer vacation. This summer I'm a bit sad about summer vacation coming to an end. I know what you're thinking: "Duh, Patty! You're sad because you have to go back to work." Although this is true there is a different sadness to it that I can't quite put my finger on. (Wait, did I say that right, Jen? You know how I get my sayings all mixed up.) I've narrowed it down to a few possible reasons. Maybe if I ramble about my thoughts one of you can pin point it for me. Sort of like free therapy!

This summer I moved into my new house. (Yes, yes, I know I haven't posted pictures. So sorry. Will get those up soon...guess I better take them first!) I've officially lived here for a little over 2 months. A few of you were on the emotional journey with me of trying to find the perfect house for me. Now that I'm all moved in I feel like I'm leaving my child behind whenever I leave it. Then there is the addition of my boyfriend living here to add. I have to say that I've definitely had to adjust to that but things are going good.

Moving to my new house also brought me closer distance wise to my sisters. They both live out where I do and I've become closer to both. I spent so much time with my older sister and her boys. Have to say that right now I'm going through withdrawals because the boys have already started school, and my sister and I are both teachers so we start soon. My other sister and I talk on the phone more often. She's a crazy gal and cracks me up.

This summer I got the calling. I am FINALLY ready to leave the classroom. In 2005 I graduated with my educational leadership degree and passed my certification test to become a principal. Of course you have to be an assistant principal first but I hadn't heard the calling. And I felt like I needed to be an exceptional teacher myself before I could lead teachers to be the best they could be. Well this summer at a leadership conference I sat among assistant principals, principals and counselors. We held conversations and I have to say that I could hold my own. I was knowledgeable and had great input. Although I heard the calling too late and didn't apply for any assistant principal positions, I have applied for a couple of literacy coach positions available at some schools including my school. The thought of leaving the classroom deeply saddens me. But I have a passion and love for curriculum and feel that by helping teachers I'm still helping the students. I have to say that not being a classroom teacher feels like part of my identity is being taken from me. Also, if I were offered that position at another school then I would leave behind all the great people I met when I moved back home.

I will admit that there are some definite ups to going back to work. I do love my job. And if it is God's will for me to remain in the classroom then that is what will happen. I will gladly remain in the classroom. I have many things to be thankful for. A family I actually want to spend time with and miss, a job in a time when things can be uncertain, a boyfriend that loves me unconditionally, and now my very own house. I guess this was the summer of all summers and I'm sad to see it go.

Opps I forgot!!!
I have a fear...that this year will not compare to last year. I had the perfect class, with the perfect teaching situation with my co-teacher, the perfect student intern, perfect parents and perfect co-workers. Last year Jen and I carpooled and we had a blast. I'm sad to let all of that go and to be disappointed this year. So I guess I'm sad and afraid. Great!!!! Now it's two emotions. I'm a mess! :)

Happy August and OMG...300 posts!!!

I can't believe it's already August. Sad news: I go back to work in about 2 weeks. Happy news: this post marks my 300th post. Woo hoo! It's been fun. Although I haven't really posted in a while and it seems like I may not do it very often, I have to say that I love to blog. So Happy August to all of you.

And...since it is my 300th post I want to tell y'all 300 things about me. HAHAHA! Yeah right! I wouldn't do that to y'all. But here are some random things I'd like to share.

• Matt is all moved in. It's a major adjustment for us. Well, he's doing better than I am. He's such a good guy. He's good to me and with me. If that makes sense.
• Summer is almost over. Or I should say summer vacation is almost over. It's been a memorable one for me.
• I am officially addicted to the Disney Channel. I love Wizards of Waverly Place. Too funny!
• Nothing excites me more than the rush of buying new school supplies. Today I bought my new calendar for the year. I.AM.SO.EXCITED.!. I'm using my coordinating pens to write all over my calendar.
  
• I'm a little nervous about the new school year and new crop of kids. When you've had THE.BEST.YEAR.EVER. how can anything compare? It'll be hard to top last year.
  
• Thoughts of applying for new positions are finally dancing in my head. After 4 years of having my degree and certification in Educational Leadership I finally know I can do it.
• I think I broke my laptop. Well sort of...
• What is everyone having for dinner? I'm super hungry.
  
• Again, watching TV in High Definition is the greatest.
• First NFL preseason game: August 9th. OMG!!!!

Have a great August everyone. I hope to be on more often and to visit your blog soon!

Two Wholes Equal ... Two?

Tomorrow I head out to San Antonio. Then on Tuesday I go to Austin to help Matt move here. I have to admit that I am SO nervous about being part of a couple. For those of you that have followed Matt and I's story from the beginning know that we have been involved in a long distance relationship for about 7 months. We haven't spent a whole lot of time together but I love him nonetheless.
All this talk of Matt coming here made me think. Why is it that people say their significant other is their other half? I don't get that. I mean I think I'm whole on my own so I'm not a half of anything. So the way I see it I'm part of a two. Because I'm a whole and so is Matt. We're two wholes.
Yeah, maybe I didn't make any sense. Well life is changing and I'm so excited.

LaLaLaLaLaLaLa

I've got tons on my mind right now. Enjoy as I ramble.

• Lifetime is the devil. Lifetime Movie Network...double devil. Then again, I did see some awesome movies today. Not just your typical girl in trouble movies.
• Putting the finishing touches on a house is more stressful than moving in. I'm stressing over finding art pieces and the little things. And landscaping. Yuck! I don't know what to do.
• My summer break is going way too fast. :(
• OMG HARRY POTTER IS JUST 4 DAYS AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I still need to take pictures and post them.
  
• Cooking and washing dishes is not so bad. However, having a dishwasher is freaking awesome.
• There is no end to how much HGTV and Food Network I can watch. Oh and watching it on HDTV is fantastic. Football season...here I come.
  
• Yay! One week till the boyfriend moves here. Many changes coming.
  
• Spurs in the offseason are looking GOOD. Read this article about them. Scroll down to where it says WINNERS. YAY!!!!
• Sadly, this is the first summer in a long time that I haven't done some reading. It's the house's fault.
  
• For the most part I love Facebook and MySpace. I've been able to reconnect with some long lost peeps.
  
• Quote from my new principal who I saw at a staff development: Her: "How's the new house?" Me: "Oh it's wonderful! I've almost got it all together." Her: "Oh good so now you're swimming in debt. How wonderful!" I don't think she was being sarcastic. I think she was actually happy for me.
  
• It takes me 40 minutes to drive to work, 30 to my mom's, and 25 to church. But...it only takes me 4 minutes to get to my sister's. We've had tons of fun all summer. And the nephews have managed to spend the night at least once a week. I love having a guest room!
• I think...I think that's it.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Anyone? Anyone?

Who wants to go on a road trip with me? This is where we will be going.



Just kidding...not sure I'm convention material.

Catching Some ZZZZZZZZ's

So Jen and I left school at about 12:50ish. We are officially on Easter break. I'm sooooooo tired. It's the strangest thing thinking how tired I've been lately. In fact I feel like taking a nap right now and the great thing is that I CAN.

Cloudy With a Chance of Sunshine

Please don't even ask!

Spring Break = Bad Patty

I'm now heading into detox

Safe and Sound

This post is being written from my very own bed at home. I have to say that this week seemed like one of those dream weeks. Truth be told, I've never experienced one before so I'm assuming this is what a dream week feels like. Unfortunately, on St. Patrick's Day I switched out my purses (I had a green one for St. Paddy's Day) and forgot to put in my camera and carry it around so...again no pictures. I'm a dork.

Obviously the reason I had such a marvelous week was my quality time with Matt. There are no specific reasons why I feel our time was dream-like. What can I say? He's a sweet guy and he treats me well. We had intense and amazing conversations. We were dorks together and laughed a bunch. We got to know each other better. I like what I got to know. He also gave me a tour of Austin, but not the tourist-y tour...the local tour. It was so sweet. To tell y'all the truth, I can't exactly put into words what I feel. But I can say it feels great!

Matt also humored me and my LOVE for cupcakes. I told him about an article I read about Hey Cupcake! We went first thing on Tuesday (it's closed on Mondays). He even took me back on Thursday before leaving Austin so I could bring some home. Three great days!

Now would be a good time to share a little more about my issues. I've always considered myself a bit of a commitment-phobe. Not really sure why. There is something about having to take someone else into consideration while making a decision that I don't like. I love my independence. But I suppose I had yet to meet someone I wouldn't mind doing that with or for. The other fear is that I haven't exactly ever invested this much into a relationship (hence my commitment issues). I guess I'm afraid of losing it all. The honest truth is that I've always felt that if I didn't invest too much into a guy then I couldn't get too hurt. And now I'm in way deeper than ever and quite frightend. But I'll take each day one at a time and enjoy it. Because right now I am extremely HAPPY and so IN LOVE.

Oh yeah, and San Antonio was a blast too. I went to visit my old school and all my friends there. We had dinner and drinks and laughed our asses off. I'll be back in 3 weeks for a quiceanera. Stay tuned for part two...

So Sorry

Hello everyone! Currently I am in Austin enjoying time with my boyfriend. Aside from doing the FFFF Scavenger Hunt I haven't been able to read much less comment on any blogs. I am so sorry! I promise to be back and full of comments after spring break!

I hope everyone is enjoying reading and becoming followers of new blogs. I know I am!

Greetings from the Road

If you are reading this post then you should know that I am currently on I-10 heading to San Antonio to hang out with my friends. Then on Monday I will head on 35 North to Austin to spend much anticipated time with my boyfriend, Matt. Spring break is gonna rock this year!!!

I'll be sure to post pictures and things from my trip!

I hope y'all have been enjoying our Fresh Flip Flop Find Scavenger Hunt. I've had a blast getting to know new blogs and I hope y'all are too.

Road Trip, Baby!

Read about our scavenger hunt here!

Today is Friday and I'm officially on spring break. What am I going to do you ask? I will be taking a road trip to San Antonio to visit friends. I lived there for 9 years so I've go a few people to see. And...I'll be visiting Matt in Austin.

No worries everyone. I will be taking my laptop with me so I will be able to read and comment on all of your blogs. I can't survive not doing so. Y'all have become a part of my life.

I know many of you already had your spring break. If you did what did you do? If you haven't yet, what will you be doing?

Be safe and careful if you are traveling. Happy Spring Break!!!!!!

Tired but Happy

I'm having one of those exhausting weeks. Maybe it's because I've been doing a few different things the last two weeks at school. It could be that my body is just getting ready for spring break. Whatever the case may be I am pooped.

Yet....

I'm so blessed and happy and in love. What could be better? Today my fellow second grade teachers and I were talking about how "off" we felt. Like we were in the clouds. We all were doing things uncharacteristically like ourselves. Even forgetting to do things. One co-worker laughed at me and said: your head is "in love" in the clouds. Ha ha! So true. I just thought I'd share my enthusiasm and happiness with everyone. Oh and I haven't written too many specifics about my boyfriend because I want to make sure he's okay with it. I've never thought to ask.

Good Times!

I have to say that this past weekend was absolutely one of the best this summer. As I mentioned previously my best friend Edie came into town. While I lived in San Antonio I met Edie while teaching at my previous school. Instantly we clicked and she so kindly invited me into her family. I have to say that I am so grateful to her because her family welcomed me and I had a family away from home. My dad once joked if Connie, Edie's mother, was going to claim me on her income tax because I spent so much time with them. We had breakfast every weekend, went grocery shopping, and had Sunday dinner with the family every week. So Edie and I saw each other basically every day. We spent time together at work and also on weekends. Naturally, it was very difficult when I moved back home, but we've kept in touch and I'm so glad.
My parents were also grateful because I suppose you always want good people in your child's life. So on Edie and Connie's visit they obviously spent a lot of time with my family. I'm proud to say that they are part of my family. If I ever get married (many of you know my position on that) Edie will be my maid of honor.
Another reason that I feel my weekend was amazing was because I merged the old with the new. My very first friend at my new school was Yoly. She makes me laugh and always tells it like it is. Yoly fits right in with my family and my old friends, Edie and Connie. Next time Edie comes into town I hope to introduce her to a few of my other friends. I'm still debating having a 30th birthday party.

Ha Ha Ha!!!

Last night I spent the night over at my sister's house. My nephews love for me to spend the night even though they don't really hang out with me much when I'm there. Odd! Today we went to see the movie Get Smart with Steve Carell. It was a cute movie and pretty funny at times.

Spoiler Alert!

At the end of the movie my nephew, Matthew, asked my sister and I: "So did the guy that looks like Obama die?" We were puzzled so we further questioned him: "Which guy are you talking about?" He went on to say that the actor Dwayne Johnson looked like Obama to him. If y'all knew Matthew you would know that he has a dark and strange sense of humor. This was just too funny. That crazy kid.

The Planetarium

This is my first day of summer vacation and I feel like I've done so much already. I haven't really but it feels like it. In just five days of vacation I've accomplished the following.

• Woken up 4 days to work out
• Gone to see a movie
• Visited the local planetarium
• Gone shopping
• Attended a graduation
• Read several of my magazines
• Taken naps on 3 days
• Caught up with old friends
  

So I have been very busy. I like the feeling that I have plenty to do, but I also have the luxury of doing nothing. I don't have to work I can do nothing. I've been back home for two years today I am reminded of why I moved back. My family.

I'll have to remember to visit my to do list. There are so many things I want to do this summer. But then again it is only week 1.

No More Kids Just Us

Today was our last day of school. My class had a great time. They signed yearbooks (yes, our school has yearbooks), played games, ate, and talked. My parents were wonderful. I didn't have to worry about too much party food. All we had were Happy Meals. Even though I didn't tear up, there were some touchy moments in my room. I've never gotten a hug from every parent. And even though teacher appreciation week was only about a month ago, I received some very nice gifts. So all I have is one more day to go. But it's just going to be us teachers.

Summer Vacation Is Almost Here

June 6th is my last day of school. I have many projects I want to work on in the summer. I hope I can get to them all. Stuff never works out the way you want them to.

Summer Projects

1. Horacio's scrapbook
2. Continue my jewelry making
3. Learn to decorate cup/cakes
4. Reread the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series so I can read book 4
5. Get back to working out and eating healthy
6. Explore the city
7. Endless possibilities
   

I've also decided to blog about my mission to work out and eat healthy daily. Maybe like that I can stay focused and on track. We'll see how it goes.

I'm also starting my cake decorating this upcoming weekend. I've taken on the task of making my niece's graduation cake. We'll see how that goes.

So look for any pictures and info on my developing summer projects.