Golden Apple Award

This morning, my mom received the Golden Apple Award from WHO-TV 13 and Allied Insurance. The entire school was called for an assembly at 10:30, but no one knew what it was for. Chad, Payton, Aaron, Jess, Kaylee, my dad, and I had to sneak into the school so Mom didn't see us. She was so shocked when her name was called. She is definitely deserving of this award. She has been teaching for 35 years, and is retiring after this year. We are so proud of her! Congratulations, Mom! We love you!

Behind in Blogging

So, here it is almost Thanksgiving and I haven't even blogged about Halloween.  I have been working on a class this month, and just finished it, so I thought I would do a little blogging.

Payton had a fun Halloween.  She seemed to really enjoy it this year.  She didn't quite understand the concept yet, because after the people would give her the candy, she would try to give it back to them.  :) 

We had a lot of fun this fall.  We were able to make a trip to Appleberry Farm here in Marshalltown and also to Carroll's Pumpkin Farm in Grinnell. 

As I put away Payton's Halloween costume this year, I looked at her costumes from the past couple years.  The first year she wore a hand-me-down costume that was given to us by some friends.  That fall I was shopping at Old Navy and scored some $2 costumes.  I bought a 12 month butterfly for her to wear for her second Halloween and a 2T monkey for her to wear for her third Halloween.  I remember at the time thinking how long it would be until she would be able to wear them.  Well, it sure doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I bought them.  Time goes way too fast!

2009

2010

2011

Wordless Wednesday

UNI Homecoming

UNI Homecoming was October 8. It was a GORGEOUS day! We got to Cedar Falls a little early so we could hit up the bookstore. Then we took a little walk around campus to look at all the leaves and the fall colors. Such a fun day! Go Panthers!

30

On October 6, I turned 30.  I was really dreading it.  However, it ended up being very fun and probably my most memorable birthday yet.  On Saturday, October 1st, Chad threw a surprise party for me.  I went shopping in Williamsburg for the day with my good friends who I used to teach with in Newton.  When I came home, I walked in to a house full of people!  I was quite surprised, and very impressed that he pulled it off!  It was a fun night, and I am so blessed that many of my family and friends were there to help me celebrate.  I hardly took any pictures from the night, but here are a couple.

Banner that my mom made

Cake (notice the fire extinguisher in the background)

Then on my actual birthday, I was greeted with yet another surprise.  I walked into my classroom that day and saw that my co-workers had done quite a number to my room. 

Then after school, we all went out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Portal.  Chad and Payton met me there.  They even sang to me and let me wear the sombrero!! :)

This is my present from Chad.  So excited to go see them on November 19!

All in all, it was a great birthday and made me realize just how lucky I am to have such great family and friends.  Everyone keeps telling me that the 30's are great years....let's hope they are right!

Wordless Wednesday

Football Fun

I changed the background of the blog to a football theme.  I thought it was quite appropriate.  My brother and dad are both football coaches.  Dad is in his 12th year at William Penn and this is Aaron's 4th or 5th year at Twin Cedars, but his first year as head coach.  Penn is having a great season and I think Aaron's team is doing ok.  I feel like a horrible sister/daughter because I haven't been to any of their games yet.  Chad went to Aaron's game last week and we are hoping to get to Penn's Homecoming game October 29.  In addition to following Aaron and Dad's teams, Chad and I are followers of Bobcat football and this is a fun season to watch!  Our quarterback was named ESPN HS player of the week last week, which was pretty cool.  http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/football/tag/_/name/blake-gimbel  I had him in class as a 7th grader when I taught at the middle school.  He is a great kid and it's neat to see him doing so well.  Also, this is our first year as UNI season ticket holders.  We went to our first home game this season last Saturday and it was so much fun.  We were not sure how Payton would do because when we took her to a Bobcat game earlier this season, she hated all the noise.  But on Saturday she did awesome!  She sat on Chad's lap the entire game.  It was a fun day and I'm looking forward to spending many more Saturdays at the dome in Cedar Falls!

Go Sabers!

Go Bobcats!

Go Statesmen!



Go PaNtHeRs!!!!