This picture of Sandi pretty much sums up what we have been doing with our Christmas break at home in Florida. We have really done a whole lot of nothing, but we have enjoyed every minute.
Nolan had 2 flights scheduled over the break, but they were eventually cancelled, due to weather, so he would come home and we would do our own thing for the rest of the day. :-)
It has been really relaxing for myself, as I haven't done ANY school work (teaching or FSU) for 2 weeks; it's going to be rough getting back into the swing of things, but it's all down hill from here!:-)
I have 2 more classes this semester for my masters and once I have them completed I will be half way done with the program! Somewhat hard to believe, but very exciting! Oh and I got 2 more A's, so I have (so far) maintained a 4.0! Whoop!
With teaching, I am just going to focus on the FCAT test that is administered at the end of March... I have exactly 97 teaching days ahead of me, and yes I will be counting them down, one by one until May 30. It is hard for me that I know that my students aren't going to be nearly as prepared (for life, for 7th grade, for the 6th grade FCAT) as I had hoped back in August, but I also had no idea what I would be dealing with and how much it would affect my work. I will continue to do the best that I can, with what I have, but I dread the publication of the FCAT Scores, as I will be able to point to so many reasons, that were beyond my control, as to why the students did so poorly.
Enough of that, I will continue to do my best and it is what it is. :-)
Today, Saturday, we spent the most amount of money,
on a single item, that we ever have in our 1 1/2 marriage!
A Tempur-Pedic Mattress!
I really haven't slept WELL since we got married... The bed that my mom purchased for me, when I was about 16, is/has been great, but if Nolan moved or got up in the night, it would wake me up, and being the EXTREMELY light sleeper that I am, I really never went back to sleep.
So, we had been discussing getting a new mattress for Christmas, but then we kinda forgot about it, until over this break; somehow we came across the idea this week. I did a little bit of research, but decided I wanted to go lay on one and just see; I even looked into staying at a hotel that has them, of course there wasn't one anywhere near us...
We went today and did more than just lay on it, we bought one! haha
I must say that I am so grateful that Nolan and I are so alike, yet so different. I would have gone home and hemmed and hawed about it for months, but he encouraged me that we should buy it today! I am such a tightwad/saver and am glad that Nolan helps me to let go sometimes! :-)
There is an in-home trial, so if we don't like it we can return it, although I really hope it is as good as we hope it is! We don't get it for 3 - 5 weeks! :-( I hope it's more like 3, but I will definitely let you know what we think! I can't wait!
And
some pictures from Christmas...
Sandi "guarding" all the opened gifts!
The HUGE rawhide bone Sandi got!
And two stuffed animals...the day after Christmas, because they were 50% off!
SO VERY EXCITED about her new toy... to destroy!
A picture to give you an idea of how big it was...
And a few days later... how not so big it was...
she gutted it, like every other toy, it just took her a bit longer! :-)
Just a few things we are looking forward to this year!
- Josh and Jill's wedding in February in Connecticut, a place we have yet to visit!
- Nolan finishing Primary in March/April/May? (flying the T-34) and possibly Secondary too
(aircraft has yet to be determined)
- Sandi's 1st birthday! ;-) March 17th
- No more Bellview Middle School
- Happy 2nd Wedding Annivesary!
- Nolan's 25th birthday! October 24th
- And many more great experiences along the way!
It has rained quite a bit over the past 3 or so days and the HUGE hole that she dug turned to mud...
She got a bath soon after this picture was taken! :-)
