First Day Jitters

Yesterday was Martin's first day of culinary school.

He laid out his clothes.

Packed his backpack with his new notebook, pens and of course the Wine Bible.

He has nothing to worry about (he may be a big nerd and already read his text book for 'fun' last summer)

He's going to do great!

I wonder where life will take us in 6 months...

I know there is a greater plan for our lives

I know it will be great...especially when my husband perfects chocolate souffles. 

13 Days You Say?!

Dear School,

I'm not sure if you learned your lesson from last year that most people don't work well in 55 degree classrooms.  Just sayin'.  Maybe you shouldn't blast all the heat in the hallway next to the door that leads to the playground. You're causing me to dress way more frumpy than I prefer...going as far as wearing my heavy winter jacket for the first part of the morning and literally crying when I have to take it off when the bell rings.  My hands don't thaw out until I'm home and put them dangerously close to the stove turned on high. I'm glad I only have to suffer for thirteen more days. Thirteen more days of children bouncing off the walls because Santa Clause is coming, thirteen more days of endless testing, thirteen more days until I'm in teacher heaven.  

Maybe as an early Christmas present you could crank it up to at least a balmy 60 degrees.  I would be much obliged. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Wolfe

I'm Thankful!

I'm thankful for so much today...especially for the on-call maintenance man who fixed our furnace early this morning :)  Martin and I are on our way home to enjoy Thanksgiving Ravioli with my family!  Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thankful Turkeys

We traced our hands and added colorful turkey feathers

and we had a very special helper! 

We are thankful for many things in Kindergarten!

Family

Friends

Shirts

Hair Cuts

Candy

T.V.

Toys

Food

Haha I love the hair cuts and shirts...I guess if I think about it I am pretty thankful for those things too, especially having a shirt to wear...yikes! 


In our one family video I was telling you about yesterday, my sisters and I are coloring on Thanksgiving morning...all dressed up in our pioneer outfits.  My mom asks us each what we are thankful for.
Kate: "God"
Jessica: "My family"
Elizabeth: "THE T.V.!!!!!!!!!"


:)

We had a great two day week, but I'm ready for three days off!

26

Do I look the same?

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I had hoped to accomplish by 26...for some reason it always seemed like a landmark age for me.  I'd be past my mid twenties and almost to thirty. 

I knew I would be teaching, married to Martin, maybe have a few kids.

Two out of three ain't bad eh?

(Kate and I in 2004)


My sister and I are 26.
Our family has one family movie.
My mom rented a video camera and filmed our fourth birthday and Thanksgiving in 1988. Kate and I haven't changed really, truly in twenty-two years.  She's outgoing and LOUD, making a mess and I'm so quiet you have to turn the volume up as loud as it will go...and you still can't hear me.  I love watching how we interact...we've never known life without each other.  Even at four, we had created this bond that is unbreakable.  


I miss her today.  Of course we'll Skype and probably talk three times.  I want to be four again when I knew we would celebrate birthday after birthday together and the thought of moving away from each other wasn't even comprehendible. 

Happy Birthday Kate!

I hope you have a great day.  I'll celebrate with some five year olds and you can celebrate with some ancient mammoth bones and when we're together in a few weeks we'll celebrate together! Love you!

Love,

me

Older Than Dirt

Looks like it's finally wintertime in Kinderland...

Tomorrow is my birthday!

My students are very excited.  We've been anticipating this day for 22 days now...everyday when we do calendar they say, "...and there's your birthday!"  

It's marked with a big birthday cake so we don't forget :)

Someone raised their hand this afternoon and asked me how old I was going to be.

"I'm going to be 100"

"Wow, you're as old as my mom."

haha

Tomorrow is our last day before Thanksgiving break and we get to have a special visitor in the afternoon.  I told my students that my sister was going to be visiting us.  

"The one who lives far away?"

"No, she can't make it tomorrow.  But my older sister will be here!"

"The curly haired sister?"

"Yup, that's her!"

I love how they know my family by their hair style :)

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Christmas Cards Galore!

Last year I looked forward to being able to send out my first official Christmas card as a newlywed! I love this time of year and growing up I loved looking through the basket of cards my parents received. 

This year Shutterfly is offering 50 free Christmas Cards to bloggers! 

Here

As well as lots of great deals on holiday cards!

This is what we sent out last year from Shutterfly! I was excited to show off my new family :)

They have hundreds of cards to choose from this year.

These are my favorites

I think this one is my favorite! I love the bird!

Check it out!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Amazingly Talented

I've been keeping something from you...unfortunately not the good news you want to hear.

My amazingly talented husband recently lost his job...and that day felt like one of the worst days of my life. All I could think about was how will we pay our rent, our bills, pay for our groceries? And how could they let him go? Of all the employees, why him?  We've been struggling with trying to wrap our heads around everything that's happened...but you know what?  My mom is right, when one door closes another one opens. So instead of being upset and throwing ourselves a pity party (well we did at first)we've decided that now is as good of time as any for Martin to pursue his true passion.

Cooking!

I know I complain a lot about being a picky eater, but I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have a husband who cooks amazing meals prepared with the finest ingredients. He's taught himself everything he knows.  He's literally read EVERY cook book he could get his hands on and studied everything he could about wine and beer.  He's so passionate about creating a masterpiece with each meal, even if it's only scrambled eggs for breakfast. 

I remember in college I had gone over to his little apartment for lunch.  He asked what I wanted and I of course said, "Spaghetti." I flipped on the t.v. and after about twenty minutes of wondering where our lunch was I wandered into the kitchen.   There he was.

 Using the hand cranking pasta machine running the pasta dough through until it was perfect :)  

That says it all.

He is amazingly talented and he's all mine!

I'm so excited for him to start this new adventure...to see him excited again about learning and working! 

I like where life is taking us and I'm so glad I get go through this life with Martin by my side. 

Wordless Wednesday

Moving

We are on the search again.

I know what you're saying, "But you just moved to your new apartment!"

Annnd you're right. 

Due to unfortunate circumstances...aHeM certain people raising our rent by 26% and calling it a "DEAL!"...we are forced to vacate and find somewhere else to call home. 

I feel like I was just getting our apartment to feel like home.

Now we have to repaint and pack everything up and try again somewhere else. 

This time we'll undoubtedly be moving farther than across the street. I really love this area we are living in now...I've been here for four years.  Now I'm going to have to figure out how to get to a new grocery store and my school and what will I do without a Target just down the street?

We're off to look for apartments today...just the way I wanted to spend my Saturday (I hope you can sense my sarcasm)

Family Photo Shoot!

Here's a peak at the photos I did for the Berkheim family! 

Those kids are so cute!!

*First Snow*

(Kate 2005)

Well, it's finally here...snow that is. 

I was enjoying the 75 degree weather and not complaining one bit because I knew what was coming.

It's November 9th, usually we've had a few blizzards by now.

Tomorrow I'll read the snow poem to my students that my mom would say to me and my sisters when we were little.  We always knew there was a fresh layer of snow on the ground when she woke us up saying....

It snowed last night

It snowed last night

The snow bears had a pillow fight

They tore up all the clouds in sight

And threw them down as snowflakes light

 There are so many things I really hate about Colorado winters...I was talking to my sister, Kate, and I'm pretty sure she's still wearing her summer clothes and sweating to death in the Florida sun...but there's also nothing like a cozy snowy evening with no where to go.  

I just might have to put on my Christmas music...okay Martin?

I love you in every color

Old Friend

I found Anna in my sock bin.

I hadn't seen her in a while.

I've had her since I can remember and she's been with me through everything.

I've taken her everywhere I've gone...even college (although she stayed in hiding the whole time)

She's been lost on a few family vacations (thanks to my sister Kate...you remember what you did) but she was always found.

Over the years her appearance has changed...she may not have any hands anymore, but I still love her.

I remember when I was little I used to say that I would never sleep a night without her and my husband would just have to deal.

Don't worry I got over that. 

On the flight back from Portland I caved and bought a movie to watch.  I'm a little embarrassed to say I paid $8 to watch Toy Story 3...hey my choices were limited. 

Anyways, by the end of the movie I was a big sap and trying my best not to cry.  I knew exactly how the boy felt deciding if he should keep his childhood toys or give them away.  

The minute we got home I searched and searched for Anna.

I found her at the back of my sock bin with all the socks that don't have pairs.

She was just waiting for me patiently.  

Maybe someday I'll have a daughter who can love her too.

But for now I told her I loved her, tucked her back in with the socks, and closed the lid.

Homemade Stained Glass For Me

I was given this gift today by a little girl in my class.

So sweet :)

You should have seen the smile on her face when she gave it to me!

Another student walked up and asked what it was.

I showed him.

Then as he twirled back to his seat he said, "Yeah I've got something at my house for you. I just keep forgetting to bring it...it's candy."

"Oh wow! How special! But you know you don't need to bring me anything."

"Yeah, I do...it's candy."

Bend

For those of you who don't know, I may be the worst traveling companion you'll ever meet.

I tried my absolute best to be calm...but there's just something about being in the mountains that terrifies me (I know, I know...I live right next to the majestic Rocky Mountains).  And when I read a sign that says, "CAUTION ROAD CLOSED AHEAD DUE TO SNOW" I might possibly start to freak out...maybe.  Just don't ask Martin his side of the story, okay? I blame it on getting lost in the woods with my mom when I was little annnd watching the movie Homeward Bound too many times.

Anyways we made it over the Cascade mountains to Bend, Oregon safe and sound. We chuckled when the peak of the mountain wasn't even as high in elevation as Denver. 

Martin was in heaven.  Bend has about abajillion breweries and coffee joints, and that's where we spent most of our time. The people are very friendly..they even pump your gas for you (okay it's the law, but it's a nice gesture none the less). 

So long Oregon, maybe we'll meet again someday.