I'm moving to the desert...

At least I'd be warm and toasty

This morning I think I could have ice-skated to work.

We watched the icy snow fall all day and I dreaded my drive home from work.

At 2 o'clock as I was checking my e-mail, I noticed one with a red exclamation point next to it...which means "I AM IMPORTANT AND YOU'D BETTER READ ME RIGHT NOW!!"

So of course I did...

It was the best e-mail I've read in a long time

Dear Employees, because of adverse weather conditions school is cancelled tomorrow, February 1, 2011.

I think every teacher has a happy dance... 

I did my happy dance, not caring that my students were watching me.

I made it safely home from school thinking that life was going great, I mean, I got a snow day!!  

Then I turned the key to my apartment and heard the dreaded sound of water...

You have got to be kidding me I yelled.

I ran like a mad person around my apartment afraid to see where it was coming from: the bathroom, the laundry room, a little in the living room.

I literally sprinted to the apartment office, out of breath, and maybe a little crazed, yelling that I had water coming from my ceiling. They were already on the phone with my upstairs neighbors...the lady was so nice though, she had remembered that my husband and I had just gone through this literally four weeks ago in our last apartment.

 Everything is okay...thanks to my quick thinking and quick running! I should probably try out for the mad dash in the olympics. 

I would like everyone to take note that I was much calmer this time...ahem...Martin.  I was thinking that if bad things come in threes, maybe apartment flooding does also.  Seeing this is the third time, I'm praying it's the last. 

So now that everything is sort of back in order I can dwell on the fact that I have a free day tomorrow! I think I'll snuggle with my furry babies and watch girly movies all day on the couch...maybe dream about living some where warm...

100th Day!

Today was the 100th Day of Kindergarten!

One little boy has thought that when this day came we would no longer have school.

Not quite

Then today somebody said, "On Monday we'll go to first grade!"

Five year olds have difficulty with the concept of time :) To them 100 is a gargantuan number and probably has felt like years.

Here are a few pictures from our very exciting day! 

We counted out 100 Fruit Loops...and tried very hard not to eat them, especially off the floor.

We made crowns!

We wrote about what we will do when we are 100 years old. A little boy turned to me and said, "Mrs. Wolfe aren't you already 100?"

This was my favorite...  

Haha, at least he's honest.

We had a great day singing and counting to 100.  I like how something that seems so insignificant to us can get kids so excited! I bet the last time you counted to 100 you didn't jump up and down and cheer :)

Is it okay to brag about your husband?

I've been thinking. 

I don't give enough credit to my husband. I may possibly be difficult to live with sometimes.  I may overreact, cry, pick at the amazing meals he creates for me, hog the bathroom.  And for reasons beyond me he still loves me.  Cares for me. Wants the best for me. I know, it's a mystery :) Martin doesn't like it when I brag about him (he's very modest you know). But I decided that I don't care and I want to tell everyone all the amazing things he's been up to.  

Remember how he started culinary school?  Well he is doing incredible.  He won't tell you this himself, but his teachers have given him so many wonderful compliments.  Plus he passed his level one Sommelier and Cicerone (which is the Beer sommelier certification) tests...when I smell wine I'm pretty sure I smell grapes... 

He wakes up every morning and literally jumps out of bed with a smile on his face as he puts on his chef uniform (which is very handsome if I say so myself). He has truly found his calling. And now he gets to make me things like this...

In the spring, Martin will get to go to Europe and travel around being cool and chef like.  I'll miss him terribly, but this is his dream, which makes it my dream for him too. 

I couldn't be happier for him...when I first laid eyes on Martin 9 years ago, I knew he would do something great with his life, and I'm just so blessed to be apart of it with him. 

(okay Martin, bragging done...for now anyways ;)

Full Moon and Snow

Pretty much equals the worst combination for a teacher.

I've said it before and I'll say it again because I truly believe kids can predict the weather...and apparently lunar gravitational pull (haha I just made that up...but in all seriousness my students can predict it)

I think stories about werewolves aren't too far off...people seriously go crazy when there is a full moon. 

Then add a little snow in there, some barometric pressure falling, and BAM! 

{Not a fun day}

In Colorado we have a saying, "Wait five minutes and the weather will change!"  As annoying as that statement is, it's true.  The other day we started out with sunshine and blue skies. A beautiful day.  Then sometime after lunch my students started acting up. Not just the usual one or two, but the entire class. And it wasn't just my class, the entire school was a buzz with loud, restless behavior. Call me crazy, but an hour later there was snow on the ground.  See? Not so crazy huh?  

Someone should write a book called, Teaching Children Based on the Weather with a chapter on Children and Lunar Activity.  It would be a best seller. 

does this make me look fat?

Yesterday a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) asked if I was expecting a "Baby Wolfe"  They said this with their arms extended waaaay out in front of them, like unecessarily far in front of them, like I was carrying a pack of wolves in my belly.

I sort of stood there waiting and then realized they were being serious.

"Ummm, no.  Does it look like it?!"

"Well maybe it was the holidays...you know eating all that food!"

Oh. my. gosh.

If any of you know me I have the lowest self esteem of anyone. I already don't think very highly of the way I look...I know I know, I'm working on it.  But when someone you don't really know says that to you, what are you supposed to think?  Does it make it true?


I wish I had been brave and said something.  Instead, being my nice self, I laughed and said something like, "Hahaha well then I guess I won't be eating my lunch today and will go run a few miles on the track next door..."  I'm pathetic.

{Hmph}


poopy person (yes that is a five year old vocabulary word: poopy) 


I guess I'll go cuddle with my family because I know they love me even on my most unattractive day. 

Engagement Session

Megan and Cass

{City Park, Denver}
This couple was so sweet, so beautiful, and so much in love! 

Wordless {friday}

Fabulous and 30

It's my big sister's birthday today! 

She has accomplished more in 30 years than some people will accomplish in their entire lives.
By day she is Dr. Redente, a cancer fighting machine working towards a cure and by night she is the best biggest sister you could ask for (she's a pretty awesome big sister during the day too :). Having her in the same city as me makes me one lucky person...she takes such good care of me.  


Happy Birthday Elizabeth!!!
Have a very special day :)

One Thing

When our apartment flooded last weekend I was worried about the furniture and all of our packed boxes getting ruined.  We were really lucky that it was mostly just clothes and the carpet that were wet.

When I went by a few days later to inspect the damage everything seemed to be drying out okay, nothing major stuck out at me as being destroyed by the water.  Then I walked into the bathroom.  There lying in a heap in the sink was my little pillow.  I guess the maintenance men had found it drenched in yucky pipe water and didn't know what else to do with it. 

It looked sad.

It was ruined.

I cried for the 100th time that week.


I know what you're thinking...Jessica it's a pillow that's as old as you, get over it. But it's been with me through my entire life. I just kept it with me all this time, packed it up wherever I went, finding a safe place for it under my bed or in the closet.  
You can replace clothes, and furniture...but things that are sentimental, that's the worst to lose.  
I don't know what to do with it now.  The feathers are all crunchy inside and it's completely fallen apart.  It seems pointless to keep something that looks so ragged.  

So I guess I'll say goodbye. 
So long little pillow, I liked how your name reflected the obvious about you. Thanks for always comforting me when I needed you...miss you already. 

Hello, again

I'm back!

I'm settled.

We are moved and the flood is over.

I can breathe again.

I don't want to do that again...okay?

Having your apartment flood isn't as adventurous as you'd think.

We lived as nomads for a week and my incredibly very nice older sister and brother-in-law took us in out of the wet, damp, apartment situation.  We can't thank them enough.

thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you  

If you ever need to be rescued you can come to our new place, you might have to sleep in the living room, but you're always welcome :) 

My entire family came to help Martin and I move on Saturday. We can't thank them enough either.  Everyone has just been too kind. 

Here are some pictures of our new place. I'm still getting used to it, like anything it takes me eons to adjust.  But I know how to get to my school and sort of the grocery store so I'll be okay. Plus our new place gets tons of sunshine, which makes me and the little furry children happy.  

We still have a little left to do, but not much.

So far this apartment complex has been incredibly kind and accommodating...I like people who are nice.  Things are looking up already :)

Small Vacation

Taking a teeny tiny break from blogging...I just don't want anyone to worry ;) (all 33 of you!)

Life has been a tad bit stressful...like our current apartment just flooded Sunday and we're moving on Saturday...you know, stuff like that! 

Be back when I'm all settled into normal life

A lamp and a heart warming tingle

On Christmas Eve, my mom, Kate and I ventured to the thrift stores in search for some treasures.  I always hope to find a rare piece of art that ends up being worth a trazillion dollars at Antique Road Show...no such luck yet.  But we did find an old lamp base at Goodwill.  

It is perfecto.

My new favorite thing and just what I was looking for.

We headed to the hardware store to get a few missing parts. 

As we walked through the doors an older gentleman eagerly walked us to the lamp department with his big elf hat swaying back and forth.  He showed us some things we might need and then decided he would check to see if the lamp even worked...to save us a little time and money he said. 

He found a lightbulb....plugged it in.

Nothing.  My heart sank a little.

He then expertly tried a few different things and then began to gather parts and fix my $4 dollar lamp.
We talked as he worked.  

A few tweeks here and there and presto! 

We were all so excited...we may have even let out some embarrassing cheers. 

My mom asked the man what we owed him.

"Merry Christmas!" he said.

We tried to talk some sense into him...I mean nobody does anything for free anymore, especially with such a kind heart. 


But he insisted.  


We left having much more faith in humanity with a new hope that there truly are still good people in this world. I know it seems silly to make a big deal about such a small moment, but honestly, since then I want to be a nicer person.  
"Pay it forward" as they say.  
(I think the man was secretly a Christmas angel)


*Here's my finished product*
I love how it turned out!
A little elbow grease cleaned up the milk glass so bright and shiny.

I bought a silk flower and feather, glued them onto a pin back and pinned them onto a new lampshade.

Now every time I see my little lamp it makes me smile

The weather outside is frightful...

Where was all this snow when I had no where to go?

It's been a good week! Kate and Bobby left yesterday for Florida.  They celebrated New Year's Eve in the airport shuttle bus heading back to their car...whoot whoot. When I talked to her today she said, "It's good to be home." 

I'm sure she didn't mean that...

I'm so glad she was able to be here for almost two weeks this time. It's not the same without her here, a little quieter, lots neater.  We watched the entire season of Hoarders together and I am positive now her messiness will never amount to a few piles here or there. (mom and dad, I may have cured her!)  I told her to promise me she would never be a hoarder...she did.   

Now reality is setting in that I start school on Monday...eek! I'm going to soak in my last day off tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a blessed New Year filled with much happiness!