Greatest Freebie EVER...

So, there are a couple of websites I visit to get freebies.  Sometimes the free samples arrive, sometimes they do not.  Most of the time, I don't even remember what I have signed up for.  I use a Yahoo address set up just for this reason and I never, ever list my real phone number.

So, hubby told me a FedEx box arrived today.  I hadn't bought anything, so I had no clue what it was.  I looked at the return address and it was from PopChips.  I vaguely remember signing up for a free sample, but this box was huge.  So, here's what I got: 6 bags of chips, a chip clip and a huge coupon book with 2 coupons for 1 free bag of chips and several buy 1 get 1 free!

Plus a hand penned note! Yowsers!  What a sample! We had a taste of one of these chips at Jamba Juice several weeks ago and it was delicious and crunchy!  But, their handwritten note may be the thing that makes me buy their chips.  I love a company that is thoughtful and remembers good customer service!  I am impressed.

Brudders...

These two spend most of the day ignoring each other.  But, I caught them in a rare moment, ca-noodling atop the bookcase.  That's Ripley on the left and Sampson on the right.

Overwhelming...

Even though I have been in the classroom for 3 weeks, I just had my student teaching seminar yesterday, which outlined what our work sample is to look like.  I was prepared for a lot of work, but oh boy, it's going to be a rough couple of months.  In a way, my nerdy side is excited to get into the work sample.  It includes a lot of analyzing of data and pie charts and what not and I enjoy doing that kind of stuff.  But, this is the time of year where I have a ton of family commitments (8 birthdays, our 10th anniversary and the upcoming birth of our niece all between Jan 13 and March 20!! Aye ye ye!).  Anywhoseys, there is a lot going on this time of year and now   I am going to have to be very good at my time management so I don't miss out on anything.  So, on this wet and gray Sunday seems like a good time to start, to get ahead of the game.  And, if anyone has any ideas on teaching the American Revolution (which is what my work sample is on), I am taking suggestions!

My favorite little boy...

My nephew, Dylan, running and hiding around the fountain at Willamette University.

Enjoying it...

Student teaching has been wonderful. Which, I'll be honest, is a HUGE relief. I had some panic attacks, usually late at night when I was trying to sleep, wondering if this huge commitment was what I actually wanted to do. I mean, what if I spent 18 months paying for grad school and then I hated teaching? Well, thank god, I don't. So far, I love it. Hubby says I am happy, I feel better and more positive. Now I keep waking up at night wondering how long it will take to get a teaching job. I can't wait to not have a foot in each career and just be in my new profession.

Five Years...

My darling, wonderful, amazing, handsome, perfect little nephew, Dylan, turns five tomorrow. It honestly feels like yesterday that we heard "Twinkle, Twinkle" playing over the loudspeaker at the Salem Hospital, announcing he had finally been born, after a lot of help via an emergency c-section. My poor sis. And now, here he is, turning five with his little sister scheduled to arrive just 2 short weeks from now. I know I am completely biased, but he is such an amazing little person and I am so excited to see what this life holds for him. Happy Birthday, Dylan. Auntie loves you to Pluto!!

My first week...

Well, I survived my first week student teaching in the fifth grade. It was a good week overall. I think student teaching after being a professional is much different the student teaching when you are 22 and working on your bachelor's. I am thankful that I have so much experience under my belt in a variety of areas. It has certainly made transitioning into student teaching easier. Not easy, mind you, just easier. I finish my last curriculum class tomorrow, thank goodness. Now I will start my student teaching seminar and start putting into practice everything I have learned over the last 18 months. Yay! I am so close!

Cat Lap Dance...

Yes, it is safe for work. One of the funniest cartoons I have seen. And if you have a cat, you know about what we call kitty paralysis, that is the inability to get up because of a furball laying on you. Check out Cat Lap Dance.

By the way, as I type this, my chair is being shaken by a furball, on the back, digging to China as we say. I would probably be much more productive without cats, but not as entertained.

Listening to: Failure by Operation Aloha

A productive New Year's...

Today we:

• Took down the outside Christmas lights
• Took down and packed away all of the Christmas decorations
• Cleaned the garage
• Cleaned the kitchen
• Re-routed the speakers
• Put the living room back in order
• Went grocery shopping at Roth's
  
• Went to Pier One
• Went to Best Buy
• Had lunch at Chang's Mongolian Grill
• Hung out with our neighbors and friends, Max and Stacey
• Cleaned the cat boxes
• Moved the BBQ back out to the deck (was in the garage from when we stained the deck)
• Did Laundry
• Watched Limey

Whew... I am tired.