OK, ok, ok....

Sorry. I have been really really busy.

I here you all screaming loud and clear!

Here are some updates and pictures...

On December 3rd, I passed my student teaching and accompanying class with complete portfolio. Whew! Now my paperwork is awaiting approval from the state. My last day of student teaching was wonderful and sad.

Now, I only have to write up my master's thesis and I will be done!

We stayed home for Christmas this year. Many wishes were answered, even those thought of only days before Christmas arrived. Thank goodness Santa saw the letter left for him on the mantel!!

One of the Christmas presents the girls received was tickets and dresses for The Nutcracker Ballet. YEAH. So off we went on Sunday December 27th...

January 5th I went in for a first interview with Dillon and Bailey's school. They had several openings for long term sub positions that would take me through the end of the school year. I was immediately called back for the second interview to be held a week later, in which I had to present a lesson plan to a group of adults acting like students. It was so fun!!! I came out of that interview so pumped up! A few days later I got the call that I not only got one position, I got two of them! One that started up the following Monday, which is a 6 week placement in a 3rd grade classroom. The teacher was scheduled for knee surgery. The second position starts immediately after working part time through the end of the year, covering for my friend who is pregnant. (She actually just had the baby yesterday! Congrads Natalie!)

D is number 1 (goalie) in white-

January 14th- 18th found Dillon and I in Sarnia Canada. (fake Canada- or so I called it the whole time. Just barely over the Canadian border next to Michigan. We did enjoy our share of Tim Horton donuts though- yum!) His team won a tournament back in September which qualified them to compete in this one. They played the best I had ever seen them play, right up until the last game. The semi final where they fell apart. Worn out. I am secretly glad they didn't go all the way since the winner went on to Russia to play again. YIKES!

We made it back fine and I started working the next week. The kids are so happy that I am back to work in their school and so am I. I came home that first day all grins. I couldn't stop smiling! It's exhausting work, but I truly truly love it!

Bailey had her birthday party this past weekend. She is eight now. Wow- how did that happen??? She took a few friends with her to Build-A-Bear Workshop and then home again for pizza, cake and a sleepover. There was a lot of giggling, but not too much screaming this time. The girls were all wonderful! No fighting and only one set of tears- from Bailey when she hit her head against a friend's. Fun was had by all!

Lastly, today...

Dillon's team has been playing in a tournament all weekend here in town (at DU). This morning they won! It wasn't pretty. In fact this whole weekend of hockey saw some really interesting things.

Friday night called for a pulled goalie (not D, he was put into the game) after which our coach yelled and screamed at the 10 year old kid about his play. Literally screaming and waving his hands like we were losing the Stanley Cup finals. I don't like this coach too much anyways- and this just adds to the reasoning...

On Saturday, there was 6 minutes left in the game. His team was winning 7 to 1. It was being refereed by (not kidding here) a 12 year old and a 14 year old! And with 6 minutes left, the zamboni doors opened and the zam drove out onto the ice!!! We yelled and yelled that the game wasn't over, but they shut us down anyways. DU hockey needed to come out and practice and we were 5 minutes behind in their schedule! Kevin even said he had never seen anything like it! What a horrible horrible way to tell us to clear off the ice! Didn't say a thing, just opened the doors and drove out onto the ice! Classy.

Then Sunday- the kids just shut down. Quit playing and let the other team roll right over them. Lost 7-2.

Then today we played the same team again. We looked better than yesterday, but still were off, getting lots of penalties and not passing at all. We finally scored in the third which ended up being the game winner. But it wasn't a happy, yeah we won, win.

Tomorrow- I am headed back in to work for a teacher professional day, while the kids enjoy another day off here.

Dillon and I are traveling out again February 25th for hockey. This time we are headed to Fargo ND. Yeah. Fargo. Again.

The girls will be home here with Kevin while he manages to juggle them, work, and the state playoffs. Good luck honey!

My sister-in-law, Courtney and her hubby, are past due with their first child. Fingers crossed that he comes soon! Bailey is calling him Calvin, but I don't think the parents will agree. Dillon loves that he is getting a boy cousin on Dad's side of the family. Plus, we just found out that Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Todd are having a boy too! Elizabeth is due July 1st.

Thanks for checking in, even though I haven't posted in a long long while!!!