Month 11: February

Welcome to February: My favorite month of the year!

For years before Jeremy and I got married, we celebrated February 1st as our anniversary. Now that we have a different anniversary, we don't make as big a deal out of it, but it is still acknowledged. I saw this idea on Pinterest and I thought it was a perfect way to celebrate this day as well as the other day of love in February. It is basically a count down until Valentines day. 14 little gifts each with a cheesy saying to go along with them. Jeremy is the king of cheesy so I thought this was appropriate and the count down started on the first. I started with the sparkling cider with the note "You make my heart bubble over" to celebrate this special day. We even used plastic champagne glasses from the dollar store!! Each day after this, Jeremy would get these little gifts in random places and at random times. The last gift was on Valentine's Day and said, "Honey, comb your hair because we have a date tonight!" Guess which treat that went too! :)

My "Anniversary" flowers. Jeremy is really good about flowers. He gets it from his dad.

I had to stick this picture in here. I made this apron for Jeremy a long time ago. I thought I was pretty creative and funny. Now when Jeremy wears it I just laugh. 

My mama came to visit this month. She was here to take care of Jen, but we were able to steal her for a night. This was her first time visiting our new place so it was very fun for me.

Sunday Dinner

She is so proud of me :)

I also started my unit for student teaching this month. I decided to do it on expository writing because I thought they could really use some help on their writing.  I don't think I really thought about all the grading that doing a writing unit would entail. 45 kids each doing 4 essays turned out to be a lot! I actually really loved the things that they came up with so it was worth it.

I started this unit by doing a little activity so show the kids what expository text is and what kinds of writing they would be doing for this unit. I had a group of kids put on a little skit with a newscast and cooking show and commercials. They did a great job.

This is what a proud teacher looks like. :)

I have to say this is my favorite picture...priceless moment caught on film. Just look at our faces. This boy is one of those kids that is super smart and wants to outsmart everybody. He can be pretty in your face about it. This is me shutting him down. Gotta love it!

Performance success! 

Valentines Day

I was really nervous about what to bring my kids. Valentines can be so expensive so I made my own. I gave them pencils (I know...what lame teacher. One of my students told me that they were going to bring pencils but their mom was like 'nobody wants a pencil!' Good thing the mom was wrong...everybody loved them!) with little toppers I made on top. I also brought rice crispy treats and everybody was in love!

Being in an elementary school, you also have to think about what you are going to use to collect your valentines in. I came up with this gem all on my own. That's right...it's not from Pinterest! 

When I got home from school, Jeremy was ready with a homemade dinner. He even bought me Fresca! I was so happy! (We never drink soda...I think this might have been the first time soda has even been in our house. I was in heaven!)

I also got pink tulips for Valentine's Day. These are one of my favorite flowers! I'm pretty spoiled this month in the flower department!

Mrs. Burke (one of my coop teachers) told me about this valentines craft she did when she was in school. You use conversation hearts to write a creative story. I loved the idea so I did that with my classes. They were required to use five random hearts that I gave them. I seriously died laughing with some of he stuff I came up with. I let them all take them home, but I wish I had copies of some. One boy wrote this love note that was so cute while another wrote a horror story. So funny what sixth graders come up with when given gushy love conversation hearts. 

I thought Jeremy and I could do something fun with the left over hearts. I wanted to see how many hearts I could use in a letter to Jeremy (so I could brag to the kids in my class who said 5 was really hard) but Jeremy went a little more creative...as always!

I love his notes!

Random picture...I lost my pillow with my white pillowcase in California the last time we were there. So we had to use Pocahontas pillowcases for awhile. Then I remembered that a sweet sister in Jeremy's ward made us these. I thought they were too nice to use but now we use them everyday!

SNOW

Sometimes it helps us feel a little better about the snow invested town where we live when we try and embrace it. This is us doing just that. 

We attached bungee cords so we could pull each other.

Jeremy really misses surfing...this is as close as he gets out here.

SNOWBOOGIE!!!

It actually was really fun to play in the snow for a change instead of just complaining about it. This winter has actually been really mild and we are thankful for that. This will be our last winter here in Rexburg so we are trying harder to enjoy it before we never see it again.

Pinterest doesn't just benefit me...Look what Jeremy made!

An egg fried inside a pepper!

HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY TO ME!

February 27th is my birthday and is my favorite way to end my favorite month of the year. This year I told Jeremy I didn't want a party for my birthday, but we had been wanting to have some friends over for dessert and games so we figured this weekend would be a good time.  

Of course Jeremy couldn't end the party without singing happy birthday to me, so he surprised me! 

I LOVE lemon cheesecake so I was very happy with the surprise!

The Group...it was a fun night with lots of yummy desserts and some side busting games! We really need to do it again sometime. 

Birthday Tradition: Breakfast in Bed

My birthday fell on a Monday this year, so I had to go to school, so I was glad Jeremy made something quick and easy for me to eat. My favorite cereal, Raisin Bran Crunch, and fruit!

I also made Oreo cookies from scratch to bring to my classes but I guess I didn't take pictures. I'll just say they were really good! I've totally my kids that I'm not a good cook so they were all saying, "You lied...these are so good. You are such a great cook!" Another great thing about teaching: great confidence booster!

Opening Presents

So many fun gifts! Thanks to everybody!

Jeremy also took me out to eat. We really don't go out to get much because we are so cheap. However, we recently found this old Applebee's gift card. Jeremy had been using it to scrap wax of his surfboard. We called to see if there was anything on it and sure enough there was several meals left on that thing! I told Jeremy the next time he needs to scrap his board I'll give him a couple 20 dollar bills instead. :)

Needless to say that whenever we go out to eat, we eat here. :)

Our new obsession: Onion Rings

Applebee's has DELICIOUS onion rings!

Jeremy's parents had this beautiful bouquet of flowers sent to my classroom. I went bright red in front of my whole class when y principal brought them in, but I was grateful for the gift. Thanks Mom and Dad! Like I  said this is where Jeremy gets it!

I have to also send a shout out to my parents. I can't believe that you have put up with me for 22 years now but I am thankful you have. Thank you for raising me, teaching me, and helping me get to where I am now. It seems crazy to think that your baby girl is now married and almost a college graduate. You're old! But I love you, wrinkles and gray hairs and all. And I'll always be your little girl. :)

So from our 5 year Anniversary, to Valentine's Day, to celebrating my birth, it was a pretty good February!