Movin' Mountains

This past week was our fall break, if you didn't catch the excitement from my previous post. I was a happy girl. Sleeping in was the name of my game on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday night, I had a test in my grad class (insert moan). But, I got an "A", so all that studying I did that day was worth it. The girls and I met for a much needed drink after that. Drinks on a Monday, you say?? It's Fall Break, y'all!!

On Wednesday afternoon, Matt came by, picked me up and we mosied our way down south and east to Gatlinburg, TN. I have only been one other time and it was in middle school for a dance team competition. When I would tell anyone that I was going, all I would hear about was food! Let me just say, this fatty was pretty excited. 

On the way down, we got stuck in traffic for about an hour. It was so frustrating. I was ready to get there and see all these restaurants that I'd heard so much about! You know how normally when you pass a wreck, you think to yourself, "If everyone would stop rubberneckin' and just go, we wouldn't have sat in all that traffic!!" Well, we couldn't HELP but rubberneck at this wreck. Just take a gander. 

That's some seriousness right there. A little ways ahead of that, there was a tour bus that hit the back of a car and then someone else was pulled over by a policeman. NO WONDER we sat in traffic so long! Still super frustrating, though. 

Once we made it to G-burg, we went to the condo to meet his Dad and Stepmom and then to dinner at a BBQ place. It was pretty great! Later that evening, his Stepbrother, Adam and girlfriend, Jenn arrived. Also, his Stepsister, Whitney, her husband, David and their 4 kids arrived. We all stayed in the same condo together. It sounds like it could get crowded, but it really wasn't. We had 3 bedrooms and a pull-out couch. 

My favorite place that we ate at was the Apple Barn! They give you SO much food and for a reasonable price. For an appetizer, they bring you apple fritters. Ohme. I ate 4 1/2 before my real food started coming. They also bring you a salad and soup (vegetable). Then the main course. I chose to get the chicken sampler. It came with chicken n dumplins, chicken pot pie, and 2 pieces of fried chicken. I got soup beans and macaroni and cheese as my sides. Then they bring you desert! All of this for $15. Seriously. I had to waddle out of that place. My belly sure was happy, though! 

Matt & I drove up into the mountains one day. It was just the two of us and we had so much fun! We saw 3 bears and a variety of other animals. 

This looks like the scenery from where I am from. It makes me so homesick! 

Turkeys!

Matty & I

There's a bear up there, if you look closely!

We also went to the aquarium with his whole family. It was a lot of fun! I loved watching the kids have a good time, but I also love going to aquariums (nerd alert).

Spotted Jellyfish

Caleb and Papaw (Matt's Nephew & Dad)

Love the seahorses!

These bad boys were my favorite. Shark Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year!

Sawfish

Petting the horseshoe crabs

Little Dave

Jacob

I loved the penguins! We watched them for a loooooong time! 

It was a good vacation. I enjoyed getting to relax and eat (a lot). I also enjoyed getting to hang out with Matt's family. I don't know his step sister that well, so it was good to get to know her, David and their kids a little better.

Where should I go on my next vacation?!

Break it Down Y'all!

Everybodyyyyy screeeeeeeammmm!!!! It's Fall Break! Can you dig it?!

Shew! Fall break is always such an accomplishment in the kindergarten world. It has been a great year. Good kids, great assistant, awesome team...just all around great year so far.

I've managed to throw some of my own fun in on the weekends. What have I done? Well, I'm glad you asked!



I helped my cousin, Nanci celebrate her 30th birthday!



It was a ton of fun being there with her.

Then I rednecked it up with Matt & my family at the Bristol night race. Yes, I love NASCAR. Don't judge, friends.









Matt & I went to Atlanta for his birfday celebration. No pics of us together. #fail






Then as you all know, I ran the Warrior Dash.



We had some fun theme days at school. Sarah & I looooove some dress up days!









It was also Fall Festival. We worked the most awesome duck pond. Ever.



Went out to where else, but Raffetty's to celebrate Erica's birfday.



Had a pretty awful night out watching the boy play music. Found out the hard way that I had purchased and was wearing the SAME dang outfit as his ex. Who does that happen to?! Got stared down and talked about. And just went to sit in the car. It was either that or start a bar fight...so be proud of ya girl. Matt and I managed to get a pretty good pic from that night!



And now...fall break. I spent some time studying, so I could take a test last night. After my test I met up with the girls for some drinks.



Other than that, I've just been hanging out with this fool.



We leave for Gatlinburg tomorrow. I'm going with Matty & his Dad, Stepmom & Step sister, husband & 4 kids. I'm excited for some good eats and shopping. Today will be spent in preparation and Sarah & I are heading to Jackson's Orchard to get a pumpkin.

If you're a follower, then you know how much I hate the fall. I'm trying to make the most of it this year and count my blessings!

So, instead of raising a glass to fall break, let's just raise the roof!

Mud. Sweat. Beer

So, a few weekends ago, I headed down south to Manchester, TN. I met up with Sammi and a few of her friends to camp and run the Warrior Dash. So. Much. Fun.

Friday night I was lame and went to bed pretty early. I was just exhausted and knew that I had to run 3 miles with obstacles the next day!

On Saturday, we got up, showered, ate breakfast and hung out. When I was getting something out of my trunk, I locked my keys in there. Something I have never done before!! Micha and I tried for HOURS to get my doors unlocked. We used a hatchet and a hot dog stick.






When we exhausted all efforts with those tools, I sucked it up and called for outside resources. I tried the Police Station. The lady on the phone was super nice to me, but unfortunately, they don't come unlock cars. She gave me the phone number to the ONE locksmith in town. Then asked if there were any men in our group. When I said yes, she told me how thankful she was for that. I didn't really understand until they arrived...ohmy, y'all.












After this whole ordeal, I was able to get my things out of my car, which included the tutus that I made for us to run the Warrior Dash in!

Here are a few more pics from our day.





















Sammi, Bob & I were the only ones in our group to run. If you aren't familiar with this race, go check it out at warriordash.com. At the end of the race, you jump over fire, then crawl through a mud pit. Soooo fun!

I can't wait till next year!

Things I love

So, I realize that today should be a day of reflection, a day of "where were you on this day 10 years ago?"...but I am still just as mad and confused as I was 10 years ago. Instead of writing a post about something so horrible, I have decided to give you a list of 10 things I love about my life.

10. I love my job. For real. It's so fun to hang out with 22 little hilarious 5 & 6 year olds all day. I come home everyday with a new, funny story for Matt.

9. I love my friends. They are always there for me no matter what. Even if it's just to return a dumb text about the terrible girl I keep running into (or who is showing up to places intentionally). They were there for Matt & I during the loss of his Mom and for that, they will always have an even more special place in my heart.

8. I love that FRIENDS is now on Nick @ Nite and they are showing marathons.

7. I have been battling a cold, so right now I am loving tissues with lotion and sudafed.

6. I love making new friends. Even though I already have the best friends on earth. Seriously, they are cooler than your friends. I can't help but love the feeling of making a new friend. Puts a big ole smile on my face!

5. I love shopping. Maybe a little too much! I didn't do much of it this summer, because my funds had to be saved for London. I have been able to hit up the F21 a few times recently and love my new purchases!

4. I love babies. There is just nothing like holding a newborn baby. My friend Lana just had a precious baby girl, Lily. Holding her lifted my spirits so much. Let's be real. At my age, there are times that I get baby fever.

3. I love my co-workers! I am so very blessed to call several of them my friends. I actually work with my BTF (Best Teacher Friend), Sarah. I love seeing her everyday. It makes me so happy!

2. Duh! Big red truck! I love Matty. He just gets me. Miranda Lambert has a song called, "Love Song"...to me it describes our relationship perfectly.

1. I love fall tv. It's one of the only good things about fall. All of the new tv starts back and I have something to entertain me almost every night of the week.

I hope that today, you not only reflect on what you were doing 10 years ago and on the horrible even that took place. I hope that you also take time to think about some of the wonderful things in your life.

Have a wonderful week, lovely readers of mine!

A Laborless Weekend

This weekend, Matt and I took a little road trip down to Atlanta for his birthday. He is a huge Braves fan, so we went down for a game. I have been a Cincinnati REDS fan forever, but I found myself having a good time at the game doing the Tomahawk Chop with the rest of the crowd.



Our hotel was right across the street, which was awesome for us! No cabs or traffic!



It was great to get away for a couple of days and just enjoy each other!

Today, that sweet boy drove me to the Lakeshore Learning Store!



It's one of my favorite places on the planet! It took me about an hour and a half, but I managed to spend all of my school money for this year. I'm nerdily excited about my new purchases!



I'm so glad to have the day off tomorrow. This school year is awesome and I love my students, but I sho am tired!

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend!