Family Comes First!!

It's funny how when you graduate from college, and emerge from your "party" stage, you'd rather spend time with your family on a Friday night than hang out with friends. I've spent the last couple Fridays with my family. Chad and I celebrated my dad's birthday with him and my mom at the Timberwolves game. We spent this last Friday playing 500 at my Grandma and Grandpa Preiner's with the rest of my dad's siblings and spouses. Here are some pictures from our fun nights...

Trip down the stairs...

Some of you heard, but as my back aches, I feel about writing about it. A week and a half ago, I left the house to go to work. After walking out to my car, I thought about washing my car while I was out...so I carried the box of books that was in my backseat into the house. I was going to bring that box right down stairs...but with my wet shoes, I slipped on the first painted-cement step and "floated" all the way down the stairs. I landed with a thud and a little twisted...the fell knocked the wind out of me, so I was making that horrible noise...(http://youtube.com/watch?v=HyFapbZuMGU). In between gasps, I called out Chad's name. He came running down screaming and asking what was wrong...He carried me upstairs and laid me on my bed. I was crying and screaming because I was in so much pain. He got me advil, ice and laid me on the couch. I calmed down for awhile, and attempted to get up to go to the bathroom...unfortunately, I couldn't move. I decided to go to Urgent Care...and had to have Chad bear hug me to lift me from the couch...After 3 hours at Urgent Care and 3 xrays of my elbow, I left with a prescription for Vicadin and no breaks or fractures. So I have been recovering since...I still have a sore back and my elbow is black and blue...hopefully I will be recovered soon. I hate being in pain....

Regarding "Can It Last?"

I have had a lot of conversations with friends/family about my blog about marriage. I think some got the wrong idea about my views. I do believe that love can last...and I believe my love with my better half will last. I also believe that many of my friends/families love will last. I think marriage is such a sacred, special, difficult thing that needs to be entered with an open mind. I never saw my parents fight when I grew up, so I never thought married couples fight. I have since "woken up" and embraced reality that couples do fight...even the best, most in-love couples fight. And that's ok. It's taken me a long time to realize that just because I fight with my better half, it doesn't mean we shouldn't be together. I have also realized that the honeymoon period doesn't last forever...but it comes and goes :) We are in another honeymoon stage now...:) So I applaud those of you who have made love last and who are in loving, committed relationships. I cannot wait to become a member of the married crew...

Happy Love Day!

Valentine's Day is a much different day as a teacher. I was actually dreading the day. I knew it would be a difficult day...what with crafts, paper everywhere, glitter everywhere, and so much candy! My kids were crazy all day...and the day wasn't over once the kids left at 3:00. We had Family Night that night...the kids came back at 5:00. So I had a piece of pizza, smiled and mingled with parents, and went home.

I came home to a wonderful surprise. I told Chad to come out to the car so we could get to our dinner reservation...he said I should come in...I knew he had something up his sleeve. So I avoided the closed bedroom so he had to give me a hint. So I went into the bedroom to find a darkened room with my favorite John Mayer song playing on his laptop. There was a vase with a beautiful bouquet of roses and lillies...my favorite. There were also two boxes of my favorite chocolates...even though I told him I gave up candy for Lent...:) On the bed were two bags...Christmas bags...what a perfect setting :)

I got a hand mixer and 4 stemless wine glasses...perfect presents! Then we went to dinner at Mission and had great steaks and drinks. Our third Valentine's Day was just as good and romantic as the first...I'm a lucky girl :)