We're Engaged!

Yesterday was one of the best days of my life! I'm still on cloud 9. My BF Kali was bugging me all week to meet up over Labor Day Weekend to go golfing...her cabin is in Bayfield and Chad and I were going to his family's cabin in Hayward. I didn't really want to go golfing, but she pushed me all week. She finally called me and said she made a tee time and I had to be there. I gave up and said, "fine."

Saturday morning, I get a text from Kali saying she wasn't coming golfing anymore and that she would call me later. This was weird because she usually doesn't cancel, especially after she pushed me so hard all week. I tried to call her but her phone was off...also weird. Chad said we should still go golfing. I didn't really want to, but I knew he wanted to so I went. His step-dad and mom were going to meet us at the club house after golfing to have lunch.

We golfed the back 9, and on hole 17, Chad called his step-dad to tell him we were heading toward the 18th hole. We both chipped onto the 18th green, but Chad was further out than me (on purpose). His mom and step-dad waved from the porch of the club house. Chad told me to pull the pin out so he could putt in. I went to pull the pin and saw a ring box in the hole. I turned around and Chad was on his knee. He said a lot of sweet things and then asked me to marry him. I grabbed the ring, put it on, and screamed "YES!" I hugged him and turned around to everyone clapping in the club house. Chad wanted to finish his long putt, which he made.

We walked to the club house and were welcomed by chad's mom and step-dad. They had brought champagne and champagne flutes to celebrate. We also found out that the golf pro had video taped the entire thing and had taken pictures. We stayed there for a few hours calling all our friends and family, and basking in the bliss of being engaged.

It was the best day ever...

First Day Back!

Today was my first official day back at school. I found out on Thursday that I will be teaching a multi-age class of 4th and 5th graders. We only had 9 4th graders enrolled and it didn't make sense to have me teach 9 students and have a 5th grade classroom of only 13, so I will be teaching both. The good news is that I got to move to a bigger classroom...it's HUGE!! It's got carpet floors and more windows, and more wall space. It's going to be great. I discussed with my director the possibility of hiring someone else to teach the 5th graders science and social studies. It just wouldn't work for me to teach social studies and science to 4th and 5th graders...their state standards are too different for that to work. So I spent Saturday and most of today moving my stuff from my old classroom into my new classroom. Everything is moved, but it looks like a tornado whipped through my new classroom...stuff everywhere!! Hopefully, I can spend tomorrow morning whipping that room into shape. I will post pictures of the new room soon...

On another note, Chad started his new job today at US Bank. He had orientation downtown and then spent the afternoon at his branch in Minnetonka. He met all the other employees and thinks he will build friendships with them. He doesn't actually start training for 2 weeks- they hired him too early :) So he gets to sit around the branch office for 2 weeks, (while getting paid), learning the way of the land there. Pretty exciting time for both of us...I can't believe I get some of my 4th graders from last year again this year! It's going to be a great year!!

Enjoy your week!

Writer's Block

I haven't written in awhile...and this is partly due to me being busy getting ready for school again, but also because I don't feel like I have a lot to write about. I have googled "blog topics" to gain inspiration, but nothing comes to me. My mind is partially leaving summer-mode and entering school mode. So instead of daydreaming about wonderous adventures and philosopical ideas, now I am thinking about class size and behavior. I even started having my "teaching nightmares." I called my last one a dream, but my mom told me that was a nightmare. I had a dream that I had a classroom of wild kids. They wouldn't listen or pay attention and I couldn't find my plans anywhere...so I guess that is a nightmare.

So if you have an ideas for me, let me know :)

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

This is surprisingly true...

You Are An Exclamation Point

You are a bundle of... well, something. You're often a bundle of joy, passion, or drama. You're loud, brash, and outgoing. If you think it, you say it. Definitely not the quiet type, you really don't keep a lot to yourself. You're lively and inspiring. People love to be around your energy. (But they do secretly worry that you'll spill their secrets without even realizing it.) You excel in: Public speaking You get along best with: the Dash

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Mamma Mia!

My mom and I decided to have a date on Saturday night...dad was at the cabin and Chad was working. Because I know Chad wouldn't go to see Mamma Mia with me, I suggested we go see it together. My mom and I both saw it on broadway and loved it! I had heard great things about it...and they were all true. The music was fabulous and Sophie, the main character, was beautiful and angelic. Although, I have to say that the best part of the whole movie, was when, during Dancing Queen, the 50+ woman next to me started singing at the top of her lungs along with the music. She continued this throughout the rest of the movie, and even stuck an imaginary microphone in her poor husband's face. Each time I heard her, I glanced at my mom, barely holding back a chuckle.

I would recommend this movie to any girl or woman...not sure it will be as good without a live sing-along though :)

Farmers Market

If you live in the cities, and have never been to the Minneapolis Farmers Market---you must go! My advice though, is to get there early... I have been a few times, and I always have a great time! There are rows upon rows of fresh fruit and produce, clothes, jewelry, household items, and beautiful flowers. Everything is so cheap! I met my mom and brother there this morning...it was packed! I saw a woman who had 12 long-stem roses for 10 dollars. I picked up raspberries, green onions, green peppers, yellow onions, onion cheese, hot hot salsa for Chad and a new ring. We finished our day off with a spicy brat with onions and peppers, and fresh lemonade. What a treat!

Domestic Dates?

Why is that when you move in with someone, all of a sudden, your days are spent doing "domestic things." You clean the house, do stuff around the yard, go run errands, blah blah blah. Today, for example, Chad and I wanted to get breakfast to celebrate his new job. We also ended up doing all these other things: go to Target, go to the Sprint store (twice), go to Costco (twice), go to Best Buy (me), and go to Gander Mountain (Chad). We have to make an effort to do "date" type things. Most of the time, though, we don't like to spend much money, so our options are sometimes limited. And as the summer drifts away from us, we are reminded of all the things we wanted to do this summer, but have not yet done. The list is as follows:

* Art Fair (missed Edina, UPtown is this weekend)

*Kayak around lakes
*Bike around lakes

* See an outdoor concert

*Go camping (next weekend)

*Grill out (hard to do since our grill was stolen)

*See a movie on Solera's rooftop

* Play Mini-golf at Walker Art Center

* Lawn Bowl at Brit's

If you have any other great ideas for cheap dates, let me know. We are always up for trying new, hidden things around the cities. We feel there are so many things to do, we could never do them all...