New Blog

On my sidebar, you can see Ryan has created a blog about his trip overseas. Just click it to see his travels. The link is http://boxofsand.blogspot.com if you want to save it! I hope he is able to post info often.

Sad News

Now instead of leaving on January 12th, Ryan is leaving on January 3rd. On a positive note, we get to spend the holidays and New Year's together. Please keep us both in your prayers as you enjoy this holiday season.

Sorry

To hear on the song, go to americanangst.com/dingfries.html

My favorite holiday song

I love this song! It has totally been stuck in my head...hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Little things amuse me ;-)

Santa Paws

This is quite possibly the cutest Santa Paws I have ever seen. Of course, he is my dog, so that makes me love him!

New Hair

This one's for you Hilary. Did you ever think I could get this volume???

Pics

Here is another link for pictures of my newest niece. There is a really cute one of her 'playing' X-Box.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/babyksay/album?.dir=9210

Moo!

I collect Cow Parade figurines...so lucky me to go to the outlet mall where they were on display. Here's a picture of my favorite one :-)

House Work

Ryan and I spent last weekend working around the house. We took out all the rock that went up the driveway and used it to make a parking space next to the driveway. Now we can actually pull in and out of the garage without having to shuffle all the cars around. It will be so nice this winter! No more scraping!!! We also figured out how to put up the crown moulding in the bathroom with some help from my dad, and I also added some painting to the walls in there.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all! My parents (Kim ) are coming to stay with us, so I'm cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner. Wish me luck! We're also celebrating both my parents b-days, Christmas, Ryan's b-day and deployment. I can't wait for shopping tomorrow on Black Friday. Hope everyone who reads this has a blessed holiday and remembers everything for which they are thankful. I'll post some pictures of my Thanksgiving Feast from school yesterday soon.

Fall Songs

Last night, our first grade had to perform at the PTA meeting for our school. I taught all 54 kids two songs, then each class (3 of them) performed an individual performance. The kids did really well, the audience was very kind. The worst part was me having to introduce them to the audience. I was hot and bright red. I can talk to kids all day long, but put me with adults...and I just get too nervous! All in all it was a good event :-)

Ho-hum

I'm really having a difficult time at school right now. I feel like my kids are second grade brains in a kindergarten body. Remember, I teach 1st grade. So now I'm trying to figure out how to make things go a little more smoothly during the day. I get so grouchy and cranky. Every day I try again...so we'll see how next week goes.

I'm not going to work tomorrow - Ryan is off for Veteran's Day and his mom is coming in town for a visit. We're excited to show Cathie around our new house and our new city :-) Drake is also excited to see one of his grandmas!!! I'll just be glad that Ryan will be back on the day shift after two weeks of night shifts.

New Baby

Here is the online album of our new niece! She's so tiny!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/babyksay/album?.dir=6af7&.src=ph

Aunt Kim and Uncle Ryan

We're celebrating the birth of our second niece this year. Ryan's sister Leslie had a baby Saturday at 7:06 a.m. Her name is Annalise Bian Morales (sorry if I misspelled any of those names!). I look forward to posting a picture of her soon.

In other news, Ryan and I are trying to hang crown moulding in our bedroom and bathroom. Anyone have any tips or tricks? We're having a hard time getting it mitered so it matches up in the corners.

I am finally involved in a hobby - I scrapbook and make greeting cards. I'm really enjoying going to parties and working on my crafts with new friends.

News

Ryan will be deployed for a while in 2006. Right now I don't really believe that it will be happening, mostly because I've had so many friends who were going.not going, going, not going. But he's started paperwork for next of kin, his will, etc. Pray for me to be strong for him as we spend time together before he leaves, as well as him to have a safe travel. Although he doesn't want to be away from me, he is a little excited to go on a TDY.

New House?

Our weekend warrior project for this weekend was painting the outside of the house. We changed the teal trim to black and the door to red. We're very excited about the outcome :-)

Bragging

A friend of mine was bragging on her husband so I thought I'd brag on mine! He has been very sweet lately. Yesterday, I needed gas in my car (we were both driving, we usually carpool). When I got to the gas station, Ryan was already there waiting to pump my gas. Today he made my lunch for work and wrote a cute note in it. The other day I had a BAD day at work and had to go back at 7 for a PTA meeting and he picked me up from it with a flower and my favorite snack, candy corn. I love my husband!! And tonight, even though he wanted to do nothing, he went to Lowe's and bought paint for our exterior. We are painting the front and back door red and the shutters and garage black. Should go nicely with the brown siding. This brand of paint has the most noxious odor!!

My latest decorating challenge was fixing our master bedroom. Once we aquired our new 4-poster bed, I wanted to make everything match/look grown-up. I love having my big princess bed!

A rivalry at it's best! Ryan and his friend Justin (from Langley) are posing on our trip to the Admirals game on Saturday. That's Norfolk's minor league hockey team. That's as close as we can get to our favorite sport. We had a blast, and they won 6-5 in overtime. Exciting! We have to hate them a little though...because they are the farm team for the Chicago Blackhawks...our other rival.

I'm a Bree

Who are you? I thought I would be Bree...so maybe that changed my responses. Take the Desperate Housewives quiz! http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/quiz/index.html

These are the girls from my community group at church. There are boys too, but who needs them in the picture! The bottom 3 are in college, then Danielle teaches with me at Barron. We also have Monica, but I think she was off looking for cake!

Ryan and I went to a church hoedown. We did line dancing and square dancing. We roasted S'mores and had a fun time!!!

Whoops! This is the car, the other was my birthday celebration with Drake!

Here is the promised car picture!

Hooray!

Ryan and I bought a new car tonight! I am very excited. Look for pictures ASAP. It's a 2006 Toyota Corolla S. It's sooo sporty (I say cute, but Ryan does not like that)I always felt bad that I wrecked my car and got a new one bc his Eclipse was so much older than my Honda. Well, in not as good of shape. So now I feel better that he has a nice car.

If you could keep Ryan's sister, mom, step dad, and grandparents in your prayers it would be appreciated. They live in Corpus, Galveston, and Houston Texas. His sister is also 8-9 months pregnant. We hope they get out of town and away from hurricane Rita.

In other news - by the time people read this I will be 24! Hooray, Ryan and I are the same age. He surprised me when I came home and the first floor was covered in balloons and he had bought a crown for me to wear because I am the queen :-) I am going to wear my crown to work tomorrow. Maybe.

174 days to go :-)

Well, one week of school is down. I have some really bright, cute, kids this year. I now have 19 students, I recieved a child who relocated from New Orleans. So I'm glad to be helping someone impacted by Katrina in a direct way. One student saw me eating yogurt at lunch (we have to eat with the kids the first 9 days of school). He was like, "I saw that yogurt on t.v., it helps you lose weight". ALl day he kept telling the other students, "The teacher is losing weight!" So cute!

Higher?!?!?

So an update on my post from yesterday...on the way home from work, gas was up to $3.47!!!!!!!!! Now, some stations are still at around $2.80...I don't understand how there can be such large differences within a mile or two. On another note, today is my first day to meet the kids and teachers. We have Back to School day, from 2-3. Wish me luck with my 18 new students (12 boys!!!!!)

$3.07?!?!?!?

Driving to work this morning, I noticed that last nights $2.55 gas price climbed 52 cents to $3.07!!!! I couldnt' believe it. What a time to go from a gas saving Accord to a 17 mpg SUV....not to mention my commute grew 11 miles as well. Wasn't it nice only 6 years ago in high school when we paid 70 cents???? What is everyone else paying for gas???

Quiz!

Try this quiz! It had perfect answers for me!

Love by ruby mae
Your name
Your partner
You two are	In love
Your meeting was by	Choice
They are your	Best Friend
You are their	Baby
Your love will	Be the epitome of what true love is
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Wanna laugh?

So I've been sharing 2 embarrasing moments for me, and everyone thinks they are so funny. So I thought I'd put them up in case I have yet to share them with you.

1. Someone was selling alarm systems for houses door to door. So I open up the door, and there is this maybe late 20's guy. You know, shaved arms, spikey black hair. He asked if my mom and dad were home. I had to pause, think, and say "uhhh, I live here". I hope he felt dumb. It's not like he was in his 70's and did not know how old young people are.

2. I was at that wedding this weekend. I searched long and hard for the right dress, shoes, and purse. I wanted to look grown up, thin, and put together. I was going to see a lot of old friends (and an ex of my husbands, who was also a candlelighter). So here I am in my friend Susan's car for the rehersal dinner, and the Ex said, hey, I bought the same dress with pink trim instead of green. So instead of looking cuter, we looked like twins. All day I heard, how nice that you two match!

Hopefully this brightened your day!!!

I know it's been a while, so here is a picture of my niece, Madeline Grace Buckles, who is almost 6 months old. She was so much fun to play with. Doesn't even look anything like she did when I saw her in March :( 

This is Sam and his friend Maples who are in Iraq (well Sam is home for 2 weeks on leave, but you know what I mean). Glad they found a way to get a little bit cooled off in the desert. 

ARG

Tell me who you are anynomyus comment giver. I do not want to guess. I am in STL so I could see you!!!

Back to school

Hello - Long time, no blog. Anyway, I have finished summer school now and I am back in my regular classroom setting up for the fall. This is my favorite time of year, when everything is nice, neat and organized. Hopefully that will last a little while after Sept. 6th when the kids show up!!! Since it is my second year, I feel like I am much more prepared. Now instead of guessing what needs to be done, I am more efficiently setting up for that fateful day. I had an anonymous comment by my bowling picture with Ryan...next time leave your name in your message!! News about Ryan - from Sep to Nov. he will be a part of the Langley Honor Guard. He will participate in ceremonies and funerals instead of doing his normal work in the shop. He also gets a fancy new uniform! Congrats to him :-)

Danielle has been on our site before, but this is the debut of her husband, Dan. Welcome! 

Ryan and I went bowling with Susan, Dan, and Danielle. Ryan and I decided to dress in vibrant spring colors after a trip to the Gap Outlet in WIlliamburg, VA. I think we look hot! 

Susan and I had a fun time at the beach, 2 days in a row! Don't you wish you were here? 

Danielle and I went to the beach this weekend. Unfortunately on the way home, we were stuck for 45 minutes on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel which connects our peninsula to the rest of VA. We managed to finish our beach snacks and tan our feet out the windows. 

We finally finished painting Ryan's game room this weekend. Hooray! 

Here is the lovely room you will one day stay in when you come visit the Windle's. 

This is our M. Bedroom, with our beautiful quilt which I have lovingly repatched over and over due to drakes chewing. 

Welcome to our kitchen! 

Here is our living room, you can also see Drake and Ryan being lazy watching the T.V. which is on the wall of the stairs coming in from the front door. 

Here is our dining room. 

What a pretty sunset, how romantic! 

Here is Matt and Ryan, also getting ready for the big cruise! 

Ryan and I just had his friend Matt in town to see VA and where we live. Here's a picture of Ryana nd I getting ready to go on a sunset cruise tour of Naval Station Norfolk. We had such a great time, it was 3 hours. It was a scooner, with 5 huge sails. Matt even got to drive the boat! 

7 1/2

That's how many days are left of my first year of teaching. I wish someone would have told me how crazy the end of the year was. My kids seem like a whole different class, like it's the first day of school again. I will miss them though, they will always be special to me since they were my first class of my own. Ryan's shaved head is totally sunburned from the beach this weekend. It's still a bit cold to get in, but so nice to lay out or talk a walk or play a game.

Oops, I forgot the concert pic! 

For those of you who may not know, Ryan's brother Jeremy is going through Chemo for cancer. Ryan recently shaved his head to show his support for his brother. He's also wearing the Livestrong braclet to help support cancer research. We are praying for him. 

Here is a picture of Ryan and I. We went to VA beach to see Big and Rich (country group) in concert. It was so fun! We walked on the sand and in the water. It was so nice to kick off our Memorial Day weekend on the oceanfront! 

Long time no type!

We've been so busy moving into our house, I haven't set up my computer yet. I am ready to start taking pictures of the inside and will post them soon. The downstairs is decorated and painted and ready to go. This weekend our plan is to tackle the upstairs, and I already have the bathroom done up there. It's so much fun. Although we should buy stock at Lowe's...
Drake has decided although he likes the yard, he wants to dig big holes in it. The first day we were there I caught him with his head stuck under the fence. He also got out, but luckily the neighborhood rugrats were more successful at capturing him than I ever have been. Come and visit us!

Well after Ryan finished his 2 week 12 hour shifts (overnights) they moved him to swings, which is 3:30 to midnight. Not much better, seeing as I get home at 4 and go to bed at 10. They also have not informed him of how long this new venture will last. Nice timing, looks like I will be a lot of unpacking by myself again. I think that is one of the hazards of being a military wife! 

Do I look like a pimp? When we went to pick up my car we had Drake in the backseat of Ryan's car, hanging his head out like usual. A man pulled up to us, requesting if Drake was a male, and if he was fixed. After we answered yes to both questions, he became upset. He told us he had 3 females at home he wanted to breed him with. Too bad Drake, I'm sure that would have made a very happy birthday for you...