Not How I Planned on Spending Today

Today was supposed to be a great day. I was off from school, got to sleep in, was going to get a whole bunch of projects done today..... So far, not so good.

This is how our day SHOULD be going: 
Brandon got up and went to work, I get to sleep in!!
I would get up and do some grocery shopping, get my hair trimmed.
At noon Brandon would get to come home and spend the rest of the afternoon with me and pack for his trip.
I would spend the day sewing and getting tons of the little projects done that I've been meaning to do.
In the evening, we would take Brandon to his uncles so they could pack up the car and drive to LA where they would fly to Hawaii for a week long work trip.
I would come home and get ready for my next week of teaching.


This is how our day HAS gone:
Brandon got up and went to work, I got to sleep in till 9 (fabulous I know :] )
I played with Bronco and then went and got my hair trimmed. 
As the stylist was finishing up my trim, Brandon called.. twice. I didn't answer thinking he was just calling to tell me he got off work early or was going to leave earlier in the evening. I thought it could wait. It couldn't.
When I listened to my voicemail he told me to go to the hospital right away. I knew something pretty bad had happened if he was going to the hospital. 
I called and called him as I started to drive, no answer. The whole way there, I prayed and prayed that everything would be okay. 
I called our Uncle (who he works for) and got our aunt. I asked her what happened to Brandon and she said she didn't know that it was Brandon but that someone had fallen off of the scaffolding (It's a masonry company) and wasn't doing very well. 
Not something you want to hear. Luckily the hospital was only a 5-10 minute drive from where I started. 
When I got to the hospital, I learned that he had fallen from the 12 foot scaffolding and fell in a 2 foot wide space. He had fallen on his left arm and from the look of it, he had probably broken 6 bones or more. 
His arm looked terrible. He was in SO much pain, I've never seen him like that. Brandon is a tough guy, even when he's hurting he doesn't like to show it and just sucks it up. Not this time, which is why I knew that it wasn't good. 
We got the X-ray's back and somehow, someway there was NO broken bones. Brandon had dislocated his elbow (pretty badly) but from what they could see, there was no other injuries. 
Through talking to Brandon and the other guys at the job site we still couldn't figure out exactly why he fell. Brandon thinks he might have stood up to fast and blacked out, causing him to fall. 

Through this whole thing all I can think of is how lucky we are! A fall from 12 feet with a nail gun is serious. We can deal with a missed work trip to Hawaii, with a 2 week splint and sling, and we will count our blessings that, that is all we have to deal with. Thank you to whomever is looking down on us from above.

Owls are on my mind!

I LOVE the new owl trend! They are SOO cute! My sister found this owl on Pintrest (here) and asked if I could make it for her baby Lyric. I was so excited to take on this project. So here is my first project with my new sewing machine :)

 The after the eyes are put on

 Putting things together.

 Almost done!

All Stuffed!

Allie the Owl (my name for her =]) Turned out soo well! There are little things I need to get better at but for my first project I'm very pleased with the results! Owls part 2 is coming soon! 

Life as a teacher

I never knew how exhausting teaching is! Right now I am doing my student teaching in a 3rd grade classroom until March when I move to a 5th grade classroom.
Third graders are so sweet! I love that they are beginning to become independent with their work and have started to think beyond what I say and reason for themselves. But they are still young and so cute! I am having a blast with my class and I love my cooperating teacher. She is a fabulous teacher and has such good management. I can see how good classroom management allows for us as teachers to teach so much more in the day!! We have some challenges in our classroom but it's just a great experience for me!
Student teaching really takes up most of my life between sleeping, planning and being at school I don't have much of a life! Brandon has been SO sweet and patient with me. He's a wonderful husband and I couldn't ask for more! Besides my student teaching life has been pretty quiet around here except for the new addition to our family =]

Meet Bronco, our new little guy!

He is 3/4 Black Lab with 1/4 Australian Shepard.

We got him a week ago, He is 10 weeks old and so full of energy!

 Bronco and Daddy LOVE to play outside! 

 Bronco laying dad, blocking him from watching hockey.

Bronco LOVES to cuddle with mom!

I didn't realize how much like a baby, puppies really are! It's been an interesting week but we love him so much and are so excited to have another member of our little family!

A little something fun!

I was asked to do an interview over at Melissa Jaine and she posted it yesterday.
Check it out here: http://www.melissajaine.com/blog/2012/1/11/an-army-wife-teacher-book-lover.html

Top 10 of December and the start of a New Year

December's Top Ten:

1. I finished my last semester in Logan. I have one more semester to go and then I will be completely finished with my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education.

2. I got my student teaching placements. I will get to spend 2 months in a 3rd grade class and 2 months in a 5th grade class. I am beyond excited! I can't believe that I have only one more semester to go until I am officially a College Graduate. I can't wait to have my own classroom and to b able to do things my way!

3. Brandon and I are FINALLY living together after being apart all semester long. I think we might just have the craziest start to a marriage ever. But I guess that' all part of the Military lifestyle. 

4. We got to spend 8 days in sunny, warm California this Christmas season. We got to spend so much time with Brandon's family and it was wonderful. The weather was perfect and we had such an great time. 

5. I got to go to my first ever professional Hockey game. We watched the Anaheim Ducks play the Los Angeles Kings. It was the best game to watch! It ended up going into overtime and then into a shootout! The Ducks lost in the shootouts but it was still so cool!

6. I got to spend my very first Christmas with Brandon. I haven't ever gotten to celebrate with him on Christmas and I feel so very blessed that I finally got my Christmas. I know this is only the beginning, but the beginning feels SO good. 

7. I got my very own SEWING MACHINE!! I'm so excited to start using it!!!

8. Brandon and I got an Ipad 2 for Christmas from his family. It is so fun to play with. The possibilities are endless! Brandon's taken his claim on it but he's pretty good at letting me use it (when he's not home hahahah).

9. After California we spent 5 days in Idaho with my family. I love going back home! We had a blast hangin out with my parents. I went shopping with my mom and got to start using my new sewing machine! Brandon got to go golfing with my dad. I know I know golfing in JANUARY in Idaho is pretty unheard of! 

10. We spend New Years with my sister and her husband. We played games and hung out. Got to see the baby's nursery. I can't wait for that little bundle to get here! 

That's our December. Lots of driving (I mean LOTS!) and so much time spend with family, which is exactly how it should be. 

Our new year has started quietly. But let me tell you there are a couple of BIG (and I mean BIG) things happening soon. I'll try really hard to keep you all up to date! Love you all tons!!!

Thanksgiving Top Ten

Where to begin? I've vowed to become better at blogging. Honestly most day's I don't have too much to write about and at this point in the semester, there is very little down time. But I've finished all my work for the week, packed my bags and I'm ready to go for tomorrow so I decided now would be a good time to catch you up!

Today is the very last day of November. I've looked for November everywhere, under couches, under blankets but I can't seem to find it! It passed SO quickly! I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but it's the way it is! November was filled with school, job searching, hanging out with family, and starting to play volleyball with some awesome neighbors every Saturday morning (which ends up with me hobbling around for the next few days with dang sore muscles!)

Thanksgiving was a BLAST! I had almost a whole week off for break (I had to go to school Monday but that's it!) It was glorious to have some down time. We took of on Tuesday to Idaho to spend Thanksgiving with my family.

Here's my Thanksgiving Top 10 List (not in any specific order besides #10. It just happened to be my favorite part of Thanksgiving):

1. Starting and COMPLETING some of my final projects for the semester
2. Crafting my butt off!
3. Starting Christmas presents---> Brandon even helped me out! I'm such a lucky wife =]
4. Spending lots of quality time with my Mom and Dad (whom I miss very much even though I have it lucky and get to see them usually at least once a month)
5. Spending time with G&G (my grandparents)
6. Spending the most time in a while with my Sister and her husband
7. Getting to feel my niece Lyric Lashawn (sp?) Lacey kick when I talked to her!
8. Deciding that when my niece is little she will say, "my name is Wywic Washawn Wacey! hahaha It will be the cutest little thing EVER
9. A little Black Friday shopping (not early with the crazy crowds) and getting some great deals!
10. Spending it with my Husband for the very first time. 

I am so thankful for all that I have. I have the worlds BEST family. I would invite anyone to try and say I don't because I will win :) One thing I am especially thankful for is to have Brandon home safe and sound this year. For the past two years Brandon has been away from all of his family. In 2009 he was in Fort Jackson in the middle of his Basic Training for the Army. Last year (2010) Brandon was in Afghanistan, on his first deployment, fighting for our freedom. I am so thankful for him. My heart goes out to all of those soldiers who couldn't be at home this holiday season, and to their families who are missing them dearly. I know what it feels like and I wouldn't ever wish it upon anyone else but I am so proud to know that we are some of the few that stand behind that brave 1% who serve their country so that we can eat and be thankful in peace. 

If you remember, set the table for one extra person this Holiday season for a soldier who can't be home with his/her family this year. We remember you and all you do!

Here's some of my latest crafts and a Thanksgiving picture :)

Christmas Craft #1: Glittery Ornaments

Santa Ornament

Christmas Craft #1: Glittery Ornaments

Christmas/Winter Craft #2: Holly's snowflake wreath

Hard at work, sanding Christmas presents (can't wait to show you what they become!!)

Did I forget to mention this is my mom and dad's new toy?
We got to drive it around all week =]
ps: its REALLY fast!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

Falling into the Seasons: Halloween recap and a new Wreath!

Halloween has come and gone. (Luckily without the usual snow!) Don't worry though we have made it through fall and it is now the beginning of winter. We had our first big snowfall last night. The temperatures have dramatically shifted and there is NO questions to what's on it's way.

Halloween was a blast. We carved pumpkins the Saturday before with some great friends. We spent the first part of Halloween with our cousins and Shan and Todd. I love being around little ones at Halloween, there is just something so fun about it! We took the kids trick-or-treating. I ended up being a cowgirl but Brandon stole the show with his "Dale" costume. Dale is my dad and Brandon's hero! I wish I had a picture but I don't :( just take my word for it.. it was AWESOME!

randon with his "Monster Punkins" 

Georgie and Brandon playing with Molly, the new kitty.

The girls making "mummie dogs"
Charley-Musketeer
Beau-Ariel
Blake- Masquerade girl

Georgie the bat (she wouldn't wear the rest of the costume) =]

Me and my "Psycho" boyfriend!

Cowboy Brandon and Beau

Along with my schoolwork (which is piling on as we near the end of the semester!) I have been working on a new wreath for my sister's good friend Danika. She wanted a fall wreath and this is what I came up with:

close up of letters and flowers 

Tis the season to be thankful. I'm so thankful for all of my family and friends. I never could have made it to where I am without their support. I love each and everyone of you!