He Loves Me!

This week has been SO busy, BUT I made it!! My first week of teaching my own class went amazingly well (and that's a whole different post)! I love my students and I love my job, but I love my husband the most! I had been leaving by 6:30 in the morning getting home around 5:30 every day, but he doesn't get home until after 7 because of coaching. Two nights I went out with the girls and one night he went out with his friend so we really didn't have any time to see eachother and talk, but I woke up one morning to this little love note on the fridge:

It made me smile and I'm glad he feels the same way I do! Last night he had a football game, this morning he had a football scrimage game and working tonight, and tomorrow he has a football golf something or other so there goes our weekend together... Love you Z and we will find time to spend together soon, I hope!

-Ashley

Classroom: FINALLY Finished!

I finished setting up my class just in time for "Meet Your Teacher" day last Friday... I was surprised that TEN out of 19 showed up to meet me! I think it's going to be a wonderful year! I have 19 students. 11 boys, 8 girls. 17 Hispanics, 2 Black. Tomorrow is the first day of school and I need all the luck/prayers/wishes possible! Eeeek! I've had a headache all day - probably from stress - and I'm just SO tired. Once a few weeks have gone by and I get into a routine I'm sure it will be better!
Here's to a wonderful 180 days in the classroom.... :)

-Ashley

Happy Birthday Post!

I just wanted to wish my BIG brother a HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY!

He is officially an old man!

Love you lots Justin!!
Old man is in the middle... ;)

-Ashley

Classroom: Getting closer!!

Front of classroom!

Another shot!

Reading corner :)

Guided reading table!

My undecorated desk and me! :)

The classroom is finally coming along! I have one more bulletin board to do and a word wall. My friend Angela has been up to school with me a few days so far and has helped me out SO much!! I honestly don't know what it would've looked like/turned out like without her - so THANKS! :)

Anyway, we have a training on the new math series ALL day tomorrow so I won't get much done... but Thurs. we will be in there almost all day so I can finish it! *yay!* I didn't know how much work it would take, but I'm having fun doing it! Next post will be FINISHED product!

-Ashley

Classroom: During

Angela and I spent most of the day yesterday in the classroom brainstorming together and coming up with what I was going to do to get some color in my classroom! What we've done so far looks great and I can't wait to keep working on it/finishing it next week! I also did some organizing of my Science materials and extra supplies. Still a lot of work to alll of the school issued books together, but I'll figure it out! lol. Thanks again, Ang, for allll of your help/ideas! It would've taken me FOREVER without you!

Added border/board paper to front bulletin board...

CHAMPS is our discipline plan for the year... This is almost done!Beginning of the back wall...

Now I just need to label the books and buy a few more organizer cartons!
LOL. Sooo we somehow forgot a few letters... Ha.

Have a lot to do next week, but I know it will get done! Friday is Meet Your Teacher day so I have 4 days left!! Eeek!

-Ashley

Classroom: Before

Yesterday Z and I went to visit my classroom for the very first time! Stuff was everywhere... desks, textbooks, computers, etc. We tried to put my things in the general area that I will need them to be in the future, but it was so overwhelming! I don't really know where to start, but after today with a good friend of mine and her help - I think getting situated will go smoothly later this week/all next week! The building that I'm in was built in 1926! The school is sooo old, but historical! lol. Anyway, here are my "before" shots... The after will be available in 2 weeks!! Wish me luck on my creative journey!

I don't have cabinet space, but I have a closet in the front...

Zach sitting under a shelf that has 20 hooks under it...
Back of class... my desk is far right. So small!
Lots of bulletin board space here though!

Windows that face out towards the front of the school...

All of my text books/guided reading books/manipulatives are sitting in piles still...

-Ashley

Our New Home

It's been about a month since Z and I moved into our new place and I think we finally can say we're done, for now, with getting it set up! Once I start working/getting paid I'd like to do something nice with the guest room. Get matching furniture and a head/foot board for the bed. Right now it's more like hodge-podge of random things here and there and on the wall and a storage closet... I'd also like to eventually get new couch pillows/art decor for some of the rooms!

Anyway, I am happy we have more space and have a room to always call our own... and when we have guests they have a place to sleep/shower and we can get more people washed and ready to go instead of having to wait on the bathroom all the time! lol.

Alright, here are the pics in a VERY random order (dang blogspot for making it so hard to move them around - too time consuming)! Enjoy! :)

Zach's desk... front door to the right our bedroom to the left!

Living room (looks the same as our last one!)

Master bathroom

View from our bed... Our walk-in...
Another shot of MB

View from the door to our bedroom!

(Closet door by window - MB door to the right)

Guest room randomness...

Excuse the mess - my husband was looking for something.

Guest bathroom!

Guest bathroom.

Guest bathroom! Laundry room/pantry in one.

View to laundry room (if you didn't catch the sign!)/pantry!

View of kitchen/dining room/door

Bar/kitchen

View from the door...

View from opening of door..

-Ashley
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August 5, 2010

I found out Tuesday that I was to attend a training on Wed/Thurs. from 8-4 on a new school wide discipline plan that we will be using! Well, I knew Thursday was our anniversary and I had wanted to go to the afternoon Rays game, but that wasn't an option anymore. Zach had the house to himself and the girls though which gave him time to make coming home on our anniversary perfect for me! My house was clean, the pictures I'd been waiting to get hung were on the walls... and our bedroom had new brand new look! I absolutely LOVE it! Nice work, Zach!! He spoils me rotten.. on the nicely made bed was a little bag that had a new camera inside! If you read the beach post you know my last one took an unfortunate dropping in the sand... He picked me out the one that shows your picture on the front when you take a picture of yourself (which he knew was PERFECT for my friends and I because we LOVE ourselves!) haha...

Hopefully this quote will be a staple reminder for our marriage forever.

He got frames for the pics we took in GA... and the nice stenciling on the wall!

As for Zach's gift I saw on an (incorrect) website that the 4th anniversary gift was flowers/fruits. (Another one I saw said linens/silks-whatever) I thought what better way to give fruit then chocolate covered fruit?! I went out and bought him/us a nice Cuisinart fondue pot at Macy's and then found a recipe online for caramel chocolate (his favorite at Melting Pot)... and although the caramel taste wasn't really there - we had so much fun dipping and talking and getting to use our barstools! It didn't last long because he had to pack for Reserves... which is a whole different post!

The set-up!

Thanks for another wonderful celebration together, Zach! Here's to 50 more my love!!! I LOVE YOU!!

-Ashley

Happy FOUR Years!!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband and I!

Off to celebrate at dinner and a movie... then come back for a night of chocolate fondue and fruits/goodies!!

-Ashley

Beach Days

Zach and I had a GREAT mini-vacation in Longboat Key! We arrived on Saturday afternoon and headed down to the beach. The ocean water was warm and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! We laid out for a bit, swam in the ocean and the pool, and went to the grocery store/liquor store to pick up the necessities! We made it back in time to watch the Ray's game and eat a yummy steak and potato dinner made by my dad. We ended up going to Joe's Eats and Sweets on the island next to ours and got some ice cream and fudge! It was super yummy and so fun to have Z experience the traditions my family has had for years! Joe's has food, ice cream, fudge, yogurt, shaved ice, chocolate covered marshmellows/twinkies/everything and it's a big wooden building on stilts... Yum!

Sunday we decided we'd get up and go either jet skiing or parasailing in the gulf. We drove around and checked prices and the place we thought we might go suggested we come back around 3 when the tide would be at the highest if we wanted to jet ski. We left there and drove back to the condos and walked to the Hilton up the beach for lunch. After that we did the gulf/pool swim and eventually it was time to go back to rent the jet ski. We had so much fun riding around for an hour and twenty minutes and got some great sun... and even a picture! lol. By the time we got home it was almost 5 so we showered and got ready for dinner! Dad cooked a fake Thanksgiving meal - rotisserie chicken, green beans, stuffing, and mashed potatoes... mmm! We cleaned up and headed to the beach to watch the sun set and take some fun pictures. Unfortunately my camera was acting up and then it was dropped in the sand so it's even more screwed up, but I'll get around to posting what we got when I get home and find my cord! :) It wasn't the nicest night for a sunset due to clouds, but we still had a good time!

Monday morning, today, Z got up and left around 11 and I spent most of the afternoon on the beach. I look like a raccoon from my sunglasses and have a nice red tint, but it will turn to tan soon! :) I planned on staying until tomorrow afternoon, but I got a call around 4 that my packet is ready and I can go downtown to process tomorrow morning so I'm leaving after dinner... sadly! But we will be back in a week for Z to go on a boy's fishing trip with my dad and brother! :)

Now on for some "phone" pics!

My view allll day today! :)

The sunset Sunday night!

Actually on the jet ski and riding!!

Fun times for everyone!

Thanks mom and dad for letting us stay for the weekend - we really enjoyed ourselves!! Enjoy the rest of your stay!

-Ashley