Who's That Girl??

Being sick in bed the past few days with an awful sinus infection has given me quite a bit of time to reflect on things so far in my life. As my twenties are drawing to a rapid close (I turn 30 on Thursday), I have mixed feelings. I actually feel relieved to be putting these years behind me. The girl you see below allowed herself to be treated pretty badly. It was somewhat numbing to stay in a relationship with a man who had cheated on me considering that I had been adamant about never allowing myself to be treated in such a way. And yet, I was so obsessed with my first love that I let myself be talked down to and taken advantage of. I was so into the music he created that I just couldn't imagine leaving him.

I can never thank that man enough for breaking up with me and moving rapidly onto the woman who is now actually his wife. While the two of them started their relationship with lies and cheating, I was set free. And thank goodness. It gave me the wake-up call I needed. It set me on a path towards the man who is truly my equal in every sense of the word.

My late twenties saw me falling in love with my match, getting married, and exploring the world. Though I no longer have songs written about me, I have someone who I know cares about me more than anything else in the world. And besides sharing that feeling with my mom, it's something I have never had before. My husband is the man I know I'm growing to grow old with, and he's opened me up to so much in the world. I will never be able to thank him enough for that.

As for me, I think I've grown a bit more patient and wise. I've learned to appreciate what really matters. So...







...goodbye twenties. Though we did have some good times in your later years, I am two-stepping my way into my thirties (after I'm over this cold).

Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

Tap, tap...is this thing on? To those of you who still read this little old blog, I'm back from my east coast adventure. I left my John and Abigail Adams seminar with Joseph Ellis feeling more inspired and re-invigorated than I have in years about the subject I teach. I am so excited to start back in a few weeks and share the stories I have learned.

And then my anniversary trip up the coast of New England with the hubs was just incredible. I cannot wait to share my pictures with you.

For now though, I would like to share the birthday card I picked up for my sis in Salem, MA. If you are as big a fan of Target as I am, you will love this card.




You can purchase this gem at http://www.fomato.com

My little sis, Kyle, turns 27 today. Happy birthday, girl! Vacation pictures start tomorrow. =)

That was Then...This Is Now

Wow.

How did my babies go from this:



To this:



In only five months? As much as these guys drive me crazy, I cannot tell you enough the joy they have brought into my life. I love them so much; it scares me. If I feel this way about them, I can only imagine how I'll feel about my own children. Crazy.

She's So Lucky...

So a few weeks ago I received the extremely good news that I had been selected to attend a week long seminar in Massachusetts about John and Abigail Adams. The Gilder Lehrman Institute is an amazing nonprofit organization that promotes the study of American History through lectures, lesson plans, podcasts, access to numerous resources, and summer seminars for teachers.

I had applied for a seminar last year and was not chosen. You can't imagine how excited I am to have been selected for my first choice seminar. Not only is John Adams my favorite president, but this seminar is also being taught by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Joseph Ellis. He's a professor and the author of "Founding Brothers." He most recently wrote "His Excellency: George Washington," which my mom actually bought me for my birthday.



I am petrified of appearing to be a moron before this man, so you can bet what I'll be doing in the weeks leading up to this seminar. Since it ends a day before my anniversary, the husband is actually going to fly out the week after, and we're going to spend our anniversary driving up through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. I am ecstatic!

And They Called It...Puppy Love

So I thought it was high time to share some pictures of the guys who have been taking up all of my free time: Emmett and Jasper. They are the new loves of my life. It's funny, I am so out numbered in the house now.



Look at that face.



Demon Dog











I forgot what free time is like with these two, and sleeping in for that matter. But the love they have brought into my life more than compensates.

My Boys

Over the weekend, my husband and I made a pretty life-changing decision. I have whined and whined the past couple of years about wanting a dog, and this weekend we finally changed that by getting these little darlings.

I knew "my boys" were going to change things, but I guess I truly didn't until I got up at 4:30 this morning.

They are definitely going to be a challenge these first few months, but I know things will change eventually.

Valentine's Day Bites...

...literally. Yesterday was the first time I had been home and not away on a Washington DC trip for the past two years, so I tried to be romantic. I picked up some great sandwiches on baguettes from a cute French bakery, some pasta salad, and a great wine. I told husband to be home by 5:30. We went up to a cute little park by our house for a little picnic dinner.



And we totally got bit by some bugs there. I could not stop scratching my feet, and the hubs got some nasty looking welts on his knees. ::sigh:: Oh well, I tried. Hope you had an itch-free Valentine's day.