Cloth Diapers, Golf and Big Bows

This past weekend we finally started using our cloth diapers. I am happy to say that so far I've really enjoyed them! I was afraid after spending all that money to set it up I wouldn't like all the washing, but it's a lot easier than I thought. 

And she looks so cute in them!

Sunday it was unseasonably warm here. 70 and sunny, it was so nice! We took Chloe up to The Club for lunch and to hit golf balls with Clarke's family. 

Totally took the baby stroller on the range! She was really good too, and I hit golf balls for the first time in a long time. I just loved her outfit too!

We were also that family that was wearing matching polos. Ha!! I must say the warmer weather was a tease because now I am ready for Spring. But we definitely enjoyed it while it lasted! 

Golf and The Oregon Coast Aquarium

I'm going to combine Thursday and Friday of our trip since we didn't do much on Thursday. We slept in and got breakfast at the resort where we were staying. I found Salishan on Groupon, I bought 3 (one for each night) and it really was a great deal, especially because they came with dinning credit.

 One reason why I thought this place would be great for us was because it has a beautiful golf course. So Thursday we played golf. This was the only day it rained off and on a little bit, which was disappointing but we still had a great time.

The back nine had gorgeous views.

Afterwards we ate lunch at a cute little deli and walked around the shops at the resort. I took a nap and we just relaxed the rest of the day. Our room was really nice, it had a fireplace so we just enjoyed it.

Friday we drove south about 30 minutes to visit The Oregon Coast Aquarium. Of course we stopped to take in the sights. Above is Depoe Bay, a cute little town along the way.

We also stopped at Cape Foulweather, which had the cutest gift shop with amazing views.

Then finally we made it to the Aquarium!

My favorite part was the sea otters. They were so cute, and would swim right up to the front of the glass. They also had seals and sea lions and really cute puffins!

The passage of the deep was also really neat. They were these underwater tunnels that you could walk through and see sharks and all different kinds of fish. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of the top ten aquariums in America, and I'm so glad we got to go. After a busy day we drobe back to the resort and crashed!

Our last day is up next!

Summer Lovin'

I am loving summer. Here's why:

Good training runs with friends.

Playing golf with Clarke.

Grilling out.

Anticipating a beach trip with the girls.
The sun. The pool. Soaking it all up before school starts!

Memorial Day Weekend

I've had such a great holiday weekend! Here is what I did.....

(photo source)

-Slept in till 10:00! This is really late for me, and this past Saturday was my last one to sleep in until late November. (marathon training starts next week!!)

-Had a great girl's night. We ate dinner at Firebird's and saw Bridesmaids. The movie was really funny. If you haven't seen it yet, I would definitely recommend it.

-Spent the entire day at the pool with friends. I wanted to even out my tan (my arms were really tan from recess and running, but that's it.) Although I got a little too much color, I'm hoping it will even out before our beach trip in June.

-Played golf at The Dominion Club with Clarke and my in laws. We got to take golf carts, which is always really fun. It's such a pretty course, and they even took us out to dinner after.

-Went on a double date with some good friends. (Me and Clarke actually set them up!!) We had lunch at Xtra's in Carytown and ice cream at Sweet Frog.

-Enjoyed the fact that it finally feels like summer. It's been in the 90s and sunny, and right now I'm loving it.

Happy Memorial Day!!

27...looking back on 26

Today was my 27th birthday!

It was filled with lots of family and friends. I feel so blessed to have so many people who care about me.

Birthdays always make me reminisce about the past year. My 26th year was a big one. Here is a look back at it............

26, You brought........

(in no particular order)

A new home for my family.

Travels to lots of fun places.

Lots of time spent scrapbooking.

My first snow day from school as an employee.

More involvement in my church.

A new job working with some amazing children.

Great times spent with my hubby, enjoying being married.

A new group of friends.

Improvement in my golf game.

Lots of quality time with family and friends who are dear to me.

A new habit, running.

Time spent snuggling and playing with Betty.

A full year of memories on this blog.

Starting the tradition of our girl's beach trip to the Outer Banks.

Countless hours painting our house.

Having lots of trick or treaters at our house.

Becoming a Sunday school teacher at my church.

Seeing one of my favorite artists speak.

An appreciation for the season of life I am currently in.

Learning how to be a good host by having two parties and one big get together.

New recipes to try and enjoy.

Sharing childhood memories and having fun at Disney World with hubby.

Hope 27 is as good as 26!!

Spring!

I can't wait for spring. Maybe it's because we have gotten so much snow, and I am over it. I know I still have another month or so before it starts warming up, but here is a list of things I am looking forward to most:

1. Our anniversary!! We are planning a little weekend trip, maybe to the Outer Banks in NC. We saved the top of our cake, and I can't wait to eat it. The same day is also Easter.

2. The Masters. My husband got me into watching this event long before I started playing. The course is always beautiful and it's the first of the four majors.

3. Moving into our new house! Although I don't know where it will be, I am excited about making it our own and moving in.

4. The grand opening of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The galleries have been closed for some time now, and I can't wait to see all the new stuff. There is suppose to be more modern and contemporary art!

5. Wearing my spring clothes again. I love how the seasons make you feel like you have two completely different wardrobes.

6. More Interviews. I am hoping that as spring comes, more schools will start searching for teachers for the upcoming school year.

7. Being able to play golf again. Ever since I got my new clubs I have wanted to play more.

Why are you looking forward to spring?!?

The Callaways

I just had to write a post about my new toy, I mean golf clubs. They are so great, and it just makes me want spring to come even faster. I finally won them on ebay, after being outbid several times at the last second. They are new, Callaways, women's gem set.

There they are, just waiting to be used. Me and Clarke did go to the driving range on Saturday, it was 30 degrees outside, so we didn't stay long.

Betty likes my new clubs as well. There is the bag they came with. Of course, all matching! I am so ready for warmer weather when these can get some good use!

Resolutions

My 2010 Resolutions:

Be Healthier: When I take a look at my pantry, fridge and what I eat it is awful. The amount of fat, sugar, sodium, and high fructose corn syrup that I consume on a regular basis is embarrassing. I can't believe I don't weigh 500 pounds.

I need to drink more water and work out consistently also. I belong to a great gym, I need to use it more often.

Create More Art For Me: I love the creative process. I find it relaxing and it's a great healthy escape. I don't take enough time to create art for myself, or just for the purpose of making art. I recently signed up to take a class at The Visual Arts Center. I am really excited for it to start.

Break 100: This one is going to be tough. When I first started playing golf last spring I thought I could def. break 100, I was wrong. Golf is a challenging sport, but I am hoping my new clubs will help.

Quiet Times: I need to be more consistent about spending time with God in His word. Especially with the job search, I need all the truth and encouragement I can get.

Church: I want to get more involved with my church. I absolutely love my church, and feel so blessed to be apart of it. I know a lot of people struggle with finding the right church for them, and I know this is the right one for me. Last year me and my husband got more involved with Reach, a group for 20 somethings and the video skits. I want to get even more involved with our women's ministry and doing more planning with Reach.

Read More: Pretty self explanatory.

Job: I need to continue to do everything I possibly can to get a job as an art teacher. Keep on calling (which I hate doing), keep on praying, keep on searching and keep on trusting that God has something out there for me.

So there it is, my new years resolutions! God, Art, Job, Golf, Health. :)

A Bittersweet 2009

I have been thinking about this post for awhile now, as I think about the past year. I will always remember 2009 as a bittersweet year. I had the best day of my life and the worse day of my life. I experienced the worse failure and one of the best triumphs of my life. All within one year. So here it, in all honesty, holding nothing back, 2009:

At the beginning of the past 3 years I have gone down to Florida to do the breast cancer walk with my grandma. I loved spending time with her, taking a break from the cold and sharing in the special event. I almost didn't go this year because of student teaching, but I made it down very last minute. I am glad I did.

Breast Cancer 5k Walk in West Palm Beach, Fl.

Me, Grandma, Mom, Uncle Tom and Judy

In January I started student teaching. I went into this experience with high hopes and much excitement as this would be the last part of the teacher licensure program at The University of Richmond. I was ready to graduate and become an art teacher. My first placement was at a title 1 elementary school in a rough part of town. Most of the students came from broken homes with parents who did little parenting. 95% of the students were on free and/or reduced lunch and breakfast. To say the students were a challenge is a huge understatement. To make matters worse my cooperating teacher who I was working with had never had a student teacher before. Instead of helping me (which I desperately needed) she watched old episodes of Lost on her laptop. This experience ended up being horrible, I couldn't get the students under control, I couldn't get them to listen to me and I couldn't keep up. I am not pushing all the blame on my cooperating teacher or my supervisor from UofR, which was my first response. I could have done a lot differently as well. I was planning a wedding and working a part time job at the same time. I didn't have enough time and energy to put into student teaching, I was being pulled in 200 different directions. By the end of the first placement I was ready to move onto high school. I would be working with a different population of students both demographically and developmentally. This did not come to be, as I was pulled from the program. I can't believe I am writing this, but yes I was told in a meeting with my supervisor and field placement director that I would not be moving onto my second placement. I was shocked, confused and angry all at the same time. I just remember crying and feeling like the biggest failure ever. I couldn't believe it. I was told I could finish student teaching in the fall if I did some observing and retook a class over the summer. After a lot of soul searching I decided I wanted to finish the program. I told UofR that I wanted to complete the program and do all the extra work that was involved. At that point I was still not 100% sure I wanted to teach, but I wanted to give it another try. I felt God had called me to teaching, and now looking back I can see how this experience will make me a better teacher. I can see I was becoming a teacher who did the bare minimum and was not passionate about her subject or students. This was definitely a wake up call, and I am finally at a place where I can truthfully say I am glad this situation happened. It took me a long time to come to that place, where I could look back and take positive things away from that school. For a long time I was bitter and mad at my cooperating teacher and supervisor for not stepping up and helping me more. For not being a good example of what a great teacher is. But, I have learned from this experience, it will always be with me and I will always remember the type of teacher I want to be because of it.

I soon switched from teacher to wedding planner. At this point I had about a month left until I got married. I had my bridal shower and bachelorette party, both were fantastic.

Bachelorette Party

My Bridal Shower

On April 4 I married my best friend. It was the best day of my life. I know that is cliche, but it's true. All of the most important people in my life were there. I looked and felt beautiful and everything was perfect. We ended up having great weather, sunny and warm. I definitely had a fairytale wedding. We got married at our church and had the reception at The Dominion Club. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Me and Clarke, Our Wedding Day

After our wedding we went on our honeymoon to Martinique. This was amazing. We stayed at a Club Med resort, which I highly recommend. Our room was right on the beach and the food was so great. We did have some trouble getting there, with a detour to Puerto Rico. Someone on our connecting flight from Miami to San Juan brought a knife on the plane. I guess they found it somewhere, so everyone had to deboard and they searched the plane. By the time that was done and we got to the San Juan airport we had missed our connecting flight to Martinique. There was only one flight that left from San Juan to Martinique everyday, so we were stuck in San Juan, Puerto Rico for a whole day. We were pretty bummed but it ended up being fine. Once we got to the resort in Martinique it was great. This was definitely one of the best trips of my life.

Martinique, Our Honeymoon

We also moved into our apartment. We waited until we were married to move into together, so this was really exciting.

Our First Place

In May I got my hair cut off. I donated 10 inches to Locks of Love. It was a big adjustment, but I am glad I did it. I think when my hair grows out I will do it again. Me and Clarke also got to go to the Outer Banks with his family. Althought it was really cold and windy we still had a good time and managed to get some beach time in.

Me and Clarke, Outer Banks

Over the summer I retook a classroom management class, went camping, made it down to Florida again and went to Baltimore and Roanoke. I also learned how to play golf. Well started to learn. I still have a long way to come, but it's fun and I really enjoy it. I have noticed a lot of similarities to gymnastics in golf. The controlling of your body and discipline is needed in both sports. I also like that this is a sport I can play for the rest of my life, unlike gymnastics.

The Hollows Golf Course

Roanoke Star

Baltimore, Inner Harbor, Visiting Dad

At the end of July we got Betty. It seems like we have had her for so much longer than just 5 months. I can't imagine not having her, she has really become a member of our family.

Betty, The Day We Adopted Her

Also towards the end of July I went to Florida yet again. My grandma, who I was very close to had been sick for some time. My aunt decided to throw her a surprise birthday party, her birthday was the week before. My dad came from Baltimore, my whole family came from Virginia and my cousin came from Maryland. All of her children and grandchildren were there. She said it was the best day of her life, I bet about 100 people were at her party.

Grandma's 78th Birthday Party

After the party we went back to her place and spent some time together. About 20 minutes after we left we got a call saying she had passed away. This ended up being the worse day of my life.

I was very close to my grandma, and loved her very much. I miss her so much and wish she was still here. She taught me so much about life, God, perseverance, love and family. She helped me become the person I am today. I still can't believe that she is gone. She overcame a lot in her life as she had four different types of cancer: breast, lung, colon and liver. She never gave up hope and had the most positive attitude throughout all of the chemo treatments. She lived every day of her life to the fullest. She had an amazing faith in God. She never stopped trying new things. She loved her family so much and was the glue that held us all together. This was a really hard time for my family, and I know we are not over it. I probably gained about 10 pounds that month, just eating out of sadness. I honestly don't know when I will be able to talk about her without tears coming to my eyes. All I can say is I am so grateful for having her in my life. I don't know many people who were as close to their grandma as I was. I am a better person for having her in my life.

In the fall I finally finished student teaching. I was at my high school placement and I absolutely loved it. I had the best cooperating teacher ever. I went into that placement scared to death of teaching. I was so unsure of myself, unsure if teaching was for me. Throughout my 2 months there God confirmed that teaching is my calling. I was made to be a teacher. I have such a heart for young people and a passion for sharing art with them.

Page's Clay Vessel

In October me and Clarke went apple picking at Carter's Mountain. We also went to Rocky Mount and Clarke played his great uncle Bob in the ghost and more tour. My sister in law Melanie played her great aunt Anna. I took pictures.

Melanie, Clarke and Me in Rocky Mount

Our first holiday season as a married couple was great. We spent Thanksgiving at my mom's and did Christmas with both families. We were busy, but it was nice to have so many people to share it with.

Thanksgiving at Mom's

Christmas Eve at Clarke's Parent's House

I also just turned 26. It is my lucky year, 26 on the 26th. I went to Dave and Busters with my friends and of course Clarke to celebrate.

Lori, Me and Rebecca at Dave and Busters

So there it is, 2009.

A wedding and a funeral.

 Failure and success.

Joy and pain.

All rolled together.

A bittersweet year.

So Funny

This is so funny. What will they come up with next?!