It's sad when you realize that some 3rd graders have nicer cell phones than you.

There are so many things wrong with that statement.

Holiday party

Have you ever had to go to an event and have no idea what to wear? Well, this has happened to me a couple times - one in particular this last weekend.

As a teacher, we don't really get work Christmas parties, but thankfully I get to live vicariously through Matt and his work. I've been pretty excited about this for awhile. So, I had Matt forward me the invitation so I could figure out what to wear - a crucial aspect of the evening. Stated on the invite it says:

"Business Holiday Attire"

Now, what in the heck does that mean?!? Well, google didn't know and I didn't know either, so I once again bugged Matt to figure out what his co-workers and their wives were wearing (mistake #1). He came back to tell me "gowns...or dresses". That means fancy, right? I was hoping so, b/c I have this dress I wanted to wear anyways - a red cocktail dress. So I didn't think much more about it (mistake #2). Well, I spend quite a bit of time primping and getting all dolled up before the big night, excited about getting to get all fancy for something. We drive out to the location, for a night of dinner and dancing - even an open bar and live band! (so I thought)

Well...we pull up and guess what I notice...

all the women are wearing pants!!!!

Yes, pants and big embroidered snowmen sweaters! Classic. And here is me with my hair all done up, black heels - and did I mention I'm wearing a bright red cocktail dress?! I was not too happy. I actually really wanted to go home or at least stay in the car for the evening. A nightmare! We went straight to the buffet - and I didn't take my coat off until we sat down, so I could try to disguise my overdressed, embarrassed self. We sat and ate and talked with his friends. I tried to impress as I met his bosses and managers. Though I can't say that I'm good with that. Just smiled and nodded.

Then the music began...played by the DJ - not a live band. Oh well...not a big deal, except for the fact that the DJ was terrible!! I am not exaggerating. He struggled getting and keeping people on the dance floor...even with free alcohol floating around the place. Like, he'd finally get a crowd out there for a song and then would play a completely terrible song like Brittney Spears...so of course everyone would sit down. It was ridiculous. I honestly don't know what was so challenging about the situation for him. Play good songs = People will dance.

There was a couple that came and joined us at the table that nobody really knew. I start talking with another girl at our table who also happened to be a teacher. We are discussing work and some difficulties of our particular schools and so forth, when the man next to me asks what school I teach at. I say it's a small charter school that nobody has heard of, and he pressed the question. Well, guess what...I come to find out that his daughter goes there. I knew he looked familiar! What are the odds? Seriously!? Great.

Oh well...at least there were door prizes. I encouraged Matt to let us stay til the bitter end in hopes that we would win something...we waited...and waited...and waited...there were basically 10% of the people left at the end (b/c the DJ was that bad) so I thought our odds were pretty good. But no. No door prizes for us...and several wasted hours of listening to ridiculous music.

What an evening! Though, I can say that I ended up really having fun and it was amusing at any rate. I enjoyed meeting the people he works with - they were really sweet. It was nice to put faces with names. I'd go again...at least next time I'll have a better idea of what to wear! :)

This is when Matt and I joined Caitlin and Karl for "White Christmas"

This is us at the party. Being all dressed up at least deserved a picture!

Thanksgiving

I went home this past week for more days than I think I've been home in years. It was fun and I got to go shopping with my mom for 2 days straight, and almost have all of my Christmas shopping done (and a few things for myself, oops).

our annual Christmas card picture

the whole family

(literally...this picture contains the entire guest list of Caitlin's side of the family for the wedding)

my grandparents - 50 years later

Bride to Be

My sister, Caitlin and Karl got engaged this weekend! It was so fun to be apart of it. They make an incredible couple and both are very lucky people to find each other. I am excited about having Karl as a brother!

He did a great job planning the weekend and keeping it a secret for months! Caitlin got her Aggie ring on Friday night, so I came in town with my mom and grandparents. On Saturday she thought we all left to go home and she headed to work. But what she didn't know is that we all stayed behind and Amy and Kelsey surprised her too by coming. He left a note and rose on her car window telling her he wanted to take her to dinner and he'd pick her up at 7. While we waited at his house, he picked her up and took her to the George Bush Library - where we got to watch him propose from a distance. Then he took to back to her house to at least 50 of their friends waiting for their return. Below are a few pictures from the weekend.

Caitlin getting her Aggie Ring

Karl showing us (the sisters) the ring

OSU experience

This past weekend, Matt and I drove to and from Oklahoma to enjoy a full weekend of OSU homecoming. It was quite an experience. Everyone kept asking me what I thought of it, but I didn't know really what to say. I thought A&M was pretty intense, but I decided it's like rolling up the weeks and weeks of A&M traditions and such into one weekend at OSU. We went none stop for several days, which means this week I'm getting to play catch up on my down time. :) But it was a lot of fun and not like anything I had seen before.

Here is a picture of 1) us and some of Matt's closest friends at the famous Eskimo Joe's in Stillwater, and 2) Matt and I on OSU campus. On a different note, I thought this was funny with my students. We were doing a health lesson on growing up and how your body changes, etc, and one of the questions that I asked on their assignment was "what happens when you grow up?" These are just a few of the responses...

I will live with my wife
I will at least have a normal job
When i am an adult, life with be hard. I will stop growing. I will get heavier. My body will keep changing.
I will have wrinkles
I will go to work and ride a bike
When you are an adult, you have to take life serious
I will be different b/c i will have a car, a job, a house, a family of my own, a lake, and new friends. (I don't really know how owning a lake fits into that picture, but dream big, right?!)

Being a grown up sounds exciting, huh?

Happy Song

Today I have the day off. A holiday that I do not celebrate, so for me it's just a random Tuesday off. I feel like I haven't worked much this school year yet. It's so nice. I like not working when everyone else is. :) Not in a mean sense, but in a sense that their cars are parked and they are sitting at their office, and not on the streets and at the stores. It is much nicer getting around that way.

Anyways, I just burned this CD from my sister, Caitlin, when I was staying with her about a week ago, because I have found a new happy song. I wonder if anyone else has those. It's a song that I can literally play on repeat for about 2-3 weeks straight and not get sick of it and it makes me in a better mood every time I hear it. I love when I find those songs. Sometimes they are random ones that I find on iTunes, sometimes they are ones I find listening to the radio. Either way, when if I get in a bad mood (which don't pretend that never happens to you), I can plug it in and it all goes away. So...for those who are curious, currently my happy song is...judge me if you will...I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. Oh so good!

Power house

I get home last night from a long week away from home (thanks Caitlin) b/c of Ike, thinking that power had been restored to my area...oh contrare. My house (thankfully) and the one next door do - but every other house in the neighborhood are electricity-less. Crazy. I didn't know that was possible, but apparently we are wired with the apartments behind us, but only our two houses.

So, we are hosting some neighbors at our home. I'm ready for my bed, but what's a couple more nights?

Back to work I go tomorrow. Might be a rough week with the kiddos, I'm sure they will be wired. But I'm looking forward to a routine schedule again!