Wichita Wedding Shower Fun!

It's Wedding Week!  My sister, Gentry, gets married this week!

I attended a wonderful shower put on by some of her Wichita friends a few weeks ago.  Figured I better post them before the wedding happens!

Like in less than 4 days now!

There may have been a toilet paper wedding dress competition...

It has been fun celebrating Gentry as the Bride to Be!  Next up, the fun continues with pics from the KC wedding showers!

Hall of Fame

This past weekend was spent celebrating with family and friends as Matt was inducted into the MNU Hall of Fame.   

Matt's dad presented him, and let me tell you, these guys had us laughing and crying.  They both are excellent speakers, and I know it was a very special occasion for both of them.

I truly enjoyed all of the speeches of those presenting and those being inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Clearly, I think the most entertaining speeches were that of Matt and his dad, Mike. (No bias here whatsoever.)  It was just so fun to hear the stories of what brought all the inductees to MNU and the legacies that they all have left behind, thus earning them a spot in the Hall of Fame.  

It really was a neat opportunity for Matt to reflect on what being a part of the "MNU Family" means to him. Matt did such a nice job recognizing and thanking those who have supported him, especially his parents.  They are such incredible people.

Athletic director, Kevin Steele, put on a very nice Hall of Fame banquet.

Fellow Hall of Famers.

I'm so glad I was able to attend, and am so thankful I get to continue to be a part of Matt's story.  I'm a lucky gal!

What's a post without some cute pics of the kids?

I should mention that I'm also thankful for these unbelievably adorable offspring.  We had a great time at the MNU Homecoming Pancake feed and "Kids Zone."

Cade and cousin Luke make quite the pair.

Cade and Reese could have gone down the slides for hours.  Just as I could have eaten pancakes for hours.  I love pancake feeds.  Seriously.  I might have a problem.

A great weekend celebrating a well-deserved honor for Matt.  His devotion to MNU and the Pioneers runs deep.  We are thankful Matt's basketball journey gave him the opportunity to play at MNU and that his coaching career has brought us back here too!  Go 'Neers!

Winds of Change

Well, those winds of change blew me to a new school district to kick off my 7th year of teaching.  Change is always difficult.  Especially self-imposed change.

I'm a small-town girl at heart.  I've always desired to work and live in the same community--the same district.  It became clear that when the opportunity presented itself, I needed to make my world a little smaller, and my commute a little shorter.  Interestingly enough, making my world "smaller" somehow involved switching from teaching at a middle school that was pushing 750 students to a high school that's nearly 2200 students.

Change has been, well, change.  I've mourned the loss of the familiar and experienced several "firsts" of my teaching career.  But I know this is where I need to be.  And with time, it will feel like home.  I'm thankful to have a job--a fun job that I do enjoy--and that the weeks really seem to fly by.

This is my 3rd classroom to "make my own" since I've started teaching.  The first one since I've had kids.  We all know how that changes everything.  The time constraints of the daycare drop-off and pick-up really can be a game-changer.

Some "before" shots:

It's hard to get a feel from how it's set up just from the pics, but there's a classroom area in the front of the room with my desk area, 3 computers, and seats/tables for 28 students.

There are 7 cooking stations and a large pantry in the back half of the classroom.  The equipment was quite intimidating at first!  

Every class I inherit seems to have these 1980s food posters that I am NOT all about.  Good-bye.

Some "after" shots:

I was very excited about my Julia Child/inspirational quote wall that I worked on over the summer.  

I really like how it turned out!

I replaced a "Cheeses of the World" poster with my shrine to Alton.  Love that guy.

The equipment here makes me desire an upgrade at home, to say the least.

This bulletin board was a bit of an after-thought that just kind of evolved into existence, but I think it turned out to be a pretty fun way to organize the make-up assignment options.

One adjustment is that high school kids are so much bigger than middle school kids!  When we are all packed into the front of the room (classes range from 23-26 students this semester) it's hard for me to navigate around the room as well as I'd like.  And when we are all in the back of the room for lab it just seems so chaotic with all the clanging of the stainless steel and hubbub of students at work.

I teach four sections of Culinary Prep 1, one section of Baking & Food Science, and one "Advisory"/seminar period.  (Less preps and fewer sections than ever before in my teaching career.)  I love the curriculum and going deeper with the content.  I've already learned a ton!  

There is a lot I miss about middle school and specifially MT...but know that sewing is NOT one of them.  Phew!

It's overwhelming to think about how time and time again, God has provided.  Life lessons, friendships, encouragement--all when needed.  As a planner, I often want to know and control how things will turn out.  But, especially lately, I'm reminded that God's plans are always better than mine.

I'm so thankful for all of the people I've met and friendships I have from all of the places I've worked.  It's been fun taking a little journey back in time looking at past blog entries.  Some of my former worries definitely make me laugh.

All school-related posts here.

My first high school classroom here.  (All WRHS posts here.)

My middle school classroom here.  (All MTMS posts here.)

I could not have predicted this change, but that's the fun of the journey, I suppose!

Fix #6!

Fix #6 arrived a couple days later than scheduled...meaning we all had to open our boxes alone.  Wah, wah.  Not near as fun.

What is Stitch Fix?  Click here.

Why is it less fun without J and D?  Click here.

Want to try Stitch Fix?  Click here!

Item #1: Alan French Terry Asymmetrical Zip Cardigan
Fun and soft cardigan that I wanted to like...

  

But it didn't really lay right when zipped, and cost more than I was willing to pay.

Item #2: Indianan Graphic Print Mixed Material Tee that I wouldn't have usually picked out.

But I think it's just what my wardrobe needs.  It looks great with the necklace I got for my birthday from Jamie and will be comfy for school.

Item #3: Monet Mini Facet Bib Necklace.  I've been asking for a statement necklace for awhile...I feel like I should keep it since they finally did what I asked.  Maybe a little too matchy-matchy with the skirt?
Item #4: Karrie Geo Print Maxi Skirt that I love!

I don't own a maxi skirt...I always thought that thin, stretchy cotton prints and my booty wouldn't be a good mix...but it's actually quite slimming.  Yes?

I kept a shirt a couple fixes ago that is a very similar print and color combo.  Well-played, Stitch Fix.

Item #5: Sloane Colorblock A-Line Ponte Shift Dress
It photographs better than it looks in person.  It's very loose in the chest which causes the neckline to gap over and lay strangely.  Just too big.

I think I will keep item #2, #3, and #4.  

Overall very happy with this fix!  Now...will there be a Fix #7?!?!  My wallet says no...but my heart says yes...

September and Such

An obligatory post to report about September...  Clearly, I don't really mourn the passing of September like I do July.  I don't believe any teacher has ever hoped that September would continue on...not to wish my life away...but you know.

Celebrating September birthdays in the Bend over Labor Day

My Papa and I built a valence for my mom's kitchen.  He really did everything, I just pretended to help.  But somehow I still had a sense of accomplishment when we finished.

Sorry the only "finished" shot also showcases my booty...I like big...valences and I cannot lie.

Impromptu visit from Nathan and Brooke made the weekend even more eventful!

Grandma Sauder and Dad

Other things that my phone says we were up to in September...

An afternoon drive!

Cade started his second year of preschool, 3-days a week for this year.  We are breaking him in little by little.  He is really enjoying Ms. Amy's "Kanga Class."

Cade is playing soccer through Olathe Parks & Rec...mainly because I missed the t-ball deadline.  Wah, wah, parenting fail.  But, he is loving soccer and we enjoy watching him.  He takes it very seriously!

And Reese is a very serious fan.

Reese went to the cutest little Mermaid-themed birthday party where they made these fun little outfits.  So cute.  Mandy throws amazing birthday parties!!

Sometimes we go to Wal-Mart or Toys R Us for fun...is that weird?

Almost wedding time!!  Flower girl and ring bearer in training!

Reese had a little run-in with the driveway...good thing she's so tough!

Cade wanted to commemorate his tattoo from Beckett's party.  He said I had to take a picture of it before we could wash it off.

So there's our random September!  Blog post...check!!