number 2 restaurant

at the beginning of the month, kate had the opportunity to stay at our babysitter...saint debbies, for a sleep over for her birthday.  (it is one of many of the awesome things deb does for our girls)

anne has been so good lately.  first grade has been a transition for her, and even though there have been some bumps, overall, we have seen her evolving into a beautiful young lady before our eyes.

since anne has been an infant, adam has wanted to take her on dates.  he has before.  simple dates. mcdonalds, a trip to sams club etc.  this time he decided she was ready for the real deal.  he made a reservation for Pepe's Apt 2. Restaurant.  It has always been a dream of Anne's.  It is on the way to church and is this cool store front with an apartment on top.  It has been many things over time and this is the coolest thing so far.  She always yells NUMBER 2 RESTAURANT.

It's the fanciest thing she has ever been to.  We kept it a secret and surprised her.  The picture collage isn't great but it tells the story of the date night.  I didn't bring my normal lens, the lighting was tricky, then don't worry, the battery died and i didn't bring my camera bag. nice.

we had a fantastic time.  she was an amazing little lady and was so proud of herself.
it totally felt like we were in another world.
if we never do it again, it's okay.  this one time was so worth it!
~chat soon!

man.

it's been a week.
adam has been sick since mid october. finally went to the doc.
bronchitis. 
2 inhalers and a antibiotic and i think he is starting to 'look' better.
anne's first grade has been infested with lice....we are clear.
so far.
oh, don't forget the second daisy girlscout meeting..
.it wasn't bad, not great, but it's getting better...
there has been some hurt feelings in anne's classroom.
she has been the one hurt. it's been super hard.
i have had a stomach ache since last thursday.
i think we have the issue remedied but it's hard to stomach.
i cried, outloud, to my mom. (not a norm for us)
i'm pretty sure she cried a little too.
it's an ugly cycle isn't it? this parenting thing.
adam bought another business...in simple terms, he bought the rights to the customer list of an embroidery company in the area that is going out of business/retiring.  more work, less time.  it's good, but still hard.
people have been diagnosed with cancer this week...people i am not directly involved with, but people that are loved by people i know. it stinks.
a very young mother, in a rageful fit, killed her child.  near where i grew up, my parents home.  it's horrible.  she killed, she lied, she doesn't seem sad. 
it made me ill. physically ill.
everyone in the area has their mouth open, hanging in disgust.  it's horrible.
it's just been a little heavy here this week. 
i'm ready for the weekend.
the only thing on the agenda...church. which is a good place to be after such a craptastic week.
and possibly a good ol' fashion fish fry with my momma and pappa.  nothing more exciting.  should i remind you of this....
~chat soon!

4 years

i don't know why...but i am in.love with this.  tried to crop it, maybe edit a little. nope, went back to it's original state.  something about the background and how large it looks, and how small, yet grown up she looks...man makes my heart swell. 

those wheels are turning!  you can SEE THEM!

being 4 at her finest! :)

kate has the cutest, sweetest, giggle.  if you know her, you know what this picture *sounds* like

i think this one is going to be on a canvas...

kate turned 4 the end of october.
i realized i didn't have a good picture of her for her fourth.
i got her dressed yesterday morning, threw some sweats on myself, a jacket on anne...out we went.
to the backyard.
kate was very excited, for about 3 minutes.
just enough to capture some great photos of her EXACT personality.
she is such a ham bone.
i love her.
on a side note, i have been researching, and wanting to learn the 'manual' setting on my camera.
it is supposed to improve the quality of the pictures.  but i will have to think before i take it, not just snap away.
i tried with kate. it was easier then i thought.
i'm sure a true photographer is giving a big thumbs down, but if i can say...i thought they turned out pretty darn cute!  and i'm the mom, so that is all that matters.
aren't you glad i have the internet again?! HA!
~chat soon!
sorry about the picture comments, i am feeling mushy today.

last game

Miss Anne's last soccer game was yesterday.
It was FRIGID.
I wasn't prepared and wore capri's. Dumb.
(It was warm at out house earlier...)
The girls had a great season.
Anne wasn't in love with it, but NEVER showed it on the field.
She always tried. Couldn't ask for more.
Her favorite part of the season...the celebration afterwards yesterday at the local pizza place.
Ha! :)
~chat soon!

hello world!

i have internet at home again.
anywhere in the house, i can roam....
so excited.
if you need me, you will fine me, with my computer.
happy times. :)
~chat soon. (very soon!)

a funny little story...

you may look at the picture above and say, sara has LOST IT!
she is now posting pictures of butterflies stuck to a ceiling tile.
guess what? while, i may be a little nuts...there is a story here.
my good freind joyce gave me several catterpillers.
i put them in the butterfly net.
one crawled out and decided to do his cocoon spinning from the ceiling.
we watched eagerly everyday...the day of parent teacher confernces we noticed the colors had changed.
right in the middle of reading groups, my student Kelly yells out 'ITS HATCHING'.
i couldn't believe it, right before my very eyes...the butterfly hatched.
amazing. just amazing.
we all stood there and watched it emerge from its coccoon.
unreal.
the kids innocent eyes wide, their mouths hanging open, not a sound to be heard.
hands down, could possibly be, the best teaching moment in my career!
~chat soon!

an announcement...

we have a new niece!
her name is devon elizabeth.
she is 3 weeks old now and as sweet as a bug.
congrats to aaron, stacey, and big brother hunter.
we had the great opportunity of having a sleep over with devon when she was just a few days old.
her momma needed some extra tlc in the hospital.  we were very worried and sad for stacey, but i had a great time with my camera! :)
~chat soon