Welcome Winter

Well I guess it is fitting that tomorrow is winter solstice because here in CT we got a good storm. School was cancelled and it wasn't even snowing yet. I think it is so funny! In Utah we never got a snow day.... and here they cancel school because they think it is going to snow. So silly! Anyway here are the pics of the snow we got. Hope all of your holidays are merry!

Before After

Some fun in the snow!

Plasma

Mike and I put up our Christmas tree a few days ago and it looks so nice. I just like sitting there looking at all the ornaments we have collected. Meanwhile while I'm adoring the tree my beloved husband is absorbed by his newest "toy" plasma T.V. Need I say more? We have been looking to buy a flat screen for the past two years and about a month ago we finally gave in. It is very nice and we are happy with our purchase. I don't really get to watch a lot of T.V. in the living room anymore because there is always some sporting event that he needs to see in "HD" :) It's okay with me it is nice to see Mike so happy.

Another part of this story is that we are waiting to have the T.V. mounted on the wall. We had the mirror removed from above our fireplace they patched it up and Mike sanded and painted the wall. After all that he put up the wall mount. The last step was to take the base stand off. He removed all but one of the screws from the base stand. The last screw is stuck in the T.V. We could not get it out. So I called the support services and they said they would call back in 2 days and then have someone come out and look at it in another few days. It really stinks.

So now that beautiful T.V. is sitting in front of the fireplace anxiously awaiting its true home up on the wall.

I hope that before Christmas I will be able to post some pics of that darn T.V. up on the wall!

Scarlett

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Ancestors - Family finder

Halloween Fun

Here are some pics from Halloween, I took the easy route and was a scarecrow.

Mike made his pumpkin using Mr. Potato head parts that I found at target. It turned out very cute and all the trick or treaters loved it!

Mine I carved, It was messy but worth it. Mike made some really good pumpkin seeds out of it.

I just can't believe that it is November! Where does the time go?

4th

My friend Emily tagged me to post the 4th photo in my pictures. So here it is!

This is Mike fishing on the Farmington river. Unfortunately we didn't catch anything this time!
I Tag Jennie and Jessica!

Cute Little Booger!

Mike and I were lucky enough to be able to go and visit his sister, her husband, and our nephew last weekend. We traveled to Long Island, NY. where we spent 2 wonderful days with them. T.J. our nephew is getting so big, he turned 10 months while we were there. We just love getting to interact with him. My sister in-law and brother in-law are pretty cool too, however they both know we are most taken with "the boy"! So here are some recent pics and a few videos TOO CUTE!

What have I been up too???

Well I am seriously behind on my blogging: Here is why, we have been BUSY!

Labor Day weekend in Maine
September 14th First Nascar race in New Hampshire
September 20th Jennie & Rick visit from UT
September 27th Flew to UT for my mom's birthday
October 11 Went to Long Island NY to visit Mike's sis.

Hopefully we will get some posts up soon!

Roos Visit 2008

In September my friend Jennie came to Connecticut to visit us. She brought her cute little family with her. We first went to Boston where they had been staying for a few days. We drove there in the morning and came back to CT later that night. Here are a few pics from our day trip to Boston. What a beautiful city.


This is the church of christian science. It was beautiful.

Jennie and Rick took us on a "Duck" Tour. This is a boat that drives on land and can go directly into the water. It was nice but pretty chilly, so Mike gave me the "shirt off his back" to keep me warm. We drove by all the Boston sights including Cheers!

Jennie was brave and actually drove the duck boat in the water! She even took her little Quacker with her!

Baby "M"

Jennie is so friendly she made friends with a group of bike taxi guys. She told them she always wanted to try it so we did. It was hilarious! We had a great time. Thanks Jennie for making the trip out from UT. I will post some of their Connecticut vacation next!

Fun Facts

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes after my great grandmother
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Umm can't remember I cry at sappy commercials!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
 Nope
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yeah I'm the best!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
 So-so
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
 Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
 NO
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
 Puffins
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
NO I untie them when I put them on!
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
 Mentally!
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Vanilla with chocolate syrup
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
facial features
15. RED OR PINK?
Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I grind my teeth
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? 
My family
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Umm No but I do want them to post it!
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Jeans & no shoes
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? 
Yummy Brownie
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The local news
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Green it's my fav.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Peaches, spring air, clean laundry
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Michael
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yep she is a sweetie!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? 
Basketball
27. HAIR COLOR?
Brownish with a little bit of blond
28. EYE COLOR? 
Blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? 
Sushi
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
 Braveheart
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer for sure!
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs, kisses are for the Hubbins
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice Cream
37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Marizano's Strategies.
38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
 Picture of me my husband and his sister on wall street
39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Yep, presidential debate whohoo!
40. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Little kids, they are so funny
41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles
42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Connecticut
43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I spend my days with 17 7year olds! That's Talent!
44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Tucson, AZ

Whew!!!

Well it is Friday and I am officially exhausted. Apparently I have forgotten how tiring it is to get 17 little second graders "whipped" into shape. I think that I said "when we are in the hall your voices are off" about 150 times in 4 days. I teach with a first year teacher. She was telling me that her feet were sore and swollen from being on her feet all day, I agreed with her and asked if that was what it was like to be pregnant, she looked at me and smiled "totally" is all she said. (She has two boys) So I guess if I can handle teaching maybe....just maybe.... someday I can handle pregnancy & kids! I'm off to bed and I am going to sleep in tomorrow for sure!

	"Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years." — Gracie Allen
	"You know how to tell if the teacher is hung over? Movie Day." — Jay Mohr
	"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils." — Louis-Hector Berlioz
	"If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure." — Bill Gates

730 Days

It was 2 years ago today that I married my best friend. He has been my everything for a very long time. Leaving Utah and moving to Connecticut was one of our biggest challenges, well more so for me than him. I left my family, friends, and my job. It was very scary being so far from everything I have ever known. However looking back on these past two years it is amazing how we have grown as our own little family. We had to learn to rely on only each other. When those disagreements happen it is not like we have a choice to leave, where in the heck would we go! That has made our marriage stronger, learning how to communicate, and "live with each other". We still long to be closer to our families but we both know that no matter where we are as long as we have each other we can make it work. We are excited to see what the future holds for us, hopefully my parents will get some grand kids within the next few years (yes mom I said years), and buy a home.

Thanks Michael for the past 2 years but more importantly for the last 10. It was 1999 when we first "kissed" and we have never been apart since. Even through the "long distance" times our love never wavered you are the one person that was made just for me and I am so very happy that we are here now. I've never been happier. Ich liebe Dich.

Guess What!?!?!

Well I think that it was a good thing that I posted my "teaching rant". It really made me realize that teaching is where I belong. Most of you seemed to agree with that. Thank you for your insights.

It is a funny thing, about 1 hour after I made that post I got a call to go an interview for a kindergarten position. So today at 11 a.m. I headed out to the interview, I felt like it went well. When I got home I got into my comfy clothes and settled in to watch some more Olympics. I went up stairs and noticed that the light was blinking on the phone. I had a message from the school I worked at last year saying please give them a call, so I did. I spoke to the principal and he said that they just had an unexpected opening. It was for 2nd grade. However they have a teacher on maternity leave and she may return in Oct. or Dec. to take my place. So anyway the principal said that if I wanted the job it was mine. I immediately said "I know that this is where I want to be" and would love to accept the job, even if it is for a short time (hopefully she will stay home!). So I have a job for now and I could not be happier! Karma??? Maybe!

Teaching Rant

Well most of you know that I am a teacher, a very rewarding job that I truly love. But since we moved to this place called Connecticut my love of teaching has been tested time and time again. I have been a substitute teacher, long term substitute teacher, and a teacher's assistant. All attempts to show the "masters of the school" aka principals that I am an outstanding teacher and they should hire me! Well I am not sure that is ever going to happen here. First of all it seems to me that principals here really are not involved with what is being taught in the classroom. Seriously I was a "long term sub" for 4 months and she only came into my classroom twice. How in the heck are you going to know what I am truly capable of if you only pop your head in twice.

So now it is August 12th and I know that school is going to be starting in just a few weeks and I still have no position. Now I know that I am not the only one, for every position that is posted about 300 people apply. That means that 299 other "lost teaching souls" are in my very large sometimes sinking boat. So this poses me with a question, to work or not to work!

I got so very frustrated with the whole teaching thing that I decided that it would just be better to go work at the mall. My beloved "hubbins" told me "You are a teacher, you went to school to be a teacher! You don't want to work at the mall." Now everyone that knows me knows that I am a very "busy body" I always feel like there is something that I should be doing. For me to sit on my Buttocks will drive me crazy. So should I wait for school to start and continue substitute teaching or head on out to the retail work force. I would love to hear some opinions.

US and A

It seems like my T.V. has been stuck on NBC for days now. I have really enjoyed watching the Summer Olympics in Beijing. I loved their opening ceremonies and like how they sometimes jump from one sport to another. Too much on one can be a bit overwhelming. So far I think that swimming, gymnastics, and basketball (Go Boozer & Williams) have been my favs. It is funny, I don't even remember watching the Atlanta games. I think I like the Winter Games just a little bit more than the Summer Games. Of course I am biased because of the Salt Lake Games in 2002 I was able to attend many of the events. It was AWESOME!

WhirlWind Utah Tour

July went by way too quickly! Here are some pictures from our summer vacation!

My parents had a BBQ and it was Yummy! They invited Mike's family and our neighbors.



We arranged a fishing/camping trip to Panguitch lake in Southern Utah. We invited our families which included Mike's family from Colorado, New York and Massachusetts. Also our friends Chris and Mindie made the drive up from Las Vegas! It was quite a crew, we had so much fun!




We took Mike's sister Nat and cousin Brad and his girlfriend Brynn to Park City we had a blast at the Alpine slides. We also made time for mini golf and go carts! We were tired when we got back.


We can't wait for our next trip back home, hopefully it will be Turkey day! Gobble Gobble!

American Weekend

Mike and I had a great 4th of July weekend. He had to work both days but got off around 4 each day. On Friday we went to one of Mike's co-workers place. She was having a BBQ celebrating the 4th and her new citizenship! It was very low-key, no fireworks just good food & people. I made a strawberry/blueberry shortcake. It think it came out pretty cute!









Later that night we drove to a spot to watch some fireworks, it was okay but there were so many people and a chain link fence that we had to look through to see the fireworks.









Saturday was a much better day. It was rainy all day and that had me worried because I had planned for us to go to the symphony. The Hartford Symphony was playing at an outdoor amphitheater, all "Americana" songs.









When we got there the drizzle had just stopped and it was very enjoyable. We brought our own chairs, and had a picnic. (Thanks Aub for the picnic basket! We love it!) The music was beautiful, the surroundings were relaxing. The concert ended with fireworks, it was a great day. I highly recommend going to the Talcott music festival if you live around here. In a few weeks they will be having a concert with all Beatles songs. I really want to go but that is when we will be in UT.

Hope you all had a great celebration of the 4th of July!