Gettin' all Gussied Up

Not a fan of all the gross scary stuff, just the fun dressing up part...and eating the leftover candy part...

Party Number One...they just looked so awesome I had to put up a picture

Party Number Two in the city

The Hipsters...

So we've never been at home for Halloween...not sure if we even get trick-or-treaters.  We bought our favorite candy just in case we get to be the ones to eat it.  Um...maybe we should just turn the lights off.

A Dead Desire of My Heart

Ballerina magnets a few of my dance students made me (one of them still needs to be hot glued to the magnet)

This dance class is just another example in my life of God giving me the desires of my heart.  I always wanted to teach ballet and never thought I would be able to.  I don't have a degree in dance, I just have 11 years of ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe experience and while I was in the top classes by the end of my dance "career", I've only entered a small handful of contests and until this studio found me (yes it most definitely found me) I only ever choreographed dances in my head.  I've been doing this for almost six months now and I absolutely love it.  The girls are fantastic, they get my humor, and we have fun!  One mom stopped me on my way out the door last week and said "They are always smiling".  Good!  It's all about having fun, learning and becoming better, but having fun.  It's just something I never thought I would do but always wanted to.  Just another example of how God can and does give us the desires of our heart...sometimes we just have to wait.  I gave up on that dream in college-the dream was dead.  God is amazing.

Budgeting

I just want to make a shout out to all those people who are budgeting.
After being inspired by Dave Ramsey (google him...now).  We came up with a budget.  I know every family is different and is able to budget differently, which seems weird to me because to me budgeting used to mean "you can't buy anything but groceries and gas for your car".  But I'm learning that when you budget well and within your means it means you know where you're money is going and you are keeping good track of it, staying in within the boundaries you set.  It doesn't mean you can't ever buy a shirt, it just means, "let's wait until the middle or end of the month" and instead of going to Ann Taylor Loft, buy it at Target...or not at all.  Budgeting for us means netflix is cheaper than cable...our "tv bill" is $16/month (hulu has anything we would really want to watch anyway)!  It means bringing your lunch every day instead of eating out and saying "no" to starbucks unless you have a giftcard.  We have absolutely dominated our grocery bill for the past two months and it's a good feeling.  Family of 2= under $130.  Thank you Aldi, we couldn't have done it without you.
It also means planning ahead.  Like Dave Ramsey says "Christmas does not sneak up on you.  It happens every year.".  So we have been planning accordingly for that and a few other things we know are coming up.  It's nice to not fear finances.
Dave Ramsey also encourages families to make a little extra $ wherever they can.  Well, we discovered Half Priced Books...okay so we didn't discover it but the actual store is only 2 miles from us.  We sold some books and DVDs we don't use for $40!

So yeah for budgets!  You should make one too!

Jr. High Retreat

Great weekend with the Jr. High at Timber-Lee.  Highlights:
1. Hilarious Scarecrow/Corn Race
The kids had to find pieces of a scarecrow, put him together, then run around the camp taking pictures of "him".
2. Crazy Dodgeball Game...VCB dominated...it helps that we play every week.
3. The Drive there and back
Instead of a big bus, the church rented two 15 passenger vans.  Wes drove one and I drove one.  Taylor Swift has never been sung so loud...loved it.  I actually wished the drive was longer.

I'm pretty sure I got 11 hours of sleep last night...needed.

We're now in our 3rd year with the Jr. High.  It's so fun to see the kids literally growing.

Coffee...

I made my coffee extra strong today.  It was too weak yesterday.  I figured this one out too late.

How do 4 year olds have so much energy yet they don't drink coffee?

And don't say it's because they take naps....because we don't in our class.

I almost fell asleep on my break as I sat outside and thought about life.  Apparently life is pretty boring because, like I said, I almost fell asleep.

Therefore, I made my coffee extra strong today.

We're headed on a retreat this weekend with our wonderful "pseudo" junior high kids.  I'm stoked,  Seriously, seriously stoked.  I love these trips.  I remember being a student on trips like theses so clearly. How am I old enough to chaperone?  I'm probably not...I'm probably sleeping right now and when I wake up I will be 12 again.  Maybe...if...I...just...put...my...head...down...I'll...wake...up...on...my...desk...in...my...room...14...years...ago...(DRINKS COFFEE)

A few days ago, before I drank my coffee I tried to get the coffee out of the coffee maker with a spoon...it didn't work and I was perplexed.

I don't love coffee, don't misread me.  I have just come to a point in my adult life that if I do not have it I will probably die by 8:30.  Yes, seriously drop dead from...well I just need it, okay?  I can quit whenever I want to!  I'll just drop dead...that's all.

Beautiful Wedding

Jake and Nicole's wedding was such a good time!  She is so creative!  I took some fun pictures while I was able to enjoy myself! (First wedding since I started shooting that I just got to have fun!)

 The happy (and very attractive) couple!

 The Johnson family (minus the kids)

 Beautiful!

 So much thought went into these decorations!

 horse shoe table "cards"

The imagination and creativity that went into this wedding was amazing!  The Byron Colby Barn was a beautiful place for this fall wedding!