Happy Father's Day

They just don't sell Father's Day card that are complicated enough to honor all the many men in my life. Well, Wes' dad got a typical card, because he's just a typical dad. :)

Wes is a step-dad, but he's so much more. He loves me and loves Chase more than I could explain in a blog. He takes care of us and deserves so much more than a Hallmark poem. He goes above and beyond the title of 'daddy'. I hope my words and actions let him know how much I love and appreciate him...

Chase's father is a whole separate issue. He is Chase's 'dad' by title, and that's all. He didn't get a card today. Once I realized I didn't get him a card from Chase (which I usually do) I wondered why. I realized I never once thought about it. I didn't intentionally leave him out, the thought just never crossed my mind. I also completely forgot about his birthday a few weeks ago (which Chase usually at least calls him on). It makes me wonder what his absence has caused Chase to forget about him.

I also really miss my dad today. Today isn't any harder than any other day, it's just more of a reminder. Today is one of those days that his absence is just so present. I tried to make today special for Wes, and not be sad all day. These holidays come and go and that's just what I want them to do. No need for dramatics in the middle of it's coming or going. Card shopping wasn't even that bad...even if it did take me 17.8 seconds to pick out three cards. :)

So I tried to live today as if it were any other day. I was extra sweet to my hubby, cooked his favorite things for dinner, and got him MST3K from Best Buy. Tomorrow is another day.

Give all your daddys an extra kiss from me today, and have a great week!

FRICK!

My favorite word of the week. FRICK!

I had a relaxing beginning to my week, and spent Tuesday at Stone Mountain with my future Beaverbrook Family. I came home happy and excited and ready for the next year. I woke up the following morning in the worst. pain. of. my. life.

It was paralyzing. I was stuck laying on my back turned to the right and I could not budge. When I did try to get up or move my head/neck, I would feel an 'electric surge' firing away in my neck and down my back. I am known for being a pretty tough gal, but I couldn't handle it. I was crying like a baby and freaking out. Luckily, my amazing husband stayed home to nurse me back to health. I am nowhere near back to normal, but it is at least bearable. I got some pain pills from my MIL that were helping for a while, but now just make me sick and also make me feel like I have ants crawling all over me. I've had two full days of heating pads, hot showers, and mindless television. I feel like my bedroom is my dungeon of darkness. It's so frustrating to feel like your days are just wasted. My poor hubby has also come down with a nasty cold, and my bff Heatherbean AND her Feke are also both sick. What is with this infirmary right at the beginning of summer? It's amazing how much I realize I take for granted when I'm sick. :(

Luckily, Chase is feeling great and has been so helpful with sick Mommy. I think the culmination of graduation from Kindergarten and turning 6 in a few weeks has him maturing right before my eyes. He has been so sweet, and just read the entire book Green Eggs and Ham to me. I know I'll get some much needed sleep tonight after a bedtime story like that!

Memorial Day Week of Fun!

It's been a crazy fun holiday weekend. It all started with a wedding I helped Catherine shoot on Saturday. The day went by super quick and I had a really good time! I have a few more weddings to do with her and I am looking forward to learning more from her in the next few weeks.

The following day was fun in the sun at my favorite place to party. Heather's parents' house! We had amazing food and Chase swam himself silly. Everyone came with their kids and the pool was packed! It is so interesting to see our group grow as more and more of us have children. I am so lucky to be a part of our amazing group of family and friends.






My weekend didn't end there. Monday we recovered and laid around the pool relaxing, then Tuesday night Wes and I went to see Natasha Bedingfield at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta! Her music holds a sentimental place in my relationship with my husband and the concert was SO much fun. We got there early enough to get pretty close and N.B. did NOT disappoint.

Think THAT was enough fun for a few days?? NAHH>....Wes was off work on Wednesday so he planned a last minute trip to Six Flags! We got up early and were lucky to have an overcast day. Most of the kids from the area were still in school so we rode EVERYTHING we wanted to...some twice! I did have to take a break half way through; I've gotten old I suppose and all those flips and turns had me spinning. But we finished the day off with one more ride on the Best Coaster Ever... GOLIATH!!!


It was so much fun running around acting like a kid with my husband. We laughed and yelled and played until we were just exhausted. We have to do that more often!!

Needless to say I spent today RESTING! And doing laundry...! Tonight it's off to tball with Chase then movie night with the girls!! We are going to watch P.S. I love you (this will be the third time for me, but believe me it's THAT good!!) Then we are getting a midnight sneak preview of SEX AND THE CITY!! I cannot explain how excited I am! Hopefully I can get some sleep after the movie because tomorrow morning my baby is graduating from Kindergarten!! I'm going to be a mess!

Here's to finally enjoying my summer!!!!!!!!

I really pulled it off...

I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!! I've been playing all coy about it. The fact is I think I surprised myself by doing it. Some little voice in the back of my head kept saying that somehow, somewhere, I would screw this dream/goal of mine up. Someone would call me last minute and say "Jessica, we've actually realized that you don't deserve this degree. We apologize for any inconvenience...."

I looked at my degree the second I sat back down in my chair, JUST to make sure it really did have my name in it, and somehow I was STILL surprised and my heart skipped a bit when I saw my name on it...

I don't mean to blow this out of proportion, and I do realize I am not the first person to graduate from college, but it's just such a big deal to me. I don't come from a family of scholars. Most of my family members (besides my brother) have sort of fallen into their careers and succeeded. I'm just really proud of myself for committing to four years of learning how to be the best teacher I can be. I'm still not sure I know how to be that, but I know I'll always be a work in progress and I feel so much more confident now than I did even weeks ago. I've realized that I have compassion, respect, and love for those elementary students. I have had those things since day one. My experiences at Mercer have just taken those things and added on the skills I need to help these children build a better future for all of us. Supplies have been piling up in my office and ideas have been spilling out of my brain on a daily basis. I am determined to enjoy my summer off, but I am getting SO excited to start my career!

Ok..ok. Enough of all that. Here are some pics from the big day!!

Graduation Celebration...Need I say more??

Roadtrip!!

Just for one day though! Heather, Charlie, and myself are making a trip back up to Helen to take care of her car. Most people may not think that sounds like fun, but we have a good time wherever we go! Listening to music, singing, laughing, gossiping, playing with Charlie pants, and eating some delicious Helen lunch! I should be back just in time to pick up Chase from school. :)

I'm posting this at 8am, which is normally when I can't come up with more than three words that fit together in a sentence, but I slept ALL day yesterday! Most of it was a recovery from my graduation celebration weekend. I did get to see the moms in my life though. I got an awesome gift from my DH (a day at the spa) and the most special card from Chase complete with glitter and a "Thank you for making me so happy mommy". Sweet!! He said the "sprinkles" (glitter) was his favorite part. They were mine, too! Heather also got me Eat, Pray, Love. Has anyone read that yet? I've heard tons about it and kept making a mental note to buy it. Thanks Bean!

I am going to try to have some pictures up from this weekend. I had friends and decorations and graduation hats and cake and drinks and baskets full of fabulous teacher stuff and SUCH a good time. I really do have some amazing friends...

I hope all the moms out there had a special Mother's Day and everyone has a great week!!!


***Update: I didn't make it on the road trip today. Pictures from the celebration night are coming though! Graduation is only FOUR days away!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updates, Updates!!

Let me start this post off with some cynicism. Am I the only person who ever feels like blogs, MySpace, Facebook, etc. are simply outlets to display our 'oh so perfect' life?? I know they are meant to be an outlet for memories, funny stories, and cute pictures of our families, but sometimes I just can't help but feel like I'm getting a glimpse of a life covered in makeup, and put up for display. I read blogs and I'm left with a feeling of..."Wow. I wish my life was that fabulous." I know this isn't the intention of people, and I actually do think my life is pretty fabulous (most of the time!). I just needed to put that out there.

Now...on with the public display of my fabulous life! Haha...

To begin with, I am officially a BEAVER!! I accepted a fourth grade position at an elementary school that has a beaver as their mascot. (My husband has had some very clever comments, btw.) I signed a contract and I got a glimpse of my classroom next year. It's so exciting and a touch overwhelming that it is all really happening.

Also, this Friday is my last day in the classroom Student Teaching. I can NOT tell you how exciting I am for school to be over!! It's been such a learning experience and I'm taking some really great memories with me. Some days I left that building in tears and others I was on cloud nine. Next week I'm picking up my cap and gown and getting ready for graduation!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!! Let the party begin!!

I haven't had a chance to upload mountain pictures!! Unfortunately it rained all weekend, and we ran into some crazy car drama on the way home, but we ended up having a really good trip. Here are some photos from the trip!


I hope everyone is having a great week!!!