Tacky

I attended Dan and Briana's 2nd annual tacky sweater party. Here are a few shots in all their tacky glory:

Decorations

I was inspired one evening while playing outside with Pattie. Just as the sun was setting, I looked inside the large picture window and saw only the lights from the tree glowing. I probably took over 60 pictures trying to get it all just right. It's still not just right, but close enough I suppose.

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The Nutcracker

Last night, I traveled home to attend The Nutcracker ballet with mom. This was a custom mom and I shared growing up. Each year, we would attend the ballet together. Even Dad and Phillip attended one year, and I stress one year! I would watch as the ballerinas took the stage with such pose and grace as they seemed to glide in front of my eyes. Not much has changed. I was just as entranced watching last night as when I was a little girl. Now my desire to be a ballerina again has surfaced...

Feeling Festive

Well, it's that time of year again. It's that time of year when teacher's start losing their minds! There is shopping to do, decorating to get done, presents to make, and many young children to entertain who are quite excited! Here's how we survive:

Mom visits

Thursday afternoon mom traveled up the mountain to spend a few days. We enjoyed an evening at the Grove Park Inn searching for our favorie Gingerbread House. Friday mom had the pleasure of spending the entire day in Kindergarten! Eveyone loved GG! Together we watched a movie, had breakfast out, and did some Christmas shopping. It warms my heart to spend time with her.

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Book Club...

with a circus theme! Our book this month was Night Circus so Brenna served food with a circus theme. There were individual containers of gourmet popcorn, veggie hotdogs, bacon wrapped chicken, pasta salad, and candy apples to take home!

Proud

I knew I looked up to my big brother for a reason:

click here to watch Phillip on TV!

For the record

Today is Tuesday, November 29th and we had our first snow today. Now, it didn't stick to the ground but it was just pretty enough to wish you were at home in your pajamas with a hot cup of cocoa. Or just pretty enough to get the kids super duper excited while we went outside to "play" in it. Or just pretty enough to watch it fall and forget it was time for teaching. Either way, it was pretty and actually nice to share with the kids. When we got back inside one of the kids said, "Do you think we can build a snowman today?!"

Thankful

As I continue to hear heartbreaking tales of challenges that children at my school must endure, I am ever grateful for a loving family. I thank each one of you for loving me.

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Pre-Thanksgiving

Tuesday evening we all made it safely home and Wednesday we traveled to see Grandma Gribble. We spent some time playing outside, helping get her Christmas stuff down from the attic, and letting Phillip fill his veins with some might tasty Bojangles grease!

Holiday Parade

Saturday I had the opportunity to walk in the local parade with some friends. We helped decorate and showed our holiday spirit for Window World. Halfway through the parade I decided I'm not cut out to be a beauty princess!

Funny

Just a funny this morning during group time:
Ms. Gribble: "What day of the week is it today?
Helper: "Saturday!"
Ms. G: "Well, that's close. Let's look again at the calendar"
Helper: "Oh, Friday!" (he says this with wide eyes)
Ms. G: "Yes! Now do you remember what month it is?
Helper: "Noctember!" (he says with even wider eyes!)

So, Happy "Noctember" Everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

It's a "super" weekend!

Saturday afternoon I participated in the Superhero 5K. It began (and ended) at a local pizza and brewing company where the real prize was a slice of pizza and a beer! I found these great socks that came complete with their own cape which I'm pretty sure helped me run faster! ;)






Sunday after church I made my way over to Jon and Caitlin's house to meet sweet baby girl Marlo! She was a great snuggler!

Turn It Up!

You're gonna want to turn up the volume! Rockin' out!

humbled

This morning I met the church I have been attending to help feed the homeless breakfast and share in communion. Since May, I have been attending this church with my friends Maggie, Justin, and their three children. It has become part of my "auntie" time. I drive to their house by 8:45 Sunday morning, jump in the van, and we all ride together for the 9:15 service. I have felt welcomed since the moment I stepped foot in the sanctuary. This church gives true meaning to "love thy neighbor". I have been challenged to step out of my box since I began attending. I grew up in a church where you sat down in your pew, didn't talk during the service, didn't really get to draw during the service, and was expected to pay close attention. The first few times I attended, there were numerous children out and about in the aisle or playing in the "rocks" under the windows. It was quite a distraction and I felt myself thinking this is not how we worship! Once I focused back on the service, I looked around and noticed several same sex couples. This only distracted me temporarily as I do live near Asheville! As I have continued to attend, I have grown to enjoy seeing the many cute children who mostly just occupy the pews these days. Many of the members participate in the service through scripture readings, taking of the offering, or helping prepare the food for the gathering time after each service. I do miss having a choir to hear but the messages delivered each week are well worth attending. After my first month of attending I already had a name tag and I'm not even an official member!
Maggie and Justin were unable to attend today and I haven't been ready to attend without them...until today. I woke this morning right on time (except it was 6:00 instead of 7:00) and knew I had to go help. Again, I was stepping out of my box. Not only was attending without my friends nerve racking, but going to feed the homeless is something I had never done before. I have always wanted to, but never made the effort. I arrived, spoke to a few people, and breakfast serving began. We met in the park where the drum circle is held and the homeless lined up for biscuits, hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, coffee, and juices. We made hygiene kits back in the summer and they were sitting out for the taking. I saw people heading that way, so I walked over and began speaking to each person that arrived. I gave them my biggest smile and perkiest good morning. I realized after the third or fourth person that my nervousness had disappeared. No one wanted to share stories, but each one greeted me back with a smile and good morning. I'm not real sure if anyone's life was truly affected today, but I know it made me really stop and think. Each one of those people that came today for breakfast and to share in communion is simply that, a person. Not matter how they got there or where their life is taking them next, they are each children of God.

Parkway

After meeting Ann for a "short" run, we headed up the parkway to cheer on Brenna. She was running the shut-in race which is an incredibly steep 17+ mile trail run which I'm pretty sure I will NEVER participate in! The other girls in the cheering section are thinking about running it next year. I told them I would be there with my camera, some posters, noisemakers, and champagne for the finish line!
Here are a few pictures from the race and as we climbed the parkway...in the car!

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Maya meets Book Club

Maya was born to Amanda and Jeremiah the end of September. We have all been over to meet Maya and take food; but Maya had never met Book Club. So, Thursday was her lucky night. Or maybe it was our lucky night.

Fall Is In The Air

Shower

So, he is my cousin:

And this girl wearing "a hat", what we call in the south the practice bouquet, is going to be my cousin:
And these are all the gifts they received, which at an extremely rapid pace still took over an hour to open!:

**Thanks to Laura and Maggie for being such gracious hostess! From the knitting lesson, to the shrimp n' grits dinner, to the fireworks, to the hot tub time I'm thinking you might should never stay at my house. It will never compare!

Tazapawlooza...take 2

For the 2nd year in a row, I participated in a day full of trail running, "mountain biking", bb gun shooting (which I was 2nd overall in for guys and girls combined!), axe throwing, obstacle course, and closest to the pin. We began our adventure at 9:00Saturday morning and wrapped up with the awards ceremony around 10:30 that evening. This year Eugene made medals for 1st-3rd places for both guys and girls. I won 2nd for the girls only trailing by 10 points from 1st place! Whew...what a day!

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Charleston continued...

The rest of the long weekend was devoted to hanging with my dear friends Anna and Blair. Our friend Jen rode down with me, so we enjoyed some much needed girl time while Blair was working. He was able to join us for evening festivities.

It's a Charleston Wedding!

Thursday evening I went down for Mandi and Ryan's beautiful wedding! After dating for 11 years, they finally decided to make it official. Since they were getting married on a Friday at 4:30 I was going to have to take the day off from work to make it in time. So, I offered to help if needed on Friday. Well, I became the wedding decorator! I met at 10 that morning to begin the transformation; then went back to meet the florist at 3:00. By the time I made it back, the flowers were all set and the cake was no where to be found! By this time it was 30 minutes late. After the bride arrived and had her pictures taken, I got a little worried. I got the number and my most direct voice ready and demanded the cake be delivered since it was now an hour late. I informed them I would be calling back in 15 minutes if it had not arrivied. Lucky for them, the cake arrived with 2 minutes to spare. Of course, the florist had to leave for another event so I became the cake decorator placing flowers on the cake as directed. For awhile there I felt like Martha Gribble, the wedding director. Maybe we should get together. We could be on to something here!

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