I LOVE....

* My new school!!!! Everyone is so nice, they do their job, they don't complain, and they are always willing to help.

* My new class!!!! They are sooo sweet! Even my little pistols are so sweet. And their parents-OMG-they are so very supportive. I had one little boy that was hysterical on the first day and he calmed down soon after I started reading a story. A couple hours later, he told me that he loved me. Hasn't cried since! I do have another boy that gets teary every few hours, but once I reassure him that we will be going home soon (even if the day just started) then he is fine until an hour later-when I reassure him again. I LOVE THEM!!!

* My Fiance!!!! We are so happy! Even Phil is getting into the wedding planning with me. He still picks up my hand and looks at my ring. Yesterday we were at a friend of his house and they hadn't seen the ring or us since we got engaged. His wife and I were in their daughter's room talking all about how it happened and in walked Phil to make sure that he did a good job. Of course she and I both said yes!!! He is moving in soon and don't tell him, but I'm not ready to share my bed every night with him. I enjoy having the bed to myself. Not to mention, if I don't want to wash the dishes or throw my stuff on the table and leave it for a few days, I don't have to worry about someone else getting irritated that I am not cleaning up. I know that will have to change.

* My dog Peanut!!!! She got the all clear from the vet last week and she is almost back to her old self. They are so impressed that she has healed as well as she has. I told them I didn't know what I was going to do now that we don't have to go to the vet every week. We have been there every week-sometimes twice a week-since this has happened. I told them that I will have to bring her by for a visit so they can see her. She will be boarding there in a few weeks when we go to PA, so I know she will be in good hands and will be spoiled!

* My family!!!! My brothers are now out of the house and off to college. My mom and stepdad are beside themselves. The house is quiet. I told my mom that she needs to pick up scrapbooking more so she can occupy her time. At least we have a wedding to plan so that will occupy her.

* My friends!!!! I have asked Robin to be my Maid of Honor and am so happy that she said yes. I promise not to be a Bridezilla! Now I need to ask a few more friends to be in the wedding. But who? I have so many great friends.

So there you have it! I'm off to clean my house. Enjoy your day!

Did I tell you

That I'm engaged!!! I still can't believe it! I am on cloud nine and can't stop smiling. I love my ring and love my fiance! It's weird calling him that. He's been really great about listening to my ideas and looking at what I've found in the magazines. I don't want to wear him out so I'm trying not to talk about it daily. But it's so hard not too! That's all that's been on my mind.

Until today, well only a little bit of it anyway. I went to my classroom today and man what a mess! I never knew I had that much stuff, but after 9 years of teaching, I have collected quite a bit. I tried to get my furniture in order and it was really tough-always is, but was getting easier, but now that I have a portable with different furniture than what I'm used to, it was the hardest yet. But I left there with it all how I wanted it, so tomorrow I'll start unpacking my stuff and unit materials. FUN, FUN! Anyone want to help?!

Ok, gotta run. Peanut and I are headed to the vet for a follow up visit. She's doing ok, been limping some, so she's in pain and I can't seem to pick her up without hurting her. :-(

I'm engaged!

Yesterday, August 7th was my birthday and Phil and I went to dinner at Carrabbas' and then to the beach to watch the sunset. Before we left for dinner he told me that I can open my present when we get back from dinner and the beach.

As we were watching the sunset and looking around at everything, he says Look what I found in the sand. I turn to look and he's holding a ring-I was shocked! So he asked and I of course said.....YES!!!!!!

Here's a picture of my beautiful ring.

It's 3/4 ct. and is a Leo diamond-apparently the cut is better with a Leo diamond and the clarity is supposed to be better too. But I don't care about all that-it's just beautiful!!

I can't stop smiling and looking at the ring!

It's been a nice summer!

And it is nearing it's end...how depressing!

Even though this summer has had some hard times, I have enjoyed my time doing absolutely nothing!

I didn't tell you but, I went up to North Carolina in the middle of July for a little over a week. I had been really stressed out with everything going on with Peanut, and then Phil and I had a tiff...so I was talking to my mom and about things and crying to her, and she told me to come with them to NC-the next day-Sunday. Originally, I was to "babysit" my 19 1/2 year old brother while they were away so he wouldn't have any parties, but she said it'd be ok and I should come with them. Then it dawned on me that my final paper and presentation for my one class was due that Wednesday and my for my other class I had a final exam. So I called my professor and told her that I needed to get away, and I'd email her my paper if that'd be ok. She said sure no problem. So, I told my mom that there would be no way I could do my paper before the next day, so she said they'd wait until Monday morning. Sunday morning, I woke up at 7am and got right to work, finished my final exam and other items due for the one class and then started the dreaded research paper citing 8-10 research studies...UGH!!! I started working on it around 11:30am and did not finish it until 3:30am!! But I got it done and had no worries! I could leave for NC in the morning at 6:30am and not have one thing to stress about. I sent my professor my items and that was that. Or so I thought!

Off to NC...Peanut, me, grandma, mom and my step-dad. I slept most of the way up there and decided this would be a great time away from everything. I gave my professor my # in case there was a problem but wouldn't you know, we had no reception. On Wednesday we were headed to our next cabin and we stopped at some shops along the way-I found an internet cafe and decided I better email my professor to let her know that I had no reception, well she emailed me that she hadn't recieved my paper! AHG!!! I quickly emailed my neighbor describing exactly what to do to email her my paper. Then decided I better call him too. Needless to say, after quite a bit of walking him through things, he finally sent it on it's way. Thank goodness!

Peanut and I (and everyone else) had such a relaxing time. No phone service, only 1 TV channel, and secluded in the woods. We had really cool weather and even got COLD at night. Here are some pictures of us and our adventures.

Here's Peanut looking down at Bill, my step-dad. She loved putting her head through the slits on the balcony.

Here she is just looking at us from the outside,

she often would leave the cabin and sit on the porch. Isn't she a cutie!

Here she is feeling free as a bird. She had no fears to leave to porch and would just wander off. At one point, my mom and grandma were worried that she'd take off down the road and my mom didn't want to have another emergency with her.

I finally had to tie her up so she wouldn't run away.

Here I am at the local brewery. Very neat place. Bill and I each bought our own jug of beer. This picture was taken at our 2nd visit to the brewery. We went the day before-Friday-and decided we need to fill our jugs again before heading home. They were closed, Sunday and Monday so we had to head back on Saturday. That meant we had to finish our jugs on Friday. Each jug holds a little under a 6-pack.

This is the first cabin we stayed at in Murphy, NC. My mom works with the lady who owns the cabin. We stayed here from Monday to Wednesday. It was a very nice cabin. We each had our own room and bathroom. All the amenities-washer, dryer, beautiful porch, etc. but no reception for the TV. We watched some movies.

Here we are in front of the 2nd cabin near Waynesville, NC. We stayed here from Wednesday to Monday. There is more to do closer to this cabin. Downtown Waynesville was very cute and quaint. We were close to Cherokee, Maggie Valley, and Sylva-where the brewery is. My younger brother friend's parents own this cabin. They had 1 TV channel and had a phone, but only 1 bathroom and 2 bedrooms. But hey, you can't complain when it's free-right!

So there you have it. My trip to NC. Did I tell you I want to move there?! I would right now, but think I'll wait until I finish my master's before making that decision. It's just so calm and relaxing there.