umm. ms. fox..uh..wolf?

this week i started substitute teaching.

& i really enjoyed the experience. 

it is so neat because it is different everyday.

plus, i am not responsible to make lesson plans.

win.

i would like to share some adorable moments:

1. a few of the first graders couldn't quite grasp which animal was my last name. they kept calling me ms. fox.

2. no matter which school i was in, all the kids thought i look like the character from "Brave". the red hair :)

3.  one of the lunch ladies at a middle school thought i was a student. wow. but then one of the middle schoolers said "whoa. you look like us". they didn't know i was the sub. what? no, really. what?!

4. there was a kid who explained physics to me(way over my head) and we talked about his fused fingers on one hand. he was awesome.

5. i like to just sit and listen to the little conversations the kids have with each other. it is going to be so tempting to record my future kids all the time.

i have a new perspective and respect for teachers. what a tough job. they rock.

i broke my own "no bumper stickers" rule.

but i did it for "the best podcast in the universe!" noagendashow.com
& i promise to break it again if ron paul runs in 2016. 
 

dear summer, i really miss you. will you come back now?

when it starts to get cold, i get very excited about all the coziness that comes with the winter season. by the end of november, i am no longer amused. seasonal depression kicks in for me and i gain weight- and i hate that a super lot. it gets dark by six. what is that? awful. sorry to be a downer. but for me, nothing beats wearing a high waisted skirt everyday and eating ice cream outside on a warm evening. 

i just need to put a little christmas tree in my house with sparkling lights to alleviate some darkness. i may not like winter but christmas is wonderful !

one little sister turns nine.

last tuesday we celebrated sweet little Taylor's birthday.
we had pizza and cake and way too much soda.

taylor showed chuck e. cheese some dance moves. 
we watched strange videos produced to play at chuck e. cheese.
 despite that weirdness, taylor felt like royalty- she even wore a crown!
my sister is awesome
 & a dakota fanning look-a-like. 
happy birthday little lady.

smashburger date.

do you ever have one of those moments with someone else where you are on exactly the same page? sometimes that happens with us :) last night, we both had to go to smashburger. i cherished every moment of my spicy baja- even though my mouth was on fire. but that was just a great excuse to get a milkshake, so no big deal ;)

smashburger had their christmas decor up- and it made our date that much better.

i think we are going back soon- they gave us free fry coupons for next time. so sly.

thanksgiving 2012.

 

Our thanksgiving was a very happy one this year.
we spent the entire day with people we love.
it was so so warm. no jackets necessary!
we got to meet and hold a few cute little babes.
& did a little black friday shopping- it is scary. so scary.
jonas bought me a filet-o-fish on the way home- so much for that "one plate deal" i made with him.

sometimes we like to pretend like we are characters on mad men...

family photos 2012.
and no, i do not mind if you laugh at how silly we are- i did.

by catherine fonua. 
she also happens to be back in kentucky & ready to take your photos!

my sister has had four kids and is in her prime. i am so jealous.
also, we were going for "Mad Men", but Rock decided to pose with a gun. not on theme. ugh.
 

tis the season for baking.

 there is no other point to this than to show off the chocolate pies i made from 'The Help' recipe and the fun i had making them.

gratitude seven.

i am so grateful for old photos. 
there is nothing better than to talk about different features and personality traits of family members and to make unscientific observations about their origin.

1. my brother dancing with me. check out that green outfit, yikes!

2. my mom and sister.

3. my dad & little brother looking so cute in those glasses. 

our Sunday with family. in photos.

german food- made by me!

i was so kind and waited until after nine to eat with jonas. i made jägerschnitzel & potatoes. we ate by candlelight. we also had german sparkly water and ale-8, we can both appreciate drinks from each other's home. do you see how happy jonas is? i think it is time i stop being afraid to cook german food & just do it much more often.

oh friday.

early lunch at stevens&stevens, trip to aldi where jonas was super happy to see carts with coins, katze crying for something- probably a can of wet food, & the last twilight movie with popcorn :)
& no, it was not me who dropped an ale- 8 bottle and made that really loud noise ;)

a few days to myself.

since my apprenticeship ended, and my new substitute teaching job has not started yet(a temporary thing. i don't want to talk about my next job too much yet!), i have a had a few days to do whatever i want:

i sang some sweeney todd songs.

i visited my family.

i ate wayyy too many cookies.

i listed on ebay. i had to do something & i had a few things to list...or 40.

i spent too much time looking at other blogs.

i made lunch for jonas to take to work & hot chocolate for the morning- 

something that he really appreciated :)

i listened to the twilight audiobook & started the new moon audiobook...

 i got my hair done:

i shopped at antique stores.
i felt really strange not going to work. it feels so wrong! i am not a fan.
i made myself sad because i can't think of ways to decorate my house, but i did do this:

 & i burned my favorite candle(must be careful, they don't make it anymore!!)

& here are a few of the many, many cookies:

gratitude part six.

seriously grateful for family. from here to germany.

they are so good to me. 

...