'Tis the season

I know! I'm a terrible blogger. But getting past that, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! So much time has gone by that I thought I'd just highlight some moments with the "best" pictures from the holidays. This was a holiday season of "firsts" for me.

This is my first major break vacation from work. Testing computer software was a temporary solution until I found something more permanent. I now work at an elementary school as a Para. For me, that means that I work with kids with special needs. I work in the EBD (Emotional and Behavioral Disorder) room, supervise the lunchroom, help kids in math, and do before/after school daycare. This probably sounds like a nightmare job to some, but I've been surprised at how much I love it! The kids have won me over. After the New Year, they want me to work in the "Time-Out Room." I'm sure I will have stories to tell! Anyway, back to the holiday of firsts:

My first-ever Gingerbread house! It's pretty tacky, but pretty awesome.
Actually, these pictures don't represent a first, but they are entertaining. Gerrit and I spent Thanksgiving with my family. We had a great time playing with the kids, going to movies, shopping, eating, and playing Telephone Pictionary.Here's Owen and Gerrit singing. Thanksgiving was a hoot!This was my first Christmas away from home. It was hard not to be with my family, but Gerrit's family made me feel at home. We definitely kept busy by seeing both sides of his family, going to movies, playing games, and teaching me how to do a Sudoku puzzle. The hardest part was teaching me how to pronounce Sudoku.
This is Gerrit's sister, Ahna and cousin Daniel.
Gerrit's sister, Darcy was there too! We haven't seen her since last year.And finally, this is the first time I've ever dyed my hair black. Eeeeek! I thought it would turn out dark brown....not so much. Whoops. Sorry for the gap in posting. I promise to do better! How was your Christmas?

Two Left Feet

Tonight, Gerrit and I were playing a game. We took turns choosing songs and music videos from youtube. Okay, so...not a great game, but entertaining enough and a fun way to reminisce. After a few song selections, I chose KC and JoJo's "All My Life." To those readers who are over 30, that was a song that came out in my Jr. High days. I made Gerrit dance with me. I'm pretty sure the boy I had a crush on in 7th grade rejected my request to dance while this song was playing. Obviously, I was devastated. My dad later picked me up and asked if I had danced with any boys. I said, "No." He responded with, "They're just intimidated by your beauty." Awwww, that's the sweetest lie I've ever heard. Thanks, Dad. Anyway, Gerrit and I didn't meet till college and we missed out on dances together in our pre-teen years. So, we danced in true Jr. High fashion: with 2 feet between us. Gotta leave room for Jesus! And I think maybe Gerrit was a little intimidated! :)

Looks Can Be Deceiving

I have a confession. I am not who I seem to be. At least I'm not who I seemed to be for the past couple weekends. Last weekend I was a movie star. This past weekend I was a temporary Vikings fan. (Please don't disown me, Dad!)
My sister Carey and her husband Greg hosted their annual Halloween party last weekend. I went as Angelina Jolie, while Gerrit went as one of his favorite characters....MacGyver. I put on a pregnant belly and Gerrit drew some tattoos on my arms. In the dark Halloween lighting, some of the guests actually thought I was pregnant! Yikes! Gerrit rocked a mullet and a swiss army knife. We had a great time. Thanks, Carey and Greg!Yesterday, Gerrit and I went the the Vikings game with his sister, Ahna and her boyfriend, Rico. I am actually a Packer fan. But I couldn't safely show my face at a Vikings game decked out as a Packer fan. Now, I know my dad might give me flack about this. But Dad, remember the verse in Ruth that I picked for Gerrit at our wedding: "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, your God will be my God," and your favorite football team will be my second favorite football team. Okay, I added the last part. But in that Vikings shirt, I think Gerrit found me more beautiful than on our wedding day. :) We had a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of our afternoon.Gerrit insisted on taking this picture (below). He really wanted to document my temporary betrayal and the moment he fell in love with me all over again.

Girl of my dreams

This is Gerrit. Here is a picture of Cassie. She is beautiful and I love her.

Tag! I'm it!

I've been blog "tagged" by my sister, Carey. The rules are:
1. I need to link her blog. Here is her blog. I love it!
2. I need to give 10 random facts about myself. Those will be below.
3. I need to tag other bloggers. I tag Erika and Jenny.

Okay, 10 random facts...this is hard! But here:

1. I make faces that I am unaware of making. My face has a life of its own.2. I can lick my elbow. This is supposed to be physically impossible, but I have an unusually long tongue. Sometimes, I literally have to fold it up in my mouth to make it comfortable.

3. I got sent to the Principal's office in Kindergarten for slapping a boy across the face. But he made fun of me first! And he punched me in the nose after that!

4. I looked like a boy for a good chunk of elementary school/Jr. High. I still think I look like this.5. I was in 8 plays and musicals throughout my school years.6. I knew I wanted to go to Northwestern after I watched the tape of my dad as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof." I was probably 4. I went! And I loved it!
7. Once I have an idea in my head, it's stuck. I'm stubborn and obsessive compulsive!

8. I think my family is made up of the greatest people ever. They are all so special in their own very different way. (I don't think they know that though, so don't tell them!). I love them. (And my in-laws too!)9. I secretly sniff Gerrit's neck when he hugs me.10. I have a pumpkin spice cheesecake in the oven RIGHT NOW!

I hope you enjoyed this! I know I did. Erika and Jenny-go for it!

The Good and the Bad of a Night With the Girls

Tonight was girls' night. We try to meet once a week with as many of us as possible. We especially wanted to get together tonight because MANDY'S ENGAGED! Congrats to her! She got to tell us the story of the proposal and share her excitement about wedding planning. We were all happy to hear her story (GOOD). We were happy to hear at all because the restaurant had this incredibly loud machine that was hummmmmmmmmming constantly (BAD). The food hit the spot. Whoever came up with the soup and salad combo idea is a genius. Perfect for fall weather (GOOD). The person who spilled her red soup on her green sweater is not a genius (BAD). I am my mother's daughter.Our jobs were a big topic of conversation. We're just glad we have them most of the time (GOOD)! But Rachel had a hard day at work and shunned the work conversation (BAD). I don't blame her. Teaching eleven-year-olds is tough! After we ate, we headed to Jess' new place. On the way, I was trying to take candids of our night. I clearly need to learn how to use my camera. And my camera clearly needs to learn how to use its flash appropriately (BAD). But as Delani and I were trying to take a silly, funny-faced picture, we took a cute one (GOOD)! The night was a GOOD reminder that I've been blessed with some wonderful, fun, Christian girlfriends and there's nothing BAD about that! Aw, wasn't this cheesy?

Gross.

This afternoon, I was about to clean the bathroom. I took the rugs out, put dirty towels in the basket, and put items back in drawers. Then I sprayed the whole bathroom down with my handy-dandy multi-purpose cleaner. I mean everything; I sprayed the mirrors, the sink, the toilet, the tub and shower walls. I like to let the cleaner settle. Next, I was getting ready to use the brush on the toilet. I got into position, ready to do the job I hate, when the whole paper towel roll fell into the toilet! Not only was the whole roll ruined, but I also got splashed IN THE EYE with toilet bowl water. I think God is punishing me for working on the day of rest. I've learned my lesson.