Ah life....

365 days worth of pictures....fail....
365 days worth of pictures....fail...again
30 days of blogging....fail

Life gets in the way of the important things, like writing on a blog that is read by....my mom (hi mom). And Miranda and Stacey (hi). I think my grandma (hi Grandma). Maybe some others here and there (hi others).

I survived the last week of school before winter break, while sick with the best cold ever. We made tissue paper wreaths and hand painted Christmas/Holiday/Winter cards....with the random smiley face shaped blob thrown in.
Today the kids left with presents in hand and I jumped for joy felt very thankful for 2 weeks off!
The past few weeks have included lots of work (Andy has been working 7 days a week since after Thanksgiving), Christmas planning, Sara, Stacey and Miranda's Day of Fun and a White Elephant Party at our house.

I love this time of year and it reminds me again of all the things I have to be thankful for. We just found out that my brother and his wife are moving to Flagstaff and we are so excited to be a bit closer to them. I am thankful for my friends and their kindness in looking past my psycho laughing breakdowns and my ability to choke on Sixlets. I am so thankful for my family and all they do for me and of course I am thankful for Andy. He is amazing! Now bring on Christmas!

5/30

Day 5 - A picture of somewhere you've been

4/30

Day 4 - A habit that you wish you didn't have

I wish that I didn't bite my nails. I mean I'm 27. You'd think I'd stop!

3/30

Day 3 -A picture of you and your friends.

2/30

Day 2 - The meaning behind your Blog name.

Um....it's self explanatory. We are the Ebert family and we were married in 2003. Next!!

1/30

DAY 1: A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself...

Not sure any of these would be classified as interesting....but here it goes....

1. I am a homebody.

2. My favorite color is blue
3. I think breakfast for dinner is awesome
4. I keep thinking that none of the things I am writing are interesting
5. I wish I could dance without looking like an uncoordinated rag doll

6. I am scared of heights, but I want to para-sailing

7. I would love to write something really important/good/popular/funny/life-altering
8. I want to learn to play the guitar
9. I must own a 4-wheeler at some point in my life
10. I love the fall
11. Summers in Southern AZ are probably my least favorite thing...ever
12. Even though it does no good, I have regrets
13. I would love to live somewhere on the east coast
14. I wish I didn't question myself so much
15. I love the boxed Mac and Cheese....Kraft brand

For lack of anything better to blog I present.....

30 Days of Blogging

Here is the list:

Day 1- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
Day 2 - The meaning behind your Blog name.
Day 3 -A picture of you and your friends.
Day 4 - A habit that you wish you didn't have.
Day 5 - A picture of somewhere you've been.
Day 6 - Your favorite Superhero and why.
Day 7 - A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.
Day 8 - Short term goals for this month and why.
Day 9 - Something you're proud of in the past few days.
Day 10 - Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyper, mad.
Day 11 - Another picture of you and your friends.
Day 12 - How you found out about Blogs and why you made one.
Day 13 - A letter to someone from your past.
Day 14 - A picture of you and your family.
Day 15 - Put your iPod on shuffle; first 10 songs that play.
Day 16 - Another picture of yourself.
Day 17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.
Day 18 - Plans/Dreams/Goals you have.
Day 19 - Nicknames you have; why do you have them?
Day 20 - Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day 22 - What makes you different from everyone else.
Day 23 - Something you crave a lot.
Day 24 - A letter to your parents.
Day 25 - What I would find in your purse.
Day 26 - What you think about your friends.
Day 27 - Why are you doing this 30 day challenge?
Day 28 - A picture of you in the last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29 - In this past month what have you learned?
Day 30 - Who are you?

Thanksgiving....

This year I was extremely thankful to have Thanksgiving in Flagstaff with my family. We haven't all been together since July, although it's seemed like much longer. We got to Flagstaff early Wednesday evening and played hard til Sunday. No Kilgrow family gathering is complete without card games, M&M's, music, movies and ping pong. We also did the Annual Turkey Trot at Buffalo Park, sewed lots of pajama pants, decorated my parents Christmas tree, saw the movie Tangled (way cute) and topped it all off with hours of watching, cuddling, holding and gushing over Jaydin.
We had a great time and are so thankful for our families.

For some reason Jaydin really liked Andy's head. I guess the fuzzy texture of it. :-) He would sit on Andy's shoulders and just beat away at his head. One night we were sitting around reading Christmas stories...I had Jaydin on my lap and Andy was sitting on the floor in front of us. Jaydin reached out and just rested his hand against the back of Andy's head. It was so cute!

Thankful - Day 24

I am thankful for a safe drive up the mountain and finally being able to see my family.

Thankful - Day 22

Today I am thankful for students that make me laugh and that there is only 2 days til I get to see my family!

Thankful catch-up - Day 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

I slacked off a bit this week, but I am determined to finish!

On the:
17th - A day off

18th - Hanging out with a friend and seeing a good show the night before
19th - See a GREAT movie with friends!


20th - Seeing my parents, going to a great musical and seeing the most amazing fountain drink dispenser in the world.
21st - Rainy, cold weather

Thankful - Day 15 & 16

#15 - I am thankful for the end of Monday's. (lame, but I couldn't think of anything!)

#16 - I am thankful for people at work that make it possible to survive all the other people at work.

Friday night....

We got really great Suns tickets through my work. 13th row from the floor. I've decided it's much more fun going to sporting event when you can see what's happening. Usually we sit up high in Never Never Land. When I have my sister-in-law there to keep me company it doesn't matter, but since she was not at this game, sitting up close was the way to go. I watched. I cheered. I only asked Andy 143 a few super annoying questions about what was happening and who got fouled and why. The Suns won the game and we had a fun night.

Thankful - Day 14

I am thankful for modern medicine....like Excedrin!

Thankful - Day 13

I am thankful for friends!

Not these friends....

....but these friends!

Student-isms...

Ok, so in school I have started teaching my 2nd graders double digit addition with carrying. One of my kiddos is totally rocking it and I was telling her....in front of the class... what a great she was doing and I couldn't believe how fast she had learned it. As I'm praising her and her accomplishments, I see one of my kids lean over to the kid next to him and whisper
"Maybe she's an android".

Thankful - Day 12

Today I am thankful for examples of unconditional love.

This is Andy's friend Mark and his wife Liz. In 2009 Mark was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease). Mark is now in a wheel chair and has lost the use of his arms and legs and his ability to speak. Last night we went to a carnival benefit for their family.
It was so touching to see them together and the love they have for each other.

Thursday night we went to the Mindy Gledhill concert. Mindy is good friends with Christian and Stephanie Nielson, who if you don't know, were seriously injured in an plane crash a few years ago. They were at the concert and Christian sang a song with Mindy. If you follow their blog at all or even just by looking at a picture of them you can see the love and support they give each other.

Thankful - Day 11

I know I said this on day 1, but I am thankful for Annie. She is our little buddy. I've been at home today and she doesn't leave my side. Totally content to lay by me and just be where I am. Annie comforts me when I am sad....just sits by me and puts her paw up next to me like she is letting me know she is there. I feel protected by Annie. She is the best dog and a part of our family.

Thankful - Day 10

Today I am thankful for small victories in my classroom. I am thankful for the feeling I get when a child is so excited to get an answer right and they feel success.

Thankful - Day 9

Today I am thankful for Andy being thoughtful.

Thankful - Day 8

Today I am thankful for a comfortable bed to lay in after a LONG day!

Thankful - Day 7

Today I am thankful for music and those songs that can reach something inside of you or completely change your mood.

Thankful - Day 5 & 6

Day 5: Hot chocolate when it's really cold outside
Day 6: Modern conveniences like cars so a quick trip to Flagstaff is possible

Thankful - Day 4

My Family

Things I am thankful for - day 1, 2 and 3

1. Andy
2. Annie
3. A job

Seattle

Last week we went to Seattle, Washington. It was an AWESOME trip! We saw and did so much. I think my most favorite thing though was the fall colors. I love fall. It is by far my favorite season and since we don't get much of it in Mesa, I had to take in all I could get.

XXX Root Beer diner. Giant hamburgers and frosted root beer mugs.

Random lake/park we found. Awesome view.

Seattle Temple

Pike Place Market

EMP/SFM (Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum)

Japanese Tea Garden

Ride the Duck Tour

Naval Shipyard/Ship Tour

Student-isms...

My kids took a test today. They did a really good job on the problem solving, but I don't think their written answers are quite what the test maker had in mind.

"First I think and I put it"

Technically the answer is right! Either way....I love my class this year!

I'm bored....

4 things

Tagged by a friend. Here we go.

4 Jobs I've had:
1. Doll Seller at a kiosk in the mall
2. Waitress
3. Preschool teacher
4. 1st grade teacher

4 Movies I can watch over and over:
1. While You Were Sleeping
2. The Italian Job
3. Father of the Bride
4. Any of the Bourne or Harry Potter movies

4 Places I've lived:
1. Salt Lake City, Utah
2. Flagstaff, AZ
3. Thatcher, AZ (where I met Andy)
4. Wilmington, Delaware

4 Guilty Pleasures:
1. Dr. Pepper
2. Cake Shows (like watching them...on TV)
3. Sprinkles Cupcakes
4. Sleep

4 TV Shows I watch:
1. Friends
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. The Office
4. The Mentalist

4 Favorite Foods:
1. Shrimp
2. Mashed Potatoes
3. Chicken Noodle Soup
4. Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 Websites I visit:
1. G-mail
2. Facebook
3. Netflix
4. Blogger

4 Places I've been on vacation:
1. Florida
2. Los Angeles
3. New York/Delaware/Boston
4. San Francisco

4 Friends:
1. Andrea
2. Miranda
3. Stacey
4. Michelle

4 Likes:
1. Andy
2. Photography
3. Playing the piano
4. Laughing

4 Places I want to go:
1. Italy
2. Hawaii
3. NYC
4. Ireland

4 Random things:
1. My iPod is pretty
2. Bazinga
3. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
4. 13 days til October break!

4 Dislikes:
1. Mushrooms
2. Cigarette smoke
3. Scorpions
4. Stubbing my toe

Put iTunes on Random.
(1st) 4 Songs:
1. Wannabe - Spice Girls
2. Swing Life Away - Rise Against
3. 4 Minutes - Cast of Glee
4. A Diamond and a Tether - Death Cab for Cutie

----
4 Funny Memories
1. Drunk Jerry at the Denny's in L.A
2. Andy saying "Tubla"
3. Barbie workout video night
4. CoCo Tour Night


Rules: Fill in your answers. Then add one of your own.
Tag: Miranda, Stacey, Nikki, Ashley

Confessions of a not so teenage fan girl...

When I was 13/14 I had a small infatuation with the teen pop sensation better known as Hanson. Oh, who am I kidding. I loved Hanson and I am not ashamed!
My walls were smothered plastered covered with posters similar to and including this one.
It was my dream to see Hanson perform live. And as dramatic as most teenage girls are...I knew I would just die if I didn't get the chance. Well that chance came as a result of wonderful parents that decided that our summer trip to
Denver, CO could include 2 tickets to the Hanson concert at the
Red Rocks Amphitheater (it was the closest to AZ their tour would go). My dad went with me and withstood 3+ hours of screaming, hyped up teenage girls. It was amazing. It will be something that I will never, ever forget.

Fast forward 12 years. Still have a great "like" for Hanson - minus the posters on the bedroom walls. I got a flier in my e-mail saying that Hanson was coming to Mesa. Finally! Hanson in my hometown. Of course I bought tickets.I dragged my friend Miranda along (although I may have converted her a bit...maybe). The concert was amazing. They really are very talented musicians with a strong fan base. They played a lot of new songs with a bunch of their older things mixed in. It was fantastic!! I felt like that goofy 14 year old again....and it felt great!

Piano...

There is a lady in our ward that is a composer and has recently written some songs that she wants to record. Today she asked me if I would play and record the piano part. In an actual studio! I am SO excited!! I don't know many more details other than that, but I am excited.

Birthday Catch-up

My birthday was almost a month ago, but I just am now getting around to blogging about it. This was the best birthday I've had in ages. It actually started the week before with a visit from my mom, brother and his friend.
We filled the weekend with game playing, bowling, eating and a surprise appearance by my most FAVORITE birthday cake of all time.

It was a fantastic weekend.
Fast forward to my actual birthday which included funny gifts from friends, a surprise visit/Sprinkles cupcake from Michelle, an awesome cake made by our school librarian, BEAUTIFUL flowers sent to me from Andy, a great dinner with friends on Friday and an Ebert family dinner at Red Lobster on Saturday.
It was the perfect birthday!

Date Night....

We hit up a dollar movie....

...got Pete's Fish & Chips...


...and had a picnic by the temple

Looking forward to: