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To ring in 2010 Justin and I went to dinner with my good friend Brittany and her boyfriend Jared at Fox Sports Grill.  We got to catch up and eat some great food, but didn’t actually stay there until midnight.  We ended up coming back to our house and watching the New Year’s countdown on TV.  We toasted, kissed and as soon as they left we went to bed.  I was tired ! At least we can say that we made it until midnight. 

Here are my plans for 2010
- Grow in my walk with Christ.
- Try harder to love Justin with his love language, not mine.
- Justin and I are on the house hunt, and will be purchasing our first home soon!
- Get back into running.  I was doing so good last summer/fall until my lung collapsed and I wasn’t allowed to run…until now!
- Continue to further my education and learn as much as I can about teaching.
- Eat less candy (my dentist will appreciate this one)

I am keeping my list short so I can really focus on the things I want to accomplish instead of giving myself a list of 50 things.  I’m trying to be realistic.

I hope that 2010 brings nothing but smiles to everyone!!

1.  I could live off of cereal.  It was my favorite food as a child and still is to this day. When I would come home from college my mom would always joke that she had to buy an extra gallon of milk since she knew how much I would use on my breakfast alone.

2.  If I met someone in college who gave me that “creepy” feeling, I told them my name was Molly Johnson so they wouldn’t be able to look me up anywhere, but I might still respond to Molly if they saw me again somewhere since it was so similar to Holley.  Molly Johnson, if you are out there…sorry!

3. One time I was babysitting for a fireman and had to dial 911 because his son cut his head open in the swimming pool.  Guess what…the dad was on the crew who rushed to the scene.  Luckily the son was fine and they are still good friends

4. I have over 60 pairs of shoes and they are all in clear Rubbermaid box, labeled with a picture. Some say I’m obsessed…

5. My toenails are always painted.

6. Justin and I met when were one dates with different people.

7. I am very cold natured.

Participate if you want.  I’m not going to tag anyone specific sice it’s such a busy time of year!

1. JHE Christmas Party.  My school decided to do something fun for our party so we went to a restaurant/dance hall.  We had a great time!!

My sweet friend Whitney and her husband Craig

Justin and I dancing.

My awesome 4th grade teaching partner, Kathy.

2. HGBC had our Christmas Musical “Best Gift”.  It went great and truly touched the lives of those who we there to listen.  Brad, Evonne and Chelsea came to listen/watch the performance and Evonne took some pictures for us.

Chelsea and Justin

My Dad, Mom and me.  Sorry the picture is so dark, but we were all wearing black and happened to find a dark spot to stand to take the picture.

Justin, Me, Chelsea, and Reese having dinner at our house after the musical. (Evonne was taking the picture and Brad was trying to get Reese to look at the camera, but they were there too )

3. I turned 23 and celebrated with friends and family (sorry…forgot to take pictures).

4. Who-Ville/PJ Day at school

I also have to show you one of the gifts I got from one of my students…A TECH SNUGGIE!!!  I still think that the commercials are dorky, but the actual snuggie is VERY warm.

4 more days until Christmas!!

Justin adding an ornament to our first tree

Ta-da!  There is it.  We are so proud of our tree!!

This was an early Christmas present from Justin.  I was so surprised!!  He knew I would be excited and want to put it out, so he gave it to me early.

Our fireplace complete with a cozy fire.  Of course, Reese has a stocking too.  Can’t wait to see what Santa brings!

The front door.  My mom and I made the bow to give it a little extra something.  What better way to welcome guests?

Merry (early) Christmas!!

Yummy Food!

This is what Reese had for Thanksgiving.  It’s called a “Butchers Bone”. He was really exicted about it until he realized that he had to eat it outside while we ate inside.

Chelsea and I made a Ginger Bread House

Snuggling on the couch

Justin and I were on the ball this year and were 99% finished with our shopping by the time Black Friday came around, and didn’t need to go fight all the crazy people out there, so we decided not to go shopping.  Instead we went ice skating with Chelsea.  It was perfect.  Not only did we park front row at the mall, we got there just as they opened it up to the public so there were only about 10 people on the ice. 

Saturday Justin went to the Tech v. Baylor game at the Cowboys Stadium with some guy friends from Tech, so I went to my parents house to visit my grandparents who were here for the long weekend. 

We helped my mom put up decorations and while going though the boxes of decorations, look what we found…

It was a great long weekend and I really enjoyed the time with family.  Now I’m counting down until Christmas!!

These are some of the conversations I had with my students on Veteran’s Day.

Boy- Mrs. Luddeke did you notice I am wearing my Boy Scout shirt?
Me- Yes I see that.  Do you have a meeting today?
Boy- No, I am wearing to honor all of the vegetarians who died in war.

Girl- Is today veterinarians day?  My dad said it was, but I think he’s joking.
Me- No today is Veteran’s Day. Do you know what a veteran is?
Girl- Oh I got it.  Today is just honoring old veterinarians…

In all seriousness, I am very thankful for all of the Veterans who risked and lost their lives defending America.  Thank you for what you did for our country!  And a special thank you to my favorite Veteran, my Papa.  Thanks for fighting for our country and coming back safe and sound to a big part of my life. 

Let me know if you want a ride!

I got to school Monday morning and the power was out.  Not only did the power go out, but it set off the alarm.  We were finally let inside by a janitor who has an actual key (teachers have badges that we swipe), but once inside I felt like I was at a disco.  The emergency lights were flashing and the 4th grade hallway had no power.  Slowly the power came back on, but our rooms were last.  We spent the morning in different room and the library and around 9:15 power was all back.  What an interesting morning!

Then last night around 8pm Justin and I were doing stuff in the office when all of the sudden the power went out.  We called our friends Katy and Brandon who live in a separate building and their power was not out, so they ran over in the rain and brought us their camping headband flashlights (I immediately though of how proud my Pa would be).  They were really handy.  We have flashlights and candles, but the headband helped me grade 23 math tests and find the rest of the stuff I needed for Tuesday.  We called TXU and they said it should be back on by 11pm.  Since it was dark and we had both had crazy days, we went to bed at 9:30pm!  Nothing else we could really get done in the pitch black.  Justin said he woke up around 1am when he said the light form the kitchen turned on, followed by about 10 others and the TV.  Reese and I must have been sleeping good because we didnt budge. I knew there was a reason I didn’t start laundry last night  

Here is a picture of Justin and I in our flashlight headbands.  Aren’t they stylish?

Plano Game- My best friend Brittany was in town with her boyfriend Jared, so we decided to go on a double date.  We went to the Plano vs. Plano West football game (since Brittany and I are both Plano grads).  It was a lot of fun but VERY cold.

State Fair-  Last Sunday afternoon we went to the fair with Justin’s family.  It was so much fun! Lots of people to watch, food to eat, and things to do.

Fall Decorations- Since this is our first fall as a married couple we are slowing beginning to get decorations for each season.  I say we because Justin was with me when I bought these items.  He was such a good sport!

The cornucopia I made. 

My new pumpkin center piece.

Our outside decorations. 
(yes I’m paranoid and covered up our house number)

Ok so this is not part of our fall decorations, but we did buy Reese a new toy while we were out shopping and he LOVES it. 

Bingo- Justin and I went to play Bingo a last night and this is what we came home with…2 dotters.  Oh well, it was still fun.