Christmas Picture Bloopers

Last night, our friends Erika and Courtney came over to take our pictures for our Christmas Card.

Before they got here, I had already figured out that my hopes for a picture of the two dogs sitting in front of the Christmas tree wasn't going to happen. Have you ever tried to get two dogs sit in front of a Christmas tree and look at you?!

After all was said and done, we did end up with some great pictures for our card. You can expect your's soon! I won't share our "official" pictures with you yet but here are some blooper shots. Enjoy!


Everybody is SO not ready for this picture!


Jacob says "What? You mean I CAN'T be in this picture? That is NOT fair!"


Jacob says "I left the animal shelter for THIS?"


Patsy demanding that her stuffed Beagle be in the picture with her.

We all hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Long Overdue Post

I can't believe I haven't posted since July!! So much has happened since then.

Here is just a short listing of things that have happened:

*I finished graduate school! I'm now a Master of Science with a specialization in Elementary Reading and Literacy. I am definitely enjoying my weekends that are not spent writing papers. I'm so proud that I finished and stuck with it even when I thought I couldn't write another paper.

*I took on a new position at school. I am now a 1st & 2nd grade Multiage teacher. This means that some of my students are 1st graders and some are 2nd graders. I basically teach two curriculums at one time. It requires a lot of differentiation and planning. I love it though! I have an awesome class!

*Our little family is still enjoying our own home. I'm still working on decorating but we have actually unpacked everything and even gotten rid of a ton of stuff. You would not believe how much stuff we had that we just didn't need!

*We are excited about the upcoming Holidays. We both love this time of year! I can't wait to get out all of the Christmas decorations, listen to Christmas music, and spend lots of time with family and friends.

*I saved the best for last! The biggest news in our family is that Mary and Charles got married!! They finally tied the knot last Saturday, November 21st. It was a wonderful day filled with lots of love. They are a wonderful couple and we are so happy for them. I can finally call Charles my brother-in-law and Mary "Mrs. Wise". Here are some pictures from their beautiful wedding day.






Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'll do my best to update more.

A Whole Bunch of Randomness

I'm really trying to get back into regular blogging - I promise! I'm really enjoying my summer and blogging has been the last thing on my mind. As you may know, Mat and I don't live the most glamorous of lives (which is fine) but I never have much to blog about. Well, today is different! I have a lot to say. Ha ha

First, I don't remember how I got to this blog exactly but please go check it out - Ward 57.
It is a blog created by Liz (who I don't really know but would love to meet) after her husband Dave was injured when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan. It tells how he is recovering at Walter Reed (in DC) and how they are doing. When I found this blog today, I sat down for like an hour and couldn't stop reading. Liz and Dave have only been married a year and are now dealing with this. I can't imagine what they are going through and its all because Dave was fighting for OUR freedom. So, show them that you care. Stop by their blog, leave a comment, and remember that there are many other soldiers out there like Dave who need our thoughts, prayers, and thanks.

Now switching directions completely, you have to try this! Go right now, make a bag of popcorn, put it in a ziploc bag, cover it with cinnamon and sugar, and shake it up really good. It is complete awesomeness in a bag! Yeah I think I just made up the word awesomeness. I'm sure that you've probably all made this before but I just did for the first time today. How did I ever live without it?!



Next, I love reading the blog, Jenna's Journey. She hosts "I Don't Wednesdays" in which you list things that you don't do (duh). So, I thought today I would join in on the fun.

*I don't know how I ever lived without cinnamon sugar popcorn. Ha ha.

*I don't have children unless you count my two spoiled rotten dogs.

*I don't like asparagus. My husband and I have this in common.

*I don't eat seafood. When I was a little girl I remember my mom giving me popcorn shrimp and fish sticks but I now hate all seafood. If it swims I just don't want to eat it.

*I don't like snakes, spiders, or bugs.

*I don't drink coffee. I LOVE some of the Frappucinos from Starbucks (Java Chip is my fav) but I don't drink "real" coffee.

*I don't know what I would do without my summers off. Even though I teach summer school, I love my summers!! How do people work at jobs when they have to work during the summer? Ha ha.

Well, I hope you enjoyed "I Don't Wednesday".

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!

P.S.- How many people have known that "Little" on my blog header is mispelled?! I've had it up for months and I just now realized it. I guess I have to tell Faith (the lady that created my blog design) to fix it because I surely don't know how.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Mat and I are celebrating our 4th Anniversary today. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by and how much our lives have changed in just 4 years.

Here are some pictures of us. Unfortunately I don't have any of our official wedding portraits on my computer. At least you get an idea of what we looked like on that day.

Our Engagement Picture - 2005

Going into our Reception - July 16, 2005

Cutting the Cake - July 16, 2005

I think this was 2006.

I think this one was the Summer of 2008.

February 2009

ABCs of Me

I saw this on Faith's blog and wanted to do it since I haven't posted in over a month.

A - Age: 25
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Cleaning bathrooms
D - Dog's name: Patsy and Jacob
E - Essential start your day item: Food
F - Favorite color: Pink
G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Silver
H - Height: 4'11"
I - Instruments you play: Flute and Piano (but that was back in High School)
J - Job title: 1st Grade Teacher; Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant
K - Kid(s): None yet
L - Living arrangements: Me, my husband, Patsy, and Jacob
M - Mom's name: Jennie (Mom) and Julie (StepMom)
N - Nicknames: Jess, Jessie, Mrs. Carl (one of my sweet students' name for me)
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: When I had my appendix removed in 9th grade.
P - Pet Peeve: Slow drivers.
Q - Quote from a movie: "I just did my nails." (Remember the Titans) -- Erika says that is so me!
R - Right handed or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 2 brothers and 2 sisters
T - Time you wake up: 6:15am
U- Underwear: Yes - that's all you need to know
V - Vegetable you dislike: Asparagus
W - Ways you run late: Pushing the snooze button one too many times; Switching outfits
X - X-rays you've had: wrist, teeth, arm
Y - Yummy food you make: Baked Ziti; Roast I make in the crock-pot; Robert E. Lee cake
Z - Zoo favorite: Zebras and Giraffes and Polar Bears (Okay, I like animals).

Well there you go, the ABCs of Me.
There isn't a lot going on to blog about in our little happy family. We have been doing lots of stuff around the house, I've been busy with graduate school and work, and the dogs have been doing what they do best (sleep). We have a busy few weeks coming up and then I'll be on summer vacation (YAY!).

Hope you all are doing well!

Mary Kay Party!

Most of you know that I'm a girly-girl. I love all things that involve pink, makeup, hair, shoes, and purses. Oh, and there is shopping too!

Today, I was invited to a Mary Kay party (thanks Mary and Lianne!) and I was excited since I love makeup. Then, I was even more excited because I found out that the sales lady (Tracey) was a 1st grade teacher before she started her business. Then, I was even more excited when I got there and she had an incredible attitude and energy.

Long story short, we all had a great time and I knew that I had to host my own party! So, next Sunday at 1pm, I am hosting my first ever Mary Kay "Flawless Face" Party. The best part is - it is at her studio so I don't have to clean up my house!!



I didn't know who all to invite but I want to invite EVERYONE - including my bloggy friends. If you don't live here in NoVA, don't worry, you can still order online. If you would like to come, or order online, email me or post a comment and I'll send you the details (sorry, for security issues I'm not posting them for everyone to see). I would love for you to come!!

Finally a Short Update

What? People would like me to update my blog? I can't believe it.
I haven't had much to blog about or the time to blog so blogging just hasn't been a priority.

Around our house...
*Our dogs have started tearing up our furniture. It started when I was in NC for Spring Break and has gotten worse every day. We now have a torn up chair, a chewed on rug, and a couch that is a little chewed on. We think we're just going to have to crate the two of them all day. Too bad for them but we don't want them tearing up the house anymore. Does anyone have experience or advice for handling two dogs that like to ruin things?

*Granny Hams is now at home and recovering. Thanks for the prayers!

*Spring weather is finally coming. I LOVE Spring so I've been waiting for this. Let's just hope all of the cold snaps are gone. Dresses, skirts, and flip flops here I come. (Yes, Jess is the one writing this - not Mat.)

*Nothing fun and exciting is happening. To make up for it, here are some recent pictures. These are actually the only pictures that I took during Spring Break. Aunt Susan told me she loves the slideshows of pictures so I thought I would post another one of those. Sorry that there aren't more pictures.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I'll try to be more diligent about updating (but I think I say that everytime I write a post).