Snow Days

There really is no day like a snow day, am I right? And this snow day is WELL deserved, my friends.

When we were long-term subbing, we had so many snow days, but alas, those went unpaid. We couldn't wait for the 2011-2012 school year to begin, so that we could finally have snow days we got MONEY for!

But.

Not a single snow day last year.

Not. One...

This year, we had high hopes, a few close calls, a two-hour early release, and a two-hour delay. Certainly better than nothing, but still, no snow day.

I fantasized about waking up to my alarm, checking the FCPS website to find the cancellation, and then turning off the next three alarms I have set, and rolling back over into a peaceful slumber.

Today was that day. It happened! And boy is it good. This is my current state, and probably the state I will remain in for the rest of the day:

Snow days are so much better than any weekend day. We were talking about this earlier today. On the weekends, you feel slightly obligated to fill your time with seeing people, nights out, meals with friends, church, etc. But Snow days. Nope. You are fully encourage to lay around and do nothing, with reckless abandon, because after all, it's SNOWING. You can't go anywhere.

Shannon made us a delicious breakfast.

Sticky buns, bacon (the real deal), and eggs with spinach, garlic, sauteed onions and cheese. Like quiche minus the crust.

But delicious breakfast without mimosas is virtually nothing, especially on a snow day. But what was the one thing we forgot? Champagne. Don't worry, we were resourceful. One of the best parts of being adults who don't drink like fish anymore (i.e. college), is that there is ALWAYS liquor in the house. And it lasts a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very long time.  

Orange juice, vodka, pineapple juice, rum, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and more. It was delicious! See, look how much Evie is enjoying it?

It's been a lovely day here in Fairfax. Not too much on the ground, but we are grateful for a day of rest, friends, food, and Downton.

Hope everyone is enjoying their snow day! Oh yeah, 2 weeks until Spring Break!

Bringing it Back, and Being in Your 20s

I've not written on this in almost a year. I'm not good at keeping up with this stuff, but I'm wondering if I should. I don't gather many people read this, but, it is still a nice outlet.

I just went back and read some of my previous entries. Oy...almost embarrassing. Particularly the in-college posts. Especially how I talked about boyfriends. Yikes! I am so grateful to have learned the value of privacy. I know I was so open about relationships because I was looking for something with an internal timeline, and always hoping that I was finally there. In retrospect, I am so grateful it haven't yet. 25 has been, so far, wonderful. I'm realizing that being in your 20s, in general, is awesome.

I have so enjoyed watching my friends post-college. I am SO proud of everyone. Between jobs, marriages, babies, independence in singlehood, auto and home purchases, we have so much to be proud of and grateful for. I have written in the past about my personal pledge to be present, and I think it has been one of the greatest realizations and changes I have made in my life, and I thank my 20s for it. Early 20s-meh, up and down. But now it's awesome. I highly recommend it, particularly if you are in a "stuck" place. CHOOSE to be happy, because really, life is good. And things could, knock on wood, always be worse.

I don't have exciting anything to tell in this post, but that has been on my mind.

I could talk about some of the unintentionally racist things my kids have said during Black History Month conversations today, but that is risky. Just use your imagination....

One and Done

Here I am,  3 weeks and 3 days away from completing my first year of teaching. What. A. Year. It has been a good year, a growing year. I definitely think I have learned way more about myself in the last year than ever, and fully anticipate on doing more of that next year, and the next year, and the next. Every year feels like the "most" year as far as growth though, right?

Well, I can say I have never looked more forward to a coming year before. I think this year, I did a lot of observing. Definitely acted on things; I did not stand still, but I really did a lot of observing. I think I had missed out on that in life (and not in a melodramatic way). I'm transient. A nomad. A gypsy. I had constant change, never settling into one place too long before picking up and going to a new one. I love that and am grateful for it. I have seen/lived in/experienced a lot of America, and the world. I don't feel stuck, or that I am missing out on anything, which is something I feel like a lot of my friends are struggling with. BUT. I didn't invest. I'm ready to invest! Invest my time, my love, my heart, my happiness, my faith, my heartache, my sorrow, my health. I have found things and activities and I am so anxious to start them. I'm feeling good.

Your 20s are awesome. They are so fun. They are so hard. They are so full of lessons, its almost annoying. And remarkably, I'm the FIRST woman in my family to be on my own, not married, no kids, living with girlfriends, straight out of college. Isn't that crazy?? I'm the first one. I'm so current, right? :-) Tangent: can I also just say what amazing roommates I have? Seriously. We are girls. We act like girls. We fight. We get annoyed. But dear Lord, do we love eachother. I would walk through fire for them. They are amazing. And they put up with me. There are qualities in each of them that feed a different part of what I am learning about in life at this stage. God has done me right with these girls.

Speaking of Girls...it is a great show and everyone should watch it.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Oh Tom Petty. You are RIGHT. Waiting is hard.

I recently finished a great book called "Cold Tangerines". It is a collection of short stories from the author's life, and she discusses finding the blessings in everyday life. It was incredibly well-written, and uplifting. And comforting. I tried to start her other book last night, but it is more depressing, and I just wasn't feeling it.

Anyway.

She has a chapter on waiting. How we are ALWAYS waiting for something. As babies, we wait to be in elementary school, from there, middle school, then high school. Then see who we become in college, and then who we are after college, then who we are when we are married, then parents, then grandparents, etc.

I am in the after college part. Trying not to feel like I am waiting, but living. The hardest part of this stage is making friends. It is so hard to work up the courage to do it. We cling to who we know in the area, and try and grow from there. And we also forget that those friends are there at all. I sit around feeling lonely, then smack myself in the face and tell myself to reconnect with those people that meant so much to me as College-Katie. That's where I am at now.

Thankfully, I am with a great guy who has helped introduce me to other people, and it is wonderful and helpful, and I have met some amazing people, but alas...they are not MY people. They could gradually become "my" people, but we all know there is a certain amount of pride that comes with this place in life. The pride of creating a life for yourself, including friendships.

So here's to NOT waiting. To living, and to doing, and to creating.

Home Sweet Home

So I'm sitting here in my new living room, drinking a glass of sangria, and catching up on Real Housewives of NYC drama, and boy am I happy. Its been the most amazing feeling to wake up in my new beautiful bedroom, make my bed, waltz downstairs and put my coffee on, and sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor: a HOME.

We found a gorgeous, newly renovated town-home within walking distance to the Vienna metro. The walls are painted the perfect colors, and the hardwood floors are crisp and beautiful. They feel so good on my feet in the morning.

I'll post some pictures once its completely finished. The only room we have left is the dining room. We just need a table and nice carpet in there. The living room and kitchen are done, minus a few pictures of course. My room is finished, and Evie's is almost complete. Shan is swamped, so she's balancing work, her show, and unpacking her room all at once. Laura is going to finish her room when she gets back from the beach.

I'm so happy! I can't wait for school to start in the Fall.

Oh yeah, I'm over waitressing. Pretty sure this will be the last summer of waitressing ever. But, I need the money to replenish everything I've spent on this house! Ha! And boooy, is the money good. Woof...

Happy rest of the summer, all!

Domestic Goddess?

I went in to Home Depot to get a fancy pretty flashlight for work today. I parked my car, opened the door, and was overwhelmed with the Home Depot smell. That out-doorsy, wooden smell. I loved it. I walked up and was immediately drawn to the gorgeous flowers on display. This was new. I never gave a flying fig about plants.

Then I go inside. The smell of new home appliances and beautiful fake kitchens welcomed me to my new apparent haven. I was overcome by the desire to create projects, to create a home, make something beautiful to own and be proud of.

Now, I've always loved home design. I've always considered some sort of interior design classes to take on the side in the future. But repairs, shrubbery, and all that...never really interested me. I'm content to work with what I've got. Today, it was just so different. I was carried away to this place, imagining having a home of my own, making the front yard look perdy, re-doing a bathroom, painting the living room, all these different scenarios. It was so grown-up. It was SO WEIRD. Why? Because I don't think I'm there yet! But maybe I'm getting close to being there? I have no idea, but it was strange.

I have determined I better have at least a small front yard to play with next year.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Ok. Let me preface this with a paragraph praising the amazingness of my family, because really, I am so lucky to have such a fun, close family. I have two parents that love each other very much. Seriously...I can't count how many times my dad will pull us aside and ask, "Isn't your Mama beautiful?". And they are both dedicated to service. My dad is soon to be a General in the Army, and my mom has worked for non-profits my entire life. We were raised to live a life of service. I cannot imagine a profession where I wouldn't be serving. Chris is in non-profit as well, I'm a teacher, Colleen wants to go help orphans in any country she an, and Kelly is going to study to be a teacher as well. Its contagious. We're all do-gooders. When my entire family is together, it tends to be outrageous and hilarious. There's usually some form of alcohol flowing, and the laughter is OUT of control. This includes extended family as well (also relentless do-gooders). There's so much love in my family. And now that Kaitlyn is here...oh my gosh...you couldn't smack the smiles off of our faces.

Basically what I'm getting at, is that I look forward to my entire family being together. When I was in college, I loved coming home to visit everyone. I didn't come home unless there were breaks, and usually stayed in Harrisonburg for most or all of the summers, because I loved missing them, and then visiting them.

So, now that I have expressed my undying love for my family...

They are driving. Me. Crazy.

I have been at home this year. For one thing, Student Teaching doesn't pay, and I knew if I wanted to work in Fairfax County, I needed to be here as soon as possible. And I was right. Got the Long-Term job, and now, a solid job at a beautiful school for next year. And Long-Terms pay well, but not "live off this forever" well. So saving has been the big thing for the year.

Its been nice...but its time to go. I'll be 24 in January. At this age, you're not supposed to be home. You're supposed to be MISSING your family. Holidays should be exciting because you're going to be surrounded by the people you've missed so much. I remember feeling less Holiday-ish this year, because I was home already. I missed the "going home for the Holidays" feeling.

But it is getting to me. And I am taking it out on my family. I'm so aware of this too. My mom was sitting next to me, and had her arm on me. It was annoying me so much. All I could feel was her arm. On me. And I wanted. It. Off.

I love my family, but I need to miss them again. As we are drawing closer, and closer to the time to move, I am getting SO excited. Yes, a house will be great, I'll be with friends, I'll be social, yes, yes, yes...but more importantly. I'm going to MISS MY FAMILY! I'll be nicer again. I cannot wait. I cannot wait....

I love my family.