Gameday with Grant

Just a little teaser before I can get home, but today I got to show off my cousin Grant at my alma mater.

I think he likes it.

November update

In a week, so much has happened! 


First off, we went to the Alabama/LSU game last weekend. Brent and I had a great time, before the game ended. But really, we had fun!! We went to the game with another couple from Scottsboro that is the inverse of Brent and myself. Betsy is a Alabama Alum, and Alex is an Auburn Alum (plus he was a Tiger Host, the male version of a Tigerette, which I was). Alex and I struggled to be in Tuscaloosa and it was almost hard to wear red, but I love my husband and I really hate don't like LSU, so I grinned and bore it. 


Now that the whole world knows the outcome, I can post the pictures. Before I show you the following photos, I need to answer a few questions.

NO, I am not a converted Alabama fan.

NO, I am not homophobic.

YES, I am a fatty. :)

 Yes, I love my husband very much.

This was really too funny. I really have a large amount of hate disdain for LSU, their coach, and the majority of their fans. I actually hate dislike them and UGA more than I despise dislike Bama. 

Go figure.

Ok, Bama people do things differently. At Auburn, you tailgate with your friends and that's where you eat, or you go downtown and get your food there. However, on the Quad, they have food vendors everywhere you turn. My friend Betsy and I spotted a huge sign that said "Deep Fried Heart Attack Waiting to Happen" "Fried Oreos, Fried Twinkies," so of course we had to go. 

I see no point in elaborating on the game, because we all know how it ended. I will say that it was a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG ride back to Birmingham with Alex and Betsy. 

But Brent was one little pissy-pants.

Fast forward through a four-day work week...

Wednesday afternoon I was talking to my sister-in-law about how Brent and I are off for Veterans Day and how we would love to spend some time with Annslie and Addisyn. Here's how it turned out:

"Let's build a camp, BB!" Of course Brent was happy to oblige.

"Read-a me a 'tory BB. Now read it again." 

Addisyn is more concerned with her mini-pack of fries from McDonald's, cause that's how Aunt Anna cooks on weeknights.

Who came up with the idea of a friggin mini-pack? Childhood obesity is not going to be ended with a little pack of fries and apple slices.

"Read it again, BB. Now again. Now again."

The poor guy is going to say the Three Bears and Three Little Piggies and Cinderella and Snow White in his sleep! He loved every second of it.

What better way to start the day than your Aunt Anna making you Mickey Mouse pancakes? I put this picture here to show that I did not use a cookie cutter. My dad used to make these for me when I was a little girl, and I am SO glad I watched him do it! 

The Finished Product. Yes, they were demolished. Mighty tasty, too!

Right now, two little girls are sound asleep. It won't last much longer. In the meantime, be sure to thank a Veteran today. I am so proud to say both of my grandfathers proudly served their country, and both have definitely made me thankful and proud to be an American. To my Papa and my Pop (especially today),

 THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU.

You know the job it hard when...

You know being a teacher is hard when the Alabama Education Association's New Member packet contains a koozie.

Hey look! A new post and not even a month has passed!!!

I'm writing from my phone, so this will be short and sweet. Last night was Halloween, and since it was never a big deal with my family, I was excited to see the way Brent's family handles it.

Not too differently, come to find out. All the babies got dressed up in their precious costumes and we all met at Aunt Wendy's house to give out candy and take pictures. It isn't a family gathering without pictures!!

Learned something new today. It is not a great idea to break in 5 inch wedges on a day when my aid is out sick. My feet are killing me. But my shoes are precious.

Oh, before I forget, Brent and I will e going to Tuscaloosa this weekend for the Bama vs LSU game. Stay tuned.

Photo update...

Well, this will be a brief update of this fall... We have been busy! I got a new job teaching a pilot program, focusing on dropout prevention. I LOVE MY JOB!!! In other news:

Took Brent to Auburn for a game and a tour...

I spent most of my academic college career in this building. The rest was spent at the bar in the library.

Yes, he will wear MY school colors when I threaten him I politely ask.

WAR EAGLE!!

 My fabulous niece Annslie (who loves her Aunt Anna) with me at a high school football game. We sit and cheer for the Wildcats in the vain  hope that they will win a game!

I had a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day recently (story later). However, my sister-in-law is absolutely amazing and she and her husband (the brother in law) teamed up and sent me flowers to cheer me up!

Because we had a rough week, Brent and I retreated to Atlanta for the weekend. We went to the Sun Dial Cocktail Lounge (awesomeness) for dessert after a HUGE dinner at Ted's Montana Grill. This is also the only picture from that weekend, as it was Atlanta Pride weekend. Don't know what that means? Google it.

Annslie loves her Uncle B.B., and I caught her giving him a kiss during the Homecoming game.

After the Homecoming game was over, a certain 3-year-old wanted Aunt Anna to buckle her up and watch a "moobie" in her mom's car for a few minutes. Yes, she was holding my face (rather forcefully, I might add), and no, she would not let go until I saw Barbie dressed as a princess.

That's pretty much our fall, up to this point. We still have a Bama game, an Auburn Homecoming, a high school rivalry game (that will be ugly), a trip to Decatur to see Bethany, Addisyn's 2nd birthday, and Halloween to get through in the next few weeks!

Yes, I suck at blogging

I am sooo writing this on my lunch break at work.

Yes, I do not do well with this whole "blog" thing. Ok ok, my last post was seven-ISH months ago. It's been a busy year!!

Anyway, while I'm writing, might as well include the fact that I have a new job! I am running a dropout prevention program for at-risk students... and I LOVE every minute of it. My kiddos are fabulous, and keep me entertained on a daily basis. They also have the unique ability to keep me grounded and have shown me just how blessed I am to have grown up with such wonderful parents.

Life has had its ups and downs lately, and this past week seems to have had more downs than anything. But that's another post for when I need to get things off my chest.

For now, just a quick update.

Brent and I just got back from a weekend trip to Atlanta. In true O'Hara fashion, when things get rough, I go to Atlanta for a change of scenery. After lots of shopping, walking, and a trip to the Sun Dial Cocktail Lounge, we came home to a HUGE dinner at his mom's house. I am still stuffed. My closet must have shrunk the pants I am wearing today... this doesn't just happen to me, right? RIGHT?!

Rant, and I love my job.

WARNING.
You are about to read a rant.
Thoughts expressed in the following words may not be suitable for all audiences.
Reader discretion is advised.

I would like to say that my feelings have REALLY been hurt lately. I don't mean just a little bit, but a LOT. I was once a very sensitive person, but was made to have thicker skin in college (thank you, K. Brumbeloe for constantly holding my feet to the fire). That being said, it now takes a lot before my feelings get really hurt. Well, it's built up enough and I've hit the boiling point. Before I go through the roof, I would like to say a few words:
I will not tolerate being ignored.
I refuse to be made to feel unvalued.
I will not allow anyone to make me feel inferior.
and finally, I will write off anyone who makes an attempt at any of the previously mentioned behaviors.

In case you can't tell, I'm quite pissed. However, my personality will not allow me to be confrontational...yet. That day is coming, and the merde will hit the ventilator.

Moving on and exhaling now...

Married life is great! Brent and I are adjusting to life as a couple fairly well. There have been some what-the-he**-are-you-doing moments, and oh-my-gosh-what-did-you-eat-to-make-THAT-smell moments too, but I guess that just comes with the territory.
I love him with my whole heart though. How could I not?

Now, let's talk about my job and why I love it.
No, not because of the pay (teacher salary is pretty sad, and only getting worse).
No, it's not because of the paperwork (there needs to be a musical called "Springtime for Special Ed").
It's because I love my students, and I love where I work.

Being a first year teacher is pretty tough. Feel sick ALL the time, learning new names and new faces EVERY day, and have you ever had morning duty on an elementary hallway? If I had a nickel for every time I have said, "You need to walk," or "Slow down" or "FOR THE THIRD DAY THIS WEEK, QUIT RUNNING," I swear I could have paid off my house, my student loans, and Brent's law school loans.

Now for the happy part. I've been at NSM long enough for the kids to know that yes, even though I look sixteen, I am a teacher and I have authority. That being said, there are also a lot of little ones that stop in the mornings to say hi and get a hug to start the day. One sweet girl in particular, we will call her Callie.
At the beginning of the month, we had a day that we spent in the hallway under tornado warnings. Really, there were two hours spent in the hall, books over kids heads, teachers going around making sure everyone held their position. Well, Callie is in 1st grade and was absolutely terrified. She hates storms, and I do too, but had to be the adult in the situation. So as soon as we got in the hall with their books over their heads, Callie started sobbing. I don't mean little tears. I mean that kind that will make a kid start dry-heaving. Baby girl was SCARED. Me being the nerves-of-steel person that I am, I went over and sat down by her and started talking to her about anything and everything I could think of. She sat up and I saw that tears were running down her little face onto her Justin Bieber t-shirt. I told her she had to stop right then because she might smear Justin's face. Then she said he was her favorite EVER. *lightbulb* I told her to put her book over her head, and when she bent back down against the wall to just sing every JB song she could think of. I got her started by bouncing around with my arm around her shoulders singing "Baby" in my squeakiest voice possible. She laughed, and sang every song she knew, twice.
Since then, Callie has stopped by to get a "Mrs. Benson Bear Hug" every morning. Of course I don't mind.