Date Night with Jen and Ryan

Last night we went to Ruben's with Jen and Ryan. We love our date nights with Jen and Ryan! It's usually at Rubens or Chick-fil-a and followed by a $1.50 movie. Sometimes we get crazy and top it off with ice cream....but not last night.

We like Ruben's except when they have their mariachi band. Don't get me wrong, I like all types of live music. I just don't like it when they come around table to table. It's way too loud! Luckily they weren't there last night. They have the best salsa.

We went to see Get Smart. It was hilarious! It's been a while since I've seen a movie that cracked me up every thirty seconds. It also included material that seemed to hit on a lot of inside jokes between Jonathon and I. We kept looking at each other when we laughed. We also ran into Rebecca Drake, Hilary, and Julien Birke. When I saw them I said, "Hey, are you all here by yourself?" They laughed and looked at me really weird then I said, "I guess you are old enough huh?" We had good laugh. I remember when they were in my 3rd-5th grade Sunday School class. Oh how time flies....Good times!

We've already been busy this morning. We ran the Feat of Louisville. It's a race that supports the efforts to treat autism. We finished right at 28 minutes. Not bad for two people who haven't done a thing in about two months! I gotta start exercising again. When I get home a night I tell myself that I'm too tired, but if I could get my lazy self off the couch I know it would energize me!

Today is Callie's birthday dinner at Kobe. I'll take my camera and post pictures. Happy Saturday!

Mid-Week Update

This week has been L-O-N-G! We are taking ISTEP at school so it makes the days drag out. I've been working late each night but for some reason my to-do list keeps getting long rather than shorter. That's the kind of week it's been!

Say a little prayer for my niece, Maddie. She has had walking pneumonia for two weeks! Kristen says she's been a little trooper and never complains. The doctor said he couldn't believe she wasn't acting more sick because it was bad. They have her on meds so it should get better.

Some shopping news: The Kohl's in Jeffersonville opens this weekend! The grand opening isn't until Wednesday put a little birdie told me that the doors really open on Sunday. Just about everything is going to be 50% off. I'll meet you there....

I'm looking forward to seeing my hubby tomorrow night. He's going to be home for an entire eight days in a row. Yeah!

Pancake Breakfast

I know I have an on-going advertisement to the right of your screen but I wanted to pump up the support:

Applebee's Pancake Breakfast

OCTOBER 4, 2008
8:00a.m.-10:00a.m.

All you can eat pancakes and drinks! The cost is $5.00 and proceeds will go toward the Mission to Malawi 2009!

You can purchase tickets ahead of time or buy them at the door.

A Break

Wow, I never knew a week off in September could be so relaxing. I think what made it relaxing is the fact that I didn't have anything planned because I was supposed to be at school. When I know there's a break coming I usually find things to fill up the free time.

I wish I could say I accomplished a lot but really I didn't do anything blogworthy. Sorry to disappoint! I feel kind of bad since I've heard others went to the zoo or Brown County. I did some laundry and took some naps. Shame on me!

This weekend has been super fun though. Friday was the CHS football game (which was not a happy ending), yesterday we hung out at a fun party with friends, and today I got to see a friend of mine baptized at Northside. You can imagine how happy I was in the whirlwind of social fun this weekend!

Jonathon is about to head out to his last week in London, Ky for the season. I would be celebrating the fact that he will be home but in two weeks he leaves for Alabama and he will be gone for seven weeks straight. No weekends with him! It will go by fast though and he'll be home for the holidays.

I'm gearing up for what will seem like "back to school" all over again after being off for a week. This makes me wonder what the "alternative school calendar" would be like. I have to admit having a week off after being in school for a few weeks was nice. We'll see how the kids adapt this week....

Wind Cancelled Day 2

I feel like I'm in summer vacation again. I was able to drive over to Louisville and take care of a couple errands today. It was nice to knock them off the "to-do" list without taking time out of the weekend.

I stopped by Aimee and Adam's rental house they bought in Jeffersonville. They've been working on it for a couple months now and it's really looking cute. If you know anyone wanting to rent in the downtown Jeff area, let me know!

I came home and it seems like I sat on the couch talking on the phone for three hours. As soon as one person would hang up another one would call. I talked to Megan for a long time today because we have both been waiting for a long time to get our wedding videos from our video guy and I picked mine up today. She got hers a couple weeks ago so finally that battle is over. Anyway we also got to catch up on all the baby happenings ans such. It was nice.

I'm also trying to work out spring break plans with some people we may go to Florida with so I've been online and on the phone trying to see details about rental houses. I already can't wait!

JJ is being turned into a shelter for showers and meals this week for the community so I may go by and see what's going on there on "Day 3"...

P.S. Jonathon got to come home again tonight. ;)

Ups and Downs of the Wind Storm

I'm a lucky girl. I was on my way to a bridal shower in Utica when the storm was in its fullness on Sunday and I just want to type for a minute about what a dummy I am sometimes. I drove through a tree covered road dodging fallen trees to get to that shower. Who in their right mind drives through a scene like that when a wind storm is still blowing? Thankfully, God was watching over because a tree never landed on me on the way there or back.

When I returned home I found my house in tact without any damage at all. I was very lucky because the rest of my neighborhood got hit. There were shingles from houses around me in my yard. My electricity was also out like everyone else in the county...or at least I thought. I started out at Jami's passing some time then went over to Heather's. I love living in a neighborhood of friends! Heather and Zoe were hungry so we ended up grilling some burgers from my thawing freezer. Yes, I had a very lovely candle-lit dinner with Zoe, Alex, Heather, and Craig! Aimee called to tell me that her electricity had never gone out which is really bazaar because she lives in my neighborhood. Heather and I went over to her house so Alex could take a breathing treatment and I could steal some electricity for my phone.

I called Kristen to find out that they have some roof damage but she thinks they can get it fixed quickly and without much cost so that's good news too.

Today ended up being pretty fun. School was out so I hung out with Jami all day long. We went to Target, had lunch at the concessions area there, then came home. Later I went back over and had chili-dogs with her and Steve. Since school is out tomorrow I'm sure Jami and I will get some more time to hang out.



I got a call about an hour ago from Jonathon telling me he's on his way home! He has to report in Louisville tomorrow to do work with the Louisville clean-up. I hate to celebrate the fact that there's so much damage going on that my husband had to be called to the area but in the spirit of looking on the bright side....I GET TO SEE MY HUBBY! I'm sure anyone suffering right now from no electric, no water, and trees down will probably not find much happiness in that so for that I'm sorry.



Okay, I must go finish up the power clean. Jonathon should be home soon...

Callie is Growing Up

No, she's not getting married. Ha! I just wanted to throw up a pic of her. Last night she called me to ask if I wanted to buy anything for her school fundraiser. About five minutes into the conversation it hit me that Callie was in total control of our conversation. I could hear Chris and Kristen in the background just doing the family thing. Kristen wasn't hanging out next to the phone telling Callie what to say. Callie was describing all the products to me and telling me how much they were. If I had questions I could hear her flipping through the catalog to the appropriate page to find the answer. I was having so much fun listening to her that I just kept asking questions. I could tell she was having fun being little Miss Responsibility. She's like a little adult!

Get this...Her birthday is in two weeks and she has decided she doesn't want a party this year. She wants to go to Kobe. Is she going to be 7 or 17???

It's so much fun watching my nieces grow up. They definitely have their own personalities. It has always surprised me to see what they know and what they can do. They just soak everything in. I love being an aunt!! I'm gonna need help with the boy that's on the way. What do you do with boys??????

BORING Friday Night

I wish I was talking about one of mine and Jonaton's "Boring Friday Nights" when we pop in a movie and lay on the couch. Tonight I've been hanging out by myself studying. Ugh. (Okay so really I had a movie playing the entire time distracting me.) Tomorrow I have to take a six hour exam for my principal's licensing exam. Ugh, again. I'm ready for it to be over with already. My wrist hurts just thinking about it. (It's ALL essay.)

Wish me luck...

Malawi Here I Come...

When I stepped off the plane from Malawi in July last year I was already counting down the months until the next time I would go back. I knew without a doubt that it would happen again. In the past year I have to admit that my priorities have been spread all over the place and I was beginning to feel like maybe it wasn't meant for me to go again.

With the economy the way it is here and there I thought maybe the money that would be used to get me there would be better spent on things the kids need instead of my visit. I get consistent text messages from one of the teachers there who asks "when will you visit again" so when thoughts were crossing my mind about not going I really didn't know what to think.

Brother Gentry (the mission leader) met with our missions group on Sunday and when I posed the economy question to him he said, "Would a granddaughter rather see her grandma in person or be sent a $2000 check to spend?" He made a good point. He knows how great the need is and he could easily have said, "Just give me your money instead," but he didn't. I know the kids there want me to come back. I know the teachers do as well. So, with thoughtful prayer, my mind and heart are refueled for the mission.

I am on fire again. My heart is so full of things I want to accomplish this time. My step-sister, Jill, is planning on going back and I know we will work even harder this time to make a difference for these kids. Our whole team will!

So, Malawi....Here I come-AGAIN!

IU Football....Again

Okay, so Jonathon and I bought these football tickets when we thought we would be able to attend the games. We didn't realize how nutty his schedule was going to be. So, I have two tickets with a parking pass to the IU football game on SAturday, September 20 at 7:00p.m. The tickets were $28 each and I don't even remember how much I paid for the parking pass now. If anyone is interested in the set for $40 let me know.

Email me at kmhooser@msn.com

:)

Weekend with My Husband...

I should probably say "40 Hours with My Husband." He wasn't actually home for an entire weekend. Jonathon and I had the best time together this weekend. I feel like we fall more and more in love every time we see each other. I miss him terribly when he is gone but the time we do have together is so awesome. Sometimes we still have those moments when we think "Is this real?" I'm sorry if you're not into mushy but I'm so happy with my marriage so far!! I totally feel like God created him for me...

We didn't really do anything while he was home besides hang out and talk. I love to hear him talk about his job and everything going on with the people he works with. He LOVES his job and works very hard to be good at it. I found that attractive about him from the beginning....work ethic. I don't mind hearing about some things that I don't totally understand because I love to see him talking about it. He always humors me when I have to stop and ask him the meaning of some terms.

He just pulled out to be gone for another two weeks. The countdown begins until our next "40 Hours."

Finishing Up the Weekend...

Sunday- I met up with my friend Jen and spent the afternoon at her dad's house catching up and chatting. Her brother Josh is also a teacher so there was lots to talk about. You can't get two teachers in the same room without talking about school! I had a great time hanging out with her family.

I went to Kristen's for dinner. I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but Kristen is having a boy!! We are all so excited. Now that we know the sex we can think about shopping....

Monday-I shopped the Labor Day sales and got a couple great deals. One was I found and bought two different wedding bands. We never got the chance to pick out a band for my ring because of getting the replacement ring back a couple days before the wedding. Well, we've both been so busy we just haven't shopped for one. I knew the jewelry stores would have some sales today so I picked out a couple. When Jonathon gets back, I'll have him pick which one he likes the best. He was telling me I needed to find one I like because I "didn't look married from across the room." Ha, ha...He's so funny.

I met up with Jonathon's sister for lunch today. We had a great time. It's the first time we have done something with it being just the two of us. It's fun to continue getting to know my in-laws!

Tonight I've been catching up on some much needed laundry duty. I had four loads.....of just my stuff! I'm really bad about keeping up with the laundry.

Jonathon called me with an update a few minutes ago. He's flying into Louisiana tomorrow to begin search and rescue/damage assessment. With the news of the two other storms that have formed in the Caribbean there's no telling when they will be finished...keep on praying!

Here's to getting GOOD sleep tonight and starting the week of right...