Time to Catch Up

A lot has happend and I'm not quite sure where to start!! Finals were totally dominated by myself - 3 A's and 1 B. Heck yes!!! Now onto next semester...I am currently enjoying my month off from school. I really pays to be in Education and take all of your finals early, but not all of them in 2 days!! (Never again) I was quite proud that I got all of my Christmas shopping done early. I really didn't have a choice since we had the Youth Party and both Christmases at our house over a span of 4 days. It was quite rediculous but so much fun. We had a whopping 29 people in our house for the "kid" party, but not the record! Every year for a while now (I think soph/junior year of high school) we had the youth from my generation at church over to the house. It started out as part of the progressive dinner for church and then evolved into a party each year after we graduated. SO, after we recovered from that this past Monday, we had to do some last minute shopping and preparing and cooking for Wednesday and Thursday. We were exhausted, but I still wasn't done. I had wanted to scrapbook Brad's trip to Germany but kept putting it off. So at the last minute, around 10pm Tuesday night, I started. I think the last time I let myself look at the clock was around 3:30am. I just had to make-do with what I had at that point.

On Christmas Eve, Brad and I exchanged Christmas gifts. We had a fun time and I was so happy that I was able to keep his a suprise until he opened them. We had my dad's side over for the day and then headed to Marietta for Brad's mom's side. We were beyond tired at that point and the rain didn't help our sleepiness. Christmas Day was my mom's side at our house. It was a litle more calm but still we were tired. We went over to Rachels house as we do every year. Oh, did I mention my BFFL is engaged?!!?!?!? Well she IS!!! Blake asked her last Saturday night. They're so excited, it's so cute! She asked me to be her Maid of Honor and I about cried...well I did actually. I'm so pumped to help her plan and get ready! We talked colors last night and possible venues. It's gonna be HUGE!

I had a great Christmas - got lots of fun things, new clothes, new laptop, yay! Hope everyone out there had a great time too!

::::the pictures above is me and Brad with my straight hair::::

Forks-type Weather

School has really been controlling my life lately and I'm quite glad to say that I am now free until Jan 5th. My schedule next semester is going to be quite nice - still time to do the things I need/want and get these classes d-o-n-e and over with. Oh college...how I loathe thee!

My birthday was on Thanksgiving this year. I hate when the ever-fathful Turkey Day attempts to steal my birthday thunder! I mean really?? My birthday meal of choice does not include turkey but I made due. We had the annual "Ashley and Seth's Birthday Dinner" and ate Japanese. It was scrumptious. If you haven't been to the new one behind Truett's, Yuki (which I proudly pronounce Yucky) it is quite good! They have what I consider their own Japanese drumline to help you celebrate your birthday and a sing-a-long as well. Embarressing, but fun! Thanksgiving was crazy - family all came over, got a Wii for my birthday, went to Marietta to see Brad's family...had to come back half way there because the g'mas walker was in the back of my car...ate more than one person should in a 5 hour span and came home to pass out - not before I got a little Wii in though! We did the shopping thing on Friday and did quite well!

Saturday....the game I look forward to every year - UGA vs Tech. Okay so not so much this year, BUT it was an intense game. First of all, if you remember that fateful day it was POURING. Dad and I pulled out the ole' rain gear (yes, it is red and black) and trucked it to Athens. Not only was it raining, but it was quite chilly too! We were under the excuse of a roof but our feet/legs were getting a little wet. We found Daddy K and Seth sitting in the Tech section - there were the only yellow people sitting up top at the moment. Although the game had its ups and downs and we lost, I still claim that it was a good game. And it gives Tech something to boast about for now. It probably will be another 7-8 years before they beat us. But shout outs and props to the Union Grove alum Kyle Jackson and Steven Silvester. Kyle had a good lick on Staffy...illegal hit that didn't have a flag thrown on it(!!!!) and bragging rights for a good while but still. He was also named ACC Rookie of the Year - WOW! Steven also got some good special teams and playing time in!! Although they're techies, I'm still so proud of them!

Outside of that, finals were rediculous. My 3 education classes all gave their finals a week early. I usually would be super pumped but I had a very big Biology test the same week and after 45 essays on teaching methods...Biology was last on the list to study. Needless-to-say, although my love for science is great, the Bio Gods were not on my side that day. So here's to crossing fingers and prayer to get me through this semester!

Now it's time to finish wrapping the present, trimming the trees (I've never really understood that expression) and getting ready for the big Christmas party at our house in a week-ish!

Fall=Football

I can't believe I forgot to include my waste of a trip to Jacksonville. We (and by we I mean the parental units, myself and some family friends) went down to Jacksonville for the UGA/Florida game. We went down super confident and obviously left being slapped in the face with defeat. It was still "fun" for a random trip...interesting conversation. Outside of that, a weekend I could have used to get some other things accomplished.

This past weekend was a whirlwind. Brad FINALLY decided to get motivated to paint the outside of the house. I really like the new colors, but won't attempt to describe them. (sorry) Friday night we spent most of our time picking out colors and having them mixed "perfectly." I had to buy a dress for Shelley's wedding (which was p-e-r-f-e-c-t) so I get the butt-end of the deal with only 30 minutes to find, try on and decide on a dress. Did I mention is was a crappy, raining night? Union Grove was playing but we decided against sitting in the rain to cheer on the Wolverines...semi-loyal fans are we. Shelley and Luke got married Saturday. It was a great wedding...seemed flawless to me! She rode in on the antique firetruck in McDonough...very appropriate. Brad and I had been cleaning and preparing to paint before the wedding and continued after the wedding. After sitting through the nail biting LSU/Alabama game we pushed outselves out the door for dinner and crashed for the night. Dad and I went to the Falcons game on Sunday. Saints fans...so many words and thoughts come to mind that I should probably choose to keep inside this little mind of mine!! So a "W" for the Falcons and my procrastination kicked in when I got home and realized what all I have to finish this week. Oh Thanksgiving...can't come soon enough!!

**Myself, Shelley and Kristy at the wedding**

On this "historical day"...

I'm thanking my dear, sweet Jesus that this election is over. I'm so sick of people bashing each other, friends telling friends they're wrong and so on. This is rediculous. Who in this world thinks they have the right to tell someone "how they think?" I am the only one who knows how I think...or did someone tap into my head and not tell me? I have my reason to vote for who I voted for. I looked it up and did my research. Have I been brought up one way or the other? Absolutly. But with this election being "so important," I decided it was time to look into it for myself. The one thing that really gets under my skin the most is having someone tell me that I only voted the way I did because I'm racist. Um, hello?? That's news to me! I don't care if one candidate was green and the other was purple...I voted for the policies that I agree with. Sometimes I wish that the candidates could just be held in secret. Have their policies and all of the "election" information provided...but don't tell me if they're male or female, white or black or any other ethnicity. Tell me the important parts and let me decide. Then release the lesser important information. I don't know...I've never been into politics and no, I'm not trying to say that I know everything or will I attempt to know everything there is to know about this election. The fact of the matter is, what's done is done. The people of the US have voted and a president has been elected. He's in the spotlight now and I do hope that he has everything ready to be put in motion to fulfill his promises to this people. I'm going into this open minded (well, as possible) and will watch to see what unfolds.

Certainly I knew walking into my Diversity in the Classroom class today what our topic would be about. But it is a little intimidating so be put on the spot and asked your opinions and feelings with such a diverse class. I chose not to share...just because I keep my thoughts to myself. Yes, I'm guilty of posting anti-Obama "status" on Facebook but I got caught up in the hype. I will continue to pray for our nation, our leaders, and most of all our soldiers. Knowing so many troops over seas and about to be deployed puts me in an alarmed state not knowing what the future holds for them. No, I'd rather them not have to die for our country or have their life put in danger...yet it is their decision to enlist and I will back them til my last breath.

So now what do we do with all of the extra airtime space without election notifications and remindres popping up every 2 seconds. Bring on the cute little Pilgrim salt and pepper shakers commercial from Publix...

I'm new to this...

I recently have become addicting to reading Blogs. Not just randomness on the internet and certainly not celebrity drama (I pray that doesn't leak in...) - just the news from friends who are around the world. (yeah, shout-out to Marlee and MT) So I've decided that maybe I need to start writing/typing to get it all out. School=rediculous...that is all there is to it. I find myself totally pumped one day (what a nerd) and the next day the covers are pulled over my head, while inside I kick and scream about not wanting to get up. Mature right?

So this education thing...I'm kinda in a funk about it all right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm super happy about "Middle Grade Education." I miss the Biology some days...not lately. I had to retake a freshman Bio class that didn't transfer from good ole' YHC. Great teacher, really smart and knows way more about biology than any one person should have to, but it's cellular biology and anyone who knows what I'm talking about feels my pain. I mean, it's great and all to learn how the body works and why our cells do what they do...but if I have to draw one more plant/animal cell, discuss ATP or cellular respiration, I'm probably going to go nuts! So why am I taking this class as a Education major?? I ask myself everyday... Apparently even though my Associates from YHC is complete by Clayton's rule...the Education department needs this one class to be on my transcript. How they accept the 2nd Bio and not the first...got me! I remember late night study sessions with Kaitlin after "fun in the woods"...us hoping Dr. Arnold would feel sorry for us as we slugged into his room, still smelling like who knows WHAT! (YHC-ers...you got me!) Never happend...I think he thought we were just the smelly kids of his class and he was the unlucky professor to have two! So all in all...Bio=no fun at the moment. On the flipside, LOVE my education classes. Diversity is interesting considering it's in Clayton County. I'm all about the Clay-Co as I am a former resident...just awkward at times. I have a Elementary school principal as a teacher for another class. She reminds me of my friend B*Mac, just older. Quick and spunky attitude and can cut you down in a heart beat if you cross her...yet the biggest heart a person could have. Love it! So now it's 2 more semesters of edu-muh-cation and on to the teaching world. Haven't decided WHAT grade I want to go for...that's for a later date!

So now on to studying for more Biology...because all I've got so far is mitochondria are the reason for cellular respiration and cholorplasts are pumping out the photosynthesis process...I think. =)

Until next time...
Ash