Italy

Many of you know we went to Italy on our honeymoon. We loved our week there and would love to go back.

However, that was a bit out of my price range when I started planning a date. So I settled on this idea I found at The Dating Divas.

After we dropped the girls off at my parents' house, Phillip and I went back home to make calzones. We've made them before, but I think they were the best we've ever made. Maybe because we used more meats than we've ever done. They were so yummy and filled our plates and tummies!

While those were baking, we finished mixing up the strawberry gelato and got the ice cream freezer going.

After supper, we retreated to the living room for our Italian "foreign film." We watched "The Italian Job." There's a long-standing joke that I can't stay awake to watch that movie. Ok, so it's not really a joke. I think we've watched it five or six times and I've seen all of it one or two times! But I made it through this time because we took a break to get gelato in the middle. Pure deliciousness!

If you need some date night inspiration, I highly recommend The Dating Divas!

Food and more

Because Phillip handles the paperwork for the free and reduced lunch program at Panther Creek, he can have a free lunch any time he wants it. Occasionally, he'll come home for lunch bearing lunch. Today was one of those days. It was also the annual Thanksgiving meal the school serves for the community so he had spent time with community folks too. Here's one (of TWO) of the containers of food he brought home today. He also brought 2 16oz cups of marshmallow, whipped cream fruit salad and a 16oz cup of gravy and an 8oz cup of cranberry sauce and 6 rolls!!! This was food for the two of us. Can you imagine?!?

Here are the leftovers after we had a generous serving for lunch today.

On another note, I'm migrating away from my PDA because I just don't use it anymore. But, my address book is in it and I've yet to find a good replacement for that. I want to be able to manage my address book on the computer and be able to export out of it so I can print labels, print an address book, etc. If you keep your address book on the computer, would you let me know what software you use?

Country life

Tonight there is a junior high football game in Cherokee, located about 2 hours away. Due to the distance, Emily and I decided to stay home and just let Phillip go. He was planning to ride the bus down there with the kids and they were leaving at 2:30. Or so they thought.

Phillip got on the bus and was deciding which seat to sit in, behind the driver or the seat across the aisle from the driver. He, wisely, chose the seat behind the driver because the sun would be coming in on the other side. Just as he was sitting down, something spooked the racoon that was sleeping on the floor of the other seat he was considering. Yes, that's right...a racoon! The bus mechanic had a pellet gun and shot it, but unfortunately, a good amount of the racoon's blood ended up on Phillip's leg because the racoon was just about to go up Phillip's leg. So, when Phillip came in about 3:10 with blood on the leg of his pants, I was shocked, to say the least. First, he was supposed to already be gone. Second, there's blood all over his pants! Everything ended well (for everyone except the racoon, I guess), although they didn't leave until about 3:15. The pants are now in the washer and I think all the blood came out!

Exciting times out in God's country!

Like Father, Like Daughter

Prompted by an email from my sister, I thought I'd share some pictures of Phillip and Emily. I wonder where Emily gets it!

Peasant Phillip

Peasant Emily

Sunflower Phillip

King Tut Emily

Phillip's Antlers

Cool Emily

Arab Phillip

Chef Emily

Happy Due Date!

Too bad the baby doesn't know that! Oh well. I guess we're just still in waiting mode.


My mom, Phillip & I met my sister for dinner so my mom could spend the weekend with my sister again. It's nice for them to have some time together and for Phillip and I to have some time alone. When we met for dinner, I was greeted with two dozen roses from Jenni!! I arranged them and added the ferns and the purple flowers (from the flowers Phillip sent to me last week) and I think it turned out pretty good!

Job news

In job news, Phillip has a job!!!! He will be the principal at Panther Creek Consolidated ISD. The nearest "town" is Valera. The town consists of a flashing light, a restaurant, a post office and a few houses.



View Larger Map

For those who want to know:

From Panther Creek to...
...Coleman 22 miles (25 minutes)
...Ballinger 33 miles (35 minutes)
...Brownwood 42 miles (50 minutes)
...Winters 43 miles (50 minutes)
...Brady 48 miles (50 minutes)
...San Angelo 67 miles (1 hour)
...Grandma & Grandpa Ratliff's house 57 miles (1 hour)
...Grandpa & Pearlie Trietsch's house 74 miles (1 hour, 20 minutes)
...Uncle Stetson & Aunt Kim's house 127 miles (2 hours, 15 minutes)
...Aunt Jenni's house 219 miles (3 hours, 50 minutes)

We're planning to go out there April 21 so we can see the school during school hours and the house (that the school provides). Please continue to pray for us as we make this transition: with the baby, new job, new house, new town, moving, etc. Right now, we're a little scared and overwhelmed (or, at least, I am!), but we know this is really where God wants us to be.

31 weeks

Whenever we go to the doctor, she asks if we have any questions. I usually do, but she's always surprised at how few I have. I guess that's what talking to a friend and looking on the Internet will do for you. But, yesterday I did have a few questions for her and, for the first time, so did Phillip! He asked if he got to cut the cord. {big smile!} I was so happy to hear that! He also told her about our possibility of moving and asked when I could travel. I love hearing him so concerned about me and my health.

The first shower

Today, Phillip's school hosted a baby shower for us. I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came. We had a great time and received lots of great gifts.

Weekend review

What a weekend! Saturday, Phillip & I had two more elder couples over for dinner. That meant a day of prep work for me. Fortunately, I thought to wear my maternity support belt. Boy, did that help!!! I was on my feet more than I should have been, but I don't seem too worse for the wear. I made onion pie (for dinner) & rolls (for Sunday's potluck), cracker crumb chicken, Delmonico potatoes (really good, but took longer than I expected), cinnamon apple ice cream topping, and carrots. It all turned out pretty good, but the rolls didn't rise much. I seem to be having trouble with rolls lately, even from different recipes. Maybe one day I'll get it!

Sunday, I crashed after the potluck. I slept for an hour and a half! It was wonderful!!! Then, I spent the rest of the afternoon doing stuff around the house before Phillip & I took Oso for a walk. Every time we do that, I say we need to do it more often. Now that it's light later, maybe we can. It'll be good for all of us.

Help...

See Phillip's blog for our request (and just his blog in general).

Phillip's getting some practice in!

At one point, I was holding Jackson on my lap (or, rather, he was holding on to me). It was time to eat pizza, but my hands were obviously occupied, so Phillip fed me while Cara fed Jackson (while his hands were occupied too--he's a messy eater if his hands are free).

Busy, busy, busy

This past weekend was busy. Not terribly busy, but busy enough. Friday night, Phillip cooked hamburger & sausage for me so I could make stuff when I got home. We made the sausage balls together (that was fun!), then I spent another hour or so in the kitchen making sausage dip, hamburger dip, and crab dip. Fortunately, all together, it only took about 2 hours to get all that done.

Saturday morning, we went and picked up Jenni to meet my parents for brunch at Waffle House before the Abilene High/Hebron football game. What a game!!! It was a 20-yard line to 20-yard line game. So, Abilene High will play Pflugerville at Texas Stadium on Saturday...I don't think we'll make this one, but I'm sure it will be a great game! Then after we got home, I made zucchini bread.

Yesterday, I worked for about four and a half hours without a break. (Yes, I know I should have taken a break and put my feet up, but I didn't even realize that much time had passed!) But, I got the banana bread, almond tea and strawberry bread made, after a few phone calls to Mom & Jenni! (No party planning is complete without them!) I also got the table set and ready for Tuesday night.

Tonight we have a school board meeting at which Phillip will receive his Apple Corps award. Then we're on to Jenni's Christmas party for what usually amounts to a preview of our own party! While not all the food is the same, much of it is! After all, we grew up in the same family and have the same holiday favorites!

Wednesday is church, Thursday is Life Group (with a white elephant gift exchange). Then, Friday my office is having a Christmas party at the Gaylord Texan! I am really excited about this because I've never been there and I hear we're having a great meal.

Saturday, Phillip and Jenni are going car shopping because her car is literally wearing out. It's time! So, I'll be at home wrapping presents (maybe buying a few on the way home!), ironing, cleaning up from the week. Hmmm....I might even put my feet up and rest!

Yea!!!

I just have to brag on Phillip a little. Mesquite ISD (where he works, for those who don't know) has an award called Apple Corps. It's only given to a few teachers and it's a really big deal. The honorees are nominated by their peers. Well, Phillip just found out that he is an Apple Corps teacher! For those of you who know, this has been a hard year for Phillip, so this should be quite a boost to him.

Congrats, honey!

Weird comments

Last night, as Phillip & I were eating dinner, I told Phillip I felt like all I do right now is eat, drink, and go to the bathroom. He said, "Sounds just like being a baby!"