For My One In A Minion {Valentine's Day}

With Valentine's Day tomorrow I thought I would share what my sweetheart can look forward to.

We've never been big on Valentine's and usually keep it pretty low key.

I think surprising each other randomly through out the year is much more exciting and special than one day.

I did want to do something but not go over-the-top. I made him this little goodie bag.

I collected some of his favorite treats and made a card. 

I also got him signed up for the "Dollar Shave Club". He's been searching for a new razor so I thought this could be a cool way to try something he might like. 

Drew is all about some micro-brews and craft beer. 

I snagged these earlier in the week since I knew most likely we'd be snowed in.

The "yellow snow IPA" just had to be his!

I also dipped some pretzels in white chocolate, his favorite.

Add some peppermint and festive sprinkles and boom, V-Day treat!

I added some beer nuts to go with the brew, Swedish Fish and Twizzlers then put it all in a red bag.

I'm sure he will like it and enjoy some of his loot this weekend.

Our Weekend and Christmas {Break} Top 10 List

Well it is here, Christmas break!

Two + weeks of a mental break and lots of time in cozy socks.

I. Can't. Wait.

Our weekend and first evening of the beloved Christmas break started with Drew's work party.

This year we took a dinner cruise around downtown Knoxville and it was beautiful getting to see all the lights and our favorite landmarks.

The dinner was yummy and the fun holiday themed cocktails even better!

I attempted the final things on our shopping list Saturday with the majority of East Tennessee. 

The traffic was seriously more than Black Friday but the sales were well worth it.

Victoria Secret has most bras for $25, Target an extra 10% off everything, and Ulta gave out $5 off coupons. So at the end of the day I was okay with the large amounts of swear words murmured under my breath and shouted by others in the parking lots. 

(note cozy sock in bottom of pic)

I'm trying to wrap up the wrapping business.

I've topped the guys gifts with favorite airplane bottles to spread a little holiday cheer!

My Mom gave us an early gift, this adorable ornament!

I'm obsessed with special ornaments for each year and this one is super special to us for sure.

Now that I'm on break I have several things I'm excited to do:

- blog about some things that I haven't had a chance to sit and do

(how small groups has changed me in 2013, marriage, and some teacher post)

-enjoy starting new traditions like matching pj pants on Christmas Eve

-excited to cook a yummy breakfast Christmas morning and even more excited that Drew's brother and our sister in law are staying with us

-making some yummy holiday drinks (inspired from the work party)

- deep clean the house, this makes me weirdly happy

-try some new dinners

-attempt to run and have "mini workouts" twice a day 

-enjoy coffee every morning

finally, - soak in every last Christmas song and moments of 2013!

Have a great week!

Christmas fun in the classroom!

The last few weeks days have been crazy!

At school we have had testing that needs to be done,

meetings that need to be had, and a million and one other things going on.

Oh yeah, and the excitement of Santa and that today at 3:05 started our Christmas break!

Today we had an awesome day!

My teammate and I planned morning full of crafts and games followed by a kid party where they had more food than they knew what to do with. Then an hour outside on this beautiful day!

 Our school mascot is the owls.

I found this cute ornament pattern on Pintrest {of course} and luckily had lots of parent help!

 Seriously could not have made this ornament happen with 44 kiddos without the parents.

So thankful to work in a school and community where the parents are so eager to help and involved in the education. All hands were on deck!

 A sweet student even brought his guitar and played a few Christmas songs for us all.

The gift of music was precious!

 Of course festive hair added to our fun day!

Leading up to our fun day was some major prep time.

I had a great time planning and preparing, a favorite being the baked goods to share with the staff and treat bags for the kiddos.

It said, "Can't wait for S'MORE 5th grade fun!"

I also included a pencil {teachers are obligated to give this}, a heartfelt letter, and a homework pass-

which to my 11 year old students #gold

Our Full and Festive Weekend

This weekend has been jam packed and I'm so thankful to be home now

in comfy socks with a cozy blanket watching Pioneer Woman on the Food Network.

Friday I took a personal day to follow Drew to drop his truck off in a small town outside of Nashville.

He drives a diesel and loves it but it needed a pretty major service.

Drew found this place online and did some research and it saved us nearly $2,000 going the extra miles.

The drive was three hours one way but it down poured the entire time.

Seriously, poured! 

We took Copper with us because we knew our Saturday was busy and didn't want him being home by himself all day Friday and Saturday.

I was thinking that 6+ hours in the car might be a bit much for him so I packed his favorite toys, treats, and a blanket. Little did we know, he loved the ride and we didn't use any of it. 

He was so good, just laid and stretched.

We took a few potty stops in the pouring rain but he didn't seem to mind, although we were soaked.

With the rain and some traffic we drove over 8 hours total and were exhausted.

So we picked up a Papa Murphy's thin crust meat loves and it hit the spot with my wine!

Saturday was one of my favorite Christmas events of the season!

Seriously, this is second only to the candle light service.

It's called the "Weigels Family Christmas" and Weigels (a local gas station) host area children for breakfast then they load buses and they get to shop at K-Mart for themselves with $150 to spend then have a celebration lunch afterwards.

The kids get all sugared up at breakfast as we wait for the buses!

Once we get to K-Mart we get paired up with a child. 

Drew and I do this together because it is so crowded with excited kiddos and Santa that I couldn't imagine doing this myself. This year we got a sweet 11 year old girl who knew exactly what she wanted and was very independent. On her list was a wax melt/warmer and boots and other crafty things.

 She really liked the shoes and enjoyed trying them on.

She decided on some purple sparkle boots and we picked out some matching gloves and a scarf to match.

Later Saturday evening we had a Christmas party.

Every year Drew's Dad host a "Dirty Santa" party.

It's always so nice to see everyone, enjoy good food, and get a good laugh at the tacky gifts.

Got to love Christmas parties!

Today is another rainy day! So tired of this dreary weather!

We went to church and enjoyed the awesome service and great music.

Afterwards we did a little shopping and had lunch at Pei Wei, one of our favorites!

Now I'm cuddled up (should be grading papers) and admiring the Christmas tree.

Tonight I'm making taco soup, one of our favorites!

I'll be blogging that later!

Have an amazing, stress-free week!!!!

Oh Christmas Tree

I give you, the Griswold Irons Family Christmas tree!

Now that the remaining turkey is in containers in the fridge till we forget about them and they become scary and the midnight madness shopping has left me wanting a nap and more coffee,
 it is time for the Christmas Tree!!!

(a Clark Griswold drum roll please)

The past 5 years I have been either in college and didn't have a tree over 3 feet and more that $7 to spend on it or lived in a tiny place and wasn't home very much so I didn't have a large tree.

Well this years marks our first married Christmas and my first "big" tree.

Pushing almost 8 feet and more fluffy that I realized (and mismeasured).

It truly took me almost 3 hours to get this beast fluffed then moved around the living room to find a space that the tree could fit and I didn't have to rearrange everything. 

Well turns out as much as I love our open floor plan living room, a tree over 3 feet is tricky business.

Once I FINALLY got the damn dear tree  in a good spot, let the decorating begin!

Of course the lights didn't work on it so I had to add 6 strands.

Took awhile but I was happy with the outcome.

Okay, the tree looks 4 feet here not 8 ?!

Anyways, next I added some massive 16 inch ribbon that I snagged at Hobby Lobby.

Then I add in a little burlap. 

Can't help myself, I'm obsessed!

My little helper and partner in crime- always happy to help!

Till he decided he couldn't take much more of my obsessiveness with fixing the ribbon and burlap.

And finally, after lots of ornament loading and a Winter Lager later I give you....
The Irons Family Christmas Tree!

The glow from the tree is beautiful and I will be doing some DIY ornament post very soon!
Happy Decorating!

Thanksgiving {2013}

Our first Thanksgiving as married folks has come and gone.

I always look forward to seeing everyone on Thanksgiving and shopping that evening!

My sweet Grandma Kay and Mom have been cooking up a storm.

We had turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, Grandma's INCREDIBLE dressing, mashed potatoes, peas (just for me), fresh green beans, my Uncles roasted potatoes, gravy, hot rolls, and so much dessert that I just felt overwhelmed and didn't have any.

So I guess no "gobble till you wobble" here?!

We have a fairly large family so half of the family eat at the kitchen table and the others in the dinning room. My mom had decorated it so cute! 

I'm mad at myself that I didn't get a pic of Drew and I but of course I managed to get one of Copper!

He was well-behaved and patiently waited for after dinner Frisbee.

My parents have a beautiful German Shepard, Bayley.

Copper and Bayley decided to be best buds and go play in the freezing cold creek in the yard.

Copper got so muddy and wet Drew and I had to give him a bath before we could put him in the truck to go home. But he sure did have just as good a time as us!

Last Sunday we had our first of four Thanksgiving dinners at Drew's grandparents.

I brought cupcakes with homemade chocolate icing.

I decided to try an idea I had seen on Little Baby Garvin awhile ago.

It was a huge hit! We all loved the S'MORE festive toppings 

with the fresh cake and finger licking good icing! 

Hope you had a very delicious and thankful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Eve

I love Thanksgiving!

Of course I love the food aspect but it goes so much deeper than that.

I feel we should always have a thankful heart but sometimes taking

a time out (or a day out) to really reflect and be thankful can really bring some clarity and 

remind us all of how blessed we are!

The past two days have been some of the hardest I have had in my professional career as a teacher.

I felt pretty beaten down and defeated by a set of parents after some  damaging words were stated in an intense meeting. For the first time as a teacher I asked myself why I would ever allow myself to be talked to like that. I pour myself into teaching and feel it is my calling so to hear such hateful words were very upsetting. I will admit I came home really shaken up.

Today I had the day off (YAY!) and woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground.

It was a perfect morning to enjoy coffee with my favorite creamer and enjoy a warm blanket when I started checking my e-mail.

My inbox from school was full of encouraging messages from parents of students in my class. They had heard of some of the situation at school and messaged me thoughtful words that warmed my heart and put into perspective that everything will be okay.

I feel so grateful to be able to teach God's children every day.

I feel so grateful to teach at a school where my students and parents are so very supportive.

I feel so grateful that I work with coworkers who teach with compassion and care each day.

I feel grateful that my principal supports me.

I feel so grateful that God gave me the gift of teaching.

This has been a year of 'new' in every way. New school, new grade level, new common core, new marriage, new last name, new small group.

Nothing that I would change!

So thankful that Drew and I are healthy and enjoy our warm home. 

So thankful we are growing in our faith and that we have a close small group.

So thankful.