0 Coaching rewards!

One of the dad's made us these shirts to celebrate being District Champs! Remember, I teach at MEMORIAL Middle School and so of COURSE all things must be fashionable! He got each girl on the team an orange long sleeve t-shirt AND a white short sleeve t-shirt! Can't show the back because all the girl's names are on it! PRECIOUS! Have I said lately how much I love my school??

1 Super Bowl Treats!

A few fun goodies for tonight! :-)

2 "Good to see you, Coach"

This was my first year coaching. . . I remember going to the first district meetings with all the coaches and laughing to myself as I looked around the room. 99% of the men look like the football coach you remember from middle school and high school and EVERYONE called each other "coach." Remember, this is my first year and I have never coached before but I had gained a new name. "Hey coach, will you pass the chips." As I opened the door for someone, I received, "Thanks, coach." It was hilarious. No one knew my name but everyone acted like they knew exactly who I was and just covered it up by calling me coach. BUT that was the way they acted towards EVERYONE. Imagine being in a room with 100 people, all of whose first name is COACH! Seriously, could be a Saturday Night Live skit!

I never played volleyball. I guess I knew I always wanted to be a cheerleader and volleyball is during football season. My extent of volleyball knowledge is limited to 4 years of college intermurals with Kappa. BUT, I coached two volleyball teams and absolutely loved it! If you don't already know, I am OBSESSED with my school. How much so is for another day! My sweet girls made the season so special and I loved every second of it. One of my teams actually won first place in the end of season tournament! Pretty amazing since their coach was kind of just winging it! My girls and I went out to dinner at the end of the season and they literally grilled me about Nate, dating, what it was like when I was at MMS, etc. PRECIOUS!

Then basketball season came around. Now this is a sport that I am a little more well-versed in. I played basketball at MMS and Coach Greenhill is actually still on staff here! I got to coach side by side with such an amazing person who was a big help throughout the season! Bree coached the 7A team and I coached the 7B team. My team was undefeated in district and came in first in the End of Season tournament! Again, the girls made the experience so incredible! I loved getting to know them and their families! The season ended this past Sat and honestly, I am sad to see it go.

But I can't wait until next year! :-)

3 Something came to the door today!!!!!

There is nothing like a hand delivered, beautifully wrapped, wedding gift from Berings.

My parents put me on speaker phone to tell me that the first wedding gift had come to the house! When I went to go pick it up, they insisted that I open it in front of them (with Dad making more of a big deal of it than Mom!) I have to admit, it made the wedding all the more REAL! Dad kept saying he couldn't believe this day had come (I am a little worried about him on the actual wedding day! :-) We had so much fun, carefully, opening the wrapping paper and admiring the fabulous gift inside! I think I have set a precedent! Now I will need to open every wedding present in front of both Mom and Dad . . . but to tell you the truth, I kind of love it! 124 days!

(Thank you sweet Ashley for making my day so special! I love you!)

1 Celebs

In response to Katie's blog, here are the celebs I have been told I look like. I see the resemblance but only in my wildest dreams would I really look like any of these beautiful women!

Reese Witherspoon: I am totally obsessed and love her!

Drew Barrymoore: Not my favorite person to be compared to. . . I am sure people are refering to the skinny blonde Drew Barrymore. . . :-)

Julia Stiles

Erika Christianson: Had a guy call me Swimfan for a year because he thought I looked just like her. . . I don't really see it! :-)
Kate Hudson: Sweet Nate doesn't even know Kate Hudson's name but calls her the girl who looks like me! How could I not love him

And here is ME!

2 Demolition Derby Soup

Our friend, Kelli, introduced us to this soup. . . I just changed the name to something that reminds me of their family!

We love going to the "Smash Em Up Derby" or the "Demolition Derby" in Field Store, Texas with the Hutkas. The concept is that people buy an old car and work on it all year just to put it in a rodeo ring and smash it into other people's cars. The last one with a drivable car is the winner! The only other thing as 'backwoods' as this is Okie Noodling which is a whole 'nother story (if you know what Okie Noodling is. . . then I am pretty impressed!) The Field Store Derby benefits families in the community who need financial help and all the proceeds go to a fund for them. . . Pretty neat cause! The Field Store Fire Department volunteers at the Derby since there are numerous fires to put out in the ring! (Best part of the 'show') Because most of the cars are demolished and some have been on fire. . . tractors come out and tow the cars off the ring! Believe me, this is a little boys dream show. . . tractors, fire trucks, cars. . . what more could you want!

Back to the soup. . . This is a pretty cheap recipe that makes a lot of food!

Cook together the following and set aside,
1 pound of ground beef (I use ground deer sausage)
1 chopped onion
1 chopped clove garlic
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
sprinkle with seasoning salt
(I add link deer sausage.)
In a large stock pot, pour following items and bring to a slow boil over medium heat
4 cans minestrone soup
4 can water (use the soup cans)
1 can (large) whole, peeled tomatoes (Big tomato can) 
1 can rotel
1 can ranch style beans
1 cans sliced new potatoes (sometimes I don't use potatoes or just use 1 can)
1 can whole corn
1 can cream style corn
1 can cut green beans
1 carton of okra, cut into 1 inch pieces (optional)
Mix in meat mixture and simmer for 1 hour or longer. (The longer it cooks, the better it tastes) May add additional seasonings if desired. (you can also make this in the slow cooker. . . add all ingredients and cook on low for 8 hours) 

1 Merry Merry!

As with every Christmas since meeting Nate, this one was quite busy!

Nate helping Mom get the tree JUST right!

Hiking in Colorado

Dinner at the Broadmoor


Nate opening his "wedding present" from me! This is probably my favorite picture of all time! :-)

This was a special Christmas but I can't wait to spend Christmas with Nate as his WIFE! :-)