Baby Nathan Has Arrived!

Nathan William Sandifer

Well, he is finally here! Mandy went to the hospital this morning to be induced. Nathan arrived at 6:09 pm and he was 8 lbs. 2 oz. Mom and baby are doing great! Kevin and I plan to go see them sometime this weekend. I'll make sure to get some pictures to post. Congratulations to Mandy and Brandon on this new little miracle God has blessed you with!

It Snowed!

Well, it did snow today, all day in fact, but it didn't stick! I was so mad! This morning on my way to school it started snowing and by the time I got to school it was really coming down and it was sticking to the hood of my car. Well, I thought surely it is cold enough to stick and by 10:00 we would get to go home from school early. Well.....at 9:45 I was taking my kids to P.E., and the snow had stopped and the sun looked like it was trying to come out. Then, at 12:00 we were going outside for recess, and I noticed that it was snowing again. We stayed outside for about 15 minutes. During those 15 minutes it really started snowing hard.

Side note: Two weeks ago we were talking about biographies in class. I read my kids the book Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. The book is about a boy that loved snow. When he got older he wanted to photograph snow, to share his love of snow and snowflakes with the world. He finally figured out how to do this. He found out that not any two snowflakes were alike. So, at recess, as the snowflakes were landing on my kids' sleeve of their jackets, they were studying the design of the snowflakes. Some were big, others small, some looked like stars, others looked like flowers. They were amazed! Which I loved the fact that they were able to make a connection like this. Here's a website where you can read more about Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley and see some of his actual photographs of snowflakes. http://snowflakebentley.com/

So, while we were at lunch, you could see the snow really falling. I thought, now surely it will stick this time and we will get an early dismissal. Nope! By 2:00 it had slowed down again. I left school around 3:15 and it was still snowing some. I headed to Wal-Mart, had some quick things to pick up, and the closer I got to Wal-Mart, which is in Barnwell and about 15 minutes away from school, the snow was picking up again. But, I was sadden once again, because once I got home, you could easily count the flakes that were coming down. A big disappointment today. If it had of stuck, we would have of had at least 1 to 2 inches of snow. It would have of been enough to cover the ground and maybe get us a 2 hour delay for school in the morning. But keep your figures crossed and maybe very soon it will snow again, and this time stick!

Sunset

Tonight, I was on my way home from picking up a pizza for dinner (yes, I know it's bad, but when you haven't been to the grocery store, and have nothing else to fix in your house, you do what you have to do.) Anyway, it has been raining all day today and finally around 4:00 pm it stopped. When I drove into the driveway, I saw this beautiful sight. The sun was setting and the fog was rolling around the chicken houses and the yard. So I hurried to get inside and grab my camera to get some pictures before it was gone. I have seen this in the morning on my way to school before with the sun raising and the fog, but I never have enough time to go back inside and get my camera. I was so pleased with the pictures. You just never know how God will say "good night" or "good morning" to you. Nature is beautiful and amazing. I don't see how anyone can deny that there is a God and that He created everything.

This one is my favorite!

Petsmart

Last night we took Abby to Petsmart for the first time. Abby got a hair cut and she had a lot of mattes in her hair, so they had to cut her really short. Well, it has finally turned off cold down here. Our 70 degree weather is finally gone. Which I am glad because I was getting tired of wearing my same old outfits. Anyway, because of the cold weather we were worried about Abby being outside with not a lot of hair. So we decided that she need some kind of jacket or sweater she could wear when she is outside. (Yes, I know I can't believe I have turned into one of those people that take their dog places and dress them up. I use to make fun of those people, because I have always had cats. Which, I still love my kitty don't get me wrong.) Anyway, I think that Abby enjoyed the car ride, although she was trembling the whole time. I think she thought either she was going to the vet or we were going to leave her somewhere. When we got there, as soon as she got out of the car, she went to the bathroom on the pavement. Most of the time, Kevin had to hold her in Petsmart. She was scared and kept jumping into his arms. She was very happy when she left, because she wasn't trembling on the way home. I know that Abby will go often, But here are some pictures of her first trip to Petsmart.

I just thought this was a cute picture.

Abby is so excited, she decided

to drive.

Abby liked this sweater the best!

Abby is happy to go home with her new sweater!

Abby was very tired out from

her exciting evening!

Abby enjoyed playing in her new sweater!

In the words of a Child

Well, most of you know that I am a teacher and I teach third grade. This is my first year teaching third grade, I taught second for 3 years. I am enjoying the change and I have a really good class this year! After having 4 years of teaching and being around kids all my life, you learn to realize that you just never know what they are going to say or do next. One thing I love about my job is that it is never boring! One day is never like the next. I should keep an on going journal on what my kids say sometimes....maybe I should start and then write a book one day.....??? WELL, this past week I was sick, kind of. I was having sinus problems (which is nothing unusual for me) and on Tuesday my throat was hurting a lot. By Wednesday morning, it had stopped hurting but I had almost lot my voice. Now some people may decide that that was enough reason to stay home, but not me. When you are a teacher, you will do anything not to be out of the classroom and have to find a sub. We go even if we are on our "death" bed. (of course there are a few that wouldn't do that...)Well, I was going back and forth from sounding like Minnie Mouse and Kermit the Frog, when one of my kids came up with the idea of what would help my voice. He said, "Mrs. McCormick, I think you need to take the next 5 days off, sit in bed, and eat peppermints, because your voice sounds awful." So simple, yet, it just might have of worked. They see the world through different eyes. Sometimes I wish I could see things the way they do.

Where is Daddy?

In case I haven't mentioned before, our dog, Abby, LOVES Kevin to death! If he leaves the house, she just whines the whole time he's gone. Her favorite thing to do is to look out the window and watch for him. She will keep going to the window looking for him until she sees him drive into the yard, then she will run to the door and wait for him to open, and leap into his arms. She loves her daddy!

A visit from a friend

My best friend from college, Noelle, came down on Saturday with her little girl, Elizabeth for a visit. Noelle came for the baby shower and then stayed with Kevin and I Saturday night. We had a good time with Miss Elizabeth. Kevin and her hit it off. They played so much until they were both ready to fall asleep. Then today, we all went to church and after church we showed Noelle and Elizabeth the farm. Elizabeth was quit overwhelmed with the chickens. But who wouldn't be the first time you see them, there's so many! But she got to pet a chicken and Kevin was able to catch one of the baby sheep for her to pet. She's so cute and precious! You have a sweet little girl there, Noelle!

Elizabeth's daddy is a drummer,

and it looks like she is taking after

him!

Enjoying the t.v.!

I got to pet a chicken!

Elizabeth had an egg and she

dropped it on accident, she was

very shocked when it broke!

Baby sheep

Elizabeth likes to have fun!

Baby Shower for Baby Nathan Sandifer

This past Saturday, I helped with a baby shower for one of my college suitemates and cousin, Mandy and Brandon Sandifer. For those that don't know, Kevin and Brandon are cousins. Mandy and I were college suitemates and Kevin and I met each other at Mandy and Brandon's wedding. The shower was at Brandon's sister's church. It was a rainy, cloudy day but we had a great turn out. Mandy and Brandon got so many nice things for Baby Nathan. Baby Nathan is due on February 7th, but will probably been here the middle of January. You can read more about Baby Nathan, Mandy and Brandon on their blog. Here are a few pictures from the shower.

Can you find the name?

Diaper Cake-and no you can't eat it!

Mandy-the proud mom to be!