Celebrations

This weekend, we had a lot to celebrate...

First of all, my incredible cheerleaders finished off their year with the city tournament Saturday night. Aren't they just so cute?

Then, my awesome boys won the big game and got a pretty nice trophy. I'm so proud...they are such good guys, and they even started a prayer with the other team after the game.

Oh, and then...the big birthday celebration! Dad turns 60 tomorrow, and we went to Ruth's Chris to enjoy an excellent dinner and even better conversation and fellowship with family.

But of course this celebration is the one that keeps coming up...here is what welcomed mom at one of her schools this week. She had the same message on her board when she found out she was pregnant. Pretty neat.

Our wonderful neighbors made us cookies and drew a sweet picture. Girl or boy? Flowers or baseballs? So cute.

A couple of B Dub's aunties with Pops' and Honey's/Mops' valentines. I think they were almost as excited as the grandparents-to-be.

Well, maybe not. I think my parents are just elated and can't wait to meet their first grandchild! I know that I can't wait to see them with him/her. Like I've said before, this kid is in for a real treat.

Oh, and B Dub really didn't make an appearance on Friday. A little bump can be seen, but it's not enough to post. It will come one of these days.

B Dub

I've been taking pictures of my growing belly since week 5, but those aren't much to look at...plus, it's kind of weird to just put up pictures of me standing in a totally and awkwardly posed shot with a perfectly normal stomach. Anywho...I'm 11 weeks today, and Wes will take my picture tonight. If B Dub makes an appearance and there's something to show, I'll be sure to post it. For now though, here are a few pictures from when we shared the news with family...more to come as I get the rest of the pictures. I made Valentine's cards for each family member with the words "Be Mine" on the front and "in September" inside...plus a picture of the ultrasound and personalized note from B Dub. Of course I didn't think of it then, but I wanted to get a picture of each with his/her card, and I think JB's family had a lot of fun with this photo shoot. :)

Mom and me with the doll Susie bought on Friday before hearing the big news...so she's a little confused now if she predicts boy or girl. She just knew we would have a boy before we shared that we are pregnant, but because of this pink doll, she's now conflicted.

Uncle Benton and Aunt JB! I LOVE their smiles here! Makes me so happy!

AG, Whit, and Ben jumping for joy!

Ben reading his card.

Whit engrossed in her Valentine.

AG completely shocked by the news.

Raise your hands if you are excited another Walker cousin is coming!

B Dub has some major fun coming with this Walker family!

Here goes...

I'm finally letting it out...I'M PREGNANT!!!

I can't believe I just typed those words! It's crazy! Wes and I feel so incredibly blessed to share the news that B Dub (nickname for Baby Walker until we know whether I have a little boy or little girl in here) has a strong heartbeat and is doing well as far as we know! I'm 10 weeks along and am due September 17th. I guess there's not much else to say except for we are jumping for joy and covet any and all prayers for a healthy baby. We are not taking this role as parents lightly. God is giving us a huge responsibility, and we are just looking to Him for guidance in everything.

You know that many posts will now be devoted to news of B Dub, but we will not forget Emmett who is preciously sleeping at my feet at the moment (it hasn't hit him that he's about to get the backseat), and we will not forget that the biggest focus of our lives is not our child...even though I'm expecting it to feel that way a lot! May God be always glorified.

All that to say, we are so excited to be able to bring into our already loving family a sweet baby. I think he or she is pretty lucky...we are going to have a good ole' time. (Plus, B Dub is getting the best daddy ever. )

Four Years

Well, our fourth anniversary has come and gone, and it was a grand one indeed. It started with Wes saying "Happy Anniversary" as soon as we opened our eyes Thursday morning. The day had a bit of a bump in the road around 8:15 a.m. as I completely wiped out in front of 150 8th graders. It was the full face first slide into home plate kind of fall. And the kids loved it...one even emailed me a picture that says "It takes skill to trip on flat surfaces," and of course copies of the sign are up all around my classroom now. Okay, back to 02.04.10...Wes called around noon to check on me after the fall (I had slipped a text to him to let him know about the incident), and he asked if I could come up to the front of school because he was there....with flowers in hand. Again, the lunchroom full of 8th graders loved it...especially when he kissed me goodbye. We spent the evening apart (me at a couple of junior high basketball games and him at a class), but we celebrated richly this weekend. We left Friday after work for Branson and ate at one of my faves...Cantina Laredo. YUM. We stayed at the Hilton at the Landing which was definitely the right choice. Outlet shopping with friends on Saturday was followed by another friend's beautiful wedding and reception north of Branson at a sweet chapel. Four years have gone by so quickly and smoothly, and we are praying for a joyous fifth year of wedded bliss. Here's to a crazy week ahead...unless some of this snow sticks and stops us for the eighth time.

At the wedding reception...in the same outfits as our rehearsal dinner four years ago.

I'm not sure if that's embarrassing or impressive.

The happy couple.

The always stylish Samuel.

6 inches

Pretty much from the time I woke up yesterday morning to when I fell asleep at night, a blizzard was happening outside our house. It was beautiful, and we may get to enjoy it for a while. We ventured to Bret and Jayme's last night for chicken and dumplings and homemade chocolate chip cookies. I felt like we were skiing on ungroomed slopes as the roads were very powdery and fluffy. I wish I had some cross country skis because that could be lots of fun and a great workout. French toast, taco soup, and cookies have also been made. What is it with snow days and comfort food? You can't have the former without the latter. Anywho, we may head out to the gym in a bit or at least do something active and then celebrate a birthday tonight at Bonefish. Here are some pictures to show you what it looks like right outside our door.

Our sweet home.

Walking in 6 inches of snow.

The neighborhood kids sledding down the best hill. I may have to get a bit closer for some action shots later. This is a pretty far away view.

I love it!

Lots of white stuff.

Another close-up of the house.

Emmett loves it, too.

See?

Doubtful that we will have any outdoor dinners anytime soon.

These next two are actually from the snow/ice storm earlier in the month when we were out of school for 5 days!! Not as much snow, but enough ice to keep the roads dangerous (and negative wind chills, too).

Emmett didn't really love these temperatures.

So Many Snow Days

Well, I think we are now in school until June 9th with our 6th snow day coming tomorrow. And I'm guessing Mr. Winter isn't finished with my little area of the world for the season. Jack Frost sure has been nipping our noses around here. :)

Snow days are already hampering one of the four weddings I am in this summer, and they are creeping up on the second. The other two are in April (I'm taking off 2 days already for that one) and late July (no way we will be in school then, right?). As I type, the freezing rain/sleet/snow is falling (it seems to change from minute to minute), and we are expected to receive 3/4 + in. of ice and 6-7 in. of snow in my neck of the woods by late tomorrow evening. However, the weathermen have been a little stumped by this system, so that may all change. All I know is I'm sleeping in tomorrow, and I'm embracing it. Gonna clean a little, cook a little, nap a little, and maybe exercise a little. I've already made taco soup and cookies...perfect comfort food for being snowed in all day and possibly all weekend. If power goes out, I figure one of the three Walker families up here will have it, so we can have another Hotel Walker weekend just like this exact week last year.

I'll be sure to take some pictures soon. We have the big 4 year anniversary next weekend along with a fun wedding in Branson. Then, Dad's 60th birthday in a few more weeks, so pictures are sure to come. Happy weekend, and stay warm!

Just one picture to remind us of what came in the last week of January 2009.

The New Additions

We've added a few new things to the living room...and I LOVE them! Thanks so much for these amazing gifts, JB, Jayme, Susie, and Mom! Such a fun new update. Hope you are all doing well. Life is good, busy, and blessed. So extremely blessed way beyond what I need or deserve. More updates coming soon...back to The Biggest Loser and grading papers (the typical Tuesday to-do's).