Two weeks later...

...and I am FINALLY able to post our pictures of our Christmas Tree expedition. Thank God for having a brother-in-law with an Internet connection that actually works! As you can see, we were up to our hips in snow and Powder - the English herding dog who loves snow more than life itself - could not have been happier. Besides getting stuck in the parking area and having to be towed out backwards by some guy in a Suburban while I steered and Trevor sprinted next to the truck yelling directions - not to forget the poor Suburban guy's who biffed it and almost was run over by me, the steering queen - it was quite a wonderful day. There's nothing like starting your own traditions...and surviving them.

I hate our Internet connection.

Pretty much I want to take our Internet service, tie it up with some Christmas lights, and dangle it over the Blue Bridge. I have been trying to upload our Christmas Tree adventure pictures since Saturday, and I have not been "allowed" to. I hate our Internet Connection. The end.

This is NOT a joke!

Out of nowhere last night, Olive the Wonder Cat did yet another wondrous thing...she started watching TV. When I say "watching," I really mean WATCHING. Ironically, what captured her interest was a rousing episode of "The Dog Whisperer." Initially, it was the paper-eating cocker spaniel that caught her fancy, but even good ol' Cesar Millan seemed to tickle her whiskers. Unbelievable! The proof is in the pictures...

I did it!!!

And $3,000 later I have this fantastic certificate (along with complimentary punch and cookies) to show for it! It was like the Science Fair I never got to participate in, and I couldn't have been more satisfied. The best part was when a very nice man was looking at my display board and quietly said, "Don't tell my wife, but yours is the best one!" Aaahhhh, sweet victory! You can keep the Professional Certificate! I got a free cookie, a free cup of punch, a quality paper certificate with my name spelled correctly, AND the all-time best compliment ever! Yeah for me!

Meet Michael...

This is Michael. Michael the frog. This is officially the second animal I have brought home from school, except this time the addition to our family is under entirely different circumstances. Those of you who have been in my classroom know that I have a HUGE frog collection on display - stuffed frogs, plastic frogs, glass frogs, wood frogs, pictures of frogs...frogs, frogs, frogs! I have been "threatened" for the last five years by students that they were going to bring me a real frog, to which I always responded, "That is the worst idea I have ever heard in my life." So today, Karina - a student I had for two years in a row but who is no longer in my class - walks into my rooms with her hands hidden behind her back. 

I say, "Karina, what is behind your back?" 

She says, "Nothing." 

I say, "Karina, you're scaring me. What's behind your back?" 

She places the baby formula can on my desk, lifts the hole-poked lid, and says, "Look what I got you!" 

What came out of my mouth next surprised me the most. 

I yell, "I LOVE HIM!!!" 

And now Michael - who is named after Michael Phelps the swimmer - is swimming in his new bowl in my dining room. 

Funny how the worst ideas actually end up being the best ideas...even funnier how sometimes it takes a teenager to make you realize this. :) 

What happens when grandma comes over???

Take a close look at these pictures and what you'll realize is that when grandma coves over, ANYTHING goes.

The Big 4-0!

Forty years ago today, my sister came into this world with a bang! Actually, I'm not really sure if there was a bang or not, but I do know that nine years later, when I came into the world, I was welcomed with open arms by her and have pretty much been held there ever since. It's sort of like my sister was a pre-emptive birthday present for me, and I've never stopped appreciating her. Lisa, you have always been more than you ever needed to be. Your unconditional love, your unwavering support, your grace and integrity and strength and perseverance have not been lost on me. I love you more than words can say, and on this day I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! May your next 40 (and then the next 40 after that), be as fruitful as the first (Yes, I said fruitful). I love you!!!

The proof is in the pudding...or the display board.

My entire future lies in the hands of this binder...

...and this display board.

Yes, that's right, my ENTIRE FUTURE!!! It doesn't matter that I have spent the last five years dedicated to "perfecting" my teaching craft by attending workshops and conferences, lesson planning until I can't even see straight, volunteering to chaperone dances, and most importantly of all, genuinely loving my students. No, unless my fabulous display board and binder full of crap can prove I am indeed capable of doing my job, I may not get my professional teaching certificate and I may be back to my high school days of flipping burgers and pouring ice cream at the local Dairy Queen. Sometimes I wonder about the ways of the world, but all in all, I am feeling pretty confident that on Monday, all will be approved and I will be done with this process. I just have to say, if my display board isn't given some sort of ribbon for at least participating, I am filing a complaint.

If only we had met in the 50s...

...then we probably would have looked a little something like this! I can just picture us now...I would be walking down the halls of my high school, my books held close to my chest (so as not to reveal my bodacious ta-tas), and my poodle skirt swinging around my ankles. And there Trevor would be, waiting for me at my locker, his letterman jacket slung over his shoulder and his hair slicked back with pomade. Ahhhhhh...I can see us now! Don't you think we totally would have been named Homecoming King and Queen?

So, all you have to do is go to www.yearbookyourself.com, upload a picture of yourself, and have at it. It is a guaranteed half-hour of laughing so loud you will probably come way too close to peeing your pants. And then, of course, you'll stare at your picture for way too long because you look so much like your mother - or as in Trevor's case, so much like your grandfather - that you simply can't stop looking. Unbelievable...and way too much fun!

Some pictures should never be made public...

...but then again, who am I to make that decision? So, here it is, the picture that should have remained hidden inside the depths of our computer:

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh...memories! We headed over to Pullman last weekend to visit my dad as well as a few friends, and to watch the Cougs get spanked by USC. What a spanking it was. It actually ended up being the biggest spanking the Cougs have ever received in their entire football history, and we, of course, were there to witness it. As we were walking to the stadium, we were approached by a couple of "Coach of the Year" representatives who handed us each a rally rag and then snapped this picture. I must say, Pullman in the fall makes my heart sing, and while Trevor is not technically a Coug, at least he married one. Go Cougs!!!!

Halloween Preparations

We just laughed our asses off.

Here is why...

God help our future children.

Fall Festivities...

I don't know where September has gone. With the start of the school year, life has seemed like a blur. It's been a good blur, but a blur nonetheless. Here are some of our highlights...

We were able to enjoy the annual Sausage Fest, which we look forward to every year. Along with my mom, Tony, Melanie and the kids, we ate way too much food and then partook in a riveting round of kid games. Our suckers from the Lollipop Tree were truly enjoyed.

We then were visited by Nate and Maya, who came all the way from Saint John, Virgin Islands to visit family and friends in the Northwest. Because we qualify as friends, we were lucky enough to be included in their grand tour. We enjoyed showing them around a couple of our local wineries.
Then it was off to Seattle, where I got to spend some fantastic cuddle time with Wyatt. I love him.
We also were able to catch one of Ana's soccer games, and let me just say for the record, it is quite apparent she has inherited the athletic genes. You know, the genes that decided to skip over me. She scored four goals and knocked down every five-year-old in sight. We were definitely a proud aunt and uncle.
And, of course, we celebrated her 6th birthday. 6!!!! Unbelievable! It seems like only yesterday...
So there you have it...September in a nut shell. It's no wonder fall is always my favorite time of year.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Today Delia Consuelo Piquero Gonzalez turns 62, and in so doing accomplishes a number of things. For example, as Trevor pointed out this morning - as only Trevor could do - she is no longer a prime number. Or, as my mother herself has been pointing out for the last month, in turning 62 she now has met the qualifications to retire AND collect Social Security. I, for one, think one of her most amazing accomplishments thus far is her uncanny ability to look, at most, 50. It is my mother's 62-year-long story, however, that earns her the most kudos. You see, my mother is the strongest person I know. From coming to this country at 15 without her parents to raising her three children virtually by herself, my mother is the epitome of a survivor. So, mom, here's to you! You have lived your life with integrity, with grace, and with one hell of a sense of humor. You are my hero and my best friend. Happy, happy, happy birthday to you! I love you bigger, bigger than all the mountains!

Bring 'em on!!!

Tomorrow the alarm will go off at 6:15 a.m., marking the start of another school year. I have spent the last few days trying to get my classroom in working order, and this is my proof...

Exhibit A: My bulletin board outside of my classroom...

Exhibit B: Desks arranged in clusters, posters up, and supplies ready...

Exhibit C: The comfy corner established, class syllabi copied and ready for distribution...

Most importantly, though, I am ready. I LOVE the first day of school - the energy, the excitement, the hope - it always reminds me why I chose this profession. So bring 'em on! Mrs. Gonzalez Smith is ready!

The tooth has left the building...

... and I am not quite sure what to do with myself. Yes, I realize that Ana, at an almost whopping 6-years-old, still has 20-some teeth left to go, but still, one is now officially gone and we all know what that means... my niece - my baby - is not really a baby anymore. I suppose I should have figured this out a few months ago. Trust me, there have been LOTS of clues. Like when over dinner, before the wedding, she asked me very seriously if Trevor and I were in love. Or when she read "Hop on Pop" to me all by herself. And of course there was the time a couple of weeks ago when she noted that one of the gymnasts on the U.S. Olympic men's gymnast team was "cute." Yet, somehow, someway, it is this picture my sister sent me that has thrust me into the reality of it all - Ana Banana of the Deep Blue Sea is growing up, whether I like it or not, and she has a gaping hole in her mouth to prove it. I can do this, I really can. After all, I wouldn't change one single second of all the major "Ana changes" over the last six years. From the walking to the talking, from the singing to the dancing, and from the arrival of teeth to the loss of teeth, not much else in life has brought me as much joy as being able to witness all of these milestones in my niece's life. So, here's to the next six years, and the next six years after that, and the next six years after that, and well, you get the point... may ALL of the next years be as fun and as full of laughter as the first six have been. 

Our new nephew!!!

This is Wyatt Franklin Smith, the newest addition to our extended family, and we are sooooooo excited! He came into this world on August 22, stretching 21 inches and weighing 8 pounds and 11 ounces. Needless to say, I think Tiffany and Gavin - but especially Tiffany :) - were extremely relieved to have him out here, in the "real world." I, for one, couldn't have been more pleased that Mr. Wyatt chose to make his grand entrance before school starts AND on a weekend so that we could actually make the trip over the mountains to meet him. Yes, he has earned MAJOR brownie points with me and given me even more reason to spoil him endlessly.

So, Trevor, the new grandma Cheryl, and I hopped in the car yesterday morning to meet the not-so-little man and of course, immediately fell in love. He is beautiful and very vocal, which I can appreciate. One should never underestimate the importance of communication, and let me tell you, Wyatt is a communicator... only when he has reason to be, which makes him even that much more perfect. As you can  tell, Uncle Trevor is already quite smitten.

So welcome, Wyatt, to the world. We look forward to watching you become YOU and we promise to be executive members of your personal fan club. We love you tons!!!

Goodbye Grandpa...

Today grandpa passed away, and while we all knew it was coming, it certainly doesn't make it any easier to swallow. He lived his 86 1/2 years to the very fullest, the vast majority of which he spent with his wife. We are just so thankful to have been able to spend Thanksgiving with him and even more thankful he was able to make it to the wedding. He wanted to make it to the wedding so badly, and as he sat in dialysis an hour before the ceremony was expected to begin, a thunderstorm - punctuated with a down pour of hail - graced us with its presence. And this time, I am not being sarcastic. If it hadn't stormed, we would not have had to move all of the chairs and equipment inside. We would wouldn't have begun 40 minutes late, and subsequently, grandpa would have missed the ceremony. Yes, the storm truly did grace us with its presence as it allowed grandpa to watch us get married from the very front row - inside, of course. :) As we were taking this very picture after the ceremony, grandpa looked at Trevor, patted his shoulder and said, "This is my very best friend." We will remember his resilience, his wit, his fiestyness, his passion for  life, his love for his wife, and of course, his bright blue eyes. Thank you, grandpa, for gracing us with your presence. We love you and already miss you.

Our Grecian Honeymoon!

Because a picture can speak a thousand words, we will let our honeymoon pictures speak for themselves...

We did it!!!

And what a day it was! My sister had told me that we would not have the wedding we planned, but we would have the wedding we would have, simple as that. I had no idea how true this would be. Despite the confusion over the gazebo, despite the thunder storm with rain and hail, the day could not have been more perfect. Our friends and family were incredible. In fact, they were the ones who made the day happen, from setting up to tearing down. Trevor and I have never felt more loved in our lives and furthermore, never knew we could love each other more than we did the day before. But we did and we do and we are incredibly excited for our future together. The wedding was truly just the beginning - I love this man and he loves this woman, and we are ready to take on the world, one day at a time. 

He's here to stay!!!

Yes, you heard me right! Moo the cow dog has moved in permanently. Some may say this was 100% predictable, but I tried not to love him, I really did. Sure that lasted for about 10 minutes, but it was a valiant effort. And as you can tell from the picture of my boys, Trevor doesn't seem too upset about it. Moo, welcome to the family!

Moo Cow, Don't Bother Me!

Look what I found roaming the halls of my high school yesterday.  No, I'm not joking. I am not sure what came over me, but somehow he ended up in my classroom and somehow Trevor came to pick him up and somehow he is presently sleeping in our living room. Let me introduce you to Moo, the cow dog. I am pretty sure he is half cocker spaniel, half cow, so Moo it is.

Have I mentioned all that I have to do in the next week and a half? You know, like finishing the school year, grading a million finals, attending some English department trainings, and oh, yes, GOING TO MY OWN WEDDING!!! With that said, I am pretty sure this is the absolute most inopportune time for, how shall I put it...a freakin' lost puppy! While we wait for any takers on our newspaper ad, Moo has made himself at home by chewing on Powder's ears, barking at the kittens, and of course, pooping underneath our bed. And to make it even more complicated, I think we kind of love him. God help us all.

Stop and smell the roses

We grew these in our very own front yard. Before I take too much credit, let me make it very clear that we had absolutely nothing to do with it. The rose bush was here when Trevor bought the place. Furthermore, we have literally done nothing to aid in its growth, besides an occassional pruning. And yet, the roses are amazingly beautiful both in sight and smell. They greet me every morning as I pull out of the driveway to go to work and every afternoon as I pull into the driveway to come home. Perhaps some of life's most beautiful offerings have little to do with what we can do, but rather have much to do with simply what already is.

The Sunset Suite, Dairy Queen, Italian Food, and Karaoke...

...put it all together and what do you get??? Only the BEST bachelorette party EVER!!!

I have literally been sitting here typing sentences in an attempt to express what I enjoyed most and I keep erasing them because I truly don't know how to put into words what it meant to me to have all these women who mean the absolute world to me, celebrating of all things, ME. It truly is overwhelming to feel that loved and that adored and that supported by the women who have been my best friends in some cases, since birth. My mom, my sister, my niece, my Melanie, my Bonnie, my Natalie, my Alissa and my Katy all joined forces to treat me to a hotel suite with a double-shower head (we'll leave it at that), a trip to good ol' D.Q. for afternoon Blizzards, an amazing feast of the best eggplant parmesan I have ever had in my life, and late night karaoke which consisted of a lovely duet of "La Bamba" performed by the Cuban sisters. We laughed, we ate, and we sang. I am not sure there is much else anyone can ask for. Thank you, my friends, for an evening to remember. I love you all dearly. 

What a weekend it was!

This is Trevor in a zoot suit.

This is me rock climbing.

Any questions?