It’s been a long time since we’ve blogged.  I can’t keep up with Mar and she has two kids!  Michael and I have been very busy but nonetheless enjoying our marriage.  Last weekend, Michael had a weekend of suprises planned for my birthday.  We had a very delicious and entertaining dinner at Teatro Zinzanni.  It was an amazing show..the cast was funny and very talented.  The 5 course meal was so good, I often think of it and want some more!  If you haven’t been, it is a great date night.  They have discount packages at Costco.  We met my family the next evening and enjoyed Japanese inspired cuisine at Boom Noodle in Capitol Hill.  I’m a noodle girl, so Michael thought this would be the perfect place for me.  The fresh pear juice was yummy and I would go back for more kimchi hot noodle soup.  

Michael is in Whistler with his brother Hank and friends, Marchena and Nelson.   They flew in from Detroit and headed north on Thursday without me.  I couldn’t go because of class (which has left me a bit bitter).  I had class yesterday — Saturday class is hard…waking up at 6 makes it feel like another work day (good thing Sat. class is only once a month).  But once I’m in my classroom at the UW, I realize how much I love learning.  It was 4 hours of The Moral and Politcal Dimensions of Educational Leadership, 1 hour lunch break with my favorite book group in which we dined over Thai food on the Ave., and another 4 hours of Reaching Agreement – The Power of a Positive No.  By 5pm my brain was fried and my pajamas and tempurpedic bed were calling my name. 

I’m excited for Michael to get home tonight and to see the boys.  I’m cooking dinner for them — ribs, baked beans, and corn on the cob.  Until I have to start cutting the bacon for the baked beans, I plan to stay in my pajamas and bed as long as I can — it’s where I’m blogging from now.

Michael and I went to a pumpkin carving party last Saturday. My friend Anne and her fiance Klye hosted their second annual pumpkin carving party. We ate pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin penne pasta, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin whoopi pies….yummy! Around 8 couples carved pumpkins. There was everything from an Obama pumpkin to a pumpkin with Mt. Rainier (the winner of the night). Michael was serious about carving and bragged that he made it to the High School Pumpkin Carving State Finals in Detroit. I think he may not be joking as our pumpkin turned out to be pretty awesome — and he did most the carving. Our pumpkin is titled “Drac is Back”. Can’t wait to show off our pumpkin to the family when they come over for Halloween. Michael and I are hosting dinner to celebrate my dad’s birthday and to trick-or-treat with Isaac and Mia.

The competitors — Bring it on.

Our pumpkin

Drac is Back

Photo shoot at our mini pumpkin patch.

TEN YEARS AGO I…..

1. was 17 and wore a tie 5 days a week
2. was chasing girls
3. wrote calculator programs
4. was a J.V. basketball all star
5. didn’t know where the philippines was on a map

5 THINGS ON TODAY’S TO-DO LIST

1. drop wife off at school
2. eat
3. fix bugs in software
4. meet with web a design company for quote
5. cook rice

5 SNACKS I ENJOY…..

1. cheese
2. cheese and meat
3. meat with cheese
4. string cheese
5. honey roasted penut butter

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE…..

1. get spinners for my Buick Regal
2. put flame decals on the Buick
3. travel the world
4. make muchas blasians (10)
5. juggle competitively

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED…..

1. The D
2. Ann Arbor (GOBLUE!)
3. San Fran
4. Seattle
5. The Quah

5 JOBS I HAVE HAD…..

1. Golf Caddie (internship)
2. Auto Desk (desk automation)
3. Apple (fruit manufacturer)
4. Microsoft (juggler)
5. CameraRenter (renting cameras)

TEN YEARS AGO I…..

1. was 18 and registered to vote.
2. didn’t know myself
3. was high school yearbook editor
4. participated in senior skip day
5. drove a 91 Toyota Celica

5 THINGS ON TODAY’S TO-DO LIST

1. greet the children coming off the buses
2. spend time in classrooms
3. lead an all-school assembly about Respect and Positive Attitude
4. cook dinner
5. watch John and Kate Plus 8

5 SNACKS I ENJOY…..

1. wheat thins and cheese (like Mar)
2. gala apples
3. honey roasted peanut butter
4. veggie chips
5. Pirate’s Booty (like Cat)

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE…..

1. travel the world and eat anything I want in every country
2. hire a personal trainer who comes to my home gym (I’ll need one with all the food I’m going to eat)
3. quit working and do humanitarian work full time
4. have lots of children
5. keep my children in public schools

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED…..

1. Pensacola, Florida (where I was born)
2. Tacoma, WA
3. Seattle, WA
4. DuPont, WA
5. Issaquah, WA

5 JOBS I HAVE HAD…..

1. 3rd/4th grade multi-age classroom teacher
2. first grade teacher
3. second grade teacher
4. wifey
5. principal intern

I tag….my husband!

We have been to five weddings this summer.  Stephanie (Cat’s best friend) and Justin were married on August 16.  It was a beautiful and fun wedding, but everyone was trying to find ways to beat the heat.  It was an outdoor wedding on the hottest day of the year.  At one point, Michael, me, Cat (the maid of honor), Arden, Mom and Dad went to the bathroom and hung out in the lounge area to stay cool in the air-conditioned room!  Nonetheless, the wedding was filled with fun and personalized touches by the bride and groom.  There was a “Teddy Bear Toss” for the kiddos before the bouquet toss.  Check out the picture with Michael and the lil’ ones!  For the buffet, Steph and Justin asked the DJ to announce that the first 5 tables to get their food would be the first five tables to sing a song with the word “love” in it.  Our table was so hungry, we were the first to volunteer!  My dad lead us in a Beetles song and we got to eat first!  Another fun thing was Steph and Justin had a list of couples (about 5) who had to kiss their spouse when the crowd chimed their glasses.  Usually, when the crowd clinks the silverware on glass, the bride and groom kiss.  This time when the glasses were clinked, the DJ called out a couple from the crowd, and they had to kiss then the bride and groom copied them after!  Michael and I were one of the couples who got called on!  So I stood on the chair and had a quick kissing session with my husband!  Shortly after, Steph and Justin mimicked what we did!  The laid-back atmosphere and funny personal touches set the tone for the rest of the night.  We had a fabulous time despite the heat.

We are long overdue for an update.  Michael and I have been super busy with work and school, but we made time to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary.  We traveled to Cannon Beach, Oregon for 4 days.  Cannon Beach was a family destination when I was a kid.  I’ve been meaning to take Michael there, but we never found the time.  Our wedding anniversary was the perfect weekend as the weather was beautiful.  The Northwest is an amazing place — with just a 4 1/2 drive, you can find a beautiful white sand beach with Haystack Rock as part of the backdrop.    Our highlights were: sunbathing, relaxing, jumping waves, and a romantic bonfire on our anniversary day.  

We are very blessed and look back at the past year with gratitude and appreciation.  We had a beautiful wedding, thanks to our four parents.  We traveled to Fiji, London, Michigan (3 times), Colorado, San Francisco, Vancouver, Canada, and Cannon Beach, OR.  Life is good.

We are excited to share more memories together and celebrate more wedding anniversaries.  Here are some pictures of our trip to Cannon Beach.

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, but things have been a bit crazy! To give you an update, I’ve been busy with report cards, wrapping up the school year and packing up my classroom.  It’s amazing how much stuff (junk) a teacher accumulates over the years. I’ve been quite sad seeing my bright, cheery, classroom become empty and bare. I’ve managed to pack up five years of teaching into 17 boxes. Most are books I have spent so much money on. Lucky for me I have a sister who teaches kindergarten/first grade, so I get to pass on all the good stuff.

Michael spent a day with me during the last week of school. He saw a day in the life of Mrs. Cartwright and her second graders. He wanted to see me teach for a day before I ended my teaching career. Of course all the kids were too excited Mr. Michael was visiting for the day — they didn’t want to listen to me! Now he understands why I’m so tired when I come home. 25 seven year olds follow me around and tug on me all day! Below you’ll find pictures of Room 108 Superstars. The kiddos are so cute and I miss them!

I’ll be starting the Danforth Educational Leadership Program at the University of Washington. I’ll graduate in June of next year and will be certified to be a principal. Come September, I’ll be at the UW every Thursday and will be an intern principal the rest of the week. It will be a big change, but I’m ready and excited.

Tin and I have been on a big “dating” kick lately – went to see Cirque Du Soliel tonight and it was awesome. Its kind of crazy to think that there are people out there who know how to juggle 7 hula hoops with their feet. I wish I could do that… These shows always make me want to develop a completely random skill.

On the ride home we got a little lost and I realized that we were on the same road that the bus takes when I ride it in the mornings. I have never driven the route myself but I decided to try it for the first time. Tin was a bit skeptical (to say the least) that we would not get more lost taking a new way home late at night. After 20 minutes and a few wrong turns we were home safely and I had the smug grin of a man who has conquered back roads without stopping for directions. Tin was not impressed.

My cousin Dave and his wife had a baby girl over the weekend and I am thankful for a growing family – Mia, and now Brooke. Two new nieces in 3 weeks! Lately life has been full of little surprises.

Mia Grace

Brooke

These photos always make me laugh!  

Picture 1:  Michael’s kindergarten picture;  Picture 2:  Michael rockin’ the flat-top.  I think he should bring it back.  Picture 3: Michael poses at a tap dance competition.  Need I say more?!  

I was looking through our photo album and came across these photos.  I just had to share them!  The first picture is of Cat (kneeling on the floor), Mar at the top right and me.  We seem to be very unhappy ballerinas!  I remember the leotard being very itchy.  The second pic is of Mar and I (I’m on the right).  I believe it was taken after Sunday School.  I think that Isaac looks so much like Mar in this photo.