I'm taking a poll to my fellow teachers or not...

Jon and I have decided that I will be returning next year to teach another year at Brinton at this point. Unless for some miracle Jon gets into grad school without a Bachelor's Degree Ha Ha!! Long story short... We thought Jon was graduating this summer with his BA but the ASU councelor made a mistake and he wont be finishing until this December hopefully. So that means we are staying in Arizona a little longer!! Each day brings new surprises so that is the plan as of now.

I know it is only January and it is a bit early to think about planning for next school year but I am the crazy one! I am debating on possible classroom themes for my 2nd grade class. I have had and loved my camping theme for the last two years and everyone comments on how great and wonderful the class is, but it is time for a change! So here is a list of ideas I have for my next year classroom... I would like opinions of your favorites! My two favorites so far are jungle and rock and roll. Let me know!

- Jungle/Safari Theme "Beware Monkeys are Everywhere in Room 14"
- Sports Theme "Team Ellsworth"
- Rock and Roll Theme "Rockin' Room 14"
- Pirate Theme "The Treasure in Room 14"
- Wild West/Cowboys Theme "Yee-Haw...Room 14"
- Hollywood Theme "The Stars of Room 14"

My Top Ten of 2008

2008 was a great year and I had many great things happen to myself and Jon. I know 2009 will bring even more surprises! Enjoy!!

10. Finally broke down and got a sewing machine... Now I have to learn to sew!
9. It was the year of TWILIGHT. The long awaited movie came out and my sister, mom, and I went and saw it opening night!
8. I decided to start a BLOG to keep in touch with my family and friends from all over.
7. I was able to go to Utah and celebrate Mother's Day with my Mom. It was the first time since my wedding that all my family came into town to be with Mom.

6. I managed to stay for year #2 at my school and teach another year at Brinton. I am known for moving around, but not this year!

5. I started selling SCENTSY and am loving every moment of it!

4. Jon and I celebrated our 2 wedding anniversary! I can't believe how time flies.
3. I shot my first gun!

2. I travelled to China on a Dental Humanitarian trip with my father.

1. Jon and I bought our first home in Gilbert, Arizona.... and now it is for sell!!

We hope you had a great year in 2008 and that your 2009 is also full of many blessings! Happy 2009 everyone!

Scentsy Update

As many of you know I have been a consultant for Scentsy for about 6 months now and am loving every moment selling product I truly love. I wanted to let you know I now have a Scentsy BLOG that will always be located on the right side of this blog but for those of you that haven't noticed it is; www.ilovescentsy.blogspot.com I will continually add new updates and drawings for great prizes. So let your friends and family know about Scentsy.

The month of January is an exciting time for you lovers of Scentsy. For anyone who hosts a party in the month of January you earn double rewards. For example lets say you sold $300 dollars worth of product at your party. As a host you would earn $45 toward any products and then 2 half priced items of your choice. Well in January you could double that! So instead you would get $90 of free product of choice and 4 half price items!! It can't get better than that!

Let me know if you are interested because January is filling up fast. For you in Utah and other places you can always do a catalog party and get orders that way and still be counted as a hostess. Let me know! Have a SCENTsational day!!

Gotta Love Christmas Time

People running around everywhere, cold weather settling in, yummy smells coming from the kitchen, smiles from ear to ear on all the kid's faces, family greeting cards arriving in the mail of loved ones near and far, these are all the reasons I love Christmas. Now that school is out and I have time to notice and enjoy everything about Christmas. It trully is my favorite time of year.

Our new home was so fun to decorate for Christmas. I had so much room to put up all the decorations. It was great! I wanted to show off my decorations and not that they are that fancy but I love them!!







Jon and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and we hope you enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Love you all!!

Relax...

Well it is over!! Thank heavens! I nominated myself a few months to host my school's faculty Christmas party. I only did this to save the same two ladies from having to do it again! I didn't think that would be fair to have it at their houses again, and sense no one else volunteered, I thought why not? We have this new home that is barely lived in. Why not trash it? Ha Ha! Surprisingly it went very well and was a lot of fun! I can say that now that it is over and I can breath. It is hard hosting a party I decided. You have to be doing so many things at once and finally toward the end I just went outside and sat by the firepit to breath because having 60 people in my house was a little nerve racking!

However, I am so thankful to work with such great people. I have made many friends with my fellow Brinton Bears and there is no other school better to teach at here in Arizona!! (Hence I said in Arizona... I love you Pony gals!)

So my plan tomorrow to celebrate the start of my 25th year, is to be as this cat. I am going to simply RELAX...

Winter Wonderland in Arizona?

Yes thats right I said it... It's going to be a WINTER WONDERLAND here in sunny Arizona this Saturday! There is going to be snow only in the Power Ranch community in Gilbert. I am advertising this great event because it is going to be so much fun for the kids. Once a year my community I live in hosts a HUGE event. They truck in 20 tons of REAL snow for the kids to play in. There will also be over 35 vendors selling great Christmas gifts, crafts, and yummy treats. I am actually one of those vendors selling Scentsy. So get out the mittens, coats, and sleds and come play in the snow this Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 at the Power Ranch Community Club House on Ranch House Parkway in between Germann and Queen Creek Road. We'll see you there!

Our Redneck Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving break and spent most of the holiday weekend with Jon's family. His sisters and brother were all in town from Utah. We had tons of fun during the weekend eating tons of turkey, hitting the Black Friday shopping deals, being lazy, playing games, and the last thing we did Saturday was probably my highlight of the whole weekend. Thats right everyone Ashlyn shot a pistol, and rifle!

It was very scary since it was my first time going shooting. My family wasn't big into guns or hunting. We drove out into the desert near Queen Valley and found a place up against the superstition mountains and set up targets. Many of Jon's uncles, cousins, and friends joined us. It was so much fun!! It was a little hard at first but once I got the hang of it, I enjoyed myself. Jon and I laughed and laughed the whole time. Especially Jon's joke he tells everyone that I was going to hold the targets for everyone shooting. Ha Ha Jon!!

Overall we had a blast the entire weekend and I am so thankful for family and the great friends we have!! Next year maybe you can get a ticket to the gunshow!!


PS. Don't we all look hot in our plaid flannel?