Saturday, March 31, 2012

a short problem

it's 80 degrees in March here in good ole Oklahoma. Last year when summer rolled around I weighed 30 lbs more than I do now and wore shorts I'd had since high school. Much to my mother and husband's relief I threw away all those 2004 stretched out size 10-12 pants/capris/shorts and large shirts.

So today the temps rise and I have to go find some new clothes. I HATE HATE HATE spending money on clothes and doctors (but that's another story). I had to roll my one remaining pair of old capri's three times at the waist to get them to stay up long enough to head to Ross and Old Navy to find some new spring attire. It was sad.

The good news is I found new shorts (size 5/6) new shirts (size small) and a new bra (also smaller) (boo). I'm happy with the $106 dollars I spent on my summer wardrobe. If the last summer wardrobe is any indication, I won't have to buy new summer clothes for 8 years. (GRIN)

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Oh April

I think April might be the month of madness.

Remember that time where Trevor decided he wanted to be a Pharmacist and we moved back to Oklahoma in a month? Literally packed up and moved from Missouri (where we had just moved 3 months prior).

Well in true Howard style we will be moving to Weatherford in April. Trevor will be moving there during at the beginning of the month..like this week..and staying weeknights at the house there.

I'll be staying here at the trailorhood until the end of April when our lease is up (the 31st). The only reason for this is we will both be saving gas money by living apart during the week. Once we make the move there full time (April 31st) I'll drive back to HP for the last 3ish weeks of school.

I finally got up the nerve to tell Dr. C that I won't be returning next year. It breaks my heart to just think about it. I was so excited to get my little 3rd-ies back as 5th graders. Bummer. I know there is a reason for this..and I know it will be loads easier on Trevor not having to commute.

So strike up the job search. 4 years of teaching, never in the same classroom, switching districts every 2 years... fun. I guess it makes me more well rounded, and I've met a lot of awesome teachers!

The tiny (ha) tricky part to this little 2 hour move west is....every weekend in April save one, is spoken for. Easter with Meme and Poppy. Seeing my bub who just got back from Afghanistan, seeing my brother-in-law Carter before he is relocated in the Air Force.

It's madness I tell ya. Warm thoughts and cookies appreciated.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Spring Break

oh the 2 most glorious words to any teacher who's survived Febuary.

To launch my break off right, Ma and Pa Rumker came to help pack. We dominated this little white trailer house in true Rumker style.

...and that was yesterday.

Today I've turned in another teaching application and googled how much babies cost. Holy Moly. All my friends must be hidding a mountian of money that I missed out on. Good thing babies aren't on our immediate horizon. I think I'd have to sell...well... everything. Is it selfish that I'm just not quite ready to commit ALL of my resources, time, and mental abilities on a baby? I think i'll dedicate my 40s to that. :)

Love the 11 year old free (for the week),
Mrs.H

Sunday, March 11, 2012

my pupkins

I never ever thought I would be one of 'those' dog owners. You know the ones... But somewhere along my 2 years of dog ownership, I've morphed. It all started with, no dog on the furniture and now Ezra sleeps horizontal across mine and Trevor's pillows!

I'm a stickler for a measured out portion of food, the all natural kind.
I take my dogs to their monthly grooming appointment with Milo.
The vet office workers know me when I call to schedule boarding.

What am I going to do when we move? Today I gave Samson and Ez haircuts because I know when we move we won't have Milo. I also know we will save 80 dollars a month if I can do it myself. How do you cut the hair on their legs??? Oh how I wish I could hear what they were thinking.

Maybe that's why Trevor and I talk for them. Yes, we are those pet owners.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Phase...7?

I'm beginning to think my life is like the card game Phase 10. I'm pretty good at that game (Just saying VRUM) and I happen to enjoy it. I never really wished to play it with my life.



Phase 1 :Marriage. The best day of my life thus far, everyone who I love in one place.
Phase 2: T's graduation. Easy enough, we both knew it was coming and that the workplace awaited us.
Phase 3: Move to Missouri. Packed up our Oklahoma lives and went back home to work and enter adulthood.
Phase 4: Trevor wants to be a Pharmacist. Trevor (after working 3 months) decides business is out, Pharmacy school is in.
Phase 5: Move back to Oklahoma. Easy enough, I got my 6th grade job back, Trevor starts classes to get into Pharmacy school.
Phase 6: Beth changes schools. After lots of though, I decided I should teach 3rd grade in a different city. (Gulp)
Phase 7: Beth and Trevor decide to relocate closer to Pharmacy School. (in progress)

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Cut down the er

and other things my students say.

1. cut down the er. (Mrs. Howard, please turn the air conditioner off, i'm cold)
2. she be lying on me (Mrs. Howard, the other student in question is not telling the truth)
3. your head is wrapped good (Mrs. Howard, your hair is laying nice and straight on your head today)
4. you got swag today (Mrs. Howard you are dressed in a stylish manner)
5. she's fakin' (Mrs. Howard, the other student in question isn't presenting herself in her usual manner)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Papa Junior

Yesterday marked the 4th anniversary of Papa Junior's passing. He's the first and so far only grandparent I've lost. I count myself blessed to have enjoyed him for as many years as I did because I'm mindful others aren't as fortunate. That being said, it doesn't make Christmas or family get togethers any easier. His chair, now 4 years removed from the house,
and not from our minds, is empty.

My grandpa's chair sat directly in front of the door. He's was the first person to get a glimpse of anyone who entered, the last person you saw before you left. Each time I enter, I still feel the void of that chair, although new funiture has taken over it's spot. My grandpa was strong and funny. He could hold my hands and arms so tight I couldn't move. He was so strong from many, many hard years of work at the highway department. His skin was always tanned and tough.

My grandpa passed away during my semester of student teaching. He passed away 6 months before my wedding. I'm forever grateful for the fact that he knew Trevor many years and knew and approved of our wedding plans. The very last memory I have of my grandpa was just the two of us. I knew he wasn't going to make it to my wedding, at least not here on earth, so I brought my wedding dress to his house to try on for him. Just the two of us, him sitting his his hospital chair, (Trevor hidding in another room to avoid seeing me) we spent a few moments both aware why this moment was taking place right then.

I wrote this about my grandpa the day he died.
3-2-08

My grandpa took pictures with a camera he didn't know how to use, of people he couldn't quite see because family is important.

My grandpa kept a Happy Meal Furby that I gave him for a decade, and 3 books under his shelf that had been read 100 times because family is important.

My grandpa showed me how to fix his sage dressing at Christmas and teased me about green beans because family is important

My grandpa called me every week to ask about college life, he asks me what I'm cooking cause he knows I love to cook and family is important

When I visit he wants to know when I'm coming back to stay longer, because family is important

My grandpa takes me to The Rocking Chair restraunt to get coconut cream pie because he knows it's my favorite and family is important

My grandpa tells me about his life and family history, he wants me to know where we've come from because family is important

He listens to Trevor's bluegrass band CD in his van, because even new members of the family are important

He lectures me on tatoos, toe rings, and piercing because he cares about the way I present myself because family is important

I call him to ask a sausage question I know the answer to, because I want him to know he's important

I wrote a paper on his life and family because I want him to know I care about where he came from, and he's important

I show him my wedding dress early because I know he won't see me on my day and I want him to know he's important

My grandpa is strong, proud, brave, loyal, and stubborn. All those things he passed on to me to stories, teasing, time invested over the phone, meals, holidays, and summers. How do I know my grandpa loved me? He lived it...louder than words.

things I'll miss in Edmond

I can't believe I've lived in Edmond, OK for 8 years now. When I moved onto the college campus at OC in 2004, I pictured a short 4 years. I've now lived here out of college as long as I lived here in college.

Edmond has been home to many of the firsts of my 'grown-up married' life. CRAZY.

We didn't renew our lease so our offical move-out day is April 31st. YIKES.
So as we are getting ready to move, here are the things I'll miss in Edmond.

1. Crest foods - home of rock-bottom grocery prices
2. Kickingbird Pets- where we bought Samson and Ezra and the only place they've ever been groomed, boarded, or visted the vet. Dr. Mee (their vet) and Milo(their groomer) are going to be missed!
3. Hafer Park- the perfect spot on a warm day
4. OC - I don't drive by the campus much, but it brings back such fun memories with awesome people, not to mention an adorable budding romance.
5. CVS- call me crazy, but in the last 7 months of working at the Pharmacy, I've started to really enjoy my co-workers. Double the fact that they know both Trevor and I and are all so supportive of what's best for us.

Friday, March 2, 2012

the winds of change..

It's just a nice normal breeze around here.....