God has blessed us with a new home!  After about a year of house hunting, we finally signed on a house and have been working on turning it into our home.  It is so nice having more space and a clean slate to start from.  Hubby and I both like to decorate and so we've enjoyed putting this up. My mom and grandparents came before Thanksgiving and his family right after.  It was fun to have them back to back and have our first Thanksgiving in our new home.  Our dog Texas is loving the new backyard and the new furniture.  We are looking forward to having ya'll over!

A few months ago my hubby came and talked to our kindergarten class.  He showed them his car and brought them stickers and got to talk to them and answered their questions.  Before he left he came to my class (2nd grade) to talk to my kiddos too.  They all listened and asked questions as he showed them all his gear. Everyone got a SPD sticker and this coloring page.  Later I overheard a student say, "That doesn't look like the officer who talked to us."

There is a movie coming out called Courageous. It is being made by Sherwood pictures which is the same company that made Fly Wheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof. So far, I have seen some of the video and it is gonna be sweet! It is about four police officers and the importance of family and playing the role of father in lives of their children. The clips that I have seen are looking like this could be the best one they have made yet! It's got action!!! Jump on the band wagon and get ready to go see this!

The fifth week of school just started.  For our marble count container needed something added.  So I took some fabric and a little ribbon and glued it around and empty frosting container.  It look better than just a plain jar and holds all our marbles that my bright students earn everyday!

I was blessed with the opportunity to take a trip to Colorado for about a week.  After landing in the Mile High City, my mom picked me up and we drove three hours to visit Rocky Ford, Colorado.  The next day we drove to Denver and had family night at the Rockies game!

Married to Ponch

Being married to Ponch is an adventure. He felt it was time that I learn how to shoot.  So he called some close friends who were gracious enough to let us go on their land and learn.  This one my first time ever to do something like this so I was excited and didn't know what to expect. Phil is an excellent teacher and we had a blast (literally) spending time with friends. 

Phil and I infront of the falls.

Group PictureHanging out to dry.

   What a group!

Youth Camping Trip




Back in June my Hubby and I went on Lifegate’s youth retreat at Johnson City. We have been helping out in the youth for about a year now and have really enjoyed seeing God’s work in these young lives. This was my first time camping in Texas and my first more than one night trip. I was a little nervous because I wouldn’t describe myself as a girl who can “rough it.” I confess I did pack my foundation but I did leave the mascara at home. We had a huge camp site with plenty of room for everyone who went. Pastor Jordan taught on humility. His talks were very inspiring and insightful. It was a great trip with all the typical camping activities, cooking outside, swimming in the river, s’mores, and getting rained out. I say that’s typical because every time I have been camping it has rained…down poured. Our second night many of the tens flooded. Praise God our tent was new (a gift from our wedding) and didn’t flood. So Phil and I slept in the truck and lent out the tent to another family. The group had planned to stay another day but we all pack up the next morning before the rain came again. It was a great time of teaching, fellowship, and fun. All the “little” things made the trip so fun like running out of Dr. Pepper, Rope Swing Olympics, and everything soaking wet from the rain. We are both looking forward to next year!

More Sewing Projects

I always look forward to the summer because I have a ton of projects brewing in my head through out the yearn but not a lot of time to work on them. At a recent trip to the craft store I found some really cute summer prints. The nice thing about learning to sew is whenever I want a new purse all I have to do is buy some new material. I found a shopping bag-like purse in a magazine and said "Hey, I can make that." So this project I made my own pattern and just went with it.

Summer Skirt

Here is a skirt I made for the summer. I love all the fun and bright fabric that is out right now. For years I've been wanting to sew a skirt. My mom had made me some growing up but this is the first one I've made. I tried sewing my own clothes is high school but I don't think any of those outfits lasted. I normally wear a black skirt so this green and purple pattern was a welcomed changed. I found a green zipper that matched the fabric and the purple is a pre-made bias double folded tape. It was easier to add then try to hem the end, plus I really like how the purplue brings out the flowers in the fabric.

Five with Phil

June 4 marked the five year mark for me and my Hubby. We had known each other for five years. It wasn't until a month later we officially started courting but the night we met it was love at first sight. We been together for five and married for one. I wanted to share some older photos from the past five years.

Our first "date" was at his sister's wedding in July.

November 2005 Odessa,Texas



May 2006 Midland,TX

December 2006 Littleton,CO

March 2007 Littleton, CO

April 2008 San Antonio, TX

July 2008 San Antonio, TX

November 30, 2008 Midland, TX

One of our first engagement photos.

Sew Much Fun

I bought my birthday present this weekend. It was a brand new sewing machine. I am sew... I mean so excited. I have already finished a number of projects. To quote a line from Happy Gilmore... "My fingers hurt." When I lived at home I would use my mom's sewing machine. Not being able to sew for two years now has made me even more exitced and

thankful for mine. My mom first got her's when I was little becasue she used to make my clothes. It was the machine she taught me how to sew on. So I was thinking this might be the sewing machine I use to teach my daughter on.

A pair of burp cloths I made for a friend who is about to have a baby.

A pile of finished projects!

Here are the shorts I made for Paul Bunyan.

Everything Jesus! Ranch

A few weeks ago my Hubby and I went on a field trip to a ranch/farm. Here almost everything is homemade. We were able to milk a cow, pick greens for our own homemade organic salad. The next day, we went back, just the two of us, to talk with the owners and find out more about the ranch and their ministry. They blessed us with great conversation, great organic food, and raw milk. The dessert is organic pudding made with raw chocolate and avocados with bananas.

April Showers and Flowers

So today we were going to run a 5K.... yeah did not happen. Not only were we not motivated enough but

it also has been raining all day... yes! Well anyways I though I would post this picture. This was taken in a field by our home. I think I am going to enter it into our local paper for a contest! I married a Texan and have been here for almost two years (wow!) but I still kinda shake my head when thinking about all things Texan. This is the first thing I have found here is south Texas that makes it a beautiful place... the wildflowers. I have never seen anything so beautiful and so many! Praise God for His creation.

Donuts!

For my Hubby's graduation we had both of our families come into town. Our place is pretty humble and would not hold all of our family for a comfortable dinner. So, some very good friends opened their home to host us and a few others. We wanted our parents to meet more people where we live... and celebrate Phil's accomplishments. Our friend got this cake made of Krispy Kreme Donuts! Oh cute, right! So we added a few touches and woop, zoop, swoop... instant officer cake!

New Chapter!

My husband passed his state test yesterday! Praise God! We were thrilled. Thank you to all who were praying for us through this time. No this is not a picture of my hubby, It's Eric Estrada who played the character Ponch on the police show Chips. Because of his name my husband earned the name Ponch. Even at his graduation his instructors called him Ponch. Yesterday we celebrated by buying a graduation present for him and eating at Carino's... yum! We are excited to start this new chapter and excited to see God's continuing faithfulness to us and our family!

Skunks Beware!

My Husband is awesome. He provides for our family in every way. There seems to be one creature that he keeps um... protecting me from... skunks! His skunk kill is now up to 2! The first "Skunky" as I name it was on our honeymoon. We went to Ft. Davis for our honeymoon and drove one night to see the Marfa Light. (More like Marfa Yeah Right!) On the way there he runs over and kills "Skunky." Fastforward to this morning. I take Texas outside and right away it smells like a skunk. Over where my husband parks his truck right by the marks made by the tires was a d-e-a-d dead skunk, Skunky II. Now I'm pretty sure that he was ran over, plus I've seen enough CSI to know when I'm looking at evidence. Ok to be honest I've been covering my eyes every time I have to pass by. Hubby didn't even know what he did. When I told him, he commented on what a great hunter he is and that I should cook it and serve it to his parents and sister tonight. (I will never be that country!) That to say this is a tribute for all the skunks that have been sacrificed to my husbands tires and all the skunks out there. P.S. Both cases were complete accidents. My husband is very sweet and would NEVER intend to hurt innocent animals.

Texas Adventure

Before...

After...

Our beloved red heeler is almost two years old. Some of his favorite hobbies include sleeping on the couch, sleeping on the bed, sleeping on top of my Hubby and I while we watch movies, and chewing up the house. He loves to chew and has become very good at it. Phil suggusted that we document his progress. This little Tiger we named 'Tegere.' Keep in mind this is the third one Texas has owned. This particular one was given to Texas on Tuesday and lasted till Friday.

So Much to Blog About... Friday

I love Fridays. Fridays just have a good feeling to them. Today my bright students earned a marble party. They collect marbles as a class through out the week for good behavior, correct answers, or showing Christ-like character. We set a goal of how many marbles we need to collect before earning an award. Yesterday they met their goal and today we had a bubble party with root beer floats and a bottle of bubbles for each student. I thought it would be a little warmer so after our treats and the boys popping all the bubbles the girls could make, we went inside to play.

Snow Much to Blog About... Tuesday

It seems silly that I get the song "Snow" from the movie White Christmas stuck in my head. Although I love the song's harmony it seems silly living in south Texas because we never get snow. Never say never (hey I think that's a song too right?) It snowed/iced for awhile. You know you're a teacher in Texas when the whole school is excused to "play in the snow." For a minute it felt like home in Colorado... for a minute. I was surprise to see the snow piled up on our doorstep. I really do like the Texas winters. They are such a relief from the harsh summers. The best part about Texas snow ... no shoveling!

So Much to Blog About... Monday

As a teacher a phrase I dread hearing is "Mrs. Estrada... what's that?" You know those words aren't good. Ah oh! A little girl in my class asked me this while we were in our daily reading groups. I am working with a small group of students at a table in the back of my classroom. Hanging beside me is a strand of paper lantern lights. These act as our "reading lights." "Mrs. Estrada what's that?" she said and pointed to the lights. Good question, I looked and saw something hanging off of one. "Oh it's just a leaf," I said trying to not draw any attention to it. But as they say in the NFL"upon further review" I saw what it really was... a BAT! Ok city girl here, does not like furry, small, creepy things. I like all of God's creatures I just like some of them better stuffed and bats would fall in this category. "Ok class clean up your desks and let's go to lunch." They responded "But there's 15 minutes till lunch." Once they all realized this they acted quickly and were all very obedient. Two teachers came to my rescue and captured it and released it. I have never seen a bat in my room before, but one of the doors to my classroom was taken for repairs and left off overnight. The bat must have gotten into to building and decided to rest on my paper lanterns that hang by my HEAD! Thankfully the next day the door was returned and it's safe to say we are bat free! You can be sure I make sure the doors are closed and locked before going home.