A Little Stressed?

Okay, so I am not sure I could add anymore to my plate. Currently I am finishing up with the last two weeks of graduate school.  WooHoo!!  While this should be a very enjoyable time, it's not!  Not only am I finishing up with final projects (I'll get to that in a minute), but we are moving.  As I am sure you have read in a previous post, we are once again moving up the street.  The major move will take place this weekend.  However, Spencer's mom (Betty) and I are cleaning and moving small things in anticipation of the "Big Move."  It's just crazy around this place.  I feel as if my nerves are about to pop out of my skin.  Our current house is a wreck because we are of course packing up things, and the other house is empty and things need to be taken there.  I feel as if my life has been turned upside down, and I have no control.  If you cannot tell, this somewhat upsets me due to my somewhat anal personality.  I can be very impatient at times because I want things done NOW!!!  And we all know it doesn't always happen that way. 

There are still "small" things to be done as Spencer would say, but we all know how long a Roden minute is and how usually our small projects are not that small.  The fridge, dishwasher, and washer and dryer still must be moved.  This is stressful because Spencer always says it won't take long and it ends up being a MAJOR project. 

I am also concerned about the fact that we haven't turned on cable at the new house.  Not because I want to watch TV (when do I have time for that?), but because I need access to the Internet for school projects.  Hopefully, Spencer will handle this matter tomorrow. 

I never realized how much "Stuff" one couple could possibly have.  We have only been married three years, but it looks like 30!!!  Luckily the house on Laredo Drive is larger so every little thing will have it's place, for now that is!

Well, school is finally coming to an end.  I really thought I was finished with major projects, however I receive an email today from my professor and she attempts to explain how to complete our final.  It seems very confusing and basically just something I do not want to think about at this time.  However, we all know I will work through it and finish, it's just really crazy with us right now. 

So, if you are looking for a community service opportunity, I am sure helping Spencer and Lindsay move counts!  :)

I Passed My Comps!!!

Comps is a comprehensive exam that consists of three questions that must be responded to in written format.  You have three hours to answer three questions and you do not know the questions ahead of time.  You have an idea of the topic, but you are not sure of the exact questions.

Comps are given the semester you are expected to graduate.  I took Comps as an undergraduate student at UAB as well as a graduate student.  Comps are UAB's way of determining whether or not you know what you are talking about when it comes to theories and theorists.  Questions can consist of topics such as: alternative assessments, process vs. product, balanced literacy program, modernism vs. postmodernism, principles of teaching, teaching models, etc.  So you can only imagine I did a little bit of studying :)

I am very relieved this step of graduate school is over.  It is a big relief off of my shoulder.  Now I am just counting down until the 31st day of July, which will be my last class as a graduate student!!! 

Remodeling Laredo Drive

So, if you don't know by now, Spencer and I are once again moving.  And once again we are only moving up the street.  We love this neighborhood, I guess we just can't decided on what house we want to live in.  Hopefully this time it will be for at least 4-5 years.  We are moving into Spencer's parents old house.  The house Spencer lived in the entire time we dated.  The renters just moved out and we are busy doing some minor remodeling in preparation of our move in.  Spencer did the majority of the remodeling before the renters moved in, when Betty and Sandy were trying to sell the house.  We just decided to scrape the ceilings to make them smooth, repaint several rooms, and enlarge the laundry room to make a mud room.  We will be able to move in a couple of weeks.  Our goal is to be moved and settled before I have to go back to work. 

This is the den.  You can see where the ceiling has been scraped. 

This door and wall around the door came down and the wall to the left of the door extended down.  I'll have to take more pictures to make this more clear.  But, right now this is what has been going on with us. 

My 15 Seconds of Fame

So, let me begin my saying, "This was all Spencer's idea."  He came home one day, actually I called him as I was leaving UAB from taking my Comps.  He asked me to pick up a Sharpie and a bright piece of poster board.  I ask him why, and he said because he has a car sitting in our front yard that he is going to give away if someone will purchase our house for what we are asking.  I like to believe Spencer knows what he is talking about and has our best interest in mind, so I stopped and picked up a Sharpie and a bright orange poster board. 

So, for the last couple of weeks we have had a Ford 500 sitting in front of our house with a sign that says, "Free with the Purchase of this Home."  Well, apparently Brenda Ladun lives in our neighborhood and saw what we were trying to do in order to sell our house.  She thought it was interesting and suggested to Ebony Hall that they do a piece on incentives to buy a house. 

Spencer and I were up at Laredo Drive making decisions on what we wanted to do to it before we moved in when we got the call.  It was Ebony Hall and she was in front of our house and wanted us to comment on camera what we were doing to try to sell the house.  Spencer told her that we just weren't comfortable talking on camera.  We decided to head back down the hill to see what was going on.  Once we got there and started talking to her she convinced me to go on camera.  So I did. I don't have the video of what I said, but if you check out my friend Cassie's blog she does.

I have had many people say, "I saw you on TV trying to give a car away!"  So then I must tell this story all over again.  :)

 

Mom's 50th Birthday

Well, on June 28 my mother celebrated her 50th birthday with friends and family at the lake.  My parents have their camper set up on Lake Guntersville and enjoy visiting every weekend from March until October.  Here are few pictures I took from this exciting milestone!!

This is one of the poster's her friends created.  It was placed on the sign at the front gate.  As you can see Riverview Campground is the home of happy campers!

 

My sister, Katie and myself posing for a picture

My mom and I toasting to her 50th birthday.  She has sparkling apple cider and I have the "real stuff." 

My mom's sister, Allison (my aunt).  She lives in Vienna, VA.  Can you see a family resemblance?

The campground lit up at night.  I thought this was a pretty cool picture.

Mom's yummy birthday cake!  Well, at least everyone else said it was yummy, everyone knows I don't eat sweets.

Mom just opened her gift from Joycie.  Allison said it is called a "what not."  Apparently it is just one of those items you receive as a gift you are supposed to use to help decorate your house.  As you can see Mom is a little confused on what to say about her new "what not."  It will go perfectly with her new ironing shoes Joycie also gave her.  (Just ask and I will explain) 

Happy Birthday Mom!  I hope it was a great one! 

Kristen and Josh's Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

Well, this past weekend Spencer's first cousin Kristen got married.  They married in the same church Spencer and I married in, First Presbyterian Church in Albertville.  You see Spencer's grandfather, William Sanders Roden, Sr. (Bill) designed and built this church.  This is the reason Spencer and I chose to get married there as well as Kristen and Josh. 

I of course am a little camera happy so I am going to share some pictures I took.  I didn't take any pictures at the wedding, because some photographers do not like that.  But I will share some pictures from the rehearsal dinner. 

Grandmother, Kristen (bride), and Josh (groom)

Rhea (Mother of the Bride) and Kristen (bride)

Stephanie, Grandmother, Kristen, Rhea, Betty, Lindsay, and April (we have never all had our picture made together, the mother, daughter, and daughter-in-laws)

Kristen's brother Jonathan and his wife Stephanie

  Spencer and Lindsay striking a pose!

Grandmother and Rhea (I love this picture!!!)

These are my in-laws, Sandy and Betty and of course Henry

Father of the groom and Father of the Bride

Henry looking out over Lake Guntersville

April and Ramey smiling for the camera!

   Isn't Grandmother gorgeous?  I love this picture of her!

So, these are just a few of the pictures I took.  The rehearsal dinner was a blast and so was the wedding.  Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Joshua William Campbell!

Crawfish Boil 2008

John David hosted a crawfish boil last Sunday at his house.  I was a little nervous about eating these little creatures.  I had never had crawfish before.  However, Katie and Russell showed me how to eat them and even suck their heads!  We had a blast!! 

The little creatures before they went in the boiler.

John David putting the seasonings in the boiler.  What an excellent chef!!!

JD scooping out the live crawfish to put in the boiler.

This is where they kept the cooked shrimp, potatoes, sausage, corn, crawfish, and mushrooms to keep it hot. How festive is this?

JD and Luke putting it all out on the table.  There were no utensils, we had to eat with our hands.

  Just a close up shot!

What a spread!

Not only am I holding crawfish, I actually learned how to eat them.

A view from above. Thanks Spencer!

Katie and Emma, BFF

  Deason, Russell, and Spencer having a cold one. Lauren and Russell