Escape to the Mountains

One of our favorite things about living in Athens is its proximity to the mountains. Today we decided that we needed a little escape. So we drove up to Helen. We walked around a little bit and visited the Nora Mill Granary. Landon tried his first grits and loved them! He also liked watching the rushing water and feeding the fish...although he kept trying to eat the fish food...yuck!

We then had a picnic lunch by a lovely trout stream. Landon liked sitting on the blanket and trying to eat the dirt. (Are you noticing a trend...?) He looked so cute in his REI hat from Popsy and Lolo.

 

After lunch, we drove to Unicoi State Park and hiked up to the top of Anna Ruby Falls. Landon and Daddy got to try out the hiking backpack for the first time. Landon LOVED it! He laughed out loud for the first ten minutes of the hike. So much that he got the hiccups! It was really cute! The hike was really nice, and the waterfall was just beautiful.

 

After the hike, we stopped at a park to soak up our last bit of time in the mountains. We played on the playground for a bit and then Landon crawled around on a blanket in the sunshine. We were sad to go home, but left dreaming about the future when maybe some day we will have a cabin of our own in the mountains.

Just Call Me Martha!

While Philip finished Chapter four of his dissertation (Woohoo!), Landon and I found lots of ways to keep ourselves entertained on this blue sky Saturday!

After a visit with our friends Elizabeth and James, and a yummy lunch with Auntie Em at La Fiesta, Landon and I decided to go to Hobby Lobby and Kroger to get some materials for some projects. Landon was so pleasant at the stores, flirting and talking to all the women and teenage girls at Hobby Lobby.

Sweet Buddies James and Landon playing together!

When we got home, I was so excited to get started on our new wreath! I still hadn't taken our Christmas wreath down, mostly because I didn't have anything to replace it with and figured our neighbors would probably fork our yard or something if I didn't take it down soon. Because January is such a dreary month, I decided that we needed a cheerful wreath to brighten up our house!

After the wreathmaking, Landon and I met Philip at the North Oconee vs. Oconee Basketball game. I wish you all could see Landon at a basketball game! He loves it just like his Daddy! When we walked in the gym and he realized we were at a basketball game, he turned to me and gave me one of his huge laughing grins! Landon watched the ball go up and down the court and clapped with the crowd! Such a precious sight!

Landon and Dad at the basketball game! The Titans won!

Once we got home, we put Landon to bed and I started my second project! When I was in graduate school, I used to whine to Philip that one day when I had a life, I wanted to make my own baby food...well, I guess that time is now, so I decided to cook some up! I started simple for my first baby food adventure, but look out for more daring recipes in upcoming posts!

I made squash and apples, banana and avacados, and carrots! Thanks to tips from my mommy friends Lindsey and Elizabeth, I put the baby food in ice cube trays to freeze. Tomorrow, I will take the food out of the trays and put the cubes in a ziploc bag. I can't wait to see if the Lan Man likes Mommy's Homeade Baby Food!!

We've Got a Crawler!

I can't believe it's only been two days since Landon crawled for the first time! He is already all over the place and enjoying practicing his new skill!

Thursday evening was simply amazing, getting to see Landon crawl for the first time. I was getting him ready for his bath. I had just taken off his clothes except for his diaper. I set him down a foot or so away from me on the floor as I grabbed his pajamas for after his bath. Then he pushed towards me and for once it looked like he actually moved his knees forward (his knees had been falling under him when he tried to crawl for about a month)

Here comes trouble! (I promise I'll post a video soon!)

Philip was in the next room, so I yelled for him to come quickly! We put Landon across the room and started clapping and calling his name. Within a few seconds he started crawling towards us! We were giddy with excitement! Poor kid...we made him crawl back and forth across the room for at least 3o more minutes. He kept getting distracted and trying to pull up on all his furniture. Philip and I were laughing, joking that he would probably crawl and pull up in one night. :) He hasn't pulled up yet, but he's getting pretty close!

We've already had a couple of minor falls at daycare and home the past couple of days because of our little daredevil, but we are excited about this next stage in our little Lan Man's life! I think we'll be doing a lot of chasing these next few months...or years! :)

He is so happy that he can crawl to the toys he wants!

Look at that foot! Do you see how close he is to standing!?! Our little boy is growing up. :(

Invention Convention

I pretty much have the best job ever...crazy busy most of the time...but so much fun! As the Enrichment Specialist at JJH, I get to work with students throughout the school, promoting creativity and higher order thinking skills! With my friend and colleague, Abby, I lead the implementation of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model which involves so many exciting enrichment opportunities for all students within our school (More to come about SEM in future posts).

Over the past few months, we have been working with some of our students on inventing. This was an exciting interdisciplinary unit that involved almost every subject area. Students kept inventor's notebooks and learned about creative thinking strategies like SCAMPER and synectics. They studied past inventors and researched inventions using Google Patents. Students created surveys to find out things that bugged people at JJH and used these ideas to decide on an invention they wanted to create. Students then designed and built their own invention. You should have seen the mess in our room and the science lab during those couple of weeks! The inventors then created advertisement posters for their inventions and powerpoints to describe their inventing process.

This week we have been having an Invention Convention in our school Media Center. Classes and parents have been visiting the convention to see the students' original work. Check out some of the students' cool inventions! I wanted to put pictures of all of their inventions, but it was taking FOREVER to download, so I'm just going to put a few.

Do you get hot in the summer? This portable AC is just what you need! You put ice inside, then turn on a fan to blow the cold air on you! It really works!








Girl Spray!!! This student was sick of girls chasing him and his friends on the playground. He created a stinky girl spray that will keep girls far away!

Do you hate it when your pencil slips out of your hand when you are trying to write fast? Try this fastwriter to keep your pencil gripped tight!

Does it bug you when people talk about you at the next table? Use this invention to listen to what people are saying about you and then tell them, "Stop talking about me!" :)

Ever wish you had an extra pair of hands? With this invention, you do!

What bugs you? What invention would you invent if you were a student at JJH? :)

Jazzercise, Jittery Joes, and Jump Shots

During the week I am usually too busy to exercise, but one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning is go to Jazzercise! I know what you are thinking...jazzercise?...D-O-R-K-Y!! But it is SO not dorky! Jazzercise is SO much fun! Where else can you shake your booty to Beyonce, sweat to Blake Shelton, and swoon and stretch to Michael Buble all in one hour?


Jazz it Up!

After Jazzercise, Philip and I took Landon over to play with his Auntie Em at her apartment. Once we dropped the Lan Man off, we went to Jittery Joes (the best coffee shop in Athens!). My job of the day was to help Philip get Chapter Four of his dissertation organized. As we worked, I could not help but feel so proud of him for all the hard work he has been putting forth this semester! Being a loving husband, principal of a high school, a fantastic Daddy, AND writing a dissertation! Yes...my friends...I am married to Superman! While we were hanging out at Jittery Joes, I started thinking about our journey at UGA over the past 5 years. Even though it has been hard work, Philip and I have had so much fun reading, writing, and learning together! I know one day we will miss these days.



Love in a Coffee Shop

After a great Jittery Joes work session, we picked up Landon from his Auntie Em's. Then we all went to eat at the Varsity and to cheer on the DAWGS at a UGA basketball game. Dressed in his UGA basketball Jersey, Landon was a true GA fan! He loved all the lights and sounds! He even clapped and danced to the music! After we got home, Landon's buddy Anderson came over. Our friends, Marisa and Rusty, watched Landon for us last week, so we returned the favor this week so they could go out to dinner. We had a popcorn and pajama party while we watched Cars. Such a fun Saturday full of Jazzercise, Jittery Joes, and Jumpshots!

Landon's 9 Month Post

I think one of the great things about a blog will be that I can always look back and remember what things were like at different stages in our life.

At 9 months, Landon has had so many changes! He got his first two teeth on the bottom! He was in a lot of pain as they pushed through, but he looks so cute now with those little teethies!

He is trying so hard to crawl!! Poor little bud. He has been pretty fussy the past few weeks at daycare or the house when he's on the floor playing because he just wants to be moving! He can get up on his knees, rock, move his arms, but his legs just won't go with him! Because of this, he is constantly falling over! Which makes him so mad! We will all be happy when the Lan Man figures out the last few steps to crawling...I know...be careful what you wish for!!

I've almost got it Daddy!

No!!!! I just can't do it! :(

Landon LOVES to be out and about! When we are at a restaurant, a sporting event, church, etc. (Anywhere with lots of people to watch) He is the happiest baby! He will sit through a 1 hour church service or a 2 1/2 hour basketball game without hardly making a peep (except maybe...da..da..da...da). He's typically just wide-eyed and smiling watching the action! He also likes to flirt with older women and pretty college girls. Hmm...I wonder where he gets that character trait? :) Better not be from his Daddy!

Sweet Landon has been sick during this month. He had RSV and an ear infection. We had to give him breathing treatments several times a day for the past two

weeks. He was finally cleared on Thursday, and he seems to be feeling a lot better!

At Landon's 9 month appointment he weighed 17 lbs and was 26 1/2 inches long. He was in the 3rd percentile for his weight, 4th percentile for his height, and 9th percentile for his head circumference. He's our little Lan Man, but we love him that way! Maybe someday he'll be tall like his Daddy! :)

Landon and Mommy at his 9 month Appt.

Even though my baby is growing up, Landon and Mommy still love to snuggle! Daddy snuck this picture the other night when we fell asleep on the couch snuggling.

We love our little Lan Man and the fun he brings to our lives. Philip just said last night, "You know, you see things in a whole new way with a baby. It's like you are seeing them again for the first time!"

Three Day Weekend= Three Days of Bliss

Philip, Me, Emily, and Hunter at the Georgia Theater Rooftop




Philip, Landon, and I had a wonderful three day weekend! It all started on Friday night when Philip and I went on a date to help Emily celebrate her 21st Birthday at the Georgia Theater's Rooftop bar. We had such a good time with Emily and all her friends! Boy do we love that girl! While we were enjoying our night out on the town, our great friends Marisa and Rusty Estes babysat Landon for us so we wouldn't have to take him out in the freezing cold. This was actually one of our first times out on a date without Landon (we had been using most of our babysitting for writing). We ended the night savoring crepes at Pauley's....nutella and strawberries...no better combination exists!







Landon snacking on Aunt Sharon's Glasses





Then, as if one wonderful date night wasn't enough, Philip's Aunt Sharon texted us on Sunday after church to see if she could come over to play with Landon. Landon LOVES his Aunt Sharon, and Aunt Sharon LOVES Landon! Sharon drove all the way from Canton (about 2 hours away) to play with the Lan Man. They had so much fun and she spoiled him with all of his favorite things...love...attention...and lots of baths! Landon had 3 baths on Sunday!! Philip and I got another date night at the Olive Garden compliments of her babysitting and my parents who gave as an OG gift card for Christmas. We had the best time talking, laughing, and dreaming of the day we will one day move to Hawaii!

This morning was like a delightful Saturday morning....on a Monday! I started my day with a little Jazzercise! Then Philip, Landon, and I went to breakfast downtown at Five Star Day. I always love spending time downtown, especially with my two boys. Landon had fun sitting like a big boy in his high chair and making funny faces in the mirror with his daddy. We only wished it would have been warmer so we could walk around outside Old Campus. In the afternoon, Philip wrote on his dissertation, and Landon and I went to visit our friend LindsayAnn to learn how to make tissue paper puff balls. Landon loved playing with her dogs, especially Ethel. Ethel and Lucy are going to make great big sisters to Tucker who will be here in just a few weeks!






Landon playing with Ethel

So even though we didn't do anything spectacular this weekend, sometimes just being together is pure bliss!

Wishing you bliss,

Katherine

Getting Crafty

Now that I am finished with school, I have been having so much fun doing things I could never do before. For example

1) Playing with my boys anytime I want! (Except when poor Philip is writing)

2) Blogging

3) Reading for fun

4) And of course...crafting!!!

I like to have a purpose for crafting, so I have decided to plan and create things for Landon's First Birthday Party (which is not until April 7th). I am a little bit obsessed, and I'm afraid Philip thinks I'm insane, but he goes along with all my crazy ideas and doesn't harass me too much about my new obsession with Landon's Birthday Circus!!!

Today I created this super fun balloon wreath. It will actually make its debut for Landon's birthday, but it will be a new family tradition, adorning our front door for each family member's birthday week! Here's a picture of the final product. It was pretty easy and took me about 3 hours. I got the idea from pinterest but added my own touch with the bow.

Craft on,

Katherine

About Us- Part II

When we first moved to Athens, we moved into the Jennings Mill Apartment Complex. Although Athens was a fun place to be, Philip and I really missed our family. I think I cried three times a week that first year! We loved our schools and being at UGA, but being away from family for the first time was hard.

In June of 2007, we bought our house in Brookshire. This changed our perception of Athens and made the whole town feel like it really was our home. We made friends in our neighborhood and became closer with our friends at school. Yes, Athens was now becoming a place that we could see ourselves starting a family. In fact, this was the summer that we rescued our crazy dog KJ (Krzyzewski Jordan) from the Oconee Animal Shelter.

During the next few years, we made school moves. Philip got the Assistant Principal job at Oconee County Middle School (OCMS), then the Principal job at OCMS, and last year the Principal job at North Oconee High School. I became the Enrichment Specialist at Judia Jackson Harris Elementary Charter School where I get to lead the implementation of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model--one of my passions! We both love our jobs, our schools, and our colleagues (who are now our friends!)

Our son Landon was born on April 8, 2011. Words can not express how much we love that little boy. Philip and I have had so much fun learning how to be parents together. We definitely make mistakes, but we laugh our way through them. In December, I graduated with my Ph.D. in Gifted and Creative Education from UGA. Philip is finishing up his dissertation and should graduate in May.

What a full life we have had so far, and what wonderful things we have to look forward to in our journey together! We are excited to share this blog with you so you will know "What's going down with the Browns!"

Yours,

Katherine

My First Post- About Us Part I

Since this is my first post, I guess it will be our introductory post. Actually I will write our introductory post in two parts. Here is Part I:

Philip and I met on February 27, 1999. A friend set us up on a blind date. Even though we were only teenagers, we were perfect for each other right from the start. I remember riding home in Philip's white Honda civic that night, staring out the sun roof thinking that everything just felt so right with him. To this day, our love still feels so right.

Philip and I both went to Valdosta State University for our undergraduate degrees. Philip graduated with his undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education in May of 2003 and moved to teach at Camden County Middle School. That year apart was completely depressing. We saw each other almost every weekend and would drive half way in the middle of the week to meet for dinner. We were so happy that Philip moved back to Valdosta to teach and be the boy's head basketball coach at Echols County Schools. Philip proposed to me that summer by the tree that we had carved our initials in when we were first dating. He carved "Will you marry me" into the same tree. Such a sweet romantic!

Philip and I were married June 18, 2005 in a beautiful wedding at St. John's Catholic Church surrounded by our family and friends. Our honeymoon to Cape Cod and New York City sparked a fire for traveling that still burns within both of us! Since we have been married, we have traveled to Hawaii twice (Oahu and The Big Island), Rome, driven up the coast of California staying in hotels and camping (San Diego, Los Angeles, Big Sur, Yosemite, and San Francisco), Washington D.C., Las Vegas, and lots of weekend trips to Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina. We have also both traveled to numerous places around the U.S. for conferences with work. We just love to travel, and hope to visit many more places when we are both finished with school!!

I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education in December 2005 and was blessed to get a position in January teaching second grade at Hahira Elementary School. During the years I was finishing up my undergrad, Philip also received a Masters and Specialist Degree. We both were accepted to graduate school at the University of Georgia where I would pursue my Masters Degree in Gifted and Creative Education and Philip would pursue is PhD in Middle Grades Education. We moved to Athens in July of 2006, began graduate school on the UGA campus, and started teaching. I got a job teaching first grade at Bethlehem Elementary School and Philip became a teacher at Malcom Bridge Middle School.

The baby is awake, so that's where I will stop for today. Part II will come soon...