My Year... In Review

So, this has been quite a year for me. Filled with ups and downs, fantastic moments and difficult struggles. I've grown a lot, learned a lot, and gained a lot. So here's a look back at 2008.
March 15, 2008. Paul and I got married! After 11 years, I finally became Mrs. Paul Coplin. Well, Mrs. Stacy M Coplin. =) It was the best day I could have asked for, and I am so grateful to my husband, family and friends for sharing it with us! March 19 - 27, 2008. Our honeymoon in Belize! We had a fantastic time exploring this beautiful country and celebrating the beginning of the next part of our life.June, 20o8. I successfully completed my student teaching. After a very long, hard year, I made it through to the other side. I am so grateful to Paul (and to Trina for her patient, listening ear) for being there for me through this very difficult time.
July 2008. In the wake of the Twilight Hype for us, Trina and I took our first real road trip together. We drove up to Forks, Washington, and explored the place where our beloved series takes place, and experienced a Forks 4th of July.

July 31, 2008. This was my last day of class, and the day I completed my Master's degree. I don't have a photo because I didn't attend any graduation ceremonies, and we didn't really do anything to celebrate, aside from dinner. I was just relieved to have survived the 14-month process.
August brought a lot of wedding festivities. I attended 3 bridal showers, 1 bachelorette, and 2 weddings. August 16th marked the day that my good friend Dollie became Mrs. Kyle Gogos.The next weekend brought Lauren's bachelorette party, and the first bachelorette party I attempted to help plan. It was quite a stressful ordeal, but was a really fun night! Part of our evening included a show at Darcelle's (a drag show of female impersonators). The one with the mike is one of the performers, and believe it or not the one in the red feather boa is NOT. Miss Lauren is the adorable one in the black tank top.
August 27, 2008. I got my first teaching job! I teach preschool, mainly with the 2.5-4year olds.

(this is the school at the beginning of our December snow storm.)August 29, 2008. One of my very best friends, Miss Lauren, married her adorable man, Matt, becoming Mrs. Lauren Sly. It was such a beautiful day, and everything was wonderful!

September 13, 2008. Trina and I ran the Great Urban Race. It was the first annual race here in Portland, and it was such a blast to be a part of it! In spite of a leap-frog related knee injury, I had the best time. It was yet another test for Trina and I's friendship, and we passed with flying colors. =)October 2008. My husband became an official volunteer firefighter for TVF&R. We are so proud of him! And he looks so sexy in his gear...November 27, 2008. Thanksgiving. Paul carved his first turkey. Granted, not one of my milestones, but one of my husband's, and the picture is so cute.

December 14, 2008. The first run in the Jeep with it's new V8 engine. After 11 months of hard work for Paul, and 11 months of putting up with it for me, the Jeep was revved up and we stretched its legs up at Brownscamp. Very cold, but totally awesome !
December, 2008. I think the official count was about 18 inches of snow over a week and a half. This is the first time I've ever seen a snow storm like this. It was very beautiful, and my boys just loved it!December 24 - 27, 2008. Our first Christmas at the beach! Instead of buying gifts, we rented a beach house instead to celebrate Christmas this year. We brought our favorite things (little, small stuff) to give as gifts, took turns cooking, and just enjoyed each others' company. It was the best Christmas I've had in a long time.

All in all, it's been quite a year. I am very anxious to see what 2009 holds, and look forward better health, healthier finances, and a greater sense of peace and joy in life, heart, and mind.

I wish the same to my family and friends. Love to all, and the Happiest New Year!

Snow Way! It's Snowing in Beaverton in December!

So, as you all know, we've had a wonderful surprising batch of snowstorms in our area. It started Sunday, and has continued even through today. It's actually snowing right now! Here's some photos of the snow, and my boys playing in it, of course. =)

Here's our house just after we got home from wheeling on Sunday.Gaius fetching the ball up the street, along the side of our house.

My single-minded Hoban, waiting for me to kick the tennis ball for him.

Gaius playing fetch.

My Jeep in front of the preschool I work at.

Snow falling, from the cottage window at the preschool.

Preschool Art

Wanted to take a minute to share with you some of the art I've been doing with the kids at my preschool. The most awesome part? These kids are between 6 and 16months old! That's right. You CAN do art with very young children. You just have to keep it simple, flexible, and make sure it's safe to go in their mouth! =)

For this project, I gave my kiddos a paper with a drawn tree on it, and spread glue stick glue all over the branches area. I then gave them a pile of torn bits of paper, which I helped them to pick up and drop over the glue area. Then we pressed down the "leaves" to make the tree.This one was done in a similar fashion, but with ladybug spots.

For the above project, I put a spot of red, yellow, and blue paint on a piece of black construction paper, with 4 clear stones. My original thought was that the kids would be painting the stones. However, in addition to beautiful stones, they made some really great pieces of art on the black paper. As you can see, they really got into this project.

For this project, I dribbled water over the paint spots in this watercolor tray. I let them play with the tray, and helped them find the paper to paint with their fingers. Their water color pieces were beautiful!
For this project, I put spots of finger paint on yellow construction paper, along with leaves from nearby trees. Look at how he's digging in his fingers!

Thanks for letting me share!

The Best Parts of Fall

So I was inspired by Elizabeth's blog, and wanted to share a bit of fall from my neighborhood. I look at these trees every day as I drive to and from work twice ( I come home for lunch to see my boys), and each day I want to soak up as much of the beautiful colors as I can. It is my favorite time of year, but also one I try not to take for granted. In a blink of an eye, the leaves are gone and we're counting down to Thanksgiving. As you can tell, these are my favorite trees. The red/purple/orange paints the top, and it's like the yellows and greens are tucked inside. Nature sure does produce some amazingly beautiful things. =)

Feeling Grateful

So, I had a great time this weekend, visiting with my mom. We hung out together, did some shopping, visited with my friends, and watched a movie. She is so great, makes life truly effortless. I am so proud to be her daughter. She is a wonderful, giving, caring, honest person, and the very best person to be around.

This evening, as I reflect on my day, I am again thankful that I was able to spend the last 30 years learning from her, and that she helped to shape me as a person. Instead of complaining about my work worries, I am going to spend this evening celebrating the fact that I am an honest person. I am grateful that honesty is so important to me. That I would rather do the hard thing because it's honest, than the easy thing that isn't. I am thankful that my best friend encourages and appreciates my honesty, and that she encourages me to be an honest and truthful person. I am proud to say that I will not compromise my integrity and be dishonest, even if someone wants me to or it is the encouraged thing. Thank you, mom, for helping me to be a person who is honest and truthful, even when it is hard. =)

Updated Blog!

So, I've updated this blog to combine my others into this blog, so I will only have two blogs now. My Coplin Family blog, and this one. Simplicity is key, and who really needs so many blogs?? Plus, I started another blog but decided that blog was more set up for negative intentions, and I'm trying to keep my life more positive. So here you go! A fresh start and a place to focus on all the great things life has to offer!

Great things such as these beautiful flowers. Enjoy!

Going Along For The Ride

So, I have jumped into the passenger seat of my life, and am going along for the ride. You see, what I have found is that all the times I have gotten stressed that life was too crazy was because I tried to fit too many things into a schedule that didn't have room for it all. Like trying to cram my ass into the Old Navy jeans upstairs that are just a bit too small. You can yank and pull, but sometimes things just don't fit without causing pain. I was trying to do for everyone around me, and not taking care of myself or making the time for my little family that they deserve.

So now I am only making plans for crucial things, and even those I try to plan 3 weeks in advance before I commit. Otherwise, I plan nothing. And you know what? It's been great! I don't feel guilty that I'm not doing enough, because I am doing so much for my little family and therefore anytime that I'm not at work takes away from time with them, so whatever I'm gonna do had better be good. This leaves me relishing in the 3 hours between dinner and bedtime, when I can watch a movie or kick the ball with the boys. Instead of feeling pressured or worried I'm neglecting someone, I feel fulfilled and I savor the time when my poor feet can relax and I can cuddle with my boys. I let my whims make my choices for what I want to do, instead of trying to do what I think some one else wants me to do. I'm just gonna ride along with my life, not resist things or try to force my ride off the path it's on. So if my new lackadaisical plan has a bad effect on you, you have my sincere apologies. Just know I'm doing this for me and my family, and it won't be forever. Love to all, but I've gotta love me and my boys, first.