2014 Highlights

2014 is off with a bang!  It's hard to believe February is nearly over and Spring Break is just around the corner.  (Yippee!)  January brought some crazy cold weather, but with that I received two lovely snow days. What's the recipe for the best snow day you ask? Allow me to show you...

   

A yummy breakfast after you've slept in. 

A morning spent with my favorite talk show hosts.

Puzzle time!  We went with the 300 piece as opposed to the 1.000, which still took plenty of time.  

Completed!

    My great Valentine's gift!

Scott and I headed to Kansas City for the weekend to visit Jana and her crew.  We had a great time hanging with them and we even got to enjoy an afternoon at Legends and Dave and Busters (where I beat Scott at Pac Man to earn myself a free piece of Snickers cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory!)  I would be withholding information if I didn't let you know this was the ONLY game I beat him in.  Gotta win when it counts.  

2013

Recapping an entire year in one post is hard.  I've come back to this one over and over, trying to figure out how I want to approach it.  I've decided to share thirteen pictures that represent my 2013.  Enjoy the highlights in chronological order.

January gave me plenty of snow days to enjoy and some weekends with these cuties in Kansas City!

I enjoyed another Spring Break down in Oklahoma with my grandparents (wild, I know).  We always have such a fun time together at Papa's CPA office, shopping, watching March Madness, and hitting up Toby Keith's restaurant and the casino. 

I celebrated the big 2-6 while Grandma Sauder celebrated the big 9-3 in May. 

I just so happened to enjoy my birthday aboard the Disney cruise ship, Dream.  The Bahamas treated me well.  

I enjoyed a girls weekend in KC with some great friends in June. 

Summer time also had me busy setting up my new classroom as I became an Andover Trojan.

My mom's side of the family enjoyed a weekend in Norman and OKC together in June.  

And for July....

I got a tattoo.  Surprise!  I got a sun on my foot after inspiration from Joshua 10 in the Bible.  Joshua prayed for the sun to stand still in battle and God answered that prayer.  The sun remained out for 24 hours straight.  I loved the idea of trusting God for such impossible things!

In September we celebrated my dad and Matt's birthdays over Labor Day weekend. 

We took a girls trip in October to enjoy Disney's Food and Wine Festival for MaKenzie's 21st.

December was a big month as I graduated with my masters, celebrated Christmas with family, and went to Austin, TX. 

Here's to another great year! 

Christmas 2013

It's hard to believe that the Christmas season has already come and gone and it's 2014!  My break seemed extra quick this year as I had to go back to school January 2nd.  (Insert rolling of eyes from all the non-teachers out there.)  I feel like this break was a taste of what a "real" job would be like, having to go back to work right after the 1st...and know that I want nothing to do with that.

I spent the first half of my break back in the Bend with my family.  It was a great time of playing cards, sipping hot chocolate, and celebrating the birth of our Savior.  We went to my parents' church's Christmas Eve service and heard a great sermon on Jesus coming as the light of the world and were reminded that He will come back again.  I'm so thankful to serve a God that made a way for me to know Him through His own son.

Enjoy some pics of the festivities.

Great Bend got over a foot of snow!

Reese thought the snow scraper was an extra large hair brush. 

It's tough to choose between purple or orange in our house, so Reesie received two cheerleader outfits. 

A snowman had to be made with all that snow!  The Kid and Dad were the hard workers on that one.

I spent the second half of my break in a much warmer place when I traveled down to Austin, TX with Scott and some of his family to visit one of his sisters living down there.  We had a great time soaking up the 60+ degree weather, outlet malls, touring the Alamo and River Walk in San Antonio, visiting IKEA, and teaching me how to play Pitch.  And I must say, I wasn't half bad.

  A group of us enjoyed an afternoon of hiking and making our way through a park.  There were so many people out running and exercising that I was motivated to run...a few steps...I'd say more of a gallop. (See top left pic)  No one there had to know that I struggled to even find my tennis shoes to pack for this trip.  

We enjoyed a treat from the food truck, Hey Cupcake, and some delicious tacos at Wahoo's. 

Austin's motto is: Keep Austin Weird.  I'd say we helped contribute to that cause.  

Happy 2014!  Get excited for my "2013-Year in Review" post.  

The Hassle was Worth the Tassel

So remember the good ol' days when I used to post about working on those beloved master's classes and trying to find motivation to write papers and submit projects??  Well I officially finished my last class and portfolio in August and enjoyed my short walk across the stage a few weekends ago.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to mess with walking or not, but now I'm so glad I did.  It just felt like such an accomplishment and my family, grandparents, and Scott and I celebrated the whole weekend in style complete with a cake and night out on the Plaza in Kansas City.

A peak at the hassle...when I'd watch Kelly and Michael while working. 

The tassel...check out that hood!

I received my Masters of Arts in Education through Baker University at their Wichita location.  The ceremony was in Baldwin City, so Jana hosted us at her place in Olathe for the weekend.  

Jana had the cutest cake made for the party...strawberry, my favorite!  The ceremony was complete with bagpipes leading us in and a speech from the president of the University.  I must say, I hadn't done much of my Baker background knowledge before starting the program.  I had heard nothing but good things, the classes were just 7 weeks long, and the mascot is another wildcat, which were all enough to get me to fork over my money.  I had a great experience and would definitely recommend Baker!

Being "hooded" 

After the ceremony we headed to the Plaza and enjoyed a yummy Italian dinner at Buca di Beppo's.  It's an underground restaurant that serves family style pasta goodness.  We were going to attempt a carriage ride or walk along the streets to enjoy the shops and Christmas lights, but the cold led us into Starbuck's and then to our warm cars to head home.  It was such a fun weekend that really proved all the hassle really was worth the tassel. ;) 

Gobble till ya Wobble

Thanksgiving 2013 went down in the books as a great time full of family, food, and fun.  My mom's side of the family hosted us down south and as always, they didn't disappoint. 

Aunt Pam and my cousin's wife, Brooke, made us these cute state pillows.  I hate to admit it, but Oklahoma does look cooler than Kansas.  Poor little rectangle Kansas.  And don't miss out on that cute cheese ball Reese, front and center!  

Kid is always my sidekick at family gatherings.  

Separate sister pics will have to do.

Before the big meal

After the big meal

We enjoyed an evening shopping and looking at lights (and sipping Starbucks) at Utica Square. 

It's hard to believe it's already December and Christmas break is a few short weeks away (Can I get an amen!?)  So I'll leave you with this.  

Christmas cheer around our place!  And I'm modeling my new leg warmers made by my Grandmama. 

Well, with the blogging track record I've had lately, you may not be hearing from me till after Christmas. 

Happiest Place on Earth

Allow me to introduce myself.  I'm the girl who apparently has had either nothing to blog about or more likely, no motivation to blog for the last month. But have no fear...I'm back with pics from the happiest place on earth!  We took a girls trip to celebrate Birthday Barbie's 21st!  Who wouldn't want to celebrate at Disney?!

Before we hit up the International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, we enjoyed Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party at Magic Kingdom.  Costumes and all.  :) 

Meet Minnie, Micky, Pirate, and Flapper Girl 

We were able to enjoy the Halloween party after park hours and trick-or-treat.  We were under the impression that costumes were required to join in on this event, but soon discovered that regular clothes would have sufficed.  No worries, there were some crazy people out there in full costume get-up; I'd say we we fit into the "mild and cute" category.  

My Disney travel agent aunt got us the hook-up with a breakfast in a backstage prop room before Hollywood Studios opened.  Which also allowed for our group to enjoy the 3D Toy Story ride before the mobs of people joined us in the park.  If you're even the slightest Disney fan you know that is like money in the bank.

It was a fast trip, but such a fun one!  Beautiful weather and great memories made while celebrating the coolest 21 year old I know.  

Luke Bryan...and the Little Things

Hello, cyber world!  Yes, it's me, huffing and puffing as I'm running to catch up with life.  That Life is a fast one.  Just when you think you've got a handle on her, she goes and decides to fly by quicker than ever before.  She's sly like that; trying to sneak October through the door without you noticing September's gone.  October will be a big month for the Sauder girls.  The Kid turns another year older, (the big 2-1...how can she be that old?!) and to honor her we're going to the happiest place on earth, Disney World!!

What you are about to see is the most random conglomeration of pictures in my attempt to make a dent in my happenings lately.  A few weeks ago some friends and I went to the Luke Bryan concert.  Two words for you: Hip Thrusts.  If I had a dollar for every time that boy thrust his hips I could probably quit my job and be just fine.  Now don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it, but it did throw me off a bit.  My group thought we were so smart by using a promo code for pre-sale tickets, but let me just tell you, if you have a fear of heights, you would not have made it in our seats.  I could have touched the back wall of the place.  :) But did that stop our high-pitched screams, fist pumps, and sweet dance moves? No sirree.  That guy was amazing.

Thought I'd help you out with an arrow because that's as good as I could get from where we were.  His opening acts were amazing! Florida Georgia Line & Thompson Square. 

Part of the crew

I'll spare you the rest of my hundred pics from the concert, because with the combination of a camera phone and our seats, they're just really not worth sharing.

On to a few of my favorite things lately.....and it's clear I'm all about the little things here.

This book was recommended to me by a teacher and I have absolutely loved it! Seriously, check it out.

Yes, confession.  I've recently picked up a new hobby of going to the Zumba classes at the YMCA and I love it!  Do I look like a fool? Most definitely.  Is it full of old people? Sometimes.  But I've found it's the one thing that can actually make me smile while working out.   

The stupid picture won't turn, but this water bottle has been the best $12 spent in months.  Thank you, Target!

Seriously, people...it's the little things.