USCIS Update!!

Yesterday we received an appointment notice from USCIS about Andres' Biometrics appointment. He will go next week to Dallas to have his fingerprints and pictures done. Things are moving along nicely. I am excited that things have been so smooth so far. Hope it stays that way. HA!

Golden Apple Educator

Today I was honored with the Golden Apple Educator Award. CBS News 19 chooses teacher in and around Tyler and they chose me. I am very excited and very proud of the award. Check out the video below. The cutie in the video is one of my kindergarten students.

Ballroom Dancing...what?!?!

Andres and I joined a gym. We get a huge discount becuase I am a TISD employee...and I am so excited because they have Ballroom Dancing on Monday nights as a class. We are so going to do that. We have made a commitment to lose some weight and get in better shape. I am back on Weight Watchers and doing good so far. I am also trying to cook at home as much as I can and not from a box...I didn't grow up eating from a box so I really want to hone my cooking skills for when we have children...I don't want to feed my family from a box. It is also a way to know exactly what is in the food I am eating and easier to control portions at home. If you have any good recipes you would like to share...I would love it. I can't wait to start our Ballroom Dancing classes! I will let you know how it goes.

This picture was taken at the Tyler Rose Museum right before the wedding in August. This is the heaviest I have ever been. I am anxious to get in shape. I know I will feel so much better and be able to do so much more. I will keep you posted on our progress.

I've Got A Golden Ticket!

Well not an actual golden ticket, but it sure feels like it to us. We got our reciepts from USCIS for all 3 cases we mailed in with what seemed like a million dollars. USCIS, if you are unfamiliar is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Serivce, I think...it used to be the INS. We sent Andres' papers in for his work permit, adjust his status, and the petition for an Alien Relative now that we are married. It was a lot of work, but its all done and now it's in the good Lord's hands. We really felt like little Charlie as he found that last golden ticket when we checked the mail on Friday! I am just excited to know that it is all underway! Wish us luck!

Good Old Fashioned Car Care

Well, Andres' radiator sprung a leak, actually 2 leaks! It was a mess! I was totally freaking out and didn't know what we were going to do, but luckily some very good advice came by way of my mom and step-dad. A little JB Weld and a bottle of Stop Leak and we were good to go. It's still holding up. Hopefully we can make it until summer and then look at some car buying options. It really was fun fixign the car. There we were, not a clue what we were doing but having a good ol' time none-the-less. Check out the pictures...I was a huge help...with cold beer in hand, I had it figured out! ha ha.

Local Celebrity!

Well, maybe celebrity is a little exaggeration, but I was on TV. I teach a free, public community sign language class. I really enjoy being able to share my passion with others. It is a very rewarding experience for me, so I was uber excited when CBS 19 News here in Tyler wanted to do a story about my sign language class.

The camera man came and filmed me teaching my class on Monday night and Tuesday, Meghan McDermott from the station came to my classroom to interview me. It was a lot of fun. Megan finished the story for her Eye on Education spot and it aired on Tuesday evening. I was so proud to be a part of such a positive story. Check out the video.