Can you say Warm Fuzzies????

Crystal & I passing the time at Parent Teacher Conferences.......

My "daughter" Talisa and I killing time in 4th Block...............

This past week (actually past month) has been absolutely amazing for me !!!! Even though we were at Parent-Teacher Conferences, my friend Crystal and I were happy. I was really happy because Jerry had an unexpected evening free and we were going to do something after I got done. Thanks to a friend at school, Joshua was going to spend the nite with her, so I wouldn't have to worry about what time I got home. Jerry and I ended up meeting in Clinton, grabbing some Wendy's chicken nuggets, and heading to Norris Dam State Park. We had a wonderful time as always. We have grown closer and I felt it was time for me to tell him "my story". I was waiting for the right time, not wanting to scare him off........This man is amazing and caring and everything in between. He was not scared off and doesn't think I am a freak. He said it explained some of the things I had said or done and was thankful I trusted him and NO, I didn't scare him off. I will remember that conversation and how he treated me that night for as long as I can. As our evening ended, we knew it would be another week before we would see each other again. He had a trip planned with his buddies for the weekend and was so excited to be going. BUT on Friday, I got another expected e-mail from him.............. his trip was cancelled and he had the weekend free and wanted to know if I wanted to spend it with him....... DUH, heck yeah. So we had a wonderful weekend together. We went to Ozone Falls and Frozen Head State Park on Sunday........... yes, I went hiking, a leisurely stroll for him, a workout for me. I love being with him and love being outside and experiencing everything it has to offer. I was told on Sunday if we were going to keep seeing each other, I would have to invest in hiking boots. Apparently Adidas tennis shoes are not proper attire for the great outdoors!!!!!!! I will also be "tested" in the hunting department. Hunting season starts today and that is where Jerry is today. Sitting perched in some tree attempting to harm deer...... fine with me. After what Daisy Doe did to my car this summer, I say kill them all !!
Neither one of us knows what the future holds, but we both care about each other, are taking it date by date, and know how the other one feels. We have great communication skills and I can totally be myself........something I haven't had before........ and yes, I am rambling. I am happy to have someone, whom I never expected and was definitely not planning on, to be in my life. I would never had imagined we would still be together after that first date/meeting on July 10th.......... Life does sneak up on ya sometimes, when you are least expecting it. I am having to balance school, being a aunt/parent, and now having a boyfriend. Joshua has been amazing and understanding about Jerry. He has told me for so long that he wants to meet the person who makes his Aunt Carol so happy. I don't know when that will be. I want to meet Jerry's girls before I have him meet my family. To both of us, that is the next big step. He is a huge part of my life and am thankful he is the last person I think about at night and the first one in the morning and pretty much all thru the day................... and yep, I am rambling and happy, happy, happy.
Here are some pictures from Sunday.............

Jerry telling me to put down my camera on the way down to the bottom of the waterfalls.

Jerry down at the bottom of Ozone Falls

My great self portrait at Frozen Head....... check out the waterfall in between our heads...... Am I good or what???? Check out my blue-eyed cutie in his stellar safari hat!!!

Thanks for checking on me............... Taking life One Day At a Time.............

Up"Dates" and Straight up Bored .........

Sorry I haven't updated in a while......... I am waiting for the Parents to say something at any moment, so I thought I would beat them to the punch !!!
I have been busy being Aunt Mommy............... which is going well. Joshua is loving school and doing well in all his classes. He is slowly, but surely making new friends. We have settled into our daily routine. Maddi still likes Joshua better ........... I am just the one who feeds and waters her. I have discovered that if Joshua oversleeps, Maddi enjoys leaping on him and licking his ears. He doesn't enjoy it as much as she does. I love watching him play hide n seek with Maddi. He cracks himself up and I just sit back and laugh at them both........ Joshua hiding and Maddi pacing back and forth trying to find him............ They both make me smile.
My Aunt Carol (yes there is another Carol Stratman) , Uncle Chuck, and cousin Christopher came in for the Bristol race. We all met at the Mellow Mushroom for dinner........... It was great to see them.

Aunt Carol and Uncle Chuck

Mom and Daddy

Christopher and Isaiah

Joshua and Grandma

Arissa and I

Goofy Girls (Anne on Pain meds)

Joseph and the back of Kamry (Talk about Goofy)

Anne had her surgery August 29th and is recovering slowly. I believe she is off the demoral and can now remember events and facts told to her. I have spent the last week and a half hearing and telling the same details. It is something to look back and laugh at eventually.

Apparently I didn't scare Jerry off after our 4 wheeling adventure. We went on our first real Date last Saturday. We went to dinner and a movie. Of course it was fun !!! We had time to kill before our SuperCheesy movie and I got my butt kicked at Air Hockey..........This past Thursday evening we met for dinner and bowling (my arms and legs are still feeling the effects). I do have to brag and state that I was somewhat better than he was at bowling. I didn't get beat until the last 2 frames. By that point my arm was spaghetti.......... He has mentioned Golf for something to do Next........ I hoping he is talking about the kind of golf that involves windmills and clown faces, and not golf carts and the open fields. I don't care what we do. We enjoy each other's company and that is all that matters at this point. Time will tell and that is perfectly fine with me.

After attending a very HOT little league football game to watch Kamry and Arissa do their cheer dance, I came home and realized that I had nothing to do but grade papers. I didn't want to do that, so I dragged out the straightener and camera and straightened my hair. Boredom had definitely set in. I had no plans............... no date (Jerry has his girls this week)........ no nothin !!!! This is the finished product. At least I know my hair can look decent straight, or curly. I like it both ways.....................

(I know you are thinking, "Get this girl a life, self-portraits????"
Thanks for checking in................... until my next post....................

The Busy But Happy Puddle Splasher : )