More Tgiving Pictures

Here are some more photos from Thanksgiving.

Ted's address in Iraq

I asked Ted for some pictures of him. I thought I would share these with you. As you can see Ted is doing well. Here is Ted's address so you can send him a Christmas Card or just a letter to say, "Hi." He would love to hear from you! :) 

Dr (CPT) Ted Stefani

3-21 INF HHC (Medical)

FOB Normandy, Iraq

APO AE 09362

Ted and a buddy, Marc.

Ted, upside down in a Stryker.

Christmas Party

So every year there is this amazing Christmas party for work (Elementary School Teachers really know how to party!). Here are some photos from the night. 

Thanksgiving with the family

So, Thanksgiving was a blast! It was so great to see the family in Tulsa. Food was great and Family was awesome. Check out the pictures.

Turkey Day Race

On your mark...get set...GO! I told my friend Jenni, that it would be fun to run on the day before Thanksgiving at her mom's farm and do a kind of "race" for the two of us. Just a fun run. Well, her very creative mom and aunt made it into the Keller 5K race for Dyslexia! They took the idea and "ran with it" so to speak. Just check out the pictures!

Baking Time

Well, here are some pictures from the sleepover this weekend. Breanna, a friend of mine came to stay the night Saturday. Coley even got all decked out for the occasion in her green bandana and green and red bow. She is eating her Thanksgiving "Cookie" while we make ours! We made cookies, watched chick flicks and played Memory. Coley tried to help me win Memory (see the pictures), but Bre is too good! :)

View Album

Update On My Wonderful Husband

These first few pictures are just some really big vehicles. He could tell you all about these "cool" machines. I on the other hand have no clue. (Obviously, Ted is the vehicle mastermind in this relationship!)Post some info if you know something about them! :)

Scorpions they caught

The hedgehog

Camels in Kuwait

Prozac the Puppy

My husband! :) getting ready to fly out

Hello Everyone, Ted said I have permission to post some pictures and update everyone on how he is doing. He is doing well. The biggest prayers would obviously be for his safety and quick return home. The days for him are very monotonous. He will eat the same foods on the same days (ie. Sunday night is always steak and lobster night). Internet is up and down, mostly down. When it is up it is slow. He is stationed at Forward Operating Base Normandy near Balad (spelling?). If you would like a specific address, please just email me or post a message and I will give that to you. He loves to get mail. He enjoys the people he works with and has gotten to see interesting wildlife and really cool vehicles (see pictures above). We get to talk on the phone for about 15-20 minutes every night (well morning for him, see clocks on the right).  I am very thankful to hear his voice almost daily. Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts. I will try to post more on Ted and how he is doing. 

Mom Ann's Trip to Colorado

Mom Ann and "Grand dog Coley" enjoying the GOG

Girls Night Out at the Melting Pot

WHAT A FEAST!

Coley enjoying the view from Crystal Lake

We made it to the top. The wind chill was 13 degrees! 
Boy this rock was heavy.
Stopping to take a picture with "the garden" in the background.
Garden of the Gods

Ted's mom is teaching a conference in Dever this week, so she came down to Colorado Springs this weekend. And what a beautiful weekend to come visit! The skies were so blue and bright and the temperature was perfect! We went to Garden of the Gods yesterday and then she treated me to The Melting Pot for dinner. This morning we drove up Pike's Peak and saw snow at the top. She had a wonderful time and can't wait to come back! Here are some pics from the trip. :)

California Dreamin'...

Goodbye California (for now!)

Payton and Russell ready for the morning walk
Such a happy little boy!
The outfit with the jacket

The New OutfitChris, Lindsay, and London
Me and Sylvia
The whole crew (Can you pick out the quarterback?)
Our Breakfast Spot

Well, it felt like a dream! It went by so fast! I went to California last Friday and flew back on Tuesday. I was lucky enough to see some wonderful friends and also lead a Staff Development Training on Monday for 37 teachers in a Central California District. I arrived at midnight Friday, then started the day Saturday eating breakfast with a good friend, Sylvia. We used to run together and decided to meet at Katy's Korner in San Ramon for a hearty breakfast (my favorite)! Then, I met her family for the tailend of Joe's flag football game. He was the quarterback! :) Way to go Joe! I miss the green lawns and manicured areas of California. Emily met me for lunch in Walnut Creek at California Pizza Kitchen. It was so good to spend time withe her. Unfortunately, I was so happy to see her, I forgot to get a picture! I ran to get nails done with Lindsay and met her and Chris and their dog London (who used to be in my puppy class) for dinner at Pete's Brass Rail. Sunday I drove down to meet Heather and her son Russell and her husband Joe for their niece's baptism. We drove back to their place in Fresno (central Cali) and stayed at their beautiful new home. I got to spend time with Russell. Isn't he the cutest little guy ever! 

Monday was the big day. I spent 8 hours training teachers. It was a lot of fun and such a great experience. I was training on a Writing Workshop and overall they got a lot out of it. I wore a new skirt suit my mom got me for xmas from Banana. 

First Snow

Well, I woke up this morning to snow! Coley and I walked out to this...

Coley's new toy

Here is a video of Coley playing fetch with her new toy my mom got her. 

Mom's Trip To Estes Park Part Two

My mom loved the water rushing down the creek.

Bear Lake

A gorgeous view in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Elk in the meadow. We were "kicked out" by the Rangers because it was mating season.

Mom's Trip to Estes Park Part One

Eating a fancy dinner at The Melting Pot. Mom had never tried fondue before. Check out the steam! She had a great time!
Mom and I on the balcony of the cabin we stayed at in Estes. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! 
The male Elk herding! Look at him go...
Mom and I in front of the Elk at the Golf Course. 
The amazing yellow aspen leaves! Mom loved these. I liked how they twinkled in the wind and the bright yellow color. They seemed full of energy and light!

Here Elky...

Here is a video mom and I took while the Elk were hangin out eating the golf course grass in Estes Colorado. There was one male Elk "herding" and about 30 or so females and babies. I suggest turning down the volume because you can hear my mom talking and it was a windy day so the wind is loud. 

Another Survey....

Heather, this is for you(well and anyone else that wants to take a look and comment)! I will try to post pics from mom's visit soon! 

Four Random Things I Like About My Husband:

1) The way he can talk and talk and talk before he has had his coffee

2) How he points out jeeps because he loves them

3) The way he laughs when he and I have fun together

4) How he can make me feel on top of the world just by a look, a hug, or a shoulder to cry on

Four Jobs I Have Had:

1) Cleaning rabbit cages at my uncles photo store (during Easter season)

2) A waitress at Full Moon Cafe in Tulsa

3) Sunday School Coordinator at a church of 5,000 in Charleston

4) Teaching (of course) 1st grade, 2nd grade and 4th grade

Four Movies I've Watched More Than Once:

1) Pretty Woman

2) The Wedding Planner

3) Miracle on 34th Street

4) White Christmas

Four TV Shows I Watch: (who has time for TV?)

1) M*A*S*H

2) Cosby Show

Really, these are the only shows on when I have time to watch tv as I fall asleep

Four Places I've Been:

1) Grand Canyon

2) Maui

3) Beatty, Nevada (Death Valley near where Ted proposed)

4) New York City

Four Of My Favorite Foods:

1) almost any italian dish

2) oooohhh The Melting Pot

3) Margarita's (can that count as a food?)

4) Macaroni and Cheese

Four Places I'd Like To Visit:

1) Italy

2) France

3) Hawaii (again!)

4) Canadian Mountains

Four Things I Am Looking Forward To In The Next Year:

1) MY HUSBAND COMING HOME!!!! (not til' next September/October)

2) MY HUSBAND VISITING in July

3) Driving home to see my family at Tgiving and Xmas

4) Completing my Principal's License Classes!!!

Grandpa

This is an older photo (when I was still in college) taken at grandma and grandpas old house.
Here is one where grandpa came to my  college graduation. I wouldn't have made it without his help in math!
Grandma and Grandpa celebrating their 53 years of marriage!

My Gpa...

Grandpa (my mom's dad) went to the hospital in Tulsa for back surgery last week. He has had a hard time recovering. Last night they sent him to ICU because he had trouble breathing. He is doing better, but is still in ICU. Please keep him in your prayers. I love him very much. Here are some pictures.

Our house is a very very very fine house... (picture the song by CROSBY, STILLS and NASH)

Whew, life has been a whirl wind these days! I have started my 2nd class this semester, so from now on I will have class on Monday and Wednesday nights until mid December. I am taking a School Finance class on Wednesday's and a School Culture class on Mondays at UCCS. The two teachers are very different as far a pacing. Wednesday nights teacher is very go-go-go, fast paced. In contrast, Monday we do a lot of discussing and learning by the socratic seminar method of listening to each other and it is a much slower pace. I like both classes. They just make life busier at the moment, which if you know me...I like it busy! My mom comes to visit next week and I am very excited. I don't know what we will do yet, but I can't wait! Here are some pictures of our living room at the condo (more to follow). I have shown a lot of pictures of the stunning outdoors, but I don't think I have posted any of the inside of our place.