My first post!

Ok, so now, I'm on the blogging bandwagon-since everyone else is doing it. (What's that favorite mom saying-"If all your friends jumped off a bridge.....?) Anyways, I have no idea what to do here, but it seems like I just start typing....

HI! Today is Friday-the last day of the work week (school week for me-I'm a 4th grade teacher). Yippeee! We're at home, chillin', unwindin', gearing up for the weekend, in which we will get no rest, as usual. I have three children-Taylor, DJ, and Benny. I'm married to Mr. Wonderful and we've recently moved into our first house. Here's a little intro to the McAllister family....

Taylor is 14 and will be a freshman in High School next year! AARRGGHHH! I can't believe it. I went to the parents orientation night last week and couldn't believe I was sitting where I went to High School 17 years ago and was planning her academic career for the next 4 years of her life. It really hit me hard! She is a beautiful girl, with a kind and loving spirit. She's so much fun! She can recite any line from almost any movie ever made and she loves to watch movies and perform in the theatre. She's got a lot of wonderful things about her....she's creative, musically diverse, dramatic, and amazingly smart....a little too smart sometimes, if you ask me! I could go on and on....

DJ is 12 and is graduating from 6th grade this year. WOW! So, next year, I will have a high schooler, Jr. Higher, and a 6th grader (Benny). I can't believe it! DJ is a sweet young man with a passion for baseball, video games, and sports stats (what 12 year old boy doesn't have those passions?). He is very generous and loving and I love his sincere, sensitive spirit. He's got many nicknames....Froboy, DEEJ (which is for me only), Junior, etc. He has been known for his "sweet 'fro" since kindergarten-he even got to keep it and grow it longer for his Aunt Courtney's wedding (Uncle Vito really digs the fro). Total chick magnet...watch out girls! Again, I could go on and on......

Benny is 10 and is currently attempting to survive 5th grade. He's an extremely hard worker, very diligent, and funny! He is the life of our family-always keeping us on our toes and keeping us humble. I love his ability to put things together in no time at all (just this afternoon, he made a race car picture frame in about 15 minutes-WOW!). He used to have a bald head, but has recently been growing the hair....it's a nice length now....he plays with it while he's thinking or when he's angry. Benny is our handyman, our helper, our worker bee....loves to accomplish tasks and stays on them (sometimes too long) until they're done right. I love his devoted spirit. His favorite game is the "rhyming game"- we say as many rhyming words in a row as we can and usually end up laughing till we cry. He's VERY good at it!

And then there's my husband Donald....love that man. Tall, dark, handsome....mmm mmm mmm. Donald works for UPS and has a side business selling sports cards and memorabilia at trade shows and on Ebay. While the "business" has cause quite a few "misunderstandings" over the years, I've learned to accept it and I appreciate it as his outlet for stress. Yes, he has stress, and yes, I'm acknowledging that I know about his stress. Don't let him read this! :) Donald is an awesome provider for the family, a devoted father and husband, and an amazing Godly example for our kids. His gentle spirit and kind heart have been his trademark and they are the things that I love about him. When I'm flying off the handle about something, he just takes it all in stride and tells me not to yell. He is the total opposite side of me-the other day, I decided if not for God, we would probably have nothing in common. He's a homebody, I'm a go-er. He's quiet-I'm most definitely not. He likes to sit and relax and even nap-I couldn't be caught dead doing that! But, just like Jerry Maguire said, he completes me. I would be lost without him! We've been married 12 1/2 years now and are still goin' strong.....love that man.

As for me, I'm a fourth grade teacher, mommy, Sunday School teacher, baseball fan, avid scrapbooker, family lover, and go-getter. I absolutely love my life and wouldn't trade it for the world. God has richly blessed me and my family and I'm forever grateful for everything God has put in my life. I'm learning to trust Him to provide for us and our futures as we are stretched in ways we never thought possible. I'm learning to "let go and Let God" and He has never let me down!

So, that's it for now...wow that was long....more next time.....hmac out.