FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mallie

Albert and I holding Drew, our friend's new baby!!

Merritt posing!!!

Okay---months later and I have finally updated the blog. I know most have given up on me, but these have been the busiest months of our lives. To catch you up to speed......Albert spent August, September, and some of October coaching 8th grade football....so we were at school everyday until at least 7:00pm..but it was a BLAST!!! Go Pioneers!!! Then, we have just been working and trying to sell our house. We are about 30 minutes away from work, and we are trying to get closer, as Albert plans on continuing to coach and we spend so much time there as it is!!! I found out about a week ago that I was accepted into the Doctoral Program and Kennesaw State University, so that will consume the next four years of my life, so the craziness never ends, but we are having fun!!! Many people comment, "What is it like working together?" But, it is how we started our relationship, teaching together 5 years ago!!!!! So, for us, it is very comfortable...and we really never see each other. He is doing such an amazing job, though!!! Everyone loves him there (of course) and he has totally revamped the program. His chorus is awesome!!! He makes me so proud!!!! Sorry I have not blogged, most of my computer time is spent on Facebook (I am addicted!!! :) I hope to keep it up!!! See you all soon!!!

Summer Pictures!!

Remember the Alamo!!!

I couldn't say that I had been to San Antonio and did not go to one of the most famous landmarks in history. So we made the short two block trip to the Alamo. It is very cool. I have to admit I had to have a little short history lesson myself to remember the events surrounding the Alamo, but it was very interesting. So here are a few pictures of the building that was an old warehouse and mission building before the Texans used it for a safe house. Will post pictures when we return from Huntsville on Saturday!!!!

The Day that Never Ends!!!!

San Antonio, Texas

Yee-Haw!!

At our "Cowboy" themed opening night!!!

From left-- Caroline, Jill, Andrea, me

We took a gondola ride through the city!! Very cool!!!!

Dinner at the oldest Mexican resturant in San Antonio. Yum!!!!

Andrea, Caroline, me, Jill

Our wonderful hotel on the Riverwalk!!

I think that I just experienced one of the longest days of my life!!!!!! One of our awesome teachers, Caroline Woodason, won an educational grant through HP, and she was invited to present her grant at the National Educational Technology Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Our plane left Atlanta at 6:35 Sunday morning, yes we woke up at 3:30am. We arrived in San Antonio around 11:30am and did not go to bed until midnight. Sooooo...we are dead on our feet, but it has been awesome!!! There are four of us that attended this conference. Our principal, Andrea Bradley, Caroline, Jill Ryerson, and me!!! We are currently still here staying at the fabulous Hilton Palacio Del Rio on the Riverwalk. I have never been to San Antonio before, but it has been an amazing trip. Here are some pictures from the trip!!!

Need a Good Movie.......

Last Sunday, we enjoyed a quiet afternoon at home. It was so nice!! We are usually running around trying to squeeze a lot into a small amount of time, but we just spent time at home together. During this time, we watched one of the cutest movies I have seen. You know, I don't go for the Oscar award winning movies or anything. I like a good story with a perfect ending. I know....I live in a fantasy world. But this movie was right up my alley. It is called The Game Plan. "The Rock" who has become quite the actor I must say, is the star, as a football jock whose world is turned upside down by his daughter coming to live with him. This little girl is so precious. But the transformation that he goes through for his little girl is just so sweet!! Yes, I cried through the movie. It was just so perfect!!!!! I know you are thinking Disney, "The Rock", football movie, you have to be kidding, but it was truly one of the best "chick-flick" movies I have seen. Now just call me Ebert and Roper and I can get paid the big bucks!!!!!!

Summer, Summer, Summer Time!!!!!!!!!

Right now, the question asked more than anything, even more than "Are you and Albert ready to have babies?"..... yes, there is one right this moment that gets asked more than this.......The question is "Are you so glad to be out of school?" Now, it is very nice to be out of school, don't get me wrong!! But after a few days off, I find myself getting very bored. There are only so many clothes to wash, drawers to go through (those that know me know I love do these things) and no shopping trips to go to.....we are spending all of our money on gas (like everyone else!!). So.....I get a little restless. I taught summer school for two weeks, and now Albert and I have some "wii" time. No, I'm not being romantic....hahaha!! My awesome parents bit the bullet and bought us a Nintendo Wii for my birthday!!!! Sweet!!! It is awesome!!!I think it is one of the coolest birthday presents that I ever had. You say you have a Wii and everyone wants to be your friend!!!!! Albert and I love it, and most of all we love playing the old school games from our childhood. He rocks at Super Mario II!!! So in answer to the most asked question. Yes, I love being out for the summer, I do miss working, but we are having fun playing the Wii!!!!!!!!!

School's Out!!!!!!!!

At least there are no kids to teach!!!!! This past week was the LONGEST week ever, and we just went to school four days!!!!! The kids were over being there and so was I!!!!!!! Whoever hear of going past Memorial Day?!?!?! I know I will be thankful when we don't have to go back so early......but I thought it would never end. I do have to go until Thursday of this week. Albert and I will both be attending North Whitfield's second annual facutly retreat. This is where we go into the woods (Cohutta Springs retreat center) and the entire faculty spends the night. We have committee sharing time, team building activites, a low ropes course and a book study. It really is fun, and this year we are having three Wiis, so there will be lots of competition (I am getting pretty good at Mario Cart, thanks to our friends John and Tammy Cox, I still can't beat their kids though, they are really good)!!!!! Albert and I will both be gone Wednesday night until Thursday afternoon. John and Tammy if you read this, I might be ready for a rematch when we get back!! HAHA!!!! Have a great end to your weekend!!!

Another Month and No New Posts!!!!

Well, we have been pretty busy....Albert had a GREAT chorus show this past Thursday night. His chorus sang a medley from the musical "Grease"!! The kids (and Albert) did such a wonderful job!!! We have only 4 more days of school (with kids)!!! Tuesday and Wednesday are Olympics, and Thursday is awards day, so we are pretty much done!! We are currently enjoying a fun filled weekend with the Webers, our friends from Hunstville. We are trying our hardest to convince them to move to Dalton, but yet we have to go to Chattanooga to do anything!!!! We went to the Braves game yesterday, on the hottest day of the year, but left in the 7th inning due to heat exahustion from Mandy and Amy (mom-to-be) Weber. Albert is still building on the house on Lake Allatoona in Cobb County, and though it is coming along, this will be the first and last house he builds in Cobb County!! It makes you thankful to live in a smaller town when having to deal with all the red tape there is down there. We are looking forward to summer and maybe a quick trip to the beach sometime soon!!!!

Okay, Okay, I will update the blog!!!!!

Love the beach hair.

The Results

The steps it takes to get there!!

So I knew this would happen when I began blogging. I knew we would get busy and I would just forget. So thanks to my friend, aka the blogger..."po po" was it....Meleia, I am updating the blog. We had a blast at the beach. With all our family and some friends (The Bradleys, but we consider them family) babies and dogs, and no hurt feelings, we came back just GREAT!!! We are both doing good! Albert only has 10 more days left this year, since he is half time, but is really enjoying his time at North Whitfield. I have a little over a month, and a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. Here are some pics from our trip!!!!

2 more days!!!!!

The TESTING is OVER!!! I am so drained, and I didn't even take the darn CRCT test. I can't imagine how tired the kids are from these past two weeks. We are now working on a Chocolate unit at school and we are reading the play "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and will be watching the movie. It is so funny to me that the kids are begging to see the "old" movie instead of the newer version. They crack me up, you never know what to expect with sixth graders. Albert's chorus class is going fabulous!!! They are currently working on a "Grease" medley that they will perform at the end of the year. His "other" full time job of building houses is also going quite well. They are trying to finish up a job in Dalton, just started a custom build job in Rocky Face, and is in the middle of a custom job on Lake Allatoona in Cobb County. Sometimes we just see flashes of each other, but we are thankful for all of the work. When Albert emails me the pictures, I will post some images of the houses that he is working on. So, an update on my grandparents move to town. Some have asked where they are going. Well, they have bought a condo in North Oaks. It is on the same street as two of her sisters, and down the street from one other sister. Yesterday, my vehicle was packed with doll houses, my old "Light Bright" which I had totally forgotten about, cabbage patch dolls, stuffed animals, and many other items. They are all currently in our garage (Albert was so excited....HA) and I have to decide where I will store them!! I am so glad she saved them though, it was fun to see all that stuff. It brought back good memories!! Have a good rest of the week!! Spring break is soon!!!

4 More Days!!!

The countdown is on for SPRING BREAK!!!! Albert and I will be enjoying a nice little getaway to the beach. Actually, my whole family will be headed down to Perdidio Key for part of the week and the weekend. There are 14 adults, 4 kiddos and 5 dogs...yes it will be a circus, but we love every minute of it!!!! I will post pictures of the events!!! We are looking forward to spending time with everyone. My grandparents are in the process of moving out of their house in Varnell. The have lived in this house for 15 years, but have lived in Varnell for over 40 years, so the accumulation of "stuff" is unbelievable. So, the Annie mansion, the Barbie doll dreamhouse, Cabbage Patch dolls, keyboard, bicycle, Mickey Mouse phone, and all other relics from my childhood will now be transferred to our house for the "great-grandkids" as Mammaw Gladys puts it. Now, I don't know when those kids will be here, but whenever they arrive, they will have plenty of toys!!! Now we have to search for a place to put all of these treasures. That is the fun part. Tomorrow we finish the Science portion of the CRCT, and then it is one test left to go!! Time to get ready for tomorrow!!!

The CRCT craze has begun!!!!

In our education world we have a sort of different March/April "madness." We wish it was just basketball craziness, but we began the testing crunch. These test are based on standards that we have been teaching all year, but they are not fun to give, nor are they fun to take according the the kiddos :)!!! They were hard workers, though, and I think that we will all be glad when they are over!!! Albert and I are enjoying having a few nights at home, not having to be anywhere, although we went to Cracker Barrel for a quick meal with some friends last night, and it turned into a two hour meal.... another story, another day, bad service!!!!! At least we had good company to visit with during the wait!! Thank you all for your cards, calls, messages etc during the passing of my Pappaw Luke, you are all very sweet!! My family is doing well, though some days it is hard to believe it is real. It is wonderful to have great friends!! 8 more school days until Spring Break!! Woo-Hool!!!!

We will miss you, Pappaw Luke

Pappaw, Granny (holding me) and Susan (my aunt)

posing on a Sunday afternoon.

Pappaw, me and Granny before one of Granny's

high school reunions.

Susan, Pappaw Luke, Granny and I at the beach.

The first time he ever saw the ocean!!

Thanks for all of your prayers, calls, well wishes and concern for my Pappaw Luke. Sorry I have not blogged in a few days, but I think that we knew his time on this Earth was drawing near and we wanted to spend as much time with him as possible at the hospital. Friday night, he was moved into MICU, so we could wait outside to see him a few minutes at a time. He just could not overcome the pneumonia that was overtaking his lungs. He had such a good attitude, he never complained or asked anything of us. He just would have a big grin on his face whenever we would come into his room. He just wanted us to surround him. On Monday, March 24th, his body was tired and he was ready to go home. I know that Jesus welcomed him into heaven Monday morning. God answered many prayers in that my grandmother, my mom and her brothers and sisters did not have to make hard decisions about whether or not to put him on machines, but that Pappaw slipped off into a peaceful sleep. He did not suffer in death. He was such a special man. A wonderful daddy, granddaddy and great-grandaddy. We will miss him terribly, but we are at peace knowing he is not suffering anymore. I will be 29 years old in June, and I had all four grandparents this entire time. It is has been very hard to let Pappaw Luke go. I know you try to prepare your mind, but you are NEVER ready to let them go. So doing the funeral home thing was a new experience. I never knew how taxing it was on the family, but I also never knew how thankful you are to the people who come to pay their respects. It gave me a whole new outlook on why paying your respects to your family and friends is so important. His funeral was yesterday, and it was so beautiful. He was an wonderful man and we are selfish in the loss, but rejoicing that he is in a far better place. I love you, Pappaw Luke!!!!

Where have the Coleys been?!?!?!?!

The house "Extreme Home Makeover" made over in Louisville.

Albert's prized possession from the trip. His own Louisville Slugger Bat!!!

The outside of the Louisville Slugger Museum. The bat is over 100 feet tall!!!

So we have not fallen off the face of the Earth, though those closest to us have not seen us much lately. Well first off, I (Mandy), had a school trip to the Schlechty Center (you school people will know what this is) in Louisville, Kentucky to participate in a Coaching for Design workshop. It was a GREAT experience, and I had a great group to travel with. There were only four of us from Whitfield County, and I think we represented well!!! We also were able to take in some of the sights of the town while we were there. Albert took care of things at home and did a fabulous job!! While I was gone, my grandfather on my mom's side suffered a stroke and has lost some movement in his arm, legs, and it has affected his ability to swallow. He is still in the hospital in Dalton. He also has some pneumonia. We would really appreciate your prayers for him. His name is Luke Hill. Albert is still teaching and doing a great job I might add. The kids are loving his class. Getting middle schoolers to sing is a huge feat!!! And most of them enjoy it!!! Albert also just finished singing with a group that performed Tuesday night at a church in Chattanooga, and he will perform Brahms Requiem with the Chattanooga Symphony and Orchestra on Friday, March 28th and Saturday, March 29th at the Tivoli. Whew....no wonder we are never home. We miss you all and hope to see you soon. Again, we ask for your prayers for my grandfather!! Love to you all!!

Busy, but boring!!!!!!!!!!

School is back in swing. Our break is over and Monday morning was SO hard to awaken to!!!! We have been busy doing our "thing", but not much to tell about. Currently, it is Tuesday night, and Albert is praying for snow. (Tomorrow is a North Whitfield day for him!!)I think that it is snowing in Nashville now. I just don't want to make it up in the summer when it is warm and sunny outside. I guess we will see in the morning!!!! Our friends Blake, Amy, Poxy (their dog) and unborn baby Weber will be coming for a visit this weekend. We will see what cool things we can do in the big "D" as we call it. That is about all!! Time to get ready for tomorrow!!

Lazy Saturday!!!!

Mallie resting in Dad's lap

I am enjoying the end to my week of freedom!!! It's back to work on Monday. We are having a GREAT lazy day at home. We are looking forward to dinner tonight at Mandy's favorite restaurant, Kanpai, with some great friends. We have spent the day watching movies and eating popcorn!! It is Mallie and Merritt's favorite treat!!! They know what it is when we take the plastic wrapper off before we put it in the microwave!! They are geniuses!!

Eating their popcorn treat!!!!

Dad and his babies!!!

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!!

Blake, Amy and Poxy after they told us the big news. They are going to be a mom and dad!!!! How cool!! We are thrilled for them!!!
Albert and Aaron approving of the big news!!!

This week has been flying by!! I can't believe that our week is almost over!!! Though I enjoyed this week, I do look forward to getting back in the swing of things back at school. I know, I'm a nerd :)!!!!! However, the faster we go back, the faster Spring Break gets here!! We are looking forward to having some lovely visitors in the near future. Our friends Blake and Amy Weber (aka new parents to be) from Huntsville and Aaron and Ashley Briggs from Nashville will be coming to visit, the big D as we call it, in the next few weekends. We are so looking forward to their visit!!! I am going to post some of our pictures from our last visit to Huntsville when we all got together.

Why I Became A Teacher.....

Because of Winter Break!!!!! Just kidding!! I love my job, and I love my wonderful kids, but this week is awesome!! There are no holidays, no stress, just a lovely week to relax. Albert is working on a great new house on Lake Allatoona in Cobb County, so I have enjoyed going out to eat with friends and hanging out at home. Mallie and Merritt have been glad to have me home. They think sleeping until 9:00am is the norm......What I have to do for those dogs (HAHA)!! Will post more pictures later!!!

Answered Prayers!!!

All of the Valentine's cuties!!!!!

Many of you have been praying for Eric and Keyla's new baby, Cal. The doctors orginally thought that he had poly-cystic kidney disease. After many prayers, Keyla and Eric saw a specialist in Atlanta this morning, and she declared that Cal did NOT have poly-cystic kidney disease after all. He does have cysts on his kidney, and his left kidney is not functioning at all, but it will not have to be removed as orginally thought. Thanks for all of your prayers. Our family has been so blessed with God's love and faithfullness.

The New Addition!!!

Proud Dad and Big Sis Beckley!!

Cousin Harris waiting patiently.

Albert looks so good with a baby!!!!
He's finally here!!!!

On February 2, our family welcomed a new member!!! Mandy's cousin, Keyla, gave birth to a precious baby boy. Cal Richards Manning is as cute as can be. We love going to their house to hold baby Cal and play in the kitchen with Beckley, Eric and Keyla's little girl!! They are so wonderful!!! We thank God for all of these beautiful babies and for the joy that they bring to us.

Our babies!!!!!

Mallie in her favorite spot!!!!

Merritt and his favorite toy!!!

These are our wonderful children, Mallie and Merritt. We have had them since they were 6 weeks old. They are now almost four years old. Thier favorite activities are sleeping, eating and taking a nap. What a life!!!!!!!!!

Here we Go!!!!

This is the most recent "posed" picture that I have of the two of us. It was taken around Christmas time, hence the poinsetta trees in the background. We have been busy as that Albert has agreed to help out North Whitfield Middle by taking on the half-time chorus director position. Crazy, you are thinking, but we like to keep things interesting. He is also in the middle of building two houses as well, so he is constantly working!!!!