Living for the weekend

Ah, fall.  Ah, sunsets.  Ah, the weekend...

More of the valley

I love weekends.  I am REALLY busy- and likely will be this entire school year with learning the new job, filling in for someone else, then next semester have nearly 3 times more sections of Genetics than are currently being taught.  I leave at 8 and am home between 6-7.  I come home tired, but determined to play with Asher, help Valerie and spend some time with Matt.  It is tiring though.  I have 100 of my own students, plus all of the Genetics students (~90) that need me from time to time and now, I have advisees as well.  It leads to a busy time at work, but that is fine.  I love it.  I look greatly forward to being paid at regular intervals soon.

Yesterday, I set up meetings with my advisees at 2:30, then I had to meet with research students, then I met Matt in town with Valerie to take her to a stake young women's overnight camp at the "local" boy scout camp.  It was a gorgeous area, but wayyyy out in the boonies. 

Loved this barn

Nice leaves

We are seeing signs of the fall here, but more than that, we are seeing the results of a MAJOR drought.  More leaves are turning brown and dying than turning pretty colors that we are used to (and love) seeing.  I know we need the rain, I am hoping for lots of it for this area.  Just as long as it does not happen next Saturday.  We are having Asher and Taylor's birthday party then.  We are not making a huge deal with presents (in fact, it is "no presents, just your presence please!"), but we are reallllly trying to make it a great time for the kids to play and the parents to relax and eat, so no rain is what we hope for.

Alas.  Thanks for the compliment

It is only a week away! This morning, I represented the Biology department along with 3 other faculty at the JMU Academic Open House.  That was a big success.  I have decided to take the active role and be involved in as much as possible.  I actually have the option of "going for" a tenture-tract option and there is no time like the present to begin the angle for that.

So, all the above pictures were taken with my phone camera.  On Tuesday, Matt sent me a text message and said "A box came for you!" So I asked him to open it and it was this...

I am a little overwhelmed, to say the least, about it.  I just do not know what to say or anything.  It is just overwhelming, but I am very very grateful.  I have not been able to use it a WHOLE lot yet (I am super busy!), but I am learning and I love it.  The photos are incredible and the beauty, second to none.  I love it.  

Look at the focus and color!

Amazing options when getting shots

Asher is a constant model

Even when he is sleepy

but especially when he is playing

I love this baby!

That funny face

swanging

It even makes the Tercel more attractive!

No!! Not a big-boy bed!

My friend Carly texted me after my morning with Biology faculty as I was driving to get Valerie from camp.  She needed to get rid of the toddler bed from her living room and even offered to deliver it, so now Asher has a big-boy bed.  I am not sure how I feel about this! I have told Matt to leave his crib up for now.  I just am having a hard time accepting he will be two Monday.  I love my baby Asher so much.  I love the big boy he is growing into, but the snuggle-bug, who needs his mommy and daddy is not someone I want to grow up too fast.  Anyway, he has a big-boy bed now and he is taking his first nap on it.  I suppose he will be fun when he wakes up and wanders around now.