Looking over Alamogordo

On Thursday, T, Teal, and I went exploring after school. We ended up climbing up the mountain to a look out point that looks out over all of Alamogordo. It was incredible how much you could see from the top. We are hoping to take my parents up there when they come to visit in November. Here are some pictures of us riding this weekend.

Friday Afternoon

                                        Saturday's ride to see the aspens that are changing!

Our New Toy!

First afternoon on the fourwheeler!

Well.. we bit the bullet and bought a fourwheeler. For weeks, Taylor went back and forth about getting one. We couldn't resist with the moutians being so close to us. We have been able to see so much more than we would have ever been able to see without it. We have been up every weekend since we got it and have already put 131 miles on it. Taylor built a little platform on the back so that Teal can sit behind us when we ride. She is a champ at riding too.

With the platform T built!

Riding like a champ!

Uncle T and Aunt Toots!

On September 16, 2010 T and I became and aunt and uncle. Rowland Edward Thorn was brought into this world. Taylor got a call early Thursday morning from his mom that Lesley went into labor early Thursday morning. All day we waited and waited. Around 2:30 Rowland was born. He weighed 7lbs and was 20.5 inches long. We are so excited for Mitch and Lesley and cannot wait to meet him ourselves.

Such a CUTIE!!

Labor Day Weekend

On Labor Day Weekend, Mrs. Susanne and Braxton came out to visit. We had a blast. On Saturday morning, we headed out to White Sands. We took turns sledding down the dunes and pulling Braxton behind the truck on the sled. He had more fun sledding behind the truck than he did sledding down the dunes! Ha After heading to White Sands, we showed them my school and classroom. Braxton wanted to stay and help teach the class with me. On Sunday, we headed up to Cloudcroft. We hiked a little on the Rim trail and then headed back into town for a good Southern Barbecue lunch. Later that afternoon, we took them to Bluff Springs where Braxton and I got in the creek with Teal. We enjoyed spending time with them and showing them around our town. We cooked out Sunday night and watched Pirates of the Caribbean. We were sad to see them leave on Monday.

What a munchkin!

WOW!

Well three months later... and I am just now getting around to updating everyone on what has been going on in our lives over here in the lovely state of New Mexico. A lot has happened. I mean A LOT. From July till now I have started teaching, Jordan and Jake are married, Mrs. Susanne and Braxton have visited, T and I have become an aunt and uncle, we have purchased a fourwheeler, Taylor has turned 25, and our pup is now 7 months old.
      After returning back from the beach Fourth of July weekend, I started working hard on my classroom. Mom came in July and helped me for a few days. We worked for 3 days straight organizing papers, hanging posters, arranging desks, etc. We were pooped by the end of it all.

A week later I headed back South for Jordan's bachelorette weekend. It was such a great weekend. Nothing can beat a weekend with the girls. We layed out in the 104 degree, caught up on life, ate out, and celebrated Jordan all weekend. We were determined to get some good tans for the wedding. We went to dinner both nights. Red Bar was our first night out and Baytowne was our last night out!

I was able to see my Grandparents as well that weekend. It was so great to see them considering I hadn't seen them since February.

Eating in Baytowne!

All of us except Jenty!

The Bachelorette!!

Two weeks after Jordan's Bachelorette, I headed back to Alabama for Jordan and Jake's wedding. I don't think I have ever done so much flying in one month! It was such a fun time with great friends. The wedding festivies began Friday mid morning with the Bridesmaid luncheon, getting our nails done, rehearsal at the Sonnet House, and rehearsal dinner as well. It was such a fun time to celebrate Jordan and Jake. Saturday we all met at the Sonnet House around 2:30 to get ready and take pictures. It ended up raining that afternoon but cleared up JUST in time for the ceremony. Everything went well without a hitch. Well, except for all the girls getting on the bed in the bride's room and breaking the bed! whoops!

On August 16, 2010, I met all 24 of my 3rd graders for the first time.I was a nervous wreck. It is a weird feeling when you close that door after the bell as rang and it is just you and 24 children looking back at you. The first day went very well. In fact, the first week went surprisenly well. Don't get my wrong, there has definitely been days that I have been tested, but that is just part of it. I have defiantly shed tears, but the smiles have outshown the tears. It is such a blessing and joy to teach these 24 children. I wish all of you could meet them. We have a lot to learn and to look forward too this year.

Pictures to come of classroom...

~Taylor and I celebrated our 6 months on August 20, 2010~

Happy Bday America

For the 4th of July Taylor and I fly to Pensacola to be with his family for the long weekend. It was a trip just to get there due to Hurricane Alex, but once we were there we were so happy. We hadn't seen Taylor's  family since we have been married and moved off so it was a very emotional homecoming. Every year his whole family (Grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) goes down for the whole week of the 4th. As some of you know, Taylor's granddad died a year ago on the 2nd so we weren't able to do the "whole week beach thing" last year. This year was tough but it was such a refresher for everybody. We laid by the pool all day Saturday, once we got there, and most of the day Sunday. On the 4th, we always get together with other family and have a huge late lunch/early dinner meal. After our meal we all went and played putt putt and rode go-karts. Monday and Tuesday it rained but didn't stop us. Taylor and I were so glad to see everybody. It was like we haven't skipped a beat with all of his family. We walked on the beach, which we hadn't done in forever, ate good food, watched movies, and much much more! It was soo good to be with family and be MARRIED. It was really hard coming back this time though. It was not easy for both of us. We are so happy leaving out here and it has been awesome for our marriage but having times like this makes it hard to see that clearly. We know we will be back but it just makes it tough. We have settled back into reality though and look forward to what is to come!

The "kids"

Happy 4th!

Taylor's Family

                                                                  Me and Braxton!

home sweet alabama

 I took my first trip back home last week and loved every minute of it. It was such a wonderful refresher. I spent a whole week hanging out, eating, shopping, celebrating, and just being at home. We celebrated Michelle's bday and engagement, Mom's bday, and Jordan's wedding festivities!! It was a nonstop week. Mom and I went up to Cullman for a day and 1/2 to spend time with my Ninnie. We ate with my mom side of the family and celebrated Mom's bday. I was able to get all the places I had to been craving out in New Mexico out of my system too. I enjoyed eating Jim N Nicks, Tazikis, California Pizza Kitchen, Surin West, Panera Break, and many more! For the first time I was able to be apart of Jordan's wedding festivities. It has been hard living way out here and having one of your best friend getting married because I feel like I can't contribute to anything. I was able to go to her dress fitting and be apart of her lingerie shower. It was so great to catch up and see people that mean soo much to me. Although I didn't want the week to end, I was ready to head back and see my hubby and puppy. When I got home Taylor had grilled salmon, esparagus, and grilled onions for our dinner and also had gotten me flowers. It was delicious. I have the BEST husband in the world.

Mom and Dad come to visit!

Well I am almost a month behind on my blogging so I guess it is time I get back on it. We have been so busy these past three weeks that they have flown by. My parents made their first trip out together (mom has already come out once) on the 17th of June. Taylor was already off on Friday of that weekend so we were both able to hang out with them for a three day weekend. It was NONSTOP. If you know my dad you know that the Brocks don't mess around. We were on the go the whole weekend. We rode mtn bikes in Cloudcroft, hiked, grilled out, went out to eat, played with pup, took books to my school, shopped in Ruidoso, explored, and went to White Sands. The four of us had the BEST time together. When my parents flew in on Thursday afternoon they were able to meet Teal for the first time. They loved her and she loved them. She especially loved hanging around Mom (a.k.a. Nanna). She would follow her wherever she went.

On our way to Alamogordo we stopped in Orogrande to show Mom and Dad Taylor's job site. Later that night we grilled out steaks and enjoyed a nice evening on our 4x6 foot concrete patio. On Friday, we all went up to Cloudcroft to go hiking and mtn biking. Since Dad is having surgery on his shoulder, he let Taylor borrow is mtn bike for a while. Taylor was so excited. Our first trail we tried was quite an expert's trail. It was tough to say the least..haha but Taylor stuck with it and LOVED it.

We hung around up there till about dinner time and came back to Alamo. We took Mom and Dad to our favorite spot, Pizza Patio, and enjoyed some great Pizza.

On Saturday we decided to ride around town on our bikes and show dad the town. We came back and grabbed mom and Teal and headed up to Ruidoso. We ate at a really good place for lunch and shopped around. Saturday night we were exhausted so instead of cooking we ended up going to our other local favorite Chili's! haha Sunday (Father's Day) we had a lot to do so we woke up early and enjoyed a cup of Joe on our little patio. We started our busy day by going to White Sands. Mom and Dad couldn't believe how beautiful the park was!

We then came back and loaded up all by boxes to take to the school. Mom and Dad loved my school. They couldn't get over that I could see the mountains out my windows. Dad wanted us to go mtn biking again so we headed up to Cloudcroft for the second time. Taylor and I hit the trail while Mom and Dad hung out with Teal. The trip didn't last long cause I def. went over my handlebars and crashed. We headed back to Alamo and Taylor cooked some amazing ribs for Father's Day.

We just really enjoyed hanging out with my parents and showing them around the town we now live in. It was neat for them to see our house, job site, and school. Teal loved them and cant wait for them to come back for Thanksgiving!

19lbs going on 65lbs!

                      Our Family

Here are some awesome pictures David Roberts took of Teal when we went camping the other weekend. I cannot believe we have had her for over 2 months. She now weighs 19 lbs and her paws are still HUGE! She has a lot of growing to do. She really has become her own little self. We took her to our favorite spot "Pizza Patio" the other day. She was able to sit on the patio with us and she did an awesome job. She is (for right now--lets don't jinks it) a very well-tempered dog around other people. She has started fetching more, which Taylor is thrilled. We are looking forward to see what else we have in store for us. The things we are working on now is "laying down" and "Knee." We cannot say "Heal" because it so close to her name so we have decided to use "Knee."

In the Middle of Nowhere!

The five of us ( don't forget about Baby Roberts!)                         Our Campsite                                                                      

Last weekend we went camping with the Roberts in Cloudcroft! We had the best time. We defiantly wanted to get out of Alamogordo and El Paso (where Chelsea and David are living) because the projected weather was 108 degrees! So we loaded up early Saturday morning and headed up there. David took us to a spot him and his brothers had hunted at, which was in the middle of nowhere! We had to 4wheel drive it to get to our spot. We set up camp, ate lunch, and went for a hike with all the dogs when we got there. Teal loved it because they brought their two labs and she had a blast annoying the stew out of them. The rest of the afternoon, we just hung out around the camp fire. On Sunday, we cooked an awesome breakfast and packed up camp. The Robert's showed us the waterfall up in Cloudcroft and the dogs were able to swim some. Teal wasn't too sure about the water, which kinda disappointed us at first; but she is a little young so she will warm up to it! We were exhausted when we got home. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Chelsea and David and their pups. Can't wait to do it again!

                         One Wet Puppy!