Halloweenies

Did you know there's a difference between the (totally real and totally not made up) words Halloweeny and Halloweenie?

Well, there is.

Halloweeny is what everyone on my instagram feed is... cutesy, carving pumpkins, swimming in corn at Cornbelly's, dressing all cute in their flannel, and attending Halloween parties.

Halloweenie is what me and Chris are this October... not cutesy, not carving pumpkins, not swimming in corn at Cornbelly's, not dressing all cute in our flannel, or attending Halloween parties.

You might say that Halloweenie's are a little jealous of Halloweeny's. It's fine. We're fine. I mean, who needs Cornbelly's and pumpkin patches when you have orange kit-kats in your kitchen?! Basically the same thing.

Okay, enough of my boo-tober cries! Because these Halloweenie's are packing up and getting ready to move! And in true Halloweenie fashion, we're moving on Halloween. Speaking of weenies... that's exactly what I feel like as I attempt packing. Woof. (Pinterest, why do you have to be so motivating AND discouraging at the same time?!) Feel free to leave tips + tricks for packing and moving for this amateur :)

Boo-tober and packing talk aside, we have so much to look forward to and so, so much to be grateful for! I just need to keep reminding myself of that as I keep packing boxes and eating orange kit-kats.

Wedding Day Nuke

Dear blog world,

I am alive... but only just. This month has been so crazy with baby & bridal showers, helping Shelbs with wedding stuff, family parties... oh, and the usual craziness that is our lives with Chris in grad school and me teaching school. So of course, this weekend (the one weekend I haven't had something to do or somewhere to be) I got sick. The kind of sickness that kept me in the fetal position praying that I was done excreting body fluids. So there's that lovely image for you!

All complaining aside, so many blog-worthy things have happened this month! Good things! Like the fact that I went two days without diet Dr. Pepper! Fall Break (#teacherperks)! Me and Chris are selling our town home! And last but not least.. SHELBS GOT MARRIED!!! As much as I know you'd all love to hear about my experience of going two days without that dark poison I call Dr. Pepper, I'm just going to ease back into this blogging thing with a bunch of pictures from my sister's wedding festivities this past week.

Shelbs' wedding was so perfect, so laid-back, and had me scratching my head saying "hmm, why didn't I think to do that?!" Such a typical thing of me to do anytime I see Shelby do or wear anything, really. Can I be Shelbs when I grow up?!

Anyway, I'll let my pictures of Shelbs wedding week do most of the blogging for me, since I'm trying to ease back into blog world + eat solid foods. Enjoy!

Shelbs was introduced to the G-life on Tuesday! Wahoo!

Her cute wedding dinner that I failed to take more pictures at.

Just keepin' it classy between the temple and reception ha!

Shelbs had a soda bar and cookies at her reception! S'cute, huh?! Why didn't I do that!?

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Hooley! AKA our new go-to couple! 

The Big Reveal!

You know what's fun? Being told you're going to Disneyland. 

You know what's even more fun? Watching a bunch of grandkids be told that they're going to Disneyland (I may or may not have teared up during the announcement). 

That's exactly what happened on Sunday (Martha's Birthday!!). Martha has had "Take the family to Disneyland" on her bucket list for a while now, and now she'll be able to cross that off in November! 

Her vision of opening up a HUGE box full of balloons (one for each grandkid) and a Mickey Mouse balloon that had a countdown chain hanging from it was executed perfectly. It was so fun to watch the kids come in and try to resist the urge to touch/open the huge box sitting on the table. I guess it really is true what they say... good things come to those who wait! 

The only problem is, I'm not sure if I can handle waiting until November. If I think about it long enough, I start to tear up + salivate thinking about the Dole Whips waiting for me there. Ever since I went to Disneyland with my family last November (that you can read about here), I've had the biggest  craving to go back! I'm so excited!! Like, probably more excited than all of the grandkids. November can't come soon enough! 

I hope Disneyland is ready for the  Gourley Gang (and quite possibly for our matching shirts ha!) 

Thank you Martha for letting us be part of your bucket list and for having a birthday!!! We love you.

Things Students Say

"Why can't the government just stop trying to destroy our lives and find a way to make Twinkie's healthy?!" (Another student's response to that statement:) "That's a good idea! All of the moneys should be used for that!"

"My dog ran into my knee so I can't run the mile today."

"I can't run because I have this crazy disease where when I go through growth spurts I faint and pass out." (sidenote: a whole blog could/should be dedicated to excuses given by student's in PE)

"Mrs. Gourley, I have a name that you can call me: Honolulu!"

(boy student) "What's PSM??" (the article he read was talking about PMS) *girls start giggling* Me: "We'll learn more about that in our human sexuality unit, bud..."  boy: "Ohhh, wait! I think that's when my mom and sister's get cranky!"

After asking a student about what happens if we don't eat enough calories: "We get fricken malnourished!!!"

"Are you not calling on me because I'm brown?"

"Can I just pull out my phone and play FIFA while you explain this? I already know how to play soccer."

"Is your husband blonde? I think I might know him!" (in the middle of my lesson on food labels)

"Look, it's Oprah! I love her!" (it was Michelle Obama)

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Obviously, there's never a dull moment in Jr. High.

sometimes you just need a night ride

Obviously this is not the most flattering picture of me and Chris. But obviously it was taken on my new camera that Chris got me for my birthday (!!!). Oh, and remember how I wouldn't shut up about how September is my birthday month and then I didn't even end up writing a birthday blog post? For those of you wondering, my birthday was filled with Swig and Ulta gift cards + food + sweet messages from friends/family + students singing Happy Birthday to me -- such a good day! In fact, I'm pretty sure my birthday was really the only "good day" I've had for the past couple of weeks...

Why is life so freaking crazy right now?! Oh yeah, maybe because I'm still learning how to be a first year teacher + Chris is doubling up on classes + our cars keep breaking down (and our bank accounts...) + we're trying to find a house. I've been an emotional wreck. Seriously, just ask Chris and my tear-stained pillow how many meltdowns I've had within the last few weeks. According to Chris, we're in what's called, "the grind."

Speaking of Chris... I love that guy! For many reasons, but specifically because on Tuesday he got home from school early and suggested we go on a night ride on our bikes. That night ride was exactly what I needed (Chris time + exercise = a much happier Shayli), because after I had vented to Chris about all the sucky things that have been going on in our lives he said, "we just need to focus on being positive. Every day."

So that's what we've been working on this week. It's become our nightly routine to ask each other "What's one thing that was good about today?" and holy goodness it's already made such a big difference! I feel like I'm finally starting to get out of this funk hole I've been stuck in all September long, but who knows... maybe I just feel like that because I didn't have school today? Just kidding. It's totally because of Chris' optimism. What the heck would I do without my person?! Oh wait, I know! CRY. Like, all the time.

Thankful for Chris and night rides.

And diet Dr. Pepper (the official sponsor of this scatterbrained post).



p.s. I've missed you, blog world.