I'm EMPLOYED!

Well, I guess I should update with more information about my new job I am beginning tomorrow. I am the NEW Physical Education Teacher at Giles High and Narrow's High for 8th and 9th graders. I am SUPER excited about the sub position because it's a permanent sub position through the end of this school year. I have been SO frustrated lately because I have not worked a SINGLE day since the 2008-2009 school year has begun so I went from doing nothing to being completely overwhelmed with this new position! PE is completely new to me and I don't really know where to begin but I am working with some really great people that have been super helpful! Stay tuned for some interesting updates about my first few days. It could get interesting.

VISITORS!!!

Drew and I have had an EXCITING weekend! We have had a FULL house! Catherine and William have been with us for a week and on Friday Chris, Jodie, Kaleb, and Brenna came to stay the weekend. We gave them the GRAND tour of Pearisburg and visited ALL weekend! Kaleb was a little under the weather but we HOPE still had a good time. I made him his favorite....CUPCAKES with his choice of sprinkles and those seemed to fix him each time he started to feel sick. Here are some highlights of the FUN we had!! It was SO nice to see them and to get to visit!

BUSY BIRTHDAY Weekend

On Friday, we travelled home to WV to celebrate William's 1st birthday. What a GREAT time we all had!! William was a HUGE fan of the icing....but we're concerned about his distaste for ice cream. He may not be Catherine's child!!!!!!

Then, Catherine and I packed William up and headed south with his car seat turned around like a BIG BOY!

Catherine and William are going to be house guests until Brenna's birthday at the end of the month. We didn't look at a calendar when we planned this trip. Orignally, we thought it was only two weeks until Brenna's BIG DAY but we were wrong. So we are going to have house guests for three weeks! HA HA We are going to have SO much fun together!!!! I even cut my hair off!!!!!

Stay tuned for more of our adventures over the next few weeks!

Latte anyone?

Drew FINALLY got his supplies from Starbucks and began his attempts to make a latte thanks to Linda and Big Jim. He worked and worked last night to pretty much perfect his latte. This morning he made some YUMMY lattes for the both of us....mine sugar free of course! :o)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Drew and I head to Richmond on New Year's Eve to spend it with Scott and Phil (even though Phil had to work). We started at Buddy's and then went to Cary Street where they raise a ball to ring in the New Year. After one gourmet dinner from Moe's Southwest Grill, many free drinks at Buddy's, walking MILES to unsuccessfully find Scott's car, one lost BMW, many funny pictures, one throw up incident (NOT Drew or I!), two cab rides to get around, and one cell phone thrown at a house I can say that I think we ALL had a GREAT New Years!!!!!!!!!!! I can NOT wait to see what 2009 has in store!

2008 Reflection

As I lie on the couch trying to feel better I started thinking about the past year and all that has happened. 2008 has been an unbelievable year for my family and me!! It's funny how the older I get....the quicker time passes. Here are some memories from 2008!

Catherine and Jason welcomed William Hart Ballard into the world.

Chris and Jodie welcomed Brenna Elizabeth Gardill into the world.

Andrew and I bought our very FIRST home!

Andrew surprises me in Charleston, SC with a BEAUTIFUL engagement ring!!!!!

I quit my job in NC and packed everything up to move to VA!

Kaleb turns the BIG 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grumpy is recognized as a Distinguished Alumni at Mountaineer Field.

Drew turns the BIG 3-0!!!!!!


Andrew and I are married on the most PERFECT November day!

A BEAUTIFUL honeymoon to the Dominican Republic as husband and wife!!!!

Our First Thanksgiving in our new home with MOST of our loved ones with us.


Our First Christmas together!!

What a fantastic year 2008 has been. We have been so incredibly blessed. Can't wait to see what 2009 has in store for us!!!!!

A VERY fun day after Christmas

On our way to Kaleb & Brenna's house.

Gotta love the Wii.

Fun times in our PJs after a FUN evening with family.