If you dropped a pumpkin in water, would it sink or float?
Click on "Comments" to cast your vote. I'll announce the correct answer later this week.
This was part of one of my lesson plans today :) The kids loved it.
Happy Halloween!
We've had a great time together today. We slept pretty late after having had a long working week, and stayed in the bed until about 2 reading Peace Child together. It was one of those books that's hard to put down until you've heard the whole story. We definitely recommend it! See post below (Oct.14-16). When we finally got up and moving, we went for a drive- pharmacy, lunch...and stopped by Riverfront Park (sometimes called Turtle Park) in dowtown Albany to eat lunch. It is a pretty nice park...good for cheap family fun. We sat on the swing, walked by the river, and got a snow cone. After that we went to another park- Tift park, also in downtown Albany- to play tennis. Aaron beat me big time (6-2, 6-0), but it was still enjoyable. Aaron just finished his run for the day and we've had dinner. Time to dream about tomorrow and all the lesson planning that must still be done!
Yesterday I was able to re-live the Target registery phenomenon. Two of my students (brothers) are from Pakistan, and their mother is having another baby in January. This family has been in the U.S. for about 9 months, and are somewhat isolated because of the culture and language difference. I have planned to have a baby shower for her- to encourage her, to fan the excitement of having a baby, and to share with her this American custom which so far has seemed to be very unfamiliar to her. We are having it November 12 at the Fernandez house. The boys' teachers and some ladies from Sunday School will come. Sooooo, last night I took her to Target to introduce her to our idea of the registery. Her English is very basic but we were able to communicate well enough to have a good time together. I'm not completely sure if she understood what we were doing...basically she held and pointed the scanner while I showed her the things I think she might need. She kept saying, "You choice" (if I have a baby boy in the future, you can look on this registery and see what I'd want!). She is a sweet person- she insisted on taking me to dinner (Burger King) after we finished. The family's story is very fascinating- ask me about it sometime. Getting to know these families is one of my favorite parts about being an ESOL teacher. This is my international mission field.
If you are reading this and feel a desire to be generous, go to www.target.com and find something to send that's on her gift registery! Her name is Mussrat Ayaz.
Aaron and I took a Gulf Coast vacation this weekend. We went to Panama City Beach, FL. It's about a 3 hour drive...not bad. We've both been before- once at different times when we were in college and didn't know each other, and once this summer when Victorious Life Church youth group invited us to be chaperones for their retreat. But this was our first married couple romantic getaway! Lee County Schools are on Fall Break and so it seemed like a great time to go. We left Friday afternoon around 1 and just got back a couple of hours ago. We saw a lot, did a lot, and vacationed a lot, but it wasn't quite enough! That's how vacations work.
Anyway, here are some pictures of where we stayed, and the things we did. See picture captions for more details.
Aaron and I went to Panama City Beach knowing that Michael and Rebecca McNeal were there, and knowing that they were staying in the same resort that we booked. We are vacation crashers on the side.
Michael and Rebecca go to First Baptist of Leesburg and are actually are new Sunday School leaders. Rebecca also teaches at Lee Co. Middle School. We have done several things together in the past few months.
We ended up spending quite some time with them- dinner Friday night, putt-putt, on the beach, dinner Saturday night, go-carting, ice cream, and a tennis rendevous. They are a fun couple to hang out with! We hope they didn't mind sharing their vacation.
Saturday night we went to Pineapple Willy's for dinner. Seafood! It was the ultimate sports entertainment...they had 20 or so screens of anything to do with sports. Michael and Rebecca concentrated on the Georgia Bulldogs game while Aaron and I rooted for UVa against FSU (only because we love my brother, Stephen, very much). We talked to him while he was at the game...congratulations on the win! We expect the same support next time State plays.
After dinner we played games in an Arcade. I dominated in Skeeball after so much experience at ChuckE.Cheese's when I was younger. Aaron spent most of his time at the basketball game. We won 65 tickets but gave them to a little kid.
And, we played some more. We rode go-carts! Of course I finished last, and Aaron completely disregarded that very clear sign that says, "No Bumping!"
This was after a few hours on the beach Saturday...you can tell Aaron's going to be hurting! We both got burned. We are so irresponsible sometimes.
Saturday morning we woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, so we went for a ride and found this park. We tried to walk down the pier, but it was closed.
Aaron doing what he does best- playing. He and Michael threw the football for a few minutes. I didn't last long.
The water is so clear! Look at those pretty pink toes!
We stayed in this tower of Long Beach Resort. We had an oceanside room...next to the construction. Even so, it was perfect for our trip.
The Gulf Coast has gorgeous beaches! 
After dinner on Friday night, we played putt-putt (how can you not when you're at the beach?). My husband is concentrating so hard, but only in vain...I beat him by several strokes.
We went out to eat on Friday night at a very nice restaurant called Capt. Anderson's. What a great date. We went with Michael and Rebecca. All four of us got dessert!
I started a new book this weekend. I've been missing a good read since I started teaching...and here it is! Peace Child tells of a missionary family's experience with sharing Christ's love with the cannibals (yes, cannibals) of Netherlands New Guinea. It is a fascinating culture to ponder. Aaron got in on it, too- I let him borrow it to get to the same place I was so that now we can finish it together. While he was getting there, I began another book called Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper. It includes biographies of 5 believing women- Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Aylward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare. Very good! And I have a whole day off tomorrow to read some more!
I forced myself to be creative today because I wanted to decorate appropriately for the fall. This is the wreath I made for the front door!
Aaron and I went shopping this afternoon...we got some moulding for the bathroom ceiling, a tree for either the living room or kitchen (we can't decide where to put it yet), and flowers for the front porch. Aaron spent some time sharpening the blades of the lawn mower and then did a great job cutting the grass. I spent time cleaning the house. I took some pictures after we finished everything so that you can see what we're up to. This is our first home!
Welcome to Albany, Georgia's edition of "Cribs." Today we will be looking at the local trash man's house. Complete with a two car garage, this ranch style fits like a glove down here in the dirty south. Three beds, two toilets, and a place to put a cooking pot or two, this elaborate layout is suitable for any young couple's needs. So stop procrastinating- come on down and pull up a chair. 
Lisa made the wreath and I potted the mum.
Wreath--MuM 
This is one of the guest bedrooms. If you come...you will sleep here. 
This is our living room. Lisa is responsible for ahhhh....everything decorative. I am responsible for ahhhh....nothing.
It's kind of ironic to have a fireplace in South Georgia. It never gets that cold. 
Yep...let the record show that I am cleaning.
This is a wall in our bathroom above the tub. Towels by Jean. 
Where we lay our sleepy heads. 
Grandma Carolyn gave us this piece. The top part of this hutch is upside down but we like it that way. This is also the room where we will put a dining room table one day. We went looking today...EXPENSIVE!!
This is my personal favorite. We eat here! The tree in the corner is new-along with the paint on the wall. Like it? Aaron and I enjoyed a dinner date last night at the Friendship Diner, which is right up the road from our house. We met around 7:30 to catch a couple hours of the Wolfpack football game on ESPN. They played Georgia Tech...one of my principals is a hard core (GT) fan and was giving me a hard time about it, but we won! So this morning I had some fun in the office.
The owner of the Diner talked us into a Millionaire Brownie and a blackberry cobbler after our dinner. It was a fun night to forget about the difficulties of the week.
Pack Steals Road Victory With Fourth Quarter INT
Jay Davis threw two long touchdown passes to Brian Clark, including an 80-yard go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
Oct. 6, 2005
ATLANTA (AP) - Jay Davis threw two long touchdown passes to Brian Clark, including an 80-yard go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, and Garland Heath's interception in the end zone with 26 seconds left protected the lead as North Carolina State beat No. 24 Georgia Tech 17-14 on Thursday night.
Georgia Tech had a first-and-goal at the 2 with 33 seconds left. Reggie Ball fired a pass in the end zone that hit the hands of receiver Calvin Johnson who was in the air as he was hit by Marcus Hudson. Heath grabbed the ball and got two feet down before going out the back of the end zone.
Join me in supporting the A-T Children's Project by sponsoring Aaron Fernandez in the 2006 WALT DISNEY WORLD Marathon. He is raising money for a cure and life improving therapies for a rare genetic disease called ataxia-telangiectasia that effects children. Visit his fundraising web page, and please pass it on to your friends! Either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your web browser.
http://www.atcp.org/Fundraising/Marathoners/Fernandez.htm
We realize most of you have never heard of Albany, GA. Here are some links so that you can learn more about our town.
www.albanyga.com
www.lee.ga.us
And about our governor, Sonny Perdue: (dad, you will like this one)
www.walb.com/global/Story.asp?s=3890940
We get in free with my teacher's pass! Hence Aaron's big grin. 
They love kids! Especially when they drop their cups through the bleachers and somebody who can climb a fence has to go get it...
The Trojans have had a winning season, which apparently is notable for this area because we hear about it often.
Laurie and Joshua. She is expecting again and this time it'll be a girl!
We still have a few things to tell about that happened during our break time. Work: Aaron recently became manager for another branch around us in Douglas. It is about 2 hours away and so he has to travel about once a week. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the business, though, so we are excited. He worked very hard on a budget proposal last week and it was impressive. Teaching is becoming a blessing...I love seeing the students everyday and encouraging them. I feel like I'm really fighting for something important when I go to work. The lesson planning is still a struggle...and I don't like having to work when I get home and on the weekends. I've learned a lot about saying "enough is enough" and "It will still be there tomorrow." We had two days off this past week and I was reminiscent about what it was like to stay at home. I got so much done! And I got more than 6 hours of sleep! Fall break is coming soon (Oct. 14-17). Play: not much to say here. Aaron is training for a marathon in January, so he is running all the time. I ride my bike beside him and do all the talking. Church: We joined at the end of July and were baptized at the beginning of September. Our Sunday School leaders are moving to Augusta, and we are sad to see them leaving. IB and Michelle Parnell were the first people to reach out to us when we moved. They are persistent! They took us out to dinner one night in the summer, and she has invited me over for lunch a couple times. We had a Going Away party for them 3 weeks ago at the McNeal's house in Leesburg. Here are some pictures:
Kent, Michelle, and David. Some of us watched the Georgia Bulldogs play football.
The kitchen was a favorite place...we all brought something to eat! Aaron and I made saugage cheese balls (thanks, Aunt Angie, for the recipe!) and we made a chocolate brownie trifle in our new trifle dish (thanks, Southern Living!). From the left: Laurie, Starla, Rebecca, Chad, David, and Chip.
Along with the going away party, we also showered Michelle with baby girl gifts (she is due at the end of December).
Melanie and I are admiring Rebecca's wedding pictures.
Fernandez Family
About
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This blog is a way for us to journal about the fun events and milestones of our days as husband and wife and new parents. Enjoy catching up with what's going on in the Fernandez family!
Aaron and Lisa
Married December 18, 2004
Vivian Gray: born June 18, 2008
Kate Leigh: born August 5, 2009
Hank Michael: born August 8, 2012
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