We're PREGGERS!!!

Brandon and I are proud to announce that we are going to become parents on August 4, 2010. This was definitely not planned, but we are SO excited about this new baby boy or baby girl that is about to enter our lives. I am almost 10 weeks and the baby is about 1.5 inches long and the size of a prune. It's amazing how something so tiny can already make such an impact on my life.

I haven't had any morning sickness, but a lot of queasiness. I am trying to test the old wives tale that if you don't throw up you're having a boy and if you puke you're guts out you're having a girl. So, according to this tale, we are having a boy. We will have to wait until March to find out!!!

So far, so good!! Everything is looking good so far. We have our second appointment on January 13th. Can't wait to see that beating heart again!! It's amazing that I have a life growing in me!!

Julian, CA

What a weekend!! Brandon and I took our annual trip to Shadow Mountain Ranch in Julian, CA for our min-honeymoon weekend. We had a great time together. Shadow Mountain Ranch is a lovely, Christian Bed and Breakfast with the most amazing couple who runs it. We found this B&B when were researching last year for a little trip. It is such a cool place with themed rooms. We stay in the "Gnome Home" where it looks like a tree stump and inside there is a waterfall shower.

Brandon planned a great day yesterday. We had breakfast with our hosts in the morning and then headed to town for a little window shopping and of course have some famous Julian apple pie. It was YUMMY!! We had dinner at a local restaurant and then went on an hour long moon-lit carriage ride complete with Champange. It was SO romantic. The stars in Julian are incredible. I have never seen so many in my life. It was such a clear night that I felt like we could see forever. It was a good thing it was a clear night since we headed to the Observer's Inn for an hour long star gazing session. This man has 3 research level telescopes. We saw so many cool things. We saw star clusters, nebula's, galaxies, Jupiter with 4 moons and Uranus. It was SO COOL!! You don't realize what a small part this world is within the universe. It was pretty awe-inspiring. Plus, it was such a clear night we could see the Milky Way and I saw 4 meteors. Needless to say it was an amazing night.

I have such a wonderful husband who is such the romantic!!

What a Weekend!!!

Brandon and I had the most amazing weekend ever!! We went to LA for the weekend for a post-wedding shower that was given to us by some very generous people!! Brandon's mom is a pediatric OT and one of her client's mom's wanted to throw us a shower. We had a fabulous time with great food, great people and great conversation. After the shower we went over to Hunter's house (Brandon's younger brother) and had an amazing game night. We played until 2:15 a.m. and just hung out together. I am so lucky to have amazing in-laws and we had such a great time. We love to listen to music together and dance and sing together. It is so much fun when we all get together!!!

Sunday we went over to see my best friend Heather and her husband, Ryan in Whittier. They weren't able to come to the wedding since they are amazing opera singers and had the opportunity to sing with some great summer programs. We watched the wedding DVD and had a great dinner. Our dog Mayatuk even ate his first avocado!! LOL!! We ended up not leaving until 8:00 and didn't get back to Yuma until almost 1:00 a.m. It was so much fun!!

Needless to say, we were a little bit tired this morning, but it was so worth it!!

Back to School

It's been awhile since I've blogged about the new married life of Katie and Brandon. Here is the latest.

Trip back to Yuma:

Brandon and I had a very interesting time coming back to Yuma. We decided to take 4 days to drive back instead of just 2 this time. We had a pretty uneventful time until our car broke down in the middle of New Mexico. After the check engine light came on, we stopped to find out that we had "lean" fuel and might need a new fuel filter. We made it back to Yuma on time, we just needed to take more breaks. We were just glad it wasn't something like the fuel pump. Thank goodness we have smart dads who can calm us down and help us figure things out.

School Starts!!

Brandon and I started back in District One 2 weeks ago. Brandon is still working as a Para at Gila Vista Jr. High in an Autistic Classroom and I am still at Gwyneth Ham teaching music. Things are going well so far. The kids are loving calling me Mrs. Tharp instead of Miss Ballard. They get a kick out of it!! It's so cute!! One of my favorite things so far this year has been teaching the kids there music rules as a rap. I downloaded a rap instrumental track from iTunes and had them rap. They love it!!! Brandon is still taking classes for his PE certification. He is starting his practicums and hopefully will be finished by the spring of 2011.

Future plans.....

Now that we are married everyone is placing bets on when will get pregnant. Brandon and I are not planning on starting to "try" until next year. Brandon's teacher claims that we will come back from Christmas break and be pregnant. I want in on that bet!! We want to spend this year getting to know each other as husband and wife and get out of debt. We want to get back to Minnesota as soon as possible.

The end...

Alright, that's all for now. More to come from the hottest place on earth!! It was 117 today. UGH!!

Minnesota vs. Yuma

Well, it's almost time to head back to Yuma to start my 5th year of teaching. To me, it's hard to believe that I have been at this for 5 years or that I moved to Yuma 5 years ago. My mom still tells me how brave I was to move 2200 miles away from home without knowing a soul. I didn't think of it as a brave act I just knew I had to do it. Call it a gut feeling, but I knew I was meant to be in Yuma. Now, looking back at it all it was the best decision I ever made. I wouldn't have met the amazing friends that I have now, grown in my teaching career or met Brandon. God knew I was meant to be there.

BUT, Minnesota will always be my home. The place that I love and the place where I want to raise our future children. I can't see raising my children in Yuma. I want my kids to grow up with what I had. Fall, flowers, snow, building snowmen, snow days, ect. I could go on and on!! I am so lucky that Brandon loves Minnesota as much as I do. He loves this place I call my birthplace.

We've been in Minnesota for almost 9 weeks and I don't want to leave. But, our home is in Yuma now and we must head back. We are not looking forward to the drive back, but this time we will be doing the drive in 4 days instead of just 2. I hope we can fit everything in the car!!

In the beginning...

there was Katie Ballard and Brandon Tharp.  We were living our separate lives in our different states until a wonderful, little thing brought us together and that was eHarmony.  

It's so funny when Brandon and I get to tell people we met on eHarmony.  Most people don't believe us.  They smile and ask, "really?"  We smile back, look into each other's eyes and say yes.  I don't think either one of us ever thought that it would actually work.  An internet site would actually help you find the love of your life, but it did work.

We fell in love and planned a wedding.  It was beautiful!!  I can't believe it is done.  We planned and planned, then one day it's over!!  It was so amazing to have our families and friends come and share our day with us. 

And now we are are Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Tharp.  We have so much ahead of us.  We have many plans and many adventures ahead of us.  No matter what happens, good or bad, we have each other to lean on.  Let our future begin!!