Whew, School’s Over. Let’s Catch Up.

 

Is it just me or has this summer been exceptionally busy?  As you may have guessed from my blogging hiatus, things have been a little crazy for me lately…well since about May.  My full-time position at UAB, in addition to my two courses, have taken up just about every minute of every day for me all summer.  I have slept about half as much as usual.  I’ve eaten way worse than normal.  We are talking fast food, dinner from the vending machine in the School of Education building, or skipping a couple meals at a time.  And to add to my healthy and balanced lifestyle (note sarcasm), I’ve consumed considerably higher amounts of caffeine.  I might as well have just had an IV drip of the stuff attached at all times. 

I’m finally able to blog about all of this now because I’m FINISHED with the summer semester.  I officially turned in my last paper on Wednesday, August 4th!!!!!!  The last two weeks have been “H” “E” double hockey sticks.  I’ve had two final papers and one lengthy and time consuming final exam all due in the last two weeks.   One paper was for my EDL 704 - Educational law and policy development course.  It ended up being 67 pages!!!  The other paper was for EPR 692 - Educational Research.  This was a research methods course.  My final paper for this class consisted of a mini-literature review to give us a better understanding and (hopefully) a jumpstart on what will be chapter two of our dissertations.  When I say mini, please understand the context.  Mini makes things sound easy and manageable right?  WRONG.  This paper ended up being 31 pages!!!! 

Sorry for the rant.  I know we all have stresses in our lives.  I know I brought the stresses described above on myself when I decided to pursue my Ph.D. while working full-time.  Despite the constant pressure I am under I wouldn’t trade the opportunity to pursue this degree for anything.  I know it will be worth it in the long run. To stay focused, I visualize when I will become Dr. Langham on graduation day (3 years from now) .  I attended my mother’s doctoral graduation a few years ago.   Since I went to hers, I know all of the special pomp and circumstance that surrounds the hooding ceremony and graduation.  I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!  This blog is my outlet and as such, I wanted to shout from the rooftops that I made it!!!  I’m finished!!!!  I survived yet another semester!!!!  But since I am too tired from all of that work to climb up to a rooftop, I’ll just tell you all here.  :)

This post is an attempt to catch up on all of the things I wanted to blog about this summer but did not have the time to because of work and school.  I may follow up with some future posts about a few of these topics.

Here’s a recap of our summer:

• In the late spring, Judd and I went to my grandmother’s house.  She taught me how to make her delicious biscuits.  (I’ll definitely do a future post about this and put it in the “Southern Women How To’s Section.”)

 

• In early May, my brother got married.

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Tull

 

  Judd and Me

My Parents

 

The groom’s cake.  Yeah, this cake probably deserves a post all its own.  This was an armadillo cake like the one in Steel Magnolias.  (Please note that they did have a normal bride’s cake and an additional groom’s cake).

• In mid May, Judd and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.

• In late May, Judd’s brother got married.  I hope to do a post about the wedding and about the bridesmaids’ luncheon I hosted for his wife, Brenna.  You’ve already seen a snippet about it here.  The photos below were taken by an amazing photographer and person in general, Julie Cottrell.  She also married a local Brewton man.  Julie did an outstanding job.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Colby Langham

 

Brenna, the beautiful bride

The gorgeous wedding cake.

• Shortly after Judd’s brother’s wedding we started a small business.  It all started when Judd made the wedding invitations, response cards, thank-you notes, and the wedding program for the happy couple, Brenna and Colby.  It all turned out so great we realized we might be on to something.  To read Brenna’s take on our invites click here.  We’ve had a busy summer taking orders and designing DIY printable cards, stationary, and invitations.   (I’ll certainly do a post about this in the future as well).  In the meantime, if you are interested in placing a custom order, just leave me a comment below.

• In early June, we went the wedding of two friends we made while living in Philadelphia, PA.  They were both originally from the south.  The wedding was in Mobile, AL.  Most of Judd’s firm from Philly came down for it.  For many of them, it was their first time in the south.  I think they enjoyed there time here.

• In mid-June we went to Atlanta, GA to visit with my FABulous friends.

The FAB in Atlanta

The FAB and significant others at an Atlanta Braves game.

• In late June, I accompanied Judd on a business trip to Memphis, TN.  We had a great time.

Elvis Presley’s grave at Graceland.

The entrance to the beautiful and historic Peabody Hotel.

The most delicious ribs I have ever had.  They were from Rendezvous.

• For the Fourth of July, we went down to Brewton, AL (Judd’s hometown).  We grilled out,   celebrated my birthday, went for air boat rides (on my brother-in-law’s super fun new boat), and spent a day on the river.

 

• In mid-July I hosted a “nesting” themed baby shower.  (There will definitely be a post to come about this).

We have had an eventful summer.  I’ve truly enjoyed the time with Judd, friends, and family.  I even enjoyed learning more about my field while in school; however, I am SO glad to have those two classes completed.  Grades will be posted this week.  I’m pretty sure I did well.  Keep your fingers crossed.  :)