Anyone else need a break?

I would just like a day to sleep in please!! ha! Sometimes life gets crazy busy!!
And, I am just trying to get things done (like papers graded and edline updated - all the stuff I won't want to worry with next week). Why? Because my man is coming home!!! heehee! 3 days peoples! 3 days! I mailed my last letter today!! woo0hoo! I also ate tamales out of a can tonight because when Kevin gets home, he thinks all that food is gross. I mean, I heated it up first...unlike when I eat pork and beans straight out of the can. ha! He hates that! So, I'm getting in the last of my "yucky, unhealthy" food. :-)
I am about to catch up on everyone's blog too. Last night, I had dinner with my friend with the twin girls. Adorable!! Although, I have NO clue how she keeps up with them at all. And, I don't think I am cut out for this Mom business unless I can order a 2 or 3 year old. Ha!
Ok...gotta check blogs...Thanks for any and all Audrey prayers. Check out her blog in my sidebar for updates. She has made it through her heart surgery with flying colors! Another woo-hoo!

And, last, a shout-out to my parents - Happy 33rd Anniversary!!! (on Friday) I love you both!! Aren't they cute?

Retreat continued...

I am still tired today from the excitement and late nights of scrapbooking over the weekend, so this is going to be short and then I'm crashing! I will catch up on all blog reading tomorrow...or Wednesday when I play hookie from work....shhh! Anyway - above is Peggy at her work station. We all got our own 6 foot table to scrap at - there were about 32 scrappers total I think.
This is our gang late into the night on Friday night...we were actually more tired Friday night than Saturday night...hmmm? Oh, and I have to give a shout-out to Laura & Peggy who made it until 4:30 am Saturday night...woohoo!

There was a scrapbook retreat queen...sadly it wasn't one of us. The queen is pictured below - we all have aspirations to steal her crown next year. The queen is the one who scraps the most pages. (I was pumped with my 34 pages!! yippee)
Our saving grace was Laura who won the PJ parade...whew! We have a winner in the group! Go Laura...aka Funny Girl! The PJ queen! I think it was the boots!

Scrap Retreat Weekend

First of all, we had a BLAST! Second, I am exhausted!! And, today when I got home I crashed for 3 hours and could have easily slept until in the morning!! Here we are in our matching T-shirts we bought just for the weekend, because we LOVE to cheese it up! heehee! Aren't they cute? Next year, we are thinking maybe matching PJ's...because this has to be a yearly thing. It was THAT awesome!! I only have the energy to post one picture tonight...more to come tomorrow! :-) I know you are all going to wait on pins and needles. LOL!
My favorite things about the weekend were just simply getting away with great friends, the awesome CD that Laura made for us to listen to on the way - she titled it scrappers delight - ha, the fun we had with our walkie talkies (we had to take two cars because of all the stuff and each car had a walkie talkie so we could sing together and still talk on the way...we know we are cheesy but we don't care!), and the new tools we learned about on the trip. I may think of more tomorrow when my brain isn't dead...but I do know I have to get a big bite. That is on my next Hobby Lobby trip!!
Stay tuned....more tomorrow! :-)

My scrap girls ROCK!

Friday was scrap night and they surprised me with a YUMMY birthday cake. So begins the start of my birthday WEEK. Ha! (Although, I am not too pumped about being 36...how did that happen? So, if anyone asks, I am 29 ~ again!) I only managed to scrap 2 pages Friday night...a record worst for me. Must be the age thing! Or, maybe I'm saving up for my full weekend of scrapbooking that is coming up! woohoo!

Oh, and my actual birthday isn't until Sunday the 8th. I have a week left of my mid-30's. Doesn't 36 seem too close to 40??? Don't answer that!

Now that's ICE!!

I am out of school today for an "ice storm" but it has really been a rain day. I have heard from a few people that the bridges and overpasses were icy this morning, so best not to risk the school buses. Especially since one was in a wreck last night with 10 kids on board. I am pretty sure that's why they didn't risk it this morning. But, it is supposed to get worse for us tonight.

Meanwhile, my BFF in NW Arkansas is getting a REAL ice storm!! Check out these awesome pics she just sent me:

Isn't Jacob a cutie? She taught him from an early age to be good for the camera...Momma is a scrapbooker you know! :-)

That is a great shot Michelle! I am praying you don't lose power! Stay warm...

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

From the infamous Reba/Kelly concert night of "Three Blondes and who has the tickets"....which one of us do you think forgot them? HA!

And....big news...got my final and my grade today for my master's class....Guess who got an A!!!! Whoo-hoo!

Girls Only Weekend!

Sometimes all you need are your girlfriends! :-)

This weekend can be summed up with quality girl time only...
**Saturday, Peggy and I started our day with shopping at a big scrapbook sale. Does it get any better?? Well, maybe if you threw in a chocolate dessert! ha! I even bought my first Christmas gift, and it wasn't for myself!! (Pat on the back here!)
**Saturday night was the Reba and Kelly Clarkson concert with my work BFF's. I admit that I don't really listen to Reba or Kelly, but thought it would be a fun girls night (and it was). Let's just title Saturday night as "Three blondes and who has the tickets?" Enough said! LOL!
**Today, Becca & I got to listen to a friend preach at his new church. He was awesome!! I hope to follow him to this church, but my Sunday's for awhile will be at John 3:16. Oh, and as a bonus, turns out it is a small world and his new church is my Great-Aunt and Uncle's church!

Hope you all had a good weekend!

It's all good!

How 'bout the sharing of some good news???!!!

• First, I got not one, but TWO letters from Kevin today! And, one was a love letter!! Gush - Gush! I haven't gotten one of those in years!! I'll give one line from it, but the rest is mine ~ he said, "You brighten my life, my spirits, my emotions." Yep, it was a good letter! I've read it three times already and cried (happy tears) twice! :-)
• My principal observed me earlier this week. Cross that off the list! Whew ~ it's over! I have taught 11 years now and still hate observations. But, I couldn't have paid my kids to be any better! Wow! They were awesome, and I didn't even bribe them! ha! AND, my principal left a sweet note on my desk. She told me I was a doll! It is my week for nice letters!!
• Lastly, I have two good friends who have decided to start their own blogs. Go show them some love if you get a chance. Becca at Happily Ever After is Right Now... (Isn't that a cute blog name?), and Jill at All About Beckett (I couldn't convince her to scrapbook, but I may have her blogging! ha)

Have a great weekend!! I'll update on Sunday after I see Kevin!

I'm not even making this up!

Just a sneak peak into my day ~ keep in mind ALL the following events at school happened BEFORE noon!

**Within the first 5 minutes, I had to send a student to the nurse because his head was STILL bleeding from getting hit with a belt buckle. Urghh!! He ended up having to leave school and go to the doctor. It was that bad! I am not even going to go on my rant about the services that are suppose to be in place to help these kids...

**By 9:30 am, I had a student throw up in the floor. Bless her heart! I had just called mom to come pick her up too. Some kids you can just tell when they don't feel good. She didn't have fever but I knew she looked miserable and then....wham! Clean up on aisle 3!

**As that happens, my "slightly off balance" child starts to have a panic attack because there is vomit in the floor. I put a stop to that real quick. Ms. J ain't playing these days guys!

**And, here is an actual conversation in my room that I overheard while we were lining up to go to the restroom.

Student 1: X humps his dad at night.

X: No I don't! I don't even have a dad!

Student 1: Everybody has a dad.

X: Then why haven't I ever seen mine?

(Jeez! This conversation is wrong on SO many levels! Of course, we had the big "go out in the hallway boys" talk.)

**Oh, and let me not forget one of my sweet girls getting called fat by one of the boys on the way to lunch. Wonder if she ate?

That is my day. That didn't even include cleaning up from having a sub yesterday, getting the interim reports ready that were due today, answering a billion emails, documenting all the extra drama that happened today, and trying to set up for tomorrow. Yep, work definitely takes the mind off things! HA!

Then, I got home and started scrubbing the kitchen. Every night I am tackling a different room. The kitchen may take a few nights. That was one of Kevin's main areas! ha! As I am cleaning, I am on the phone with Sandy, one of my BFF's and she says "hey, go look on your front porch." And look what I found:

My friends are the BEST! She even got the right flavor of poptarts. You all did know there is only flavor that counts right? I am covered now in the poptarts and Dr. Pepper area!!! Thanks Sandy! I loved it!!! :-)

I love the reward system!

It was the first week of school ~ new kids, alarm clock, getting organized...so much work and stress. Of course, I had to reward myself at the end of it! If there were no rewards waiting for me, how could I get through it? hee-hee!

So, on my way home Friday, I stopped at Pier 1 and splurged on this director's chair. I have been wanting for my classroom. Two of my teaching buddies have one, and I love them! Becca's is denim and has her name embroidered...very cool! But here it is...yep, my first reward! ($75 dollars that I really didn't have but oh well, every now and then, you gotta go off-budget to stay sane!)

(I don't have it pushed down all the way b/c I have to fold it back up to put in the car.) Then, Saturday, me and my peeps (Peggy and Sandy) took one of our 'field trips'. Peggy got on-line and searched for scrapbook stores in Arkansas. We decided to visit the one in White Hall. It was awesome!! She had renovated an old house and had it set up in there with antiques for sale too. We also found a neat sandwich place for lunch with yummy desserts. Girls days are the BEST! (and it's a bonus when scrappin' enters the picture somehow)
Then, today after church, Kevin made us lunch. That boy can COOK! You gotta give him that!

Tune in tomorrow for more on our church search and....drum roll....Kevin's hair cut!! woo-hoo!

This week FLEW by...

I can't believe tomorrow is Friday already!!! The first week of school is almost behind me ~ crazy! It's been quite a week too. My class is an interesting group. Right now, I am just having to be a lot more strict than I like to be, but I know it will pay off in the end. When I have time to breathe, I will fill you in on some of our "issues"....I may need some advice from some of you Momma's and teachers out there! ha!

I definitely need a reward tomorrow. I am going to stop at Pier 1 on the way home and see if they have one of those tall director's chairs for my room. I want one BAD! Then, on Saturday, I have a girls afternoon planned complete with a trip to a new scrapbook store! woo-hoo!!

I'll leave you with this ~ I made hallway passes this year out of clothespins. I thought it was a great idea. It was cheap for when they lose them (which they will), easy b/c I just spray painted them and wrote hall pass on them with a sharpie. Done! The best part was that I told them to pin them to their shirt or collar ~ that way they would never touch the nasty bathroom floor. Passes always end up on the nasty bathroom floor. Then, I never want to touch them! Well, today, one of my children clipped it to the inside of his nose ~ ewwww!! and ouch! (LOL!)

**I will catch up on blog reading this weekend ~ promise! :-)

It's Play Time!!!

So much to look forward to ~ Woo-hoo! No class work for a few days...I am going to Hot Springs today with my peeps from work and hanging out on the lake all day!!

Tomorrow, my BFF, Michelle is coming in from NW Arkansas and staying the night. Because...guess what time it is....that's right.....it's scrapbook night! yee-haw!

Life is good! :-)

Update: I may have spoken too soon...in one of my finest blonde moments, I just locked my keys in the car. Where is the spare you ask? That is the question of the hour! urgh! You know the last time I had plans with these girls I had the flat tire. Think they are jinxed?

Wish me luck with finding the spare, I can't afford to have someone come jimmy the keys out of the car. Can you say poor???

9:30 pm Update again: Found the spare! woo-hoo!

Girl Talk

I think sometimes a little girl talk is just good for the soul! I had lunch today with my peeps from school. I tell you, I love these girls! They make me giggle, and they are the kind of friends you instantly bond with. I do miss seeing them on a daily basis during the summer. Besides Kevin, these friends are who I spend the majority of my time with...we eat together everyday and are sometimes the only adult conversation for hours since we work with little people. Seeing each other every day, you get to know the up's and down's and share a lot. (Of course, I have also worked in places where I wasn't this fortunate and pretty much had to stick to my room.) We are all in different phases in our lives and yet we all get what each other is going through...you know?

Isn't it funny if you sit back and think about the friends you've had in life...think about high school when you didn't really have a choice b/c you had to pick from what was there...any of those friends still around? I have about 4 or 5 that I keep in touch with...obviously Kevin is one! ha! Then, college friends, work friends...some friends stay around for a short bit, and then we enter a phase in our lives when they somehow fade away, but you don't forget them. Then, there are those awesome friends like my BFF in NW Arkansas that no matter how far away you live, they aren't going anywhere. You are friends for life. Today just got me thinking about girlfriends and how valuable they are to our lives. So, to all my girlfriends - my work peeps, my BFF's, my scrappin' buddies, my blog buddies, my friends from past days and present days - I love ya!

TRUE FRIENDSHIP
True friends are for life
Until the end
They're more than special
They're your bestest friends.
They're the ones you can go to
When you're in despair
The ones that'll help you
Even when you got gum in your hair!
They're the ones who'll laugh
And go laughing with you all through the night
The ones who'll help you
Help you with all their might
To have a good friend
You have to be one
So be nice to one another
So you can be friends forever
And that's how to be the best friend you can be.

-Samantha Sumler

Wordless Wednesday

(guest star: Michelle's son, Jacob)

I'm BACK!!!

Did ya miss me? Well, I was on some much need "girl only" time!! Friday night scrappin' was a success of giggles, good food, and girl talk. Then, Saturday, I hit the road for the 3 hour trip to see Michelle (my BFF). We both needed some girl time b/c we had some stress to unload on each other. Isn't that what great friends do? hee-hee! And of course, we scrapbooked some more. I finally got out of my scrappin' creative slump, and I think I came up with an awesome Christmas idea for some family (but I can't tell ya b/c they read!)

Anyway - here are some trip highlights...first, a little background: Michelle and I have this list we made together of 10 things we each want to do that we've never done before...I think it started as 10 things to do in 10 years...but it may excede the 10 year mark. Of course, we don't care...we can change the rules. It is our list, afterall. Well, one of Michelle's items was to ride a roller coaster with me. HA! Fat chance! She is a roller coaster freak, and I hate them!! She finally gave up on the BIG dream and decided this baby coaster would do...ummm, it is a KID coaster and look at face when they took off!! Can you imagine what I would do on a big one? I'd be one of those people you read about having a heart attack!! I never let go of the bar and Jacob (Michelle's kiddo) had to sit with me. He is a little dare devil I might add and kept leaning over the side and making me a nervous wreck!!
Here is much nicer picture of us (although neither one of us likes it! ha!). We took one before church b/c we decided we hadn't taken a dress-up one in a long time. (and yep, her hubs gets tired of taking our picture! ha!)
The rest of the trip consisted of more scrapbooking, running errands, hanging out, and eating - unhealthy as possible - cookie dough (raw and cooked), Mexican food after church, bannana splits (yum), and beans and cornbread (one of my all time favs)...there was more food involved but I can't put into print just how much we truly love to eat!! That would make it real!! ha!
Thanks for a great visit as always Michelle!! (even though you think I side with Chris more than you...how do you think I score all that great deer meat? hee-hee) Love you all!

T.G.I.F.

For SEVERAL reasons I am grateful it's Friday (and really everyday should be Friday for me since I am on summer break...heehee!)

Yesterday was a yuck day. I had my car ready to go and loaded up and went to get in it to meet my work girlfriends for lunch and had a FLAT tire...great! One of my girls did come pick me up and I got to have lunch and see the baby again. He let us go to Chili's and slept the whole time!! Yay! Then, later, Kevin and I got into a big, 'ole nasty fight. urgh ~ we really don't fight often. We will pick at each other, but fighting isn't a very common thing. This one was a yeller! And, we did go to bed mad, but are better this morning.

So....TGIF! The only bad part about today is having to sit at the tire store for awhile to get a new tire. After that, I am rewarding myself with a trip to the scrapbook store! Because tonight is scrapbook night with the girls!!! :-) And then, I am off to see my BFF, Michelle in NW Arkansas for a few days! Yay!

Have great weekends, and I don't wish a flat tire on any of you! ha!

Updates, Rewards & Happenings

Work Updates:

First, the kids are hyper!!! Hello! It is definitely spring & close to summer, but I still love 'em. Also, I have to share that we have just finished an awesome book. Have you heard of A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace? They were hooked!! It was our read-aloud book for the past two weeks, and it is a great feeling when you pick a book that everytime you stop reading, they beg you to read just a little bit more. Well, today we finished it, and I was so into the book myself that I cried a little at the end and had a few kids cry too. It was THAT good! Plus, they ALL passed their Accelerated Reader test on it. It is technically a 4th grade book if you are interested. Ok - enough of that....

Here are my work BFF's...

Yesterday, 3 of us hosted a baby shower for the preggo one...can you guess which one? I noticed that I probably shouldn't have worn that shirt. It's not me - it's the one in the red dress - promise! :-) She had a good turn out, and we had a great time. We had it on the patio of a restaurant after school instead of at the school - much more relaxing!

Masters Update:

I just finished my final ~ woo-hoo!!!! And, I feel really good about it. My grade could go either way ~ an A or a B. I have a low A without the final and my last assignment, so we will see! Fingers crossed, but either way, I am happy b/c I really did my best.

And, the best part is that it is reward time ~ yee-haw!

I will be seeing Sugarland and Little Big Town in concert on Saturday night!!! Kevin update:

How 'bout a picture of us when we were 16 to make you smile? hee-hee Look at that hair!

He is back on track. Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and emails. I cannot express to you how much it means to me (and him) that people are supportive and don't give up on him. As long as he is trying, then it isn't failure!!! He gets mad at me when I post anything about it (especially a slip), but then he reads all your comments, so I feel like even though he may not like it, he gets something positive from it. Because let's face it, I am not going to shut-up about it ~ I have to get things out there to feel better about it and get to a good place so I can help him!

Anyway - we love ya! Have a great weekend and remember ~ I'll be at the Sugarland concert! hee-hee!

It's only Tuesday???

This week is dragging....could it have anything to do with BENCHMARK TESTING! I want my classroom back to normal, and I have two days to go! It's soooo boring - just walking in circles all morning and not being able to interact with the kids. I do get to be a cheerleader for "show what you know" during the breaks though. Oh, and I had one pee on herself yesterday in the middle of the test!!!! I FELT so bad for her, and even though this little girl can be a bit of a bully sometimes my kids were really sweet to her about it! I was so proud of them!!

Besides the benchmark test, it is also tax week. I usually don't even realize when this week rolls around b/c my taxes are done in February, so I can get my refund and spend!! Kevin, however, rolls a whole other way...we are so opposite in so many ways! ha! So, last night his procrastination became OUR emergency....and we got them finished! Whew...I was not a happy camper, but he bought me dinner at a nice restaurant...so I forgive him! LOL! (plus next year, I am just doing them when I do mine...the organizer/planner in me has already made him a file -it's sickening isn't it? hee-hee!)

Not much else going on here - I just turned in my LAST assignment for my Master's class. We meet this Thursday to study for the final and then that's it! yipee! I am planning a baby shower for a co-worker/friend that is having a little boy and doing the nursery in sock monkeys...remember those? Oh, and my niece, Tayhlor and I went to Petsmart today and got some fish for the backyard pond...other than that...it's testing, testing, testing...urgh!

My weekend in pictures...

Friday night was scrap night with the girls & my friend, Donna, who recently had the twin girls, stopped by with the babies!!! So...for a few hours, we stopped and ooohhed and awwwwed! Aren't they cute and small and precious??? Look at these baby feet!!
Kevin and I may get to babysit soon and give the Mom and Dad a night out. How scary is that? ha!
Saturday, we piddled (is that a word?) around town and around the yard. The nice weather (70 degrees!!) inspired one Lowe's trip!! We also rented two movies ~ Michael Clayton (with my man, George Clooney) & Eastern Promises (watchin' it tonight). Michael Clayton was good. In the middle, I was starting to think, where is this going? But, it all comes together in the final 30 minutes. George does not disappoint, ladies, it is a rental that even the man will enjoy. And, we were also excited to score the next season of the Soprano's. We are soooo hooked!
Check out Mr. Handy Man this weekend!! Kevin installed a new shower head in the guest bath AND new floodlights in the backyard. He installed the whole kit - not just changing the bulb! ha! I broke the last one we had - don't ask!
I cut back all the crape mertle's and all the dead stuff in the flowerbeds over the past two days ~ check out my burn pile! I am super excited about that! LOL! I am a country girl after all!

Now ~ on our trip to Lowe's we checked out patio possibilities ~ still no firm decision on what to use, but picture a patio off the deck where I have my tarp down killing grass. It will be in front of the steps too - I just figured my wussy dog wouldn't walk on the tarp! ha!
Speaking of the dog ~ my sweetest doggie! Today was his 10th birthday! My baby is getting old!! :-(
Simba gives him some birthday love ~ a little butt in the face and tail wrapped around the head. This cat will rub all over him and is most annoying! ha!
And finally, Kevin got the grill working again (Mr. Handy Man this weekend!). The grill was a little messed up b/c we used it as a smoker some. Now, she is back in business and Kevin grilled burgers for lunch and is grilling chicken for dinner! Yummy!
All in all, a GREAT weekend with NO master's work!

Oh, and I made a 91/100 on my midterm. That is a high B. (93% and up is an A)

But, if I make a B in this class, I will jump for joy!!

Pictures of the TWINS!