Sick

"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more--that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is. . .Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"


Yep, that's me! Not quite, but I have been sick for about a week. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and I am indeed sick....Acute bronchitis with exacerbated asthma. I guess that means that the bronchitis has made my asthma even worse. My doctor is super! She gave me two shots, a breathing treatment, two new inhalers to take home with me as well as another medicine for my asthma and three prescriptions that I picked up after I left her office. I was also told to keep taking my Mu*cinex, drink lots of liquids and get some rest. Then she told me I could not go back to work for the next two days. So I trudged myself back to school and got some sub plans ready and called a sub to come in for the next two days. How awful is that to miss the last two days before Christmas Vacation??? I am going to miss the party and everything. I'm sad about it, but I know I need to get some rest. I could tell today when I got up to try and get somethings done around here. We leave bright and early Saturday morning for Michigan so I do have stuff to do. I'm just trying not to overdo it.

This is such a busy time of year. We've been busy since before Thanksgiving. I guess that's why I haven't posted on here in so long. My mom came for about 12 days over Thanksgiving and we had a great visit!! Barry's family came down for Thanksgiving and the day after. We did our traditional night of and day after shopping. Got some great deals and have a great time. Since then I've been working and getting my decorating done as well as lots of other stuff. We finally hired another kindergarten teacher so I no longer have 24 kids. I now have 16....and let me tell you...it is a dream!! I have loved it!!

I hope everyone has a great holiday season! I may not post until we get home. Just depends on how busy we are. I'll have lots of great pictures to post. I get to see my favorite little guy in just a few days!

My Latest Crafty Project

What's a girl to do when she has a husband who is gone most evenings? This girl has been spending many of her evenings being crafty. Here's a look at my craft project from last night. It's a leaf topiary.



Fun and relatively easy to make!

Molly the Attack Cat

Molly is my 14 yr old sweetie. I rescued her from a tree in my mom's backyard after I graduated from college in December of 1994. She was a scrawny kitten that had been sleeping in a cedar tree. She had become friends with our family dog and at times thought she was a dog. She was also the friendliest cat I'd ever met. She loved us at once. She would follow me around the house, the yard or wherever I went.

Molly got herself in the "family way" less than a year later. The tomcat in the neighborhood attacked her, broke her back and in the process "knocked her up"...those are the words my vet used at the time. Molly delivered her litter of kittens on my birthday and even though my mom, sister and I said NO more cats for us! We each ended up keeping one. My mom had Rudy. He was just like his mother....friendly, loving and a best friend to my mom. Unfortunately, Rudy got cancer and my mom had to end his pain last year. It was a very hard time for her. He was her companion and friend. Julie gave Thomas away long ago, but I still have CB (it stands for cry baby...because she was the most vocal of the litter). Molly has been with me through thick and thin. I'm not one of those crazy cat loving girls that will have 50 cats someday, but I do love my girls.

Molly and Sam have never been best friends. He was a rambunctious puppy and she's an older girl who likes her peace and quiet. She didn't love his running and jumping ways so she hid when he was inside. It's just been in the last several months that she's decided she is the queen of the castle and has taken back her home. If Sam gets too close, she hisses and slaps at him. He doesn't seem to mind much, he just backs off.

A couple weeks ago I was home alone working on some crafty stuff. Barry had a game so that's my time to do my thing. Sam was playful and went into his "spaz out" mode. He runs around, jumping and barking. He goes from one room to another and comes back barking at me. Well, Molly had been quietly napping in her basket when she saw Sam jump at me (in a harmless way) while he was barking. I was playing right a long with him, yelling as loud as I could. hehe Out of nowhere, Molly comes flying across the room, hissing, growling and slapping the tar out of Sam. He of course backed off. At this point, I'm intrigued. Is my cat protecting me from the dog? Or is she just annoyed that he is disturbing her sleep? I start playing with Sam and yelling at the same time just to see what will happen. Sure, enough, she comes back at him. I just couldn't believe that she was protecting me. I know what some of you readers are thinking..."yeah right!" That's exactly what Barry thought when I told him about it.

That's what he thought until one night this week when Sam was his wild, playful self again. He was barking at me and I was yelling and playing with him. Barry was on the couch and out of nowhere, Molly the Attack Cat (that's what I've nicknamed her now) came out of nowhere. She would not let up on him....as long as I screamed she hissed at him and pawed him. Lucky for Sam, she was de-clawed long ago. Sam decided to slink away and leave that crazy cat alone. Barry and I were laughing hysterically. We've decided if we ever have an intruder, Molly will do a better job of protecting us than Sam.

I Voted!

I got up early this morning so I could vote before I went to work. I was at our precinct at 6:30 this morning and was the first person in line!! I waited until they opened their doors at 7:00, proudly walked in and cast my vote. As I was leaving, I asked the gentleman working if I could get an "I voted" sticker. His response was, "I wish I could give you one, but we don't have any." How can that be? How can a voting center not have any "I voted" stickers??? It's a shame too because I was hoping to stop by Starbucks and get my free coffee. What's your voting day story? Hopefully everyone got in and out just as fast as I did!

What's For Dinner?

It's my favorite time of year!! I absolutely adore Autumn! I love the crisp, cool morning air and the way the trees sway in the breeze. Autumn in Texas isn't quite the same as Autumn in Michigan. I do miss all the explosion of color on the trees, but I must say I am loving the warm afternoons. It has been in the low 80's lately, but gets cooler at night and then we have those cool mornings. I'm sitting at my computer now, drinking a cup of coffee and putting off getting ready to go to school. I love teaching, but I also love quiet mornings.

One of my very favorite things about Autumn is soup! I love, love, love soup!!! It just comforts like nothing else can (not that I need comforting mind you). It is that warm, yummy food that I could eat bowls and bowls of....however, the waist of my pants won't allow me eat all I want. ha! Last night I made a delicious pot of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. It makes my mouth water just typing those words!! I got the recipe from the MOST amazing soup making woman I've ever met. Debbie is in our church small group that meets on Sunday nights. We met at her house last winter and instead of our usual pot luck style meal, Debbie made each meal for us. She is my hero! She is a fantastic cook! She also makes the most amazing soups. So many of us would ask her for the recipe that she started making giving us these super cute little recipe cards that she even laminated. :) I made her soup recipe last night and although it's yummy, it just isn't quite as good as hers. I'll keep trying... Maybe I just need a bigger kitchen....do you think that would do it?? I am trying to convince Barry that's what I need. I told him last night that in our next house, I need a BIG kitchen and it must have a gas cook top. He, being the sweet guy that he is replied, "whatever you want." Isn't he a gem?!!

Ok...I procrastinated way too long! I better get going so I can spend another day with all my little friends.
So tell me, what's your favorite thing to make or eat this time of year?

Sleeping In Is Hard To Do!

I have the day off today! I've been looking forward to this all week...well, really since school started. You see, I'm normally up at 5:30 every weekday morning. Saturday morning Barry is up early to go officiate football so I don't usally go back to sleep and on Sunday we get up for church. So this was the one day I thought I might get to sleep in. No such luck!

My phone went off at 6:00....it was my sister... She was sitting in line at Sonic waiting to order a Cherry Limeade. What's the big deal about that you ask? Well, today was the grand opening of the very first Sonic in town. It is actually only the 2nd Sonic in Michigan. She grabbed my nephew from his sweet slumber this morning, strapped him in his carseat and raced to Sonic to be the first person in line. (She's a freak!) And first in line she was...she had been waiting in the drive-thru line quite a while when the police showed up to get some order to the place. Apparently there were cars lined up way down the road, holding up the morning commuters. She was interviewed by the local news media....I'm anxiously awaiting that clip on their website. I hope she didn't embarres our family. She can do that...believe me! While she was waiting we chatted and I reminded her to get our mom something. Mom watches Cooper a few days a week and she was on her way to Julie's while Julie was waiting at Sonic. Her Cherry Limeades finally arrived and she was thrilled that she even received a mint....it's the small things people. She started her drive home as we ended our conversation.

Of course, I was unable to go back to sleep so I got up (Barry had no problem going back to sleep) and moved to the couch. I checked some of my favorite websites and got started on some housework.

So much for sleeping in, but at least I got to share in a rare joy for my sister!

Are You Watching?

I'm talking about today's episode of Oprah. It's all about how we can save money with times as tight as they are for so many people. I don't normally get home in time to watch Oprah...or if I am home, I am not watching TV. Today I had some stuff to do on the computer so I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV while working. I can't tell you how many great ideas I'm getting. We don't live beyond our means, we don't have any credit card debt, we don't even use credit cards, but there are soooo many other good ideas.
I know I posted about The Grocery Game before. Yeah...that didn't go so well for me. I know many of you do The Grocery Game, but I just didn't follow through with it. Today I "met" someone else...The Coupon Mom. I gotta tell ya, I love her!!! She just save 71% on a weeks worth of groceries for a family of four. 71%??? That is amazing. She said in the 15 years since she started using coupons and really planning to save on groceries and essentials, she has save $72,000! That is just amazing to me! I need to check out her website and start saving!!

What's a girl to do?

Is anyone else excited about the season premier of Grey's Anatomy? I sure am!! I had to race home after our school open house....well technically, I had to stop at Target and then race home. It's just starting so I made it just in time.

I need advice. I'm bored with my blog. I have been so busy that I haven't had much time to blog, but even when I do have more time, I'm not sure I'm loving the name of my blog. It just doesn't seem to fit. Yes, I'm blonde....but I don't feel like I post a lot of thoughts on here. It's more about our everyday life with a few thoughts thrown in. ha! So, I'm asking you....my readers....few as you are...to help me out. Should I change my blog name of just keep it? If you vote for change, what should I change it to? I definitely need a makeover or at least a new header, so that is going to happen whether I change the name of my blog or not.

Boiled Chicken....Yuck!!!

The smell of boiled chicken that is!! I hate it....it gags me. I hate that yucky white foam that sits at the top of the pot even more. *shudder* I've discovered something that's allowed me to never smell that smell or see that foam again..................The large micro-cooker from The Pampered Chef.


Many of you know I started selling Pampered Chef. Well now that I have, I've discovered several new uses for many of the products I've had forever. I've had this little wonder for a while and only recently found out I can use it to cook chicken...in the microwave!!!! Now I'm not an eater of boiled chicken right out of the pot....or right out of the microwave, but I use it in several of dishes I make. I put 2 chicken breasts in the micro-cooker, put it in the microwave for three minutes, turn the chicken over for an additional minute or two and waaalaaa......they're done! I took the chicken breasts out and shredded them for a broccoli chicken and rice casserole I made tonight. I was amazed! This really was the best $10 I've spent in a long time! Not only can I cook the chicken, but I use it for just about anything...I even steamed my broccoli tonight. It sure has made my life easier!

Cow Whisperer?? You be the Judge...

I was uploading some pictures tonight and going through others I took earlier this summer. Wanted to add some that I took at my in-laws in July before I went to Michigan. There is a pasture behind their house with cows and a goat. I took some pictures at sunset one night. Still haven't gotten Photoshop out and looked at it. That's my project for this weekend. So all of my pictures haven't been edited.

While I was out in the back taking the pictures, the cows and bull started walking right up to the fence. I was using my 55-200 mm lens so I couldn't get much of anything when they were right up at the fence by me. I actually got to pet them. Barry said they never come up to the fence to anyone so I feel pretty special! I was a bit scary for me. I've never been that close to a cow before. I'm a northern city girl I guess. :)

Here's Billy

The sunset was amazing!!

Tressie was checking out the cows. Ok...I made her pose like this...haha....She had been there like that, but then I ran in to get my camera and took some pictures.

School's going great. I finally feel like I have enough energy to make it through the day with kindergarten. I don't need a nap as soon as I get home now.

Goodbye Summer??

**I started this blog post several days ago and just now finished it. I had to decide which pictures to upload and it was soooo hard to decide. ha!

The beginning of the school year has always meant the end of summer for me. Michigan weather starts to cool off after Labor Day and school starts. Now that I'm in Texas, we start a week before Labor Day and the weather doesn't cool off for a while yet. It was in the high 90's here last week so I think I am safe in my belief that the summer weather will be here for a while. Unfortunately, my summer freedom has ended. While I'll still be able to enjoy afternoons at the pool once I get home from school, it's just not the same. I have school work to do when I get home, dinner to make and housework to complete. So although I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, summer as I know it is over.

I've finally got around to going through some pictures from my trip to Michigan. Although I haven't really had time to play around with Photoshop (my birthday present from my mom) except to change some to black and white. The ones that aren't black and white are straight out of the camera. :) Cooper is officially walking all over the place. I miss that guy so much!

So serious

There's the beginning of that smile we all love!

Is that leaf tasting good?


Checking out the grass


Look at my stick, Aunt Jennifer!

Love that smile!!!

Investigating the rocks in grandma's backyard.

Checking out what everyone else is doing

What a cutie!!!!

Exhausted!!!

Wow am I ever tired! I forgot how exhausting kindergarten is this time of year! As tired as I am, I am also loving every minute of it! I have 20 of the most adorable kindergarten kids you would ever want to meet. I had a couple of criers yesterday, but today they came bopping into class. It was unanimous....they all love school. I have to agree with them.

I promise, pictures are coming soon. I need to work on some school stuff tonight and upload pictures of my students so I can get them developed. My job board is a "wanted" board. I made wanted signs for each job I have. I'm going to put a picture of the student who is assigned to that job for the day on the sign. It goes along with the western theme I have in my room. Really....I'll post some pictures soon....it's super cute though!

Hope you are all having a great week!

Stuff

I know I'm not always the most consistent blogger, but it seems like a while since I've posted. School starts on Monday and I only have about 20 more things to get done this weekend. ha! I just made one batch of play dough and need to go get more salt before I can make another batch. I love this recipe a co-worker gave me. It's super easy and doesn't need to be cooked like my other recipe required. Just microwave the liquids and add to the dry ingredients and waaalaaa....finished!

I don't have any pictures of my room yet, but I'll add some next week. It's come a long way! We had Meet the Teacher Night Thursday night. I met 16 of my 19 kindergarten students. They are adorable little sweeties!!! I am so very thankful to be teaching kindergarten this year. I can't wait to see all my new little friends on Monday. I just hope there aren't too many kids crying. I know I'll have some, but let's hope more don't cry. :)

Barry's football games started Thursday night. He had a varsity game last night and ended up getting hit by one of the players. He was trying to break up and the kid punched him instead of the other player he was intending to hit. Luckily it was in his leg. He has a pretty nasty bump and bruise to show for it. He has games all day today. He loves this time of year. He works more this time of year than any other time, but officiating football games isn't work to him...he loves it. It also gives me time to get all my stuff done. The beginning of the school year I am always so busy so I won't feel bad about working late with him being gone.

My sister and my mom are both in Alabama this weekend. My mom has been there all week. She went down because my aunt Jo Ann (my dad's sister) was very sick and in the hospital. She has been since the middle of July when I was in Michigan on vacation. She was originally admitted with double pneumonia and then kept getting more and more infections. By the time my mom got there this week, my aunt was unconscious and on a ventilator. She passed away Wednesday afternoon at 71 years old, surrounded by people who loved her. Aunt Jo Ann was a wife of 53 years to my Uncle Bob, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt and a friend to many. She has been a constant in my life. She was one of my dad's older sisters. She is certainly his sister I am the closest to. After my dad died, she stayed several weeks with us after the funeral. I know she was a great source of support to my mom then and over the years. We spent many holidays there and part of our summer vacations in Alabama. She leaves a legacy to all of us who knew her. There wasn't a person around that didn't' know her and that is evident by the turnout of people who came last night to the funeral home. My mom said there were probably 500 people there. My aunt was always there when her friends and neighbors needed her. She was a woman who loved family and had an open door and a meal ready at any time. My visits to her house were always a highlight in my summer or any other time we vacationed there. I remember sitting in her living room and listening to stories about her life, which often included my dad. She was a bridge to those memories of my dad. I didn't have him anymore, but I had her for those. I know I'm not the only one who will miss her. Her children and my uncle are grieving her loss with the rest of the family. Please pray for them today as they attend her funeral and in the coming days as they find a way to continue without her around. My Aunt Jo Ann was a wonderful woman and will be missed greatly.

I don't want to end on such a downer, so I'll add a funny story my friend Laurie told me last night. Her kids go to the same daycare my nephew, Cooper attends. Actually her youngest is the only one that goes on a daily basis now. The other two are in school so they don't go much. Laurie is a teacher and went back to work so she sent her older two this week as well. Her son Nick (he's going into 2nd grade) came home talking about helping with the babies at daycare. Laurie asked him if he helped with Cooper and he said, "Yes, how do you know Cooper?" She told him Cooper was my nephew. He was thrilled....he asked, "So Cooper and I are related?" Laurie told him no they aren't related. He told her that since I was his aunt, that would mean Cooper is related to him. Laurie explained to him that yes, I am like an aunt to him, but not by blood like his Aunt Amy. I am his aunt because I am her best friend and have known her since before he was ever born. She explained it all to him and then he ended the conversation with, "Wow...so Cooper is like my little brother!" Ha! Can you tell this little guy really wants a brother. Sorry, Nick...that's just not gonna happen. I don't think Julie will mind you being like a big brother to Cooper though!

Have a great weekend and week everyone! I'll try to post some pictures when I have time. Say a prayer for my first day! )

Thankful Thursday

This has been such a busy week for me. I've been trying to get my classroom organized and ready for kids on the 25th. I always try to go in a week before I'm required to so I can get stuff ready. The week before school starts we have teacher in-service days so that doesn't leave me much time in my room. I should have taken before and after pictures so you could see my progress. My room has come a long way! It was a disaster in the beginning!! Which leads me to all the things I'm thankful for...

My friend Jennifer came up to school on Monday to go with me to pick up a bookshelf we found at a garage sale for $5. When she walked into my room I was just standing there looking around. She felt bad for me so after we picked up the bookshelf, she ended up staying the day. She was a worker for sure. She also came back on Tuesday. I begged her son Zach to come and help us with a couple things and he graciously did that. Her daughter Lindsey also came Monday and Tuesday. She is the sweetest college girl I know! She is getting ready to go back to college and instead of spending her free time doing what she wants, she hung out with us making my bulletin boards look adorable and pitching in wherever needed. I honestly could not have gotten so much done without their help. Our friend David even stopped by to drop off some razor blades....we needed to get all this very ugly contact paper off the filing cabinet. Thanks you guys! You all rock!

This weekend we are going to visit Barry's parents. I went earlier this summer for a night when Linda had a Pampered Chef party for me, but I can't even remember when Barry was there last. This will be his last opportunity to go for a weekend until sometime in November. Football begins for him next week so he will be busy with that every Saturday and most other days as well.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Not Good Looking Enough??

If you haven't read about the controversy over the Olympics opening ceremony, you must go here and read it. Apparently the 7 year old sweetheart of a girl who preformed "Ode to the Motherland," during the opening ceremonies was lip-synching. Not to her own voice, but to the voice of another girl who was deemed to be not good looking enough to take part in the ceremony.

Are you kidding me????? I don't even have words to describe what I am feeling about this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but what makes this even worse is that all reports so far have the Chinese Olympic Officials presenting this as no big deal. That it is actually fair for both of them. Give me a break!

Moving

Nope....we're not moving to a new house....I'm moving to a new school!!! I am happy to say, I have a new job teaching kindergarten!!! Woooohoooo!!! I love kindergarten and have missed it terribly! I went for an interview this morning and they hired me then. After the interview, I went to the admin building and signed all of my paperwork. I'm official! I start with new teacher training on the 13th, the returning teachers all come back on the 18th and then the students first day is the 25th. I'll miss all of the friends I made at my previous school, but am totally looking forward to this new position. It is much closer to my house, so that's a plus and have I mentioned....it's kindergarten??!!!!

In other news, I arrived home to Texas yesterday. I had a fantastic visit with my family and friends in Michigan. I will say that two weeks is a long time to be away from home. It was great to sleep in my own bed last night. I already miss Cooper's smiles and his "uh oh"...he's a sweetie pie! Once I have time to upload all of my pictures and do some Photoshop work, I'll upload some. Oh...did I mention my birthday present from my family??? Photoshop!!! I can't wait to try it all out!

Internet withdrawl?!!

I've been in Michigan for just over a week now. It's been wonderful! I celebrated my birthday and my nephew's birthday last week. I've got to spend lots of time with my mom and Cooper which has been great. The only downside is that my mom does not have internet. I'm missing my favorite blogs and posting on here. ha! I'm sitting in a parking lot across from a friend's store because the friends have wireless internet. It's after 9:00 pm and getting dark. Do you think I'm a junkie??

I'll post pictures when I get home. Please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers. She either got bit by a spider of cut cut herself without knowing and has a skin infection. It looks terrible!!! We went to urgent care yesterday and then today it looked much worse so she went to her primary care physician. She goes back to see him on Thursday. Hopefully all the meds he gave her will help.

I'll be back next week. :)

Inspired

I was inspired by The Nester a couple weeks ago. Well, I'm inspired by her on a daily basis, but I loved this idea...it is the cutest memo board with ribbons. It's something different than just the normal cork board. My sister-in-law, Amy has been doing lots of redecorating and reorganizing. In the process, she has made lots of fabulous changes to the kid's rooms. Tressie has a fun girlie room. It has lots of bright colors (lime green, pink, turquoise, orange and maybe something I'm missing). I sent her the link to the post above and told her to check out the memo board that I thought it would be perfect in Tressie's room. One look and she was also hooked. I told her we could get the stuff and I would make it. On Thursday, I had a Pampered Chef party at my mother-in-law's house and Amy gave me the stuff for the board. This morning I got up and couldn't wait to get started on it. It really was super easy! I didn't use the same stuff that The Nester used because...well...I'm not The Nester. ha! Plus we wanted something that would be light weight so Tressie could take it off the wall if she wanted too. The board was also super cheap....that's always a bonus!

I think it turned out super cute! I just need to add some mini-clothes pins and it will be complete. It will look perfect in Tressie's room!! I can't wait to see it there and also to see her reaction. It looks a bit crooked, but that's because it's slanted on the chair. That top green ric rac ribbon was a bit crooked and I fixed that right after I looked at this picture. I just didn't make time to take anymore pictures.

What do you think?

Check out this Giveaway!

I found a new website/blog!! Some of you might know this, but I love to find new blogs. Especially crafty, fun or decorating ones. This one actually found me....she left a comment under my last post. :) I checked out her site and love it! The Pink Potpourri is super cute! You must go check it out. Right now there's a giveaway going on....so now's the time to check it out! Go. Go now!

Changing Things Up and Thankful Thursday

How do you like my new look?? I found a great website that has free Blogger Templates. Soooo many cute ones to choose from. I decided until I really know what I want to do in the way of a permanent blog makeover, this would work. You can click on my link in the sidebar or go here.

I'm off to OK for the day/night while Barry holds down the fort. Then on Sunday I'm off to Michigan for two weeks with my family!! Cooper will be celebrating his first birthday and I will be celebrating my 37th....wow...where does the time go? ha!

It's Thursday and I am thankful for so many things. I know I always seem to mention Barry, but I am so thankful to have him in my life. While I'm in Michigan, he'll be here working and taking care of Sam. Yikes....hope that goes ok. :) I am thankful that I have the chance to go spend time with my family in Michigan. I can't wait to see Cooper...apparently he is into everything and on the go constantly. I'm sure I'll take a zillion pictures. I am thankful I have such a wonderful family....they are the best. What are you thankful for?

Have a great day!

Wordless Wednesday

I've noticed many blogs have a "Wordless Wednesday" picture posted each week. I thought I would try it.

Caffeine Anyone?

Since I was diagnosed with high blood pressure a few months ago I've tried to cut back on the caffeine. Somedays I do pretty good...other days...not so good. Today wasn't too bad until I decided on my way home from Target tonight that I need to stop at Sonic. During the school year I am a Sonic Addict! I stop just about every morning on my way to school for my Diet Cherry Coke. We didn't have Sonic in Michigan so I'm making up for my years without. I was a Starbucks girl in Michigan. So I got my caffeine one way or another. I tell ya...teaching kids all day...a girl needs her caffeine.

I saw this on someone elses blog and thought it was funny. I don't usually take these silly quizes, but had to try this one. What's your caffeine level?

The Morning After...

I promised picutres of the finished product and pictures you get! Here are some photos I took this morning with the sunlight spilling into my kitchen. I almost want to have a larger picture made for my kitchen. I can't help it....I'm a dork! ha!

Jennifer

"Canning" Fool!

I can remember going to Alabama to visit my family during the summer when I was a child. My aunt and uncle had an enormous garden! My uncle seemed to always be picking something, which meant my aunt then canned his pickings. My mom also canned vegetables each summer, but not like my aunt. They had enough for the rest of the year and then some from her canning each summer.
I've helped my mom can tomatoes before, but never done it myself. Until tonight that is!! I have finally canned my first item! ha! As you all know, Barry has planted this amazing organic garden. We have been picking things like crazy. I've been cooking zucchini, green beans, eating fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Well, blog readers, tonight I canned peppers. I am a pepper loving fool. The hotter the better is my motto. I canned two jars of jalapenos, 2 jars of banana peppers and a jar of chili peppers. The chili pepper jar wasn't quite full, but who cares! :) I spent a bit of time slicing peppers, then got down to business. I even have pictures to prove it. Here's a picture of my peppers in the jar waiting for the vinegar and lids. I didn't take pictures after I got the lids on because I went outside to water my flowers and do some weeding. I'll take pictures of the finished product tomorrow. I'm so proud that the lids sealed! My first attempt and it actually worked. Wooohoo for me!

Here's my proof!



I really enjoyed this! I think I need to find something else to can! Ha!

Jennifer

The Ref

Having moved to Texas last August, I soon realized that football truly is a religion in this part of the country to many people. However, I don't happen to be one of those people. I grew up in Michigan...we have The Red Wings....we are hockey loving people...at least I am. Here's where the problem lies... being married to Barry, not loving football isn't really an option. He is a football loving man!

Those of you who don't know me in real life probably don't know that Barry is a football official. It is something he LOVES with a passion. He works high school games down to little league games. Many of his friends joke with him about how I moved here last August and didn't see him again until football season was over. That isn't quite true, but officiating does keep him busy. I honestly don't mind though because it makes him so happy to participate in that activity.

Here's a picture taken last fall of my ref...

Barry was asked to be part of the chain crew for last Saturday's 71st Annual Oil Bowl held in Wichita Falls. Not being from Texas or Oklahoma, I had no idea what this was all about. After doing some research, I learned that the Oil Bowl is a high school all-star game played between all-star teams from Texas and Oklahoma. When the Oil Bowl began in 1938 high school football all-stars from East and West Texas played one another. It wasn't until 1945 that the Oil Bowl as we know it now began. For those of you interested in the outcome of Saturday's game....The win went to Oklahoma with a final score of 17-16.

Football season is beginning here in Texas...at least all of the pre-season meetings and summer activities that have begun. I will have to give up my husband a few days a week this fall, but I don't mind. I love him and am blessed to have him. He supports me and loves me in a way that makes me happy every single day. Everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I love you Barry!

Bring on football!!!

Jennifer

Sunflower

This is growing in Barry's garden!

Memories

I love to look at old pictures! My mom has MANY photo albums and I enjoy looking at them whenever I get the chance. Most of them have great memories associated with them....a few not so great. Seeing a picture brings back that memory so vividly for me.

A few years ago, my mom gave me oodles of old pictures....some dating back to my great grandparents. My family seems to have always been a picture taking family. As soon as I received them, I started putting them into a scrapbook. I was a scrapbooking maniac at first. As I got to my childhood, I started to lose interest. I guess I got tired of it for a while. So my scrapbook sits, unfinished. I have a box full of pictures just waiting to be carefully put onto pages designed just for that memory.

This week I have made it my mission to get some projects done around the house. One big one was to organize the office. The office just happens to be the room where that box of pictures waits until my scrapbooking enthusiasm returns. This morning, I took the lid off that box and revisited those memories. I decided it was time to scan some of them so I could have them on my laptop. I didn't want to miss out on the good ones I had already put in the album, so I took them out and scanned those as well. (No fears....I put them right back)
Tonight, I thought I'd share some of my favorites with my bloggy readers....not that there are many of you. :)
Enjoy!

Here's my dad. Love this picture. He looks so cool. :)

Here's where it all began. My parents wedding...January 1970

Here I am with my mom and dad. I was a baldy for sure! I was about a year old in this picture.


Here I am with my sister, Julie. I can't get over how much Cooper looks like her. She was a baldy too...not for nearly as long as I was though.

Here we are with my mom at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan. I can't find the original right now to tell you the date.

I saved my favorite of us with my dad for last. I love this pic!

Have a great weekend!

Jennifer