Weekend Happenings

This weekend went by so fast! Friday night we went to O'Charley's with the kids. Yes, it felt all wrong since Friday night is most definitely pizza night. We broke tradition, and it was quite tasty indeed.

Mom made a HUGE breakfast on Saturday morning, and we couldn't turn down the invitation. We spent most of the day visiting at mom and dad's house. When we had an unexpected offer to watch the kids for the evening, we couldn't turn it down. Brian desperately needed some new dress clothes, so off we went to the mall. I couldn't help but take this picture to share with you. Just look at all of those rips in those leggings. Oh my! We weren't starving since we had such a big breakfast, but we stopped by Stir Fry for some egg rolls. If you had told me a few years ago that I would be so crazy about something with cabbage in it, I would have laughed in your face. These little beauties are DE-Li-CI-Ous!!!

We also ran into Barnes and Noble for a few minutes where I got 25% off since it was Educator Appreciation Week.

Today was Friday Girls Day! After church, all the girls in my immediate family went out to lunch and to see Leap Year. It was a cute movie, and we had a wonderful time together!

Miriam and Megan

Amanda and Me

My mom and aunt (who technically isn't a Friday but we let her go with us anyway)

Amy, Karen, and Miriam

Good night! I'm off to set my alarm clock~

The Faith of a Child

My sweet Parker,

Tonight you asked Jesus to come into your heart to save you. I am overjoyed! I have prayed that Jesus would call you, and you would accept him since long before you were born. As you gradually began to question months and months ago, I knew Jesus was beginning to gently work in your little heart. Your questions got deeper as did your understanding. I knew the time was soon, but I was still shocked when your little voice exclaimed, "I want to do it tonight"! Your daddy and I are so proud of your decision, and we love you more than you can possibly imagine.

Happy (Spiritual) Birthday Parker!!!
(Here's his reenactment)

Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness!

Snow No Mo'

I had to change my background because I really don't want any more snow around here, therefore I don't want to look at a snowy picture on my blog. Enjoy the hearts!

She Put My Creepy Ears Down

Once upon a time I found what I like to refer to as a great "hair lady". My hair doesn't just automatically look great no matter who cuts it, no matter the style, not matter the length, no matter the phase of the moon, although I know a few people with perfect hair (ahem, Amanda). In fact, it seems that all conditions have to be exactly perfect for my hair to look half-way decent. At least that's my belief. Having lived 34 years with this head of hair, I have learned that my hair indeed requires a miracle worker. So back to my story (this could get long)...

I found a perfect "hair lady". I was almost always pleased with the results she gave me. Like a rebellious teenager, I got the urge to see what else was "out there" a couple of years ago. I don't know what made me do it, I just did. Actually, it had a little something to do with a VERY short haircut, but everybody should be entitled to at least one little slip up!

First, I went to a man my mother-in-law was just loving. My hair looked ok, especially if you like the shade of snow with some polar bear highlights and a bit of a "I'm the best guy in town" attitude. I guess some hair relationships are made to be broken.

Next, I went to a VERY expensive yet lovely salon with a very skillful stylist. I found her highlights and cuts pleasing most of the time. At first. Near the end of our time together, I started feeling like she was rushing my cuts (which can never be good) and I just wasn't loving the way it looked. May I remind you about the little issue called MONEY? I just realized that I didn't want to continue paying so much and leaving less than happy. Considering I was paying her children's future medical school tuition with every visit, I really needed to be happy. She is a very sweet person, and I wish her well. We had a good run...

So, I did it. I picked up the phone and made the call. I am the prodigal hair client. My "hair lady" didn't even yell at me for leaving or any of the other million things I imagined her doing. She welcomed me back with open arms. Before long, I was all caught up on her kids, her ever-changing love life, etc. I was home again.

My hair received at major chopping. It is quite shorter than when I walked through her door. When I got home, Parker told me I looked creepy and said something about that lady putting my ears down. He went on to talk about it looking kind of like a boy and kind of like a girl. Then he said it looked great and he loved it. Go figure. I made Brian take about ten pictures so I could add it to this post, but none of them were deemed acceptable. In my opinion, it really isn't all that different than some cuts I've had in the past, so don't get too scared or excited. I can only imagine what you're picturing after Parker's vivid description.

Moral of the story: The grass is not always greener on the other side.

The End

A Good Monday

We had a good day today! It was fairly uneventful. I felt like I was so busy ALL DAY LONG! Since we were out of school on Friday, I wasn't as prepared at school as I like to be on Monday mornings. Everything went fine, but I felt a little more disorganized than usual. I really don't like that feeling at all! I actually wonder sometimes how a disorganized person could EVER be a teacher. Anyway...

I come bearing good news! Parker ate a small piece of lettuce and TWO, count them TWO, bites of an orange. Guess what? He did it willingly and didn't even gag. I'm praying he is starting to realize that some things really are good if he will just give them a try. We all did a silly dance to celebrate with him. Now we just need to work on increasing the amount from one or two bites. Baby steps...

Facebook friends keep telling me it's snowing again. I haven't been brave enough to look out. When I taught in a different school system, I'd be hooping and hollering at the slightest mention of the "S" word. Now that I have to drive in it instead of staying all warm and cozy in my bed, I just can't get quite as excited.

One last thing~ my Blackberry is not behaving today. I am starting to have withdrawals. My emails and texts show up, but I can't open them. Anyone else having this problem?

Does It Have To End?

We had a fun, relaxing weekend. A snow day was finally granted on Friday! Brian worked from home, and none of us left the house all day. Yesterday, we stayed home all morning, then decided we had cabin fever! We enjoyed a late lunch at Cracker Barrel, a trip to Sam's, and some fun playtime at Chuck E. Cheese.

After our church service this morning, we stayed for lunch and a volunteer training. Our appliances were finally delivered that we bought back in November. Our new refrigerator ended up being about a half-inch too tall! We decided to keep it since the whole kitchen is getting remodeled in a couple of months anyway. Brian had to take down the cabinet over the refrigerator for now. It looks kind of silly, but it's worth it to have the new one.

We're back to school on a regular schedule tomorrow!

Lettuce forget it ever happened

Last night was lettuce night.

It involved some nasty, chewed, gagged up piece of lettuce floating in a cup of milk.

The End

Good News and Bad News (Part 2)

UPDATE: SNOW DAY!!! Yippee!

Good News: We all made it home safe and sound in this new snow we are getting tonight. I am much happier when nobody is stranded on the side of the road for five hours.

Good News: We are on a two-hour delay for school in the morning.
Bad News: I am still supposed to go at regular time! Have you ever in your life heard of a school system that makes teachers risk their lives when apparently it's too bad out for buses and parents?
Good News: I have a wonderful job for which I am grateful. (Felt the need to add that) :)

Good News: I found some Sour Patch Kids ON SALE on the end of an aisle at Target.
Bad News: They are stale. Stale. Stale. Stale. Who ever heard of a stale Sour Patch Kid? How is that even possible?!?!
Good News: I plan to persevere. I will push through and consume the sour patch kids even in their staleness.

Snow, but no snow day!

We woke up to some snow on the ground and the roads. Unfortunately, our school wasn't even on a delay. Every school system around us was completely closed, but oh no, not us! Even though many school systems have already announced closures and delays for tomorrow, you can bet your bottom dollar that we'll be on a regular schedule. Oh well...we do get out a little earlier in May than some of the others. I try to "think on these things".

We had to take the kids to get their flu mist boosters tonight. By the way, that flu mist stuff is the best invention EVER. I don't know about you, but around here we aren't very fond of needles. It was pure joy my friends for all those involved in the glorious flu mist process.

We ended up eating at Fuddruckers because it was getting kind of late when we finished at the doctor. We had a van full of hungry people and hey ~ kids eat free! Since free is always good, we broke our rule of not eating out during the week. That's enough rambling for one night! Hope you're having a good week so far!

Movie Mania

Yesterday we took the kids to see the new Chipmunks movie. It was super cute!!!

Hugging the chipmunks! Then today, Lisa and I saw "It's Complicated". We laughed so much! There was one lady even snorting in the theater. Hilarious!

Two movies in two days is unheard of for me. What a treat!

Sweet Innocence

While we were driving home, we were having a discussion about Brian's grandmother who recently went to heaven. Parker wanted to know if she took all of her stuff with her to her new mansion. We explained that we don't take stuff from this world to heaven because everything we could ever want or need will be there for us. Claire was just listening quietly when suddenly we heard a sweet little voice ask one of the most precious questions I've ever heard. "Will there be blankets just like mine in heaven?" Claire with her special blanket (my blanket from childhood) that she has loved and slept with all of her life.

Happy New Year!

We spent New Year's Eve at church with lots of music, food, and UT football. We stayed until half time then went home to get the kids in bed. Brian and I spent the remaining two hours of 2009 watching some daredevil jump a car across of some type of water (I'll give you one guess who picked that show). I successfully stayed awake until 11:50 only to have Brian wake me up ten minutes later to tell me Happy New Year. I'm pretty sure we're getting old!


Today we rested and stayed around the house for most of the day. We did get out for a couple of hours to go out to dinner with some friends. It was a fun evening! Soon after bedtime we heard Parker in his bed singing "All The Single Ladies", except he was saying "I'm a single lady". Hilarious!