Lately

Not a lot has been going on lately. 1st and foremost, there are 6 weeks and 3 days left of school until Summer! :) The ACTAAP is in full effect and today marked our halfway point on it. I feel so bad for my kids having to write until their arms nearly fall off. It has made for nice relaxing afternoons at school though since we test all morning and relax a little in the afternoons. 

I guess maybe this should have been first since it is the thing everyone in Arkansas is and has been talking about for almost a week now....Bobby. I was worried when he had his wreck then the second I watched his press conference I knew something was up when he suddenly mentioned a woman (that wasn't previously mentioned) who flagged down a car. Then all hell broke loose when the police report was made public. I'm very disappointed in him and feel terrible for his wife, but he wins so what can I say? I don't want them to fire him. I so wish I lived close enough to Fayettville to be at the FREE BOBBY rallies that are going on right now. I just know if they do fire him, there is bound to be a riot. For now, I will sit patiently with the rest of the state and wait to see what happens...

Blog Slacker

I've been a major slacker as far as blogging goes lately. I haven't updated mine or read any of my usuals. I've been a little busy...sitting outside. Spring has officially hit and I cannot keep myself off the back porch! I am loving this 80 something degree weather everyday in March. It has me so ready for summer and I'm dying to get in a bathig suit and lay out...my body on the other hand is far from ready. I probably would have already laid out but I have a student around the corner who has recently discovered where I live and loves to walk by and habit a student catch you in your bathing is not an ideal teacher moment. :) 

Sunset

Speaking of students, school has me swamped with the dreaded ACTAAP less than 2 weeks away. I can't wait until we do away with this crazy torture...I mean test.

My class made this solar system model recently. They were super proud.

Here's a picture of Macy enjoying the Spring weather and a view of where I've been sitting everyday.

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Lent

This year for Lent I gave up Facebook. It's only been a couple of days, and I really thought it would bother me, but it hasn't.

Lent isn't something my family does, but ever since Brian and I have been together, I have tried to give up something with him. He actually didn't give anything up this year. Every previous year I have given up something like cokes in attempt to lose some weight which really was to benefit myself rather than give me more time to focus on God and face a challenge. So this year I went a completely different direction with Facebook and honestly, it has been kinda nice. I didn't realize how caught up in the drama I get with Facebook. Without it, it has been nice 1 to not know everything about everyone and 2 to not have to see all of the drama going on. It has been kinda like life before Facebook. You actually have to talk to someone to know what is going on with them rather than reading every single detail of their life. And if someone is fighting, you don't even know it! This may be a step toward getting completely rid of Facebook for me. With that said, I have recently gotten addicted to Twitter.

For me, it is more like Facebook used to be. Everyone isn't on it. You can say things without everyone you know reading it and without it being taken wrong or offending anyone. It just makes me wonder how long it will be until EVERYONE is on Twitter, and we have to migrate toward a new site that less old people can figure out. :)
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Random

This is a boring, random, pictureless catchup. I had Winter Break last week and I think it may be the greatest thing ever invented...besides all of the other school breaks of course. It was just a 5 day weekend, but it was much needed! It broke up the long gap between Christmas Break and Spring Break. I know us teachers get what seems to be a lot of breaks, but trust me they are all very necessary for our sanity. Anyone who spends their whole work day with 20 kids and very little adult interaction deserves SEVERAL breaks. I spent the first day of my break being lazy and pretty much the rest of it was spent cleaning/organizing our house. 

Saturday, we went to the Hog baseball game. We won so that was good! And we lucked out and ran into a man at the gate who sold us some tickets right behind home plate on the very front row. We usually sit in the outfield so it was a nice change. Brian liked actually being able to see the pitches well enough to accurately yell at the umps. :) 

Anyways, this week was possibly the longest 4 day week known to man, but it is finally over, and Spring break is just around the corner. On that note, I have to add that the weather has been amazing lately. It has been in the 70s the last 2 days, and I love it! It makes me soo ready for Summer! It will be here soon! Better get this body whipped into shape.

Valentine's Day

This was our first married Valentine's Day! I mentioned before that I was looking for a manly gift for Brian. I think I did a good job of finding one. He's been wanting a new day pack for hiking so that's what I ended up getting him...and beer and a little chocolate :)

His gift

He did good also! He bought me my first ever diamond earrings so I was pretty pumped about that....and surprised! He also bought me some chocolate and a bear. 

My gifts

And he cooked for me! I love his chicken strips. I can never make chicken strips, but he is so good at it. He is also amazing at making asparagus. I have never made it because I don't even have a clue how but his always turns out amazing! And I can't leave out the mashed potatoes and gravy...they were amazing also! :) 

Yum!

I did feel a little guilty because he gets home so much later than I do so he basically came straight home and started cooking right away, and I sat on the couch while he cooked. I tried to help a little but he wouldn't let me...and I was OK with that. :)

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Weekend/Snow Day!

We had an amazing weekend that luckily turned into a 3 day weekend due to snow last night! It started Friday with some weirdness that is captured in the following 2 pictures. I won't elaborate much, let's just say it was very entertaining.

Macy wasn't bothered by the new chicken at all.

Saturday, we headed to Hot Springs for a triathlon Brian was in. Zach went with us and ended up running the 5k. Brian rode his bike 10 miles...down a trail at night. Yes, he may be crazy. Then every team member had to climb 3 routes on this wall.

Brian climbing...blurry but you get the picture

They all did really good, but only 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place were announced. There ended up being 3 teams with Booneville people on them, and none of those placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, but they all did very well in the races! There were 2 bonfires made for those who weren't racing on each side of the finish line, where you could see the climbing wall, and that is where I spent all of my time.

After they all finished, we went to the Bolyard's lake house to spend the night. We had a lot of fun, and we were so glad to not have to camp out in the cold! :) I forgot to mention this was like THE COLDEST weekend we have had all winter.

Brian and me sitting by the fire at the lake house.

Sunday, we headed home about 10. Macy was so happy to see us when we made it home! We were pretty exhausted and planned on going to Fort Smith, but ended up sitting on the couch instead. Luckily, we got some snow Sunday night and both had our first SNOW DAY of the year. It was so nice to get an extra day of sleep, and we ended up taking that day to also go to Fort Smith since we couldn't force ourselves off the couch Sunday.

A view of the snow from our couch

We bought each other's Valentine's presents in Fort Smith, then ate at Panera. It was so good! We had to try to avoid each other in the mall while we shopped to try and keep it a surprise...and I did come up with a manly first married V-Day gift, but more on that tomorrow. :)

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Super Bowl

My family loves Super Bowl Sunday. We treat it pretty much like a holiday! I never really pay that much attention to the game..you can usually find me at the food table. This year, I made the easiest thing ever...OREO balls. They are so simple and only take 3 simple ingredients: OREOS, cream cheese, and baker's chocolate. I must be a weirdo because I love love LOVE to make them with mint OREOS and I also like them better in milk chocolate. Everyone else, however, seemed to prefer the plain in white chocolate. Maybe they're the weirdos?! Either way, I made both this time and ended up with some mint ones left over for myself to devour all week. The plain didn't last so long.

My second favorite part of the game, besides the food, is trying to win some money! Every year my family makes a Superbowl board. We pay $2 per square and someone wins $50 every quarter. It gets pretty competitive, but I have NEVER won...EVER. So I was hoping I would get lucky this year....didn't happen! But, my mom won 1 quarter and my dad won 2 so they were the big winners of the night! I don't think either of them had ever won until this year either. And my mom being her generous self MAY have given me her winnings. :) All in all, it was a pretty fun night. Now if I could just get prepared for the real upcoming holiday...Valentine's Day. I have a love/hate relationship with Valentine's Day. I really do love it, but I never know what to get Brian. I always tell him it's a girl's holiday, and really it is. That may sound mean, and I do like buying him stuff but anything you would normally buy for Valentine's day seems like a girl's gift. Better get on finding a manly gift for our first married Valentine's Day.

TV Love

I may love TV more than anyone should, so I am extremely sad that all of my favorite shows are coming to an end! Last night was the season finale of Kourtney and Kim Take NY, tonight starts the 3 part Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion, and Brian and I finished all the seasons of How I Met Your Mother (on Netflix) last night. New How I Met Your Mother episodes are still coming on, but Netflix only had through 2010 so we are a little confused, having skipped a year, and what was our nightly TV show has become a once a week TV show...with commercials. What will I ever do with all my new found free time? Find new shows I guess!

This psycho is about to turn me away from the only
 show I still have coming on..

6 Months

Yesterday was our 6 month wedding anniversary! I guess we are still considered in the honeymoon phase...I don't know how long that is supposed to last?! Kim Kardashian's lasted about a week, but I think a typical one should be a year. It makes me laugh because I remember when we had been dating for 6 months like it was yesterday. On our 6 month dating anniversary Brian sent me 6 roses and I was in Ms. Knight's room when I got them. I'll always remember that. It was the first time he ever sent me roses. Anyways, he was off yesterday because of the rain. I wanted to take off with him, but have so much going on at school that I just couldn't. We are total opposites when it comes to days off. If I have a day off, I wanna lay on the couch, watch DVRed shows, and nap. He, on the other hand, was up by 8, went to the grocery store, eye doctor, shopped in Fort Smith, and had supper ready when I got home. What a freak right!? Kidding, I was very impressed and excited to walk into a house where supper was ready! And he bought me a little surprise in Fort Smith...new socks! Haha. We may be weird, but we both love new socks! There is something about putting on a new pair of socks that makes the day better I swear.

Comfy

That being said, I did wear a pair today, and though my feet felt nice and cozy, the day was nothing to brag about. :/ We'll see if I have better luck tomorrow.

I was so excited that Brian cooked last night because I have only been cooking for 5 months now and already I am in a rut! I'm burnt out on just about everything I cook! His homemade...yes from scratch...chicken noodle soup was amazing though!

Yum!

On Tuesday, I did make one thing I don't think I can ever burn out on, but I'm pretty sure Brian has...my all time favorite SPAGHETTI! I think Anson is the only person in the world who loves spaghetti as much as I do. And I love it even more now that I have to cook and realize how easy it is! :)

I at least spiced it up with a salad this time

After spaghetti I was good and ate this for dessert:

Decent

Then last night, I ran across this on Pinterest and couldn't resist! Mine didn't look quite like this, but it tasted AMAZING! We ate it with graham crackers...or just a spoon, whatever! 

Yummo!

I was on Pinterest on my phone, and it had logged me out for some reason so I didn't get to repin it but I want to remember this recipe for sure: 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

Recipe from Jessica at How Sweet It Is

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and mix together until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Stir in vanilla and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar. With mixer on low speed, add in brown sugar and butter mixture. Mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and serve.

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Weekend Recap

Friday night, we went to a fish fry at Brian's moms.

Saturday, I got up early and headed to Hot Springs with Emily, Chelsey, and Brooke for Cody's funeral. That night, Brian and I went on a date to Fuji then Goodys for ice cream. I like Goodys but tend to get overwelmed with all the toppings. Mine last night turned out really good though! When we got home, we were lazy and laid on our couch and watched tv. We were in bed by midnight which doesn't happen often on weekend nights for us.

This morning, I got up and made us bacon, biscuits, and gravy then I went to see my grandparents with my mom. Now, I'm trying to avoid cleaning/the pile of laundry I have done but need to put away. Better get started!

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TGIF!

All I have to say is a short and sweet:

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!

I said TGIF at school today and none of my kids knew what it meant. Haha. Once I told them, they agreed. This may have been the longest week ever. I am absolutely exhausted and all I want is a Red Bull...or a nap. The sad part is that I have a Red Bull, but I took it to school with me this morning and accidentally left it there. I can't force myself to go back there and get it. I think I will just buy a new one! Don't tell Brian...he was very sweet and woke up before me this morning to go get us breakfast and Red Bulls..now mine is sitting at the school, a place that I cannot make myself go back to. The good news is-It will help me get through Monday.....oh Monday the dreaded word that will be here before we know it! Better go enjoy my weekend while it lasts!!

Happy Hump Day!

Obviously I have been a little busy/M.I.A. lately. I survived my first full week back at school last week and just made it over the hump of this one. And I have to say, it has not been easy. These 2 pictures from today sum up how I feel.

First, Britney sent me this one of one of her 1st graders this morning:

Then, after lunch, I found this cutie snoozing by the Art room. I think he is a Kindergartener.

The poor art teacher couldn't even wake him up enough to walk back to class and had to carry him. The sad part is that I know exactly how he feels. Haha. School and this weather have me exhausted!

What's been going on:
*A whole lot of nothing
*Cold weather, which luckily I got my remote start installed just in time for!
*I have become addicted to The Bachelor, but do not find the bachelor himself remotely attractive or interesting.
*Saturday night, I went and watched Mason in the BHS pageant. I thought he looked super handsome, dreadlocks and all! :)
*ZUMBA has slowed down a little...I'm telling you the cold weather is killing me, all I wanna do is eat/sit on the couch bundled up! And last night I really messed up and made CHEESECAKE BROWNIES! And they are so good that I don't even feel bad. I have learned that if I am craving something that bad, I am better off eating it than trying not to or I eat 10,000 other things until I finally break down and make the one thing I was craving in the first place.
*Natalie's ex-boyfriend, Cody, passed away after a hard battle with cancer :(
*Brian and I have been looking into Hawaii vacations. We are looking at going over Spring Break (fingers crossed) but not sure yet if it will happen, but a girl can dream. We have looked at a few places, but I'm leaning toward Maui. How amazing does this look?

Yes, please!

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Perfect Weekend

Macy was overthrilled with excitement
during the Cotton Bowl. ;)

This weekend was my kind of perfect. Friday night, Brian and I watched the Cotton Bowl together. It was a great game and we won! Weston stopped by for a little while but for the most part, it was just us. I love watching games with Brian! Sometimes when there is too much going on I have trouble actually focusing on the game so it was nice.

After the game, we drove out to some land to see some friends that were camping. I have no clue how we got there because we have only ever been there once and it is in the middle of nowhere, but somehow we found it. We considered camping, but instead hung out for a little while then backroaded then came back home to sleep in our own bed.

We slept in Saturday then went out to Benito and Britney's to grill hamburgers. That night, we decided to have a lazy night at home. We turned on our Netflix to search for a movie and were pleasantly surprised to find all of the seasons of How I Met Your Mother so we laid on the couch and started in on season 1. The funny thing is that we have been recording these daily and I've even considered buying the seasons, and they were right on our tv all along!

Sunday, we slept in again then got up and made homemade waffles with our "new" waffle maker that Brian's dad gave us yesterday. They were very good and super easy! Then Brian went to ride his bike, and I got back on the Netflix to find that they also have all the seasons of Brothers and Sisters. I love this show, but have always been a little confused because I just see random reruns every so often. So I folded laundry in front of the tv all day while I watched.

My half waffle

This week will be my first full week of school since before break. Let's hope I make it! 28 days until Winter Break.

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Cotton Bowl

I'm so jealous of all the people in Dallas right now that I can't hardly stand it! I would LOVE to be there, but I'm not. I don't know what we are doing tonight, but we will definitely be watching the game...with good food, among other things.

Macy is excited too! She couldn't wait
to get that jersey on ;)

Mrs. Johnson made the 3rd grade teachers wings for lunch today and we all brought a side dish as a little Cotton Bowl celebration. I had planned to make a complete Hog themed day in my class today, but we had things to do and it just didn't happen. We did call the Hogs a few times though, which is always fun! I wish I would've gotten a video or even picture of my kids calling the Hogs decked out in their Hog clothes. They were so cute and excited!!

Wooo Pig Sooie!!

I'm hoping for a big win tonight. GO HOGS!!

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Weight

So I mentioned yesterday that I started Zumba. Well I was feeling good about it and thinking I was going to eat better...then this happened:

I think it was worth it

I don't even know how. I think I blacked out and started cooking. My fat side took over for sure. When it comes to food, Brian and I may be each others worst enemies. We LOVE to eat and we love a lot of the same foods... fattening ones. I hadn't been on a scale since we got married because we don't own one, so over break when I weighed I got an unpleasant surprise....I've gained over 10 pounds in the 5 months we've been married! YIKES!

This is not actually mine,
just an example I found on the internet

But, along with Zumba, I am also tracking everything on My Fitness Pal. I downloaded an app on my phone that keeps up with all of the calories I eat in a day, my goal weight, how many calories I should be eating for that weight, and tells me when I've gone over. Yesterday I somehow managed not to go over after factoring in Zumba and even cooking (yes, it takes off some calories for cooking!). My favorite thing about it is that at the end of the day it will say: IF YOU KEEP EATING LIKE YOU DID TODAY, YOU WILL WEIGH ________ IN ___ WEEKS. Talk about an eye opener! Hopefully all of this keeps me on track to a skinnier self before summer...which cannot get here soon enough!

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Back To School Blues

The last 2 days I have had a serious case of the back to school blues. Teachers everywhere know about this syndrome, and although it has an effect on students too, the teaching side of it is much worse. Take it from me; I have been on both sides. So last night, I felt sorry for myself and forced myself into bed before midnight (for the first time in 2 weeks). I downed as much coffee as possible this morning and felt sorry for myself for having to wake up before noon. (So sad I know)

My coffee addiction is back in full force.

Then I got there and it wasn't so bad. Turns out, I missed my kids and most of them missed me. The bad part is the dread of getting back into a routine, not the actual working part.

(This pic is from 11/11/11 but I think it's cute.)
Ozzie helping Blake get ready for the Veteran's Day Program

On another note: Sadly today I put on my "loose" jeans and they barely buttoned!!! But luckily my New Years Resolution is NO COKES and ZUMBA 4 times a week. I started today instead of on New Year's Day since this is when break ended.

 I did not want to Zumba today but forced myself through 20 minutes. Luckily, I have Zumba videos so I don't have to suffer the embarrassment of someone seeing me try to do it in a class. Haha, trust me it's not pretty! Hopefully I can make myself keep it up. I'm thinking this blog might help me hold myself accountable.  

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It's 2012!

(Written yesterday) Happy 2012!! I swear the years go by faster every year. We had a pretty low key New Years Eve this year. We stayed home and had a few people over. We actually missed the ball drop but did our own countdown. We slept most of Sunday away, but went to Brian's mom's house that night to eat tacos and cake for Joey's birthday. Then we came home, cuddled up on the couch, and watched "Stupid, Crazy, Love" and "Super 8." My movie choice was by far the better one. Super 8 was interesting but too unrealistic for me. Today Brian went with me to my dentist appointment then we went to Red Lobster. It was so good but I was still a little numb after my 2 fillings so I brought most of mine home.

There are so many great shows about to start so I'm super excited. On tonights agenda, we have How I Met Your Mother, The Bachelor, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Brian will watch How I Met Your Mother with me. For the other 2, I will be on my own! Tomorrow is my last day off so I have to make tonight and tomorrow count. I plan on sleeping until noon, not showering, and being extremely lazy!

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