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.