I'm Back!

I don't know if I have ever gone this long between posts on my blog! I have been at the lake since Friday morning. Ryan has been in Chicago for work this week, so I figured the dogs and I would just chill at the lake! We did too...I sure wish we hadn't had so much rain. But I made about 30-35 cards while I was there! I didn't have much else to do. I took bags of leftover paper from pages, and I whipped out quite a batch of cards. I love it when I get rid of all that paper! My leftovers have become rather out of control lately, so I feel a lot better having gotten rid of some of them:) My design team buddies will even see some of that fantastic paper from our application kit that we loved so much:) Sorry for the blurry pictures, but I have to hurry today!

Well, I need to start packing. Ryan took off work tomorrow, and we are driving to see my family in Oklahoma tonight. Tomorrow, he and I are going to play in Oklahoma City. Sometimes we miss a lot of that. There was just so much to do there, neat places, Bricktown, Penn Square Mall, and the yummiest Mexican food that you can imagine. I should have been starving myself this week to prepare for all the cheese and tortillas I plan to eat at Chileno's. Ryan and I won't even eat at Mexican restaurants here because there is no comparison. Needless to say, we have learned to make some pretty mean fajitas and guacamole! But this weekend, all we have to do is order:) Can't wait!!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Sorry, I can't get my link to work. If you would like to see Bricktown, go to:
www.bricktownokc.org/p/8065/Default.aspx

Two New Pages

For some reason, I keep going back to white cardstock lately. These are two more Vegas pages. So fun!!!

So Glad...

that our dogs love the dock as much as we do:)

Natural Beauty

I never tire of evening boat rides at Table Rock Lake. The sunset is always amazing. We see it almost every single weekend, but I keep taking pictures of it. It is just so naturally beautiful, and when I see these pictures, they just remind me of how special simple things like this can be. I guess the quote "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away", certainly applies here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I know we sure did. We were at the lake (obviously), and the weather was pretty yucky. Our whole subdivision ended up just hanging out on the dock together, and those days are always some of my favorites. I'll post more pics this week. I got some super-cute shots of Barkley. Have a great week!!!

Even the dogs love the lake!!!

It cracks me up when I walk outside and find Harley sitting in the golf cart. Sometimes I swear she is smiling when she is sitting there:) There is nothing she enjoys more than a long ride on the golf cart with us. I was lucky enough to have my camera right by the door when I opened it up to check on them. I caught Harley just in time. Then Barkley jumped up to join in on the fun!!!

Back home from the lake...

and did we ever have a good weekend! It was so good to see Bethany and Jeff this weekend. It was his first time here. We also had Ryan's brother and his girlfriend, and another friend of Ryan's with us. The water was rather chilly, and the weather left much to be desired. However, when in good company, the lake can always be a good time. This weekend was no exception. On another note, here is my latest layout. I made it before I headed to the lake. That picture still cracks me up, and I just couldn't figure out what to do with it. Then, the idea came to me to scrapbook about the way we were during the entire trip. I thought this picture really captured all those adjectives:)

Isn't Barkley the Cutest...

puppy you've ever seen???

And, here's one of my first Vegas layouts. I love this one, like a whole lot!!! I don't know why. Maybe it's the black, white, and hot pink??? I don't know what it is, but I REALLY love this layout!!!

My "postcard"

This is the little "postcard" that I made for all the kids in my class. Barkley has been a pretty frequent visitor to the room this year. The kids loved him, and he was always so good and friendly with them. They were all sad about not getting to see him anymore, so I made them this to take with them. They really liked it!!! I used a free digital kit download from two peas to create it. I think digital is perfect for stuff like this!!! I was able to make it once, and print 25 copies of it in a pretty small amount of time.

Editing photos...

today, and printing them:) I finally have time to relive my trip to Vegas. These pictures make me smile. And remember. And Laugh. And be grateful for such good friends. I am so lucky. I know I have posted some of these on here already, but I just love how some of them came out in black and white, so I'm posting again. Then I'm going to start playing with my pictures:) I think I have printed about fifty pictures in the past couple of hours. I'm not anywhere near being finished either. I hope everyone is having a good week. I am so happy it's summer:)

My summer vacation...

has officially started:)

1 1/2 days, but who's counting???

I am, I am, I am!!! I can't believe how this week has been CREEPING along. But tomorrow should go by pretty fast. Today my kids made second grade memory books, I took everything off the walls, and they took all the tape off everything. They have no idea how nice it is for me to have them ENJOY doing these things for me. I hate that stuff. So my room is pretty much packed up. We are watching a movie in the morning, then we have track and field day in the afternoon. Monday is a half day, then I am so OUTTA there!!! I can't wait. I enjoyed my last list a lot, so I decided to make a list of things I can't wait for about summer....and here they are:
10. I am going to really CLEAN my house.
9. I am going to attempt to clean my scrapbook room-notice the word attempt. I get sidetracked quite easily in there:)
8. I am going to go for long runs/walks during the morning when the temperature is just right.
7. I am going to attempt, notice that word again, to get Barkley into some type of routine. He is rather out of control right now:)
6. I am going to SLOW DOWN, and ENJOY simple pleasures like taking a long hot bath, going to lunch with a friend every once in a while, not waking to an alarm clock, sitting on my deck and just CHILLING out because I want to.
5. I will be able to talk on the phone during the day:)
4. I might be able to enjoy Ryan when he is home at night because my mind won't be in 500 other places.
3. I can, and will scrapbook a little bit every day if I want to!!!
2. I will read a TON of books!!!
1. I will be at the lake, and I won't have to rush home on Sunday afternoons. I can stay as long as I please:)
I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday, and a happy weekend!!!

3 1/2 Days...

and counting!!! That is how much school I have left to go. Just thinking of that makes me smile-really big:) I read on my friend Allison's blog 10 things she has learned about herself by cleaning her scrapbook room. I haven't cleaned mine, but I decided to write 10 things I have learned by sitting amongst my mess. Here they are!!!

10. I have a whole lot of unfinished projects laying around.
9. I have really accumulated a ton of alphabet stickers, stamps, rub-ons, templates, etc. For some reason, I love letters.
8. I probably have as many pictures from the past two years as lots of people have accumulated over their entire lifetime.
7. When I love a picture, I print it over and over again, black and white, color, sepia, 5x7, 4x6, 8x10...and on and on and on.
6. I have a lot, and I do mean a lot, of old ink cartridges. Staples used to buy them to recycle, and I keep thinking someone will recycle them again. I should really throw these away.
5. I am extremely unorganized, but I can tell you where anything is-that is-if I remember that I have it.
4. I love all things Basic Grey!!!
3. I love pictures of my girlfriends and I-they are all around this place! I guess because most of them live far away, and I don't feel like I can hang them all around the house??? They are everywhere in here.
2. I, just like Allison, confess to being a really big scrapbook slob!!!
1. I couldn't imagine not having this room. Sometimes I just sit in here and listen to my favorite tunes on my ipod, look at pictures, talk on the phone, take a nap, or actually scrapbook. It never fails that when I leave this room, I feel better about life. This room makes me happy. When I am here, I am surrounded by things I love. The color red, memories, scrapbook stuff, music, the list could go on and on and on. But it all boils down to the fact that it is MY space!!!

Happy Mother's Day...

to all the moms out there-especially mine:) I miss her today. This is the first Mother's Day I have had without her for a couple of years. Last year I went home, the year before that, she came here. So I'm kind of down today. But at least I got to talk to her.

And...I have five and a half days of school left! Now that, is good news! Not that I don't like being a teacher, but man, I am READY for summertime. Looking forward to sleeping in, going for morning runs, wearing flip-flops and comfy clothes-everyday, and just not worrying about work. It really is a huge benefit. I hope everyone has a great week.

Yippee!!!

I am so excited! I checked my email today to find a request from bluemedia publications. They want one of my layouts to put in their upcoming book, "Blueprints 2". Trust me, during the last days of school, this is a for-sure pick-me-up!!! I'm ecstatic!!! Hope everyone is having a good week. Here are more pics from my fabulous trip with my fabulous girls!!!

More Vegas Pics

Seriously, we had so much fun! Here are some pics from our favorite day of the trip. This was Saturday at the pool. What a great day! Just looking at these pictures brings a smile to my face:)

Good Times...

Had by all! We had an absolute blast in Las Vegas this weekend! Here is one funny picture I thought I would share. There are many more, but I'm tired, and getting ready to hit the hay! Happy Monday!

Almost Out Of Here:)

So, yeah, I am so, so, so excited about our girls trip that starts tomorrow evening. This has certainly been one of the longest weeks I can remember having in awhile. You know, the kind where time doesn't pass, or you can't focus, because your mind is elsewhere??? I have been thinking this week how lucky I am. I am going with Kindra, my girl who I grew up with. Our birthdays are five days apart, and we always had a party together at my house. That is how this Vegas thing started. Bethany is my girl-the one who I went through college with, and all the stuff that comes with that:) We talk on the phone at LEAST a few hours each week, just ask Jeff or Ryan:) (LOL) Jessie is my girl who I met when Ryan and I got married. She had just started dating Justin, my husband's best friend. I met her for the first time at our wedding. We hit it off, and she became one of my best friends. So, I don't know how I got so lucky to have someone from each significant part of my life come along for the ride. The only one person missing is Rachel. She couldn't make it for a couple of reasons. But, we'll make up for that this summer when she comes here/I go there. Rachel, I love you, and I hope you have a good end of the week, and a super weekend! Here is the page I made about us going to Vegas together. I'm taking my laptop with me, planning to share some pics and memories while I am there, in the moment. No promises though:) Everyone have a great rest of the week!

Nice Flowers...

I couldn't pass up the bright colors of these flowers Ryan gave me for my birthday! I thought these were pretty cool. Have a great week! I have three days, and I'll be with my girls in Vegas!

My Birthday

So, here's what I did on my big day!!! First of all, I walked into school, and look what was at the front door. I was so embarrassed!!! I didn't care about turning thirty, but I'm not really one for the spotlight. But I must admit, it was funny, and I won't ever forget it! So, Angie and Relina, THANK YOU!!!

Kim and Angela-other gals I work with-bought me lunch from Paradise Tea Room in Rogersville. That is always a huge treat!!! THANKS GIRLS!

That's not even all of it! Ryan comes to school with two cakes from Supreme Bakery to put in the Teacher's Workroom for all the teachers at school. (Yummy cakes) He even brought cupcakes and milk for the kids in my class. He brought me some really pretty flowers and a couple of cool gift certificates too. It was so, so sweet. THANK YOU RYAN!

After school, I went and had a pedicure-one of my favorite things to do! I had left my cell phone at home, and when I got there, it had many missed calls on it. Both of my brothers, my mom, dad, Bethany, Jeremy, Grandma, Granny, Brenda, and Ashley called to wish me a happy day! Then, I went home, and a few of Ryan's friends came by to wish me a happy birthday. They were lots of fun!

We went to Bijan's for dinner-huge yummy! Then we came home and hung out with our sweet doggies! They gave me lots of birthday kisses! I must say the world revolved around me today, and I will admit, I enjoyed every minute of it! I am one lucky girl!

Yeah, I'm 30!

I'm 30 today, and...I've had one of the best birthdays ever! No time to upload photos, so I'll do that this weekend. But I can't complain. I am certainly excited about this b-day. It's been a good one! I'll fill you in tomorrow:)Happy 30!!!

Counting the days...

until I am in Vegas with three of the most awesome friends (and people) I know! We have, or, are all turning thirty during this year, and so we are taking a girl's trip to Vegas. We leave April 26th. I can't wait!!! I have been working on a scrapbook layout of the four of us. I will post it when I am finished. All I can say is that I know we are going to have a blast. We are all super-excited, and I think I must be one of the luckiest girls in the world to have these three girls as friends. Jessie, Kindra, and Bethany, I can't wait to see you in Vegas!!! 10 days and counting!

Happy Friday!

Harley has taught Barkley how to do all the bad stuff that she does. She barks uncontrollably at the front door, she licks dishes in the dishwasher, and she runs off when she's not on a leash. And yeah, Barkley has caught on. He especially loves the dishwasher. Harley never actually jumped onto it though. Barkley has no boundaries! But anyhow, it's Friday. That makes it a happy day for me! Have a great weekend!

I just ran across these pictures of Shelton, and they made me smile. Thought I would share. Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Happy Easter, too! Amy

Back to Work!

I am sad to report that my spring break is over! For all of you who are teachers, you feel my pain. For everyone else, you think it is really weird how teachers get about our breaks. But trust me, trying to keep kids inside (and more importantly-focused and on task) when the weather is nice, is quite a task. They are getting tired of school-and sometimes their teachers-and we are feeling likewise. This time of year just kind of wears me out. (at school) It is like I have to motivate my class, but I have to motivate myself too. I have to start thinking about all I will do different next year, but stay focused on what I am doing right now. Blah, blah, blah! Like I said for those of you teachers, you will understand what I'm saying. Everyone else, I apologize, you must bear with me. I am sure this won't be my last entry about the spring school stuff. But the good thing is that since spring break is over, summer is officially just around the corner. I went back today, and we went to Fantastic Caverns for a field trip. If you live around Springfield, and have never been there, it's worth a trip. I never in a million years would have thought a cave could be interesting, but it is, and it is actually beautiful in parts too. Anyway, that was a good start back to school after a nice break. I am very happy to report that I got my first bit of a suntan on Sunday too. I sat out on our deck at the lake reading, "The Devil Wears Prada", and I actually got a whole lot of sun:) That always makes me happy. The dogs had fun too. Have a great week! Amy