Could it be...

a snow/ice free week in Missouri? I sure do hope so!!! I had a great time in Oklahoma with my family. Time just goes too fast when I am there. I took quite a detour coming home...I thought it would be a shortcut from I-44, but it ended up taking me about an hour longer to get home, and a lot of very dark and very windy roads!! I have never seen so many of those yellow arrow signs in my life! I didn't think I was ever going to get home, but thank goodness, I made it:) I haven't uploaded pictures yet. In fact, I still haven't uploaded pictures from my niece's birthday party in January. I will get to it at some point. I am getting soooooooo excited right now! Bethany is coming to visit from Texas for the weekend. I am taking a personal day on Friday, so we can hang out. We were talking last night, and realized that we haven't seen one another since Memorial Day weekend. That is way too long! Anyways, she is driving in on Thursday, and will hopefully be here when I get off work:) Sooooo excited for this weekend with her! Hope everyone is having a great week!

Here are some pictures...

of layouts I have completed, but never posted. I finally took pics of them. However, the quality is kind of poor, so I apologize for that. The pics on the bottom are from a couple of weeks ago. I looked out the window and there were baby deer all over my yard. By the time I got out my camera, they had scattered a bit. They especially scattered when I opened the door to take pictures. Oh well...at least I finally caught them:) They were really cute. I tried to post this Friday morning, but I was having trouble with blogger. I braved the roads and made it to Oklahoma for a visit. It was a long drive down because of the drive through Branson and Springfield. But after that, it wasn't too bad. I have just been hanging out with my family since I got here. It has been nice. I am looking forward to a yummy lunch here tomorrow. My mom is making roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, hot rolls, green beans, and who knows what else. What I am not looking forward to is the drive home, and another hectic week of playing catch up at school. That is the worst part of snow days...catching up. Oh well, it will all work out...Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!!!

Snowed In...

Again!!! I can't believe this is happening again! Fortunately, I prepared this time. I went to the store last night and got lots of food and things I need around here. Good thing, because I couldn't hardly back my car up the driveway this morning! I decided to move it in case I needed to get it out, and thank goodness I did! There is no way I could get it up to the top of the hill now! With all the snow days we have had, I kind of feel useless. This morning I have swept, mopped, cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, and now I am making homemade chicken noodle soup! YUM!!! It smells so good. I have also been reading the book, "Eat, Pray, Love"...really enjoying it too!!! Hope everyone is enjoying their Thursday.

Here's hoping...

that everyone has a good week........and that we do not have anymore ice or snow:) I promise that this week I will get the pages posted that I made a few weeks ago. I just keep forgetting to take pictures of them until it's dark. They don't come out well without natural light.

pictures...

from the storm...

Ice Days...

are adding up. I think we now have four days to add to the end of our school year. We are making one day up on President's Day already. I have enjoyed these extremely long weekends, but come May...that will be a different story. I do feel for all the people out there who do not have power. I remember last year when I was in that situation, along with so many others. Not something I want to relive. I remember never being so thankful for light switches:) It was terribly miserable. I have been fortunate enough to keep power. I hope everyone else gets theirs back on soon. I am hoping we have school tomorrow. But I guess we will just have to wait and see. I deleted my earlier post for various reasons. I guess you never know how many people read these things. Hope everyone has a great day!

Some of my pictures...

from my weekend in Oklahoma. These are just some of the ones I took. There will be more to post, but I need to do some photo editing first. I really like these though. Kinzley is my new little niece. She is so pretty. Kylan is just a cutie, and check out Shelton's cute little face!!! He was enjoying some taco soup. I really like the one of my Grandpa with Shelton, and my cousin's little girl, Kyndall. When you say smile, she makes that funny face! It was hilarious! I had a good time with my family. I returned here, and had three days of school, then two snow days. So it has been an extended weekend. I wish I could say that I had gotten some things accomplished, however, I can't really say that. There is always tomorrow though, right? I did finish two scrapbook pages tonight. I will take pics of those and post tomorrow or the next day. Hope all my teacher buddies have enjoyed their snow days, and that everyone else is enjoying a nice weekend!!!

Happy Friday!!!

I am heading to Oklahoma this afternoon. My niece's second birthday party is on Saturday. It has a Dora theme. Can't wait to see everyone there. Here are a couple of cool pics from the lake one day when the sky was unbelievable...Have a good weekend!!!

Enjoying My Day Off...

I think I really needed a day off today. So I am laid back, enjoying myself. I took a bubble bath, put a mask on my face, enjoyed part of my book, and now I am organizing my closet:) Feeling productive!!! Here are some pictures of some cards I've been working on. The red, white, and black snowflake card is my favorite of the group! Hope everyone is having a good day!!!

New Layout...

I had read on Ali Edward's blog about choosing a word for the new year. I was standing on the deck one day looking at the lake, and my word came to me. Reflection...so here is my layout with my one little word.

Finally...Some Pictures:)

Some of my favorites from the holiday! Happy New Year!!!

Hoping...

that everyone had a wonderful Christmas with your families! I know I have certainly been enjoying my time here. I came in on Sunday evening, and am planning to be here until this Saturday night or Sunday morning...still undecided. But it has been nice to actually have time while I am here. My trips are usually so rushed...only two or three days long. So this has been so much nicer...sleeping in...hanging around the house...watching television...making cards...playing on the computer...just having a nice time with my nieces and nephew. Only one bad thing...I left my charger for my camera battery at home. Really frustrated about this...not only can I not load pics on my computer, but I can't take any pics either. So I think I may have to add a charger to my list for tomorrow. My mom and I are shopping tomorrow, and I think I am going to have to give in and buy it. Well...guess that's it around here...by the way it snowed all morning, and we had a white day after Christmas. It really was beautiful!

Wishing you....

a VERY Merry Christmas!!!

It's icing outside...

and i'm just chilling with the doggies:) Supposed to be heading to Oklahoma in the morning. But this weather is making me nervous. Part of me would love to wake up to snow at the lake...just because I've never seen it here before and I know it is probably beautiful. However, I need to get home tomorrow. My plan is to head out in the morning, and return next Sunday morning. I guess it really isn't in my control at this point. But I must say that I am soooooooooo enjoying my time off right now, and I love having cute little Barkley curled up in my lap. He has turned into a complete lap dog, and it is so cute. Harley is all curled up between two pillows. I have also enjoyed just being at the lake for a few days of down time...........MUCH needed. If it weren't so cold and icy outside, I would run out to my car and grab the cord so that I could post some pictures. I took pictures of the dogs earlier with the flash off and them just totally curled up and relaxing. Definitely a snapshot of the moment...hopefully i'll get pics posted this week when i'm in Oklahoma. I still can't believe it's Christmas..............

Is it really...

Christmas? Already? I guess it just doesn't seem possible to me. I had not even bought one, yes, I said one Christmas present until today! I shopped in Branson...couldn't believe how NOT crowded it was here! Everyone in Springfield was saying it was horrible there. I had no traffic, no lines, no crowds. At the outlet mall, I was actually able to just pull up to each store I wanted to go inside and park right in front! I have never had an easier day in Branson. I got all but two gifts finished. All but three are wrapped! Successful day!!! I hope everyone out there is getting everything they need to get done, done! Enjoy your family and friends! I'm getting back to my dogs. We're chilling at the lake!

Ahhhhhh...

I am breathing a sigh of relief! The Christmas program is over:) Today is the best Friday ever!!! I haven't had my breaks this week b/c we have had practice every morning during my break times. Two of my special class teachers wanted to make up their time with my kids. So today, I have FOUR breaks!!! My kids had pe at 9:30, music at 12:05, counselor at 12:35, and they are going to art at 1:40-for an hour:) This is a good day!!! I just wish it would warm up a little bit. However, I did get some UGG boots last night, and I am super excited about that. Of course I had to wear them today, and they are soooooooooooo warm and fuzzy!!! Hope everyone stays warm and has a good weekend!

Christmas Program...

week drives me NUTS!!! We have our second grade program tonight at 7:00. We have had the second graders practicing at the high school from 8:30-11:00 for the past few days, and the kids are stressed, teachers are stressed, and it's just no fun! I can't wait for it to be over with tonight. I have missed my breaks for three days in a row, so that is probably why I feel like I might strangle these kids!!! I need a break away from them........in a HUGE way! Besides that, they are crazy with Christmas right around the corner. Anyways...other than that I guess things are good. I am ready for break! I don't know my Christmas plans for sure...but I do know that I'm ready for a break from work, life, etc....hope everyone else is doing well, and that those of you who were in the terrible ice storm have power again! I promise one of these days I will post new pics...just been busy! Happy Thursday!

BRRRRRR......

it is cold outside today! I am not a fan of the cold-at all! So this is not the bestday for me. It is just too cold:)

A Sooner Christmas Carol

So, I already posted about our big win, but a friend emailed me this and I couldn't resist. It is long, but it's pretty funny:) (at least it's funny to a Sooner)

'Twas the night before the Big XII and all through the land,
not a Tiger was stirring, not even the band.

Their Jockeys were hung by the locker with care,
in hopes that the Sooners soon would be there.

Truman was nestled all snug in his bed,
while visions of the BCS danced in his head.

And Pinkel in his kerchief full of Tiger pride,
and Bob and the Sooners ready to ride.

When down in San Antone there arose such a clatter,
Chase sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.

He realized the Option was gone in a flash,
and Maclin's dreams of running had just been dashed.

The Tiger tight ends trembled as they watched the show,
A Crimson and Cream luster set the horizon aglow.

When what to their wondering eyes should they find,
but a miniature Schooner, seven National Titles behind.

With a wizened old driver, skilled in leading his troops,
they knew in a moment it must be Bob Stoops.

More rapid than Temple his players they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

"On Bradford, on Joe John, now Patrick and Murray!
On Chris Brown! On Iglesias! On Hartley and Kelly!

To the top of the conference! To the top of it all!
Now dash their hopes! Dash their dreams! Dash away all!"

And then in a twinkling, the Tigers fought back a scream,
and Chase saw the last of his Heisman trophy dream.

defense drew in their breath and looked all around,
and realized that their "Pig" was nowhere to be found.

Bob's eyes how they twinkled, his coaches how merry!
As they carried on the legacy left them by Barry.

Gary's sad little face and a fear in his belly,
he shook on the field as his knees turned to jelly.

Pinkel spoke not a word, and the ball they couldn't carry,
Stoops filled up the scoreboard and then turned to Gary.

And laying his hand on the shoulder of his friend,
he gave Pinkel a nod and said, "Like Norman again."

Bob sprang to the Schooner, to his team gave a shout,
to the BCS they flew and left Mizzou down and out.

And we heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
"Boomer Sooner to All and to All a Good Night!"

Boomer Sooner!!!!

I am soooo excited about our big win...especially because I live in Missouri:) Most everyone around was cheering for the Tigers, so that made it a lot more fun! I knew we would win, and thank goodness we did, otherwise, I might not be able to survive all the comments people would be making. I am always saying stuff to co-workers and friends about my team. They would never let me live it down if they had won that game....so to everyone out there...BOOMER SOONER:):):):):):)