Wednesday, December 12, 2007

What next?

I got a call during church tonight from one of Casey's friends telling me Casey was hurt. The last time I got a call at church was when we lost Dad, so a little part of me went into panic mode. Luckily it wasn't too bad. She had gone to see a friend and stepped off their porch onto a step that was loose. Her foot when through the step and a board flew up and hit her in the face. She had a 1 1/2 inch gash between her eyebrows. She is now sporting 5 stitches and will probably have 2 black eyes in the morning, but at least that's all it was.

After being home Monday with 2 sick boys, and Austin deciding to open a can of Spaghettio's with his thumb (yes, the cut was deep, but being the resourceful Mom I am, I just steri stripped it and wrapped it in a Band-Aid) I'm afraid to ask what's next.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

I am going to run away

Okay, maybe not, but it's been a couple of "those" days, yes, you know the one's I'm talking about!
Mom spent Sunday night with my brother and SIL, she had a really tough weekend and just needed to get a way for a little while. Of course, while she's gone both my boys decide to get sick. They usually go see Nana and let her fuss over them all day, then I pick them up, spoiled rotten, but feeling better.

Well, this went waaaay beyond a Nana kind of sick. We ended up going to the doctor and getting them both on strong antibiodics and cough meds. (yeah, the green stuff coming from Logan's nose a dead giveaway that Mom couldn't fix this one).

So here's how the day went. They slept late, didn't want to get up, both felt yucky and Austin couldn't quit coughing. It was super foggy and rainy yesterday, but I loaded them up and away we went to the doctor. Let me just say that anyone who doesn't know how to use a blinker, or to EASE down on your brakes, not lock them up in the road, needs to have his/her driver's license revoked permanently. Now my disclaimer, I may have been in a hurry, but I was NOT tailgating.....I was drafting.

Okay finally get to FIL's pharmacy and get the boys meds, which we start right then, no waiting and we head home.

I knew I had to stop at the grocery store on the way, so I had steeled myself. Logan was whining and his fever had come up, so I was just throwing things in the buggy just to get out of the store and get them home. I even caved and let Austin get a can of Spaghettio's (mistake #1). Logan fussed and wanted a bag of Cheetos (mistake #2). I get to the register and I know the girl working behind so we're talking when another cashier, whom I also know, looks at me and says, "Why aren't y'all in school today?" Hmmmm, I have one whining boy saying "my head hurts" and one coughing so hard I though he was going to hack up a lung. I just really really wanted to say "here's your sign" but I just smiled politely and said, "We've been to the doctor."

So I get the boys and my groceries., my "quick" trip which ended up $67.43 later, get the boys loaded, and Logan decides to open aforementioned bag of Cheetos in the back seat of the car, yes, the car I just vaccuumed! Did you know that a 3 year old opening a bag of crunchy Cheetos can propel them to the nether regions of you car?Get home, give Austin the cough meds because I knew if he fell asleep I'd just have to leave him in the car, he weighs 112 lbs!

Austin decides to eat aforemention can of Spaghettio's. Young man that he is becoming, and thinking with a man's brain, he picked up the OLD canopener, whent he lid didn't come completely off the can he decided to STICK HIS THUMB down and lift the can lid. No he didn't require stitches, probably should have had them, but I've had first aid training, elevated it, cleaned it out, re-elevated it until the bleeding stop (it looked like we had slaughtered a hog in the kitchen!), and bandaged it very tightly. Oh what fun! I guess I can see the humor in it now because Austin's bandaids fell off at school and the school nurse redressed it. He now looks like he has a giant marshmellow stuck on his thumb. What was the name of the nursery rhyme .".........stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plumb, and said what a good boy am I" I may paint the bandage purple.

So that, my friends, is why I've had 2 Tylenol PM and am waiting desperately for them to kick in!

Friday, December 7, 2007

Journey to Bethlehem

Tonight begins our church's outdoor drama, Journey to Bethlehem. I've never been involved in anything like this, and I'm really looking forward to it. Chris, Austin, and Logan are all in it, too. Chris is a servant in Herod's palace, Austin is one of the wisemen's entourage, and I am the poor widow woman outside the gates of Bethlehem who sells chickens, eggs, and vegetables; Logan is my child.

When I told Logan he was going to get to wear a costume and sit with me around our campfire he got really excited; his first question was, "Yeah, can we burn some hotdogs and marshmellows on a stick?!" I'm afraid he will be the comic relief for this drama. I'll take my camera and try to get a few pictures tonight.

Right now the weather is pretty nasty, drizzly, and cold. I'm hoping it clears off a little before 7:00 pm. Just in case your are anywhere near Salem First Baptist Church this weekend, our drama runs Friday and Saturday at 7, and Sunday at 6.

Friday, November 16, 2007

A long time

I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd posted on my blog. I guess I spent all summer waiting for DSL and just didn't have the patience to try to post on dial up. I can't even look at the blog at school because the server has it blocked, so forget that idea.

So much has happened since my last post. Casey graduated, we moved into our new home, Dad retired after 32 years as the superintendent of our school, and after 46 years in education. The summer was fairly uneventful, but busy nonetheless. School started back in August and with it I got 2 new classes, Drama and Speech. I now teach Art, Speech, and Drama. It's a little overwhelming at times. Austin also decided to try a new sport and started playing Mighty Mite football. Even though he had to play at Salem (our biggest rivals), it was okay since Viola doesn't have football.

In September, we lost dad rather suddenly. His health was not great, but we had no idea how bad he felt. I think one of his biggest fears was not being able to care for himself and God knew that. Dad lived his life with dignity, and God took him home with dignity. We were amazed and humbled by the number of people who came to pay respects, and by the kind words from so many.

We are nearly the holiday season, and while it's going to be tough to get through some of the days, we all know that he would want us to enjoy our time together.

I'll try to post a few pictures, but not today. We've had a bug going around school and it has decided to stop and visit me. I think I'll go curl up on the couch until someone gets home to corral Logan, then I'm going to bed!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Did you wonder about me?


Let's see, since the last post, our computer monitor completely died, it won't even come on now, so that really limited me, especially since I can't get to the blog from school because they are "restricted" sites.

Casey just had her Senior prom Friday night. It was beautiful, but kind of sad, too. This was the last one, the last prom dress, the last prom hair appt., the last "Mom, will you do my makeup for prom?" I can't believe she graduates in 2 months....less than 2 months, May 11th! It seems like yesterday she was just a baby!

Austin has had a rough time with stomach yuckies the last week. We are home again today. At least he has a new movie (Eragon) to watch and keep him occupied for a while. He's not a very good patient.

Logan is growing up too fast, too. He will be 3 in June! Last night we were in Lowe's and he announced to the whole store he needed to go to the bathroom. We we came out he told his Daddy very loudly, what he had accomplished. I thought the sales clerk was going to fall over. Oh well, we're entertaining if nothing else!

We've had a minor setback on the house. Our cabinet guy decided to do another job that was HUGE before us. Now we are waiting on cabinets and the other house isn't even close to needing them. Yep, Jesse, our builder, had a not-so-pleasant chat with him. He told us he would have the cabinets ready by the end of March, probably before. WRONG! He's going to START them Monday. I have already informed all those who need to know that I WILL be moving the first week of April, our spring break, with our without cabinets! I think the builder passed that info along. Oh, and we didn't get the carpet in the basement on Monday like we had planned. They discovered the basement has started drawing moisture. I called the doofus who did our basement and he talked to me like I was a complete moron. Did I mention it was right after I'd had a particularly bad day with my 7th grade boys? I ended up talking to this guy like he was one of them and he came out Tuesday to check things out. I told him we weren't happy with his work and definitely WOULD NOT be recommending him to any of our friends. He was more than happy to blame it on the 1st builder....the one we fired.


Time to get off here. I'm posting one of Casey's prom pictures....she just looks too grown up!

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Time flies....

...when you have 3 kids, work full time, and are trying to build a house! Poor Chris, he's worked late on the house every night for the last few weeks. I'll be glad when we can move in, maybe he can rest then.

I've meant to try to get on here and post a few new pictures, but our monitor bit the dust, and my good pictures are on that computer. I'm dragging the laptop back and forth until I get a new monitor. I'm hoping it won't be long until I get it, we've got to get crackin' on Chris's 2007 business books! (not to mention I have to be able to get to my pictures!)

So much for posting time, my youngest miracle is sleepy and demanding attention (actually, he wants me to roll up a newspaper so he can use it as a weapon!)

I'll get new house pictures posted soon.....I hope!

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Snow Day!




You've gotta love a snow day! We got 4"+ of snow last night and it's picking up again; it looks like no school for us tomorrow, either! I was ready for a little break. . . if you can call it that. I do have the laundry almost caught up, though. We've had our traditional snow day cheese dip and chips, too. I did help Chris at the farm. . . . okay, I watched while he piled brush, but I did get some good snow pictures.

I have to work on a few lesson plans tomorrow, and get ready for the state cheerleading championships, but it's been pretty laid back for us.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

It's SNOWING!




While snow isn't a big deal for northern and some western regions of the US, it's a BIG deal on January 31st in Arkansas! The forecast this morning was for light snow turning to heavier snow late this evening, but the snow started much earlier than predicted. We got out of school at 1:30 and the ground and roads were competely covered in a matter of 45 minutes!

It's still coming down and I'm pretty sure we've already surpassed the predicted 3-4" of earlier. My little fat birds were happy to see the feeder refilled with sunflower seeds, too. It looks like tomorrow will be a snow day, hot chocolate and jigsaw puzzles for us!

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A week's progress


I know it seems like all I ever post is about the house or the kids, but building a new home is very exciting, and I'm a proud mom, if you don't want to hear about my kids you're in the wrong place! Ü

The doors finally went in today, the siding is going on, the dirt work is done, and the electrician is finishing his part tonight so we can start insulating and sheetrocking this week. The afternoon sun was shining in through the new front door and the light was making rainbows across the floor. It was beautiful! We really need it warm up around here, though. These mid 20 degree temps are making things really difficult!

Casey's cheer squad goes to the state championships on Saturday. I may be getting up way before the crack of dawn, but it will be worth it. Go LONGHORNS! (and I don't mean Texas!)

Thursday, January 25, 2007

The windows are here, the windows are here!

I never thought I'd be so excited to have windows, but we waited out the ice storm and they arrived today. No, I didn't take pictures because they're still in the boxes & crates, but I'm crossing my fingers that they will go in the house tomorrow and I'll get a picture then. This is exciting! We're going to have a new home very soon.

The driveway was started today, too. It was a little easier to get up to the house this afternoon, I didn't need 4WD to get through all the mud. He also started pushing the dirt back up against the foundation so the house looks a little less monolithic. I'm ready for spring to get here so I can start digging in the dirt and landscaping! I just love to dig in the dirt; I guess I'm still a kid at heart!

Monday, January 22, 2007

House progress


This is the part where it seems to take forever! The siding started going up on the house today, we were originally going with brick, but are going to have to wait on that one. (long, ugly story with builder #1). The windows were supposed to have been here last week, but they arrived in the warehouse in Springfield, MO the day the ice storm hit, so we are having to wait until Springfield thaws to get our windows shipped to us. The doors and windows will go in at the same time and things will look really different then.


I'm hoping and praying we can move into our new home soon. It's going to be so nice to spread out and not have 5 people crammed into 900 sq feet. I can't wait to get to the fun part, decorating. Mom got the kids new bedspreads and I'm so anxious to fix up their rooms. I don't have pictures of the inside because it's still just the studs and wiring, not very pretty, but when the sheetrock starts to go up I'll post more pictures.

Our new house is 2 miles off the main highway. It's going to be so nice to hear cows, crickets, birds, and frogs instead of jake brakes and thumping bass from the souped up sound systems of teenagers vehicles. I'm expecting a large jump in hearing aid sales in the next generation.


So here it is, the latest progress of our new home.

I would have taken the picture from straight on, but the mud was knee deep and I didn't feel like wading it.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Another shot from regionals


Here's a shot of the girls in action, see what I'm talking about, they throw the girls up in the air!

VHS regional champs


Yesterday (Saturday) Casey's cheerleading sqad went to the regional championships, they brought home 1st place in class A, small squad, all girl. It's amazing to see some of the things these kids can do! The next stop is the state ACCA championships in Greenbrier on February 3rd! I'm so glad her last year of cheerleading is a good one. I'm also glad Casey is a backspot and not one of the fliers, it makes me so nervous to see these kids go flying up in the air.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Back to the old grind!


After almost 2 weeks off we started back to school, normally this isn't a big deal for me, but I had some new classes I'd NEVER taught! I'm officially the Speech (or Oral Communications to be politically correct) teacher at VHS. I'm enjoying it, but I'm still trying to get myself together and figure out some lesson plans.


We had a wonderful Christmas. I always enjoy spending time with family, but Logan got a little Mommyitis when it came time to go back to school and daycare. I had a little Loganitis, too.


Our home construction is finally back on track. We have a new building crew take over (don't ask), and they're moving along really quickly. In 2 weeks time we have the plumbing, central heat/AC unit, and a few other minor repairs almost finished. The roofers started today, and the electrician should be ready to start soon. I'm hoping, praying, and crossing my fingers that we can start moving in to our new house around the end of February or first of March. I'm so ready to have CLOSET SPACE, and the new dishwasher is going to be fabulous, too! (My current dishwasher balks, and she had a basketball game tonight so I have to do the dishes!)


Here's a look at our new home, I'll take another one when the roof is finished and the doors and windows go in. It should look alot different then.