Sleeping Beauty...

You know you're a princess when you sleep in a tiara...

So Beautiful!!

What I'm Reading...

I've heard good things about this book. I'll let you know how it's going once I get a little further. I'm soooo excited to start it!

On The Run...

Sunday I decided it was time to make a change. I've GOT to start running again. No more excuses. No more being tired. No more being too cold outside. No excuses.

So I went for my first run in quite a while. It didn't matter that it was pouring down rain. It didn't matter that I was huffing. and. puffing.

I did it and that's all that matters. I'm on a roll now and I'm not going to stop!

On The Menu...

This week in between all the basketball games we'll be attending, here is what I'll be cooking up...

White Chicken Chili

Enchiladas

It's making me hungry already!

Tomboy Tools Party...

My MIL, Cindi, is a Tomboy Tools Consultant and she traveled down to teach us all about fixing up your home this weekend. We had a good time and learned a lot. Just check out our cool new gear...

Jennifer is now ready to find her a stud!

Spatterdock....

This week I'm participating in Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop and I chose the following prompt:

2.) Relay an entertaining conversation or string of emails you recently had with someone.

Hee. Hee. As soon as I saw this prompt, I knew it was the one for me.

As a teacher I frequently collaborate with others in my school including our media specialist and our technology integration specialist. Which are just fancy ways to say our librarian and our computer guy.

A few weeks ago we were busy preparing for our 2nd graders to present their Rise 'N Shine assembly. They were presenting our new character word of the month to the school and giving away all the fab.u.lous prizes to students who won for demonstrating our previous character trait. One of my jobs was to work with our computer guy, we'll call him "Herbert", to make sure he had the PowerPoint to show and all the information we needed presented on the big screen.

What follows is our actual email exchange. At no time has this been altered by me... no matter what "Herbert" claims.

Me: Here is the information you need. Let me know if you need anything else. Thanks!

"Herbert": Perfect. Spatterdock. Do you have the agenda yet?

Me: What does spatterdock mean?!?!?!

"Herbert": Apparently it is a flower of the lily family or a housing addition on Caddo Lake in Texas (Google, 2010). Good thing you didn't ask me why in the $%@# it is in the middle of my email message, 'cause the answer to that would be, "I don't have a $%@# clue." I have never heard of it until just now. Clickin' around too fast I guess. ??????? Sorry.

"Herbert" refuses to admit that he wrote the email. He claims I somehow did it. How??? Good question. We've run through all the possible scenarios for how I could have sneaked into his office without him (or the entire 3rd grade team) seeing me to send this crazy email. We've also gone into his sent mail folder so he could see exactly what he sent me. But he just refuses to believe. Serious denial goin' on people...serious denial.

I know this is definitely one of those "had to be there" moments, but we just have laughed and laughed about this so much since it happened!

Kansas City Tournament...

This past weekend we packed up and drove to Kansas City for a basketball tournament. Payton's AAU team, The Arkansas Hawks, did a great job against some tough competition! They were definitely in the most difficult pool, which was good because they got to play against some great teams. Even though they went 1-3 in pool play, they improved with each game. Some of the teams they were playing against were HUGE. They had players that were at least 6'3". I think the boys were intimidated at first and it took them a little while to realize that they could play with these guys.

After making it out of pool play, they played great and won their next couple games to make it into the final four! Way to go Hawks! We're so proud of how much the boys learned and progressed throughout the weekend. You could really see the difference in each game as they figured out their offense and how they could score on these giants they were playing against.

Payton did very well overall. He averaged about 12 points per game (most games had final scores around 30) and was a good leader for his team. He helps to keep the other players calm when they begin to lose their cool.

Here's a video I got during the first game. It's not very good, but all the pictures I took were even worse. So this is the best I've got. Payton is #5 on the white team. Watch for #12 on the blue team. This was our first game and this kid was soooo tall! He looked like he belonged in college. He was seriously the tallest 6th grader I've ever seen and he was a great ball player as well. One of my favorite quotes from the weekend was when one of Payton's teammates was talking about how this guy's armpit hair touched his arm when they were going for a rebound. He was so grossed out! Ha!

Time to Get Crafty...

Right now my dresser is just totally covered in jewelry. I have a few small jewelry boxes, but nothing that is big enough to really help... It's just everywhere. Out. of. Control. So, I've been looking on etsy to try and find something and I've found some lovelies that I really think I could make on my own...

{etsy}

{etsy}

{etsy}

{etsy}

So cute! I just love etsy! Someday when I have some free time I'm going to work on this project. I'll get back to use with the finished product...

Words of Wisdom...

If you see injustice, STAND UP
If something needs to be said, SPEAK UP
If you make an appointment, SHOW UP
If you make a mistake, FESS UP
If you’re overstepping, BACK UP
If you get behind, CATCH UP
If they knock you down, GET UP
If you’re out of line, STRAIGHTEN UP
When your boss instructs, KEEP UP
When your elders speak, LISTEN UP
When your teachers teach, SIT UP
When the fight is over, MAKE UP
If you’re being hard, EASE UP
If your heart is closed, OPEN UP
If you want to buy something, SAVE UP--
If you make a mess, CLEAN IT UP
If you drop trash, PICK IT UP
If a car is waiting for you to walk across the street, SPEED IT UP
If you’re cold busted, GIVE IT UP
If people fall down, HELP THEM UP--
If people start fighting, BREAK IT UP
If the music is wholesome, TURN IT UP
If the message is poisonous, THROW IT UP
If your words are vulgar, CLAM IT UP
If your words encourage, KEEP IT UP
If your pants are baggy, PULL THEM UP
If the belt’s too loose, CINCH IT UP
If you’re dressed half naked, COVER IT UP
If you can’t afford stuff, PASS IT UP--
If you made a promise, you BACK IT UP
And you can take your whining and PACK IT UP
It’s called personal responsibility, so TAKE IT UP
When life gets boring, you SHAKE IT UP
When life is good, you SOAK IT UP
When life’s unfair, you SUCK IT UP
When life is funny, you can YUCK IT UP

When life is sad, just LOOK STRAIGHT UP

Happy Valentine's Day...

My hearts...

'Nuff said.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Off To The Big KC...

We are off to Kansas City for a big basketball tournament this weekend. Payton is SO excited to play against some great teams from around the country. He's been talking about it so much that even Elyse is saying "Let's go to Kansas City!" (Secretly... I think she's just ready for the swimming pool at the hotel).

Go Hawks!

Season Premieres...

So excited that two of my fave reality shows have their premieres this week...

Soon, ladies and gentlemen, you will see me and Haley on The Amazing Race. Very soon. Really. We're workin' on it.

This is one I enjoy watching, but would not want to participate in. I'm not that tough. I won't even pretend.

Best American Idol Audition Ever...

As you know, I am a H.U.G.E. American Idol fan. So of course I am a fan of Paula Abdul as well. I was a teenager in the early 90's after all. Oh, the many happy childhood memories of dancing and singing to Forever Your Girl, Opposites Attract, and Cold Hearted. Happy times.

There were several really talented singers that caught my eye last night on the show, but this dude was my fave. He's got mad skillz dogg!!

Hearts...

Shopping is one of my absolutely fave.o.rite. hobbies ever. Unfortunately, it's one that I don't get to partake in often enough. (Ryan, however, would say that it's a very fortunate thing... just a little, minor detail we tend to disagree on). Anywho, just wanted to share a few lovelies with y'all...

{Banana Republic}

{Banana Republic}

What's Been Cookin'...

I am totally on a cooking kick! I'm trying out new recipes and really enjoying my time in the kitchen. It doesn't hurt that Little Miss Elyse is absolutely the best helper in the world! We've had a lot of fun working in the kitchen together lately. This week I've made a couple new recipes...

1. Chicken Parmigiana from the Pioneer Woman. Yum!

{via Pioneer Woman}

2. Crawfish Corn Chowder. This is a recipe that I got from my friend Jennifer. It is heavenly! Not very healthy, but heavenly!


3. Snickerdoodles. This is my favorite kind of cookie but I hardly ever eat them. When I saw this recipe on This, That & My Blog I had to give it a try. And boy am I glad I did because they are sooo good!

I am seriously. seriously. seriously. going to have to start running more because cooking = eating. And that is definitely becoming a problem for me!

Why Mondays Are The Best Day of The Week...

Mondays are officially my favorite day of the week because I get to eat delicious food and hang with wonderful friends like this...

and watch this goober and all the drama on The Bachelor.

And best of all we get to laugh and guess what our hero, Lincee (www.ihategreenbeans.com), will put in her recap. And this recap, my friends, is exactly why Tuesday is the second best day of the week!

Winter Weather...

We've already had more snow in our area this winter than we've had in the past 10 years. And now the forecast calls for more snow for us! They're saying we could get around 4-8 inches.

As much as I love the snow and have had so much fun playing with the kids in it.... We are going to be in school until August if this doesn't stop!

Please, please...no more snow days for us!!

Payton vs. Payton...

Tonight during the Super Bowl, Elyse kept yelling "Go Payton!" at the tv. You would've thought she was a serious Colts fan if you didn't know any better.

She was just a little confused about who exactly was playing...
Payton or Payton?!?!

{Go Saints!}

Word Nerd...

I have become totally addicted to playing Scrabble on my iPhone.

I really stink at it and the computer beats me Every.Single.Time.

One big reason I think I'm so bad at it is because I just can't seem to go beyond second grade words. I guess all this talk of "vowel-r", and "vowel teams" during our word study time has left me literally unable to spell any words that contain more than five letters. It's kinda sad really.

Yet I still keep coming back for more...

Birthday Party and Fun in the Snow...

We had a great time playing in the snow this weekend. Payton had 5 friends over on Saturday night for his birthday party. We started out by playing and sledding in the snow all afternoon. Then we took them to a local hotel to spend the night. They swam, watched scary movies, ate way too much junk, played video games and had a great time. Best part of all - no mess to clean up at home!

Our neighbors built an awesome snow princess. Elyse said she was "beautiful."

Both the kids had so much fun sledding down a BIG hill in our neighborhood.


Here they go! Hold on tight!

Watching the boys.

It was a miracle no one got injured. These boys were fearless!

Going down sure is fun, but it's a looong way back up!

He's so handsome!

She's so precious!

Snowball fight!

Sledding with daddy.

Wwwweeeeeeee!

Mommy's turn!

I really thought Elyse wouldn't last very long outside since it was so cold, but she had a blast. Finally we had to drag her inside kicking and screaming. I think she could have sledded all day long!

Daddy's little girl.

We are home from school again today, but the roads are finally starting to melt so it looks like it will be back to school tomorrow. We sure did enjoy our four day weekend! This is the second year in a row that Payton has gotten an extended birthday break due to the weather (last year was the awful ice storm). Lucky guy!

Elyse started running a fever again last night, so I took her to the doctor this morning and she has ear infections in both ears. Poor girl. We just can't seem to get everyone well in our household! Get well soon little lady!

She's Loving It...

Elyse just absolutely loves to cook now. She is the best pourer and stirrer in town. Just look at the enthusiasm she has for the job...

So cute!