Sunday, December 5, 2010

Walking Trail

I'm so excited about our new walking trail that is going in at school. I wrote a grant for $10,000 hoping to recieve enough to build a walking trail around the Parson Hills playground. We got it! Within weeks the city was out blazing the trail. We won't get asphalt until spring but the progress is so exciting. My school is located in the middle of a high poverty area in Springdale. Most of the families and students use our playground as their park and recreational area. I'm hoping it will help aide in our efforts to engage the parents and commumity in our school!




Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Belly Pic



So, there it is,a 22 week belly. It's getting much more noticeable and acquiring many more rubs and pats. She has started kicking a lot. More specifically, my bladder. It's a good thing a I have an intern in my classroom this year. There is no way I could avoid running to the bathroom every fifteen minutes. I've been feeling great other than the occassional gagging. NOTE: Avoid eating brocolli and brushing your teeth. I hope all of my pregnancies are as easy as this one. I have been so blessed!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Branson

Halloween weekend we spent the weekend with our community group in Branson. We rented a nice cabing that fit all of us. We had so much fun eating, shopping, watching football and playing games. We went down Friday night and had dinner at Pancho Villa, a little mexican food joint. The next day we spent the day at the outlet malls, where we found lots of good buys. Came home for lunch and the boys had grilled burgers and made milkshakes! It was back to the malls after that. Soon we found ourselves at a little hole in the wall bar that would play the game for us. After many games and breakfast the next morning, we were headed home. We love our gang so much!


Night at dinner!



Lot's of good deals!



We brought smores to make at the bar. They were having a Halloween party there that night and some old lady asks "So, what are you guys dressed as, College Coeds?" Too fun! The old people were all getting a little too crazy for our taste so we left soon thereafter.



The crew! (Minus two very missed couples who couldn't join us over the weekend) Blake, Amanda, Seth, Chelsea, Matt and I, Owen, Amy, Jordan, Amber, Billy, Jordan.

Home too soon!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Baby Asa

This past weekend I helped host a shower for a dear friend, Elizabeth. This shower was so special because Asa is already here! At 31 weeks, Asa was born due to some health complications. He was born at 2lbs 14oz. He has been growing like a champ! He's at 3lbs and is breathing all on his own! Mommy is doing great and looking forward to having him home. The shower was hosted at another friends house, Katie. She did an amazing job! The theme was apples! Look here for shower pics: www.katiegracedesign.com

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Her First Tutu



Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen? That's right...the onsie says "Miss March". One of my good friends, Jordan, made her very first tutu and painted the onsie. She is so talented! What are the odds that she'll be spinning on her toes at 3 months?! Who knows, maybe she'll be inspired!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Baby Hartness



It's a girl! Baby Hartness is growing big and strong! I can hardly believe how fast the pregnancy has gone. I'm going on 21 weeks and feeling awesome! No sickness! Hardly tired! I've been so blessed.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Date Night

I came home the other night and Matt had planned a whole evening of fun. He was in the process of making kabobs! YUM! Steak, Bell Pepper, Onion, Mushrooms, and Pineapple slow cooked on a stick! He marinated them in Italian dressing and seasoned them with some garlic powder and Lowrys.

They were delicious!


In the meantime, I began the pumpkin carving! Walmart sales the pumpkin carving kits. It turned out to be really easy.







Unfortunatley,within a couple of days a mega grasshopper had eaten my whole owl. Now stands a pumpkin with a hole in it. GRRR.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Deep Breath, it's Fall!

Pumpkin Spice candles and Chi Tea Lattes; football and cool weather. I'm ready! Maybe a little too ready. Had my fall decor up before the middle of September.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Woo Pig Sooie

It's been an exciting week here in Fayetteville gearing up for the Alabama game! Students began camping out at the beginning of the week to insure their seat in the game. By Friday night, the line of campers was a 1/2 mile long and spirits were high! A parade of students were lined to high five as cars drove Stadium Drive. Saturday was spent tailgating. 76,000 fans, dressed in red, lined streets, parking lots, and yards in hopes of a big win! We hopped a couple of tailgates and headed in. If anyone was going to beat them it was the Razorbacks. Unfortunatley, we came up short. 76,000 people and you could have heard a pin drop. The sulking begins.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Oooo baby baby Ooo baby baby

EEK! It's been too long. I think school is settling and I have great intentions of posting more often! I had Matt take my first belly pic this week. 14 Weeks! The bump is growing and the pants are tightening. I've been feeling great. No nausea, less fatigue.

Friday, August 6, 2010

New Chair

I bought this old chair at Pam's Schoolhouse Sale!




Then, we got it recovered! Fabric was 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

My backyard is a zoo!

We had a wild night in the backyard. It all began with this guy:


You see the snake? I know, he disguises himself amongst all those hoses. That is not what I was expecting to find when I went to reach in and turn on the sprinklers. I found him about a week ago. After screaming, dropping the lid on, and running, I somehow blocked him out of my mind. A week later Matt goes back to find a much skinnier snake who had been locked in. Apparently, not long enough. He still moves. My brother in law has convinced me that he is just a gardner snake and that there is absolutely no way he can eat Boss.


They released him back into the back yard. EEK! He's probably sleeping under my window as we speak. After dealing with Lucifer we moved to the deck where we were enjoying the fireflies and sweating a bit. I look up to see what looks like a hawk, eagle, flying dinosaur? Matt informed me it was an owl. Anyway, about two seconds after gawking at the bird we were ambushed. Yes, shratnel was pounding our deck. POOP EVERYWHERE. It looked like a flock of one hundred geese came by. This poor bird has issues. It covered the deck. Keep in mind our deck is approximatley fifteen feet long.



It missed me only by inches. Hear this Pooping Owl and Lucifer: My backyard is for wrinkled dogs (Boss), bunnies, and cute birds that flutter and sing. If I see you back here again I'm going to have Mema visit with her pellet gun.

Friday, July 23, 2010

MORE TRASH?

I have no idea who the lady is around the corner who keeps putting her ex-furniture on the curb. But I just keep picking it up. I'm beginning to think I should introduce myself. We have so much in common already. A love for vintagey (yes that "y" is supposed to be there) furniture and bright colors. What can she possibly be replacing all this stuff with? Something I'm sure to envious of. I've turned into a slight stalker, roaming around her house, trying to catch her goods before others can get to it first. I came face to face with one of her close proximity neighbors who tried to capture the treasure. It was made very clear the fortune was mine. Literally, we had left a note claiming it until Matt could be there to pick it up! So worth it....

Monday, July 19, 2010

Finished Product

So, you remember this: The old window frame that Matt found on the curb around the corner from our house. I debated what to do with it for a while. I was going to hang it in our hallway with pictures, but I just couldn't get it to work. So, I painted the window panes with some chalkboard paint, knocked out a window and replaced it with cork board and a magnetic tin.

Walla! An office organizer!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Fourth of July Weekend

We had so much fun this past weekend at the Baker lakehouse! It was full of fun, food, and fireworks.

10 reasons it's one of my most favorite weekends of the year:

1. The Sandy Beach firework show! The fireworks are impressive, but even more so are the hundreds of other boats that fill the waters with you.

2. The boat ride home from Sandy Beach amongst the hundreds of boats, while jamming to any Black Eyed Peas song.

3. The Moomba! (That's the boat)

4. Super fun times with lots of people we love.

5. Full days on the water!

6. Laughing, laughing, more laughing!

7. Watching people get thrown off the boat!

8. Rope swing! (a new fav.)

9. Getting to see Jennie! It's only guaranteed a couple times a year!

10. Watching Matt and Marc ham it up!





Friday, July 2, 2010

Help Please?!

**-Matt was driving along in our neighborhood when he came across this piece on the curb!


I was so grateful he stopped to get it for me. The glass panes are all still intact except for one corner pane. I need your help!

1. Do I paint it?

2. Do I leave the glass panes or remove them?

3. Where do I put it? I posted some pictures below of some possible locations.

An empty hall wall.


A spare bedroom room.


The wall on the back porch. Imagine a love seat underneath, against the wall.


Please, let me know what you think!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Quite the Pair

Mom and Aunt Wanda came to visit me last week. What a hoot! Especially, if you give them enough sangria. Also, known as "koolaid" as coined by Aunt Wanda. We had so much fun shopping, eating, and lounging! The giggling lasted a full two days!



SANGRIA RECIPE: (guarntee's giggles)

1 bottle of white Chardonay
1 can of pink lemonade concentrate
1/2 bottle of Sprite
1/2 small bottle of Cognac (or to taste)
Top it off with some blueberries or mixed fruit and let it chill before serving.

YUM!!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Schoolhouse Sale

Found some fun things Pam's school house sale. I've been looking for a new chair to add to the living room. Something small and cute! Decided to cover it in stripes!


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Oh, no he didn't.

A school story to share. One you don't hear everyday...

We've just returned from our field trip to the middle school. The fifth graders are wide eyed and dreaming big. One of them has just confessed to me his embarrassment after multiple middle school girls told him how "cute" he was. The class has now settled into some good books and I'm getting caught up on a few emails. Then, it happened. The worst decision Martin has made all year. From across the room, comes a stream of water at my head. By "stream of water," I don't mean the dripping faucet kind. If this stream were a river it would have been the Mississippi...after some winter snow melt. After it drenches the side of my head, deflects all over my computer screen, and soaks my report cards, I rise. "Who was it?" I say once in a hushed voice. Silence. "Who was it?" (a little louder this time). "What are you talking about?" replies anonymous student. "WHO WAS IT THAT SPRAYED ME WITH WATER?" (the all caps doesn't accurately portray my anger) "What water?" I hear as it's dripping down my face. I can't believe the glazed eyes. The hush amongst the room. No one is owning up. No one is revealing the criminal mastermind. It hits me. One thing about the almighty Mississippi, it leaves a trail! "The trail. Follow the trail," the voice of my father rings in my head. Finally, the perks of being raised by a hunter. I follow. Drip by drip. If I would have looked up, I'd have seen the guilt all over his face. (my dad didn't teach me that) There, hidden deep in Martin's backpack, was the weapon of choice. The TURBO 5 cylinder Supersoaker 2000.(wait a minute, isn't the hunter supposed to have the weapon?) "Martin" I say through squinted eyes (from both anger and runny mascara) "Make your way to the principals office." Oh, no he didn't.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Gift Idea

Start with a box of glasses and some chalkboard paint.


Tape off a nice small square. Cover with a couple layers of chalkboard paint.

Use a knife to carve around the edges to the tape doesn't pull up the paint.

And Walla... glasses that don't confuse or labeled containers!