Cards are on a Roll!!!!!!!!!

After a not so good Monday things turned out pretty good. It was the Monday of all Monday's. Did not want to get out of bed this morning. Actually I waited until 7:20 to get up and get ready for work. We leave the house no later than 7:45, so as you can see, I waited til the last possible minute to get up. Josh was not in a good mood. He was not talking and just was aggravated, not at me, but at the point where he was not saying a word, and when I did say something to him, he seemed liked I was bothering him. So we drove to work in silence.

At work it was not good either. I have a student who is just extremely off and has been since last Thursday. I mean will not do a thing I say, tells me no and he doesn't have to listen to me. Friday was really, really bad. So bad that I had called his mother by 9:30 that morning. The day doesn't start until 9:05. It wasn't as bad this morning, but bad enough for a Monday morning. And he did absolutely nothing the whole day. Just sat there with his head down most of the day. Oh well... I do all I can, mom's only comments when I tell her is "Yeah, I know, I have him all night" What am I supposed to do with that????? Then another one is just a whiner and pouter and if I correct him for one thing, it's like the end of the world, so he didn't do much this afternoon. It's o.k. though the other 6 were really good, and I have to say the boy that had the most issues up until the end of November has seemed to turn a leaf, or mature or something. He is doing so well, so I hope it keeps up.

Anyway, when Josh came to get me I was still a bit aggravated with him, so I chose to give him the silent treatment on the way home!! But he eventually got me talking, or yelling and telling him how I felt. He apologized and it was all o.k. after that.

We got home and had dinner and then UofL played again last night. They are ranked 20th, after beating 17th ranked Villanova Saturday. Tonight we played #13 Notre Dame. Another nail biter. This one went into overtime. It was a really great game, even better when we scored about 14 points in overtime and Notre Dame scored 0!!!!!!!! So another big win for my team. Our next game is against Pittsburgh. #1 in the country. It's gonna be a big one. I hope UofL can stay on the roll their on.

So, now I'm just playing around on the computer while Josh plays XBOX and decided to post. I promise that this won't turn into a sports post, but it's just exciting to see my 2 favorite teams doing so well, especially UofL when Football is winding down. So I'm sure there will be updates every once in a while during the season.

Tomorrow I'm off to the doctors. I'm not going in to work until afterwards, because really it would be pointless to have Josh drop me off, and then turn around and come get me an hour later. So that means I'll be able to chill out for a little while in the morning. The heater guys are coming in to put the new furnace in, and more good news... We are getting Central Air!!!!!!!!! How exciting is that!!!!!!!!!

I will try to fill you in on my doctor's appointment when I get home from work.

I am off to watch The City and Daddy's Girls... yes I am a reality show nut, especially for those on MTV...

Have a great night, and a good Tuesday!!!!

A Great Weekend for my Sports Teams!!!

So I haven't done much this weekend. Our heat went out Tuesday night. It actually went out Christmas Eve night as well, and our landlord had someone come over and look at, and he restarted it or whatever, so it worked for about two weeks. So we are waiting to have acutal heat again. They are just replacing the whole furnace so who knows when they will do that. Hopefully early this week, because by the middle of the week, the temperature is supposed to be down to 1 digits. While the space heaters we have are fine now, I just don't know how well they will work if it gets that cold.

We also went and tried to find a car Saturday after the landlord and heater guy left. No luck. I swear you think these companies who are is so much trouble would be willing to make a deal, but nope, no luck so far. Josh is going to go some places Tuesday. I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday at 10:30 so he took the day off. I figured my boss would tell me to take the day off, especially after I told her how long I've had to wait the past several times I went. But no, she said o.k, just get here when you can. I should have just called in, me and big mouth!!!! So hopefully Josh will have some luck on his own because I don't know how much of this not having a car thing I can handle. It's been about 2 months now. I don't know how my mom and dad did it when the four of us were little.

Anyway, besides that it's been an excellent weekend on the sports front. I am a huge University of Louisville basketball fan. I have always been. I even got season tickets for a couple years, but then Pitino came and the prices became outrageous!! That's o.k, I can watch them on t.v. UofL beat Villanova last night!! It was pretty exciting as it came down to the very end. I wanted to find a clip of the last seconds to share but I couldn't find any of the Villanova game.
The final score was 61-60!!

And then we have the Pittsburgh Steelers!!! I was never, ever an NFL fan. Then I met Josh. I would have to say within two years of meeting Josh, I was huge Steelers fan. So I watched the first half of the game by myself while Josh was still at work. Josh got home right as the second half started. So we watched it and it was a great game. We won, so only two more games, and we could have another Superbowl championship!!!

Well, my intentions in this post was to have some clips of UofL and Steelers games, but I can't figure out how to do that. So that will be all for now. Have a great week!!!!

We must find the cure NOW!!!

I did not have a good day today.

Several months ago I was introduced to Coleman. A 4-year old boy fighting cancer. I was introduced to his carepage through my sister and have followed his story through his mother's words. Through Coleman's page I have also been introduced to several other children fighting the monster. One of those little boys was Dante, who was 2 years old. While I have never met these children or their family, I feel very close to them as I have fallen in love with them and prayed many prayers for them to get better and defeat the disease.

At work today on my planning when I checked my personal email I received this email on Dante's page:

"Dante earned his wings at 8:33 am this morning."

My heart was instantly heavy with grief and sadness for this family. He was a beautiful young boy who was taken from his mother and father too early.

I just checked my email again and this is the email I opened:

"Coleman was an amazing child of God and we were so honored to be chosen as his parents. He left this world at 10:45 last night- he fought HARD until the very end, not wanting to give up, but finally letting go. He was a warrior and a hero our hearts will forever miss. We had the most glorious five years together- a gift we will never forget."
--Peggy Larson (Coleman's Mom)

Again, my heart has completely gone heavy with grief and sadness, but also with anger. These boys were so young. I do not understand why this evil exists. Our world must do stand up against the monster and we must find a way to defeat cancer once and for all.

Please pray for Coleman and Dante's parents and families.

I made it through the day!!!

So after a 16 day vacation, I had to get up this morning and return myself to work. I was really, really dreading going. After 4 years of teaching, I can honestly say this is the first year that I did not want to go back at all. Sure in years past there's always that oh just a couple more days, but there's also the feeling of yeah!! I get to see my kiddos!!! Not this year. I was so not feeling up to it. Last night, I even asked Josh if this could be my last year of working, and if I could change my career to stay-at-home wife. He said no, then made me feel better by saying he'd think about it. I know it's really never going to happen, but it was worth a shot,right???

Anyway, once I got to school this morning everything just flowed right along. It really was good to see all my boys again. I guess I had missed them all just a little bit more than I had expected. We had a really good day, and all of them did such a nice job following directions and getting there work done. By 1:30 though I was exhausted. Good thing I have my planning period from 1:50-2:35. It gave me a chance to sit down and relax and get some of the work done.

The worst part of the day was that I had to stay at work til 6:30, cause we only have one car right now, and Josh got held up at work. It's o.k., he took me to Tumbleweed and we had a wonderful dinner. It's quarter til 9, and I feel like I could go to my bed and sleep through the night. Since everything on tv is reruns again I think I just may!!!

Good night everyone!!!!!!

Where's Zander???

I need to tell you a little bit more about Zander before you read the rest of this blog. I have already mentioned that he is very spoiled, sitting on the love seat and all that. He also has to go where ever I go. I mean EVERYWHERE. If I walk to the kitchen to get a drink, Zander walks to the kitchen with me. If I walk to the bedroom to put something away, Zander is right there next to me. If I stand up to stretch without leaving the room, Zander too is there next to me!!! Oh yeah, and if I use the bathroom, My wonderful dog is right there with me!! I know it's very sweet, but sometimes annoying. Most of the time I don't even realize it cause it's just the usual, you know??

Anyway, last night I was playing a game on the computer, and Josh had fallen asleep in the chair. I finally talked Josh to getting up and going to the bed where he could be comfortable. A while later, I had to go to the bathroom. I went and did my business and to my surprise, Zander did not follow me. So I walked in the living room and he was not on his place on the love seat, or on the new pillow we got him for Christmas.

I thought, that's odd, he must have went into the room with Josh. Because yes, he either comes to bed with me, or stays up with me. Again wherever I am, Zander is. I opened the bedroom door, expecting him to be by the door, but he wasn't, so I called out his name. Not to loud as I didn't want to wake Josh up, but loud enough. I got no response.

So the only other natural place for him to be was outside. I began to feel really bad because it had rained all night. But then again, when Zander is ready to come in, he will jump on the door to let us know. So I highly doubted he was outside. I walked in the kitchen and the door was locked, so I knew he wasn't out. At this point I was a bit nervous/scared. I had no idea where he was. As I walked back into the living room, I heard a rustle next to my chair.

This is what I found:

Yep, under he had wrapped himself somehow around the covers. As not to have to lie on the floor, but also so that he was covered. I got this picture, but then my camera died. I wish I could have gotten more, cause when I sat back down he laid back down and went to sleep which was too cute!! I thought I would share this with you cause I found it pretty funny. Hope you do too!!

2008 Awards: Stolen from....

http://bagpuss-bagpuss.blogspot.com/ Check out her blog!!!

The 2008 AWARDS

1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR?
That would have to go to Kate and Arleta!! Not that I do a lot of drinking, yet when I'm with these girls, I do find myself having a few (o.k. several) drinks!!

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend)
That would have to go to my sis Jen. We've been friends for well 29 years now.

3) NEWCOMER AWARD-COOLEST NEWEST FRIEND?
I'm going to have to go with Lindsey that I work with. This is the third year Lindsey and I have worked together, but towards the end of the school year last year we really started talking and hanging out at work. Then she came to my bachelerotte party, and she's just one cool gal!!!

4) FRIEND WHO CAME BACK INTO YOUR LIFE?
Wow, there has actually been quite a few. I had my 15 year 8th grade reunion over the summer and so I reconnected with several people from there. We have stayed in touch mostly through Myspace and Facebook.
Then there are also my cousins who live in California and Texas whom I have reconnected with because of Myspace and Facebook!!!

5) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
Getting married of course!!!

6) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
When my car broke down on the highway, and then got broken into while it was sitting on the highway.
So I guess I had a pretty good year, cause this really isn't so bad.

7) BEST HOLIDAY?
Always Christmas….. Friends, family, VACATION!!!!

8) YOUR SONG FOR 2008:
I have to say "Low" by Flo-Rid-A!!!

9) MOVIE FOR 2008?
Forgetting Sarah Marshall

10) WHO WAS YOUR BEST KISS?
My husband Joshua!!!

11) BIGGEST CRUSH?
Ben Rothlisberger and Hines Ward... They play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Josh gives me permission to have a crush on them for that reason!!!

12) WHO WAS YOUR VALENTINE?
Josh, of course

13) WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN?
Kate, Arleta, Mel and I dressed up as a rock band, although we really looked more like girls that would be on Rock of Love!!! I will have to get a picture of that for you all!!

14) RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
Jack Ruby's was my fancy restaurant of the year!
O'Charley's was my regular restaurant of the year!
And I am going with MCDONALD'S as fast food restaurant of the year! Here over the past several months I have really come to fall back in love with McDonald's. Not just for lunch or dinner, but breakfast also!!!

15) BOOK OF THE YEAR?
Wow, I love just about any book that I pick up, but I'm going with "Remember Me" by Sophie Kinsella cause she's my favorite author and knows how to write a good book!!

16) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR:
To marry my husband!!!!

17) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
Family, Family, Family!!!!

18) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
I don't know that I was ever drunk enough this year to have a stupid idea. Maybe when I had water and was leaving a bar with the plastic cup and the bouncer told me I couldn't take it outside.. I told him he was a dumbass but he didn't do anything.. It would have been cooler if I would have thrown the water at him!!!

19) TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
Big Brother, and How I Met Your Mother

20) MOST LOYAL FRIEND OF 2008?
Jennifer and Kate. They are both so awesome and always there for me. They were also both in my wedding and did anything and everything that they could to make my day perfect!!!

21) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
My last name, It went from 4 letters to 7!!!
Ok, and I did lose about 20 pounds over the year, that has mostly stayed off!!!!

22) BIGGEST DOUCHEBAG AWARD?
I'm really going to have to go with that asshole bouncer at the bar, gosh he really was a douchebag, I think Arleta may have even called him that that night!!!

23) NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
I would love to say lose more weight and become more organized, but I just don't think it will happen!!!

24) MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT FOR 2008.
MY WEDDING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Family

I thought I would use this post to introduce my family! I hope you enjoy getting to know them!! The following are my favorite people in the world because they are always there for more me no matter what!!

MY HUSBAND

This is Josh and I on our wedding day (of course!!) We were married June 21st, 2008. So we've been married for a little over 6 months now. We were together for almost 5 years before we got married, and lived together for about 4 of those years. I didn't know how much things would change once we got married, but somehow my whole life has gotten better. I love this man with all my heart and soul. I am blessed to have met him, fallen in love with him and now be his wife. I couldn't ask for more!!

Josh and me on our honeymoon.

Josh at Daytona Beach!

Josh and I on New Year's Eve 2008

MY BEST FRIEND, AND SIS

This is my big sis, Jen. Yep, she is older, even though she doesn't look like it. She is also my best friend in the whole world. Don't know what I would do without her! Josh and I love hanging out with her and her family (check out the picture below).

Jen was the best matron of honor ever!!

Jen with her AWESOME family!!

Jen and me parasailing on vacation!

SOME MORE FAMILY

This is Mr. T. My awesome nephew. Josh and I love having him over and hanging out with us... Even though it hasn't happened in a while. I'll have to plan a date for that to happen very soon!!!







This is me with my brother and sisters. Of course you know Jen already. Erika and Wes are the others. They are both younger than me. Wes is the baby! My siblings mean everything to me!

This is my hilarious brother-in-law Jim. He is Jen's husband. Josh and Jim get along very well. Sometimes to well, when they decide to gang up and make fun of Jen and me.

MY PETS

These are our lovely pets, who really are spoiled like children. Read on to find out more about each one!!

This is Zander. He is a four year old Jack Russell. He is a really good dog, and smart too. As you can probably tell, he is very spoiled. He has his own assigned seat on the love seat.

This is Rudy. She too is spoiled. She is almost 6 years old. Anyone who comes in to our house is instantly greeted by Rudy wanting some attention!!

This is Nelly (yep Rudy's in the back, cause Nelly was getting attention and she wasn't). Nelly and Rudy are sisters, but really nothing alike. Nelly is laid back and stays away from strangers. In this pic she is laying on the computer box, which she has barely moved from since Christmas day when I opened it. I don't think I have the heart to throw the box away!!

Well, there are just some of my family members, and people I thought I would introduce you to as I may have posts on them, so now you know who they are!!!

And remember that this is my first post with pictures. I did a preview and some things are not lined up, but I think it all still makes sense!!