Monday...Really!!

So, here we are again and it is Monday. I am not sure where the week goes and I am sure that I did not do all the things that I write about. But since I don't do them and I blog about them, I guess the cheap therapy is the best! So I hope you have fun reading about all the things that I did not do this past week!


1. It was not me who walked away from a table of students discussing the life of Jesus! I did not listen and smile as they debated whether He was alive or dead because He was on the cross. It did not warm my heart to have this discussion last for more than 10 minutes!



2. It was not me who stapled a student's snowman collage homework right in the middle of my bulletin board because she wrote "I love you Jesus" on it. It was not my heart that was beaming with love when I saw what was written across the scarf and it did not give me pride to put it right in the middle of all other snowmen collages!



3. It was not me who was singing Taylor Swift songs every time I woke up this past week. I do not listen to her music so much that I can not get it out of my mind. I am not a stalker!



4. It was not my who watched The Cinderella Story not once, but twice this past weekend. It is not one of my most favorite movies and I do not watch it very time it comes on ABC Family!



5. It was not me who went to Sam's Club specifically to return the recalled peanut butter crackers that I had bought to forget them at home. I have a much better memory than that.



6. It was not me who specifically went to WalMart to buy light bulbs and a cable cord, only to buy everything but those 2 items. As I stated earlier, I have a much better memory than that!



7. It was not me who brought home my teacher editions every night this past week to leave them in the car and not plan one thing. I am a much better teacher and planner than that!



So there you have it...some of the things that I did not do this past week. So what didn't you do?!
For more fun with 'Not Me!' Mondays, be sure to check out MckMama.
Until Next Monday...it wasn't me...I swear!!

Let's Go Cardinals, Let's Go!!

***UPDATE***

Cardinals WIN 32-25

SUPER BOWL BOUND!!

What a great afternoon we had with all of our friends that were here for the football, fun and food! And the best part is ...The Cardinals Won!! Here are some after pics!...

Original Post...

We are having so much fun...it is half time and the Cardinals are up 24-6 over the Eagles!

Look at this spread!
Eating pizza & wings before the Cardinals game...Feasting before the big game...Let the game begin...
Watching the big game!
Cady & Ellie enjoying the football cupcakes!
Ryan & Londyn

Daddy & his boys cheering on the Cards!

Let us party on...Wishing you a Cardinals Day!!!

And So it Begins...Again!

It felt as though football season had just ended and I was getting into a great routine of no practices and no games and then what do you know...BASKETBALL season starts up! And thankfully my boys are no longer on the same team and now each have their own practice and game each week! (lol) I thrive on driving Brendan to his practice every Wednesday night and Colin to his practice every Friday night. Then, they each have a game on Saturday. Lucky me!What am I complaining about...I am the one that signed them up!!

So anywho, today the boys had their first games and this is what they looked like...

Brendan ready for his game...

He is #3 for the Blue Lightning!

Playing a little offense...

Playing a little defense...

Done with one...onto another...

Colin ready for his game...

He is #8 for the Green Monsters!

Playing a little offense...

Playing a little defense...

Colin was fouled and this is him...shooting for 2!

Both boys had a great game. Brendan's team won 32-29 and Colin's team lost 21-15.

Both made baskets contributing to the score. We are so proud of our athletes...

Way to Go!

Family is the Best!

Uncle Frank, Aunt Judy, Grandma, Jerome, Rita, Grandpa

Brendan & Colin

So, we had a nice surprise Wednesday night...my aunt and uncle from Michigan stopped by to say HI! Well, OK, they have been in town since Sunday, but with busy family life and sight seeing that they did, it was hard to get together; so they came over to see us in between school, dinner and basketball practice. They came to visit with their good friends! The last time we saw them was about a year ago, although my aunt and Nannie will be back for another visit sometime this spring! The boys were very excited to see them and show off their new Wii, which everyone just had to take a turn on and try out bowling!

Glad to see you and can't wait for you to return for a longer visit!!

I'm Gonna Miss This...

Rice Krispies: $2.99

Bag of Marshmallows: $.98

Butter: $2.33

Spending time baking with Brendan & Colin: Priceless

For more You're Gonna Miss This, be sure to visit Pam!

WW~ Scrabble Anyone?

Ask, and I Shall Answer!

Alicia over at More than Words was interviewed at her blog this past week and asked if anyone wanted to join in on the fun. And I thought to myself, "Self, I am up for this"...so I commented and she emailed me and here are the questions and answers!! And this was hard for both of us, since I had just done my 101st list & post!!

So here goes nothing....

1. Who was your best friend in high school? And do you still keep in touch with her?

My best friend was Kristi. We met while working at KMart and were inseparable throughout high school. They called us Chip and Monk, because we both got our wisdom teeth pulled at the same time and had very swollen faces for a very long time!! (we looked like chipmunks, hence chip & munk!) The last time I have seen her was right before Colin was born, so let's see...that was 8 yrs ago. I am sad that I am not in touch with her, maybe I will try and reconnect.

2. Who led you to the Lord?

Let's see, this is hard to answer because there are so many people. My family attended church (not faithfully) while I was growing up. I attended church with my friend Carrie during grades

4-6 and then went back to my family church. I was sprinkled baptised when I was 7 yrs old and confirmed when I was 23 yrs in a Methodist church. Really good family friends led me to an Assembly of God church which I really liked and then I met MiMi and I started going to her church. It was there, that I really felt the Lord in my life and I recommitted my life to Jesus and was water baptised in 2003. I am thankful for all the people in my life that helped me with my walk.

3. Do you have a pet peeve? If so, what is it?

Oh yay!! My biggest pet peeve is when people dress up their pets in clothes! They are animals people, they have fur!! I also do not like when people dress up their cars, which I saw a lot of this Christmas...cars at Rudolph...really?!

4. Are you affectionate by nature?

Yes...I am a hugger :) I love to hug and kiss on my fam and growing up and still to this day, we, my family, always kiss hi and bye! Anytime we hang up, it is always "love ya".

5. What have you gained since you have started blogging?

Oh my goodness, I have gotten so much since starting this whole thing while on medical leave back in November. I have gotten a whole new support system from sisters in Christ! The out pouring is amazing. When I said that I had just had a hysterectomy, there were so many people that stepped up and showed support at a time I needed it. Also, to be able to share our daily doses of drama to all of our friends and family back in Michigan is amazing. They don't comment, but I know they read and cry and laugh and live right along with us, 2100 miles away!!

Those were some great questions Alicia, Thanks!!

If you would like to be interviewed, let me know!!

And The Winner Is.....

Thanks to all for the wonderful comments that I received on my 101st post!
With no further ado....here we go!

Drumroll Please...

Look at all my stalkers!

Step 1...

Step 2...

Step 3...

CONGRATS TO

Hey Mama, Where's My....

Yay you!!

So now you get to choose....

is it...OR

Go check out her blog...

She is a new bloggy sister!! (And has a super cute boy!)

So until next time...here's to the next 101!!

Oh and before I go, I totally need to give a HUGE shout out to MiMi over at He & Me + 3 for my FABULOUS new header!

Thanks MiMi...I HEART my new header.

You are da bomb ;)

This is what I DID NOT DO!

I can't believe that a week goes by so fast! Before you know it, I will be old and gray and I won't be able to remember any of the things that I didn't do in the previous week! Come on, It's bad enough I have to write stuff down now to remember and I am only 30 something!!

Oh well, such as life!! So today is Monday and this is the day where I can get really cheap therapy and bare it all to my bloggy friends in bloggy land without laughter!! ;)

(you had better not laugh!!)

So this is what I definitely DID NOT do this past week...

It was not me who wrote down my 'Not Me!' Mondays at school because I was sure to forget them and forgot them! (I mean the paper at school!) I have a much better memory than that!!

It was not me who was gagging when one of my students came into my room because he was wearing soooo much cologne that is smelled as though he had bathed in it. Com'on what kind of mother would allow her 5 year old to wear that stuff to school?! Seriously though, I did not have a headache by the time school got out 6 hours later!

It was not be who was up at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday morning, the only morning where I am able to sleep in guilt free. I do not get up at 5:20 am every morning and think I wish it was Saturday so I could sleep just a few more minutes. I seriously can roll over and go back to sleep, kid willing!

It was not me who, when I woke up at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday, began thinking of all the 'Not Me's' I could be writing down that very moment. I also did not begin thinking of all the things I could put on my 101 post! I really can just roll back over and MAKE myself fall back in to a deep sleep.

So, it definitely was not me who did get up out of bed and go to the computer and start to blog at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday morning BECAUSE, as I stated earlier, I CAN roll over and make myself fall back asleep!

It was not me who, while walking down the hallway at school, was not watching where I was going cuz I was not reading something that I just had gotten out of my mailbox, and ran smack dab into a pole! Nope, not me, I am constantly saying to my class "Watch out for the pole!" as we walk down the hall. Really I am much smarter than that!!

It was not me who spilled Catalina salad dressing on my camal color pants at school, not once, but twice! I do not sit at a table made for kindergarteners and I most definitely can feed myself with out dropping food everywhere. Oh yea, of course they are not dry clean only. What kind of kindergarten teacher wears dry clean only clothes...seriously I have way more sense than that!

It was not me who did not measure the ingredients to make rice krispie treats with the boys yesterday afternoon. It was not me that almost burned the butter cuz I thought "hey I can do this on the stovetop!" and it was not me who poured in an entire box of rice krispie cereal instead of just 4 cups. I can read and I can measure, but I obvioulsy cannot do both!

So I think that about covers it...well, all that I can remember anyways!!

For more fun with 'Not Me!' Mondays, be sure to check out MckMama!

So what didn't YOU do this week?

Until next Monday...it wasn't me, I swear!!!

Marvelous Musings

Alicia over at More than Words tagged me last week for the great new meme, which Caribbean Shulamite has started at her blog. Be sure to check out both blogs for some really great reading...but now back to this meme. It is very simple to join in. All you need to do is to share a verse or passage of scripture that has caused us to raise our eyebrows, widen our eyes, take a deep breath, or has just oohed us.

The guidelines:

1. In your post include a link back to the person who has tagged you.

2. Post one of your intriguing, or shocking, or challenging passages/verses of scripture from the Bible, showing scripture references (chapter and verse) and Bible version.

3. (Optional) You may choose to state what you currently understand it to mean; You may also encourage others to comment or share on what they understand that excerpt to mean.

4. Tag at least 5 or more new people to participate.

So here is one verse that makes me go Ooh!
I love this verse, especially since I am in a new walk with God.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ

has become a new person.

The old life is gone, a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Rejoice in our God, for he has made us new again!

How wonderful is that?!

Blessings to you this Sunday

It's All About Me...All The Time!!

WOW!
I can't believe that I have posted over 100 times since I started this crazy addiction back in November! What, I only started in November and I am already up over 100! No, I am not addicted or anything! LOL! So in honor of my 101th post, I am going to list 101 things about me. I know, how boring for some of you, but I don't care! Suck it up and read them and learn something you may not know!

Because at the bottom of this post...

I may have something special for you...

so keep reading!!

Here is goes...

101 things about little ol' me...

1. I am 35 years old.

2. I have been married to my Prince Charming for 10+ years.
3. I have 2 awesome boys: Brendan (soon to be 9) & Colin (7)

4. I am a kindergarten teacher.

5. I would love to be a SAHM.

6. I love the color purple.

7. I am not a very good housekeeper. (shhh, don't tell!)

8. I don't like to cook. (my poor family!)

9. I love to bake!

10. I have lived in AZ for 4.5 years.

11. While living in AZ, we moved back to MI for 9 months.

12. I hate the smell & taste of peas! YUCK

13. I love chocolate, milk chocolate, not dark chocolate.

14. I love hot chocolate with whipped cream.

15. I graduated from UofM in 1998 with a BGS in Early Childhood Education.

16. Before moving to AZ, we had season tickets to U of M football.

17. I miss going to those games!

18. Since knowing Ryan, we have been to 10 college bowl games that UM has played in.

19. We do not like Rich Rodriguez (the new head coach of UM).

20. We loved when Lloyd Carr coached UM football!

21. I danced for over 20 years, but had to stop cuz my knees didn't want to dance anymore!

22. I have had the same hair style for over 15 years.

23. I have had my hair highlighted since I was a senior in high school.

24. I don't know that real color of my hair anymore!

25. I wear ponytails. A LOT!

26. I wear bows in my hair when I wear those ponytails!

27. I was 25 when I married Ryan.

28. I was 26 when I had Brendan.

29. I was 28 when I had Colin.

30. Brendan and Colin are only 14 months apart.

31. I was on the pill when I got pregnant with Colin.

32. I cried when I found out.

33. I can't IMAGINE my life without him!

34. I have scoliosis in my lower back and have a backache 24/7.

35. I love Target.

36. I love getting the mail from the mailbox.

37. I miss MiMi and her fam ssoo much (they still live in MI).

38. I like to swim.

39. I wish I read my Bible more.
40. I love the sound of my boys' laughter.

41. I love to watch Ryan coach his team.

42. I love to watch Brendan & Colin play whatever sport they are playing this season!

43. I love Mickey Mouse.

44. I love ladybugs more that Mickey Mouse!

45. I love ladybugs so much, that my kitchen is decorated with ladybugs & is red, black & white.

46. I have no patience when my kids whine.

47. I don't like it when they cry.

48. I wanted to have one more baby.

49. I loved being pregnant.

50. I had an emergency hysterectomy when I was 35 yrs old.

51. I used to cry about it every day. I don't anymore.

52. I want to adopt a baby girl some day.

53. I do not make my bed every day. Why?! I just mess it up every night!

54. I am so not computer savvy!

55. I love pizza.

56. I like to stay in my jammies and just hang out.
57. Friends is my all time favorite TV show.

58. I love to take pictures.

59. I love popcorn with lots and lots of butter.

60. I have a younger sister. Her name is Jennifer.

61. I love to blog.

62. I blog for my family even though they hardly ever comment.

63. I love all of my bloggy friends that I have made over the last few month. I am so blessed.

64. My all time favorite movie is Father of the Bride.

65. I only keep in contact with high school friends thru Christmas cards.

66. I have 2 close friends from college.

67. MiMi is my bestest friend & I met her at Gymboree when our oldest ones were in class.

68. I love Disney...everything Disney!

69. I went to Paris when i was in high school and had so much fun.

70. I never went on spring break when I was in school.

71. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and France.

72. I love to sit in my hot tub.

73. I love to be the hostess with the mostess!

74. I love to watch football with my fam!

75. I used to collect spoons from all my travels.

76. I love to watch reality TV.

77. I like to listen to country music, especially Taylor Swift.

78. Ryan & I dedicated both Brendan & Colin to our Lord when they were each 2 months old.

79. Their dedication days are very special to me.

80. I love roller coasters.

81. I love to travel.

82. I can't ski.

83. I took 7 years of French and now can hardly speak it!

84. I am a huge procrastinator.

85. I miss all my family back in Michigan with all my heart.

86. I love to fly.

87. I love to burn candles.

88. I love Roses, the flowers, but I can't stand the smell of Rose, the candle!

89. I usually put the boys to bed and watch TV in bed until I fall asleep.

90. I love anything Reese's.

91. I love Diet Coke.

92. I am sad that Brendan & Colin don't see their grandparents more often.

93. I love to bowl on the Wii!

94. I kill anything I try to grow!

95. I love to scrapbook, but haven't since I moved to AZ.

96. I love our pool!

97. I love egg salad sandwiches.

98. I love Paradise Bakery especially the yummy baked treats!

99. I love to snuggle with my 2 boys.

100. I love to read!

AND.....

101. I am a daughter, wife, sister, mother, aunt, niece, teacher, colleague, friend, blogger, scrapper, reader, writer, baker, chauffeur, coach, and the list goes on and on and on and...

Thanks for reading the 101 things about little ol' me!

Now for the surprise....I was graciously awarded a Pay It Forward from Keli at Dream.Imagine.Live a little while back, and I was waiting for this post to say THANKS!! Here is all the cool things that she sent me... As soon as I opened the package, the Angel ornament went onto the tree, the socks went onto my feet, the planner went into my purse, the paper went into my pen drawer and the chap stick went onto my lips! Can you say YUMMY?! It is Aquafina Flavor Splash lip balm, wild berry flavor, and it is now my new, most favorite gloss to put onto my lips!

SO THANKS KELI for my awesome package!

So here is the OTHER great part of my 101th post...I know you have been waiting!! I am going to have a drawing and they way you get into my drawing is to leave a comment! That's all...leave a comment.
Anyone can leave a comment, even if you don't have a blog, just leave me your email. If you want 2 chances to win, post about my give away on your blog and link it back to me. Make sure you let me know so I can check it out and get you in twice.

Now for the prize of my give away...

It will either be a $10 gift card to...

or the winner's choice!

You know you want to win, so leave me a comment already!

The winner will be chosen on Monday Night, so you had better hurry up and leave me a comment!

Thanks LeAnn...I Love It!

I was awarded this great award from LeAnn over at Tollesons 4 Him, if you have not yet visited her blog, now is the chance to she always has great tips and it is really a great blog so go check it out!

This award comes with a few rules: Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.
And the award goes to.......

Drum roll please...

The first 10 people who comment to this post!

Come on don't be shy...comment already!!

You know you want this super cute award...so take it already!

WW~ Tough Guys!

Tip Jar Tuesday!

OK...this is the first time I have done this meme, but I received this email from my mom yesterday (thanks mom) and thought "What great tips...I should share these!" So I am! I hope you find something useful!

Coffee filters ..who knew!

And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing. Probably cheaper than paper towels too!

COFFEE FILTERS: Not just for making coffee....

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.

COFFEE FILTERS: Not just for making coffee....

For more Tip Jar Tuesday visit BlogMommas