Leah and Olympic Ice Skating...

Well, not Olympic, per se, but ice skating for the first time...
Last week, Leah got to go to the ice rink where the CBJ play and skate! She had never been before and so this was a real treat! She wasn't as apprehensive as I thought she would be, and even after falling several times, she got back up and tried again...she is determined...wonder where she gets that?! We skated for over an hour and she even got a couple of autographs- so cool, she thought! Here are our fun pics of that night:

She skated around and around with Lily- who is the one whose skating birthday party Leah first learned to roller skate at:
You can't tell that well in the pic, but her pants were really getting wet from falling on the ice!

Autograph #1

She found Chloe- her other BFF there!

This was her first loop around...she looks a little nervous, despite that smile!

This was when we were getting ready to leave- she was getting pretty worn out, and to be honest, so was I!

Leah and Stinger- Autograph #2

Leah and Lily- aren't they so cute?!

You can see in this pic that Lily had fallen a few times too! Today is President's Day and we were going to go roller skating again with Lily and her family, but it is snowing... AGAIN! Probably another snow day tomorrow! Not that I am complaining...I made it out shopping for food early this morning before the snow came, so we are good...plus, if all else fails, yesterday I got a whole loaf of Bob Evan's Cherry Bread...so I am just fine!

Smart Tarts

Leah received a Character Education Award at school for the month of January...her assembly to get it was on Monday- thankfully I was teaching there that day and got to see her! She has grown so much this year- by far the most of my 3, I think! She had her hair "trimmed" last weekend, the first time in a whole year! She is ecstatic that it is long enough for a ponytail! Love that! She was happy to get it from her teacher...but I only got a pic of her with the Principal.


Stinger, from the CBJ showed up, and chose Alex to answer a question- he got it right, so he gave Alex a program! It was awesome!! His 3rd grade teacher from last year came up to me later and asked me how he knew the answer to the question- it was a tough one- I said, "he is like his mother!!" ha ha- we all know that isn't entirely true!! He has had really fabulous teachers there, and no doubt learned it from them! I was proud!

Today we enjoyed being at home because of another snow storm! I feel surrounded by white- though beautiful, I feel so trapped! I don't even have anywhere to go, but just knowing I can't really leave makes me a little stir-crazy!! I was scheduled to teach today and am tomorrow, so we will see...the crazies all have a stuffy nose and it is due to snow more tonight....so more than likely I will be home again tomorrow- but I am counting my blessings...it is wonderful to be here with everyone- right now I can hear Dana butchering another Band Hero song, and all I can do is smile- it is that bad!

Can you do this?! (FIXED NOW)

Or this?!


Leah has been working hard at the gym this month- she is learning a lot and having such fun! I was never this flexible or able to flip like her- she loves this!

The Long and Short of It...

LONG

SHORT

My little girl is now so big with her short hair! She was very excited to get it cut...I was sad to see the long blonde locks go....but now I love it, too!

333

I have been missing in action, huh?! I hate it! I miss not having a computer of my own!! It has been nearly a month! How am I surviving?!!! I am hanging in there- honestly, I have learned to adapt without one from time to time. Luckily I am at the High School today and at least have access to my blog! No pics, though! But rest assured, when our computer comes home TODAY, I will be posting soooo much! Be prepared!
Not much else to post until I put up pictures...the house is still for sale...I am working like a crazy lady...5 days this week! Good thing I like it, huh?! But that is out of the ordinary, I usually only work 2 days on average a week- and I like that too! So perhaps in a day or two, I will find sometime to catch up....
Look out!
OH, and the 333- yep, I have posted that many posts- wow- I am impressed with myself!
See you soon!

Honest Abe

My friend Lauri did this on her blog and I just loved it, so here is my version:

Ten things that make me happy

(I left out the obvious answers of family, kiddos and the Church, so this is a tad more interesting...)

1. Sunshine-

simple pleasure for me- can turn a crappy day into a brighter one with just the rays- take for example this freezing hot mess we call winter here- it is freezing, BUT one day this week the sun was shining- so bright that my furnace didn't even turn on for a good part of the day- really awesome! I love the sun- it is one of the first things I hope for in a day.

2. Sleeping Children-

love, love, love this one! I could stare at them for lengths of time- I just adore their sweet little bodies all perfectly asleep and dreaming...it is my favorite end of the day- checking on them before I go to bed- I could just pick them up and cuddle them...but I don't! I don't want to wake them- they are most adorable to me in these moments...

3. Shopping-

This is a given, right?! Seriously, this is a no-brainer- it brings me joy just walking through the aisles- even the grocery store...I love a deal too- but just being in the store is an aura I love- but shopping alone is even better!

4. Getting a good hair cut-

Just did this yesterday, though I have no pic for you, since the computer is still down...but getting a fresh do is just the best- and it was in a salon, with a professional...wow- what a feeling- I just love it and I love that she styles it for me- can't she just do that everyday?! That I would love even more!

5. Reading-

But it better be a good book, or magazine, or article- I need a new read- any suggestions?! I love reading, I just haven't been that great about it recently, but I do love to just go to the New Releases section at the library and pick three or four- take them home and if I am not hooked in the first 5 pages...forget it...there are so many good, new things out there that I do not re-read books, well, except the scriptures, but that doesn't count as a re-read to me...

6. Giving Gifts-

Who doesn't love that?! Seeing the looks on people's faces (especially my kids') is worth every ounce of effort for me - waking up on Christmas morning is a true pleasure as a parent- I think I don't sleep that night because I am so anxious to see them and see the joy in their eyes as they see what Santa left them- I wish everyday could be Christmas day for that very reason alone...but I love giving things throughout the year too- and trying to pick the perfect gift can become an obsession to me, so I have to be careful...

7. Vacation-

simply put- THE BEACH! I love the ocean, the sun, the sand, the smell, oh, I just love it- and we didn't go to the ocean this year, and since it is winter, I am really wishing we could go this year- but probably not! OH well, I can still say I love it and hope we get back to one soon!

8. Teaching-

Okay, so right now I don't do a lot of "teaching" as a substitute, but my true love of being in a classroom is doing the trick. I love school- well, love it when I don't have to be the student- but the teacher! I love the kids, and their antics and those that love school- the Elementary kids are the best- but "teaching" High School gives me great stories too- I just love being in charge, I think- !

9. Baking-

Maybe it's eating the baked goods is what I love more...if only I could eat more and there were less calories in all the yummy treats I love- dark chocolate is my ultimate favorite chocolate to eat- so anything with that I could devour- speaking of...Dana just made me dark chocolate hot chocolate...lucky girl.

10. Having my house clean-

I really love having my house organized and clean and tidy- I love coming home to a clean house to0- having it on the market for the better part of last year helped and now that it is on again, I am forced to keep it that way- but that is a good thing-

Okay, here's where it gets interesting...

Ten honest facts about myself:

1-I am a neat freak
2-I can be rude
3-I love to be alone
4-I wish I didn't have a low earning potential
5-I am easily offended
6-I think I dress awesome
7-I care too much about what others think about anything to do with anything
8-I can easily become OCD- have been borderline on many things for many years
9-I wish I was in control of everything in my life
10-I fear the worst when things happen

Well, there you go- probably way more information than you hoped for in this, but honesty was the game- it feels good to have it all out there- now it's your turn, should you dare...

Twenty-Ten, or Two Thousand Ten- you decide...

I did this review at the beginning of last year and thought I would review 2009 and see what I accomplished and what is in store for 2010...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’ve never done before?

Kept my house perfectly clean and in perfect order for 8 straight months- thanks to having it on the market- once in contract and then off for the holidays- now back on...here we go again...

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I did fairly well with my resolutions last year-I am hoping to work on them again this year- I won't go into detail about them- they are sort of boring!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not me! Ha! A few relatives and friends did- and that has been great!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully no, but Dana's car did- that was tragic enough!

5. What countries did you visit?

Really? As if!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

A new house! This is a reoccurring theme, huh?!

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched in your memory and why?

Two of them- 12 May- the day the levy in Reynoldsburg failed and Dana's job was cut
18 May- the day Heath called and hired him to teach there

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting a job substitute teaching

9. What was your biggest failure?

Oh, that is a weighted one...not spending as much time with the kids as I could have...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I got the flu in April when my father-in-law was here- it was awful- but having him help was a blessing.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I didn't buy much- we saved and saved and saved...

12. Where did most of your money go?

Savings- it costs a lot to pay to get out of your house!

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

It was not a very exciting year- I felt like it went by too fast, without much excitement.

14. Happier or sadder?

Isn't that relative?! It changes day to day! But really, I love this life, no matter what crazy things happen in it day to day...I am still one lucky, blessed girl!

15. Thinner or fatter?

Pretty much the same- I gained a few this summer, too many cookouts with good food, late night ice cream and chips! But, they have come off and I am determined to not do that again!

16. Richer or poorer?

Well, we were richer, with all the savings we accumulated, but with all the crazy house projects and 15% less income, I would have to say poorer, but still incredibly blessed that we still have enough to move- whenever that is!

17. What do you wish you’d done more of?

One on one time with the crazies.

18. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Sitting idly, worrying about why our house wasn't selling...

19. How did you spend Christmas?

With my family- but this year, a new tradition of Christmas Eve at our house with Dana's sister's and their families- awesome!

20. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Stayed madly in love with the four people I love the most...

21. What was your favorite TV show?

Glee!

22. What was the best book you read?

Glass Castle

23. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2009?

I got an Ipod shuffle and rediscovered songs I forgot about! Oh, but I totally love the Glee soundtracks!

24. What did you want and get?

a new small camera after mine broke in July.

25. What did you want and not get?

a Sony SLR camera that Lish has- totally teased me with this summer!

26. What was your favorite film this year?

New Moon- oh, Edward, yeah, wow- love him!

27. What did you do on your birthday?

Went to my parents and had dinner and cake that the children helped me make- oh, and I got my haircut that day too!

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Moving somewhere other than here!

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Buy less,layer more, get new pants!

30. What kept you sane?

Daily rituals

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

The Buckeyes!

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

Prop 8, and the school levies

33.Who did you miss?

Dana's parents

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Lots of old friends from Elementary and High School on Facebook.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

I learned AGAIN that timing is everything and that the Lord is very mindful of me and knows far more than I do! Apparently I need to learn this year after year- eventually I will get it!

Beware of the Virus!

Our house has been infected!!
A huge nasty virus has taken over!!
Beware!
It has not been fun- this virus has taken away from me many precious things-
mainly: the Internet!!
Yes, our computer (our BFF) has been infected and is no longer in commission- well, for a time anyway! It has been over a week now, and I feel so out of touch! My sweet husband brought home his laptop from school so I could at least check a few things for the weekend...otherwise, who knows how long we might be without our BFF...
I am pretty sure the virus came from Facebook- sadly, so beware- it just creeps up and before you know it- it is all over!
I am going to lose my entire hard drive- yuck! I have most of my recent pics backed up, but not all of them- thankfully I blogged about Christmas before the infection set it, so I do have a few of those! I try to back up my pics every couple of months- so I am not too upset about that, but my programs and other documents will be lost forever....
I have taken lots of pictures these past couple of weeks, mainly of snow, snow, and more snow, but can't post them yet....
I visited my grandparents over New Year's and that was wonderful- they have a ton of snow there, and the pictures will not do it justice, but it was beautiful. I got to spend precious hours with my grandpa who was recently put in a nursing home- for now- but is doing so much better than I thought- Dana stayed here with the kids, and it was the first time I have been away from them for more than one night- they loved it!
We got a snow day today! The kids are loving it- Dana, however did not- his district only got a delay- he had to travel past 4 districts to get to his, all that were closed! Apparently they don't close often since it is a small town....bummer!
Oh well...
I will post as soon as I can with pics next time- for now I am happy to just be in touch again!

December Days

December flew by this year! We did so much, it was hard to get it all in...but we managed...

These are the pics we used for our Christmas cards...this wasn't the actual card I sent, because I got free ones from seehere.com- that was awesome! I really only sent a few out, to relatives, but this one was what I had intended on using.
This was the annual ward Christmas breakfast- with a magician that was interesting, to say it nicely- and Alex was chosen to be an "assistant" on stage, so I tried to capture that too.
We had a blast again this year making gingerbread houses with the Boothe's- ours gets better each year, I must admit. Alex missed out- he stayed the night with Grandpa- but the girls were having fun decorating!
So there you have it- 2009 all wrapped up- I am looking forward to a wonderful 2010- filled with more fun family adventures- I am so blessed- this year taught me more than I could imagine- I hope next year doesn't have as much of that! Ha Ha!

Christmas 2009

Another Wonderful Christmas!!

I could go on and on about how fantastic our Christmas was again this year, but I think the smiles on these faces say it better than my words....enjoy!