Life in the Country

1. It snowed Thursday night.

2. I scrapped today- 6 pages!

3. A truck dumped their load of hay while driving by our house a few weeks go...what a mess..can you see the mountain of hay? now that's something you don't see in your front yard everyday!

4. A random photo of Payton...apparently she has a runny nose..and apparently Marcus took this earlier today.

5. No photos...but Marcus got straight a's again!!!

6. Scott's working. He doesn't love it but he's doing it. Pray that he'll sell cars and make money...and pray for a better offer!

Payton...retro and dancin'

So here's some new photos of Payt. She is getting to be so grown up. She is absolutely hilarious with the things she says and does.

Here are two different days...one is a saturday...she is a cheerleader/princess, or so shethinks in her big girl ponytail and carsyn's dance clothes.

The other are from this morning..a modern/retro look mixed with a little cowgirl. She loves her red boots...recognize the 1970's mushroom sweater dress Davis girls???

Amy Davis is OUT!!!

American Idol fans...that stinks that AMY DAVIS was such a horrible singer...  that would've been cool for a Davis girl to go somewhere!

What's everyone's take on the new season? 

And the winner ISN'T

Payton did NOT win the gap baby contest or Regis and Kelly beautiful baby...that stink. Scott is mad...he doesn't think any two year old could be cuter. I wanted a free trip to NYC.

Cinderella

Check out Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Cinderella." It makes me cry...it's awesome...Payton is walking around in a nightgown and tap shoes crying for daddy...that's how I remembered! It's on my playlist, but doesn't work too well.

New Stuff

So, here's some new stuff in our life.

I did my hair again. I took in a photo of Jessica Alba...I guess the color is close, but even the amazing Jenny couldn't transform me. So it is now brownish wih golden highlights???

I missed two days of school this week to go to three trainings:
1. CPI/Nonviolent Crisis Prevention refresher course (where you learn to restrain kids who are attacking...nice)
2. Mentor training (total waste of my time for three hours tuesday night)
3. Motivating the Unmotivated...fabulous!!! For all of my teacher family, if you ever find this around you bya guy named Bob you must go...best training I have ever been to.

Valentine's Day: two dozen roses at school and a steak dinner on the table at home...NICE!!!

Carsyn threw up on Wednesday after school and has been fine since. I have had tons of coworkers and students absent with the flu, so hopefully that's all we get!

Baked three dozen pink and white cupcakes for paties

Went to Marc's last game tonight vs my school...i sat on his side and was sad he lost...our basketball program has ethical and moral issues, to say the least.

That's it...just waiting on a stormy cold front after a 70 degree week...photos when I take some!!!

The Best of Both Worlds!!!

Carsyn and I had a special day today...we went to Austin to see the Hannah Montana movie concert in 3D. It was fun girls' day out...we even managed to touch Hannah and catch a guitar pick...thanks to our awesome 3D glasses. Carsyn was all decked out in her fav HM wear...including her cool hair extensions.

Mommy 'n PayPay

Payton has officially turned into a princess with her own sense of style...just like her big sis. And she thinks she is a beautiful "Rella.

Cheerleaders

Carsyn had her kids camp performance at my school last night and was awesome. She knew every cheer and did pretty well with the dance. Scott was amazed at how grown up she is becoming...he videotaped it for all to see. I thought she looked so young out there on the gym floor! She is only four and you are supposed to be in kindergarten to attend, but since I have connections, she got to participate and LOVED it!

Our First Shiner

Payton got pinched by "a friend" at school on Wednesday and now has our first shiner...what do you think?

I Have a Dream!!!

I went to see 27 Dresses on Friday night...if you were ever in a wedding you must go see it..it is so hilariously accurate and heartwarming!

Carsyn went to cheerleading kids camp at my school on saturday morning and had a blast...pictures after friday's pregame performance. She won best cheer face. the coach, who happens to be one of my best buds, said she should have won them all...but she is biased.

i am reading yet another Jodi Picoult novel...she is an amazing writer.. ihave read several and am now reading 19 minutes...my sister's keeper is the best so far.

feb. 1 is wear red day...to support women with heart disease...go red! i hope to be down 3 pounds by then so can get a new red shirt to wear!

tomorrow i am going to the spa...60 minute hot stone massage and facial. it's a christmas gift i haven't used yet.

i watched uptown girls on tv today and cried cried cried...what a great show!!!

and now...the roast is in the oven, the laundry is allclean, more scrappin got done and i still have another day off.

yeah for martin luther king.

I have a Dream...that for ONE day mommies will get to relax. What do you think???

The Biggest Loser Update!!!

I lost 3 1/2 pounds!!!  Yeah!!!  3 1/2 more til I can buy new clothes!  And 13 1/2 more til I'll be truly happy.

Scott's big news

NO, he's not pregnant...ha ha ha.

Scott has exciting news.  A headhunter contacted him about a month ago for a job opening for the Wacker corporation.  For those of you NOT in the business world, Scott posted his resume on MonsterJobs website just for the heck of it.  The Wacker corporation (construction equipment) had positions to fill so Misty searched for potential candidates and called him.  It has been a month in the making so far...resumes, questionnaires, phone interviews, online personality and competency tests and finally a three hour interview on Tuesday with a regional manager who drove in to meet with Scott.  This man told Scott that next week they all had to attend a national conference, but the next week they would be doing something about the position.  Well on wednesday morning Scott already got a call from Misty to let him know that they want him to fly up to Wisconsin in two weeks for a final interview.  If he gets the position, he is supposed to go to Austria for two months training at their headquarters.

The position is for a regional product salesman, or rps.  He would be in charge of promoting their equipment and getting it into stores in an area including Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.  He would be traveling a lot...but I figured we can handle it...especially when you consider how many of my friends have been without their husbands for 18 months in Iraq!!!

So here's what we need you to pray for:

1.  Scott needs to study up a lot on the products and be familiar with them for the interview.

2.  His trip to Wisconsin...he is quite Texan and Wisconsin is awfully northern!

3.  For good weather when he travels...it is in the middle of winter!

4.  For a successful interview.

5.  That he will be able to go to Austria...and that I can go visit while he's there...I have a friend in Germany, a friend in Amsterdam and a cousin in Poland...how fun would that be!!!

We will keep you posted!!!

My Little Girls

How cute are these girls? They were up super early last Thursday before school and so excited to be dressed alike and playing with the puppies. They actually posed together with Tank and Bella!

Then the best thing happened...they put down the puppies to pose for a photo togther and it was so cheesy! Payton hopped into Carsyns arms. They are so much fun whn they are getting along!

Do you think they will ever be angry at me for the matching?

My Tiny Dancer

Carsyn takes tap and ballet on Monday nights, followed by tumbling. Last night she got ready to go and I couldn't resist the photos...she is so precious in her dancewear and boots! I just love this special time we have together!

Nothing new here

So not much is new in small town Texas. It's been a busy week. Here are the highights.

1. I did 4 scrapbook pages. I am almost done with summer!
2. Payton has pinkeye..or something pinkand gross..we have the drops but had to skip church.
3. I gave my semester exams last week...my freshmen are NOT very smart. Bummer.
4. Scott has another interview next Tuesday for an awesome job...same offer..just a slow process.
5. I did my workout again and it was much much better.

High pointsof the week...

***Starbucks had a problem last week...the system scanned my gift card and did not charge...i got free coffee twice!

***I discovered Fiber One apple cinnamon muffin mix...they are delicious and nutritious!

*** I lost a pound- 6 more til I can buy clothes

***Carsyn and I bought tickets to the Hannah Montana 3D concert movie Feb.2

I AM the Biggest Loser...literally

I am the biggest loser...not as in losing weight, but as in being a complete loser.  I gained a lot of weight last year and got really lazy.  So I decided I must do something about it.  I got the Biggest Loser book and read through it.  I found lots of healthy food choices and decided to go for it.  Then I had to come up with a workout plan, which basically has to be at 5:30 am...it's my only option.  So I bought the Biggest Loser workout DVD yesterday to do.  It is 3 different segments...starting with a beginning exerciser.  I've never been much of an athlete, but I have always been in pretty good shape.  And I've seen the size of these people on the show.  So I got up this morning to do the beginning workout, figuring it would be a piece of cake.

All I can say is WOW...I am already hurting.  I was dying...and I did it the easiest way possible.  I have a lot of work to do.  I am so ashamed.  The good news is I am really awake now...the bad news is I am so hungry, already getting sore, and thought I was going to throw up before my 30 minutes were up.

So I must continue...I guess this weight loss/healthy thing is going to be harder than I thought!

Attention Target Shoppers...

Attention target shoppers...you MUST run, not walk, to your nearest dollar spot...there are a ton of fun things for scrapbooking and Valentine's Day...hurry...I am sure supplies are limited!!!

Thank "Remaw"

Payton calls mom, Remaw, which is really really cute, actually "Remaw" made Carsyn a"cooker thing to wear." She wore is last night and helped daddy barbeque fajita meat. I hate to gloat, but...notice we sat outside while the grill was going because it was 70 degrees yesterday.

See for yourself...Payton is CALM!!!

Payton had the rare opportunity to be an only child on Friday night and Saturday morning. Carsyn spent the night with Luke and Marcus was at his friend Carl's house. It was amazing, and fun, to see her alone, undisturbed and quite content. See for yourself!

The next day when her siblings came home, her ADHD kicked right back in...but she sure is a beautiful princess, don't you think? Notice the "Rella" wig. Nice.

The Happy Family

Amy took family photos of us...it's been a long time since we've had a good one. Well, needless to say this was the best. Payton was awful. This is the best we could do.

Puppies....again

We are just lovin' these puppies..look at the size of them!!! They are only three weeks old in these photos.

Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone! Christmas has been busy but wonderful. Here are a few random photos...more to follow! The first is our traditional Christmas Eve photo in new jammies. The others are the kids making cookies...or should i say making a mess!!!

I did it!!!

I figured out the problem!!! Our internet provider downgraded us to a slower version because they hadto put us on a different channel than the rest of the area...apparently our antivirus expired. Anyway...they installed their protection plan so I tried the photo thing again and here you go! A random picture...many to come with christmas in two days!!

Tattoos and Rockstars

Carsyn and Daddy...what a pair.  Can you guess which tattoo is real?

Carsyn's Birthday...4 months late!!!

I am going crazy now that I can post photos...sorry that some of them are sideways, but at least you get a general idea!

Minnie Mouse

Here's my other Halloween cutie... Marcus was a good sport as usual and dressed up with Payton for her party.

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...

Who's the fairest of them all??? Carsyn, of course! Here's my beauty dressed up for Halloween...gorgeous!!!

Puppies!!! And Pictures!!!

What else could go wrong???

Yesterday I picked Marcus up from the high school. He was in a UIL competition and was pretty mad he didn't make it to the finals because he thought he did great. Then I let him take the girls into the local convenient store to get treats. His drumstick had melted and refroze so it was all messed up. He said "Great. What else could go wrong?'
So I thought about it.
Scott has pneumonia and has been in bed all week, the girls are a handful, the weather is ridiculous...complain, complain, complain..."
So I told Marcus a few things.
Lately people around me are having some tragedies as usual and even though life is stressful and tough, it is really good.
My good friend Kierstan got a desperate call from her dad yesterday that he was very sick and needed her to come help him get to the hospital. She was so scared for him. They don't know what's wrong...his next step is a colonoscopy. Kierstan's husband has been in Iraq since Last October and is finally about a month from coming home. Her mother passed away last time Martin was in Iraq. Pray for her!
A girl at my school, who happens to be the reigning Miss Teen Texas got into an accident at lunchtime with her sister. Her little Pontiac convertible lost control and ran into a tree. She is in the hospital. Both girls have skull fractures. Sommer also has a pelvic fracture, a fractured vertabrae, a fractured eye socket and had neurosurgery to relieve pressure in her brain. They had to shave her head and she had the most gorgeous head of hair I have ever seen. Pray for her family!
Three of my closest friends have husbands in Iraq right now and it is so hard for them. Two will return home soon, but most likely after christmas. They were gone last christmas too. The other on just left last week and will miss his oldest son's graduation this spring.
And then I got the Covey's Christmas letter in the mail explaining their tough year with such grace.

So I have come to the conclusion that life is tough but God is tougher. I am so grateful for everything I have. There are so many to pray for. Don't forget about them, because God is listening and can do miracles!

Paris Hilton had puppies!!!

Nothing much going on around here...just the usual busy lives.

Payton has bronchitis. She keeps me up at night coughing. So I am tired. And I have a headache. So my students are watching Iron Will since we just read White Fang and will do a compare/contrast essay. Anything for a break!

Paris Hilton, for those of you who are confused, is our dog. We have two pit bulls...leave your snide comments out...scott assures me they are great and are safe. Anyway, the male is Tito Ortiz...he looked like a fighter so I named him after one of our favorite UFC fighters. The female is Paris Hilton..she is platinum blonde so it works. Paris had three puppies monday night. They are so cute!

Carsyn informed me that Miss Kitty ( her teacher) no longer calls her a drama queen...now she's a drama princess. How funny.

How much longer do I have to teach? I want a break...or a snow day! Maybe I should jus take a day off and stay in bed.

Jesus, the cross, and a four year old's thoughts

Yesterday we were driving home from day care. Apparently Carsyn saw a cross on a church. The rest goes something like this.
"Mommy, is that the cross Jesus died on?" (yes)
" How did he get up there? Did he crawl up there?"
(no, he was put up there and nailed through his hands and feet)
"Owie...that would hurt. I wish I would not get stuck on a cross. Did Jesus cry?"
(yes, I am sure he did)
"Oh, then is Jesus a girl?"
(no, Jesus is a boy, why?)
"Cuz, boys don't cry, only baby boys, only girls cry when they are big"
(I explain that sometimes when they are really sad or really hurt boys cry too)
"Maybe they tied him up around his belly. But if you tie someone up around their throat you choke the breaf out of them and they die. Maybe they tie him up around his hands and feet and take him to jail."

The conversation continued for a while...I just turned up the music and drove on. Man, she is creative and thoughtful...kinda scary!