Easter Photos...better late than never!!!

So here's Easter photos. As you can tell, Payton was her usual ornery self that day. The rest just speaks for itelf.

Do you have Autism???

If you have HBO or know anyone that does, you have to watch the Autistic Musical. I thought it was a joke at first...but it's really neat. A lady in California got a group of autistic kids together and created a musical with them. They went into a lot of background info about each kid. It was very enlightening.
Partway into it there was a kid acting like Payton...but of course she's two so that's her reason...Scott said "Payton, do you have Autism?" To which she immediately replied "No, I have PIZZA." She was eating pizza at the time. I thought that was hilarious.

A Vessel of Unconditional Love...Remembering Dorothy

I got a shocking call from my principal on Sunday afternoon.  Dorothy, one of my students I have taught for two years, died in her sleep on Saturday night.  She had apparently had a seizure and her parents found her on the floor.  The whole family went to Easter mass Sunday morning where this announcement was made to the church.  I was shocked, to say the least.  Dorothy and I had a special relationship.  She was diagnosed with Sodos Syndrome shortly after she was born.  She had many challenges, including being very large and impulsive.  These were the obvious things that you noticed about her daily.   Teaching her was always a challenge, but her family was amazing and so was she...so it was always equally as rewarding.  This has been a really difficult week for me.  We had to face class on Monday without her.  Seeing high school kids deal with it is tough.  I also had to face the parents and go to the viewing and the funeral yesterday.  I just didn't even want to get up this morning because I was completely worn out.  

But at the funeral, this family was amazing.  To everyone they saw, they said "Thank you for loving Dorothy."  Her dad spoke at the funeral and said God put her on this earth to be a vessel of unconditional love.  She said her fair share of problems that she either caused or took on, but she woke up every morning starting all over again.  Everyone was her favorite.  Everyone was her friend.  She was truly what life should be all about.  Just livin' and lovin'.  I will miss Dorothy tremendously but will always remember in my heart what one special person can do. 

Look what "Wii" did toda!

Today it rained...and rained...and rained. yuck. Payton took a nap with her great grandma. Carysn and grandma watched Nanny McPhee. I ran to Target for easter candy. Then the satellite went out because it was so cloudy...so the family pulled out Marcus' Wii and played bowling, tennis, golf and baseball while I made a big pot of deer chili with not enough beans....our gate was stuck shut so I couldn't get out to go buy more. Yummy!!! Today we are supposed to go see Horton and tomorrow is the zoo.

How We Spent Spring Break...Day 1

1. Cleaned the computer desk...found the top! And found my photo disc from July Amy!!!

2. Loads and Loads of laundry

3. Took Naps

4. Read a book....my latest Jodi Picoult fix..not quite done.

5. Colored Easter Eggs with the kids...and didn't spill anything!

6. Watched Bee Movie..again.

Now we are just waiting on Scott to come home so we can eat!

This is cool...try it!

Here's a Tibetan personality test I got from a friend. Follow the directions. It was pretty startling...very accurate for me!!!

http://memoriter.net/flash/test.html

For Amy..

Here's a super easy, super cute Easter treat idea. Carsyn adn I made 75 of them in about an hour. All you need are dixie cups, scraps of paper, easter grass (one bag was way too much), plastic eggs and candy...plus some double stick tape.

First cut apart a dixie cup...cut off the circle bottom and trim the "lip" off the cup. Lay it flat.,.it's an arc...trace that as a template. I traced a little longer to make sure there was enough overlap. Tape around the cup. Cut a strip for the handle and attach with tape or brads. Then fill.

Happy Birthday Mia!!!

Saturday was Princess Mia's first birthday party. Here are some photos. Carsyn and Luke were the normal ornery selves, which always makes for a great photo. Mia loved her cake...shewas a little overwhelmed with the gifts, but the other kids helped out quite a bit. Payton, Carsyn and Luke all helped feed Mia mounds of princess cake. Notice Payton's change of outfit from the blue dress to the stripe shirt...she and Luke were playing outside...she came in soaking wet...of course neither knew what happened!

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.