Happy!

Yesterday as I was leaving work, I was being my usually silly self and singing the Happy song and dancing a bit.  My friends laughed at me.  Then, when I got in the car, the Happy song was playing!  HA

I will be joining in this delightful project this year, excited!  Why don't you join me?

Anniversary Gift

Trying to figure out a way to buy this for hubby for our anniversary.

Funny Teacher Story

We were having a meeting this afternoon, and while we were waiting, mom told me this story.  It made my day, which was great as it started out lousy.

Becky's (not her real name) mom was looking for her Special Olympics shirt to wash.  She couldn't find it anywhere, so she enlisted the help of Becky and her brothers.  They all began looking, but Becky wouldn't stop watching TV.  Eventually mom went and turned the TV off and told Becky to help look for the t-shirt.  Time went on, and mom went to put the clothes into the dryer.  Low and behold, the shirt was in the wash.  She told Becky's brothers, but neglected to tell Becky.  Becky had been pouting because mom had turned off the TV, and now she was even more upset that mom didn't come apologize for turning the TV off.

Becky got her backpack and said "Reev house."  Mom said, you mean you want to go to school.  Becky responded "No!  Reev house!"

I love 'my' kiddos.

Have a great day!

New Job

I will be starting a new job in June.  I'll tell you more about it then.  It doesn't quite seem real yet.  Sometimes I think about what I would be if I wasn't a teacher.  I would be a biologist or a pediatric neurosurgeon.  What would you be if you could change careers?

Thrift Store Finds

A friend and I went thrift store trolling today.  We felt like big adults out in the middle of the day!  I got two vintage purses, 2 skirts, 3 pair of pants, a dress that I'm going to convert to a top, and 2 paperbacks for $38.  I have to go back to one store tomorrow because it's half price day!  No picts to show since I can't figure out how to get them on here from my phone.  I'll have to bring my camera home from school next week.

Fabric

I decided to do something productive with my Spring Break.  This blog has gotten me all fired up.  Of course, sweet Jillian is about 3 times smaller than I am and I could almost be her mother, buuuttt....I thought:  I can do that.  So off to the secondhand store I went.  No great finds for $1.  This specific shop has half price Wednesdays, so I'll be going back.

Next I went to Hancock Fabric.  Dust off the ol' sewing machine.  Patterns on sale for 99 cents, a good start.  Then I found this fabulous fabric!  $19.99 a yard.  Well, my fat self needs at least 2 yards to make anything fun, so that idea went down the tubes, as well.  Oh well, back home now.  I have enough unfinished projects here to keep me busy.

Ironic

Well, I logged on to my blog today for the first time in over 2 years.  Wow.  What is ironic is that the post before last was titled "Post Ph.D."  I am now post Ph.D.  I didn't earn my Ph.D.  It beat me.  I quit.  I'm not bitter (read sarcastically, please).  I failed my General Exams.  I had a 4.0 GPA, but suddenly my work wasn't good enough. It was this time last year that I was receiving this news.  I was devastated.   I had given these people blood, sweat, tears, and three years of my life. I could go on and on.

So, what have I done with my year of freedom?  Discovered Big Bang Theory.  And True Blood.  And Game of Thrones.  And Dexter.  And the Walking Dead.  Played Settlers of Catan.  And Ticket to Ride. And Zombie Flux.  I've re-discovered crochet and knitting.  I've made a couple of quilts.  I've painted lots of pictures.  I am teaching children with moderate intellectual disabilities now.  I love them.  They keep me on my toes.  I had surgery.  I've lost ten pounds.

So, what have you guys been up to?

Snowing Again

It's been snowing again all day. Fourth snow day. I guess summer is canceled.
It is beautiful, though without the 45 mph winds making it blizzard conditions.
I have gotten a lot of work done, but not today. I decided to try out the Elliptical even with my broken toe. Worked out well!
I'm considering getting a jigsaw puzzle out, but I still have lots of work I could do.
We've been having movie night every night. I really enjoyed Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men. Undercover Brother was pretty funny, too.
What are your favorite movies?

Post Ph.D.

I love being in school. Reading. Researching. Writing papers. I do. I know, I'm a nerd.
But some days, I can't help but wondering what I'm going to do with all the time I have when I graduate.
Thoughts:
1. Blog again! I mean regularly.
2. Read blogs again.
3. Quilt again. I want to make this and this. Maybe I'll even finish my Dear Jane!
4. Learn to applique. I want to make this and this.
5. Wow, and what about this and this!?
6. Play my cello again.
7. Play my guitar again.
8. Sit around and watch all the House episodes without feeling guilty.
9. Really clean my house.
10. Nothing.

Random Thoughts

Hi friends! News: I have a broken foot. Ok, it's my toe, but it's at the base of my toe by the ball of my foot. I wish I had some great story like I was chasing a burglar or saving a child from being hit by a bus or roundhouse kicking my hubby, but no. I walked into the night stand.
I had crutches for a week, but fortunately I now have a walking shoe. Hurts and I'm still slow, but muuuch better than crutches.

We're snowed in. It's 10 degrees. Not used to this like Natalie probably is. Second day with no school. I don't know what the main streets look like, but the neighborhood streets are by no means clear. Hubby made it out in the FJ. I don't think my Mini would make it.

I found a pair of cute shoes online that I'm thinking about getting. I guess I should wait until I can wear them on both feet. These are awesome, too!

Remember I said it was 10? Well, the wind chill is -11. The dog next door has been outside all day. I probably ought to call animal welfare.

I have written an IRB, read two chapters, re-written my class syllabus, and found numerous articles that will help me with my research.

Driving

My son earned his Driver's License today!! He started a job and got his license all in one week. All was well until he got called in to work, and left...BY HIMSELF!! Wow. That was nerve wracking! He should be home any minute now, then I can relax!

Long Weekend

It's been a nice long weekend for me. DH is out of town for a conference, and my son started working! We're so proud of him. His first job, and Tuesday he'll be getting his license, so he can drive himself. He wasn't too keen on my taking a picture of him in his Whataburger uniform, so you'll have to take my word that he looked handsome.
I made some magnets with the flat marbles. This is my favorite one, though in the picture it looks as if she has smallpox or something.
This is another fav, though one of the first I made and I didn't put a plain white card stock circle behind the printed paper, so you can kind of see the magnet, but it makes for a better picture.
We got my son a car. While looking for him a car, I found one I wanted, too. It's convertible!! And sooo cute. Only one person can ride with me, though. So my son and I were wondering today, if you're in England and the steering column is on the left side of the car, is the gear shift reversed? Jill? Do you know?I was marveling while emptying the dishwasher at how many Fuzzy's cups we have. I think my DH likes it just a little! haha....there were three more in the dishwasher, and who knows how many he has in his office!
Oh, and you see that stained glass in the background!? My step-mom made it for me for Christmas. I love, love, love it!

Did I tell you I'm going to Jamaica this summer!? I'll be going with the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf. We'll be staying a week, and I can hardly wait!

Classes start this week, will be interviewing some parents of D/deaf children. If you're interested, let me know!

A Sweet Friend

I visited some blogs yesterday. I haven't visited many in many months, but in my last few days of 'freedom' before classes start again I thought I'd check in on some friends. I left a comment on one, and got a very sweet email back saying that she missed me. It made my day and reminded me that even though I haven't met many of you, you are still a part of my life. Thanks, Natalie!

Happy New Year!

Wow, it has been a great start to the New Year! I got everything I wanted/needed for Christmas and more: a new-to-me Mini Cooper convertible! We were looking for a car for my son, and ended up with two.
School has started again and I am once again amazed at how being on 'red alert' always exhausts me. Classes start next week and I will be taking two and teaching one. While working full time and being a wife and mom. Pray for my survival!
Some friends got new phones, so we got their old BlackBerrys. We've upgraded, and as my sister said, I'm sitting at the 'cool' table now!
It's very cold here today, so I am going to get my book and curl up by the fire.
Be blessed!

Well....

I admit defeat! School and school are all I can handle. I won't be deleting this blog, because hopefully I can post again in the summer.
See you in June! :)

New Car

My son is driving!
He's been saving his money for about two years and is now the proud owner of a
Oldsmobile Intrigue!

More Trip Pictures

My dad plays this game in the swimming pool with the grand kids. They hang onto a noodle (the train) and then they go up 'snowy mountain.' On the way up to snowy mountain you go through these obstacles like "Buster's Bumps" and "Bill's Hills." This year was his 72nd birthday, and my clever sister made this cake of snowy mountain!

We built bird houses.
We sluiced for rocks at Hiddenite Mines. The boys loved it.
This is the library in my sister's little town. So quaint. I love it.

Home Sweet Home

Just got back from a ten day trip to see my family.
This swing doesn't get much use.
They live in a small town in Pennsylvania. Very quaint. They have ducks they like to feed on the towpath behind their house. Donkeys used to tow barges carrying coal for fuel for the homes on the canal.

This is my younger nephew. I'll have to do a whole post on 'peeking' shots I have of him!
For some reason I cannot upload any more pictures, so more to come tomorrow!

Nephews

First of all, I have no idea why there are two pictures of the giant green pepper on my last post. I guess I could take one off, but it's kinda funny, so I'm leaving it there.
I've been at my dad's for almost a week now with my sister and nephews. The older of the two nephews rarely stops talking. Seriously~the talking ceases in sleep or during a movie. Midstream he'll say "Can I tell you something?" My responses started with "Yes" then moved to "You already are" and then to "No." Which didn't stop him, he just keeps right on going.
I've also heard "why?" approximately 5,624 times.
If they don't like an answer you get a "WhaT?" with the final consonant clearly articulated. Funny.
The three-year-old likes to tell this joke:

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Alligator.
Alligator who?
Just an alligator.
To which he falls down in peals of laughter.

So cute. We've been to the children's discovery place, sluicing for rocks, the aquarium, swimming, swimming, and more swimming, and building Lego structures galore. I'm headed home Sunday. I plan to sleep the rest of the day! Happy Weekend.

Fourth of July

Happy Independence Day Everyone! I survived my "June." Taught summer school, took a class, and taught a class at OU. Finished all my homework, including my twenty page paper on time! Yep. Here's a pict of my crazy kids. My son will be leaving for church camp in a couple of hours. I guess they figure if they start the 15 hour drive at 11 pm, the kids will sleep. Yeah......right.
My daughter will be TWENTY on Wednesday. Wowza, I'm old! Ha. The guy at Sam's who wrote on her cake hadn't had all that much practice. At least he spelled everything right.

We had a cookout...make your own kabobs with the two largest green peppers I think I've ever seen.

Hope you all had a great June and weekend.