I caved...

I caved. I said I wouldn't put up any Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving because I'm a firm believer in not skipping Thanksgiving; However, after walking our neighborhood last night with Jack and seeing everyone's decor, I decided to climb up into the attic and get down our Christmas stuff. I put up a few things last night and then shopped some today and added some more stuff. Hobby Lobby is having a half off all their Christmas stuff sale so I had fun there. These are just a few of the things I've decorated. Mom and I went to Dazzle Days this weekend and found some decor for my front door. Now I'm not one to do the whole "poofy and fluffy" stuff, but I decided to try it this year just around our door. I'm going to make sure mom can come over and help though because I have no idea what I'm doing with it! I'll post pics when I get the door done. Anyways, here's what I've got so far. I showed a close up of our new stockings. I LOVE them!! They are from Pottery Barn and I think they look great on our mantel. I bought these super cute plates at TJ Maxx for real cheap. I think they look great in my plate holder. I've been wanting some Christmas plates for it and have never bought any, so I'm super excited to have some this year.I got the tree and sign at Hobby Lobby. I thought it was super cute! I thought about putting some of the cheesy "fake snow" under the tree, but we'll see.Here's the whole mantel! I LOVE it! Most of it is stuff that's already up there, but I added my garland swag with lights and my sparkly silver tree from Pier 1. Mom is working on my curtains for the living room so I'll post photos when we get finished with those. And last but not least, we can't forget Jack! He turned 6 months old this month, I can't believe it! He'll be 7 months next week Tuesday. He is the best dog. I love this picture because I think he looks mischevious... and he is... sometimes! haha He is so great though because he hasn't chewed anything up, hasn't had an accident in a long time, and loves to play with us. Our next project is to teach him out to get the newspaper. I've been wanting him to learn for awhile because I hate going out in my robe, so I'm hoping we can practice some over my holiday break. I'm a little worried though because he hates the front yard. He doesn't really understand where his boundaries are, so getting him to walk around it is hard. He is so scared he'll get shocked. Poor guy. He knows the backyard though... he'll get right up to it and stop. I'm so glad we put the underground fence in!

Anyways, have a great Thanksgiving break! We are out all week so I am super excited! Dinner with friends, shopping, cleaning and playing with Jack... it just doesn't get better than that!

Branson

This past weekend I was able to go to Branson with several of my co-workers. Not often do you find a group of teachers that get along as well as we all do. I mean I absolutely love my co-workers! The group of us that went was Amanda (1st grade teacher), Emily (4th grade teacher), Tiffany (2nd grade teacher), Lelia (4th grade teacher), Anna (GT teacher) and Me (1st grade). There were several more teachers that wanted to join us, but babies and children kept them at home. We packed up our bags and hit the road right after school on Friday in Anna's tahoe. We got to Branson and checked into our AMAZING condo that was about 2 minutes from Silver Dollar City. We hit up Silver Dollar City that night because if you go after 7 p.m. you get in the next day for free. This first picture shows how exhausted we were after shoving down some food and a long car ride. Amanda, Emily, Tiffany, Lelia & Anna


After dinner and walking around SDC, we headed back to the condo for a late night of TV and talking. We woke up early Saturday to hit the outlet malls and do some shopping. I absolutely love shopping at the outlet malls. The Landing is fun, but there's nothing like the prices you can get when going to the outlet. I got a pair of super cute and dressy jeans from Banana Republic for $25 dollars after discounts!!! I was SO excited!
Lelia, Anna, Emily & Amanda- getting ready to load the car for shopping!After shopping, we decided to eat a big dinner before we headed back to SDC so we stopped at Fudruckers. It wasn't my place of choice because I wanted a big steak, but I managed a salad. It was nice to sit and rest and EAT! (Tiffany, Amanda, Lelia, Me, Emily & Anna)

After dinner we went to Silver Dollar City again and hit one of my favorite stores... the Christmas store! Now I'm not one to like skipping Thanksgiving because it's probably one of if not my favorite holiday. I LOVE Thanksgiving food! However, it got me really excited walking around and looking at all the super cute Christmas decor. After shopping for awhile, I convinced some of the girls to go on Thunderation (a roller coaster) with me. Now anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE roller coasters. It definitely took some serious convincing to get the girls on, but I got Tiffany, Lelia and Anna to go with me. They didn't seem too freaked out. However, I convinced Lelia to ride Powder Keg with me. She definitely wanted to kill me after the ride. I think I heard "I hate you" and "You liar" most of the ride.... haha But I had a blast! I love roller coasters!! After rides, shopping, candy, dessert, and walking around, we decided to head back to the condo. We were EXHAUSTED! We stayed up for awhile chatting by the fireplace Saturday night and then got up early Sunday for a breakfast buffet and shopping at the Landing. We left around 1:3o and I was sure ready to get home. I had a great weekend with the girls!!

On another side note, I'm on Level 2 of Jillian's workout and man it is intense! I love it though! I'm down almost 4 lbs in 2 1/2 weeks.... whoo hoo!!

Busy Week

Chris and I had a crazy busy week and I'm sure glad that it's the weekend. We had a blast getting to hang out and eat dinner with some good friends, Craig & Erin Conner and Luke Ferguson. I made some yummy lasagna and garlic bread and Erin brought some fanstatic dessert. It was AMAZING! Then Chris and I both got sick with fevers, coughing, sneezing, etc. on Thursday which made for a long miserable day. He seems to be doing better and I feel a little better. I diagnosed myself with a sinus infection (which I'm 99% sure is the problem) so I had my dad call me in a z-pack. I'm not running a fever anymore which is great and have a runny nose which I'm glad because it means the pressure is draining from my head. Yesterday was a big day for Jack. He woke up in a great mood not knowing it was his day to lose his manhood. Chris took him to see Dr. Beard at 8:00am and I picked him up after being neutered around 2:30pm. So I had my first "mom" moment when I picked him up because when I went to get him, I heard him whining from the back. It was SO hard to hear my baby whine. I don't know if dogs can cry, but the hair under his eyes was totally wet and he loooked SO sad. When I got him home I just hugged and pet him and yes, I cried. I know, I'm such a baby and he's just a dog. But the look on his face was the saddest thing I have ever seen. His tail wasn't wagging and his eyes were glazed over. Mom said he'd be better tomorrow (today) and he is MUCH better. He's up running around and playing again and I am SO glad. He's just the best dog. He loves us so much. Anyways onto another subject, by Jillian workout has been going great. I've already lost 2 1/2 lbs in 5 days (I've been dieting a little too) and I feel better and stronger. I wasn't able to workout yesterday because of the sickness, but I'm hoping I can do it today. I don't want to push it, but since I'm starting to get in shape I don't want to miss several days that will put me out of shape. It's been a great tough workout! Anyways, I need to go take Jack on a walk. Have a great weekend and GO HOGS!!

Morning Person?

So I am FAR from being a morning person. In fact, I tell Chris that when we have kids he's just going to have to deal with them in the morning because I can't do it. All the girls at work tell me that'll change though... we'll see! Anyways, Chris has been getting up at 5:45 every morning and going to the gym to work out. I've been so proud of him because he's lost weight and really has gained some serious strength (not that he wasn't already strong before!). Anyways, I have been wishing so badly that I could be a morning workout person, but I just HATE getting out of bed. So I decided this morning that since I've had too much candy (and added 2 lbs) that I need to do my workouts in the morning because my nights have been SO busy (p/t conferences, meetings, bible study, etc.). I've been waiting on a DVD to arrive that I ordered the other day after reading a blog of a college friend. It's called "30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels." It caught my attention on her blog because she said it was only 20 minutes a day. Since I wanted to do my workouts in the morning, but not labor over 30/45 minute runs that would get me up really early (I like long runs... I hate only running for like 10 minutes), I decided to order the video. It didn't arrive until this afternoon so I had to run for 20 minutes this morning (but I did it! I got up!). I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to start the video, but I was reading some reviews on it and everyone kept saying how "difficult" it was... even level 1. And the people were saying they were "in shape." So my curiousity was completely peaked and I couldn't not do it tonight. I mean, I feel like I'm in good shape (I still do my Cathe Freidrich videos all the time... I LOVE her!) and I run when I get free time... but it definitely is intense. For only 20 minutes you do 3 minutes of weights, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs in 3 different circuits. I will have to say I didn't think it was too bad, but everyone was saying "you don't feel it until the next day..." so we'll see tomorrow morning! Anyways, thanks to Rachel for blogging about the video. I'm SO excited to see the changes in the next 30 days.... and NO more halloween candy (yes, I threw it all in the trash today... it's the only way to not eat it. I have no will power! haha)!

Happy "Howl-o-ween"

I promised Chris this would be the only year I would dress Jack up. I made the argument that since he's a puppy (a 50 lb.puppy!) this would be the only year we could do it. His costume was the biggest size they had (XL) so he won't fit in one next year. You can tell by the look on his face that he's completely humiliated. It provided entertainment for all of us as we took tons of pictures of the "grand dog;" as my parents and in-laws call him. The neighbor kids trick-or-treated and loved seeing Jack in his costume. Every kids in the neighborhood knows him and always calls him "Jack the dog." I just love it! I was such a proud momma. Laugh all you want... I did swear I would never put clothes on my dog, ever... But look how cute he is?!?! Hey, when you don't have kids you've got to do something fun for Halloween! Hope you enjoy the pictures! Hope you had a happy Howl-o-ween!! The doctor can see you now....

Jack Rippy M.D.

A quick costume change into a ninja

I made him pose on the porch

Totally humiliated, but SO cute!

Red Ribbon Week and a Halloween Party

This week has been super stressful, busy and exciting. We had parent/teacher conferences and were at school until 7 o'clock Wednesday and Thursday, and then we had Red Ribbon Week all week. Today we had out Halloween Party and the 1st grade had a "fall festival." It was a blast! We had different stations in each room and rotated between classrooms. In my room, the kids each got their own pumpkin to color and decorate. In Molly's room they colored haunted houses and got pumpkin tattoos. In Amanda's room they decorated their own cupcakes. In Amy's room they had bean bag tosses and went "fishing" for candy. We had a lot of parents help and it was a blast! I, however, am EXHAUSTED! I'm really excited to have the weekend ahead of me. Chris and I are looking forward to trick-or-treater's all night tomorrow and having Jack in a Halloween costume. I'll post pictures as soon as I decide what he is going to be... either a ninja or a doctor. Any votes? Have a Happy Halloween! Some of the kids cupcake creations
Autumn & Ethan showing off tattoos

Andrew & Nate... love them!

Izzy decorating her pumpkin
Markeith, Nate & Alyssa
Most of my kiddos on "Pajama Day" for Red Ribbon Week

Closet Organization

I know this is a totally random title and post, but I just had to share my insane need for organization. I believe it's one reason that teaching was the profession for me. My classroom is always put together and organized (well almost always!) and people are always commenting on "how I do it." I guess it's because I can't let things build up. Once something is out of place it goes right back in it's place. Everyone tells me when we have kids this will change. It scares me to think it might.... I don't handle lack of schedules and things not in order very well. But I still have awhile before I have to worry about that. Anyways, I LOVE our master closet. It was definitely a huge selling point (for me) because I wanted space in our house. It is HUGE! These pictures don't even do the size of it justice. So here's my ridiculously organized closet. Usually my clothes are organized by color and sleeve length (maybe a little OCD), but you can tell it's been a LONG hectic week!... My side of the closet

More of my side

Right when you walk in

Chris' side (with my dresses)