Happy Holidays...Happy Holidays...The Christmas Bells are Ringing, Happy Holidays...To You!!

Ok...so here are a few decorations for Christmas. I decided to go simple this year, much to my husbands surprise and glee! (He says I have too much "stuff". How can you have too much?) Our living room furniture is red so I played on that theme this year. Our tree is decorated in silver and red--I love silver and we have nickle finished lamps in the living area. Our mantle is not quite done yet. I think I want to add some greenery. It seems empty. You can see 2 views of our tree. I love playing with the camera! I just can never remember which setting captures the best lighting. Next weekend (I hope) we can get a few things done outside. I let Erik have last year off for putting lights on the house because we had just moved. This year, back on buddy. I want lights and I want wreaths. Simple, but elegant. Enjoy!

Picture Time

So Erik and I went and had our pictures made. It was an adventure! We arrived early (for those of you who know me well, that's normal!). We waited and enjoyed chatting with a few family members who would eventually number 17! Holy Cow! I could not imagine getting that many people together at once! My family did it once and it was a hoot!
Anyway, we finally got seen for our shoot (about 40 minutes late). The photog was not all that impressive. She was so unenthusiastic. Now I know you are thinking, it was Thanksgiving Eve and they probably wanted to go home. Sure, but make your job fun! It will go by so much faster. I know, I have worked on New Year's Day, Christmas Eve, and the night before Thanksgiving! I know you have to make it fun! I digress...She took about 28 pics. I was expecting a lot more--I was told a lot more! We did get a clothes change opportunity and several options. We were not all that pleased with the results. However, with some modifications, they turned out ok. The good thing was this--we got the CD for the pics. I have a neat photo editor and this morning I played around with it. I have added a few pics for you to see. I hope you enjoy! These are 3 shots we chose with my modifications. The bottom picture is my favorite. I was having a pretty good hair day! :) Have a great day!
Oh!! Happy Thanksgiving and don't eat too much turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Erik and I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! We will be staying here in Blythewood and going to my sister's house to eat. We plan to take it easy and work a little on Christmas decorating. Yeah!
I really have needed a break from school. This last week was a much better week compared to the week before. We had "Extreme Classroom Makeover!" That helped a lot with behavior and attitude. I think they were ready for a much needed break too! My team also hosted a Thanksgiving Feast for our students. It was a lot of fun! It was huge improvment over last years!
Today (Wednesday) I decided to baby-sit for my sister's children, Memphis and Rayne. That has been an adventure. We did a secret mission (can't tell!), ran an errand, ate at CiCi's pizza--played games there too!, went to Linens 'N Things to find a good bargain--none to have, and to Michael's for another secret mission. Finally we came back home and the kids played a little. This evening, Erik and I will have family portraits made. I am excited. Then...yes, there is more!!! Melissa needs me to help her with preparing dinner for tomorrow! Whew....what a day!
Enjoy your time with family and friends.
Until next time...

OK...an update!

Holy moly,
I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. Not a lot going on right now. I started my master's program. For the last 2 weeks I have been working on it every night. I feel caught up, but there is always more work to do. Erik had a wonderful opportunity to go on a men's retreat with some guys from church last weekend. He truly enjoyed himself. He took a day to journal and pray about the things he learned. I am happy he was able to go because while I knew what those experiences are like, he did not. He has already made plans to go next year and wants his dad to go. While he was on his retreat, he dad (Gerry) came down to hang out with me. His mom (Sharyn) was working/playing up in Maryland with her sister. Dad and I worked hard! He did so much more than I did, but we had a good time. I handed out candy Friday and ran out before 8:30! It was fun. I always enjoy seeing the kids. Saturday, we trimmed the hedges that had not been trimmed in a year! We can park in the driveway and not walk into one tree/bush! Then...yes, we did more...dad and I began to get my mom's old table sanded down. It was the table my mom grew up eating on. It is older than she is and by how much we don't know. (Trust me that it is OLD!!) We wanted to get it stained, but the sun was going down and the air was getting damp. Now we have a project for the next visit. I am going to use the table for a craft table upstairs. I guess I will do school work there too! I can't wait to get it there.
Well, that's all really. I am just doing a lot of reading and no watching tv. For those of you who know me, that is my all-time, veg-out, relax, and take the day away kind of thing. I am obsessed I guess. But, school is important and come before TV! :( Until later...