Since my first day as a teacher, I think this is officially my first Snow Day! Woo hoo! I'm not exactly happy about making it up, but I did enjoy my day! Luckily, Kristin and Lee were in town, and I didn't have to enjoy it alone. Russ was on call last night, so he missed most of it. It's all starting to melt away now. Tear!


While Kristin was busy inside the house preparing for her interview, Lee and I introduced Farley to his first snowball.


Then, Lee started throwing snowballs just for fun. The snow was perfect! Soft and dry.

Just look at that Winter Wonderland - Mississippi style!

Kristin put on some Ugg boots and jeans so we could get a few pictures of her in the snow too. Then, she quickly put on her interview attire, and we headed out to drive her on the "treacherous" roads. Ha!

Ready to go!

Lee and I dropped Kristin off at the front door and waited in the parking lot so she wouldn't have to call a ride to come pick her up after her interview. We waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, we got bored and decided to sneakily build a snowman in the parking lot. Hopefully, we won't be seen!

Nice snow-mound, Lee!

Russ finally got off work around 3:30. Although he missed most of the snow, there is still a small spot in the back yard covered with white. I forced his exhausted body outside for one picture of him in the snow! He was so happy! Yeah right!

I just love Snow Days! I'm so glad I finally got to play in the snow!

February Flurries

Finally! After all the snow around Mississippi this winter, I finally get to see some! The last two times it snowed here, Russ and I were out of town. Typical. So, I woke up at 5 this morning, turned on the news immediately to see if we had school, and snoozed a little while longer when I found out that JPS was closed. As soon as the sun was out, Farley and I couldn't wait any longer. I put my Uggs on over my pajamas and headed out with my camera. You know, just in case it melts before Russ gets home today.


It's snowing in my front yard!


It's snowing on my street!


It snowed on Kristin's car!

It snowed in the back yard too!

I just let Farley run around in the back yard for a while. He hasn't seen snow since he was a baby...and I'm pretty sure what he saw doesn't count. I know this snow doesn't count for a lot of you, but it does for me! Farley wasn't sure about it at first, walking under plants and on stepping stones to stay out of the snow. But, eventually, he went to exploring and eating the snow.

Not real sure about this.

Okay, Mom, I can go look around now.

I think he likes the snow!

According to the weatherman...and we all know how reliable that can be sometimes...we should get a couple more inches today. The high is 32 and the low tonight is 26. So, maybe it will stick around for a little while longer. I'm gonna shower, dress, and get back out in the snow when Kristin and Lee get up and going. And I hope Russ will get to play too. We'll see.

Happy Snow Day!

Smile

Well, it's that time! Time for the month of LOVE!! This week, I gave my students a writing assignment to write about a person they love. They were to tell why they loved that person and what makes that person special.

Let me just tell you....I have one "special" Valentine! And what makes him so special? Well...he makes me SMILE! Every time Russ calls my phone, I smile #1. because it's him #2. because his ring tone reminds me why he's my Valentine! So, just for the month of "love," I'll play Russ's ring tone on my playlist and leave you with memories through our TEN years of my Valentine and me! Enjoy!

You're better than the best

I'm lucky just to linger in your life.

Cooler than the flip side of my pillow, that's right.

Completely unaware

Nothing can compare to where you send me.

Let's me know that it's okay, yeah it's okay!

And the moments where my good times start to fade....


You make me smile like the sun


Fall out of bed


Sing like a bird


Dizzy in my head


Spin like a record


Crazy on a Sunday night.


You make me dance like a fool


Forget how to breathe


Shine like gold


Buzz like a bee.


Just the thought of you can drive me wild.


Ohhh...you make me smile!


Don't know how I lived without you


Cuz every time that I get around you


I see the best of me inside your eyes.


You make me smile.


You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night.
You make me dance like a fool,
Forget how to breathe,
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee.
Just the thought of you can drive me wild!

Ohhh...You make me SMILE!

Apparently...

Apparently, my parents and everyone else in North Mississippi woke up yesterday to a wonderful surprise!

Apparently, inches of beautifully soft, white snow fell in my hometown!


...and I missed it!


Apparently, the kids were out of school and business men and women used their break time to go out and build a snowman on the sidewalk!

I love the fact that this lady is wearing a skirt and heels as she builds the snowman outside her business!

Apparently, driveways and yards and streets were covered with this white stuff!

Apparently, we don't see snow much around here!

And, I missed it!

Who Dat!?

To be completely honest, I have not been a big NFL follower. I watched the Colts and the Giants when Peyton and Eli began playing. But, I have not been a loyal fan. However, it is hard to deny the fabulous story of the New Orleans Saints! I have always been a big fan of the "underdawg." Well, I picked the Saints in the latter part of the season. How exciting to send the Saints to the Super Bowl for the first time ever! I love Drew Brees! And, all in all, it was an easy decision. The last couple of games have been conflicting because I also like Favre and Peyton Manning. But, I stayed faithful to my "underdog" team. Well, tonight...I was informed that the Saints are no longer the "underdogs!" They are Super Bowl Champs! How exciting!

Russ was on call last night, so we wanted something low key for tonight. Ginny and Chad joined us for our low key Super Bowl evening. Ginny graduated with Russ and is similarly exhausted! We had a great time as we talked, yelled, cheered, and Chad "googled" any and all unknown answers to any question that came up!

Ginny and Chad sporting their GOLD!

Russ and I in our BLACK (I did wear gold earrings for the occasion)!

My favorite scene after the game was the picture of Drew Brees, with tears in his eyes, holding his son. So precious! Thanks, Saints, for an exciting game and a fun night with friends! I only wish I could be in New Orleans this week. Russ and I have actually discussed taking off this week! Ha! I'm sure our bosses would understand!

Geaux Saints!

2009 Blog Book

Last year, I found a wonderful website! It all started when my dad asked if I had been keeping a hard copy of all my blog entries...in case something ever happened to the website. The fact was, I had not even thought about it. As I searched and tried a few websites, I was able to find one I liked. The reason I liked it was because I had full control over the look! It's www.lulu.com.

First, I made one for my class blog as a "yearbook" for me and something my students could purchase. It was fabulous! I was so incredibly happy with it! The final product looks like a book you would buy at a bookstore. And, with Lulu, I was able to custom design my own cover. That was the best part for me! I downloaded a free digital scrapbook kit and began playing around in Photoshop. I checked the measurements for the cover of the book and uploaded it to the site. So simple! I quickly ordered a personal book for 2008 blog entries. I also made one for Jimmy and Roan last year.

Last year's book covers:

Today, I have worked on and off on my blog book. I've rearranged the inside pages, changing the color of the titles and making sure the format is just the way I like it. I'm a little bit of a control freak! Plus, if I'm paying for a nice item, I want it to be right! Anyway, tonight I created our blog book cover with a new free digital scrapbooking kit, and I love it!

Take a look!

The spine and back cover are the light brown color from the cover. I also write a paragraph of what the year has meant to us. This is just a little closure for the book. This year, I put a verse on the back, also, that we are clinging to as we grow as a couple/family. For my class blog, I listed the students' names on the back with a letter from me.

So, as soon as I make final touches on my 620 page blog book, I'll order a hard copy of my blog! I never kept a journal as a child or teenager. I know some of you had me labeled as a "journaler" (is that a word), but I absolutely was NOT! I did buy notebooks and diaries with locks, but never wrote more than a page or two. This blog has served as a personal journal for our family, and I am so glad that I keep it up. Now, I have literally over 1,000 pages of journaling and pictures on our bookshelf that Russ and I can look back at or show our children, and we can remember the feelings or everyday happenings that we would never have remembered otherwise.

If you have a blog and have not ordered your blog in book form, I encourage you to do that. If you blog a lot, like I do, you may order them by year. If not, you may order every couple of years or so. However you choose to do it, you will NOT regret it! Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I'm sure there are other publishing companies out there that you can use. This is just the one I found that fit me best. And, it's affordable!